Keeping it Alive!

‘Surprise!’ Mrs. Meenakshi screeched, grinning ear to ear. She had a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a bunch of colorful helium balloons in the other. Her daughter, Prakriti, stood on the other side of the front door, dressed in grey sweatpants and an oversized navy blue T-shirt that read ‘imperfectly perfect.’ Her face looked as dull as her dirty grey sweatpants. 

‘MOM!?! What are youuuu doing here?’ Prakriti asked, stepping away from the door and heading toward the small kitchen in her pigeon-sized apartment. She tried hard to hold on to those tears. ‘Deep breaths, just take a deep breath.’ She filled herself a glass of water, glugged it down, and filled another glass for her mother. 

‘Prakriti?!? What’s the matter, Sweetheart? Why … why do you look so glum?’ The balloons slipped out of Mrs. Meenakshi’s hand and flew up, gently bouncing against the white ceiling. 

‘It didn’t happen, Mom…’ Prakriti said slowly with an upside-down smile, staring at her purple slippers.

‘What? What do you mean? But I thought it was a sure shot this time,’ her mother replied, dumping her purse on the chair and the bouquet of lilies. ‘Oh, come here, you… I’m sure you need a big hug.’

‘I don’t want a hug, Mom. I’m just feeling so… so mad right now. I just want to be left alone. Why have you even come here in the first place? You never drop by?’

‘Well, I didn’t hear from you, so I assumed that since it was Friday night, you must have been out with your friends, and that’s why you didn’t call. And I thought I’d surprise you.’

‘What friends? I never go out at night, not even Friday night. They are the worst! The streets are overly crowded with a bunch of drunks and half-naked chics.’

Mrs Meenakhi looked at her disconnected, depressed daughter and took a deep breath. ‘Get your things… let’s go,’ her mother insisted. 

‘Go where?’ Prakriti frowned. 

‘Home.’

‘I’m not coming home with you… ‘

‘Why?’

Because it doesn’t make sense, I’m sorry. It's already past noon. By the time we get home, it will be evening. And then, I’d have to leave by noon tomorrow so I can make it back to my apartment to be on time for Monday morning.’

Her mother sighed a worrisome sigh. ‘Okay… then I’ll stay the night.’

‘What? Why?’

‘Because… look at you. Look at the state you’re in. I’ve never seen you so messed up since… since Bruno died.’ 

‘I’m fine, Mom,’ Prakriti rolled her eyes. ‘And I was in school when Bruno died. That was ages ago.’ 

‘Bruno was such a sweet dog. Remember how he got lost at home when he was a puppy… and I put a little gungroo around his neck…’ her mother rambled, looking at her daughter. ‘Ok. Now’s not the time to talk about Bruno. But Sweetheart, you really don’t look yourself.’

Prakriti sighed. ‘I’m not ready to talk about it just yet.’ 

‘That’s okay. We can talk about it whenever you’re ready.’ 

‘Okay…’

There was an awkward silence in the room. Mrs.Meenakshi began humming to herself. She rumaged through her purse to find her phone and continued humming. She took a seat by the window near the balcony. 

‘Ok. Fine,’ Prakriti sighed. ‘You win. I know you aren’t going to budge or take no for an answer. What do you want to do?’

‘Well, we can start with some lunch. I’m famished. Have you got anything to eat?’ her mother smiled, walking into the kitchen. She saw a dirty pile of dishes, empty take-out boxes scattered over the kitchen slab, a half-filled garbage bin, and a stale, smelly, empty refrigerator. 

‘Okay… get ready. Let’s go out for lunch. I’m in the mood for a nice, crispy masala dosa. Change your clothes, take a shower, or do something. Let’s go. Chop-chop!’

Prakriti stared at her mother and blinked rapidly. Her mother’s energy was contagious. 

‘Okay… Give me ten minutes,’ she smiled wryly and headed straight to her bedroom. 

