While studying in school we had textbooks from Gulmohar but wait i am not going to talk about books. Antha alavukku innum pogala. But the literal tree which i love so much. This picture shows the tree in its full josh during spring. I think its like first love, i like everything about this tree. The small oval leaves in the form of samaram and the bright red flowers , big trunk and the buds greener outside and tiny red petals inside. What a combination. Aren't we lucky to have this tree right at our door step and seeing it day after day really makes my day.
Our first intro was way back 2 decades ago. Those days while returning from school from rickshaw we were forced to take a circular route to West Mambalam via Doraisamy subway cos of the Madley railway crossing. Doraisamy road was a very wide road those days and we kids used to fight for the top of the rickshaw. I need not say about the winner though. The top spot was favoured because then we would be able to pluck the leaves from this tree and continue to mark a trial through out the route with the leaves.
Second was the trip to bangalore. I was brimming with joy when i found that bangalore was the hub of these trees with colourful flowers all over the city. Throughout my stay in bangalore i was content in watching the trees standing like guards as well people who throng to see the politicians on a whirlwind tour. I would feel like a princess being welcomed by different coloured uniformed guards. The same feel i would get in Ashok nagar, Sardar patel road and some parts of Anna nagar in chennai.
I was overwhelmed when i entered the high school. We had a huge space which served as playground, assembly as well parking lot. The perimeter was guarded by none other than my first love. How long i had been longing to get into high school just to have a glimpse of this. The ground played an important part almost in every students life. http://oreponnu.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-school.html
For this aspect alone i badly wanted to settle in Ashok Nagar/KK nagar. we r still looking for proper T-house but thats a side story. My wish was temporarily granted when we stepped into this house (present one). After moving here, P started his proper school i mean LKG and how i remember the second day of his school (first day we dropped him). Waiting for the van near the gate under the tree shade at 7.45 in the morning with flowers strewn all over the ground and huge umbrella like branch overhead full of red flowers in its full bloom. Wowww what a sight it was. From that day i relish the morning and evening wait for the van admiring the red flowers and the yellow ones at the street corner. This is the fourth year and still i cant get over the feel which i got the first day , sorry, second day of his school. Looking back both P and the tree had grown much older.