The white roses

As Chinmay entered the house, the aroma of incence sticks filled his breath with the holiness of Mogra. It was then that he realised, he still had his slippers on. Biting his tongue, he quickly reversed and put off his slippers, rubbed his sole on the welcome mat and went in like he just entered.

"Asha (the maid) just cleaned the floor, Cheenu!!" taunted Dadi, who had just come out of her kitchen with a bowl in her hand.

"I have put my slippers off Dadi" he tried to allay her doubts, sneakingly peeping into the bowl.

"After coming in with them?" Dadi roasted.

Chinmay was blank, "Ok Sorry. Last time.", he apologised like a child.

Dadi giggled and said, "Okay fine. Come. Take this." and she gave him the prasad from the bowl.

"What a fragrance, Dadi!!" He exclaimed as he spread his hands for the prasad.

"It's Mogra. My favourite." Dadi's grin clarified as to how much she liked the fragrance, and then she added, "Beta! Will you do a work of mine?" 

"Sure", said Chinmay but suddenly reverted, "No... I mean yes but afterwards... Dadi!... I'm in a little hurry right now." As he tried to rush, his phone rang. 

He picked, "Ya Shanu. Whatt!!! Bus has come?? Oh no!!" 

"What happened beta?" Dadi asked.

"I had to wish Good Luck to a friend of mine Dadi and the bus has reached the society's gate." He said with face down.

"Rush upstairs. The gate is visible from there. You can still wish him." Dadi's words worked for him like a nitrogen booster.

He reached the terrace and shouted, "Good Luck ....Shanu."

After few minutes, he came down with a shy smile of satisfaction.

"Shanu's exam?" Dadi asked.

"Yes Dadi." Chinmay did not look at her while replying.

"Sure?" Dadi asked with a smile.

"Yaa." he stressed still not looking at her.

"Then why did you not just wish him over phone?" Dadi's question dumbed Chinmay.

"I...it was.... I mean..." He stammered.

"Ok leave that. I've heard, Anu has her exam today. Did you remember to wish her?" she asked.

Chinmay couldn't even lift up his eyes in shyness.

Dadi held him from his ear and said mischievously twisting the lobe, "What did you think? I won't know it?", and then after a heart thumping pause added, "She is a sweet girl. Any signal from her side?" Dadi was acting like a typical best friend and this was confusing Chinmay. Before he could answer, a heavy blunt male voice said, "What work did bring you here?" It was then that Chinmay realised that between the armchair and the spread newspaper, unintentionally hid a man, whom he called Dadu.

"Oh ya!! Sinha uncle asked me to give you this packet of medicine. I was passing by your house so just thought to...." Chinmay was interrupted by Dadu, "So, have you done that?" 

Almost. He had just handed the packet in Dadi's hand and so he said, "Yes."

"Then, you may go now." said Dadu.

Dadi frowned at Dadu but to no avail. Chinmay got up humbly and left gracefully.

After he was gone Dadi blasted like an over pressurised cooker, "You can never see smile on my face. So lovingly he calls us Dadi and Dadu...."

"But that doesn't make us his grandparents." interrupted Dadu, "We are just his neighbours, with no right to decide his future. If anybody gets to know that it's one of us two feeding the fire of love between Cheenu and Anu, it won't be good Mamta. Try to understand."

Dadi remained silent but her eyes were vocal about her disagreement. 

That evening, when Dadu had gone for an evening walk, Dadi picked up her old phone with her left hand and then with the index finger of the right hand she pressed the call button, then the down button and finally again the call button. The phone was picked, "Yes Dadi?"

"Cheenu!! Can you please come? I need a help." said Dadi.

"Sure Dadi. Just two minutes." said Chinmay and in a couple of minutes, the boy was at her door, "What happened Dadi?"

"Can you please 'eestall waw sap' in my phone?" appealed Dadi.

"Please what Dadi?" Chinmay brought his ear closer.

"Arey they send photo and video and also call with their photo visible all time" Dadi tried to explain.

"Oh!! Install Whatsapp? But Dadi it can't be done in this phone." Chinmay explained.

Dadi then opened her old iron box and took out a box of brand new smart phone. 

"Dadi??? You have a smartphone??" Chinmay eyes were out in his hands.

Dadi innocently smiled and proudly said, "Bindiya (Dadi's granddaughter, who lived in Banglore) has sent this and has asked me to eestall waw sap." 

"Install Whatsapp Dadi." Chinmay stressed with a smile and started making up her phone while Dadi whispered, "Any progress with Anu?"

Chinmay at once looked up and then looked around the room.

"Arey!! Dadu has gone for evening walk. You tell." Dadi assured him.

