A Pot of Petunias

This is a guest post by Abhay Kanwar.

My grandfather has always a great enthusiast for gardening (growing flowers). Ever since I was a little child, I remember him dressed up in his gardening attire (including a cap) accompanied by his gardening tools, make his way to the little garden he had made in front of our house.

Years went by and like each of my siblings; I went onto do my own thing, having hardly any time for anything else. It had been a long time since I had seen my grandfather and I felt guilty about not visiting him more often. So I decided it was time to pay a visit to the old man who had taught me a lot of things about survival in the real world. I wanted to do something special for him so as to reflect my love and gratitude for the all the things he had ever done for me, knowing his passion for gardening, I decided to surprise him with a pot of home grown petunias.

The very next day I went and bought some petunias seeds from a local shop. Over the years I had gathered some knowledge from my grandfather about growing flowers and I intended to put it all to use. Here are some tips which helped me grow this annual flower in the convenience of my apartment.

• Initially keep the plant inside for 10-12 weeks before setting them outside.
• Petunia seeds are very small and need a lot of light to grow.
• The soil should be well drained and the plant should be sheltered against wind as it is very delicate. Petunias are heat tolerant and hence don’t need much water. A thorough watering once a week is enough. (Depending upon the area where you live in)
• Fertilize the plant monthly to ensure good growth.

Petunias are popular and reliable flowering ornamental plants and continue to rank among the most popular flowering annuals year after year. They originally are of South American origin, blooming in vibrant colors (pink, ruby, white, purple, yellow etc.) and are full of life. Petunias suggest a charming presence, as if quietly whispering in the ear of your loved ones that, “Your presence is highly appreciated!!!” What a unique way to praise your loved ones for their undying support throughout one’s life.

My gift for my grandfather is growing at a steady pace and looks stunning. It’ll be a while till the plant will be in its full bloom and when it is, I’ll take it to my grandfather and I hope he likes them. Fingers crossed.

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More about the author - Abhay Kanwar

Rakshabandhan - The Thread Of Love

This is a guest post by Abhay Kanwar.

“A sister is a friend and a defender, a listener, conspirator, a counselor and a sharer of delights as well as sorrows.”
I received a phone call from my mother, reminding me that Rakhi was just around the corner and I better buy my elder sister a gift in advance as she wasn’t going to help me buy one this year. Ever since I was a little kid, I remember the festival of Rakhi as being one of the many festivals our family celebrated every year. This year this festival falls on 21st August.

I have always been very close to my sister. There was a time when we couldn’t stand next to each other without pulling the other persons hair out. I pulled her pigtails and she complained to our parents that I was not studying before my exams. Yes, like all siblings we used to fight a lot. Maybe it was a phase, but the truth is that I loved fighting with her. I have a lot of memories with my sister and all of them holding a very special place in my life. One time, on a fine Sunday afternoon; we took sleeping bags and pillows, putting them on top of the steps and "bobsled" down the stairs along with my sister. Thank god nobody was hurt. Then I remember the time our parents weren't home. My sister and I got pizza and we were eating it at the kitchen table. We started a pizza fight and it got ALL over! Boy did we clean that up fast! And most of the times, when our parents caught us, my sis had to face the brunt of it all, being the elder one. There are just way too many other things I remember, but it wouldn’t be possible to list them all.

But all of it changed when she went off for college to an entirely different city. I missed her like hell and used to look forward to the summer months, when she would come back home. Over the years my sister has been my advisor, my friend and even a parent (when the situation called for). I know I can always count on her to point me in the right direction and even to give me a piece of her mind when I screw up. The bond between a brother and a sister is a special one. In spite of the childhood fights and arguments or the many trials of adulthood, the love and loyalty that we as siblings share survives.

The popular practice of Raksha Bandhan has its historical associations also. The Rajput queens practiced the custom of sending Rakhi threads to neighbouring rulers as token of brotherhood. The most important part of the ceremony involves the tying of a Rakhi (sacred thread) by a sister on her brother's wrist. This thread symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's vow to protect his sister. The festival grew in popularity in the 15th Century, when When Rani Karnavati, the widowed queen of the king of Chittor, realised that she could not defend her kingdom against the invasion by the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun. Touched by this gesture, the Emperor immediately set off with his troops to defend Chittor.

Sometimes one might feel that you and you sibling are two side of the same coin, but the bond between a brother and a sister doesn’t wane but only gets stronger with time. Our siblings share with us a lifetime worth of memories and stories, which certainly are priceless and become more valuable as time moves on.

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More about the author - Abhay Kanwar

Parents - Our Real-Life Superheroes

This is a guest post by Abhay Kanwar.

You have seen me laugh
You have seen me cry
You were there when others made me shy
From my first walk to my decent talk
One thing that never changed
Was your endless love and support

"As time goes on, I realize, how much they mean to me," is how some old song goes. It is certainly true of the way I view my parents.

