In search of shiuli
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis — This intimidating sounding jargon is the scientific name of the flower more commonly known as ‘shiuli’ or the night flowering jasmine.
It was half past 8 in the evening. I suddenly felt an urge to take a walk. Multiple things were revolving around in the back of my mind — ‘It is Panchami today, I should at least get a quick glimpse of Ma Durga’s idol which must have been unveiled, moreover I haven’t gone outside in a long time’. Also, earlier in the day I had raised my concern to Ma( not Ma Durga but my mother, not that she’s far from a Goddess ) that this year the hypnotizing fragrance of Shiuli flowers was nowhere to be found. No I don’t have Corona, I can still smell the dirty sewage emanating from the nearby alley.
I always had this immense allurement towards this fragrance of shiuli. It lifted up my mood exponentially, giving me a feeling of bliss, hope, positivity and a cue that Pujo is around the corner and so is the winter season!
I was ready, with one earbud of my earphones in my left ear, the other one dangling freely over my shoulder. A mask is covering my nose and mouth. Just as I was about to exit from my society gate, I ensured that I had a long and intense eye contact with my security guard. Nope, Alexandra Daddario wasn’t guarding the gates of my society. This little manoeuvre was just to avoid being asked, “Bhaiya kahan jana hai” ( “Brother, where do you intend to go?”) when I return from my walk. They are newly appointed guards and with residents being in their Covid masquerade all the time, it becomes rather challenging for them to identify us with 100% accuracy.
Onto the streets now. I came across scores of Zomato delivery guys in a hurry to deliver their orders. Some people are enjoying chaat from the ‘Agra chaat bhandar’, unfazed by the spicy chutney the guy puts in it. I go past people walking in their ‘chin diapers’ — masks clinging to the chin keeping the mouth and nose completely exposed. Some are wearing their masks properly, even though their number is abysmally low.
I cautiously walk ahead, giving a desolate sigh. Just as I reach the corner, I am greeted by a beautiful sight — purple coloured blinking lights adoring the trees and the walls all around the Kali Temple. One can hear the sound of bells ringing in unison. As I reach the temple gate, I can see the pujari moving his hand in a circular motion with the aarti diya in his hand, around the “Kalasha”( Pitcher/pot )which happened to be the substitute for the idol this year. I was just in time for the evening aarti. There were around 15–20 people inside, standing in socially distant circles which had been marked out of white paint on the floor. I just stood there at the entrance, did my namaskar, absorbed the vibes and started walking back home.
Since I had come out after what felt like ages, I was way too cautious whenever as much as a soul would be within 6 feet of me. I didn’t want to be outside for long. My mind was too focused on going back home. As I reached my society gate again and was almost about to enter it, a sudden realisation dawned upon me. The real reason I had ventured out for — searching for shiuli — was incomplete.
I turned back again and this time I strode in the opposite direction. As I kept walking, I came across a mild fragrance which was the first I had experienced this year. I looked up, and there it was — a shiuli tree. One of the leaning branches was almost touching my left shoulder. I couldn’t stop myself extending a hand and plucking a flower from it. Unfortunately the buds were still too young , the reason for the low fragrance levels.
I kept walking — a man on a mission. A T-intersection lay ahead. My brain told me to take the left. After proceeding a few steps, I realized there’s a problem — the street was completely dark and full of stray dogs. I stopped and turned back, I didn’t want my first venture outside to end badly. As I turned my back a voice inside my head told me
“What are you doing? Don’t chicken out now!”.
I nodded in affirmation. The very next moment I was walking through the darkness, the only visible lights were the glowing eyes of the dogs. The presence of the dogs had increased my walking speed significantly . At this very moment another whiff of the recognizable smell travelled past my nostrils. My eyes started scanning eagerly around to find the right tree; and after a few seconds I was finally able to locate it — a big tree with flowers which were in full bloom. I crossed the road just in time as a rickshaw hurtled past me.
I found myself standing under a shiuli tree in full bloom, taking in the amazing fragrance exuded by those white flowers. The tree is often called the “tree of sorrow”, because the flowers lose their brightness during daytime. Such an ironical name because at this moment, I felt free of all sorrow, as a dose of positivity burst inside me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in, pushing my mask down a bit in the process. As I was plucking a flower while being ‘in the moment’, I felt a sudden cold sensation on my head. My worst fear had come true, a napping pigeon had just pooped on my head!
‘Oh come on !’, I felt so disgusted that I let out a small but clear shout showing my anger and repugnance. In all this commotion what I didn’t realize was that those hungry, glowing sets of eyes had multiplied and were now accompanied by a growling sound which soon turned into a series of loud barks.
As much as I try being calm whenever a pack of dogs is around me, this time as well like always I started running, which triggered the dogs even more and then they started chasing after me. The last time I got chased by dogs was probably a decade ago ( I got to thank the dogs though, if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have discovered my sprinting abilities ). I ran as fast as I could, and if someone took a photo it would look like this :
The only 2 differences being I obviously wasn’t running that fast, and also I wouldn’t be getting a medal if I outran my competitors, but rather my life itself.
I took the right turn from the intersection, and kept running straight. I looked behind to find the number of dogs chasing me had decreased to one. There was this notorious one refusing to give up the chase. I decided to cross the road now, and as I did just in time to avoid being hit by a car, the driver cursed me as I did so. I didn’t care, because when I checked again the dog had given up chasing, accepting defeat — at least that’s what I would like to think.
Now I am standing near my house, trying to catch my breath. My hands are on my knees, my head is down. The only question in my head, which still has droplets of pigeon shit — “Was all this worth it?”.
I feel the solitary flower which lay deep in the folds of my trousers’ front pocket, and I gingerly take it out.
As I am looking at it, basking in all the fragrance it has to let out, I hear a voice calling from behind,
“Haan bhaiyaa, kahan jana hain?”.
A sly smile springs upon my face, as I think to myself -
“Yes! It was totally worth it!”
