The Shade

The boy was aimlessly starring at the leaves which were giggling and whispering amidst the naughty currents of wind. He slightly shifted his head so as to dodge the sunlight from falling directly into his eyes. Small grasses which were still hiding their moisture crushed beneath him as he lay there under the comfort of the shade the cashew nut tree was providing.
The school has closed for the summer vacation and after the exams these much awaited holidays were a blissful period. He and his younger brother always had much fun with their various engagements. Away from the books, they would parade over the long boundary wall around their home during the shady evenings. They would trek through the slippery slopes under the shades of ‘kattadi’ trees and collect its hard and spiky seeds. They would fight ferociously among themselves as great warriors with the ‘stick’ sword and delude of the grandiosity they would have if were born in an earlier time. Every summer vacation has something new to adore and ponder with.
The boy always liked the trees, especially the cashew nut tree as it was easy to climb upon. He would sit on its branches for hours and day dream in epic proportions. That day he had decided to lay beneath the shades of the tree. Sun was at its offensive but he was safe and comfortable under the care of his ‘friend’. His brother had preferred the comfortable bed inside the house for the afternoon nap. As always the boy took his break into the calmness and solitude of the trees outside, afternoon sleep never being his thing.
Between those detached moments he heard the digging sound nearby. Anandettan, the worker has started his afternoon round of work. He was digging small pits to plant the coconut seedlings in the extreme corner of the plot. Boy curiously rose and hopped through the shades of the trees to the digging site. Away from the shades now the sun was taking its revenge on the boy. He loosened his buttons and hung the collar of his little shirt over his head.
Anandettan was digging the second pit now. His black muscular body was drenched in sweat. The boy squatted near the margin of the pit and watched the powerful iron digger hitting hard over the reddish soil. He watched how the clumps of mud were loosened from its base with each stroke and how it scattered into small pieces. Anandettan watched the boy with a smile and queried-- " You didn't go to sleep...?"
The boy nodded in negation. Sun was still trying to reach the tender face of the boy which he had cleverly hid under his loosened shirt.
" Why don't you bring me a cup of water dear...... its quite hot out here. Isn’t it?"
Boy ran and came back in a hurry with the cup of water as he didn't want to miss any of the action.
" Anandetta... why are you digging these pits...?" He asked as he took his position again close to the margins of the pit.
" Dear one... We will plant those coconut plantings we have here... they will grow and give you good 'elaneeru'( tender coconut)".
The action was continuing with mud and rock crumbling into small bits, power stroke and gracious touch alternating to shape the perfectly square pit. Sweat was flowing from the burned and tired forehead of the worker. But his calloused hands were powerfully striking the ground with the heavy weapon persistently without any signs of tiredness.
" Go inside the house , son..... Its very hot out here. Sun will burn your beautiful face..." -said the worker with utmost love.
" Are you not feeling the heat...Anandetta..???" The boy retorted as he further covered his head with the collar of his shirt.
" No my dear... This sun can do no harm to me..."
The boy frowned in disbelief.
" I have a boy like you at home and the joy he will have every evening when I go to him with a pair of toffee shades me from this wretched sun..." Worker uttered, smile still cornering his lips.

The boy couldn't quite understand the tenderness in the words of the worker, but was anyway happy as he remembered the chocolate that his father had promised to bring him that day evening.
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