A PLANT'S LOVE STORY

On a bright Sunday morning, Marc is preparing breakfast for the whole family. Emily, his wife, is still sleeping. She knew it is her day off from making breakfast, the peaceful Sunday is here. Marc starts slicing some oranges when he hears loud thumping coming from upstairs. He smiled as the thumping is heard along the stairway. "Hey champ, you are up early" Marc says as a boy comes running towards him and hugs him by the back. "Good morning dad. Yes I wanted to help you making breakfast." Anthony smiled looking excitedly at what his dad is cooking. Marc pats his head and points to the washroom. "First go and tidy up champ. Then you can help me." Anthony races towards the washroom, finishes his morning chores and comes running back eager to help, as his dad finishes slicing up the oranges. He grabs one orange and looks at it, as if he is doing a thorough inspection. "Dad, on Friday, it was taught to us in school that plants are also living. But I don't understand. They don't feel, they don't cry, they don't even love like we do."

Marc looks up to his kid's curious eyes inspecting the orange. " Who said they don't love son? They are living as much as we are. They grow like us, they breathe like us, yes they don't talk like us, but they do love like us." "They do?" Anthony was confused. How can these things express love if they can't talk or smile or hug? Watching his perplexed face, Marc pats his head, "Let me tell you a love story of plants. Then you will understand how alive they are." Anthony smiled ear to ear, with gleaming eyes.

Once upon a time there was a large orange tree. It was spring time, and buds of small white coloured flowers started to appear. Within those flowers a pollen named Paul resides. He slowly opens his eyes to the beautiful spring morning glistening in warm sunlight. It was his day, to move out of his home, and what a perfect day it was to travel. He moves up to the edge of the bud, waiting for his ride, and screams, "TAXI". Soon, a black and yellow taxi appeared in the form of a bee. "Oh hey Paul…is it your calling today?" The bee asked gleefully. "Yup… Fill in your energy, I am gonna roam far and wide today." Paul hops onto the bee's back and waits until the bee fills his energy box from the filling station flowers. The bee then takes off, going above and under leaves, gliding through the air and leaving the tree behind. Paul looks back, his home tree, getting smaller and smaller with every flutter of wings by the bee. "Ahh… soo this is what freedom is. I wish I travel around with you for the rest of my life…who needs to settle." Paul closes his eyes, enjoying the morning breeze. "No problem Paul, just enjoy the trip as long as you want." Both of them soar high and then low around the big flowers, blooming under the bright spring sun. They met different pollens in their ride, from different flowers. They were happy just to be free.

After traveling long and far, the bee sees another orange tree. The bee looks behind at Paul who is still, with closed eyes, lies flat on his back soaking all the sunlight, and smiles. "Hey Paul, wake up I am gonna refill here." And the bee starts descending to a leaf. A faint fragrance reaches Paul, making him open his eyes. " Wow… what is this fragrance?" The sweet smell growing inside Paul's body…like it was calling him to somewhere. "Wanna check where it's coming from? Go on…I will take some time refilling." Says the bee grinning, and pushes Paul off him. "Don't go away leaving me here, I am just going for a walk down the tree." Paul says this guiding himself ,following the trail of scent. "Yeah.. that's what every pollen says at first." The bee smirks looking at his friend, Paul guiding himself around the tree.

The scent grows stronger and stronger, as Paul jumps from leaf to leaf. And as the fragrance becomes irresistible for him, he finds the source. A beautiful stigma appears hiding behind white petals, dancing in the shimmering light, which is being scattered by the leaves above. He has never seen something like that. She dazzled around as the petals of the bud, which are still not fully bloomed, hide her from time to time. He started moving on his own, enchanted by the view, closer and closer. As the stigma watches him watching, their eyes lock. A gust of wind makes Paul fly, he glides to her flower petals. "Umm…hi I am Paul. Sorry to interrupt your dance. I was just star… umm.. look…ehh.. admiring you." He looks at her. Like an angel she blushes, "Am Vera. You visiting here?" Her voice was even sweeter than the fragrance. Paul was bewildered by all of this. He just wanted to keep looking her dance under the shimmering lights."Oh yes… umm.. Wow. I couldn't help coming to you. Will it be okay if I just watch for sometime? My friend will be here soon,then I will go." Paul asks excitedly, as Vera, still blushing, shyly starts dancing again. Paul was mesmerized, it was like magic. The cool breeze making everything slower, makes Paul's mind clearer and clearer.

