Mirage

MIRAGE

The same flick of hair. The same cleft chin. It reminded her of college days. He looked the same.

With a sigh, she picked up the tray and splurged burnt sienna on it. A trifle too dark, she mixed white. Still dark, she played with lemon yellow. “Just the right shade for Nakul’s skin”, Ritu thought to herself and put the brush to the canvas.

Nakul found it difficult to sit still, but obliged. Afterall, it was his own wish that Ritu paint him. Post one hour of hard work, they took a break. Nakul baked omelettes while Ritu relaxed on the sofa. “Unfair, unfair”, Purty the parrot spoke from behind. Not that it understood the meaning; it was the only word it could speak.

“Will your parrot shut down, Nakul?”
“Sowwy! It’s addicted to truth.”
“Damn you!”

They had just stopped laughing when Pooja appeared at the gate. Dressed in a white casual top and blue jeans, she looked attractive. Ritu couldn’t help, but, compare their figures, and feel like a loser herself. All the same, she greeted her warmly. Nakul’s excitement didn’t escape her. Worse, Nakul made no secret of it and offered Ritu’s omelette to Pooja. Gracefully, Pooja refused and walked towards the canvas.

“Amazing work!” An art student herself, Pooja couldn’t help, but, feel excited at Nakul’s upcoming portrait.
“I am loving it myself” grinned Nakul.
However, Ritu was fuming inside.

She realized it was time to leave, before anything untoward happened from her side. (She was losing her control and clenching her wrists). Hence, picking up her bag and promising to come back the next day to complete the painting, Ritu hurriedly took leave – all to Nakul and Pooja’s bewilderment.

“Dear diary” she wrote that night…

“Everything was so beautiful. I was spending such a lovely time with Nakul, and I was about to tell him how much he resembled his grandfather… when she dropped in. I wish you were here Rakesh, to see our grandson, to see how much he resembles you…”