I am what I could be and what I had to be in any case.
Standing in the Football ground of Karachi University for years like a fully grown and mature, shady tree, I had given to everyone whatever I had and I am still to ready to give whatever I have.
But, now I am getting old and this year my leaves fell very early autumn in the start of October. People stopped sitting under me because I was not able to give them a soothing shade anymore. All of my neighboring trees still had leaves which fell very late when winters finally arrived.
I was not hopeless, I believed I will get the leaves back once winters go away and spring arrives but my expectations were not fulfilled. January passed and February started, all of the neighboring trees were getting leaves back, the spring was arrived but I was still alone with no leaves and no color at all.
I satisfied myself; it happens, soon I will get my leaves back and will be green like I am always; and waited.
March arrived; no leaves at all.
Standing in middle of the other trees, with bare hands, bare palms, bare fingers I was like a useless, lifeless, and purposeless thing in the world. The neighboring trees advised me, not to be worry for the leaves and to claim myself old, but I was not ready to admit.
I said; I am hopeful, I am alive and life means hope; If I would have become old then why would have I lived then? Why I can still feel the fragrance of the fresh breeze that strike to my body and wants to stay in the thicky branches full of leaves? Why I can still feel the perfume of the unseen roses that live in the soul of my green leaves.
Why I haven't become senseless and lifeless if I am old.
All trees laughed; Oh oldman, you are not in your senses, keep dreaming for the leaves and make your life miserable in the eternal, and endless wait.
April arrived; everyday when I used to open my eyes, my hope was drowning in the profound darkness of the hopelessness but I didn't let other trees feel that.
I prayed; Oh Almighty, if I am old and can't give shade and colors to others then send the death to me but never leave me in this hopelessness for the rest of my life. I don't want to live a worthless life, Oh my Creator, give me back my dress or cut the pulse of my life, I don't want to live an undressed, bare handed life.
April passed; and I was about to lose my hope.
Then in the middle of the April, when one day I woke up in the morning; I looked a leaflet was born on my shoot branch. It was so tiny, yellow in color but it gave me my hope back and I believed I am still worthy to live what is called life.
Now its May; and I am loaded with thick bunches of leaves, tiny flower buds. I am not bare handed now, I have got back the jewelery of mine.
People come and stay, they love my shade. I give them peace when they walk from the silver jubilee gate towards Azadi chowk and burning sunlight burns them, they sit under my shade, rest for few minutes and then move forward towards their destinies, I am nothing for them as they perhaps wouldn't feel my importance but I don't care.
I am happy that at least I am not useless and purposeless.
All trees are surprised, they didn't believe my leaves appeared in the end of the April and they are now fully grown in May; they need to be surprised because they don't know the power of hope and belief.
Nobody knows; I am the hope of life.
Note: The picture was taken in March. Now in May the same tree has countless leaves on it.