"Don't know Dadi how can I express her that I love her." Chinmay seemed a little disappointed, "I always tried to fetch her attention, someway or the other and she smiled too when I did so, but today in the noon when I asked her, she said that....."

"Asked her what?" Dadi curiously questioned.

"Arey!! Means I proposed her, she said that what I do is not an expression of love. It may well be reciprocated with a smile but not love." Chinmay explained in a low voice though still busy with the phone.

"Beta!! Do you know what a real expression of love is?" Dadi caressed his shoulder while Chinmay looked at her with curious eyes. Dadi continued, "It's care. Caring shows pure love, may it be in any relation. So, if you want to express love, care for her, for her likes and dislikes. And more importantly, don't just care, show that you care."

"How to show it Dadi?" Chinmay asked.

"Did you notice anything that she likes?" asked Dadi.

Chinmay said after a thoughtful pause, "Umm...Yaa... She likes white roses a lot. I have seen her regularly buy them." and then he excitedly added, "Dadi!! Will she like if I make a white rose corner in the park for her?"

"The idea is worth a try Cheenu." Dadi grinned.

"Done." said Chinmay.

"What?? The white rose corner??" Dadi exclaimed with a shock.

Chinmay burst into laughter and said, "No. Your waw sap." and again started laughing.

Dadi gave him two slaps that fell like feather on Chinmay's bearded cheek and said, "Teasing me? Hmm?", and she too started laughing.

"Ahmm ahmm. Any important work?" Dadu stood at the door.

"I called him for some work." Dadi announced in a voice of high confidence with a stress on 'I'.

"Okay Dadi!! I shall take your leave now. Your phone is ready to use. Tomorrow I will tell you how to use it. For now just plug in the charger. Bye." and Chinmay quickly left, but as he reached out of the main door, he heard Dadi angrily screaming on Dadu, "You did the same to Raghav. Had you whole-heartedly agreed to his love marriage, he would not have gone so far away from us. Thanks to Bindiya, she somehow contacted us, else I would have lived alone looking at your monotonous face rest of my life. You know? Last month Raghav talked to me, but when I tried to convince him to talk to you he said, 'Papa did all efforts to take away smiles from my life. He repeatedly insulted Rekha, who had so much respect for him. He did not even turn up Mummy when Rekha died giving birth to Bindiya. As if, I had done a crime and not love marriage. Mummy I have made up my mind. Only when Papa will show the effort to make someone smile, only when he understands the value of love, only when he supports someone in his love marriage, only then will I talk to him.' In helping Cheenu, I have my own interest too."

"But I have no interest in talking to him." Dadu spoke bluntly.

"That your heart better knows." interrupted Dadi and their conversation abruptly ended.

From the next day, Chinmay started spending his leisure time in the park, preparing the white rose corner. He put in a lot of effort, and everyday when Anu came for the walk she saw him soiled yet busy. Chinmay thought that when Anu would see him planting the grafts of white roses, she would understand his love, but before that day could come, Anu changed her walking track. Chinmay had seen Dadu talk to her one evening and from the next day, she changed her track. He had also seen Dadu talking to Anu's and his parents several times. Dadu seemed to be on the counter-mission of Dadi's mission.

One evening, Chinmay went to Dadi, "Dadi!! I am fed up. Dadu is trying to spoil all my efforts." And he submitted the full complaint.

"Cheenu!! He always behaves weirdly. Day before yesterday I asked him to bring food colour for laddoo and he brought a complete set of four colours. Now you tell me, have you ever seen blue and green colour laddoos?"

"My problem is a lot more serious than your food colours Dadi!!" Chinmay wanted to say, but did not say. Dadi continued, "From the day I shouted on him, he spends most of his time in the backyard and in his storeroom, tangled in his own wires."

"Wires?" Chinmay was curious.

"Electricity is his first love Cheenu. Gardening second. His job was his passion. You know Cheenu? Dadu was an electrician by profession and could mend the most complicated of faults in the circuit." Dadi's voice had a peculiar kind of pride, one that peeped out from the veil of shyness.

"Really?" Chinmay was so shocked by this fact that he forgot his complaint for a moment. He then made up his mind, "It's okay. I will prepare the corner and reveal it to her on her birthday on 17th november, a month later and will propose her at that very moment."

Weeks passed and the white roses stood as the testimony of Chinmay's effort- numerous, beautiful and pure. The plan was all set. Early in the morning on 17th, just when sun will be on the horizon, he will show her the beautiful corner.

On 15th in the evening, after Dadu came from his walk, he went into the bathroom and suddenly came out, "Mamta!! The geyser isn't working. Did you see?"