In due time, mother and daughter binged on authentic South Indian food. Mrs. Meenakshi ended her meal with a cup of filtered coffee. Her mother decided to go grocery shopping to fill her daughter’s home with lovely treats to eat. Items that are easy to prepare, along with fresh fruit and vegetables. They came home with a bottle of red wine and many carry bags. The two giggled and gossiped about the good old days as they prepared dinner. Soon, they sat down, watched their all-time favorite episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S, and sipped on their glasses of wine. 

‘So what did your boss say?’ her mother asked as they began to eat their dinner. 

‘You really want to do this now. We were having such a good time…’

‘You always need to make space for the bad; only then will it turn to good…’

Prakriti sighed. ‘He didn’t say anything. He just announced that Jaspreet had been promoted. And when I congratulated him, he told me about the hike in his salary package. I just couldn’t control my tears, and went running to the bathroom like a little girl who had wet her pants. 

‘Jaspreet is the same colleague you have been working with, right?’

Prakriti nodded, fighting back those tears.

‘You can cry if you want to. Let it out. You can’t keep your emotions bottled up inside. You’re just making things even harder for yourself. Just throw those tears out. I’m here for you. Why do you think I stayed back?’

‘Oh, Mom,’ Prakriti moaned. Her brown eyes began to spout tears. She got off her chair and curled up on her mother’s lap. ‘I don’t understand… I don’t know what went wrong. Or how I’ve landed up like this. Back in time, all this never bothered me. Everything used to be so simple. Life is getting so challenging as we grow.’

‘Time changes people, my dear. Work life does. Relationships do. We need to accept change and learn to adapt to it. But you need to look after yourself. It’s okay if your boss didn’t give you that promotion. Maybe it’s a sign for you to look for another job or talk to your boss and find out where the potholes are. I have spent more than forty years of my life working hard, day in and day out, until one day, I just decided to retire. And you know what? I regret that decision. So make the most of this time. Enjoy the work you do. This time isn’t going to be easy, but it also isn’t going to come again.’

Prakriti buried her face on her mother’s shoulder. She fought back the waterworks, trying to keep her emotions in check. 

‘Try to get some sleep. You look exhausted,’ her mother suggested. 

The following morning, Mrs. Meenakshi was up earlier than usual. She hardly slept as her daughter’s troubles and worries kept her awake through the night. Prakriti found her mother sitting in the drawing room, sipping on a cup of tea. 

‘Why are you awake so early?’ her daughter asked, rubbing her sleepy eyes. 

‘Why are you awake so early?’ her mother giggled. 

‘I always wake up at this time,’ Prakriti replied. 

‘But today is Sunday…’ 

‘The body clock is set, Mom. What do you want to eat for breakfast?’

‘I was thinking pancakes?’ she had a wide-open smile. 

‘Pancakes? Oh, I see what you’re trying to do here. You’re giving me comfort food,’ she rolled her eyes. 

‘Pancakes aren’t comfort food… okay, maybe it is, but who can resist hot, fluffy pancakes and a nice cup of coffee on a Sunday morning?’

‘Okay… You’ve got me. I’m already drooling, thinking about pancakes. I’ll make the batter,’ Prakriti said as she headed towards the kitchen. 

‘It’s already made… tell me when you’re ready to eat. It’ll just take me a few minutes.’

‘Oh, Mom, you’re spoiling me,’ Prakriti called out. ‘I’m going to take a quick shower.’

‘What are mothers for?’ she smiled. ‘After breakfast, we’re going to the nursery.’

‘The nursery?’

‘You’ll see.’

By late afternoon, Prakriti walked through the front door with a single potted rose plant in her hand. Her mother followed behind with more bags of groceries to last her daughter for more than a week. 

‘What time are you heading home?’ Prakriti asked. 

‘I think I should make a move in about half an hour or so,’ her mother replied. 

‘Okay…’ 

‘Don’t look so sad. I’ll be back in a week or so. Let me organize things at home, and I’ll stay with you for longer next time.’

Prakriti sighed. ‘I’ll miss you, Mom.’

‘I’ll miss you too.’

