Green, I like
A dewy lawn full of velvety green grass, glistening in the dusky orange rays of a November sunset, is something I like.
The fluorescent green pods split open, showing its soft green peas in a December kitchen market, is something I like.
The pointy heads of onyx green leaves in a paddy field, swaying in the light breeze under the scorching Chaitra sun by any highway, is something I like.
Green ferns, new leaves on a mango tree, the vines of pumpkin shrubs, a bunch of baby long beans racing to grow as long as it can on the bush, young starfruit peeking out of their purple flowers; I love them all.
The yellow allamanda flowers throwing air kisses for me while laying their plush heads on the dark green leaves is a sight that delights me to no bound. How the leafless, almost dead tree, suddenly studded with tiny green heads of leaves-to-be, bears a sweet promise that come spring, the abandoned tree will be dressed in bright hues of green. And how the taut green jujube berries swinging in the branches tease me, with a promise of ripened sweetness. I live for these beautiful sights on this gorgeous green earth of ours.
I love the green peppercorns bundled together on the vines. The scent of a green chilli in my mashed potatoes, the bright green pesto on my pasta, the basil leaf florets that garnish my steamed fish.
Even though my favourite colours are off white and white, but the colour green being the colour between blue and yellow on the visible spectrum has etched its very own niche in my pale palette of favoured hues.
Green like any other colour represents two facets- one is life, being by far the largest contributor of chlorophyll in nature, the chemical by which plants photosynthesize and convert sunlight into chemical energy. The other facet being envy- green is often associated with jealousy and envy thus the expression "green-eyed monster" was first used by William Shakespeare in Othello: "it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on."
In surveys made in American, European, and Islamic countries, green is the colour most commonly associated with nature, life, health, youth, spring, hope, and envy. In the European Union and the United States, green is also sometimes associated with toxicity and poor health, but in China and most of Asia, its associations are very positive, as the symbol of fertility and happiness.
During post-classical and early modern Europe, green was the colour commonly associated with wealth, merchants, bankers and the gentry, while red was reserved for the nobility. It also has a long historical tradition as the colour of Ireland and of Gaelic culture. It is the historic colour of Islam, representing the lush vegetation of promised Paradise. It was the colour of the banner of Muhammad (S) and is found in the flags of nearly all Islamic countries.
Because of its association with nature, it is the colour of the environmental movement. Political groups advocating environmental protection and social justice describe themselves as part of the Green movement, some naming themselves Green parties. This has led to similar campaigns in advertising, as companies have sold green or environmentally friendly products and this most needed and most anticipated green revolution is something I endorse and like.
But among all my green pining-- donning a green checkered kanchipuram silk sari with rich maroon border for a January wedding invite, is something I most like.
My burning desire to possess a dazzling emerald ring surrounded by solitaire diamonds, is also something I most like.
My longing for green jade Buddha with its promises of happiness, is also something I most like.
Hence all my yearnings and likings for the luxurious and opulent colour green in so many forms and arrangements is the pulse of my being, it is my spirit, my life force and this pining is something I like.
Today's Falgun special issue of LS is all about the various quotients of yellow and green, I hope my readers will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it up.
– RBR
Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed
Model: Mashiat
Jewellery: Kolors of Kathmandu
Make-up: Farzana Shakil's Makeover Salon
Styling: Sonia Yeasmin Isha
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