by Bhargavi Ravishankar
To push up roots, to break free of the soil.
Or to remain within, locked inside the outer shell of my macrocosmic seed.
The question doesn’t really need answering, my comfort zone means everything to me.
Why then is everyone urging me to “let go”, to “blossom forth”, to “give it a shot”?
I’m happy where I am, my world is brown and black, snug and welcoming, it’s mine after all.
But. But. What if?
So I let go.
I blossom forth.
I give it a shot.
My head shakes itself free of the brown. The wonderful, warm brown. The beautiful, protecting black. I feel a slight wind caress me, and I am surprised. Is this not the world that I’ve heard spoken of before? The one that is cruel? The one that threatens, bullies, takes away and doesn’t give back? That is what I have always heard said, and what I have always believed.
Why then, is this gentle breeze cooling me with its teasing fingers? Why then, is a glowing, happy sun warming me with its shining arms? Why indeed?
I am afraid. I can’t look up. What if the wind turns into a gale and uproots me? What if the sun gets angry and scorches me? I can live all my life just looking down at the earth. My earth. And I can be happy where I am, my world is green and brown, moist and nurturing, it’s mine after all.
But. But. What if?
So I look up.
I see the blue expanse all around me, waiting for me to reach out my tendrils and touch its softness.
I see the greenery of all my elders and betters, grinning down at me and whispering softly “Move along, now, you have quite a long way to go”.
I see the colours of the flowers, red, pink, orange, violet, preening and swaying, calling out to me “Look at the ground, and how will you ever get to be as stunning as we are?”
I smile. The wind will be my friend. My tree-friends will reach down to pull me up. The sun will smile at me, willing me to smile back at him. The flowers will taunt me into becoming the most astonishing creature I can ever become. I can see my future welcoming me and it makes me glad. I will be happy where I am, my world is colourful and vivid, beautiful and promising, it’s mine after all.
Bhargavi Ravishankar is an Advertising Copywriter, now freelancing and working as a creative consultant while being a full-time mom to a mischievous two-year-old. She finds creativity in all the world around her, from travel to reading, from interior design to cooking, from watching movies to inane discussions on the meaning of life – everything is a source of interest and beauty to her.
very nicely written! Kudos!