The story of flowers uniting two lovers is not uncommon — especially one that features the gulab. For Jhelum Biswas Bose, her love for the gulab was inspired by Nur Jahan or Mehrunnisa. The Mughal queen is said to have discovered the rose essential oil accidentally while bathing.

But if you look at the Indian flower today, there is not much to be said about its role beyond decoration. And the utility of flowers, for most people, is only limited to bouquets. That's what prompted Bose to start writing Phool Proof (Penguin Random House India) in January this year — a book that Lisa Ray in the foreword calls, a "paean to flowers and healing".