Dancing Flames (Pranushka story)

Mission Anashku

The morning mist had hardly cleared. Tall eucalyptus trees seemed to be scattered here and there between the enormous tea and coffee estates, their sturdy roots clinging onto the steep, green hills. Women folks had indulged into their work of harvesting the coffee berries and fresh tea leaves.
Vihaan hummed the tune of his favorite song that was playing on his cellphone, his earphones blocking any other external sound source as he jogged past the mesmerizing sight. He hi-fied a kid who was walking to her school and waved to her friends who excitedly returned the gesture. He wiped the sweat off his face making himself comfortable on a log situated at the edge of a lake. He rubbed his hands and watched the tiny ripples which formed on the surface, owing to the cool early morning breeze and inhaled deeply.
- - - - -

Sandhya rose from her yoga mat, exhaling. Rolling it up, she placed the mat in a cupboard and pulled a book from between a stack. After decorating its pages with words of royal blue ink, she moved to the dining area. Dipping the smooth end of a brush into the straw-yellow oil paint on her pastel, she traced the outline of her masterpiece. Her lips rolled in while she admired her work. The old clock chimed as the minute hand struck twelve and she grumbled seeing that it was eight o'clock already. It was in no time that she moaned louder.

Her husband embraced her from behind and had already started showering her neck and shoulders with infinite kisses. His arms snaked around her waist while his hand caressed her considerably large baby bump.

"Vihaan! Disgusting! Leave me, now!" She chided, nudging him lightly, trying to wipe his perspiration from her neck, while he dug his pointy nose deeper into her hair, least bothered about her ranting. With much effort she managed to escape his hold and stood with hands on her hip.

"I had just bathed and look at you drenched like a melting glacier!"

"I was feeling cold."

"You know I don't like that!"

"Sandhya darling, I was missing you!" he husked coming near her but to her relief, moved away picking an apple.

"Washing your hands would made it healthier!"

"Lions and tigers don't wash their hands."

"Neither do monkeys!"

He chuckled tossing the apple in the air after taking a bite.
"What now?"

"It's eight o'clock. Go freshen up husband-man. Junior is waiting for daddy to join him for breakfast."

He smiled thinking of his baby.

"Oh yeah before that, I have a surprise! Come on."

They headed to the corner of the room. He dreamily gazed at her while she flipped the paper of the canvas revealing the painting.

"Presenting to you, DANCING FLAMES! I just finished this for the cover page of your new book. How is it?"

His vision wandered over the magnificently bright, tangerine orange tounges of the fire, yellow shades blended lightening the tips and in addition was the dark black background. It made the picture come alive.

"You have no idea what is and isn't you, until what isn't you is burnt away entirely by the DANCING FLAMES of your expanding consciousness and the inevitable changes that follow."

"OK now! By the time I try understanding those poetic words you used to describe the 'hidden' meaning of this 'simple' painting, you go take a bath!"
Sandhya snapped him out of his trance. He shook his head reaching for the table where he placed the half- eaten apple. Next to it was a brown, leather bound book.

"H A R I N I.. Sandhya, do you have any idea who this is?"

"That.. Umm.. That's our neighbour's daughter. She had come over early today to return a few of my paintbrushes. Must've left her dairy behind. Give it to me."

"Oh. Shall we learn a few things about the people around us, then?" he said opening the book, quickly snatched by Sandhya.

"Bad manners! You shouldn't read someone's personal dairy like that! Get going husband-man, I'm starving! "

"But I have one thing to ask."

She frowned at his yet-so-ever questive nature. It was something she actually admired in him. However, this wasn't exactly the right time.

"Will you eat before or after we take a bath?"
Pulling her close, he hugged her tightly.

"Vihaan!!!!!!!! "
He silenced her sealing eachother's lips.
......................................................................

Comments are appreciable. 😃
- Sri
Here's the teaser for those who haven't seen it.