In a small and beautiful town nestled in the Eastern part of India, lived Mr Arjun Kalita, a retired school teacher. Widowed and finding solace in the simplicity of his routine morning walks in the serene atmosphere of the botanical garden and park with pathways facilitating morning walks by the citizens, Mr Kalita had a profound appreciation for nature’s beauty, particularly flowers.
One day, as he strolled through the town’s market, his eyes caught a glimpse of vibrant colours that seemed to dance in the sunlight. Intrigued, he followed the hues to a quaint little stall where an elderly florist, Ms. Radha, displayed an exquisite collection of flowers.
Mr. Kalita was drawn to a unique assortment of the blooms that Ms. Radha had cultivated with meticulous care and now displayed in her stall. Among them, a rare hybrid named “Morning Serenade” stood out – a delicate flower with petals that seemed to capture the essence of dawn itself. Enchanted by its beauty, Mr Kalita decided to purchase the plant, not just for himself but with a thought to share its allure with someone else.
The next morning, he carefully placed the potted “Morning Serenade” on the windowsill, allowing the first rays of sunlight to embrace its petals. Little did he know that this small act would set in motion a series of events that would weave the canvas of his life with another’s.
As Mr. Kalita continued his routine walks, he encountered Ms. Meera, an elegant and independent woman who embraced each day with a morning stroll in the town park. Their paths crossed near the orchid area where lovely orchids were blooming. Mr Kolita smiled at Ms Meera as a courtesy and she reciprocated with a warm smile back at Mr Kalita. Soon they got introduced and with the “Morning Serenade” as an icebreaker, a conversation sparked between them.
Ms. Meera, too, had a love for flowers, and the two found common ground in their appreciation for nature’s wonders. The park became a canvas where they shared stories, laughter, and the beauty of the changing seasons. As days turned into weeks, their connection deepened, transcending the boundaries of age.
One morning, Mr. Kalita surprised Ms. Meera with a small bouquet of “Morning Serenade” flowers. The delicate blooms carried not just the fragrance of the morning but also the unspoken words of companionship and understanding. Ms. Meera, touched by the gesture, reciprocated reciting a poem she had penned about the beauty of fleeting moments.
Their mornings together became a ritual, a celebration of life’s simple pleasures. They explored the park hand in hand, discovering hidden corners and creating memories that would linger like the fragrance of their favourite blooms. The park transformed into a haven of serendipity, where the “Morning Serenade” flowers bore witness to a blossoming romance. Each waits for the other at the entrance to welcome, and that becomes a ritual. They gradually spent more and more time in the park walking and gossiping in the bench provided on the way. Mr Kalita, who became a silent man after the death of his wife regained his life and Ms Meera also got solace from her solitary life after meeting Mr Kalita.
As the seasons changed, so did their lives. They faced challenges together, finding strength in each other’s company. The “Morning Serenade” flowers, with their ephemeral beauty, became a metaphor for the transient nature of life, urging Mr Kalita and Ms Meera to savour every moment they shared.
Then, one fateful morning, Ms. Meera arrived at the park, eagerly waiting for Mr. Kapoor. But as the minutes ticked by, he did not appear. Concern crept into her heart, and she frantically dialled his number, hoping for an answer. The phone rang, but there was no response.
Fear gripped Ms. Meera as she rushed to Mr. Kapoor’s house. The door creaked open, revealing an unsettling silence within. She called out his name, but there was no reply. As she explored each room, her worst fear unfolded before her eyes – Mr. Kapoor was no more.
The “Morning Serenade” flowers, once a symbol of their shared moments, now stood silent witnesses to the sudden tragedy. Ms Meera, devastated and heartbroken, clutched the bouquet tightly, finding solace in the memories of their laughter, conversations, and the beauty they had discovered together.
In the town where flowers whispered secrets and mornings painted in hues of serenity, the park, once filled with the promise of shared tomorrows, now echoed with the poignant reminder that life, like the “Morning Serenade,” can be both fleeting and beautiful. And so, in the wake of unexpected loss, Ms. Meera carried the fragrance of their moments, finding strength in the memories that bloomed in the garden of their shared mornings.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
31/01/24
Mail ID :rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com
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