"Soo you are here, lets go buddy." Paul turns to find his bee friend waving at him from a distance. The magic moment between Paul and Vera breaks as she too stops dancing, looking at bee. "Let me say bye. Wait." Paul is feeling anxious, and reaches to Vera. "This was magical Vera, I hope I see you soon." Vera, looking at Paul, was also not content with the time they had. She wanted to see him, see her dance, join her dancing. "Umm…well. I'll be waiting." As these words come out of her mouth, the bee grabs Paul, and rises up. Their eyes still locked onto each other but the distance kept on growing. Paul started feeling helpless, the bright sky was blinding to him now, the wind was not cozy anymore. Whenever he closed his eyes, all he could see was her. The bee notices it,and smiles. " Oh for god's sake. Paul at what time are you thinking to let me take you back buddy?" Paul's eyes glistened at these words, as the bee takes a sharp turn and glides around the leaves. "Thanks brother." Paul hugged his friend with all the excitement. "Don't thank me now.. thank me….wait….NOW!" He rolls mid air, making Paul totally looses his balance and he starts falling. He glides down closing his eyes, screaming. But when he lands, its soft, like clouds. He hesitantly opens his eyes, to find Vera looking at him with concern. He smiles, and hugs her. "Your welcome!" A faint voice came from the bee through the leaves. Both Vera and Paul laughs. "Soo, wanna dance?" Vera asked looking down shyly. Paul embraces her, and starts moving, matching her moves. The fragrance grew ten folds, the shimmering lights felt like blessings and the couple danced, enjoying every single moment of it. As their love blossomed, the flower also starts to blossom in its full glory. As the night came, every firefly came to enjoy the dance of love , as Vera and Paul, with each step they took, fell madly in love.

Time flies. As the flowers start to wither, Paul and Vera start another part of their journey. Paul gently look at the small forming seeds, as Vera is gleaming with happiness. " I'll protect you and our seeds with my life Vera. You made me the happiest today. Make sure our baby seeds are healthy my dear." Paul kisses Vera and starts transforming. Vera on the other hand also starts transforming, joining hands with Paul. Paul transforms into the tough, protective peel of the fruit. Whereas, Vera transforms to the soft ,nutrients rich core of the fruit. Paul protected them with all he had, against the strong winds, harsh weather and different predators. Vera, dedicated all her nutrients to her seeds, nurturing them, wishing someday, somehow these seeds will grow into these massive trees, garnering soo many Pauls and Veras. And that's how they lived happily ever after.

As the story ends, Anthony looks at his plate, a single seed of the orange he just ate was there. "You understand now son? We may not fully know how they communicate, but just as us, they live, they fall in love, and they protect their young ones. They are not as complicated as us.. but everything that is alive, feels, interacts and loves. We are fortunate to have these ability to voice our expressions. But that doesn't mean other living things don't. So respect every living thing. They might hear you and bless you one day." He embraces his son, when Emily enters the room. " I hope bonding time is after breakfast making time…" and notices that the bread is not toasted. Marc follows her gaze and in a shivering voice says, " Sorry honey, two toasts coming right up. Don't be mad early Sunday morning." And kisses her on her cheeks. Anthony looks at them smiling, and then takes the seed left on his plate outside. He brings his toy shovel and digs a hole. He then puts the seed in the hole and covers it. Marc and Emily observes it from afar. " I hope this tree grows many more Pauls and Veras" listening these words from his son's mouth, Marc smiles proudly. " Who is Paul and Vera?" Emily is dumbstruck. "It's dad and son's little secret." Marc winks at Anthony and he winks back at him.