Aahaa Chennai

Some green and yellow fruits, dot the leaf litter. A group of feathered friends have succcessfully accomplished their part and left. From then on, it is simply a matter of more and more growth, as those tiny n' tender neem saplings take shape, spreading over the area, their sparkly green colour, awakening many a tired eye, plus conveying a joint statement... we are ready for a celebration of LIFE, for the Van Mahotsav - a yearly tree-planting drive, a festive occasion too. Muddied hands are itching to begin. Spades, trowels,  buckets, caps and posters are lined up.

Inching towards a record high, the sun, donning its shiny apron has begun baking my favourite lemons, turning them out with a burnt top. Hiding away from the intense heat but wanting a bit of the sun's gilt too, a visitor, cautiously spreads wings.

With the sun relentlessly scaling a peak, there's a surplus of mangoes, chikkoos, plus those pearly, white jasmine, flashy, red hibiscus and pink bougainvillea blooms but the one thing, which was missing these past months, has come back in plenty, to offer a peaceful, companionable presence, after a very short spell of rain. We aim to please... they seem to be saying.

It's an extra bright mid-morning with its familiar noises that draws me outdoors and to my surprise, I am taken back... to decades ago, to my school classroom, to a geometry lesson, with a paper, pencil... as I look down below and... gaze up, above.

What was missing in that small patch, was the touch of bright, 'come hither' colour, like that of a florists' shelf. Efforts were doubled... Quality seeds, rich soil, suitable location, best care but the small and usually,  profusely flowering plant, disappointed. Sadly, no flowers at all due to prolonged weeks of intense heat but its sunny, green leaves with their vivacious feel, reached out, to dispel the 'felt-cheated' vibes from curious eyes.