City Gardening, Creativity and Women Empowerment: December 2016

Dec 12,2016 : 8 AM – Not sure why I have started to Office even after the dreadful warnings and announcements regarding the Cyclone which is going to shatter Chennai, when I have many loved ones who only I can take care and this ironically is inclusive of my own self.

Probably I had over confidence that nothing ever would harm me or my loved ones.

Dec 12,2016 : 8:45AM –There was not much of panic and chaos in reaching office except for the slight drizzles and the cold umbrella deforming breeze which indeed made the day more beautiful.

Dec 12,2016 : 9 to 11:49AM – Trepidation started to spread inside the office atmosphere as Vardah was getting stronger and starting to daunt the city. My colleagues and I were anxiously enjoying the howling of Vardah through the glass windows.

Dec 12,2016 : 11:50AM – It was until I received a call from home stating that my plants are being reckoned by Vardah, that I wanted to remain safe indoors. This was really when I regretted that I should have stayed home to safeguard my little saplings and plants.

Dec 12,2016 : 12:10PM – Exactly now, Vardah has started to become catastrophic, blowing the entire Chennai with her roars and howls. But I nevertheless booked a cab with just one thought in my mind “I need to protect my garden.” No, they were not just plants but my passion and efforts for nearly a couple of years.

Dec 12,2016 : 12:15PM – I still do not understand who gave me the confidence and faith, that I can fight the deadly winds and reach home to preserve my plants. The best part is, without the least panic about Vardah, I was creating a rescue plan in mind for my garden.

Dec 12,2016 : 12:50PM – Miraculously reached home without much of threatening impediments or rather I cared the least about it. While my whole family was anxiously waiting for my safe arrival, all I did was to throw my handbag at the entrance of my house and run to the terrace like a mother waiting to see her abandoned child.

Dec 12,2016 : 12:50 to 1:55PM – I saw all my plants fluttering to and fro to fight against the aggressive Vardah. I felt that all of them had got a strong hope that I would definitely save them. With Rich Faith, got to the grounds and put in all my might to save my plants as fast as I could.

I have replaced around 70 planters (Includes Grow Bags, Cement Pots, Plastic Pots..), Among that around 45 to next floor under Water Tank.I had to bend and walk with the heavy pots to stash a few of them under the water tank. The fact is that, the amount of work I have done for the past 10 years wouldn’t cumulatively account to the 50% of the hard work I invested in saving my garden that day

With Hope I prayed God to give me more strength that I should complete, because all my pains and efforts would go in vain if I don’t succeed in atleast trying to save all of them.

It was not a tough job for the devastating Vardah, which broke even steel buildings, to ward off me from doing my job. I was indeed very tiring to fight against the winds and redeem my plants. But at the very moment I saw my plants combat the fatal winds and Vardah encroaching my garden slowly, I regrouped all the courage to get back to work right from the place where I left.

After the tremendous and tiring battle I shifted all plants except 2 trees which were too heavy to be carried. All I could do for them is to pray God earnestly to save them and help them remain fruitful.

It was then when my long Agathi Keerai plant was whipping me at my back because of the heavy winds, I could literally hear her accusing me “ Why were you so late in saving us?!”

The sad part of this is that despite my efforts, I couldn’t succeed in saving a few of my favorite plants which couldn’t withstand the wrath of Vardah. A few among that are the bitter guard plant which gave us its benefits on just the previous day, the green chillies and Priandai(Adamant Creeper). But I made it a point I never wasted the smallest part of them and collected all the left overs from the plants, even though they are all dead!

One Cement Pot with Jasmine Plant was broken when I lifted it as being drenched heavily in rain… Somehow I saved it and able to understand the nature..It can easily adapt and live for years with little help..

Last but not the least the Guava tree proved her perseverance and sturdiness by giving Vardah, a strong fight and succeeded to stand upright. She fed us with her tasty fruits for the next few days.

I had noticed that I had got a few injuries in the arduous battle, which never pained until I accomplished the task.

Am 100% sure that the risk and pain it made is for the love I had for the plants and the efforts I invested in the past 2years, it undoubtedly not for the money I invested in them. (I have not thought even for a second about the investment part in that 1 hour of time)

Vardah taught me a few things for life. Some of them are:

· The love and dedication you have for doing things which you are passionate about, is enormous.

· Only when people are passionate and have true love for something/someone, they will be ready to take risks to save the other. This I understood when I saw others at my house having the least pains in seeing my garden getting destroyed. I felt the pain along with my plants because they were not just plants but my efforts and endeavor.

· That was the day when I really understood to some extent, the feelings of our Farmers during the disasters

· I got this character from my dad who has such love and the zeal to complete a task especially when it includes heavy Physical Work… Thank u Appa for setting a living example.

In the midst of such a mixed Experience, I like to thank God

· For My Hope, Safety, Stamina & Strength

· For saving my Plants till that time

· For the Love I had for my Garden