The fence, the creeper and the berries!

The fence, the creeper and the berries’ Stepped out of _gharkul_ and was having a concluding conversation with Phadkay kaku. As we were exchanging our views, my eyes scanned the place around and sight got anchored on the neighbourhood plot of _gharkul_. I enquired if the girls did gardening too... and kaku affirmed. Just a while that I was observing the trees planted there, one of the ignored and hence blurred scene suddenly went prominent. What was that I could see! There was this creeper which climbed and twisted around the wire-fence near _gharkul_. As I keenly observed it, I could see that berries clinged to it. One single creeper with varied colored berries! On the background kaku was talking and my ears were absolutely loyal to her.... but my eyes wondered around the berries. Kaku said that _gharkul_ began with a home to young-special girls...now gradually turning into old age home on the wheel of time and cycle of life. O’ Yes I was hearing every word she uttered.... yet my eyes scanning the berries... the creeper was too delicate to hold them.... the berries began as green... matured as red... dried as rusty brown and died as blackish brown.... yet seen hanging there. And kaku continued... _gharkul_ girls have their own world... where they have grown adjusting, fighting, playing and caring for each other. With all the culture and training they get from kaku (their Aai) they are seen hanging around each other come what may be....!Kaku continued... each one has a different nature and innocence is the base. They celebrate festivals... birthdays and yes vacations too... but let me cross your guess.... their families (many times) do not give them the vacation break and hence spend their vacation in the similar sister house in other cities and... I could observe the creeper bi-forking at points but holding on to every shaded berry.We too practice holding on but mostly for the ones connected by red blood cells. Kaku played Aai and gradually became one for the unknown girls at _Gharkul_ in these many years. She gained the trust and the strength of the creeper where the berries could hang on. They wouldn’t trust any stranger to unwrap their chocolates but readily would give away all to their Aai or wouldn’t have any without offering her. The bond within them has gone stronger till today and I could see the remarkable length covered by the creeper. The creeper is spreading wider .... and may add some more berries onto it. Every turn it takes, it clutches firmly around... it twists... but it stays and moreover doesn’t break! It climbs high and sometimes low through the seasons but doesn’t detach the berries which are attached. The love and connection flies high on the wings of unconditional relation throughout the seasons. In winters they receive the warmth, and shades in the monsoon... the cold winds blow around in the summers and unshakeable stays their home during the fall. Ultimately its about letting go and yet holding on 😊 Prof. Dr. Swati Bhavsar