King Winter's Visit

This chill is killing me.

"Oh really! You exaggerate."

No, I'm not! It's too cold for life. 

"Winters are to be enjoyed, not for sitting around all wrapped up."

So what is it that you want me to do?

"Get up, grab your woolens, and let's go for a walk"

Now?! In this cold? Oh my good Lord!

"Don't you oh-my-lord me. You are a lazy bum, that's what you are."

I am not!

***

"Isn't it pleasant? The sun's come up. It's nice to feel the warmth on your face. Aren't you glad you are out?"

I'm cross you tricked me into stepping out. What are you smiling for?

"Just imagining you sitting wrapped up in the blanket like a cacoon. Or a mummy. Or even a hibernating bear. And when your head sticks out, you resemble the...."

Are you done? And I don't like to walk.

"That's the best thing about winters, the walks. Just cover yourself well to protect from the cold, and walk. After some time you start feeling warm. Unlike the summers, we don't get tired."

Easy for you to say. You like both, the walks and the winters.

"I know what will cheer you up. There's a tea stall at the corner. Come, let's have a hot cup."

Now you are talking.

***

Hot cup of tea feels so good to my cold fingers. I could keep sipping tea the whole day.

"Agree."

Hot soup too would do. With lots of crunchy croutons. Making my mouth water.

"Totally."

What it with the monosyllables?

"Enjoying the hot tea on a cold morning. And now, are you getting my drift?"

About what?

"About enjoying the winters. Chilly winter morning, a leisurely walk, a hot cup of tea. Nothing beats it."

Umhh. So that is it?

"Definitely not. Winters are much more. When I was young, my grandma told me a very interesting story about winter. Want to hear?"

Sure

"It so happened that King Winter lived in the northernmost part of the north with his Queen. You can imagine how would King Winter's realm be."

Cold, chilly, icy, frozen,....

"His kingdom was beautiful!"

Beautiful? While he would be shivering with cold?

"You forget that it is his home. And moreover, King Winter doesn't feel cold, he is the cold. He creates the ice, the frost, the mist, the snow."

Ah!

"All around were ice capped mountains, towering and majestic, each mountain higher than than the other. Coated with the whitest of the white snow, shining and glimmering as the sun cast its slanting beams on the peaks. The mountains seemed to be dressed in their best, wearing a cloak of ornate mist. 

Camouflaged amongst the mountains, was the castle of the king. The icy towers were tall and stately. With windows of verglas, floor of frost and walls of black ice, the castle was decorated with icicles and snowflakes."

Isn't the castle beautiful! 

"It was a splendid sight to behold. And it's master, the King, was equally imposing. He was tall and well built. With a broad forehead, a sharp nose and jet black eyes, he was handsome to behold. His eyes sparkled when he smiled, and his curly hair seemed to have a mind of its own, bobbing up and down in every direction as he walked. He wore a cape of glittering sheer, embellished with thousands of ice crystals that seemed to glow."

Was he a stern ruler, that kind of king who would rule with an iron fist?

"He was a kind and considerate king. He loved and cared for his subjects. He would not do anything that would hurt his people. And he loved his Queen a lot too. 

One year, the Queen, expressed her desire to visit the plains. She said that she had been told that it is a very nice place to visit, and especially, during this time of the year. The monsoon season had just ended and the weather was pleasant. The King was reluctant. He knew that it was a region much different from theirs. At first he refused, but had to relent after she pleaded repeatedly."

So she came down from the mountains. Did King Winter accompany her?

"The Queen came alone. She found the weather to be very pleasant. She loved her stay here. Everyday she would walk barefoot on the dewy grass, gather flowers to decorate her hair with, sit under the tree and look at the leaves changing colour, and feel the gentle breeze in her hair. She came down for a few days, but ended up extending her stay."

Autumn is pleasant season indeed. No rains, and winter yet to set in. No wonder the Queen loved it. Then what happened? 

