Blue Lotus:
He parked his car in a nearby lane that was adjacent to the temple.
He started to walk towards the temple briskly. As the time was already 11:20 AM. The temple will be closing at 12:00 noon.
He doesn’t come to temple regularly.
But, today is a very important date for him. Every year he comes to temple on this day.
As he is walking, he looks around to buy some flowers.
There were few women and a girl who are selling the flowers. He walks towards the girl.
There were all types of flowers in her flower basket. From red Roses to white Jasmines, white Lilly’s, yellow Chrysanthemums and Blue Lotuses.
He asks her, how much are those Blue Lotuses?
She looks at him and says 50 Rupees each.
He says I need 10 of them. Why don’t you give 10 flowers for 250 Rupees.
The girl answers back, sir, I cannot give 500 Rupees, worth of flowers for 250 Rupees.
And, you are asking for half the amount.
He says, in a little raised voice, look I will give 300 Rupees. This is the last time I am asking you. Otherwise I will go to the next stall.
The girl looks at him with her big black eyes and tells him, you can have 10 Red Roses for that amount but I cannot give you the blue lotuses for that amount.
He says, No…I want only Blue Lotuses, those are her favorites.
The girl asks him, sir, how much do you love her?
He was taken aback for that question from that little girl. After few seconds, he answers, I cannot measure. My love for her is immeasurable.
The girl smiles at him and says, sir, I will give you all 10 Blue Lotus flowers free of cost.
Again, he was startled for her answer. He says, No..No..I don’t want free, I will pay you 300 Rupees.
The girl says, sir, do not bargain. Your love for her is more than these flowers and money. These flowers are my gift to you. Go offer them to the deity.
Take these 10 flowers, otherwise the temple will be closed in few more minutes.
There was no choice for him. He buys the Archana puja (devotional homage or prayer) ticket and hurriedly enters the temple.
He gives the Archana puja ticket and the Blue Lotus flowers to the Priest.
The priest asks him on whose name you want me to do the Archana puja?
He says, Radhika.
He stands there before the deity holding his palms together in respect to the deity as the priest was chanting the mantras.
But his mind and heart was on the generosity of that little girl who might be just 12-13 years old.
Standing there, he was ashamed for bargaining for those flowers from that little girl.
After the Archana puja he briskly walks towards the flower stalls. But the little girl is nowhere to see.
He walks towards the women who were sitting there. And he enquires about the little girl.
They tell him that she is gone for the day.
He asks them, does she come tomorrow?
They tell him, that she only comes here on Sunday mornings to sell flowers. On weekdays she goes to school.
That whole week he could not stop thinking about this little girl’s generosity. He eagerly waits for the Sunday to come.
On Sunday as usual he parks the car in a side lane of the temple and walks towards the flower stall.
The little girl was there with basket full of flowers. She recognizes him.
She asks him, do you pray for your Amma (Mother) every week?
He was shocked to hear that question. He says, no… last Sunday was her Birthday. She is no more now.
Now, he asks her, how do you know those flowers are for my Amma (mother)?
The girl answers, last week you said, your love is immeasurable. In this universe, only Amma’s (mother’s) love cannot be measured sir.
I know this because I don’t have Amma. My Amma (mother) died giving birth to my brother. Since then, I am looking after my brother. He is five years old now. My Nanna (father) works as a day laborer.
Hearing this, his heart shivers. His eyes started to well up with tears.
He asks her, what is your name?
She says, Mukta (Pearl).
He says, nice name. That is a Perfect name for you.
Then He says, Mukta, you can ask me anything you want.
She says, no sir, I don’t want anything.
No..No..I will bring for you next week when I come to the temple. Tell me what you want.
Nothing sir, you can buy the Blue Lotus flowers sir, for your Amma (mother).
This time, he takes out 1000 Rupees from his wallet and asks for 10 Blue Lotus flowers.
He wanted to help her in some way. But she says, no sir, just give me 500 Rupees.
He understood that he cannot win over her on this. He quietly gives her the 500 Rupees.
Takes the flowers and walks towards the temple.
Since, that day every Sunday morning he comes to the temple, buys those Blue Lotus flowers and offers them to the deity on his mother’s name.
Slowly, a cordial bond forms between them. As father and daughter many things are shared between them from talking about her school to friends.
Later as she was growing, he was part of her in directing towards her college studies, in giving her general counseling about all things that mattered in Mukta’s life.
After few years ….
As he sat there in an auditorium that is filled with people.
Mukta, was on the stage, speaking to the audience “Our one step in helping one person might help in taking million steps in that person and those million steps of that one person might help others take billion steps.”
“It is not always win-win. Sometimes providing opportunities for others to win brings us meaningful winnings to our lives.”
Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness –Anne Frank
As his eyes welled up with tears, he could hear those roaring reverberating thundering claps ringing in his ears.
He watched as Mukta receives the award for her book Blue Lotus.
That was dedicated to him.
