The sky within the palette

"Be careful with the face and eyes, it is the only selling point and our lives are dependent on it", says the old man, clearing his throat while observing the increasing rush of the festive season outside.

"Baba, would you believe me for once? I have been watching you do all this since I was in a cradle, I know exactly what I am doing", responds Vyom.

"What's wrong with baba pointing out, he has a lot of experience and his remarks will only benefit us", says the pregnant lady walking in with a cup of tea.

"I guess apart from me, everyone here knows I am wrong yet I have no idea what I am doing with my life if all this is wrong", Vyom walks out of the house and disappears into the crowd.

"This man is naive, daughter keep those brushes and cover the paints properly so that they do not dry", Guruji commands Rati.

"Guruji, can I ask you something?", says Rati.

"You want to know how did the child of a God's believer become narcissist or what he likes to call atheist, isn't it?", asks Guruji

Rati maintains the silence by responding with a nod, even though Guruji always looks towards the window but he understands what is going on the other side. As he likes to believe, "reading the actions of people I understand is easy and predictable so I constantly explore the world looking at strangers."

Hearing her response, he begins, "From holding his parents' hands to jumping high in learning and exploring this world, from asking questions for fun to interrogating about everyone's beliefs, he grew up. His mom left us, before teaching him, his learnings are wrongs and I was way too occupied to look for him."

Photo Credits: Vedpal Burrak

On the stairs of the temple near Howrah Bridge, a small part of the sky was staring at the warm, assuring sky above him. Though his name was relative to this sky but he was just another middle-aged man frustrated and in search of opportunities to run away from the world as if he never existed. He wanted to find a place where he can find the dreamer in him for whom achievements are his only desire and the rush to achieve them drives his life. Vyom was held in custody of all the responsibilities and his dreams tied with expectations.

That reflection of lights which look like floating colors made him realize the child is also blurred out of his memories. The child who was naive and unreasonable to believe that the temple bells brought good luck, the carved gods from rocks had some real meaning and power over the universe and everything good happened by God's will while the wrong & bad happenings were just accidents. The child's beliefs did not let him ever doubt his knowledge. Just like his beliefs, his thoughts kept looking for answers to satisfy his beliefs. Only in the process, he realized this world is full of imperfections and lies. The imperfection is beautiful in some or the other way but the lies are targeting the greater audience, letting one, two and more generations to believe in fairy tales. Tales which are flattering enough only to be published in a story book but not for one to build their faith over it.

"The waters are not blurry now, it is completely dark. I guess it is time to go back to a place where I give my most prized possession - time, to a stone which I know does not exist yet I am forced to sell it to people. It is wonderful how I can explain hypocrisy only by talking about myself", Vyom turns away from the waters with a smirk on his face. 

"Another day", he helplessly says to himself and starts painting.

"Here is a cup of tea", Rati offering to Vyom.

"Why are you awake so early, you need rest, you are just a few weeks away from being a mother. Do not stress yourself", says Vyom.

"I am happy helping you through your tough times. I believe in you Vyom but life is not a piece of cake.You cannot argue, avoid and walk away from your battles, you have to stand up front and deal with them. You have to settle scores with situations which never let you score. Life doesn't come with colors, it is we who fill it will colors and gradients. When the gray starts to overpower the picture, you have to understand it is time to brighten and strengthen yourself", says Rati, holding the confidence which Vyom has been looking for since long.

"Then, let's color everything", says Vyom finishing the last piece of his order. 

Two years later

"Hi Vyom, I'm here to see your dad. Does he still take orders for", says the stranger who is stopped in the middle of his sentence. 

"No Sir, we are sorry we don't take orders anymore but here is my card, if you have a bit of time do come to visit my gallery. It is a small gallery, you sure will like the intricate creativity. Please do visit", Vyom says while his heart is fluttering its wings.

"Sure, I am sure it would be interesting", says the stranger just before leaving.

"Baba, Megh's baba", Rati calling out Vyom asks him to hold the kid.

"Megh, do you know who are you? You are a part of me, remember this because I will let you fly like your name", Vyom talking to his kid.
 "Megh, your baba has learned the most important lesson of life and someday I will be able to share the same with you. Time is not the aspect one has to hold back for, your decisive moment is what one should wait for.", says Vyom while smiling and staring the sky.