Amaltas, is also known as “yellow Laburnum” or ” Cassia Fistula”. Its huge cluster of yellow flowers cascading towards earth is look like “Golden Shower”. In cold breeze and wind, its dancing presence makes the environment truly enchanting; while in rainy season yellow gold meets brown mud in a humble manner.
Amaltas trees holds so many memories for her. Actually “Amaltas Bus Stop” has lots of stories beside its background. It was a congested place where all school, college, university buses pick and drop their students. Office vans also used to come for their employees. Local public transport was also available at that spot. So many hawkers and well known “Fresh Palm and Tamarind Sharbat”, famous “Gola Gunda” (sweet colorful ice ball), and most popular “Chili Chips Fry” (French Fries) were the actual center of attraction for all residents and many other people of the city.
Senior citizens also met there whenever they went for a morning walk or on their way returning from the bank with their pensions. Nature’s chatter box revealed there in the form of chirping birds with melodious tweets. Dawn to dusk, so many people and so many voices reflected the presence of life and liveliness.
This scenario is a symbol of awakened life indeed.
Nobody knows that the rising sun of 2020’s, came with a terrible curse for all around the world. It is a misery for all human beings of all age and class. Coronavirus pandemic affects every human’s life. Only a dreadful threat of being insecure surrounded everywhere. Uncertainty takes away all pleasures of life. Human life imprisoned and houses became “jails”. Its totally “Lock down”!
Though everyone suffered but poor and needy people suffered the most. Hunger itself is the biggest curse. In this crucial time of trial and hunger, miserable events occurred. People sitting front of TV, watching breaking news on different news channels went through depression and anxiety.
Dania’s university was also off in those days. After taking her “online classes”, she would stood behind the glass wall of her balcony. Amaltas trees looked very gloomy and quite today. God created world for humans, and so in the absence of them, all Nature has gone sad and lonely. She is kind hearted. She feels bad for needy fellows. How could they go through such tough time and how to help them out? At least nobody has to remain hungry. How could she bring peace in their lives? So many questions arose in her disturbed mind.
Suddenly she got an idea that brightened up her mood. She jumped out of her seat in a great excitement and enthusiasm and looked for her cellphone. Now she would call up her friends, neighbors and relatives. By keeping distant and safe, one can still help others.
On next morning, she wake up with pain in her head as she couldn’t sleep well last night, She took few steps towards balcony and tied the curtains. Unbelievably, though an expected view welcomed her and all of a sudden made her relax and light hearted.
People whom she contacted yesterday, brought food and other grocery items packed in the sack bags, placed under the Amaltas. Bags were hanged and tied to the branches of Amaltas trees. The whole row of Amaltas sent a message of love, peace and care. A few individuals started to arrive, took the bags quickly and went to their home in hurry to feed their hungry children.
Dania takes a deep breath. Such a relief ! Her tear filled eyes were twinkling with smile floating on her lips. Her face was radiant under the sun rays with a feeling of being grateful to God. The yellow Amaltas trees were holding food in their hands, really looked like the golden shower on mother earth.
