The eye of paradise adorned the enigmatic trees, revealing the masked secrets within the hickory brown bark followed by a trail of virescent moss that writhed around. It’s rigidness and creases cried out sap that reflected the fluorescent light, glinting and glimmering like pools of scintillating diamond dust. Exhilarating, iridescent mist caressed the zestful sprouts. The forest’s charismatic yet haunting ballad entranced me; it radiated opulence and charm. Only the harmony of nature filtered the pensive silence that overhung and in the atmosphere. A hollow echoing entombed the forest. Closing your eyes grants the forest to claim your body, allowing the palliative and vivid aroma of nature, from the lush soil to the willow bark to cleanse your soul and drift into infinity. The forest was alive. 

Laid amongst the piled up rotten mangoes at a corner of the street, on a broken vendor’s cart, packed to the point that putrid mango juices bathed me from all sides and my flesh pierced out of my skin revealing my seed to the boiling atmosphere. Undisturbed by the detestable situation, I gazed at mankind that sweat profusely walking on the coarse, asphalt roadway, that was scraped to the core, revealing the little stones that rolled in the sand each time a heavy foot step was forced on them. 

Sweat beaded on the forehead of the driver that came by to drop off chirping school children in a bitter gourd green and mustard yellow van adding colour to the ambience; bags on the van’s roof collided with each other as tyres struggled to cope with the broken road, checkering the earth with wheel prints alongside smears of petrol that bled from the guffawing engines of vehicles.

Retailers stepped out of their congested, dilapidated stores to skip the suffocating air that circulated inside and sat on cracked footpaths with ends shaved off violently. Radiant, freshly washed, drenched clothes shedded tears as they dashed down towards the wrinkled, dusky foreheads of vendors giving them momentary pleasure in midst of the striking winds that held humidity like a sponge absorbs water. While the fresh water was welcomed, tenacious sweat particles trickling down the roasted man’s neck was irritably rubbed off with a disintegrating piece of damp fabric staining the skin poppy red.

It seemed as if all the sounds in the world had come to a reunion: the deafening chaos made ears split as if you were standing under a blaring speaker. Swarms of people climbed on top of each other as vendors and shopkeepers yelled prices of commodities as auctioneers perspiring shoppers wove their way skillfully by locating minute spaces between people and squeezing through. Exasperating women bargained at the top of their voices as they proudly bared the torture of the flamed market which roared with rage as shops and streets became further packed with passing time. Cars, tuk tuks and unbalanced bikes tried to surmount as they carelessly honked to the river of people ahead who ignored the vehicles, resulting in a snail-like slow, discontinuous drive increasing the cloud of smoke emitted into the atmosphere making it a dusty desert.

Honking, shouting, clinging and bargaining all faded with light as night approached. Seldom has anyone seen the roaring market sleeping at night, lifeless and silent as an extinguished bonfire. The true beauty of silence awoke as people silently closed the shutters of their shops and prepared to advance to their homes just as the owner tucked us in a white, cool, cotton blanket putting all my pulpy companions to sleep.

Beneath the sky was an enormous field of mossy green grass, spread out like a well maintained green carpet. Two rows of trees of different shapes and sizes sprouted from the ground, with both green and red leaves that covered the branches like tons of bushes on one tree trunk, which framed a tan and slightly rocky pathway. Some trees, however, looked quite dull and lifeless. Those trees also framed another path, but this pathway was instead, dark and a bit creepy. Therefore, no one dared to go near those trees. Despite the beauty and bushes of leaves of most of the trees, each and every tree barely provided any shade. 

In the distance, the view of a building was blocked by some of the trees, what seemed to look like an abandoned castle. Although it was abandoned, the castle looked like it was in perfect shape. Every intricate detail of each tower was extremely noticeable. The pathway framed by the dull and lifeless trees led to that castle. 

Multiple families comfortably sitting socially distanced on the massive green carpet. Each family brought along a couple of things with them: bicycles, food, their puppies and others. As they were sitting down, they joyfully chatted with one another. Occasionally, some of them seemed to be playing games. Different shades of grey shadows were created by them and the trees depending which way the sun shone. 

As the day was setting, and its warmth disappeared, a burst of cold air softly blew through the woods. The leaves shivered, hanging on to the last hours of heat and comfort of the day, when the last ray of sun finally found its way through the thick forest, towering the trees. The light was so bright, the leaves gleaned in the sun, of a rich yellow, almost golden, hanging above the dark green woods like stars in a pitch black night sky. 

In the distance a majestic owl plummeted into the woods, balancing itself in the air, scouting for a place to spend the night. The air was rich with an earthy and natural smell of leaves. The wind started to howl, shaking vigorously the branches and dropping their leaves to the ground without a sound, like fragile and shiny snowflakes on christmas day. The leaves swirled softly to the ground, dancing to the rhythm of the wind, and singing a soft soothing melody in the depths of the forest.

The owl stopped and landed on an old, dark oak tree, alertly surveying its eerie yet peaceful surroundings. The haunting shadows of twisted branches darted across the mossy floor, laying a carpet of darkness and mystery, that the creepy woods silently rested upon.

On the side of the disordered street, innocent children played in a carefree way getting their school uniforms drenched in mud and dust. All the stress and rules at school were let loose here. On the other side of the street, respected, carefree cows lay down feeding their calves. People walked around them without objecting or feeling annoyed.