Zara's Witness

by Shubhrangshu Roy

  ‘See ya, then!’ the west wind said. ‘But remember, if you can’t spread cheer, don’t pass around your sorrows.’

  And saying so, she bid all goodbye.

  CHAPTER 3

  It had begun to rain. First, gently, and then, a heavy downpour came calling on the meadow. The west wind rose to the sky, howling furiously. And the rains lashed down upon earth, as if in vengeance, in a violent outburst, as tormenting flashes of lightning rode the sky, and the dark clouds cast their spell, swallowing the sun. The forest fell silent as the rain drenched every soul, Zara and the elephant included.

  Zara did not remember seeing such a storm before when she grew up by the riverbank. This, certainly, was different.

  Presently, the hog rose, stinking, grunting, plastered in mud, and charged deep inside the forest. And one by one, the monkeys ran helter-skelter.

  ‘What do we do, Elly?’ Zara asked.

  ‘Ahem! We are stuck,’ the elephant said, almost apologetic about his weight. And they stood wondering by the meadow’s edge. The elephant turned around once, looking at the tall green grass. Then turned around once more, now facing the forest that looked dark and foreboding. A puddle started to gather on the meadow, soon blanketing it under a sheet of water.

  ‘What do we do now?’ Zara asked again, when a voice interrupted, ‘Kitch, kitch, kitch!’

  Zara bent on the elephant’s back, looking to the ground near his feet. It was the monkey.

  ‘Hi! What brings you here?’ Zara asked, her mouth agape, engaging an ape for the first time ever.

  ‘Hi, Zara! I am Monk!ee. I belong to the forest,’ he said, jumping up to the elephant’s shoulder, right next to Zara.

  ‘O Monk!ee, tell us fast what to do. It’s quite damp and cold out here in the open,’ Zara snapped.

  ‘Yup! Sure it is. But it’s fun, too,’ replied the monkey.

  ‘If I wanna hide from this rain, I really need to dig deep under the rock, but the fun is not in my being able to chart my own path and move ahead alone. The fun is in being able to do it while taking everybody along,’ the monkey said at the speed of a hurricane in a single breath, flashing his teeth.

  ‘Yeah! I understand,’ screamed Zara. ‘Now do it and show us the way.’

  ‘Sure, I will,’ said the monkey. ‘When you reach the city, you will be greeted by a graffiti that says, “Greater the challenge, greater the excitement.” Come, it’s time for an adventure.’

  ‘You sure are having fun, while I am drenched to my bones,’ Zara shouted back.

  ‘Yeah, keep playing the game, Zara. Make the best of it while it lasts,’ the monkey said. ‘Every day is a new day. Every day you gift yourself a new world, Zara.’

  ‘It beats me how? I didn’t quite ask for this,’ Zara shouted. ‘I’m so wet . . . and disgusted.’

  ‘Think again, Zara,’ the elephant interrupted. ‘You asked me to the city. So, here we are.’

  Zara, visibly irritated, shouted back, ‘Guy! You sure have a way with words. I asked for the city, not the jungle.’

  ‘The way to “the good life” is through the jungle of the mind. Zara, you have to walk through the forest to reach the city one day,’ the elephant shot back, smiling.

  Zara raised her face to the tormented sky, slapped her forehead and cried, ‘Good Lord! Now cut the crap. Why did I have to ask for this?’

  In the distance inside the forest, the storm raged hard and the wind creaked through the hollow, and then, a giant tree came crashing with a thud, shaking the ground. Even the elephant trembled.

  ‘Never blame yourself Zara,’ the monkey came back from his momentary distraction, scratching his head. ‘Never lose faith in yourself. You are the best that could ever happen to your Universe, Zara,’ he said.

  ‘But what exactly brings me here?’ Zara asked. ‘Why do I have to trample through a storm-wracked forest to reach my destination? Isn’t this an unnecessary diversion?’

  ‘It’s the way you look at life. Tell yourself, Zara, that you are here to revel in the wonder that comes from the abundance of nature. Take a good look around. The thunderstorm is gone. There is simply no sorrow, no disgust for you when you chart your life’s destination,’ said the monkey.

