Flower Power
Yesterday when I was jogging, at one particular curve on the path near a railway station the scent of roses filled my senses. I looked in the direction where I thought it came from and to my delight I saw that on both sides of my path, between the wild shrubs were plants laden with roses- pink and yellow. Each branch was bent with their weight. But can roses ever be a burden?- even to the plant that they belong to? A lot of images and words flashed through my mind in complete filmy style. A lot of them actually belonged to those movies which I had watched mesmerised as a child. I stopped for a minute to breathe in that scented air. I noticed that there were many passer-bys but hardly did any of them give these beautiful flowers a second look. If it were in India, these plants would’ve been stripped off the flowers in no time. Roses are special but I’ve also seen people stealthily climb over a neighbour’s compound for a single red Hibiscus or try to bring down a son-chapha by pelting stones at the tree or rip off a handful of shevanti and run way. It is interesting to note that none of these painstakingly obtained flowers are meant for the flower pot. They end up either adorning the crowing glory of some brightly clad lady or as a part of an offering to one of the 330 million Indian Gods! They are a part of all our festivals and special occasions and not to forget the mention of Rose Days, Teacher’s Day, Valentine Day and other such days.
I remember Dadars’ Phool-Bazar and my numerous trips to it. I didn’t mind the crowd, the screaming vendors or the dirt. My senses have feasted on the vibrant colours, fragrance and textures and I was always tempted to take home more flowers than what I’d planned to. A beautiful bunch of colour co-ordinated carnations or lilies, a riot of colours in a basket of gladioli, tube roses and gerbera or the simple sweet fragrance of mogra ka gajra or the radiant zendu or genda! Flowers are such a pleasure to give or receive.
BTW I wonder what should a person who loves flowers be called?- a flower fan – a flower lover :) Whatever that is, I am that!
