The Plant Analogy

By Vidarshana Prasad

A plant that is used to being watered and nurtured, cared for and loved, is suddenly left alone in the desert. With miles and miles of sand. They wither. They shrivel up as the harsh sun soaks up every drop of their life and it gets sucked out of them. Until nothing but a carcass remains. Decayed and dried. But they watch from afar, with the remaining life that they have left, the several plants thriving near an oasis. Growing and flourishing. Their leaves green and their flowers blossoming. Branches spread and cover, fruit and seed.  A perfect picture of life and nature. Nurtured and Nourished. All they can do is watch. Watch from afar, the miles of sand seemingly further away than they thing. The have no ability to move. They wish for it, they dream. Though they are willing to change, though they are willing to adapt, their roots have already settled into place, stubborn and unmoving. Pulling and pulling them to their designated place. No matter how much they try, they cannot grow here and neither can they cannot move. Helpless, they watch as everyone moves forward. Without them. Without even knowing of their existence.  

A pain so similar that only a few can understand. The pain of having nothing to start with when moving to a place where you're expected to find everything. Expected to find yourself and what role you want to play in your life. 

Youth and time, all of these are things that can only move forward and once lost can never be attained again. The clock ticks constantly but we brush it off. Thinking there is always a new day, a new start. It’s not until it’s too late that people realise that they have been stuck. That they have been struck, by the responsivities that life throws at them without a warning. No one telling you how overwhelming it can be and how much it can crush your body, your soul. But somehow, we’re unable to make an effort. Unable to adjust. Unable to move. Just watching as times passes by. Another day wasted. Another opportunity lost. The sun sets. The sun rises. And the sun sets. 

By Vidarshana Prasad