Shining through the windows of dew drops on the leaves and birds chirping in and around marks the fragrance of Ravi. Ravi: The Banyan tree isn't just a religious tree for devotees but also, a part of our extended family and our hearts. Ravi has been sown by Anni; my grandmother, two decades ago. Anni's soft hands would nurture Ravi everyday along with an exchange of serene conversation of love.

As seasons flied by; Ravi grew-up into a toddler, and so did Gauri; Gauri my sister. Every morning I woke-up to see the trio: Ravi, Anni and Gauri playing and giggling together. Anni would make a swing out of the ropes and tie it untill the tallest branches of Ravi. There were times even, when Anni made Gauri crawl till the highest top of Ravi. Ravi, in fact is a home of hundreds of birds and all I saw how every evening Anni and Gauri would rejoice together to the mesmerizing sight of the beautiful birds resting on the branches of Ravi.

Ravi acted as an umbrella of shade, safeguarding people from the scorching rays of the Sun. Children all around from the neighborhood would play under Ravi only to discover that, there were stairs beneath the ground. Fascinatingly, no one knew the mystery of those stairs and it felt veracious to let the unsolved mystery, undiscovered.

Now, whenever I'm cold and numb, I turn back to relish the tales of Ravi, Anni and Gauri; sometimes I feel that twenty long years has gone within a blink of an eye. Gauri has grown-up and isn't my little Gauri anymore. More saddening is that, even Anni has gone faraway from us but all I could feel her is in between Ravi's arms.

Now, whenever nostalgia strikes me I find myself beneath Ravi. A single touch of Ravi makes me alive and relishes the loving memories of Anni and Gauri, leaving behind a bittersweet curve in my heart, left to be imprinted forever.