Jasmine in Your Own Garden

  

This was ten years back when Sweta had just entered her teen age. Her classmate and best friend asked excitedly "Hey, Sweta, is Sreelekha the writer, your grand mom?"

"Yeah" she replied nonchalantly.

She did not feel any of her friend's enthusiasm. She had heard that grandma wrote for women's magazines and was also a published author of a few books on self-help and fiction. This did not mean much to the young girl who was busy in her own world and hardly had any time to interact with grandma or grandpa for that matter. As a student of class VIII, she not only had schoolwork to contend with but also tuition classes and music lessons. This left hardly any time for socialization particularly with senior citizens. Moreover, although living in the same city grandma valued her independence. She, therefore lived in the family ancestral home 15 kilometers away along with grandpa. It was only occasionally that Sweta and her brother Arjun accompanied their parents when visiting grandparents.

Then it happened. Covid struck so bad, that papa insisted that his parents live with them at least until they saw the back of the pandemic. After all, lot of unforeseen situations had to be dealt with such as social distancing, lockdowns and restrictions on going out for purchase of essential goods. He and his wife had to work from home and the children also had no option but to stay at home and attend online classes. In a way it was a blessing in disguise as the children got the opportunity to spend more time with family members. Slowly and steadily with each passing day Sweta found herself more and more attached to grandmom. She noted that her grandmom was not only very wise and knowledgeable but also endearing and kind. When a neighbour abandoned a kitty, grandma adopted her saying she would take her with her when they returned to their home.

However, Covid was slow in going away. Repeated lockdowns meant that Sweta and Arjun would enjoy the company of their grandparents for a long time. Sweta began to spend more and more time with her grandma. She asked her advice on a variety of things- What books to read other than the academic, how to choose one's friends and to what extent secrets can be shared with friends. She even asked her about handling break ups. Although she herself had not yet encountered the need for it, her best friend had got attached to a boy in class X. When they broke up it was she, who began to shirk studies and in general found it difficult to move on.

Grandma talked to her about anything and everything. No subject was taboo. It was almost as if she had also missed the bonding with her granddaughter and was now trying to catch up for lost time. Then, one afternoon after lunch when grandpa had retired for his short siesta, Sweta asked " Grandma, can you share an unforgettable incident in your life?"

"Yes" said grandma. "By the way, it is interestingly connected to my writing and my ambitions as a writer". Sweta was all ears as her grandma continued.

“ This was a time when I was experiencing writer's block for almost six months. Your grandpa suggested a change of scene. He advised me to visit my parents in Kullu for a break and rejuvenation. As planned, I took the Delhi- Chandigarh train from where I would travel by road to Kullu . But then this happened, in the second AC compartment in which I was travelling. A masked man appeared as if from nowhere; 'Don't move!' he said pointing a gun at me. All the passengers were staring in shock and disbelief. I moved swiftly and overpowered the assailant. Not for nothing had I learnt Karate at school! But all this was not of much use as another man hit me on the head from behind and I fell down unconscious. I came to know later, that motivated by my response, other passengers joined in and kicked the life out of the robbers who fled away jumping out as the train neared a station."

" You were a karate champ grandma!" exclaimed Sweta for whom this was a surprise. Her respect and admiration for grandma went up immediately by a few notches.

"Well yes. The incident prompted me to return to Delhi abandoning the plan to visit my parents. However, the writer's block vanished; I started writing freely again starting with subject 'an attack on me by a gunman'. "

Sweta felt a mixture of emotion on hearing the story. On the one side she was happy that grandma came out safe from the encounter while on the other, she was thrilled and a bit amused by the thought of a crooked toughie being overpowered by a young woman. Although it was a thirteen-year-old who was initially impressed by grandma's heroics, as she grew older she began to appreciate many more things about her grandma including her body of work as an author. Now Sweta's is very proud of grandma and keeps talking about her to her friends every other day.

It is now the year 2025. Grandma's birthday is coming up in a week's time and Sweta has planned a surprise party for her to which she has invited all her close friends. Hidden between the gifts would be this note specially prepared in advance "To the best grandma in the world who turned a gawky teenager into a poised and confident young woman that I am today. Lots and lots of love. Your little Sweta". What was grandma's reaction to all this? Well, for that you will have to wait until 7 PM of the D Day.

Yet, this story was basically about jasmines and specifically about the one's in your own garden. You tend to take them for granted, believing they are not fragrant enough. The proverb in quite a few Indian languages states " The jasmine in your garden has no fragrance”, akin to the Hindi saying "Ghar ka murgi daal barabar". Fortunately for Sweta, although initially she did not know the value of having Sreelekha for a grandmother, she has today realized that she is a treasure accessible to her anytime at arm's distance.

NB: This story has been included the ALS 2024 Annual Anthology released on 26th April 2025 in New Delhi.