"The electricity supply is gone. The geyser is fine." Dadi bluntly replied from kitchen.

"Supply? But when?" Dadu asked in surprise.

"When you were busy unnecessarily exhausting your legs on jogging track." her voice seemed to contain a permanent tinge of irritation.

Dadu did not say a word and went out, looked around for people and said in a loud voice, "Arey Gupta Sahab!! Did you call an electrician?"

"Ji Verma Sahab!! He said the fault is major. He will come again tomorrow with some more tools." Gupta Dadu replied.

Dadu came back in with his towel on the shoulder and went straight to the storeroom.

The 24×7 supply had made society's people electricity addict. So, a cut was unbearable. It could partially be compensated for by their inverters but for how long. Only yesterday Chinmay had taught Dadi to use whatsapp and today when she was working with her phone, Dadu said in a serious tone, "Nothing is known of the electricity. It would be better if you use your phone less."

Dadi was in complete agreement with Dadu's logic but her permanent frustration held her from showing this concurrence, "Why? Great electrician you were, isn't it? Why don't you go and mend the fault?" 

"I don't understand the new technology. Otherwise, you would not have to complain about it." Dadu replied bluntly.

Everyone in the colony tried hard to reduce power consumption but their backups couldn't last very long. Inverters began to stumble down like wickets.

In the morning of 16th, the sleepless Chinmay went to the park to relax his eyes with the beauty of his hard work. He was shocked and shattered. Not a single rose could be seen. Someone took them all. He sat in the soil with eyes on the barren rose plant. Sometimes you don't know what makes you more sad, your spoilt hard work or the hopelessness towards the bigger plans you had set. Same happened to Chinmay. He came back to home, face down. 

At his door, he saw a crowd. Almost everyone was speaking, so nothing was understandable. Worried Chinmay hurriedly went to the door just to find that his father was sitting surrounded by people discussing about the power cut. The electrician did not come and when contacted said that he could make it only tomorrow. To make the problematic moment fun, Chinmay's father gave an idea, "Can we all gather in the park today evening and just sit and talk with each other. Won't it be fun?" Most of the people agreed.

Arrangements were made- mats, cots and armchairs were spread in the park. Light snacks were ready, mobiles were kept aside and all had their own ways of spending the time- kids had some non-digital games, teens had some tech and bollywood talks, aunties had their recipes, uncles their politics and grandparents had their experiences. So, the time was passing well for everyone but Chinmay. He stood at the corner, leaning against the Banyan tree. Dadu called, "Cheenu...Cheenu"

"Yes Dadu" he shouted and reached close to him. Dadu gave him a letter and asked him to search a lonely corner and then read it. He was surprised at this act. Dadu handing him a letter, seemed like some random thing possible only in dream.

He silently went to the other side of the banyan tree and opened the white paper. It said, "You pretend to be very smart buddy but you wrongly noticed that Anu likes white roses. She actually likes rainbow roses. I have made them for you and decorated them as well in my storeroom. After the sun falls below the horizon, would you like to take Anu to the storeroom and surprise her with your hard work? If it's a yes from you, look at me and nod in a yes. Rest I shall arrange."

Chinmay was overwhelmed but he did not know that yet another overwhelming experience was waiting for him. He at once come to the park-facing side of the tree, looked at Dadu, who was waiting for him, and nodded in a yes.

After the sun reached the horizon, Dadu called, "Anu? Where are you?"

"Here Dadu" Anu shouted from among the people sitting.

"You have seen me keep that diary carton beta when you came home? My story diaries? And also my torch?" Dadu asked.

"Yes Dadu on the third shelf of the...." Anu was interrupted.

"Oh yes you know it. Go and show it to Cheenu and he will bring it here. The torch also. Then I shall tell you people my stories." said Dadu.

Anu looked at her mother beside her, she slowly whispered, "Go." But in talks and one work or the other it was very late when they could go to Dadu's house.

As they entered the house, Chinmay said, "I have a surprise for you. Will you please come with me?"

Anu nervously nodded in a yes and they went to the storeroom. The scene was a surprise not just for Anu but also for Cheenu. The room was filled with the rainbow roses that Dadu toiled and made with food colours with help from youtube. At the centre sat a table with maroon table cloth over it. The residual inverter life was saved for the beautiful lighting of the room with tiny bulbs all over. Anu as if went crazy. She ran around the room, "So many Rainbow roses. It was you who had asked Dadu to ask me to show how to make rainbow roses? Oh my god! They are so beautiful. Cheenu! You did it for me? It's like the feeling of paradise. Today if you propose me, I will not be able to say 'no'."

