Watching the sky while floating on water was his favorite thing nowadays.... He used to spend all his afternoon in the pool. Today he couldn't spend 30 minutes, the restlessness grew more intense.
"I think I'll go out of the city for some days. Where to go? Any trekking? No, that team of mine are chatter boxes, it will not be peaceful. River rafting? No, I may not be able to concentrate at present situation, I may hurt myself. Then what to do?
Hey Granny…I miss you so much....why not visit our farm lands, it's been ages. Hmmm, that sounds cool" Prakruth decided to go to his grandparents farm house.
As he decided, he swam up the pool, took the shower and left. He called his father on the way, he didn't pick up as usual. He didn't care to call mom, instead texted them that he's going to Farm house, will be back in a couple of weeks.
A while later as he was packing his stuff on to a backpack, his father called him....
"Hello, Prakruth, is it necessary for you to go?"
"Yes Dad" he answered politely.
"Why not join some friends for a road trip, I'll arrange the car for all of you" he suggested.
"No Dad, I want to spend time alone" he sounded pale.
"Are you depressed or something?? What's this alone and all?" said Dad raising his voice.
"Dad chill, I want some break from this city and I just don't want same faces around again. Let me have some Me Time for self-realization…" Prakruth intended on going alone.
"Ok keep calling me n mom, whenever you get time away from me time" Dr. Murthy hung up in anger.
"Basically he didn't want me to go to Farms, that might be below his status that his son is spending summer in a village" said Prakruth to himself. He continued to pack and loaded the luggage on to the car. Driver helped him and also opened the door at back, Prakruth closed it and asked him "Keys"
"Babu???" he questioned in dismay.
"Chacha, I'll drive myself and I also need the car in the village. You can't stay there for months so better I go alone".... he explained calmly.
Driver scratched his head, "Don't worry, I have informed your boss" said Prakruth to ease him, hearing which he smiled sheepishly and handed over the keys.
He sat at driver seat, fastened the seat belts and turned the key, car came to life with a screeching sound but started vibrating soon, as he released the clutch it moved further. This was his first long drive. At first he felt nervous, but as he got the hold of driving, he started enjoying the ride. Their farm land was 25+ kms away from the city; it took him just 30 minutes to reach. It was located at the bank of Phalguni river, Bantwal district. He honked twice as there was no security behind the locked gate. A middle aged person came walking a furlong away, as he came closer to the gate, he came running and opened the gate in hurry and bowed at Prakruth in respect.
"I think Dad had informed him about my visit" thought Prakruth. He drove into the farm and parked in front of the farm house. A maid and a servant were cleaning the steps and portico, they too bowed at him. He just nodded.
"Saab, luggage" said the person who opened the door of the car.
"Let the house get cleaned, later we can go in. Come we'll go for a walk in the farm" Prakruth said as he wanted to go around.
"Saab, now?" that person exclaimed.
"Yes, what's wrong?" asked Prakruth.
"No, No, nothing, th... tha.. Ok we'll go" he said as he started walking in the pathway which led straight between a row of trees, alternating coconut and arecanut trees. Arecanut trees had pepper and beetle climbers running on them. Coffee plants had occupied the next plot which was at diagonal corner of this plot. Some plants had dried up completely, but after walking for some distance, Prakruth could see most of them were dried up.
"Hey stop" he called the person who was walking ahead of him.
"saab??" he questioned .
"What's your name?" Prakruth asked him.
"....Prasad Saab" he answered.
"You're newly appointed? Right? You weren't here when my grandpa was here" asked Prakruth.
"Yes Sir, manager appointed me as his assistant a year ago" Prasad replied.
"Prasad why are the climbers and coffee plants dry?? We have a river running next to our farm, in spite of it, why is the farm looking like a graveyard?"
"Saab th.. tha..that is because" he stammered.
"You people haven't taken care of it properly isn't it?" Prakruth questioned in a high tone.
"Saab, sorry saab sorry....." he fell at his feet. "Big saab never came here, manager wouldn't pay laborers properly so they have neglected this farm" he cried helplessly.
"But you and manager took salary every month right?".... Prakruth asked in sarcasm.
"....."he just nodded; Prakruth patted his back consolingly as he liked his honesty.
"When their son in front of their eyes, is under the care of cook and driver....Farm land so far is just a piece of land, why would they care. If King is careless, ministers aren't to be blamed. No wonder, these people have neglected the farm" thought Prakruth.
"It's ok, I will stay here for another six weeks, go arrange something for dinner" Prakruth said coming out of his thoughts as he walked further into the farm and sent Prasad back.
This farm was 20 acres, only 8 acres had some trees and plants, remaining area has turned into grassland. As Prakruth walked to west, he could hear the rippling water.....he followed the sound. It led him to the river banks of Phalguni. The Orange Sun had painted gold on the river surface, banks of the river had lush green patch of grass taller than him. It had some conical white flowers almost 2 feet in length adding to the beauty here.
"Ah, I just love this place, so pure, so quiet and so serene" said Prakruth in admiration. He just sat down on a rock to admire and engross his soul with the magic of nature.
"I wish I could bring my angel here and whisper into her ears that I love her. Yes, whole day I was searching the reason for my incompleteness and restlessness. Now I'm clear...she has disturbed me completely. I never believed in Love at first sight, but nature has its own way of teaching. I'm imagining all crazy things with her, I can see her making the sand house on the other bank across the river, but this time I won't destroy her creation. I will sit and observe her work instead" Prakruth went to deep thoughts.