I’m 15 years old and have got myself a girlfriend. Of course I’m head over heels in love. All my exercise books and text books have the same thing written on it. ‘Paras loves (insert new girlfriend’s name)’. I’ve run out of books to write on so I start writing the same thing all over the walls and corkboards of Oshwal High School. This is what someone who has undiagnosed ADD or ADHD or some other ‘disorder’ does instead of using their books for education and not think of consequences. Just a lot of misdirected energy.

The consequences happen after an art class. One of my favourite classes because my ‘graffiti’ has some structure and direction to it. I find Mr. Tavares outside the class as his office was right next to the class. He invites me into his office. After questioning me on the mess I’ve been making around the office I tell him that it’s not me but my girlfriends ex who is very jealous and trying to get me in trouble. I’m sure they knew I was lying but instead of confronting me about it, they directed the conversation to an unpredictable life lesson.

Mr. and Mrs. Tavares talk to me about walking into a garden. There are so many beautiful flowers. They plant a question in me. Would it be wise for me to choose one flower and say it’s my favourite when I’ve not appreciated the rest? They made a good point. As I thought that I also had a more ‘bollywood’ thought. The hero in me was singing silently to himself about how nobody will understand how I’ve found the one. But I acknowledge their message and also appreciate the fact that they took the time out to not only give me an important life lesson that I would cherish a decade from then. I also appreciated the fact that they showed patience and love instead of scolding and judgement.

They had planted a seed in my own garden. I may not have got the message until much later but it wasn’t fruitless as I started appreciating more than flowers in gardens.

Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Tavares.

By the way, you can follow my Garden Updates here :oP

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