The Incomplete Sketch

It was a sizzling hot afternoon of Summers. I sat on the fresh, grassy ground of the village & began sketching the wonderful scene wildly on a piece of paper.

The sky was like a sea of azure clouds shimmering amazingly with the bright Sun.

A hot wind whispered through the branches of the banyan tree, making its dry leaves fall on the grass.

The wind kept picking them up & swirling them around.

Suddenly, I heard a husky voice. I turned back & saw a boy standing behind me.

"Who are you?" I said.

"I'm Raghav." He replied.

He had dark, troubled eyes & slender, pale body.

He looked of about nineteen & I was seventeen.

"Would you like to talk to me?" He said after sometime.

Even though he was slender & pale, I found him attractive.

"Yes." I said.

I don't know why, but I felt he was good.

"Do you have permission to talk to strangers?" He asked with the same husky voice.

"I like strangers." I said.

"What's your name?" He said.

"I'm Radhika. What are you doing here?"

"I sell candies... Would you like to have one?"

"Sure. I love candies!" I said.

He gave me a candy & I gave him a coin.

"No, I don't want this! That was a gift from me to you!" He replied with a friendly voice.

"Thanks. I want to give a gift to you too. But I don't have anything for you!" I said.

"It's okay..." He uttered, "Have you made this sketch?"

"Yes. I like sketching!" I said, "Wait, I can sketch for you & gift it to you!"

"No," He said, "I don't want you to make my sketch!"

"Why?" I said.

"Don't you think that I'm ugly?" He said, grimly.

"No. Ugly is just a word- like beautiful & handsome. Beauty is good & good is beauty. And I feel you're good... Then you are handsome too, aren't you?" I said, smiling.

He smiled & his eyes filled with happiness & positivity.

"So, can I sketch now?" I said.

He nodded.

I enjoyed his company.

We didn't talk much; I only knew that he was Raghav, a candy seller & he only knew that I'm Radhika, a girl who likes candies & sketching.

"What are you doing here?" He asked me while I was sketching his tough face.

"I'm on a family trip to this village..." I said.

He nodded.

Before I could complete his sketch, my younger sister came & told me that we have to leave now.

I wanted to stay with him for some more time but I had to go.

I gave him his incomplete sketch.

"Will we meet again?" He said with impatient eyes.

"Would you wait for me?" I asked him.

"Yes." He said.

"Then we'll definitely meet again..." I smiled.

He took out a candy bag from his pocket & handed it over to me.

"This is for you..." He said with an eloquent smile.

Then, I bid him goodbye.

 

And then, we never met again.

I often visit that village, just to see Raghav again. Just to tell him how tasty his candies were. And just to complete the incomplete sketch of such a face which had fascinated my soul years ago...

 

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 17.06.2015

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