ARTICLE : CHOTI ELAICHI

CHOTI ELAICHI

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

02/XII/2021

It was after a fortnight that we returned to our village in Maharashtra. By the time we got in, it was late night. The weather had been unkind as the turbulence we experienced on the plane said it all. There was a prediction of a storm and heavy rains for the next three days.

The first baby to greet us was none other than Oreo. He was mad at us and his body language said it all. We had to explain the reason for our absence. Once satisfied he let us get into the house.

Moment Oreo left the main door I rushed to the window and looked outside and I could hardly believe my eyes that all pots and plants were fine on Ellis' drive. Everything was where we had left them. The ‘in detail’ check would be done the next day.

I could not resist the temptation to caress each plant. This feeling can only be understood by a plant lover. The weather continued to be nasty. It was pitch dark even till 8 am and rained incessantly. One kept waiting for a window of ‘no rain’ but it was not to be till 11 am. A visit to the backyard could not be overlooked. Even if it was all slish-slosh, the effort was worth it as most of the fruit trees are growing there.

As I approached the ‘Green Cardamom’ bush, which was just a little sprout brought from Kerala, my eyes couldn’t believe what I saw. It has been four years waiting for the results. The first signs were now visible. It was flowering for the first time. The first blooms were battered by the rain. Many leaves were showing a little redness in the centre, which is the sign of flowering to appear.

It was unbelievable but hard work, patience and perseverance has paid. From a pot, to the ground where it was left to blossom was now giving results. From a baby with two leaves, it has turned into a bush of multiple leaves. The proof of the pudding would be in the eating when the cardamom pods would sprout from underneath. We may not have the privilege to see them as we shall be leaving shortly but this plant is happy and from now on would fruit regularly (if people leave it in one piece).

It has the ‘Mulberry Bush’ on one side and ‘Lookat’ on the other. I planted them next to each other as they had arrived together. The mulberry is more than ten feet high and the lookat is also spreading its branches. In another year or so they too should bear fruit.

As they say trees planted by someone ensures that someone else enjoys the fruit. We shall leave them here in the same spirit. Hope to return one day and see our ‘choti elaichi’ flourishing. Will we? I wonder!!!!!!!!!!

JAI HIND

Comments

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