Winter Whispers

The breeze grew more chilling to the bones that kept all the dwellers at the mercy of bukharis and electric heaters. The moonlit night adorned the empty sky with millions of twinkling stars gazing down the earth, each one brighter than the other. The naked branches of the trees rustled against each other as the last of the remaining leaves fell down helplessly. The withered grasses were nearly at the brink of an extinction. My every gasps of breathe got humidified by the bitter coldness. The window panes were blurred. The droplets of dew slides down after it is saturated and pulled down by its own weight. The water from the tap numbs my hands as I do the laundry which remains hanged for more duration than usual to get dried by the sunlight. The food served warm needs to be gobbled down fast along with fuming warm cup of water, as the warmth disappears quickly. It’s then, the perfect season to protect and prevent my delicate body from frosting . The dwellers do all the possible tricks, ranging from wearing  mufflers, caps, socks and gloves  as an additional attire. Even the mattresses and the blankets fall victim to the raging coldness that creeps inside the building.

The distant ranges are freezing and the coldness sweeps across the entire nearby valleys . The midday sun shines brighter only to be hindered with never ending candies of standstill and adamant clouds. The night falls earlier providing more time to enjoy a peaceful sleep but turning my body into an old lazy log. The joy of cracking the walnut and digging out its creamy brain-like contents with my loved ones was one of my favorite hobby during my innocent childhood life. I still remember the delicious taste of suja filled with walnut served by my mom, which always made my day.  Some of the villagers can be seen making a bonfire, singing and dancing around it in a circle. I learned that chewing betel nuts and drinking a cup of locally brewed aras are the favorite tricks to warm up the body and hypnotize it for a peaceful nap. One and half hour  of running around the field with balls in my feet is enough for me to forget the bitter coldness. The intense heat weaves in my college days left me almost half-cooked and dehydrated. The glimpse to those surviving days gives me shivers, yet a rooted experience remain with me always. The amazing feeling of the winter!!! This was what I always  wanted, just as my body yearned for. God had never failed to grant my wishes one way or the other.