Shadows

We walk by numerous things in a day. They might get our attention or might not. Our attention is caught by things which are relevant to us. However, relevance does not always lead us to correct meanings of those things.  We observe a new leaf on a plant, or a wall besides it. We observe a child and his clothing. We observe a pole and its dullness. But, what we do not observe is their shadows and what they say. Do shadows speak in real? It depends whether we try to hear them or not.

Today, a wall came into my notice. The originally white wall was now ugly-red. “Stop you humans, stop spitting on me”, it said screaming while I stared at its shadow ignoring the wall. “I am not your public toilet or a spitting-spot; I also want my beauty back”, it continued. It was becoming intolerable for me since I had no answers. I started walking around and I saw another shadow waiting for me. He was a child of 8 or 9 years, wearing torn and dull clothes, carrying a garbage bag on his shoulders which seemed very light to him. We both had a huge financial gap; on the contrary, he looked happier than me. He was very cheerful. His smile had something which caught my sight. Behind that smile was a gloomy shadow of him which was living in dreams of a meaningful life. His shadow resembled the future of our country.

Moving on by many such grief-stricken shadows, there stood a shadow besides them even though it was not one of them. He was a well educated man of our society. Sharing the sorrow of sorrowful, cheering with cheerful he played with his mouth organ. I have heard about him before through the news. He was “metro’s melody man”, who after his daily routine makes the heart of everyone smile with the melody of his instrument. I captured him in my camera, smiled and continued my every day journey in a hope that others too may notice these shadows.

~StoryTeller