THE TRUTH OF LIFE

The sun was shooting flames that day, with clouds at one corner of the sky. The city people had morbid faces, the officials trying to get rid of their office work, the couples searching for shade and the housewives too lazy to do their housework. Out of nowhere, a soothing music catches their ears. a "Baul" was singing in the street, unaware of the agitation in people's mind. He was walking barefooted, challenging the scorching heat. He was so indulged in his music that nothing seemed to affect him. More than his skills in music, people were jealous of his carefree nature, which seemed to cross all barriers of physical world. Music was not only his passion but also his only source of income. But the city people were too unmindful to realize it. He kept on walking with his "Ektara", least bothered about whether the people intend to provide him a penny.

                                                   
                                                             It was almost evening now. The sun gave up its grudge on earth, but was still red in anger. It submerged itself into the river, trying to cool down. Far from the city, there was a hut supported by bamboos and mud under the shade of jack fruit tree. The Baul can be seen entering the hut, for it was his sole property, except his Ektara. He took a bath in the river and thanked God for the wonderful life they bestowed upon him. The gods must have felt ashamed of his irony. He wore the same tattered cloth after the bath, for it was the only dress he had. The stale rice was there in his hut, floating in water. He ate it and slept in comfort on the hard ground.

                                                                        A drop of water in his face woke him up. It was night and rain was pouring from heavens. He woke up, brought his iron bucket and put it under his leaked roof, thanking god that they had reduced his labour of going down to well to fetch water. Enjoying the pleasant weather, he went to sleep again.

                                               The city people were still complaining, about the rain not letting them sleep in comfort.........