  It was calm once more as a pleasant quiet descended upon the forest. The earth was soaked in water, the leaves and branches and the tall grass heavily drenched in the rain. Slowly, but certainly, the sun winked from behind the clouds, their dark and menacing demeanour making way for giant silvery-white puffs in a westward drift. The west wind crept back upon the meadow, with a gentle chill. Whistling!

  The koel caught the drift of the whistle. Then shaking her throat clear, she sang:

  Oh mind, don’t ask

  Of the

  Hows and whys,

  Your voice will guide you

  Outta darkness one day.

  And all the other birds of the forest joined in chorus:

  Your voice will guide you

  Outta darkness one day.

  ‘The trick, Zaru,’ the west wind said, going down, prodding the elephant’s ankle, ‘is to walk one step at a time, upright and honest. There has to be integrity in every step you take.’

  The elephant raised his trunk and blew his trumpet, very pleased with himself. Then, one foot at a time, he moved forward across the meadow, towards the forest, leaving giant footprints in the mud.

  ‘That’s a good way to go, Elly,’ the west wind said, and then, rising with a whoosh to where Zara sat on the elephant’s shoulders, she whispered into her ear, ‘Be normal. Be natural. Keep courage. The storm is over. Once the image is gone, it’s the end of story. Change your mind every day, Zaru.’

  ‘As ifff . . .’ Zara dragged herself, taunt painted on her lips. ‘Can’t you feel I am wet and lonely? And the jungle looks so scary. Whateva brought me here?’

  ‘What’s done is done,’ the west wind said. ‘There’s little point talking irrelevant stuff now that you are here. Be Aware. Have Patience. Practice. That’s “app” for you, Zaru.’

  ‘Get it?’ the elephant asked Zara, forcing his pace towards the forest through the slush. ‘Be what you are. Be Aware. Have Patience. Practice. And the biggest storm shall pass over. I am, Zara, what I am. Just be! For app’s the nature of the beast.’

  CHAPTER 4

  Evening set in by the time the elephant crossed the meadow and stood at the edge of the forest, his feet heavily sodden.

  The sun had gone down behind the Peacock Ridge, now standing like a dark sentinel in the distance, overlooking the elephant grass, the stream, the meadow, and the jungle; the faint rays of the setting sun painting the western sky in scarlet hues on a dark canvas.

  The crickets chirped aloud in the cover of the trees, now dark and deep and lonely. The elephant raised his trunk, blowing his trumpet, signalling the creatures of the forest to make way.

  Zara’s heart pounded against her chest, thud . . . thud . . . thud, and then, she felt a gentle breeze flowing from the meadow, caressing her back.

  ‘Windy?’ she enquired softly, turning her head around.

  ‘Yes, Zaru, do not be afraid,’ the west wind said. ‘Be quiet. Be gentle.’

  ‘Yes,’ Zara whispered.

  ‘You have to cross the forest to reach the city. So, get across, no matter what comes your way.’

  ‘I know . . .’

  ‘Make the best use of what you have while you are here. The forest teaches us several things, Zaru, in our journey through life on this earth.’

  ‘But above all, it teaches us to let be. The forest is home to many creatures, big and small. And they do not come your way, unless, of course, you are game. It’s important, Zaru, to kill your ego inside and move forward with a humble heart. Then, and then alone, will you shed your fear.’

  ‘I understand,’ declared Zara. ‘But my heart keeps pounding, Windy. I need to calm down.’

  ‘Never mind the heartbeat, Zaru. Storms are meant to bring calm after the tormenting summer heat,’ the we
st wind said.

  ‘It’s going to be disgraceful, Windy, if I can’t make it to the city,’ Zara said, tears welling up her eyes. ‘I created such a fuss to get there,’ she said, wiping her forehead, sweating with nervous tension.

  ‘Nervousness got nobody nowhere, O Zaru!’ the west wind said. ‘So, do not be tormented by your mind. Let the forest consume you if it will. All you must do is be a witness to your thoughts as you go along. Life will carry on.’

  ‘How are you so cocksure, Windy?’ Zara asked.

  ‘I say from experience. When the sun vaporises the river, the river reappears in a million drops of rain. So it is with you and me. This, too, shall pass.’

  ‘Hey baby, you’re getting heavy on me,’ the elephant interrupted, shaking Zara with his laughter. ‘Be light of being.’

  And saying so, he walked into the darkness.

  The chirping of crickets grew louder and louder.

