Short Story: A Forest in Us

In this short story, Swati Basu Das narrates a tender tale of childhood, dreams and human aspirations.

A forest breathes in us…..

In the depths of that forest, where dappled sun rays kiss the moss and ferns, and a sliver of pious moonlight glazes the foliage, thorns lie quietly nearby the blooming bluebells.

That day, on a zesty late afternoon, where a forest thinned giving way to a cityscape, the morning sunlight dazzled the streets, and the night sky woke to the glowing city lights, twelve-year-old Mishti walked down the stairways, ran through the corridor of her home, wearing a pink frock. Her steps halted in front of her grandma’s room. The ankle-length silk dress she wore, twirled with every step she took. Its pink colour made her look like a soft cotton candy swaying gently as a balmy breeze caressed her. The intricate lacework along its hemline brushed her ankles. Her sequined dress beamed in the golden hour of the day, as did her dreamy russet brown eyes. She peeked through the ajar door. Her one hand grabbed three dresses – a brilliant red frock, a multi-coloured long-sleeved boho crochet top, and a midi – while the other clenched the fabric of her sequined pink frock, which crumpled under her grip. She stood quietly, watching the ladies, children, and her grandma through the narrow slit of the door hinges.