The Jade Silver

The sun looked contented, walking on his blue path to look lovingly down on the woods, and fields. Kay was in the fields. He loved the rust brown of the trunks of old trees as they glistened in the sunlight and the green leaves looked like small children. Kay was in the fields playing, running and very pleased as the wind tickled his neck. He cherished the open fields and though he was a grown up boy of about ten he still yearned to be in the land of wonder.

His father wanted him to work him in the fields. There was a family of six and it was hard work to provide for everyone. Kay with all the easy and carefree ways was unhappy at those chains which cuffed him to work. As soon as he would find some time to spare he would run towards the meadow from his field and on the grass under a tree he would rest for hours and see the blue space above with birds and bees around him. Many a times he would get scolded by his father but he would never be able to resist that enchanting meadow. A small Brooke whispered a fluid melody near the tree and the birds thought of him as a friend. And no matter what he would somehow come and visit the meadow at least once a day.

That day when he was resting under the tree after working for three hours on the field he was staring at the blue nothingness, the wind and the breeze were playing hide and seek and the trees were all dancing to their tunes. The leaves made designs on his face and neck and the small flowers around him looked hay in the golden sunny day. He was chewing a straw when he heard a strange sound. Immediately he looked around.

It was a sound of laughter but very, very remarkable,…sound.. He turned around there was no one. Then he felt someone touch his hair now he had to get up and look around. Still he saw no one and yet he felt a strange presence, a delightful gentle presence which pervaded the entire atmosphere, presence which pulsated with life and joy, presence which made you feel comfortable.

He tried walking around the tree and looked around in the green meadow. The flowers and trees seemed to be aware of. .He went back that day dejected and rejected. That whole night he was not able to sleep . A question buzzed in his mind like a bee. And he had to find an answer.

The next day the meadow saw him in the late afternoon. He eagerly walked towards the tree. As he lay down on the grass, he heard the sound of twinkling laughter.

He strained his eyes but again there was no one only the faint rustling of grass and trees as if someone was walking over with soft feet.

He sat still for a while but in vain nothing happened except for the presence which seemed to be in the air and resonated in the blissful laughter. The tree was swaying gently in that bright afternoon.

After that day he was not able to visit that enchanting meadow for quite some time. The fields needed attention as the sowing had started .The rains were here. He helped his father in sowing the seeds.

And as all the farmers prayed for a good crop that day to the harvest deity.He fervently prayed for a good harvest. The days marched and there was no sign of rains. No clouds..... The seeds were in the womb of mother Earth but without the rains they would hardly come up.

The farmers were worried. His father was almost looking old in the few days.

That day he was alone in his field and he sat on the ground to look if the little rains they had had the last evening helped the seeds. He touched the ground and looked at the sky. There were no sign of rains. The next day his father was too ill to accompany him to the field.The brown ground was dry and the light rain had just made it a little moist. This was hardly enough to made the seeds sprout with life. He touched the soil with soft gentle hands.He went back feeling dejected.

The next day when he reached the field he was pleasantly surprised to see ...the field…it had small tender shoots and that day he discovered the power in his hands the green fingers…and his field soon was a bed of green. Small shoots were popping their heads out to look at the sky with wonder.

To the utter surprise of each and every farmer their farm looked beautiful and promising. So that evening saw all the farmers at their house. They were here to discuss the strange phenomenon with his father.

“Kay ..come here.” His father called him

“Have you done anything wrong?”

Wrong he was confused.

“How come your field is flourishing in this drought.”

Well….He could not say a word. A big farmer came to his side.

‘I tell you if your son does not rectify his deeds by tomorrow we will have to kill him.”

And with these words all of them went away. His father called him and told him to do whatever he could set things right.

That night was he darkest of all the nights when he slept without eating and his siblings were scared to talk to him. His mother wiped her tears but was silent.

His younger sister came to him late at night and took his hand in his. They sat under the star lit sky without speaking but just listened to each others hearts in the dark hour.

She seemed to understand him as he understood her concern. Those few moments he wanted to tell her of his meadow and the magic that ruled there. But no words escaped his lips as they trembled. His sister pressed his hand in complete understanding.

Both the brother and the sister fell asleep, his sister's head rested lightly on his shoulder. It was a little sound that awakened him He opened his eyes. The night was still dark. His sister looked innocent and sweet with her long lashes resting on her cheeks. He delicately pushed the wisp of hair on her forehead then planted a light kiss. Delicately he removed his hand from hers as he made her rest on the ground.

He slowly walked away from the house. His feet took him to the Meadow. Never ever had he seen it in the dark. But it was as enchanting as it was in the day. There was a dark mysterious magic which glistened with the small flowers of stars stuck on the black canvas of the sky. A moon shone fragmented with some feathers of clouds.The stars were burning in silver light.. He lay on the ground under his tree and drank the tranquility.

A giggle and the chime made him look in expectation.

Yes he got up…There was someone…she looked stunning in the small shining flowers jewels which adorned her dark chestnut hair..and as she danced lightly silver spirals followed her.. She came near him, her green dress shone lightly.It was fascinating to see the leaf green, mix with olive green which mingled with light green..small specks of dark green could also be seen.

“Who are you…?”

“Me …she laughed…I am the Green Fay…Fairy of the green world of plants and trees.

“Green Fay.!”.he wondered as smile lit his face.

“Will you help me then?”

“Yes she came towards him silver spirals followed her.

“Make the fields green, let the seeds come out to become beautiful plants.…please help me to make them lush again. Please fill the harvest with golden seeds.”

He almost cried.

She came near him and took his hand . Together they went to the fields and ran and walked… laughing, playing in the barren field. He was not aware of the time. The silver spirals captivated his attention.The silver light circles illuminated the rust and brown tree trunks. The whole atmosphere seemed ethereal and alluring.

The next morning when the sun came from the east the whole village woke up to a spectacle. All the fields were green and looked heavenly in the sun. The bright faces of all people made the day brighter. His father was also there in his field..

“Kay ..Kay!someone shouted…but where was Kay…

Kay is not in the fields not in the home…where is then? Was the question on every one's lips.

And where was he

His father looked towards the green expanse before his eyes and then called him again.

“Kay Kay …!”there was no answer..

Kay ..!shouted his mother…nothing

“Kay …now it was his sister. All the others looked around but…..

His sister ran towards the meadow where she knew he loved to go. She went near the tree it had no one underneath.

“Kay’ she said softly “where are you?”

Some thing caught her attention..but she saw nothing…but a little soft rustling followed by some..footfalls…and a little twinkle of laughter…

No one ever saw Kay again…but his sister ..she when ever was alone in the fields saw sometimes as she works in the afternoons she sometimes hears rustling leaves and can see…a girl with green dress and bright chestnut hair and a boy who looks like Kay..running together in the green expanse …She smiles at them and waves her hands. She knows he understands and she does too even then a little tear escapes her eyes…The silver tear mingles with the invisible silver spiral and whispers the secret to the breeze and the atmosphere bursts into a green ballet.