Page 16 - ECLAT 2023-2024

A Tale of Love

"I heard there was a very old tree, isn't it?" The old parrot on the oak tree always hears these words from the

mouths of people passing by. They are not wrong; there was a tree. And the parrot looked towards the

remaining stump, now in a different direction, repeating to himself, “There was a tree”.

He recalls how its branches were spread out in the blue sky. When flowers bloomed on it, birds from far and

wide came to enjoy their fragrance. I, too, came to this tree for the very same reasons. When fruits grew on it,

even the gods would marvel. Its shadow, its outstretched hands, its standing form in the air was very beautiful

against the sky. From my spot on the tree, I saw plenty for a Parrot.

A small child who used to play in the tree's shade every day, and the big tree fell in love with the little boy. The

tree had no idea of its own size, unlike humans who are aware of their status. Thus, the tree fell in love. It’s the

same love where an old man loves his grandchild. But in my eyes, that boy was an incarnation of ego. That's

why I call him ego. I'm sure the tree would not be happy if it knew about my thoughts. Even that pure

innocence can’t deceive my eyes. My experience in human society, from the time I was imprisoned in a

parrot's cage, hanging at the door of humans, to my eventual escape and finding solace in this tree, have

taught me that time will slowly kill that innocence.”

They say there is no one big or small for love. That tree fell in love with him but the branches of the tree were

up, the child was small, so the tree would bend its branches down to him, so that he could pluck the fruit and

pluck the flowers. Genuine Love is always willing to bow down. The branches of the tree would bend down

when the child came playing! And when the child plucked its flowers, the tree was being very happy. Its soul

would be filled with joy. Whenever love gives something, it becomes happy. Whenever the ego takes

something, it becomes happy.

As time passed, the boy grew up. He would sometimes sleep in its shade, eat its fruits, wear a crown of its

flowers, and declare himself the emperor of the forest. The winds blows and he sang. The tree was happy.

After some time, He also started climbing on top of the tree, swinging from its branches. He also rested on its

branches, and the tree would be very happy. Love is blissful when love becomes a shadow for someone. The

ego finds joy when it takes away one's shadow.

Eventually, as years passed by, the boy matured into a young, and as the days went on, he found himself

confronted with the demands of adulthood. As he took on new tasks, he felt a strong desire to achieve more.

He had to pass tests, he had to win friends. "Maybe it was during this time that the ambitions began to awaken

within him" The parrot observed all of this, silently examining the nature of human desires and the

consequences they bring. Indeed, as the saying goes, 'you suffer more in imagination than reality.'

I noticed a change in the boy's visits; he, who once came daily, now appeared less often. However, the tree

patiently awaited his return, hoping that he would come. Its branches seemed to call, whispering, 'Come,

come! But sometimes, the boy came, and sometimes he did not and the tree becomes sad. Love gets sad

when it cannot share. When he can't give, he gets depressed.

Then the boy grew bigger and older, and the days of approaching the tree shortened as a man grows older, it

becomes harder for him to prioritize love over ambition. The boy's ambitions kept growing.

Some says it’s normal in that age. And it’s hard to deny that all humans go through that phase, they seek

recognition and validation through their achievement.

Then one day when he was leaving from there, the tree said to him, 'Listen! His voice echoed in the wind. Why

aren't you coming? I'm waiting for you!

The boy said, "What do you have that I should come?" I want money!

The parrot watching at the boy and wondered the ego always asks, "What is there that I should come to you?"

The ego asks that if something happens, I should come. If there is nothing, there is no need to come. The ego is

a purpose. If the purpose is fulfilled, then I will come! If there is no purpose, then what is the need to come?

The tree was shocked.

If I were in its place, I would have said, “You will come only if I can give you something? I don't have the

money. This money is just man's invention; trees have not carried this disease.” The day we also have money,