Safed Tikka...

Amazing blooms in a balcony  tended with much care , somewhere in Bandra.

My friend Deepak Amembal posted this capture today.  At first I thought this was a koranti flower, which has varieties in many colors. Then , I realized, there were no long stamens and   a sense of it being a sadafuli took over .  Maybe it is something else all together.   I am told by Deepak, that the gardener-in-chief  lady will confirm by the evening.....

And then it occurred to me that it really didn't matter. It was enough that it was a flower amidst many other flowers, all  works of art, and all unique in their own way ...

:-)

अचानक एका पहाटे बाल्कनीतील तुळस आणि जास्वंदी आपापसात कुजबुजू लागली , मधूनच कुणा एका राणी रंगाच्या कोरांटी कडे कटाक्ष टाकून काहीतरी एकामेकाला खुणावू लागली , आणि शेवटी म्हणाली, "काय ग , नेहमी एकाच सलग रंगात असतेस तू, आज हे पांढरे फलकारे कसले ?…" आणि नजर थोडीशी खाली सरकावून आपल्या मागे किती तरी हिरवाईचे पाठबळ आहे ह्या पासून दिलासा घेत ती म्हणाली, "आम्म्च्यात कि नाही, गुलाबाची दृष्ट लागू नये म्हणून ह्याला कौतुकाने सफेद टिक्का लावणे म्हणतात…. "

Hushed conversations between Tulsi and Hibisca at dawn, quick curious glances at Sadafuli just opening up to the world resplendent in Royal Rani Pink. Puzzled , yet gathering courage they ask , " Hey, whats with the white streaks in your normal spotless face ..." And she breathes in, confident in her place amidst the lovely supportive greens, and humbly explains, " Aiiyo. They call this 'the putting of a safed tikka'; you know, just in case someone like Miss Rose casts a nazar.....?"