Nithya looked at the mango tree once more. It looked…flourishing – that was the adjective that sprung immediately to her mind.
Flourishing. Green. Full of fruits. Gaily, gently swaying to and fro in the wind.
“Nithya, you are wanted”
Mother. Calling out to help her out in something. If she did not move within half a minute, the call would be repeated in a sterner voice.
If she was casual enough to ignore the sterner version as well, the lady herself would be beside her in a minute.
Amma! How could Nithya have become what she had without her! She was everything for her – friend, philosopher, guide and now, her ardent fan. Perhaps the most ardent of the millions of fans of the young but already famous author.
Every time Nithya started on a novel, amma provided the initial sparks that became critical to the novel’s success. It was amazing how fertile a mind amma had, especially given her rather simple upbringing and pedestrian education.
Amma was always the first one to buy her book when it was published – and she did it with her own money! The next few days saw her as a strident critic and fawning fan rolled into one.
A tap on her shoulder. Nithya did not need to turn around to who it was – she had obviously ignored the second call!
“You better help Rahul with all the work Nithya. Remember, it is your birthday. And twenty-fifth too! You got to have a hand in its preparations”
“Of course, amma. I was just looking at our lovely mango tree. It’s grown so large. And just look at the fruits all over it. The whole thing looks so enriching and valuable, don’t you think! I don’t know why amma, but while looking at the tree, I started thinking about you”.
“Hello! What has the tree got to do with me?”
But as Janaki said those last few words, a subtle transformation came into her face and voice.
“Nithya, my child, do you know that I looked after this tree right from the start? In fact, it was I who put the seed in the ground. It is so satisfying, my girl, to see it grow to something as awesome as this.”
Nithya turned towards her mother to say something, but stopped as she sensed that the other was about to continue.
“And do you know when I planted the seed in the ground?”…A slight pause. “A week after you were born”