One can only imagine how tough the lockdown has been for Nimai Chand Gupta, a 79-year-old widower who has had to live much of this year all by himself. What kept him going, perhaps, was a hobby he picked up two or three years ago — gardening. Without help, he is unable to do much of the heavy lifting and doubts if his blooms this winter will be as abundant as before but if they keep him happy, they will have done enough.
After March, I left Salt Lake all of four times, each time to bid the final goodbye to a loved one. Then, in September, my full-time domestic help of 10 years left. Now I am all alone. In such a bleak scenario I am turning to my plants.
I have done up my front yard, backyard, drive way and terrace but each has its own pros and cons. The front yard, though a small patch, is fertile. It grows Spinach, Coriander, Mustard, Radish, Bitter Gourd, Chichinge… I used to have flowers here too but they would get stolen.
The backyard is deprived of sunlight ever since some construction was done in a neighbour’s house. It has Neem, Banana, Lemon but the trees never bear fruit. Why, I have two Papaya trees of the same age — one in front and one at the back. The one in front has grown to a height of two storeys whereas the one at the back is just waist-high!
A Mango tree in the backyard receives sunlight on one side and early this year, only that side had filled with little Mangoes. Along came Amphan and brought them all down. My domestic help made pickle out of it but I can’t stand pickle. I usually carry it to the US when I visit my sons but there’s no telling when that will happen now.
I usually gift lots of vegetables to neighbours but even that had to be stopped due to Covid. So I alone ate the Brinjal, Palong Shak, Pui Shak and Lady’s Finger that grew here.
I have always kept busy with plays, quizzes, debates or simply by helping out in the neighbourhood so social distancing is difficult for me. I’m killing time in the garden as much as I can. I’m preparing for Dahlias, Chrysanthemums and Marigolds this winter but it’s not easy dragging sacks of soil or lifting heavy buckets with my back and knee ache.
Flowers bring me much peace and joy. Earlier this month, a Hibiscus bloomed in the terrace that was yellow with a deep pink centre. It was so beautiful that it made my day.
The doctor has asked me to walk five miles daily so I wear my Fitbit smart watch and walk on the terrace and driveway, counting my steps and looking at the lovely flowers.
