The Pond That Was!!

Shallow waters are noisy and deep waters are silent. As noisy as the three brats playing in the water. Maybe that's why, the younger the person, he is wild and the older the being he is mild.

Obviously, the Ponds water was so tempting that the boys had to go in wash off the grime and dirt accumulated since the day broke out. The three muskateers, as they were fondly called were rag pickers. After the day's work was over, would move to their favourite place to swim, play and enjoy their time together. They loved that spot and it became a habit with them.

It was as if the pond waters were beckoning them and enjoying their pranks.

One day as they were playing in the waters, ripples appeared and a faint shadow was also visible. Out of curiosity, one of the boys tried to move closer, and just then a scaly head brushed along the surface of the water and sensing danger the other two boys called out to run for safety.

As they approached the banks, they were puffing and panting and patting themselves from coming out from the jaws of death literally.

And then on the three boys never ever came to play here.

It was as if the wetland body missed the mirthful chatter of the boys and started becoming more and more silent by the day. The gurgle, the ripples, the bubbles, the rustle, the chirp and the quack all lost their sway.

Years down the lane, the three musketeers visited their favourite spot only to find the traces of a dried up water body. They felt very sad. The three of them sat down silently as if in respect to the pond.

In their own minds, they were reliving their childhood days. It was as if they could hear their own laughter, their quarrels, their banter and pranks.

It was as if every leaf, every tree every branch, every stone was a witness to their escapades.

Today with heavy hearts they bid farewell to their favourite spot and thanked the pond, the water body for saving their lives as they felt that there was a special bond between them which only they could understand.