अनंत (Ananta)

'Things that you are eagerly waiting for happen at the most unexpected time.'

A year ago, I brought home this plant of Ananta, also called as Gandharaj or Gardenia. I had never seen this flower but had only heard about it that it has very beautiful smell. Since then I was very eager to see this flower and smell it. 

Six  months went by and the plant grew big. It got new leaves which looked very beautiful. I don't know if I was just in love with this plant because I was also fascinated with its green, shiny and clean leaves. I don't know how, but everyday they looked as if they have been cleaned just now. Always bright and shiny. However I was still waiting to see the flowers.  

Few months later it got tiny flower buds. I was so happy and excited. Finally I am going to see the flowers and smell them. 

A month passed and another month passed but they remained tiny flower buds.

Three months ago I had gone for a day trip with a group. There I met two ladies and heard about pruning from them. So I came home and pruned my plant. And yes, it worked. In two weeks, all those tiny flower buds grew into big flower buds. I again got exited that finally I will be able to see the flowers and smell them. 

Again two months passed but those flower buds didn't bloom. I called up my friend and asked her what can I do to make them bloom. She told me to put some fertilizer and water it more often, which I was already doing. 

Just two days later, my father woke me up in the morning saying, "Look that flower has bloomed!" I jumped out of my bed and went to see the flower. It had white and thick petals, and gracefully placed in those beautiful green leaves. It looked just perfect. It was a great morning indeed. 

It took almost 24 hours to bloom completely. That night I was sitting in my window reading a book and enjoying the fragrance of Ananta.