Portia trees

Aji did not like the walk suggestion to St. Francis d'Assissi play ground to watch Shreya football practice. Ajoba toffeed the idea with a auto ride to the ground for a walk. Aji was not for it but went along; both took an auto dropped off at IC Church and stepped on dewed grass, football spikes and boot studs, yesterday's marks of a football game.  Aji thought of smiling and then smiled: 'Lets walk'. Ajoba was waiting for the walk. Shreya did not turn up; nor her friends; nor her coach; the ground in quiet they walked; the teak plants, which Ajoba last year felt and appreciated, today hovered over him to look up and hug. After a round, Aji rested as Ajoba turned for a second round. Old mates said Hullos with some inquiring of health as Ajoba was last spotted before the monsoons. Today, a quiet home as Aji and Ajoba sat, looked around; mornings were not for words. A few school kids in colours were practicing trick moves with a soft football, but not playing a full match; free kicks, back flips ... their parents were not there to cheer; well Ajoba was the spectator still dreaming of a day when India will win an Olympic Gold or World Cup. He was on the look out for Portia trees; he had seen them in IC Colony. Thespesia populnea (Paras bhendi in Marathi); seems to be an Indian, says Wikipedia. On morning walks has counted two Portia trees on Link Road and IC Colony and they still are uncut. Will they be around as Link Road is being dug up by a metro project -- some say a monorail. Link Road will then not be in five or 10 years. Yet the Portia trees bug Ajoba; maybe because of a re-reading of One Part Woman by Perumal Murugan. Pulled out a copy from his pant pocket and walked the first four pages on Portia trees. 'The portia tree was dense with foliage. If you looked closely, you could see the yellow trumpet-like flowers with their flared mouths, and then drooping, fading red ones with their inviting smiles. Portia flowers always grow more beautiful as they fade.......For instance, he could now see that they had trimmed a branch that had outgrown the yard and started reaching into the house. It looked like a deformed body part. They must have done it to get some sun to dry something. But he stood looking at the tree's wound for a while....'  And then Aji was on those lines when two hands snatched them from Perumal and portia trees. Shreya in football attire with friends troubling a football and football coach .....