Sunday 18 September 2016

BARR house, Verandah in the forest


I sit on the branch of a tree, deep in the forest of Matheran, overlooking a heritage bungalow called the BARR house. As i wait, to touch the ground i see many objects move around in distance and nearby. The Verandah, is the epicenter, having witnessed many people and events. Its now my chance to be part of this.

Sitting in front of me are strangers, who lift a cup and put it to their lips, chew something, the fogg is heavy so i guess, it must be evening time. Men in same coloured clothes bring them plates full of different things, which they gobble. As two depart, five more arrive. They talk loudly, while one man in red uniform, takes guard with a catapult, scaring monkeys who are jumping around me.



Soon light changes, people disappear--indoors, while some pass by me, shouting lets go to the lake. There is a lake by the name Charollet, close to where i am, sometime later a group arrives, saying 'ohh the water was cold' but the fall was awesome.

The girls in the group shiver, some pose below me and use flash lights, while some just make different faces and click themselves. I am unable to understand my beauty hanging by a branch but for them i am pretty.
 As darkness comes the Verandah turns yellow, people keep coming in and going out. Soon there is complete silence, an insect crawls on top of me, a neighbor falls on the ground, while i continue to hold on.

As darkness grows, lights switch off, for hours no one whom i can see. Then morning returns i see the same people and many more coming on horseback with luggage bags.While my objects of study are leaving and exchanging good byes with persons in uniform. 

As i prepare to restart my study on new arrivals a monkey jumps on me, forcing a 'drop of water' sitting under the branch to fall and be part of the already wet mud.