Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.
- Hal Borland
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The little Nayasa had never ever thought of that such a day would also come in her life. From life in lush green slopes of Western ghats, which once use to be her play arena, canopies of jungle which were her dearest grocery store, eternal wild sky which acted as roof for the whole clan, where the leafs of mighty trees showcased her dwelling and the surredered and leftovers of nature as her bed and blanket. To a life inside dark tinged room, moist floor and water tickling asbestos. For others it would have been just a pity dense place, a mere prison cell but for Nayasa it was the only place left for survival. From a life full of freedom, full of enthusiasm, without any rules, without any limits, boundation and restrictions to a life inside four walled room. Nayasa was all shattered turned out to be a hopeless, moribund creature. This was the destiny of Nayasa. Her journey from evergreens of Western ghats to prison cell.
The life of prison was tough, hostile & merciless. Nayasa had to leave her daily habits of jungle, she had to mould herself into a all new being. From glaring the rising sun to diving in fresh water lakes. She missed playing hide and seek in woods. But now the things were changed, she left all this things in her past life, just a rough and hazy sketch was now portrayed in her memories. Prison cell now offers just a glimpse of rising sun. As the peeping hole from damaged wall of her cell allow this much only. It was the only means to witness the morning sun, to feel the fresh breeze, hear songs of poor Parsi camel man crossing close to her cell every morning, sunset she couldn't witness as the nature doesn't allow the giant ball to rise and set both in East. She could just, wished.
Last weekend somehow she managed to protect her only window from the cell repairer's or the so called 'constructive' workers. For authorities it was a mere repairing work but for her it would have been the biggest 'disaster' possible. She would have lost her only hope left. It was not just a hole in the wall it was the replica of her days of freedom. It gives a bit of strength in her days of suffering.
Nayasa's life is now being governed by the 360 degree turns of the cosmic clock. As the giant ball surpasses her window she being served by leftovers of Hilsa and bread crumbs. As the ball reaches exactly overhead, she being trained to walk on ropes, sometimes to ride a bicycle or balance herself on a ball. When the giant ball turns red & it is just one palm distance above the horizon a makeup artist covers her tears with a fake white smile. With red nose and curly blue-yellow sometimes green-purple hair Nayasa looses her true identity. She was forcefully pulled to be a part of something she doesn't like. She couldn't even recognize herself when she saw her replica on floor's water. This was now her daily life cycle.
One day Nayasa requested the cell keeper to take her out of the cage for a while. Seeing her pain and agony he being a little kind and allowed her to go out in the open area, with keen eye on her. The sun was about to set, shadows we're getting longer, everything around, trees, the old light house, electric fence everything turned golden with the rays of sun. It was one of the most beautiful sunset Nayasa had ever witnessed or she just felt so because this was her maiden sunset after the catastrophe. Nayasa sat on the ground, watching the giant ball to dive below the horizon. The solidity of the moment was interrupted by an inclement noise. Nayasa tried to found the source of the subject. It was coming from a conical tent standing close to her cell. She took her little step closer to it. In the amidst of process as she reached the tent, she stood next to the door, and peeped in. Her eyes witnessed something unique that day, something truly different which she had never seen in jungle ever before. She saw a giant mighty elephant above him was a 3 feet tall man with weird cloths and curly hairs. Lion the king of jungle, even they bow to these giant creatures in jungle. Here, was being governed by a little man, close to him was a small rabbit practicing hard to jump in and out of a ring of fire, the king was on chair, a dog performing body stretch. She had never seen such weirdest activities being performed by animals ever before. She ran back to her cage.
That night had something unique in it. She was sitting in her cell close to the so called window which she had managed to protect somehow earlier. Physically she was captivated but her mind was still chasing butterflies in forest, remembering her falls from trees, her family, friends. Her deep dream got a little jerk when she heard friction of Paw's over dried leafs. As she turned around she saw a group of animals which she saw in the tent earlier that evening, all standing right behind her cage. The Australian albatross, to the royal Bengal tiger, a Himalayan goat to brown bear, a little rabbit with a white pig all were their. Seeing a little mice riding the Royal giant she couldn't understand what kind of a place is this. Nayasa was confused.