And she suddenly stopped and went close to Chinmay, took out a rainbow rose from the vase, lightly pulled his hand and handed him the flower. Then, she dragged the chair before Chinmay and stood on it and said, "Okay, I am ready. You may propose."

Chinmay, with tear filled eyes and heavy voice said, "I did not do it. I did not do it Anu. Dadu did all of it. I just grew the roses, the white blank roses. I thought you liked them. But I was wrong. What you are happy with is not my work, so, I have no right to propose you...." and then looking at the rainbow rose in his hand he continued, "no right to propose you with this flower."

Anu got down from the chair with a disappointed face, took the flower from his hand and kept it on the table and then again took a round of the room, touching all the flowers with her shivering fingers while Cheenu just stood there silently looking at Anu. Moments later, she came back to the same spot, stood on the chair and asked him to open his hand once again. And when he did so she handed him a white rose...a blank white rose and said, "I can find you from the crowd, because you are different; pure and true. Today if I say a yes, it is not just because of this moment but because I know now that you care.", and suddenly turning into a taunting tone, "Ah! So, now will you please proceed... Or you wanna wait till my next birthday."

"No...no... I am saying." Chinmay spoke in a reflex and then slowly turning his voice a little romantic he said, "Ahmm ahmm... Will you accept this blank rose, colour it with your love and treasure it forever?"

"Hmm... Yes" she said and hugged Chinmay who then brought her down from the chair.

Before Chinmay could spend some time looking into the innocent eyes of Anu, she abruptly said, "The diary carton. Quick. Come on."

Just above the carton was a paper. Cheenu switched on the torch and read it. "Before you kids leave my home, a small help please. From the backyard, bring in my pots with Mogra flowers. Today is also the day I first met your Dadi in my life. Will propose her again. Don't know if she loves me the same. But please do this for me. I want the house to smell Mogra when she enters." Both were in tears and did as said.

As they left the house, Chinmay could notice that Dadu had locked all the latches with door open, so that no room could be latched from inside. He silently smiled at Dadu's cute but intelligent safety measure.

Everyone was looking at them when they reached the park. This made them nervous. They were ready to answer any question. They were ready to confess their love but suddenly Dadu who was continuously looking at his tiny phone commanded, "Now." And everybody started in somewhat synchronized rhythm, "Happy birthday to you, happy Birthday to you, happy birthday dear Anu, happy birthday to you."

"So, Anu what do you want on your birthday beta?" Her father asked.

She hesitated, "Daddy!! I hope you don't get angry at me but I want..."

"Why angry? At most you can ask us to get you married... That's fine for your age now... Better if you can find a guy yourself... Someone like Cheenu. And in case you don't... Will Cheenu be fine?" Anu breathlessly just stared her father. With tears flowing restlessly she hugged Daddy tightly. This was the most unexpected thing for Anu and Cheenu, but this wasn't a miracle. Had Dadu not talked to Anu's and Cheenu's parents, this would not have been so swiftly possible. Best things take time. Love needs patience and support. Anu and Cheenu were the happiest that day. 

The next day, at about 11 am, while everyone was busy with their works amidst the continued power cut, the supply was suddenly restored but just then a loud spark sound was heard. When people rushed, they found Dadu lying on the road just beside the transformer and circuit area. Gupta Dadu was helping him get up but Dadu was unconscious. Chinmay and other boys lifted him and rushed him to a clinic. The shocked had caused severe burns in his hands, however thankfully he was alive. They left him in the ICU and came out.

"How did this happen?" Chinmay asked Gupta Dadu.

" Arey he climbed up into the circuit area to correct the fault. And he corrected it too. But because while getting down he lost his balance and in a reflex touched a section that had current. Luckily, what he touched was nominal house voltage and not high-tension." Gupta Dadu explained.

"But why the hell did he go to mend the circuit?" Chinmay irritatingly asked.

"Because he created the fault. He said that Mamta is getting bored of seeing his face and only a power cut can bring everyone at a place and he also said that it is also important for completing a mission of love. I told him not to do it but he shut my mouth saying that this can bring his son back to him."

Cheenu was again in tears. He went to Dadi, showed her Dadu's letter and explained him everything, also what Gupta Dadu had told and said, "Dadi!! My tears are not for how much he hurted me but for the guilt that I did a mistake in identifying him. He is great Dadi. Come Dadi I will take you to the hospital."

Dadi ran around the house in worry and panic. She at once called Bindiya and informed her everything. That day Dadi got to know that it takes less than three hour to reach Delhi from Bangalore. Raghav was crying like anything. And all his tears were true. But they lost in competition to Dadu when he came out danger and saw his son and granddaughter before his eyes. In the competition of falling tears, love won.