WaNt

He tried reaching the branch, but even on his tippy-toes, he was a clear couple of meters away from the closest leaf. He jumped; but still fell short… just short though. He tried jumping a few times again, every time in vain. He went a few steps back, and ran up and jumped, but he could not grab the leaf, he only managed touching it with his fingertips. He mustered motivation, and tried again, and again. After five attempts, he dropped his shoulders, looking at the tree, the leaf, the sky, and his surroundings. He sat on the earth, looking at the leaf and after sometime, said “I want you.” A hard wind blew, and the leaf swiveled, being violently pushed to either side by the gush of air. His hair flew with the wind as well, but he wore a smile on his lips - the smile of hope. The wind stopped, and the leaf returned to its stillness. Hope turned to disappointment. One more time, he said “I want you.” Neither the leaf, nor the tree, nor his environment responded. After a while, he stood, went back a few paces and tried grabbing it again by jumping. He tried, and he tried, and he tried… and failed. He was finally tired and dejected. And made his way back home.

On the way home, he stopped at a pond, and grabbed a lotus near the shore. He looked at the lotus and said “It’s not you I tried for. I wanted the leaf. But it appears I was not meant to get it. You on the other hand, were waiting for me near the shore. You are beautiful and I will love you. Because I have love to give and I need to give love. So you will have to bear with me. I’m sorry.”

The boy hugged the lotus and caressed it as he walked home.