A Place revisited again.....

While waking up in the morning today, I felt the air smell of burning dried grass. Somewhere around the window, I could see the smoke, a little misty out there, and yes...it reminded me of my childhood times, when this smokey atmosphere would fill the morning air. The bare feet walk on the man made path, feeling the roughness of the stones touching the heels along with the softness of the red soil, which added comfort to my sore heels and the process of a long walk didn't bother. Tiptoeing  outside the house and hurrying up as fast as I could, less I wake up my parents in the process of reaching a small hillock that was closer to our house.

There was a quaintness in the surrounding, the sound of the birds chirping in the distant. And with the trudging of the bullock cart on the road, along with the sweet sound of the cow bells, simply magical to the ears and the view still treasured till date. Lined up on either side of this path that led to the hillock, were few bungalows. Some of them had thatched roofs, and most of them had terracotta tiles gracing their corridor floor up till their fences, with cute little gardens in front of their porches. There was one particular house that I fancied, it had long steep stairs. And once you reached the top of the stairs ..it was a passage of sorts that stretched a little longer. Along the passage, there were three very small  windows with few doors..you can just barely enter with tucking your head in, so that you don't bump yourself  up. And then as you reached the end of the passage, it had a similar exit. Remember taking up these stair whenever I passed along this path towards the hillock.

Just a  little ahead, was a cow shed , there were leaves and some grass left burning around, the smoke filling in the early morning air . I knew what I was expecting all along through what I knew was awaiting me on the hillock. All green to the core, giving it the scent and feel of refreshment. Luscious , green paddy fields, stretched in front as long as I could take in the view. There was so much peace and quietness in the vicinity of this small hillock. Faintly hearing the cow bells in the distance, coming up the hillock and grazing to their hearts content. Few villagers sat under the shade of a gigantic tree. So picturesque, and musical for me. I can still feel being in the presence of that beautiful place I visited as a child. it feels as though am listening to the flute in the background. The calmness still edged in the mind. And in that calmness, I heard someone calling my name, and as I turned back I saw my sister coming up the hillock. And I knew, we had very little time to be up the hill. We frolicked around for a while and then grudgingly left this beautiful place.

The cell rang, and my trance was broken. I didn't pick up the call, just left it at that. A mere smoke in the air, took me back to one of my favorite places I visited as a child. I wonder how would it be now, the hillock! A place so so beautiful.....so musical is the feeling, it makes me want to go back to the place again. 

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