The Song of the Wind
Once upon a time, in a distant village situated at the foot of a towering mountain, there lived a humble woman named Amara. Destiny had been unkind to her, snatching away her loving husband in the prime of his life, leaving her to take care of their only son. The son, Toma, was unlike other children, he was born blind. His world was encased in everlasting darkness but his heart was filled with the light of love-and the intoxicating melody of the wind.
Amara and Toma relied on the natural sounds surrounding them to understand their world. The rustling leaves informed them about the onset of a storm, the humming bees indicated the blooming of daisies, and the bubbling river reminded them of the passing seasons. But most importantly, the wind, which was the voice of the mountain, sang them stories of distant lands and unseen beauty.
Toma, especially, rejoiced the wind's song. Every whoosh of air was a brush stroke painting a vibrant picture in his mind. He loved the wind so much; he learned to play the flute to communicate with it. The melodies from his wooden flute harmonized with the wind's song, creating a symphony that resonated throughout the village. It was the sound of unity, compassion, and an affirmation of life itself.
One day, the mountain grew silent. The wind stopped singing, and a deadly stillness hung over the village. The villagers were perplexed. They turned to the village elder, a wise old man who claimed he could converse with the mountain's spirit.
The elder, after his communion with the mountain, announced, 'We have disrespected the mountain by taking more than we give. The wind has taken our plea to the mountain, but it refuses to sing until it gets an offering precious enough to make up for our greed.'
The villagers were aghast. They loved the mountain and the wind's song and wanted to rectify their mistake. Each of them offered their most valuable possession. Gold, silver, precious gems, fine silk, cattle - the mountain remained unmoved by their offerings. Panic gripped the village as days turned into weeks without the wind's song.
All this while, Amara and Toma observed the silent chaos. The blind boy decided to make an offering- his beloved flute, the only thing he considered precious. With his mother's help, he climbed the mountain. Holding his flute tightly, he whispered, 'You gifted me with the most beautiful stories and soothing sounds. In return, I offer you my flute as a token of gratitude.'
He placed his flute gently at the mountain's edge and descended. The day passed, and the night fell. Just when despair was about to overshadow their hope, a gentle gust of wind blew, and a familiar melodious sound filled the air. It was the sound of Toma's flute, carried by the revived wind, singing the song of the mountain. Joyous cheers filled the village as the melody of the flute and the song of the wind merged, creating a magnificent symphony once again.
The villagers realized their precious tangible riches could not compensate for the harmony they had disrupted. It was Toma's selfless offering and the love behind it that had the real value. The mountain had taught them a lesson of love, respect, and gratitude towards nature.
Thus, the beautiful saga of a blind boy who could 'see' the essence of life better than anyone else became a legend in the village. Through his flute's song, Toma had not only brought the wind's melody back but also ignited a spark of wisdom in every villager's heart.
The story of Amara, Toma, the wind, and the mountain is whispered by the winds, even today. Whenever there is silence, one just has to listen closely to hear the wind's song, telling a tale of kindness, harmony, and the simple boy who could paint with its tunes.