Shalini had just received the news. She couldn’t believe it, but that’s what happens in real life. Her husband had just sent her the divorce papers. For months she had sensed his disinterest, a lack of spark in their conversations and definitely a void between them. She had heard the rumours, of people seeing him with her friend Laila at Lamb’s rock one day, at Dolphins nose the other and even atop Dodabetta peak.
She didn’t pay much heed to it for she believed in their past, when they were crazily in love with each other. They would walk hand in hand through the tea gardens adorning the sloping hill sides of emerald Coonoor, nestling among the Nilgiris. Their dreams were interwoven as were their fingers and hearts.
With a heavy heart, she wiped the tears pouring profusely, like an unabated storm, but they just wouldn’t stop. The turmoil within seemed to have finally breached the dam of her heart. At times of crisis the human heart reaches out to God, wanting to leave behind the pain. So did Shalini, praying to the Divine Mother to give her a sign that life will be fine, that she would manage.
When the tears were all wrung out of her body and soul, her puffy eyes could shed no more, she walked out of her cosy cottage; ensconced in her garden, with the rose climber around the gate and brilliant Dahlias, fragrant English roses, heavenly Jasmines and lush succulents just sparkling in the glow of the setting sun! Her feet took her down the meandering hilly road with the rolling grassy hillside stretched like a soft carpet where it melted into the green forest. They had spotted leopards here.
Lost in thought with no humans or human intrusion of any kind, Shalini kept walking, lifting one weary foot after another, hoping to be rid of all aches in her limbs and heart. She wondered if she was pained more because of heartbreak or treachery!
The silence of the changing colours of the sky at sunset was punctuated with birds calling as they flew back to roost. In the distance a dog barked somewhere. Out of the blue she was surprised to hear a whistle. Strong, loud and clear! But oh so melodious. She kept walking up the hill, wondering who it was. The whistling didn’t stop. ‘ Very cheeky’ she thought. The whistling was now like a melodious tune, with sharp trills and distinct notes. She couldn’t identify the song, but the sweetness of the melody drenched her soul. Now it had her attention. Did the person know her? Or her plight? She started walking towards the origin. As she approached quietly tiptoeing to catch the perpetrator in the act, it seemed to move away. Perplexed, she stepped forward, carefully perched on the edge of the hillside, hugging the valley. The twilight made it difficult to see clearly, as she raised her eyes Heavenwards, taking in the panoramic view of the emerald green valley under the multihued sky, the silence blanketing all in peace with just the melodious song being whistled! She found the peace and calm gently seep into her as she turned her feet homewards.
A shepherd crossed her with his motley flock, halfway down. As he wished her good evening, she enquired, ‘was it you whistling earlier on?’ Laughter gurgled as he replied, ‘No Ma, you must have heard the Malabar Whistling thrush, he has come back again!’ Shalini found tears rolling down her cheeks again… but this time they were tears of joy!
