Roses

Greetings!!

I remember the first clause of short poem we used to write as kids,

Roses are red, Violets are blue…

A number of different endings were then innovated with this clause that the original is long forgotten. Reliving those childhood memories, I remember how I used to question others when the adults exchanged roses on the 14^th of February. Being an adult myself now, I see many of my equals following the same ritual.

Roses are believed to be the symbol of love (Red roses). Not only this, different colors of roses are symbolized with different emotions. On an average in Pakistan, a rose is sold of Rs.10, but during the “love season”, its price hikes up to Rs.250!! This season also increases the IMPORT of roses significantly, with pre-season bookings gaining rapid popularity.

That was about live roses, exchanged hand-in-hand, given to a person for expressing feelings. Dried roses are revered for their beautiful immortality; dried roses mixed with a few more dried herbs and perfumed with additional scents are sold as pot-pourri that beautifies the drawing rooms of many. A rose doesn’t lose its value even when the fluid of life has been dried out of it.

If that is not sufficient, Pakistanis here are known for making a rare rose delicacy – Gulkand – from the dried roses which is consumed directly. Indeed, a rose never devalues! It is valuable whether it is alive or dried!

Peace.