Chapter 4
COLOR ME IN YOUR HUES/ FOR I DON'T WANT TO FADE/ INTO THE GLOOM
December 16, 8 a.m.
Kripa woke up, feeling strangely happy and energetic. She opened the terrace doors and stepped out to see the gorgeous sea-view……. The aquamarine sea sparkled brightly under the morning sun! Kripa could hardly wait to capture the scene on her canvas!
She freshened up and went to the kitchen, made herself a cup of coffee. Mishti was still fast asleep so she didn't disturb her. Just as she was finishing her coffee, the phone rang, it was Naina.
"Good Morning, Baby! Mishti uth gayi? Nahin? Theek hai, we are going for breakfast at the poolhouse, do u want to come with us?"
Kripa: Nahin Mama, mujhey bhookh nahin hai, mainey coffee pee lee"
Naina: Tum apni painting shuru karney ke liye betaab ho rahi hogi, I wont hold u up, have fun haan and we will meet u for lunch at the Poolside Barbecue Restaurant, okay? Ek bajey wahan aa jana, aur Mishti se bhi keh dena, okay?
Kripa left a note for Mishti : Meet Mama-Papa for lunch at 1 p.m. at BBQ
She packed up her Art satchel and supplies and trudged down the garden path to the parapet overlooking the aqua sea! Built inside the ramparts of the fort, the Resort was on higher ground than sea-level, with a wall running alongside the sea, broken in places where there were steps leading down to the beaches below. In the front of each building, there were walkways running zigzag through the swaying palms and tropical bushes, leading down to the wall!
Kripa set up her easel near the wall …..it was a gorgeous day ….a vast expanse of sparkling blue sea spread to horizon, frothy waves crashing incessantly against the rocky coast and even 2 ships in the far horizon ready to pose for her painting!
Kripa started working earnestly on her painting….she pinned a canvas on the easel, mixed colors on the palette and started sketching the outline of her seascape. Time flew as did her hands on the canvas.
So intent was she in her artistic pursuit that she didn't notice a tall figure standing some distance behind her watching her draw and paint. The observer watched her from behind a cluster of palm trees, leaning casually against a tree trunk, arms crossed over his chest.
Hmmm, shes really talented, thought Angad, admiring her brush strokes as she skilfully captured the sea, the sky, the rocks on her canvas!
Angad had been out jogging when his footsteps had led him automatically towards the Terrace Suites……Fate?….. or Attraction?…….. he doesn't know! That's when he saw Kripa painting away near the parapet …..he stopped to watch her and got lost in the beauty of her seascape (or was it the beauty of her outline? ) She looked as fresh as a morning flower in simple jeans, a pink top, her hair tied back in a ponytail!
Angad mused …So Ms. Kripa Sharma is an artist, a painter……KRIPA….sweet name, suits her somehow.
Kripa painted busily for a long time, when she became aware of being watched, the skin of her neck prickled with awareness! Oh God….. she thought……there was only one person here who could make her tingle like that……
She turned abruptly and faced Angad who was walking slowly up to her!
Kripa (flustered) …..AAAaaap Yahan?
He looked younger and less formidable this morning….. in grey sweatsuit and sneakers, his wind-tousled hair making him look boyish and carefree!
Angad: (with a friendly smile): Hello Kripa…..main yahin se guzar raha tha toh tumhey paint kartey huey dekha,….You are really talented!
Kripa (blushed a little self-consciously and smiled)….Thanks! Actually I am an Art student.
Angad: Ahha I see….. But u know all Art students arent as good as you……sach much tum bahut talented ho..
Kripa : (solemnly wise) : Ek Kalakaar hi doosrey kalakaar ko pehchaan sakta hai!
Angad was oddly pleased at being called a kalakaar …he said : Thanks
Kripa (looking up from her paints)….Thanks Kyun?
Angad: Aapney mujhey kalakaar kaha, waisey toh sab mujhey entertainer ya club singer samajhtey hain!
Kripa kept down her paints and turned around:
"Toh who galat samajhtey hain…..aapki gaykee mein kalaa bhi hai aur jadoo bhi!"
Angad grinned widely at her sincere compliments!
He was also surprised at her talking to him normally this morning as opposed to her timid shyness last night!! He realized that she was in her own milieu now so she was more relaxed and less skittish!
And also without Mishti to shepherd her around, she was more her own person than a shadow of her more bubbly sister.
Angad: Mishti kahan hai? Nazar nahin aa rahi?
Kripa: Pata nahin, subah main jab nikli tab toh so rahi thi, ab shayad uth gayi hogi"
Suddenly she remembered about time……" Ohhhhho ab time kitna hua?
Angad looked at his watch : Abhi barah bajney ko hai….kyun kahin jaana hai kya?
Kripa slapped her head with paint-smeared fingers : Oh My God, teen ghantey ho gaye, pata hi nahin chala….Mama-Papa se milna hai lunch ke liye….abhi pack up karna padega…..she started gathering up her stuff!
Angad : Kuchh help kar doon?
Kripa (consideringly): Ummmm, Ok, aap yeh easel zara uthaiye, uh –huh, huh, zara sambhalkey……paint abhi kachcha hai…..haan yeh theek hai…Thanks a LOT"…..Kripa smiled gratefully at him!
Angad stared at her smile, bemused by the complete change in her personality today! Last nite she had been all shy and hesitant with him, this morning she was friendly and all free and natural! What was the secret?
Did she have a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of personality? ……or rather Ms. Jovial and Ms. Hide? Well, he wouldn't mind playing Hide and Seek with this Little Miss for sure! …..he thought wickedly as he followed her back to her building, carrying her easel.
Mishti was in the bathroom getting ready for lunch when Angad and kripa lugged the artwork and supplies back to the rooms.
Mishti called out from inside: Kripaaa, tu aa gayi?
Kripa: Haaan…. (to Angad) We are going to lunch at the poolside Barbecue….
Angad: Coool, I am going there with some friends as well, I will see u there then
Kripa: Thanks again for ur help….
Angad: Anything for u,……he saluted her smartly and left.
Kripa smiled thinking about him as she took a shower and got ready for lunch ….dressed in a blue sleeveless top with a long tiered blue and white skirt, blue shell earrings and tied her hair in a neat bun. Mishti emerged wearing a pink and white striped sundress and white shell jewelry.
Both sisters left for the poolside restaurant!
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Pallavi
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