Memories

Arini looked at the school with pride and imagined her life without painting, her thoughts trailed off into the past…..She had always enjoyed watching her dad paint, though he wasn’t very successful she was proud of his paintings. She recalled how amidst the fights in the house, she would sneak away into the garage and play on canvas. That evening when she won her first award ever, had been the turning point of her life. Those tears in her mum’s eyes spelt so many emotions and unspoken words, she knew what they were trying to convey and there had been no turning back ever since.

In years that followed, she had won awards and accolades for her work of art, travelled around the world, held exhibitions and the works. All this achievement wasn’t very easy but deep down she knew she had been lucky unlike her dad. If times were different then her dad too would have been a renowned artist. What had happened with her dad was something she only knew existed in novels and movies, but to experience it in reality was very unnerving. After her dad had taken ill, she got more focussed and …….

Flash! Click! Flash! Oh! No, she muttered and forced her thoughts back to the present day- a very proud and happy day. It was the opening of her art school and her parents were beside her. This was the happiest day of her life, her mentor, guide and inspiration was standing next to her and sharing her happiness. She knew this was all real as her mum squeezed her hand and smiled at her. Both of them clapped and tears escaped Arini’s eyes as her dad cut the ribbon . Her father was recovering from the partial paralysis and could just about manage to hold the brush and do a few strokes. It was worth watching the expression on his face after that, something she was familair with -the satisfied and content expression, she mused……
© Trina Sarkar-Mohapatra, all rights reserved