Thursday, July 16, 2015

Broad strokes

I look around my kitchen. It looks clean. Everything has been put away after lunch, washed and dried. The leftovers packed away in boxes for tonight's dinner.The house is empty save for the sound of the grandfather clock. There is a gentle breeze that stirs the blinds and light plays hide and seek. I fall into the haze of the afternoon magic.
Not wanting to fall asleep, I walk out of the house into the backyard into the outhouse. That room has been locked for many years. As a newly wed bride, I stocked up on the usual supplies hoping to unleash my inner Saraswathi- paints, dyes, colors, brushes, canvases, oils. I became the Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva instead, of my own little world. My family grew, thrived and went away leaving me alone.
I tentatively step into the room. Dust has not gathered because I would periodically come in and clean everything up. I find the easel and the colors. My hand affectionately brushes the palette. My life has been a myriad of colors, from the warmest blue to the brightest yellow to joyous green and mournful black.
I hesitate before choosing my color. Red. Vibrant red. Life goes on. I start with small strokes, with an unsure hand. Then my instinct takes over. Broad strokes, broader strokes. Life goes on. The white vanishes from the canvas and is a mosaic of reds. I see myself in the red and the woman in the red is dancing. Life goes on.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

What am I?

I have no opinions. Let me change that, I have no strong opinions.
I see the lady next to me talking passionately about nuclear disarmament and she goes on to expound at length what each country's stance is and what it should be. She seems to have a strong opinion.Me, I don't care. As long as they do not drop a bomb where I live I am fine. So what am I?
There is the lesbian and a fiercely conservative and orthodox man engaged in an argument about marriage, procreation and sin. The lady passionately explains how she is also human and is it not God's ultimate lesson that everyone be treated just the same. Me, I believe in equal love. But I do know the religious misgivings people have about homosexuality so I understand why their belief is bigger . I know God created us equal but he also gave us our uniqueness,so what am I?
There was a feminist that I met in the tube the other day. She spoke about gender equality and how we are equal to them. I wholeheartedly agreed. Yet, my 6-inch heels were killing me and I caught a man's eye and made him guilty enough with my winces and grimaces to give his seat up for me. I manipulated that man by pretending to be the weaker sex. So what am I?
I shed my opinions like a dog sheds hair. Here today, gone tomorrow. I have no fierce beliefs, no strong opinions. I am just as likely to side with an opponent in an argument if they have a stronger point of view. I shift loyalties and have no strong opinions. I only have three strong opinions that I will not change no matter what. I will hold my breath and close my eyes if anyone says something otherwise. There is no sense in killing. There is no truth in deception. The Mummy is an awesome movie. So what am I?