A little under 50 years ago when Hasrat Jaipuri penned the heart touching lines, “Baharaon phool barsao” he did not quite have Delhi in mind. He was referring to the mehboob , the shy beloved who would have disappeared if somebody had so much as set eyes on her. Jaipuri might well have been inspired by the Delhi winters when he wrote those lines, such is the flower-bedecked capital of the nation at this time of the year. Gentle rays of the sun which heal, little breeze that caresses soft cheeks, and flowers to tempt many a man to turn poet.
Lifestyle gurus advise us not to stay too long at crossroads. But here in Delhi, life is at the crossroads, those beautiful intersections where some day you will find the mynah hopping across, where often pigeons flock, and occasionally, house sparrows too. And barbets call their loved ones too. Not to forget those stately roundabouts where flowers colour the landscape better than an artist imparts hues to his canvas. Little jacaranda, lots of roses, lilies, some tulips…life is a veritable spread of flowers. Of course, there are bougainvillea and scarlet ixora too. That is when the sun shines bright and beautiful. A little earlier or later, just look at those age-old trees of jamun, Ashoka, neem and others. See their shadows slant across the green turf. And in the evening when the birds go home, watch the sun pierce through the leaves of the trees to say one final goodbye.
This season is my beloved. Flowers, daisies, roses, scarlets. And birds with their own little orchestra every morning and evening. Add to that misty mornings, sun-kissed afternoons and a breeze that likes to hold you in fond embrace. Many years ago, popular lyricist Anand Bakshi wrote, “Aane se uske aaye bahar”. Never mind that like Jaipuri, Bakshi too had a more sensuous companion on his mind. Never mind. The poets could as well have said it for our City Beautiful.
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