~ AntMan ~

 I see him quite often strolling the lanes of park looking for ants and other small creatures – his only mission is to feed them to his contentment – the confinement of the park is a vast land of about 600 meters and being and octogenarian he has still strength left tread the aisle for a complete round.

He has been doing this for many years as I see him almost every day – his rapt attention is always on the ground beneath as he tries to find the anthills where he could spread wheat-flour mixed with sugar and also has a set of mash biscuits.

Knowingly or unknowingly, he is doing his and earning karmic impressions before he calls it a day from this world – the idiom “Give to Receive” is a perfect blend of his actions and his learnings in life.

His total white clearly combed hair says oodles of experience and so does the calmness and composure of his face as if he is fully satiated after going through every up and down life had thrown onto him.

Generally, I have seen him wearing the same clothes – a blue coloured kurta pyjama and having a carry-bag on his shoulders – the mystery lies therein – Mr X – as I don’t know uncle’s name, goes to his designated spot – generally trees having nests and ants having ant-hills beneath to ‘treat’ them to day’s meal – flour for the ants and biscuits, fruits and night leftovers of dinner.

The sight is worth a watch – no sooner does he arrives and makes a peculiar pooch sound, there is a vibration in the insect and birds ecosystem residing on the tree – the ants start to circle around endlessly and environment gets to vibrate of birds chirps and crows caws – as if they know that their feed has come 😊 .

Uncle has a different type of connect with his fellow beings – though both shower different language but still the emotions run the roost and there is a certainty of love and affection.

As you watch from a distance, you could see that his timeless devotion and effort day after day has borne fruit and now that he has made friends with ants, crows, birds and other flora and fauna of our neighborhood park, he is a sole personality who is mostly escorted by the canines – a tag mark which gives him a unique identity amongst many strollers.

At this fag end of his life, uncle has set his path on the principle of ‘Giving selflessly and without an expectation of any returns and rewards’ – the wisdom is a true practicality of our ancient books and philosophy of life – For all the effort he does, he is rewarded with pure love and satisfaction which is bestowed by the gestures of dogs, birds, ants, squirrels as they come running without any fear of their safety – All I can say is that Mr X is unique example of living in harmony with our fellow beings, not only humans but more so with other species – as I experience the ecstasy and calmness on his face, the idiom ‘Living in harmony’ has truly found its place in todays world of turmoil and enmity!!!