"Living in the mountains, with nothing but whiteness around her, she was dazzled by the colours in the plains. What's more, she could run around as much as she pleased, unlike the mountainous terrain of her home. At night she could actually count the stars and watch them twinkle, which wasn't possible back home, with all the mist clouding her view."

Looking at white all day, all year must be so tiring. But wasn't King Winter missing her?

"He was. More than he would admit. He waited patiently for her. But when she didn't return even after a few days, he got anxious. He couldn't wait any longer."

The typical husband! 

"So he sent the Northern Wind with a message, asking the Queen to return. She, in turn, convinced the Northern Wind to take a day's trip around the plains. He was enamored. So many things to blow himself around. He spent the day rustling the leaves, unsettling the petals and making waves in the water. It was a new experience for him, and he enjoyed it thoroughly. He thought it won't hurt if he stayed back a day or two."

What a dude! He came to give a message to the Queen and he himself got stuck here. The King might have been furious.

"Indeed. When the Northern Wind too didn't return, King Winter came down himself. What he saw, surprised him. He knew this land was so much different than his own kingdom, but what he saw blew his mind away. He wasn't expecting such a roit of colours, the green grass, the colourful flowers, the blue sky, and much more."

Flabbergasted he was?

"You bet! The Queen convinced him to stay on. Together, hand in hand, they strolled through the plains, having the best time of their lives. Remember, the Northern Wind was already running amok. Wherever he blew, he turned everything cold. As he passed, the flowers, the leaves and the grass shivered with the sudden change of temperature."

Oh dear! The Northern Wind didn't realise this?

"He was too happy to notice anything. But he wasn't the only one. King Winter too was causing havoc."

What did he do? He seems to be a nice bloke, unlike the Northern Wind, who seems to have lost his marbles.

"Wherever King Winter stepped, he would leave behind a trail of chill. The grass would wither under his feet. His cape, trailing behind him, touched many a flower. A few ice crystals would drop down and instantly, the ground would turn chilly. To escape the cold, the flowers closed their petals. King Winter, in an animated discussion with his Queen, would gesture with his hands. From his outstretched arms, sprinkles of iciness would spread around. The chilliness made the tree leaves quiver and slowly they began to die and fall off."

Oh my good Lord! The king caused much destruction, and he was not even aware of it. Did he notice that he was changing the landscape? Perhaps the Queen did? What happened next? 

"Let's head home. I will tell the rest of the story on the way back."

***

Continue the story, will you? You stopped at a very interesting part. Did King Winter realise that he was spreading cold all around?

"Not immediately. But when he did, the damage was done. Deep in conversation with his beloved, he was so engrossed that he didn't once glance back. Had he turned, he would have seen what was enfolding behind him." 

Did everything freeze?

"Not really. But King Winter's presence led to a change in the weather. It had turned cold. There was a mist hanging around. The colours had disappeared. The Northern Wind was blowing rapidly, adding to the already chilly atmosphere. King Winter was enjoying himself, but his presence was causing harm to the terrain."

What did he do? If you ask me, he should return immediately.

"And that's what he did. He made his way back home, accompanied by the Queen and reluctantly followed by the Northern Wind. Even though he left, the land did not return to its former self immediately."

Oh dear!

"Winter had set in, seeped deep into the ground, and it took some days for the terra firma to shake itself from its effects. But when it did come out of the chill, it blossomed like never before."

Seems like Nature had a good rest, and was back with a bang.

"That's the story of the first winter."

That's how winters started? Interesting!

"King Winter and the Queen would feel nostalgic about their visit to the plains. So the next year too, around the same time, they returned for a brief visit. But of course, he couldn't help spread some chill around."

And he returns every year. When he comes, he brings the winter season. 

"There comes a year in between when the winter season seems longer than usual. Guess what? King Winter extended his stay!"

And those days that seem extremely cold, King Winter is especially enjoying himself!

***

My toes are cold. So is my nose. Where's my blanket? I don't like winters.

"That's disappointing. I thought after hearing the story, you will think kindly about winter."

I do. Have softened a bit. But I still don't like winters.

"Well! I tried."

*********