Been on many train journeys
And here I am, yet on another.
As a child, I was impatient to reach my destination.
Now I love the journey more.

The station bustles with people.
Coolies carry heavy suitcases,
Children run around with their parents keeping up with them,
Young teens walk around searching for eatables.
There is a film song in the background
And an announcement blares from the speakers for passengers to catch their trains.

When I was young none of this mattered, but now as I look around me
At the people moving here and there,
I realize I am so small.
The world is very large.
There are so many moving in and moving out. I am one of them too.
So many people here, so many stories.

And then my mother catches my hand.
"Where are you lost?"
I am tempted to answer,
"We are all lost in this vast world."
But I answer, "Oh, its that new film poster there." I point to some wall.

We locate our train and our seats.
I take the one near the window.
Time passes and I hear the train's horn. One more journey to undertake!

My city now lies far behind.
It is night-time and I see a few flickering lights.
Out from the company of high-rise buildings and vehicles,
The train welcomes to the cool breeze of forests and fields.
I can't make out the fields clearly
But the trees appear distinct.
Some appear tall and majestic,
Boasting their healthy branches.
Some appear short and crooked.
No worries, they would be safe from storms.

The train stops in the middle of a forest.
A little boy of five groans,
"Oh no, train go go go.."
I smile. Once it was me.
There are many busy in talking with friends and family.
Some are eating and some greet sleep.
I hear the forests whisper.

The air buzzes with sounds of crickets
And somewhere I hear leaves rustle.
They try to tell me something
But I don't speak the language of nature or do I?
What are they trying to tell me?
Are they telling me about my destination? Do they know some secrets? I don't know.

Yet, it's good to hear even when you can't understand.
The trees are happy that I listened to them. A branch dangles as if it hears some music.
But their communication breaks apart.
Another train rushes past by.
And on my palm lands only
A single green leaf.

The single green leaf away from its own company of leaves comes to me.
It has a shiny glow and softness
That I touch my cheek with it.
What does this leaf say?
"I reprsent you. You are no different than me. Just as I am a single leaf of a big branch, so are you a leaf of the cosmic tree."

I keep the leaf in my pocket
Wondering if the voice I heard was imagination or not.
It must be, right? Leaves can't speak.
I hear the voice again.
"You hear me. You hear nature. Understand nature, your mother. Understand me, I am you. Understand yourself."

Worried I shut my eyes close.
Closing the window, I turn to my family.
They are talking about a new film.
Forgetting the leaf, I begin chatting with them.