NOSTALGIA AND LIFE LESSONS FROM A TREE

'Nostalgia' this term is simple yet so strong. It refers to the memories clustered together, built up inside us, that form a part of who we are and are intertwined with our existence. These are not just memories; these are people, places and things that have made us who we are today. This summer I got an opportunity to visit my hometown, the place where I grew up, where I completed my initial years of schooling. I visited a bunch of places in my hometown. First among them was the house my parents built when I was a kid, where I spent part of my childhood. I haven't visited this place in almost 10 years. It was maintained well for a few years after we left. But for the past 2 to 3 years, (thanks to the pandemic) it was not taken care of. There was nobody to look after our little haven, which we built with love and dreams. Now that the pandemic has settled (hopefully) and travel protocols are back to normal, we paid a visit to this place.

The moment we entered the neighborhood a strong nostalgic feeling hit me; it was a surreal experience throughout. It was a sub-urban residential neighborhood, known for its serene and calm nature. The streets were the same, but there were a greater number of houses. Some new grocery shops have popped up over the years. As we navigated through the streets, I could see my childhood flashing in front of my eyes. These were the streets where I first learned to ride a bicycle; where I was first introduced to street cricket. This is the neighborhood where I had my first girls sleepover. Now, looking back, I realize these are what we call "sweet memories". A walk through these streets reminds me of all the small happiness I had and at the same time makes me realize how much I miss those days. Which results in a feeling of longing. These are emotions that cannot be easily penned down and every individual experiences them in their own way, and that's what makes this term "Nostalgia" so special.

Soon we reached our home, which was the corner building at the end of the street. The paint on the building had faded, the cracks on the walls had become more visible, but I could see the building still stood tall and strong. We opened the main gate, which took quite a long time, because of the rusty locks. After a bit of struggle, we managed to open it, which made our hands rusty. The iron gates made a creaking sound when we opened them, telling us that they had not been taken care of. Once we stepped in, just at the entrance beyond the gates, we noticed some plants that had grown well, breaking through the concrete floor, which surprised us. In the car parking area, we could see a fully grown tree standing tall and mighty, spreading its branches almost to the extent of blocking the entrance. Nobody planted this tree; neither did they water it, nor did anyone want it in the first place. But by the grace of nature, from the seeds dropped by the birds, and being watered by our monsoons, above all, without any human interaction, it has grown, showing great resilience. It reminded me that nature can be fierce and aggressive at times; human innovations and understandings become negligible before it. But, when we look at it from a philosophical point of view, these plants have managed to grow in the least expected setting with minimal resources around. Which suggests, sometimes we find love and hope in the most unexpected situations and from the most unexpected individuals.

Following this, I did a little bit of reading about this tree. It is called Muntingia Calabura, (Jamaican cherry fruit). This tree has the reputation of thriving with no care in poor soil. It is drought resistant. Wherever it grows, fruits are born nearly all year. It also has some medicinal properties. This tree tells me that no matter where we are, or what our resources are, if we set our hearts in the right place and work in the right way. One day we will bear the fruits of our hard work. One can be considered useless or unnecessary by others, but all that matters at the end of the day is what he/she thinks of oneself. With that thought in mind, I proceeded to explore the other parts of the house and joined the discussion about the plans for renovation.