Xunaru

Xunaru (Laburnum) was one of the few trees that captivated my attention as a kid. It's rich golden hue outlining a blue sky was my favourite view that the window of Class V, B could promise . My classmates always dreamt of reaching fifth standard for we had this fascination of being in the first floor as our previous classes were arranged in the ground floor of the building. They would run across the stairs whole day long, peep out of the veranda, whistle across the corridors to show off our promotion to the first floor.

But I was more happy because I could be closer to the Xunaru tree which shyed away near our classroom window. There was something about this tree which kept me hooked the whole summer. It's filmsy petals filled my geometry box out shadowing the cruel looking Compass and divider.

My way back home from school in a rickshaw brought me stories from the laburnum. Our Kokaideu who used to pull the rickshaw had his own stories. He used to narrate how he had plucked a handful of Xunaru for his beloved. He used to give us treats whenever he got a bonus. The treat involved an ice cream which had more ice and no cream but the best part about it was, it made our tongues look peppy and also we got a chance to listen to his tales.

It had been years since I saw Kokaideu, but a few days back he reappeared. I was sitting in the veranda holding onto my cup of black tea when I saw his radiant smile flashing his rotten tooth. Life once again came alive that afternoon as we sat chatting about tales from the past. It was the time of Bihu and so as a gesture of respect I gifted him a gamusa. His eyes twinkled as he held the fabric. In one swing of his hand he tied the gamusa in his forehead and danced around in vigorous steps. We burst out laughing.

Xunaru ful akou fulile...

We both sang as he danced. Time stood at our doorstep as two people from the present fished memories from the past in Xunaru 's land.