Aahaa Chennai

There is leaf litter strewn all over. The crow doing its morning rounds, has dropped white patches, here and there. The heat and accompanying humidity seem to hang around, refusing to leave. A lone 'attention seeking' crow, high up on its favourite, green swaying ledge, has been repeating its chorus line, almost hitting the half century mark since the first glimpse of dawn but all these grumblings lie forgotten, as I stand and stare from afar, enraptured, at what looks like a piece of coloured, patterned fabric, framed against a green background, adding depth as a glorious morning opens its curtains.

Once draped in sparkly, yellow blossoms but now, showing off a soft, green garb, offering, tempting patches of shade, for passersby on motorbikes, hidden perches for birds to indulge in endless chatter, twisted pathways for restless squirrels, to sharpen their scampering skills, slender branches, arching up towards the sky, for a gusty wind to display its prowess, a landmark that inevitably beckons, along with the morning stimulant - tea it remains, ever truly... a companion, I look up to. The  'Golden Shower' tree, waves its many green arms, whispering... welcome to my green kingdom.

"My favourite slippers are wet and muddy," grumbles a voice. "Shh! Never mind. Look down carefully. Your tiny seed has finally woken up," soothes another. A tale unfolds... The canvas above has a finished look. Darkness has filled in the gaps. The house turns silent. My eyes gaze outside, though the window mesh, trying to make sense of the blackened mosaic overhead, silent, except for occasional sounds from an almost 'pet-like' frog. Outside, the hot sand, cries, silently, for a long withheld lifeline. My eyes close and images - those bottles of hope - float, gently past, in my dream. Hours slip past... Sudden drum beats of thunder, humming the tune, 'gonna love taking the centre stage...' make tired eyebrows move. My eyes open. Softly descending raindrops, call out to darkness... 'am here to give you company.' Thunder agrees. Lightning follows suit. As dawn enters, the aroma of wet s...

Wind sends an invite. Soft, fluttery wings dither. Yellow, green or pink.

Shh! Will you listen? A, B, C, D.............Z Which alphabet should I choose to describe this 'will not budge' heat? The hot wind whispers. P. ..pulverize or B...burn. "Forget such dismal thoughts," whispers someone from the far corner, reminding me of the colour of vanilla ice cream. "The heat has brought me out to make you smile." The decision is made I choose 'S' ... Serenity.

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.

The assignment was long overdue. The deadline was inching near ...just twenty minutes left. Curious eyes watched. They started with the leaves, the buds, the flowers, the branches, the stem, the soil the roots. The walls, windows and the roof demanded it too. 'No, no,' cried the birds, the cats, the dogs and the dainty butterflies but without luck as they were forced to endure. The ever hungry grasshoppers and tiny ants rushed to hide. The Earth loved its new overcoat and wore it with pride. . The raindrops decided to repeat the exercise. The drip-drip sound from the puddles kept echoing through the night. Listening carefully, I could hear the question... when is the next one scheduled? The assignment was marked  'B+' under the watchful eye of grey-hued tutors with the remark... could do better.

Just one look will suffice for even the most demanding of  tastebuds to sing. Not long ago... the piled-up heap, reached out with its mellifluous golden glow, an unerasable memory, savoured by many. The few unplucked ones, out of human reach, are inevitably taken over by wandering, hungry groups - those flying/leaping visitors, their eyes peering at me through thick layers of foliage, amidst an endless cacophony. The half-bitten lumps, hang precariously above or are simply pushed down, donning a "squishy-sandy" coat during the last leg of their journey. The mango tree in my backyard sways crazily to a frolicky  wind, looking contented, after pampering many a hungry tongue, sighing in relief at unloading its tempting green load. A week later,  tender, reddish leaves, perched, here and there, upon  branch tips inevitably draw my eyes, marking the start of a new season.          The mango train is s...

The rain seems to be in a hurry - washing away the tears of  fatigued sand. Little hands cannot be tied down... eager to put down their thoughts and unleash wave upon wave of creative energy. Wet sand... a  fascinating medium that beckons both the young and the old. Nature's stall holds many a treasure.

The intense heat is making the flowers  get smaller and smaller but  the disappointment does not last for long. The fruits are getting  bigger.

A sudden stillness in the air, signals the beginning. Darkness tiptoes in, through the windows, swallowing large patches of light. Thunder rumbles a rackety tune in the distance, with the fidgety crows, trying their best to match it. A cool breeze sprays its unbottled samples of freshness on soft cheeks, now and then. Dark clouds create patterns across the sky, with the sun desperately trying to find a spot. High above, the raindrops wait, biding their time. Dusk enters, bringing  with it, the elegant dragonflies, practising their choreographed moves, at a height. A group of 'we-arrive-before-the-rain' insects, flutter restlessly around a glowing light bulb. The television screen, comes up with crazily changing flashes of light, its mood mimicking those glowing streaks, lighting up a menacing sky. Spells of lighting, now and  then, dazzle the shadows on the sand. The coconut fronds seem busy fighting a tempestuou...

Strike a pose. International Yoga Day-June 21. Imbibing the fitness mantra. Getting stronger. Mind and body at peace.

An unusual evening... At the clinic, the waiting time was around thirty minutes. At the bus stop, the waiting took fifteen minutes. At the billing counter, waiting in the queue lasted ten minutes. At the ice cream shop, the waiting was over in five minutes. Then came a very special moment, which was unveiled early in the evening, the waiting period, for which, has been dragging on and on, for seven long months. (seeming like seven years!) Finally, someone has torn a big hole in the grey clouds, stretching above, for miles, sending down... those 'hard to find' raindrops. I can spot plenty of wet heads and waving hands, coupled with contagious smiles and undiluted laughter. I even see some curious eyes, turned upwards, wondering... 'Rain' shares its bounty in my part of the city.

The noise disturbs the silence of the afternoon. Could it be... something outside or is it my imagination working overtime? That noise again... this time it's closer... the culprit leaps out, bushy tail and all, a busybody, returning several times, with bits and pieces for designing a layered bed. The tale continues... a cosy window nook and a nest tucked away inside, awaiting the endless squeaks of hungry baby squirrels.

Tale of a potent gadget... Its daily output keeps rising plus its enormous capacity fells many. The final products vary... Toasted flowers, browned leaves scorched fruits, scarred trees, sizzling sand, wrung out minds. Its functioning continues, uninterrupted. Some clues ... A gigantic oven. The Sun's Magnum Opus. A heat wave.

The moon drifts afar. White roses mourn; the sun sends  emissaries.

The journey has taken several weeks, interspersed with ups and downs... A sense of wonder coupled with keen interest, some hiccups... the intense heat driving away the butterflies, delay due to tumultuous natural elements, plus a few 'hands on' lessons on the way . A 'one-of-a-kind' journey, with a handful of fragrant fennel seeds.