  CHAPTER 5

  It must have been quite a long trek in the dark through the undergrowth and thickets when the elephant suddenly stopped in his tracks, confronted by a pair of bloodshot phosphorescent eyes glowing in the distance.

  ‘Hehehe, I am the hyena,’ came a voice from the other end. ‘I am the gatekeeper to the forest.’

  ‘You . . . sure . . . are . . .’ yawned Zara, carelessly rubbing her eyes. ‘I can see you will show us the way as the monkey did when we first arrived on the edge of the forest.’

  ‘That’s well said, Zara,’ the hyena came back. ‘I can see you are already beginning to shed your fear. Your fear comes from your thoughts, dear friend.’

  ‘Lemme think that through,’ Zara said, looking the hyena in the eye. ‘But first, I need to wake up from my slumber.’ And saying so, Zara stretched her arms.

  ‘Take your time, young lady,’ the hyena said. And then, he took off:

  There are three types of thoughts that engage the mind. The first happens when we remember unnecessary scenes from our past, distorting our perspective of life.

  ‘The other, of course, is influenced by what we see around. And what we see may not be what we really desire.’

  ‘And then, there is the third kind. And that comes from the power of our knowledge. Wise travellers use their knowledge to read the past and interpret what they see around to chart their future path.’

  ‘Zara, be a witness to your thoughts. Figure out how the elephant leads you out of the jungle.’

  ‘Well said, Redeyes, thank you for that compliment,’ the elephant said.

  ‘You are welcome,’ said the hyena. ‘Remember, Zara, the forest is irrelevant to your journey. You have to tackle the trees that stand in your way, instead. Your desire to reach the city must not get distorted by your fear, or else, you will lose yourself trapped in the forest, unable to reach your journey’s end.’

  ‘You are wise,’ said Zara. ‘Even Windy told me so. But tell me, Redeyes, how do you do that?’

  ‘I will, Zara,’ said the hyena, looking Zara in the eye. ‘But first, I must ask what’s taking you to the city?’

  ‘Oh! That’s not a big deal,’ said Zara. ‘As a child, I perceived the glow of city lights in the night sky, far, far beyond the Peacock Ridge. And ever since, all the creatures by the riverbank told me that my life as a human is best lived under the glare of the neon. So, here I am, on my way to where I must belong.’

  ‘Aha!’ exclaimed the hyena. ‘I see. Then I’ll stop you no more. But, Zara, you should know where your craving comes from.’

  And saying so, the hyena broke into a hymn:

  Thoughts lead to affirmation,

  Affirmation to desire,

  Desire leads to thirst,

  Thirst to craving.

  And then, raising his voice, he said, ‘The trick is to achieve without action, to speak without a word.’

  ‘Will that give me satisfaction, Redeyes?’ Zara asked.

  ‘Satisfaction, Zara,’ said the hyena, ‘is that that fulfils my need. Whateva else I achieve, I do with a clear understanding that I am only playing a game.’

  ‘The reason why we are unhappy is the nonperformance, nonachievement, non-fulfilment of our desires. There is no satisfaction where you are seeking satisfaction, Zara.’

  ‘Zara,’ interrupted the elephant, excited. ‘We spend a lifetime chasing our desires. For you, it may well be the glare of the neon lights, like the flame is to the moth. But remember, dear, we seldom enjoy what we already have. Make the best of this adventure in the wild while we roam the jungle.’

  And the forest fell silent.

  ***

  Zara was about to return to her sleep when a rustle in the undergrowth woke her up.

  ‘Now, who’s that?’ she shouted disapprovingly.

  ‘It’s the rhino on his way back home, Zara,’ said the elephant. ‘He hurts no one.’

  ‘Yeah, it’s me,’ the rhino cried out, brushing past the elephant.

  And then, apologetically, he said, ‘You’ve already heard a lot Zara, it’s time to get some sleep. Sorry to have disturbed you, darling.’

  ‘Access control, again? Oh! Thank you. I can sure do with some rest, gatekeeper,’ Zara replied, her eyes narrowing.

  ‘Ha, ha! I have just one last word for you, though,’ said the rhino.

  ‘Remembah, whateva you do, whereva you go, you do it for your own good. Revel in the creation of your Universe. Live in exuberance, Zara.’