The tigress called her- come here, don't be afraid - we all are friends here. She introduced everybody Felix(the cat), Toothless (the pig), Mufasa(the goat)wilbour(the pig), DO(the mice) & my name is Shere(the tigress). What is your name Shere asked?.In a shrill voice she replied my name is Nayasa. Shere nodded and asked to tell about herself. Nayasa added -I am 4 years old from the evergreens of Western ghats. Humans brought me here. I use to live happily with my family and friends. We had everything to be happy for. One day me and my friend Zampa were collecting berries for dinner close the big water(a dam) then all of a sudden we heard a loud noise it was indeed an extremely loud one, the wall of big water cracked and flooded the whole jungle my friends, my family, Zampa. I lost everything, everybody. Some how I saved myself. The last thing I remember was Zampa drowning, he was mourning in pain. I tried to save him but couldn't and gradually he was out of my sight. When I opened my eyes & got the consciousness back, I found myself lying on the edge of a river, my body was amalgamated in sand and mud. I had several injuries. I could hardly move. My limbs we're broken. Then came two humans, they saved me and brought me here. I don't know which place is this. I don't how this mice is riding a tiger and how the prediator and prey are all living together. Why that bearded man force me to walk on a rope everyday. Nayasa was frustrated & confused. Shere calmed her down and answered all her queries. She said you are in 'The Great Royal Indian Circus' and we all live and work here as a team. We all have somewhat similar stories. I came here two years ago and since then, I work here. With the passage of time I was joined by many, everyone from different corners of the world and now it's your turn. I know it's tough but life has given you a second Chance, Nayasa try to be happy at least you are alive think about others of your forest. Zampa, your family. You are lucky.
They left.
After several days & nights that night she finally slept. She was quite placid that night.
Nayasa stepped out of her sleep when the sun rays kissed her from the window she was hiding from the prison authority. She ate the bread crumbs and moved to everyone for practice. Nayasa was being trained for riding a bicycle that day, it was the last tough thing she could have ever imagined off. She could hardly hold the bicycle properly, riding it was far beyond her imagination. But seeing others work, she motivated herself. She tried and tried and tried. Felt down as many as hundred times. And another try.
After the hectic session of practice, later that evening Nayasa was heading towards her cell. The little Nayasa was quite young and unhabiteual of handling such pain. She was crumbling towards her cell. Her body was literally screaming loud in pain. As she reached close to the cell her eyes stuck over something, something really unique lying close to her cell. She had never seen something like this ever before. She gradually took a step closer to it. With enough confidence, somehow she managed the guts to pick the stuff up. She was trying to understand what is it, in the process she noticed a small button at the right corner of the piece, as she pressed it a glittering flash, spark of florocent white light blurred her vision. She could hardly see anything. She threw it away. Rubbing her eyes trying to get her vision back to normal state. Nayasa was bombshell with the impact. After a minute or two somehow she gained the consciousness back, curiosity drove her close to the thing again. As she picked the stuff again she saw a image in the object similar to the replica which she gets every time she looked down in water. She couldn't understood what it is and how it's working. The whole night she repeated the same thing again and again, her eyes goes blur for a minute and then she clicked again. And then again. She was now enjoying the act. She forgot the trauma of practice. Making different faces, with every possible angles she simply kept on clicking & rubbing her eyes each time. The comic trial lasted whole night.
Next morning the Hilsa & crumbs distributer saw a camera lying inside Nayasa's cage. As he picked it up he was almost flabbergasted to see so many pictures of Nayasa & that to selfies. He asked Nayasa about the pictures and how she did it. She was now a bravura of handling that piece she found last night. At once she showed her new knack. The man was mesmerized, blustering in laugh, seeing Nayasa and her masterpiece. He ran to call all the trainer and other staff members. Nayasa showed her skill to everybody. All were laughing boisterously and happy like hell, extolling Nayasa.
The Great Royal Indian Circus', took it as a golden opportunity to present something innovative for the audience. The authorities announced and advertised in the whole city about "Nayasa: The MONKEY who takes selfie". It spread like a fire in jungle. The whole city was on its foot to see the monkey who takes selfie. The Great Royal Indian Circus had never witnessed such crowd in it's entire history.
Nayasa turned out to be a super star. She started enjoying her new life. New friends. And her journey from Nayasa to "Nayasa: The Monkey who takes selfie".
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