~ My Gardner Friend...~

Today, I write about two strangers who used to stay in vicinity, they hardly knew each other but only through eye-contacts which they did when they used to come face to face during such time.

They refrained from communication as there was no common subject which they could speak on. Years passed by, one of the strangers retired from a government bank and develop a new found passion for plants and gardening – his sole aim was to kill time and steady his mind towards some activity – Gardening being the activity of choice he was thinking since long but could not devote time to his hidden desire.

He didn’t know that he had unknowingly created a subject of discussion with the other stranger and next time they both would come face to face, there surely will be a communication to start with. The time came and both were facing each other on the same lane, immediately the retired stranger broke his silence and asked “Namaste, how long have you been doing gardening? And what plants are your favorites?”

The other stranger, not expecting a communication from the elder stranger was little astonished but gently replied – “Namaste Sir, I have been doing gardening for more than 15 years now, and my all-time favorite is Money Plant!”

The pleasantries were exchanged as they had broken the silence – soon a friendship developed and both strangers started to visit each other houses to discuss the wellbeing of plants – they also exchanged new born saplings which they cut out for each other to be planted otherwise.

As time progressed, their bond grew over a cup of coffee and they also started to visit the nursery to share the commonality with gardening. Over a period of time, both the strangers became good friends and started to communicate photos and videos of their small garden which they had maintained, technology had played a great role to cement this friendship!

 Then one day, suddenly one of the phone stopped sharing the WhatsApp pics of newborn saplings, this was the phone of the old retired stranger – the younger one became apprehensive of any eventuality that might have happened to his new found mate – he started to ping him earnestly and found no response. Out of sheer curiosity, he rang the phone up but no one responded, his curiosity led him to suspicion. As both of them lived quite near to each other, some blocks away, he planned to visit his older friend to know about his whereabouts. 

The day came he stood In front of his old friends house – he rang the bell and found an old lady came out and asked what was the matter – out of inquisition, the young stranger asked him about his older pal as he was not responding to the phone calls or WhatsApp messages.

All hell broke loose when he was told that Mr. Srinivasan (the name of the older stranger) was no more and had passed away last month due to Covid. The young stranger was at loss of words and had choked breath and just paid his condolences and came back in a thoughtful mood. 

The only thing mattered to him was his older pals absence – he started to reminisce his past and the talks he used to do with his friend – they both shared their life’s journeys on a cup of tea , surrounded with hordes of beautifully nurtured flowering plants. How time has just passed that now his gardening friend was no more – though he lived in the plants which he had gifted his younger friend – now that its been quite some time that he is gone, beautiful saplings have blossomed out of plants that the banker had given to this young fellow…

Still whenever the young stranger passes through his friends house, he is reminded of the plants that lay near his main-gate and which is now caressed by his wife, a grim reminder of life lesson – no one is permanent here… by the way the young friend was myself and I write this story in all melancholy today as today was the day when his gifted ‘Money plant’ has shrouded itself in all new leaves , making me remind of His presence around men. Rest In peace my dear old pal… till we meet again ..somewhere… and in some other dimension…!!!