Among the many benefits of Covid-19, one was realizing how the environment takes care of itself when human intervention is minimized. When it is taking care of itself, it keeps itself pristine and healthy for us too. Perhaps, infrastructure development and environmental health are inversely related. Having said so, it doesn’t mean that mankind should do nothing about development, but it means that the environment needs to be thought about more carefully when we do development work. This post isn’t a discourse on sustainability or environmental jargon; it’s a true story, a testament to the quiet strength of Mother Nature and the cosmic energy that thrums through our world.

Early in 2021, when we were just getting comfortable with the un-lockdown phase, our family, awakening to a more ecologically aware existence, toyed with the idea of nurturing life. One day while having a papaya, we discussed how nice it would be to sow the seeds of papaya, nourish it, see it grow into a tree, and bear fruits. The children bubbled with excitement at the thought. The next day when I got a papaya from the market, the kids cut it up carefully and mindfully segregated the seeds. Guided by a YouTube tutorial, the children carefully readied the seeds for planting, treating each step with tender precision. When the seeds were ready, we needed a place to sow the seeds now.

We live in a wildernest amidst throbbing Mumbai. Our house is surrounded by the Versova mangroves. Here shrubs and trees thrive, thanks to the fertile soil, abundant sunlight, and natural irrigation from the creek water. At first we contemplated planting the seeds in a pot and let the sapling grow before it could be planted in the mangroves when it was old enough to take care of itself. We discussed endlessly, and finally we agreed to sow the seeds directly in the mangroves.

The next day, with help from our caretaker, a hole was dug adjacent to the mangroves, the seeds were sowed, and the first mug of water was given to the dream of a papaya tree.

The next few days, kids took turns to water the soil, but their interest waned with time. The papaya tree was forgotten, until one day, one of them noticed a small sapling surfacing from beneath the soil. The excitement was re-ignited. The next few days, the kids resumed their watering duties. With their care, the sapling reciprocated by growing and growing. Then the monsoons arrived and we decided that it was time to let it fend for itself. Once again, the papaya tree that had brought so much excitement was forgotten.

A year went by, the buds were now showing signs that the papaya tree will soon bear fruits. And surely it did. We plucked a few and enjoyed the healthy bounty. Mother Nature is kind. It gives back everything multiplied a few times more. The year after that, the tree had grown to the height of almost 20 feet. The fruits reappeared, this time more visible but no longer reachable. The fruits started to ripen one by one. Birds and bats of mangroves came flocking to peck into the ripened fruits. I would stand under the tall tree and wonder how to reach the top to pluck a few.