MANY years ago while walking through a village in the outskirts of the city, I suddenly stopped and held the arm of a friend who was walking alongside, “Listen!” I said and we both stopped and listened. I saw his face grow from curiosity to enlightenment, “Isn’t it beautiful!” I whispered and he nodded.
It was the sound of the wind gently rustling the leaves of a tree. There were many trees in that village and as we walked there was not a word between us as the breeze played with the leaves and created an atmosphere so divine I thought I was in heaven.
“This is where I’d like to live!” I told my friend, and he nodded, “a place where no radio or music system will ever have to compete for my attention as I listen day and night to such heavenly melody. “Music of the gods!” said my friend and I nodded.
That was many moons ago, and like many other friendships we didn’t meet for years, but kept in touch, till one day I heard he was in town. “Where are you staying?” he asked me over the phone. “Same place,” I said, “but why’d you ask?” “Thought you must have shifted to that place beneath the trees.” “Not with what a writer makes!” I said sadly, “but come over!”
He came over one morning and I asked him whether he’d mind reading for a while till I completed my writing, he nodded and I went into my study to finish my column for the day. “Put some music on for him,” I told my maid a little later. “He doesn’t want any,” she said looking at me strangely, “he’s just sitting sort of still! Is he okay?”
I finished writing and went over to where he sat, he hardly noticed me as I sat down. “Hey!” I said. “Ssssshhhh!” he whispered, “Isn’t it beautiful?” “What?” I asked. “Listen,” he said. I sat still and listened and slowly heard the most beautiful music coming through my own window into my own room; it was the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees. “You had it right here!” he said. “And I didn’t know,” I said, and then we both went sort of quiet as another gust of wind brought in the symphony outside.
I shake my head as I write this piece because just outside I hear the leaves laughing joyously at me for listening to something I’d been deaf to hear, ‘Ah Bob!” I hear a voice saying from far above, “The peace and tranquillity you wanted elsewhere was there right in your own backyard!” “Lord,” I whisper sadly, “It took someone else to open my eyes and see the diamonds you’d provided me in my own backyard!” Is it your wife, your husband, your home, your job? Open your eyes, see the diamonds..!
—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com
