This leaf which was lying there, after being severed from its home, the tree, reminded me of so many things today. As I was soaking in the warmth of the morning sun on a winter day, I seemed to relish the beauty of this leaf, looked up to see from which home it belonged to, amidst a cluster of trees in my backyard. Then my eyes traced its way to the other leaves. Interestingly this bit of green was quite different from the other dried up, worn out, wilted discoloured brethrens. This seemed to be unique in its design by its colour and display of lines. Looking at its orange palette wherefrom again different hews and shapes seemed to emerge, I remembered the chapter on plant physiology that of the role of chorophyll in changing the colours of a leaf. Now I don’t relish in knowing or explaining the functions of chorophyll in terms of science. What intrigues me is the aesthetics behind a simple object as this. Despite knowing about plant biology, I seemed to derive more pleasure in assuming that there is some mystic source in this gift of colours.
Eulogising on this little piece of nature, turned out to me to be a unique pleasure-filled moment. For I believe what constitutes happiness in life is these litte bits of pleasure that make up the whole and not some great events in my life. I wish silently that I can savour more and more of these exquisite moments . For they have a luxury and joy that cannot be surpassed by anything else. I gathered up the leaf, washed and rubbed it and placed it cautiously on my study table. Then I decided to capture it with my camera before it could lose its beauty, transform into nothing and mix with the earth. I completed my task reassured that I could freeze this invaluable artefact.
Towards evening as I chanced to glance upon the leaf again, I was surprized to see its form and texture intact. But then I was sad too, for a while. Strangely this leaf brought in the fact that life, for us, is ephemeral, that it too is similar to this leaf, that we are gonna lose our colour, gonna be old and die like the leaf whose life span is momentary. It reminded me of times left behind, that I could no longer get back, deeds that I could not undo, regrets of things I could not achieve or of the person I cannot be. Tomorrow the leaf might be crushed, for me tomorrow is distant. But what is with me is the present. Lately I have been deriving pleasure in seeking beauty in different places, sometimes in strange places. There is beauty in what people wear, decorate themselves, their homes, no doubt, but there lies beauty too in poverty, in the ordinary, in the humdrum. That is what I have heard, that true artists forever seek… beauty in the ordinary and not in luxury, in the elite company, in ivory towers, in expensive foreign travel packages. And this is what keeps me preoccupied now and gives me hope, teaches a lesson each day, gives a meaning to carry on life…