A Flowery Tale - Chapter 1

The dark clouds carrying water droplets doubled in size increasing the speed of the wind. In few minutes, the blissful rains started kissing the ground profusely disturbing Indra's deep sleep.

Her pale checks turned pink after the raindrops touched her sensitive skin. She rose up with a smile and looked at the LED clock hung at her living area.

3 am.

I must cover the bird’s cage; she said to herself and opened the front door to climb upstairs leading to the terrace on the third floor.

The terrace door was locked.

Oh, I forgot to bring the door keys, she yawned.

She turned back and the night lamps lost its glow one by one frightening her even more and when she reached her doorstep, the main door was closed.

Who would have locked the door at this time, she thought and tried switching on her smartphone which hanged down a minute ago.

 

Ringing the calling bell isn't a good idea, let me go upstairs and rest for a while. Anyway need to churn out ideas for our new business but what about the little birds in the cage, she worried thinking about them.

She wore her night slippers and climbed up once again holding the handle bars for grip.

The terrace door was open and Indra got terrified looking at it. 

Without giving a second thought, she covered the bird cage using a yellow colored tarp and climbed the ladder to rest in her two little space build between the water tank and ventilator room. In a bolt of a blue, the rains stopped. Her pink t-shirt which was completely wet a minute ago flew in the air complimenting the fast moving winds. 

She couldn’t stand nor move her body.

What is happening, she fumed.

A large shadow engulfed her little body and all the buds on her flower pots changed red in color.

Jasmine, rose, mari, daisy what happened to you all?

Indra, a warm and beautiful soul, grew up with flowers and birds especially white pigeons. Her world is very small, it consists of her small yet happy family, four best friends Nila, Deps, Malar and Roshini who are young graduates specialized in various discipline respectively and her wide terrace carrying all sizes of flower pots ranging from ornamental to medicinal plants plus her cooing pigeons. Her cosy terrace has witnessed her happiness, sadness and all her mixed emotions and have always been her stress buster ever.

Seeing all the buds changing its color, Indra's little heart shattered into tiny pieces. 

A tall shadow with thorns all over her body roared loudly and all other tiny shadows followed him.

Tie her on the ladder, she ordered.

Who are you, what are you doing to me?, Indra cried.

Couldn't you recognize me Indra, I am Rose!

Rose, which rose?

Your red rose with soft petals! I played the tricks to bring you up here. Your time is over. I am going to create a flower revolution.

Rose, flower revolution, she screamed asking for help.

Thrash her into the ground, the rose ordered sternly.

Four O'clock, beauty-of-the-night flower came forward.

Pinky, you too, Indra glanced at her.

The night flowering jasmine came from the other side and pushed Indra on to the ground.

She tried moving but the roots from beneath enclosed her firmly not giving her a chance to escape.

You can't escape, Indra.

Tell me what is happening shouted Indra?

Why do you grow us, questioned the pink lotus softly?

 

You're my friends, you spread positivity and happiness. What question is this?

But others are not treating us so.

Who?

The public!

What?

Indra, in the beginning we were very proud that are we are being adorned in almost all places starting from the temple, wedding halls, festivals to death anniversaries but later realized that we are either being dumped into the water bodies or garbage box. We are another piece of waste polluting our Mother Earth who nurtured us to be what we are now.

When you spoke about recycling paper, plastic, glass bottles and metals, why didn't you think about us?

But when did I talk about recycling? Indra asked innocently.

Last week, the rose replied.

But, I spoke sitting at my living area, how did you hear?.

Bury her right away! She and her silly questions. She can't understand our feelings, yelled adenium bonsai flower.

Wait, wait.

By the time, she completed her sentence; she was hanging in the air with no support.

Drop me down; I am scared, she cried!

This is how we too feel, said all the flowers in a monotonous tone.

You pluck us, store us in large containers and then sell us in plastic bags. We suffocate from fresh oxygen and morning sunlight. Do you know how people freeze us when festival seasons arrive? They tie us using sharp needles and hang us on tall roof and corridors with no balance of support.

But you are born to adorn the places and spread your fragrances!

Then why do you throw us into the garbage trucks and near riversides, once we dry up. Don't you think you're polluting the environment?

Jasmine and rose cried all of the sudden.

Why are you both crying, Indra trembled.

People stamp us without any sympathy and the way they throw us on the ground, we feel miserable.

Indra felt bad.

We want justice to all this, said the flowers together.

But you didn't tell me how you came to know about the recycling?

We heard it when you were talking over the phone. I was on your mother's head and that's how I heard.  

But how did you spread this message to all other flowers. 

Instead of questioning us, answer our questions, said the cactus plant. 

You too cactus!

Once we dry up, you make us into decors, sometimes soap and perfume using our extract, isn’t Indra?

Yes, she replied shivering as it was pass 5 AM in the morning.

Why can't you think of it in a broader angle? You wish to empower the underprivileged women, why can't you use us for it? 

Indra looked perplexed.

She looks exhausted, let us throw her away, whispered the bindweed.

Yes, said the rose.

All the buds murmured some prayer and she was thrown from the third floor in a jiff.

No,help me, help me, Indra yelled at the top of the voice.

She got up in a jerk! She breathed hard and touched her body to see if any bloodstains were present. 

You need not water the plants today, announced her mother holding the ladle.

It’s pouring since 3 am and all the schools and colleges have been announced as a public holiday by Ramanan, said her younger sister bubbling with joy!

Realizing it was a nightmare, Indra tried recollecting her dream.

She climbed up the staircase hurriedly to check if the birds’ cage was covered or not and it was! She recollected covering it the previous night after dinner.

She checked her smart phone and it had full battery. Drenched in thoughts, she saw all her flower pots glistening with joy.

She touched the rose buds and stepped one step backward on thinking how they frightened her.

She dialed the number of Nila, Deeps, Malar and Roshini immediately. 

Hey beautiful, Malar replied in a high pitch whereas Nila and Deeps replied in a subtle tone. 

Roshini you there? Malar asked.

Yeah Ma, hutchu, she sniffled searching for the tissue.

The business idea is ready guys, come to my terrace at 8 AM, Indra summoned.

Hey, it’s raining, said Nila.

Come in ola right now.

In an hour, Indra was ready with the blue print, hot filter coffee and high-calorie breakfast for all the five.

Her four friends climbed up the slippery ladder and entered inside the two feet secret space where Indra was waiting for them.

The little space smelled delicious and each one settled on the bed comfortably. The colorful cushions and crystal clear sky made their Monday blues more meaningful.

I want the list of flower decors, wedding halls, temples, mosques, churches, hospitals, orphanages, old-age homes, aromatherapy centers in Chennai by tonight, Indra began.

But, what is the plan, asked Malar biting a hot vada dipped in pepper rich sambar.

Approximately 80, 00,000 tons of waste flowers are dumped into Indian rivers. So, let's collect these flowers, recycle them into bio-fertilizers and lifestyle products such as homemade soaps, perfumes, art decors, incense sticks etc with the help of underprivileged women.

Sounds wonderful, said Roshini!

But why aromatherapist and hospitals Indra, asked Deeps.

 

Flowers spread positivity and enlighten one’s mood says research. So let’s make bouquets and deliver it to hospitals, old-age homes and aromatheraptic centers free of cost.

Brilliant said Malar!

And what is our company name?

How about ‘A flowery Tale’, asked Nila.

Alas, you spoke finally, shouted all the four.

 

A Flowery tale is perfect. Start working with the logo Nila, said Indra.

And you three get me the details that I asked for.

And, what about you Indra?, asked Malar.

Will gather the women who can help us, Indra grinned.

To be continued...