‘Mom.’

‘Yes, dear.’

‘Don’t forget to take your new rose plant with you. I’ll leave it by the door so you won’t forget.’

‘Sweetheart, the rose plant is for you. My garden is filled with roses and other types of flowers.’

‘What? What did you just say? I don’t have time to look after a plant or plants.’

‘Precisely my point,’ her mother exclaimed. 

‘No… I don’t want a plant in my apartment.’

‘Prakriti, this plant is solely your responsibility. Okay… here’s the deal. If you can look after this plant and make it survive, I’m going to leave you alone. But if it dies, when I come back in two weeks, I’ll be taking you home with me. You can’t go on living the way you are living. It’s too messed up. You don’t eat well, your place is perpetually messy, and you have heaps of laundry. You need to learn to look after yourself. And I feel that this rose plant can help you do that.’

‘A rose plant? Mom, you’re not making any sense! And why would I move back in with you?’

‘Because then you can find a job on our side of town and live with me and your father just like we used to.’

‘Wait. You know I can’t live with Dad.’

‘I’m not giving you a choice. This is the only way my twenty-four-year-old daughter can get her life in order. And if you can’t get your life straight now and make this rose plant survive, you’re coming home.’

‘I don’t understand. What’s so great about this stupid, freaking rose plant?’ Prakriti exclaimed, waving her hands in the air. 

‘You will understand later. But mark my words. You have two weeks.

I suggest you Google how to look after that rose plant. I’m looking forward to seeing more blooms when I return. Now come on, give me a big hug before I go.’ With that, Prakriti’s mother left the apartment. 

Prakriti looked at the potted rose plant standing tall, staring at her in the face. ‘So you’re going to decide my future? Ridiculous! We’ll see about that. Really, what is my mother even thinking?’ she said to the plant. ‘Oh my, I’m talking to the plant now… I think I’m going crazy too.’

The following Monday morning, Prakriti had a cup of coffee, a slice of toast, and two boiled eggs for breakfast. The plant stared at her as she ate. ‘It looks fine to me. I’m sure it can survive two weeks.’ The single red rose still stood tall with big thorns on its stem. Its leaves were dark green, and the soil was still moist. She looked at the time and realized she was going to be late for work. Prakriti picked up her work bag and rushed out the front door, leaving her plate on the table along with her unfinished cup of coffee. She hailed an auto from the main road and made her way to another day at work. 

Prakriti was swamped with several errands to run at work. She put aside her frustration and dejection, held her head high, and went through the day. Her boss was impressed with her performance and gave her a pat on the back. ‘Maybe now I can ask him why I didn’t get that promotion.’

‘Tomorrow, I’m assigning you with Jaspreet. There is a deal that needs to be taken care of. I’m sure he would be able to help you out.’

Prakriti nodded and didn’t utter a word. ‘Help me out? I’ve been here longer than Jaspreet, and I can handle closing a deal myself perfectly. What is he even thinking?’

As the week went by, Prakriti moved in and out of her apartment. Instead of closing one deal, she closed two at work. However, she returned home late every night and lived on cup noodles. By the end of the week, Prakriti noticed that the rose plant was beginning to wilt. She kicked off her shoes by the plant, which was still sitting by the front door, and ignored it. Her mother’s stern words rang through her head. She shut them out. ‘I don’t have time for this.’

On Saturday morning, Prakriti woke up to find her mother’s text message asking for a picture of the plant. ‘Have the rose buds blossomed? I’ll FaceTime you at 9 pm. I miss you. See you next week.’

‘Shit! I’m so screwed.’

‘I’m not at home right now. I’ll show you the plant when we Facetime,’ Prakriti texted. 

‘It’s 8 am. How come you aren’t home?’ her mother promptly texted back.

‘Oh my god! Never lie to your mother. How is she always ten steps ahead?’ Prakriti thought, staring at her mother’s text message. 

‘??’ her mother added. ‘All okay?’