In the past few years, I have struggled to express my love and thanks to them. But today I want them to know what it means for me to be their son.

Throughout my life, I have never doubted your love. I have never doubted your support. And perhaps most importantly, I have never once doubted as if both my sister and me are the luckiest children in the world for having parents like you. I am so grateful to my parents because they were the kinds that never really let me do whatever I wanted, at the time I thought it was because they didn't want me to have a life. But my parents sacrificed so much to make sure I had everything I needed, and sometimes even what I wanted.

As I grew up and learnt about the ways of the world, I saw many of my friend’s experience their parents getting separated. I saw the strength of your love for each other. A love that could never be questioned. It is as evident and constant as the sun rising from the East every morning and setting into the West. Ever since I gained consciousness, I remember my Mom sitting on the sofa reading, and my Dad watching T.V. after a tiring day at office with his eyes closed. That stability never fails to make me smile and I remember the amazing times that I have spent with my parents.

I know my teenage years were incredibly difficult for you. But I always knew that you were there for me. I knew that no matter how bad it got, I could count on you for being there. Like all children, especially teenagers, I pushed you away at times. But what I knew then as much as I know now is that you would still be there for me, whenever I need you.

My parents were not perfect, as no human is, and they never professed to hold the title of perfection even once in their lives. They have flaws, as do I, but they taught me many things that helped me grow, and develop into the person I am today. I have much more to learn, as life always teaches, but the foundation of my true self was nurtured, and brought to life by my parents' love, patience, lessons, and sacrifices that were very much part of my upbringing.

They did not sugar coat life for me. They told me things won't always be easy, and fair, but, that comes with the whole package that life offers. I am tremendously grateful to my parents for teaching me that I have a voice, and not just a bunch of words. And with time I have certainly realized that Parents, are our real Superheroes.

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More about the author - Abhay Kanwar

Friendship Day Special

This is a guest post by Abhay Kanwar.

“A best friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.”

And the day arrives again! Friendship Day, celebrated every year on the first Sunday of August. As this day approaches, I take time off for a moment and think if i have been taking my best friends for granted. Well sure I moved away to a different city and I am trying to build up a life for myself but I think it’s time to rethink and realign my priorities.

How many close friends do you have? If you have even one you should consider yourself blessed. I happen to have 3 best friends, now am I lucky or what? I’d like to believe, I am. Blue-Exile as we named ourselves on the last day of high school. I still remember that day, where some of us shed a tear or two, the others made lifelong promises to be best friends forever.

I still remember the time, when my teacher made me sit next to the “noodle haired” guy in my class, I was so infuriated that I passed a sly comment, which was loud enough for him to hear, “Damn! I have to sit next to him for the rest of the year”. But little did I know that 7 years down the line, that very guy would be like family to me. You never know who you might find your best friend in.

Nostalgia takes over, when I take a walk down the memory lane. The stupid little crushes, first sip of alcohol, arm wrestling contests, witty yet stupid nicknames for each other, night outs, reckless humor, the never ending phone conversations after spending the entire day at school with my brothers from another mother… The list is endless but each of it has a very special memory attached to it. One of the most special memories that I have of my friends is when we had our first night out.

Becoming gate-crashers at a private party, we took a walk on the wild side that night. This included running for our lives from a watchman carrying a long stick, a semi-naked photo session in the middle of the road at 4 am in the morning, being chased by a vicious canine after we rang someone’s house bell and made a run for it, shouting, “Every man for himself!”. It was an epic night. I would give anything to relive all of it again.

Having friends is one of the things that we love about life. They are the extended members of our family. Although sometimes it looks weird and awkward friends make us laugh even on awful things. That’s the beauty of friendship. They do stupid things, make silly faces and say stupid things which brings smile on our faces. And I am proud to have friends like mine. Never once did they turn their backs on me when I needed them. We helped each other figure out the mysteries of life, being a pillar of support through our tough times, lying to get each other out of trouble, helping to woe the girl we “loved” and last but not the least, clean up after a messy break up. Not so long ago my friends came to drop me at the railway station as I was leaving town, all of us desperately wished that the train got delayed for at least a year, but that wasn’t the case. We said our goodbye’s and as the train was about to leave the station, I shed a tear, knowing that I was leaving behind a bucket full of memories and the people I loved the most in this world.

I can truly say that I value my friends because I lost them and then found them again. I was lucky. For most of us, however, there are times when a really great friend only stays in our lives for a short time. Most of the time, friends are not going to stay in your life forever, and even if they do, your relationship will probably change over the years. Having one true-blue best friend is great, and if it happens to you be thankful. Embrace each friendship, because there is no one-size that fits all, when it comes to our pals.

This is a dedication to my best friends and the members of our group “Blue-Exile”, found 7 years ago by a handful of students of the class of 2008 from an all boys school in Chandigarh. No matter where we are or how old we might get, I hope to find you guys standing in my corner, with a silly grin on your faces.

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More about the author - Abhay Kanwar