August 7, 2006

Hariharan detected the need to pursue a leisure activity just about couple of months back when he retired from the service. He was employed with Railways and when the retirement came up he realized the day was being too long to disperse. But then he had his priority. His instant interest was to help his son Avinash to obtain a suitable job. Somehow Avinash’s approach towards life made him melancholic. At this point he wanted a pastime which could provide the much needed diversion.

How much time one could spend in reading the newspaper? The TV programs had become dull and monotonous. Early morning walk was a part his daily routine. Bill Payments, visit to the supermarket, arranging the groceries, fish, meat etc was comprised in his schedule. The revulsion to be idle was the key issue. He had surplus time at his disposal. This perturbed him to great extent. Hariharan had repugnance for nap after lunch. He wanted to occupy himself to the best of fulfillment. The growing helplessness had haunted him.

He detested being out of action. While in service Hariharan was first-rate and exceptional.  Once at desk he could sit and work for long hours without break. Such dedication was rarity when weighed against the present generation.  He always had reviled and broached objections when his colleagues spoke on cricket and movies during the office hours.

Avinash was Rohini and Hariharan’s only son. He was graduated about a year back and he did not show ardor for post graduation. His attempts for an appropriate job were continued to be futile. Hariharan’s dream of seeing a settled life for his son before his retirement remained unfulfilled.

“You lack the discipline, which is the major cause of your failure.” Hariharan grumbled quite frequently with his list of grievances.

His complaints had dwelled to be ineffective. Avinash’s first love was football. He enjoyed Hindi movies. In spite of being unemployed he was friendly with Mamta, a fish vendor’s daughter living in the same vicinity, who used to be his classmate. This had irked the father, though he was unsure of the intensity of their amity.

Hariharan believed his wife Rohini too was responsible in making Avinash to ignore his criticism.  He persisted in accusing her for spoiling their only son.  He was certain that Avinash was pampered by his mother.  Therefore deliberately Hariharan looked for an activity to drift out from the worry.  Initially he considered on pets, but he was allergic to furred and feathered pets. He dropped the idea. Social work in around the locality was a good option but he knew politics would go hand in hand with social work. He disliked politics. Watching sports and movies was not of his interest. He gave a shot at part time employment. The low offers did not motivate him.

An advertisement which appeared in the daily caught his attention.  He arrived at ‘Green Nursery’ a plant seller. They offered him a wide selection of unique to common plants. He was moved by the gorgeous flowers and exquisite greenery.  He developed the desire to have such elegant foliage inside his house. Hariharan’s intelligence was inadequate in relation with plants. When the opinion was asked, the shop manager guided him to some simple potted plants. 

By nature he was blessed with patience. He had beginner’s temperament. It did not make sense for him in buying loads of plants at this moment. He sought to gain knowledge before increasing the numbers.

“This is Hibiscus.” The manager explained. “Rose mallow is the other name. Hibiscus is a flowering plant. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. The flowers are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five petals, ranging from white to pink, red, purple or yellow, and from 4-15 cm broad. This one is red.  If taken good care, could grow into a sizable woody shrub.”

If taken good care? Who could take more care than him? He paid the bill, shifted the pot into an autorikshaw and reached home. Right from childhood Hariharan had been too occupied with education and thereafter with his accounts job with Railways. He had not unfastened himself to the elements of plants and flowers. But that was not the limitation for Rohini. She had seen at least some during the course of her life. She managed to identify the one which Hariharan had bought.

“I believe this is jasum.” She informed.

“What is jasum?” He did not know.

“This is commonly available plant all over.” She clarified in plain words. ‘Why did you pay to the nursery? This could be easily propagated from the softwood cutting of other plant. I would have arranged.”

“Means, you would have gone begging around for the cuttings?” Hariharan felt irritated

“I have surely seen this in Mamta’s backyard.” Avinash made his statement. “Perhaps I would have arranged a twig.”

Mamta was Avinash’s friend. Their parent’s had customary fish business. Avinash’s closeness to a fish vendor’s daughter was frown on by Hariharan.  But the son had shown disregard to father’s frequent sermons.

“Possibly you are not aware of the motive behind my decision to grow plants.” Hariharan sounded sarcastic. “You have been treating my advice with contempt.  I have made up my mind. I will not waste my time and energy on you. I would rather spend my time on these plants. I am sure my effort will not go unproductive.”

Avinash could not reply. He felt low and down.

“What makes you to connect your hibiscus to our son?” Rohini was saddened by her husband’s remarks. “What pleasure do you get in hurting his emotions? This is disgusting.”

‘My comments are disgustful for both mother and son. But do they comprehend the hurt which I have been experiencing time and again?’ He sensed within.

He placed the pot next to TV. Once grown it would enhance the ambiance of the sitting room. As the days passed he developed a very close bond with hibiscus. The acquaintance was stimulated with immense love and affection. He was hopeful that the plant would blossom very soon. It would grow to be a stunning rich green shrub with red flowers. The passion became an obsession.  Every morning he got up and glanced at the plant. He searched for the small new tender leaves.

“Mom, tomorrow’s match is very crucial. I have been asked to be the center forward by our coach. If win, we will enter into semifinals.”  That Saturday Avinash informed his mother.

Hariharan was curious to know more. He showed restrain and managed to control his inquisitiveness.  Avinash was playing for the city club. ‘But what did he earn by playing for college, university and now for the local club? If so much time was spent on job search, he would have gained an employment.’

“Mom, I struck three goals. First time in the history of our club we reached semifinals.” Avinash screamed when he reached home after the match. He was absolutely thrilled.

He wanted to congratulate his son. But his psyche did not agree to encourage a jobless player. ‘What is the excitement in winning games when you are failing in life?’

