Aahaa Chennai

Inching its way up a delicate stalk, brushing the curved edges of beckoning boats of green, fine tuned by an artistic sun, tiptoeing over intricate  whorls of  light orange hued petals, each tucked in a specific way, translating to an elegance that reaches out and overwhelms, the 'Good Morning' smile clambers up, double quick, tickling the  glistening red stigma , drifts through the air wooing the facial muscles, recharging  inbuilt 'feel good' batteries, initiating the beginnings of an involuntary smile, the moment you pause for a look. Your morning begins... anew, when you let drop those packs of smiles. The 'Good Morning' smile... it's definitely contagious.

Pausing for a minute to gaze at a strong and  'been there long' tree trunk. Admiring a caring being, who has put in a lot of thought plus 'heart and soul' into saving  a tree, a playmate during childhood years, whispering... 'I am there for you,' a witness to the ups and downs of lives in the vicinity, murmuring ... Hey! I am still there, saved from the swing of an axe, by the simple process of making an alteration to the structure of the nearby wall. Nature has a dream... if only everyone, would stop, take a second look and initiate steps to protect the many vulnerable existing giants.

Help! The curry leaves are  flying about. Finally, they are caught, sorted, cleaned and the aroma of the 'curry leaves' spread, pushes the tip of the tongue to the 'fast track' mode. Meanwhile... 'the-will-not-go-away' odour of an orange-jaggery mix, that wafts its way through foliage, tall walls and curtained windows, a sort of tweaked marmalade, eliciting enquiries...'what's cooking?' from down the road, all speak of the endless joy that grandma derives, in sharing the produce from her small green patch, be it the original ones or the cooked ones. The 'phulkas' sigh in delight. They love this... new green-orange delight. Grandma's hands join with Nature's  harvest piles to stir up spoonfuls of joy in a jiffy.

The leaves have been sending out messages for days... and finally, the day has dawned, when eager hands arrive, then tug hard, to bring out the bunches of 'home bred' fresh turmeric, some in deep slumber, wrapped  in a brown blanket, the rest poking their way out, developing a unique armoury, labelled 'Health n' Goodness' the past several months. The Earthy fragrance of  fresh turmeric paste adds a  winsome flavour which lingers the entire day, while the sparkling layer of yellow, coating the hands is a vivid reminder of the fiery sun, above. The 'long rested' grinding stone is earning a bit of exercise, bringing to mind images of... village belles and festive fervour, age-old pleasuresome tasks, natural cosmetics and wound healers and grandma's hot n' peppery, turmeric laced milk. Not just the finger like tubers, the leaves too carry traces of that special flavour. Here comes... a simple yet 'ea...

If you're patient and not in a hurry, you could be lucky enough to witness and enjoy, certain 'one of a kind'  moments, when those 'yet to be born' sunflowers, turn ever so slightly, to embrace the tender warmth of the morning sun, awakening somewhere deep in the recesses of your mind, a steady stream of thoughts - of the munificence of the unseen hand of the creator, who is providing  such inspiring and memorable tidbits, and, leaving science aside, you rack your brain, trying to figure out, the myriad magical spells, hidden inside Nature's wand.

Despite the inch-long thorns, the raiding ants all around, the noisy crows squabbling over the fallen chikoo, the smoky smell from the smouldering refuse heap, the lingering haze forming a white cloak, up above, hiding under the leaves but desperate for a sunny balm, a dainty yellow head making its presence felt, lets out a glimmer of a  smile.

One busy morning, when... the water supply suddenly stops, the pressure cooker has hiccups, the  boiling milk  goes crazy n' curdles, the power supply is in a 'now on, now off,' mode, the fast ticking clock brings on a headache, the school uniform gets mysteriously misplaced, the pile of peeled onions makes the eye water, a line of ants march in eyeing the delectable biscuits in the snackbox and you end up gnashing  your teeth as the iddlis turn out to be rocks, the generous sun sends out a message through the window mesh. Each day, I share a bit of my glow to enliven your humdrum existence.

Feeling sad that I look a little different from the usual symmetrical and perfectly shaped blossom below. However, what I see nearby gives me a big scoop of hope.

I've  gotten used to hearing these words again and again. "Practice makes perfect." Watch me practice my poses...                            up straight,                              The 'resting now' pose The 'meditative' pose The 'sideways' attempt The 'perched on a precarious tip' pose. I make sure that I don't attempt what is beyond  my  physical capabilities.

A seasonal happening... the sniffles have arrived, forcing me to stay indoors but irresistible Nature refuses to let go, unfurling a delicious green spread, embossed with an artistic touch, as I peer out through the window. Nature recommends... feasting on green sights, even making you forget your watery eyes and the fact that your head feels like it's been pounded by a hammer.

Sometimes the slideshow of your morning walk, in a small patch of green, a verdant dot in a smoggy cityscape, stays in your memory, for days and days together. Nature stuns... with exquisite designerware or even a  rabbit out of a hat, at times, as you jump out of your skin, literally speaking, even though it is just a harmless rat snake, doing the rounds, slithering away at amazing speed, at the flicker of an eyelid, keeping your yard, rodent free.

Happy that I'm becoming tall and strong. Another reason... feel privileged to grow up, buffered by lush patches of green, which does make my Earthy tones stand out.

In a holiday mood... with a cool breeze blowing, thoughts just keep coming. Will the coming year be a fruitful one, with more greenery in the surroundings? A murmur in the background... from a tall legend. Looking trim and fit to face the coming year.

Hope...a four letter word, easy to spell but an intangible something, which is at times bright and vivid, then turns hazy, making you feel... that what you wish for is close by, almost within your grasp, while your mind says the opposite... slipping away, far, far... out of reach. When you dejectedly think, it's all over, 'Hope' gently peeks out, then springs up, saying... I cannot be brushed off easily. New Year Wishes, resounding with 'Hope,' coming your way.

Today's garden diary: Donning a white garb, standing tall, I see someone swaying gently to a whispery tune... Peace on Earth and goodwill to...

Tiny shoots all dressed up, each flaunting, two delicate, green leaves, are coming up fast, reminding me of the joy in sharing those fresh bouquets of amaranth, bringing smiles all round, which will soon give way to a nutritious green stew, with mouths relishing the not-to-be-forgotten, unique homegrown flavour, which has its own growing band of fans, who savour those memories and seek those bunches again and again, many months later.