Clean it up

 A Painting and a Story # 25

'Who is coming?' asks Magan. He is not being rude. He is genuinely concerned. There is a pandemic and literally no one visits no one! Yet here is Meenu (short for Meenakshi) cleaning up the house like we do to impress a special guest. The teak top of their precious dining table is now clearly visible. Come to think of it... it is really a lovely piece of heritage furniture. The pictures on the wall are replaced. And she is attacking the clothes cupboard. The large heap of clothes on the carpet has some faded, some that fall into the 'I never wear it' category. Soon they all get swept into an extra large bag, ready to be gifted away.

Magan tries to disappear into the laptop but that is not working. She sends him to the books shelf. 'Get this sorted. What you don't want put it on the table. I will upload pictures and share with apartment friends. Whoever wants can take it. I want to free up some space' she says enigmatically.

'But who is coming??' Magan still does not know. 

His mobile makes that peculiar beeping sound. It is a warning message from the Security at the apartment gate, 'You have a visitor - You have a visitor' it blinks. Magan is relieved. Now he will know who's coming! When the doorbell rings Magan rushes to the door, he is really curious. But it is a delivery boy with a bunch of flowers. 'Flowers??' Magan is now worried. Is it their anniversary? Her birthday? The anniversary of their first kiss? Gosh! He cannot remember!

Magan is sure he is in for trouble.

Meanwhile Meenu is humming a little tune and looking up a recipe for Seven Cup Burfi. It is fail-safe. She has all the ingredients too. The coconut is large and has a tough shell to crack. There is a strip of stone at the back entrance, the hosilu, the threshold. She bends down to break the coconut on the hosilu and straightens in a hurry. He is already here! When did he get in? No hugs, no claps, no fireworks, no noise. He has come in silently.

Meenu is flustered. Her breath comes in short sharp gasps. What will he say. What does he bring? But his presence is calming. His face glows with promise and hope. 

Dramatically Meenu feels better.  Meenu breaks the coconut, gently collects the water and drinks it up. It is sweet. She pulls out the brand new Bangalore Press Calendar and places it on the side board in the hall. 

Magan takes a deep breath soaking in the fresh fragrance of her shampooed hair and feels the warmth of her arms around his neck. '2021 is here'. She whispers to him happily. 'I promise I will live every moment joyfully and do what is needed to help others be joyful too'.

Magan turns around smiling, 'Yes Let's do that. Shall I grate the coconut for the burfi?'

Happy 2021 my dear friends.

This painting is by a good friend. We tried oil pastels and she has been far more successful in her attempts. Oil pastels by Tara Gopinath. I call it Joy