Beneath the Flowers

List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.

The class teacher removed her specs, folded its arms and kept it on the table. Then she observed the eyes of the students focussed on the sight of her standing, their minds awaiting the next words she would say.



“So,” the class teacher began, “by now each of you might have an idea of what you want to be in life and why. So, let’s talk about it, who would like to speak about it first?”



The class teacher looked at the most eager faces but then she noticed a face down. She walked towards it and found fifteen year old Saanvi looking at a drawing.



Saanvi who was too occupied with a thought was not aware of the teacher until the sheet she was drawing on was pulled away. The drawing was of a garden, the garden had many flowers. It could be seen that the most time and effort had been given to drawing the flowers which were the focus of the drawing.



“Did you make it in the class while I was teaching?” asked the class teacher



“No, I made it at home,” said Saanvi in a low voice



“Is it related to what I asked?” the class teacher asked and Saanvi remained quiet, not sure what to say.



The class teacher returned the drawing and said, “It is drawn well. So why don’t you stand and tell us what you want to be?”



Saanvi stood up and said, “I would like to be a pianist”



“Oh” exclaimed the teacher, “from your drawing I thought an artist would be the answer.”



“It is one of the several things I am thinking about doing,” said Saanvi



“So, there is more than a pianist and an artist. What else?” asked the class teacher



Saanvi looked down at her drawing and replied, “A florist.”



“Those are some interesting choices. Can you tell us why they have attracted your attention?” asked the class teacher



Saanvi fell silent for a second before she started to speak, “It is because of my aunt who lives in another city. When I visit her during vacations, I see her doing all that and I want to do it too, but differently.”



The class teacher was impressed the girl had found her way into things. She asked Saanvi, “differently how?”



“The music she plays on piano is played well but they feel like it’s out of a haunted movie. I will play music which everyone would love to hear. She draws pictures of people, some of whom are missing and have never been found, why would she draw pictures of such people? I would draw flowers, animals, mountains and rivers. She doesn’t want to reveal to me the secret behind the beautiful flowers in her garden, I think it is whatever is in those 6 ft long black bags, one of which I once saw her bury in the garden in the middle of night. I will learn how to grow beautiful flowers and I will show everyone how it can be done,” Saanvi said and noticed a peculiar silence.

Written by Anuran Chatterji

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