Just about couple of months back Hariharan had met Mr. Narayan Rao who was in top position in railways and had the authority to influence the HR department. Once the entrance test was given and if it was backed up by some one like Mr.Narayan Rao the likelihood of getting the job was very high. Narayan Rao had wished to meet Avinash soon after the entrance test.

Daijiworld exclusive caricature by Harini

The entrance test was given. But Avinash did not meet his father’s friend.

“I have given the test.” Avinash asserted. “If deserved I will get the job, but not on the basis of manipulation.”

“You have no experience in life.” Hariharan had yelled. “Good jobs always go to the influential candidates.”

‘Why is he not listening? Immaturity and impractical philosophy is costing his life. Over and above his wrong selection of interests like Mamta, football, movies etc. are destroying him. What kind of future would embrace him?’ Hariharan was apprehensive.

That Friday he got up and examined the plant.  There were no signs of new tender leaves or the flowers. What bothered him most was the growth factor. There was no escalation in growth.

“Please do not disappoint me.” He pleaded while watering the soil. “I have placed all my aspirations on you.”

He waited for the plant to reply. There was no response.

“Jasum could be a fickle plant to grow.” Rohini expressed her opinion. “You should have tried money plant.”

“How the money plant would grow in a house where there is no financial growth.” He was loud enough to be audible. “My hibiscus is not responding. I am getting impatient.”

“You need to understand your plant. Conviction is the key issue.” Rohini attempted throw some sense.

His fretfulness shot up day by day. One morning he was traumatized to witness some of the leaves had turned to yellow. He thought perhaps the summer heat was bothering the plant. He picked up some ice cubes from the fridge and dropped them inside the pot.

During the course city club lost game in semifinals. Avinash had scored the lonely field goal. The strong rival team had notched three goals. That evening Avinash did not eat. ‘There is no worry in not having a job. But the loss in a stupid sport is troubling him too much. Who can make him understand?’ Hariharan could not reason out.

“Do you know something?” Rohini informed him after couple of nights. “Do you know Mamta is engaged? The boy is working in Singapore.”

“Is it so?” He was pleasantly surprised. “I thought Avinash had an affair with her.”

“All what you think may not be true.” She replied with sharp tone. “Did he ever mention about an affair?”

“No.”

“Then what made you to conceive the notion?” She scolded. “Being classmates if they were friendly, it does not mean that they have proposed to each other. It is narrow and absurd thinking.”

May be it was silly and illogical, but Hariharan felt comforted. After all, his son would be liberated from Mamta’s hold. She would move away to a world of her own. He thanked god. But when would his hibiscus bloom?

Next morning the plant frustrated him further more. He was disheartened. The leaves were wilting with some had turned hard and brittle. He was in tears. The best option would be to fling the pot and forget the plant. He always lived with dream to witness new tender leaves and red flowers. In turn the edges were changing into brown. The leaves were falling and lying low.

Were these the symbols of slow death? He had failed. Within next few days he would be left over with a dry brown stem. The time, money and effort had become worthless.

Since the day Hariharan had stopped scolding Avinash, there has been resolute transformation in his son’s attitude. He still played football, attended Mamta’s call, watched new movies conversed with his friends on cinema and sports, but his determination for the job hunt had become more evident. He posted applications to the potential employers from the newspaper advertisements and attended interviews at least 4-5 times in a week.  Though the progress was not discussed with the father, Hariharan could heed the gist of it from the tête-à-tête between mother and son.

Hariharan chuckled within. ‘Is it possible to get good job by posting applications? If Avinash had followed his guidance and met his links in high positions, by this time he would have reaped attractive paycheck.’

He felt extremely irritated to see his hibiscus which was on the brink of obliteration.  By not responding to his love and care it had formulated its own eradication.

It was Monday morning. Avinash had gone for interview with his best clad. Hariharan was completely absorbed by the plant. There was no meaning in wasting more time on hibiscus. He decided. It was 11:30 am.  He picked up the pot for the final act to dump it in the public garbage bin.

When he opened the door Avinash just entered in. He was delighted. There was thrill and excitement on his face.

“Dad, I got the job.” Avinash’s voice vibrated from sheer joy. “I would be serving for the public relation department of national airlines. They made me an offer based on my performance in football. The perks include car and house. I would be playing for their football team which is in national charts.”

The jubilation for Avinash was beyond eloquence. The deep rooted aversion in Hariharan’s mind melted and evaporated within a moment. He lowered the pot to the ground.

“Well done my son.” He hugged him with warmth and affection.

“Congratulations.” Rohini came from the kitchen. “I knew that you could do it.”

“Where are you going with the pot?” Avinash inquired.

“This plant is about die. I have no hopes. Discarding is the only option left.” The anguish in his voice was apparent.

“The plant deserves one more chance for survival. It is not dead yet.” Avinash was positive.

“This is impossible.” Hariharan was not convinced.

“I read an article quite recently on hibiscus.” Avinash explained. “Hibiscus could be an indoor or an outdoor plant. You have been too protective and have taken excess care. That is why the plant is under stress. The stress may be due to over dosage of water or lighting conditions which are different than the old one. Hibiscus do not like wet feet, but neither should they be allowed to dry out. Good drainage is very important. They do like a lot of direct light. I suggest you position it in the balcony. Let it get liberated from the suffocation. Once the soil is dried begin with moderate water, but not more than what is required. Further it will gain energy once it is open under the sunlight.”

Hariharan was enlightened.

“Hibiscus can be an unpredictable plant to grow.” Avinash continued. “It could give the owner hysterics over its health. When all is considered lost, it sometimes re-leafs and blooms. So don’t give up even if it drops it leaves.”

During the next few days, Hariharan followed exactly what his son had advised.  Avinash was right and rest was history. Hibiscus gained its strength. It grew into a rich green tree and bloomed profusely.