Dear Readers, you may notice the dates of the Blog do not match the Flash Post dates which are in real time. The blog was written in 2009 and saw the light of day 6 months back when my younger daughter discovered it and decided to bring it to you here.
Flash Post 255!

Flash Post 255!

Button, I saw the blooming of the Brahmakamal in our terrace garden last night as one of boundless joy as well as heart-wrenching sadness on the other hand?

Why do you see it like that?

I see it from that angle because, from the time the bud opened only a little around 1.30 in the afternoon till it kept blooming bit by bit, it gave us hope and immense joy to see it unfold steadily into a fully grown exquisitely gorgeous flower. Here is the just-opened bud about to bloom to its full glory.

This was clicked when she had opened a bit more which was roughly around 11. Around this time, a very pleasing and fragrant smell began to emanate.

Here she is once again–somewhat more mature than the earlier one and the fragrance now had turned intoxicating.

The tentacles grasping the Brahmakamal slowly began to spread and the fragrance filled the air. Here she is around 12.10 in the morning, fully bloomed.

I cupped it in my hands and bent down to inhale the sweet fragrance to my hearts content. It felt feather-light and its petals felt like gossamer to the touch. I retired for the night revelling in the fact that, not one but two Brahmakamals had bloomed in our garden this year and extremely happy that the family had witnessed the birth of a rare flower from the beginning till the end.

I also knew what I would see of the Brahmakamal the next morning from my previous recollection. The following morning, as I made my way to the plant, I saw a flaccid Brahmakamal hanging with its face down. It saddened me as none of the characteristics of the flower that had bloomed the previous night seemed to match with what lay in front of my eyes. I refused to click her in her rag-like avatar and wanted the memory of the fully-grown Brahmakamal to linger in my mind.

I too saw the flower the next morning and it made me very sad. I mean there are other flowers in the garden that bloom and stay that way for days! Why did the Brahmakamal of all flowers have to wither in a day after putting up such a grand show!

All of us felt saddened, Button. Maybe God willed it that way.