I love Fall

It is that time of the year when leaves have started to fall from the trees and the ground is turning white. The sun sets early and the birds would return to their nests earlier than usual. The noise that the breaking leaves under my shoes make, makes me remember the days that have gone by. Kashmir looked beautiful during this time of the year. We would start wearing phiran(a long robe) to save ourselves from the biting cold and in the nights kanger (an earthen pot covered with cane sticks and filled with amber, kind of personalized heating system) would keep us warm. The smoke in the air from the burning leaves used as a supplement to the coal for the kanger would give a different tinge to the whole atmosphere and it would smell different. The skin would start drying up but it is all good because I knew I could go home. It has been 8 years now since I have seen this season in Kashmir. I go there every year but only in summer. The chinar leaves would fall everywhere making the ground appear red and some left on the trees would make them appear as if they are on fire. It has been a while since I saw those burning chinars. It is such a beautiful sight that it could take your breath away. The different colors of this season would make it very beautiful with the poplar leaves turning yellow before they embrace the dying ground . Everything about this season was charming. The school would get closed for a long cold winter break very soon. There were no exams so we could just sit around a warm cosy place and talk about almost everything and anything on earth. Each one of us would turn into experts on almost every topic be it sports, religion or politics. We used to have lots of leisure time during this season. It is the time of transition from life to the death of winter but at the same time announcing that spring is not too far away. It is like a lesson in life and it would teach us this lesson every year. Life could be full of color even if the hardships stare you into your eyes and if you brace those hardships life will greet you with the flowers of the spring. Live on and embrace this fall to rise up again.