SKY

"Now it's purple with a tinge of crimson.Ah! I wish l could mingle with these colours and lose this accursed human form ."Sapna always justifying her name muttered as if in a dream ,while peeping out of her bedroom's window . That wasn't first time when she had such notions to be one with the nature. Almighty had endowed her with a unique ability to behold colours even in muddy water.

Sapna's imagination would drift instinctively towards the multitude of shades which were as if spread like colourful pearls of a broken necklace throughout on the floor of her solitary world. Whether cornfield , green boughs or yellow orchards in autumn , whether rainbow or bright brisk sunlight , a cloth market or a grocer's shop everywhere she would feel mesmerized amidst different shades . Shades of spices , pulses in bright packages made her soul dance in ecstasy .

Sapna's parents were often perturbed when she would rather than enjoying food or appreciating its taste and flavour would paint the meal in different shades beyond their comprehension. Her father would fret over it and would insist her mother to drag her out of that weird world of hers . He shuddered at the thought of her future in- law's reaction after her marriage as it was next to possible that any family would bear the poetic nature of their daughter -in- law. On her part Sapna's mother did her best to divert her mind from her eccentricity ,but failed miserably in every attempt. Sapna's father would hold his head tightly in desperation when to his amazement even power- cuts presented beautiful colours for Sapna , who would add on apathy of her parents by commenting that black had traces of light ,that when she closed her eyes light waves danced in front of her mind's eyes.

Sapna grew up as if holding rainbow in her hands and was always engrossed in the world of her making where there was no place for clouds of tension, where there was no thunder of stress and where there was no scope for rain of anxiety. From childhood to teens, from primary to secondary ,from college to university her life was like a colourful  thrilling ride. With passage of time, Sapna grew up to be a slim ,fair pretty lace . In her twenties she became less vocal about her oral sparkling bright paintings ,but her soul and heart as usual dived in river of iris as it used to earlier.

By and by Sapna became centre of everyone's attention ,her pleasing shy nature , her academic acumen began to yield results as marriage proposals soon began to pour in . Being a compliant girl ,an obedient daughter she made up her mind to flow with the winds , to go with the tides ,so she left her marriage's decision solely on her father whose shoulders stretched an inch or two with pride.

Sapna's father very cautiously began to sieve from the ever rising number of proposals for Sapna that her family was constantly receiving through friends and relatives. While Sapna's mother on her part began her grooming , to refine her culinary art .Sapna was quick at learning and soon mastered the art of cooking and keeping her house spic and span like her mother always did.

Finally with a lot of precision Sapna's father selected Saurabh a young promising engineer for her. Saurabh's only sibling his elder sister Aditi had been recently married and he lived with his parents. Sapna and Saurabh complimented eachother well  and marched together on a new journey , opening a new chapter in their life.

Within a month of her marriage Sapna was baffled to find that her mother -in-law kept on comparing her with Aditi her sister-in-law . While her father -in-law like her own father supported her and praised her for being a perfect life-partener for his son. Saurabh on the other hand felt amused to see his wife's obsession with colours. He would often tease her and ask her to paint the pictures of the vicinity where ever they went.

Initially Sapna ignored when her mom-in -law praised her sister -in-law Aditi as she felt may be like her mother she was missing her daughter. But,  when the things didn't change for almost six months ,when she found that  Saurabh's mother would find flaw in everything she did, whether her cooking ,her house -keeping everything had a question mark and comparison,she began to wither down. All efforts of Saurabh and his father's failed to change his mother's attitude towards Sapna . Round the clock, they both tried to cheer Sapna and praised her for everything even when the quantity of salt increased in her vegetable or if by mistake she forgot to put sugar in tea. Their over protection further turned Sapna's life dismal .She hated to be compared . The more Aditi was idolized the more she lost interest in home. 

Saurabh began to worry when Sapna's talks lost her colourful pictures . If ever she dived in Colors she would talk only about darkness ,dullness and would send chill down Saurabh's spine by saying that sunlight had shades of jealousy ,anger and frustration. Her condition would become worst when Aditi came to stay with them ,as then from dawn to dusk she had to hear the verses sung in her adoration by her mother -in-law . Aditi who was herself a daughter -in-law didn't appreciate her mom's behaviour .She could feel the  pain of Sapna and took side of her father and brother . Aditi's sweet nature gave Sapna  some temporary relief but her mother -in-law's continuous comparison began to push her into a world of self denial.

