Bar Peepal
Looking in the mirror, he sees a white-bearded man with a face lined with multiple wrinkles, a bald head, and toothless gums. He has realized that he has arrived at dusk in no time. He recalls memories of his time of youth when he was an immense fire of love and energy. His images of roaming in the woods, streams, competing in fields with friends run through his mind. Suddenly, he is disturbed by his 13 years old grandson and he feels pain in his fragile ribs. The boy looks at his grandpa with eyes of expectation and asks him for misri(rock candy). Old man, forgetting his pain, with great delight, picks it from a small white polythene bag and gives a piece to his loving grandson. The boy consumes it in a flash of time and stares at the face of his generous grandpa. Whispering to the boy’s ear, he warns, “Your mom shouldn’t find out that I have given it to you.” The boy shakes his head with a gesture of agreement. Their secret couldn’t hold any longer as the boy’s mother who was witnessing all the scene scolds the boy for having sweets stating it will deteriorate his health. The boy, with disappointment, walks with his mom to his room. Old man is again alone in his room and this time he feels more lonely. He misses his wife who passed away just a couple of years back.
Old man who now lives with his second son in the city where he migrated after his wife’s demise isn’t happy with his life in this fancy but dry place. He decides to return to his village and live the rest of his life with his other son. His son does not agree with his decision as he’s afraid of being tagged as a bad son. However, the old man convinces his son who he adores and leaves to his village. The village which has all heavenly qualities is a bit far from the highway. So, one must walk up the hill for about three hours to reach the village. But for the old man, it’s not an easy journey. But he’s excited and emotional at the same time. To his surprise he sees an excavator digging the slopes to construct a road to join the village and highway. He becomes happy with the development and also with the excited faces of villagers who are themselves busy working. Seeing the old man returning, villagers become quite surprised and happy at the same time. Talking with them for a while, the old man continues his walk to his old house which has local architectural design.
Seeing his father return, the eldest son welcomes his old father with a traditional gesture of bowing head and touching legs. The old man shares how his time was boring except with the time with his grandson. “Tomorrow is the last Saturday of this month and I want to go and worship the peepal”, the old man shares his aspiration with his son. The next morning, the son asks his wife to prepare all the necessary means required for puja. The old man bathes to purify his body, receives all the necessary things, and walks to the peepal tree which is 10 minutes away from the house.
The peepal tree is not the only tree there. There’s another big banyan(bar) tree by a distance of less than a foot. The old man has a deep connection with banyan and peepal as he was the one who planted them. The day he got married, these two trees got married the same day. Since then, he and his wife have come to worship these couples every Saturday. The roots of peepal and banyan have met, touched and kissed each other to the deepest of soils. They breathe the same air, they have sheltered many travelers under their shade, and they have adopted many birds and insects. Old man looks at those trees, smiles at them and begins contemplating life and the beauty of it.
Seeing an old man staring at trees, a man who was passing by to fetch grass asks what he was doing there. The old man says what he’s for and with a bit of hesitation, the man said, “These trees will no longer remain here. Road has to go through here and that’s why they will be cut tomorrow.” The old man is shocked to hear it and sits under the tree with a lamenting cry. The other man tries to counsel him but he continues crying there.
The son and his wife, waiting for father, feel anxious as it has been a long time since father has left for puja. The son goes to find his father but sees people crowding near the tree. He hurriedly goes there and sees his father lying severely ill. He carries his father on his back to the house. The old man shares his wish of letting those trees live. Hearing his father’s wishes, the son decides to revolt against the decision of cutting trees to build the road but his outnumbered voice fades away amidst his loud yelling. Like a failed soldier, seeing his son return bare-handed, the old man gets more disappointed and his condition worsens.
The trees have been cut down and the old man’s body lies in the middle of the courtyard. The road has been built. The son from the city has just arrived through the same road in his own car to begin the funeral. Villagers have brought logs and firewood for the cremation. Some firewood were of the same bar and peepal.