  ‘That’s well said, Rhi!noo. I really like that,’ replied Zara. ‘I am the creator of my Universe indeed. That’s for certain.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah! Believe, believe, believe, believe! Believe yourself, Zara. Believe your voice within,’ said the rhino, pushing into the thick foliage on his path.

  And then, wishing Zara goodnight, he said, ‘Nobody wants to dwell in his dream foreva . . . nobody wants to keep chasing an illusion. If you look at it deeply, everybody wants just enough to be happy. That’s what you are meant to be, dear.’

  CHAPTER 6

  Zara woke up under the green canopy of the forest rambling atop the elephant. Soon, they came to the rhino, feeding on the foliage in a clearing.

  ‘Who’s that?’ Zara asked the elephant, bending down to his ears.

  ‘That’s the rhino who brushed past us last night, Zara,’ the elephant said.

  ‘Oh yes,’ said Zara. ‘I didn’t get to see him in the dark. Isn’t he huge and strong?’

  ‘He sure is,’ said the elephant, smiling, ‘but not quite as huge as . . .’

  ‘I know, I know,’ said Zara. ‘You are the greatest evah!’

  The rhino caught Zara’s last words, looking up midcourse through his morning meal. And he smiled, ‘Good morning, Zara.’

  ‘A very good morning to you,’ replied Zara. ‘You look handsome, dear Rhi!noo.’

  The rhino let out a big laugh and asked Zara where she was off to early in the morning.

  ‘To the city, of course. It’s a long way off,’ said Zara.

  ‘The city?’ asked the rhino. ‘And where are you coming from?’

  ‘From the river’s lap beyond the Peacock Ridge.’

  ‘Rivah!? Peacock Ridge?’ the rhino wondered aloud, looking suspicious.

  ‘Yes, that mountain behind the forest. That’s the Peaco . . . Why . . . ? Just a moment!’ And then, turning around towards the mountain, her jaw fell.

  ‘Why? From this side of the mountain face, there’s really no peacock. It’s just like any other mountain,’ Zara said, cupping her mouth with her palm.

  She turned to the elephant, surprised to ask what had become of the gemstones atop the mountain, strung together in the shape of the bejewelled peacock.

  The wise elephant who had roamed the earth, nodded his head, swaying his trunk from left to right and right to left.

  And he said, ‘O Zara! The bejewelled peacock you saw atop the mountain at night while you grew up by the riverbank was a figment of your imagination, luring you all these years in the direction of the city. But now that you have moved o
n in life, and stand where you are today, it’s just another mountain from your past. Come to think of it, Zara, you come here to the forest on your way to the city not from the river, which, again, is your past imagination, but from the bottom of the valley at the mouth of the glacier, high up in the mountains, riding the water, playing with the wind.’

  ‘Bottom? High? Water? Wind?’ Zara looked askance, ‘Valley? Glacier? Mountain? Forest? City?’

  ‘The cycle of life, Zara,’ said the rhino. ‘There is no start, no finish. Just understand the context to which you belong. And that context is here and now.’

  ‘Is it all an illusion? Really!’ exclaimed Zara, wondering.

  ‘Oh yes, it is. Life itself is an illusion, Zara,’ the rhino said. ‘But we do not wish to live by the illusion of life. All we seek and desire is to live happily evah aftah.’

  ‘How true,’ said Zara. And then, she set about thinking, ‘Why do we crave to be happy?’

  ‘Good question,’ said the rhino. ‘Do you know why I wear a thick hide?’

  ‘No,’ said Zara.

  ‘It’s because this life is a constant war that nobody wants to lose,’ said the rhino. ‘We all need to win our wars, whateva the cost, in order to survive this journey through the forest of life, either by surrendering our ego or by grabbing the other person’s collar.’

  ‘To live life, Zara, is an art. Learn to negotiate your life. The moment you forget what’s good for your survival, you fight, and you hurt your cause. So, it’s best to wear a thick skin in your journey through life,’ the rhino said.

  ‘Nobody does anything for anybody, Zara,’ the elephant interrupted. ‘Everybody does everything for their own happiness. They do it for their own bliss.’

  The leaves rustled in the wind . . . and the birds twittered . . . and the monkeys chattered . . . taken by the wisdom of the rhino. Zara blew a goodbye kiss at him and, one step at a time, the elephant walked away.

  And as the elephant walked the track into the bushes, the west wind reappeared from nowhere.