Prakriti saw the fruit basket on the table as her brain tried to come up with another white lie. ‘I’ve come to buy fruits and vegetables for the week.’ 

‘Really? How can the fruits already be over? I thought they would last longer… but oh well. That means you’ve been eating healthy. See, the rose plant is already making a difference. You carry on. I’ll call you at 9.’

Prakriti closed her eyes tightly and sat still at the dining table. ‘One lie after the other.’ She then looked at the rose plant sitting by the front door. ‘I better do something about you before my mother changes her mind,’ she thought, picking up the pot and placing it on the balcony. She poured some water, hoping to bring the half-dead plant back to life. 

An hour later, Prakriti ate breakfast, took a shower, and was dressed in clean clothes. She stood at the window overlooking her balcony where the rose plant was placed. It looked the same… lifeless.

She recalled her mother’s words, ‘You need to give it your time, patience, and love. ' 

‘This isn’t going to work,’ Prakriti thought. She picked up her bag and walked out of the front door. About an hour later, she arrived home with a brand new rose plant, identical to the first rose plant. ‘Now my mum won’t be able to tell the difference. I’ll just show her the new plant and show her how well I’m looking after it and how well I’m taking care of myself. Easy peasy.’ She replaced the old rose plant with the new one and moved the old one to the corner of the balcony. Prakriti stepped back and admired the new rose plant, feeling a sense of relief. She knew her mother would be impressed when they video-called later. However, a pang of guilt tugged at her conscience. Her eyes wandered around her messy apartment. There was a pile of laundry, dirty dishes, unfolded clothes, and books scattered on the table, and the old bouquet of lilies her mother had given her last week was withered and wilted in the vase. Prakriti sighed, realizing she had a lot of work to do to get her life in order. 

There and then, Prakriti got her act together and decided to tidy up. She cleaned up pretty well for someone who hardly cleans at all. By nine, Prakriti was eating her dinner in front of the television. She had her phone ringer on loud, expecting her mother to call. She knew her father would be around and preferred to avoid that awkward, formal conversation. 

The following morning, Mrs Meenakshi stood at her daughter’s front door, eagerly waiting for Prakriti. She decided to give her a surprise visit and fill up her fridge with the mandatory grocery list. 

‘Surprise!’ her mother beamed with her arms wide open. 

‘Ma! I thought you were going to drop by next Sunday,’ Prakriti said sheepishly as the two hugged each other tightly. 

‘I see you’re looking better than last week,’ her mother acknowledged, walking through the door. ‘And oh, look at the apartment. It’s squeaky clean. Mrs. Meenakshi walked to the balcony window and noticed the rose plant, standing tall and strong. She telephoned her driver, ‘Please bring the rest of the stuff upstairs.’

‘What stuff?’ Prakriti fumbled trying to get her mother away from the balcony, hoping she wouldn’t notice the old, withered rose plant placed secretly in the corner. 

‘Oh, you’ll see,’ she winked, giving her daughter an impish grin. 

Just then, the doorbell rang. The driver stood on the other side of the door with six brand new potted plants. ‘Please place them on the balcony,’ Mrs Meenakshi requested. 

‘MOM! What’s going on?’ 

‘Nothing,’ her mother said, opening the balcony door. 

‘Mom, wait,’ Prakriti charged to the door. 

‘Keep them all here in a row,’ Mrs Meenakshi said to the driver. ‘Thanks so much.’

‘Now isn’t that looking better?’ her mother smiled at her daughter. 

Prakriti gave her mother a long stare and blinked rapidly. 

‘What? Don’t you like it? Now you have more babies to look after. And oh, by the way. I know you bought yourself a new rose plant.’

‘I know… You saw the old one in the corner of the balcony.’

‘No… actually I didn’t.’

‘What?’

‘The rose plant I bought had a pink flower. The new one has a red flower.’

‘Oh.’

‘That’s okay. But I’m happy with your progress. But sweetheart.’

‘Yes, mother.’

‘You can lie to me all you want. But believe me, with me as your mother, you’ll always get caught red-handed.’