Saurabh's apprehensions regarding his dear wife's mental health began to take shape as he was bewildered to find his wife always seeking tips about  being a great housekeeper or homemaker. Whether TV or magazine only thing that interested her was how to be a good housewife. Sapna's parents were in extreme pain when she visited them after seven months of her marriage. Her father yearned to hear colourful portrayals of his daughter. It took them no time to guess what was tormenting her.  The only relief for them was Saurabh who was equally perturbed for Sapna. The day when Sapna was about to return her father lovingly hugged her and said," My dear , you don't have to be perfect in other's eyes. Be your own judge. My daughter is a real gem don't try to turn her into any imitation . My daughter is someone who has the capacity to fill colours in bland .Do your best and let God be your judge. Don't fear comments and don't yearn for compliments .Next time when you come come only if you have rediscovered yourself."

Saurabh expected that her father's words of wisdom would have some desired effect on her ,but her wound was so deep to be cured with the ointment of words alone. A month passed when Saurabh took all with a surprise announcing his best friend's arrival from Canada. He excitedly told Sapna to prepare dinner. Sapna on her part was equally excited to meet his friend whom she had many times met in her husband's descriptions. So on the due date since morning she readied for the supper. Her house was scented ,having aroma of the delicacies she had cooked and it glowed with the sort of  fine decoration she had done. It was Sunday and everyone was at home. It had poured like cats and dogs the previous day making it difficult for anyone to reach green grocer's shop. 

When all was set and Sapna's father -in-law had tasted everything cooked by her and had showered blessings on her for such a nice and warm preparation ,her mother-in-law dropped an expected bombshell.

"If my Aditi would have been here she would have arranged salad . She was so perfect ."

Sapna's sprit was crushed she sank on sofa listening to her father-in-law yelling at her mother -in-law.

"Yes, your Aditi is a magician .out of nowhere she would have produced salad. When she was here we never went to green grocer. She would with magic produce everything even when it rained in torrents like it had happened yesterday."

Saurabh was also nodding in annoyance holding Sapna's soft hand in his. When all were startled as Sapna sprinted outside even without wearing slippers listening to a hawker's sound. All were terrorised to think of the worst. Sapna's mother-in-law also suspected something bad and cursed herself for her short sightedness. In a few moments she repented and prayed to Almighty to keep Sapna fine. They all rushed outside . At the gate they saw her breathlessly waving towards a hawker on cycle.

"Brother ,give me a kg of carrot and radish . Mom , don't worry l will arrange salad ."Sapna smiled towards her teary mother -in-law.

Saurbh tried to talk to Sapna who with her hand made him stay quiet.

The vendor  who was equally surprised spoke up," sister ,l don't sell vegetables ."

"Oh ", Sapna saw that the person whom she had thought to be a vegetable vendor was on a bicycle with a small iron box adjusted on his cycle's handle ".

Taking him to be an ice -cream seller Sapna again spoke in excitement ,"oh! I didn't see .Yes, you don't sell vegetables .You give me Kesar Kulfi."

"Sister ,are you fine? I don't sell ice cream ."

"Then give me whatever you sell."

Sapna was furious and losing patience by then.

"Sister,l sharpen scissors ,knife,clean gas stove and repair locks."the person said and left with a disapproving glance towards Sapna, who when turned saw her husband and father -in-law rolling with laughter.

"Mom, tell them not to laugh at me."

Sapna implored when her mother -in-law stepped forward and patted on her back.

"Sapna ,l am so fortunate Almighty has bestowed me with such a simple sweet daughter -in-law " 

Sapna felt a burden lifted off her soul when Saurabh's mother added lovingly,"Sapna ,you stay as you are . You are perfect like my Aditi."

Sapna smiled and after months could find traces of the colours spread by the one and only great painter in the vast sky. Her gaze wandered in the sky with the floating clouds . She thanked Almighty for helping her rediscover herself.