Part 3: The Portrait, Chapter 3.1: Love At First Sight

Vishnu POV

Her eyes are closed but, her smile has the key to open my heart! Why is my heart beating so hard? That I can't afford to stop my gaze towards her! She isn't as beautiful as my mother, but is no less to an Angel!

I am here at Lord Shiva and Parvathi temple, doing some sculpture works here. As I pass by, I see this woman, offering prayers to god. As she finishes lighting the Deepam, she folds her hands into a Namstae and closes her eyes showing the devotion to God. Slowly, a small smile brushes through her lips. I even see the facial muscles move, expressing some emotions as if speaking to God.

Dear eyes, please look away, before she opens her eyes and catches me staring at her. Dear neck, turn to the right or the left and help eyes stop staring at her. Dear legs walk away, or hands, at least close my eyes so they stop staring at her. If I get caught, her legs will walk towards me and her hands will probably throw a slap on my cheeks. Dear mouth, what is it with that little smile? You reflect the joy my heart beats for falling in love with her. Do you think, she too will feel this 'off- the- earth' emotion with my smile? My smile expresses my devotion to her. She owns the grace of Goddess Parvathi, and I am surely in love with her. Will she give me back that love? Will we have the guts to fight for our love and win our future togetherness?

She takes all the necessary time in the world, to convey her happiness and devotion to God. I'm sure, she's even demanding her wishes with God. She seems to be a sincere devotee. And I too get all the necessary time in the world to continue looking at her, worry-free!

But just then, I feel someone holding my arm tight and pulling me away from her. I don't even turn back to check who. My legs are forcefully pulled and I am walking away from her. Even though I'm walking away, I manage not to lose her sight. As she gets done speaking to God and opens her eyes, she takes a brief look at me. Oh, she looked at me! I get nervous. I get nervous, turn back towards my friend, and walk away!

She looked at me! Awe! Now, what next? When can I see her again? Will I ever be able to see her again?

A few days pass by, and I keep searching for her in the temple on daily basis. I love the fact that I work as a sculpture at this very temple. But I hate the fact that I could not see her again.

"Vishnu, I see you have slowed down the work immensely." Says the head sculpture, who is none other than my father. He continues, "As soon as we complete the works, the head priest appointed for this temple will be able to pay for our hard work. He will be shifting his family to our village in a week and we have to complete our works by then."

I always believed in the quote 'Work is devotion to God'. Even though I have her image and I have her thoughts striking me every moment, all I do is the work I promised to complete in time.

We got the work done in time, our team was appreciated and we were paid the promised compensation. My father, as usual, invited the chief priest for a lunch at our home. Like every other priest, even this priest accepted the invite. But we sculptures know the fact that a priest who belongs to the upper class of the society, does not visit the sculptures house who belongs to the lower class of the society.

The night fell, but I'm not able to fall asleep. Minutes passed by, hours passed by. All I feel is the fear of forgetting her grace. All I feel is the fear of forgetting her smile. All I feel is the fear of is forgetting the magic she had on me. All I feel is the fear of me forgetting her, as days pass by, as years pass by, and as life passes off!

I quit the efforts to make myself fall asleep. I grab a big white sheet and start drawing her image I have hidden in my little heart. Hours pass by in silence, and as I draw her, my love for her is reaching eternity!

I realize, the reason behind making the statues of God and Goddesses, the reason behind having pictures of God and Goddesses. It's because, when we look at those statues or images, the smile that lies in there, fills our souls with immense positivity and blessings. And that is why we pray to them.

I too will do the same with my Goddess, the image of my angel. Every time I take her Darshana( I view her), I will ask her for a wish. I will ask her to meet me, I'll ask her to be a part of my life.

She is my Goddess, I will name her 'Devi'. Devi means Goddess.

The night passes by, and the hot sun strikes on my eyes very bright. I wake up. With sleepy eyes, I pluck a Neam stem from the tree and start chewing it for oral hygiene. It's already 11 AM and I can't believe I actually slept this long! I hear my mom say "You worked really hard all these days, and so we let you sleep how much ever you could." And I see my dad busy cleaning and sharpening the sculpturing tools.

Oh, I see Ram Murthy Sir. Oh, he really did visit our house as we offered an invite. We never expected him to be here. I run to my dad, get close to his ears, and whisper "Priest, Ram Murthy Sir is here." My dad is equally shocked. He turns back in a hurry. Bending down his body in respect and folding his hands into a Namstae, he nervously speaks "Sir, I never expected you here. I mean, I did take the pleasure to invite you, but... I mean, I have invited every temple priest I have worked for, and never did anyone show up. You are the only one who showed up at my home."

"I am probably the first Brahmin (the caste belonging to a higher class of society) to encourage equality in the Society," replies Ram Murthy Sir. Listening to dad say so, my mother too runs towards us. Folding her hands into a Namstae she says, "Sir, it's our pleasure to have you at our home. I will serve you lunch with the dishes I master and ensure you enjoy the meals. Since we didn't expect you here, I am not prepared. Just lend me some time."

As she sees Ram Murthy Sir accept that with a smile, she rushes to the kitchen. I arrange some chairs in the open garden since our home is too small. Then I rush to take a shower.

A few minutes pass by, I am entering my room to offer prayers to God. It's my routine to do so immediately after every shower. But to my shock, I see Ram Murthy sir and my dad staring at the Portrait I drew the last night. I never expected them to enter my room.

"Devi?" says Ram Murthy sir reading the script written at the end of the picture.

"Sir, I never knew my son had the talent of an Artist. I am proud of him. Why would he keep this a secret? Sir, today is the best day, to receive you as a guest at my home and to see the new talent of my son."

"That's my daughter. That's my daughter Vasavi."

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