Myriad of Colours!

People were scattered around in the large hall murmuring amongst themselves while admiring his painting. Paintings displayed, were of various genres with abstract paintings in the lead. While some huddled in groups to discuss earnestly about it, others contemplated on what to buy. Like always, he sat in the corner observing them all. He always found it amusing when the guests behaved so sophisticated and came well dressed to a painting exhibition because on the hindsight he would be so messed up and immersed in paints to create the final product. With fine-wine being served, he wondered if this had become more of a social event as majority of them present had absolutely no knowledge about art. Their attending and buying at the event were mere acts of bragging the social status. He was renowned for Abstract art. When any of his art is sold, he followed a ritual of asking the reason for customer’s indulgence in his painting. Most of the times, his conceptualization of the art would be in no way related to that of the customer. It amazed him on how the creator and receiver could perceive the same art so differently. Having said that, he still listened to the consumer’s perceptions, understood their insights and sometimes couldn’t help but laugh off their assumptions. This was just one such day. A regular successful day with most of his art already sold until his employee informed that one of his canvas is back on display as the customer has changed her mind. For a moment, he was taken aback, but then the curiosity to know the reason crept up. And off he went to meet her. The lady wasted no time and apologized as soon as he approached her. She mentioned that she was buying it for her 8 year old daughter who loved to paint but was unable to, because of all the medications and hospitalizations. She further added that, her kid was the one who rejected the painting as it was COLORLESS and it made her feel more gloomy.  He couldn’t utter anything more because the word “COLORLESS” had left him flabbergasted. This little girl had managed to strike the right chord of total relevance so effortlessly. He then realized, that all the paintings in this exhibition were only in black and white. In fact, the ones in the making were no different too. Worst of all, he couldn’t recollect the last time he used other colors except for the blacks and whites.  He still couldn’t believe that a little girl had a view which a renowned painter like he did not or probably had lost in time. It was an irony that he was painter. A painter who created dull canvasses. Colors had gone out of his life for a long time now and he had not even noticed it. He soon realized that while monotony had destroyed his creativity, money and fame had diminished his Imagination. Frantically, he went back to his studio and was aghast to find that all the colors he was left with were the two shades of Black and White. He pondered, how he had stopped noticing the YELLOW and ORANGE shades in sun-rise and sun-set. He neither noticed the BLUE waters his sea facing balcony opened to nor observed the GREENS in his rooftop patio. He had missed watching myriad of colors. From the ravishing RED in the newly blossomed roses to the PURPLE orchid that added to the décor in his living room, he failed to notice it all. “I can’t let this continue “he murmured to himself. He wanted all the colors back in his life. He wanted them to surround him and block away the dullness of white and black. Without wasting too much time, he went to his loft and got all the colors which remained unused. He spent the entire night painting. Using all the shades, he painted a huge multi-hued rainbow in the wall of his living room. To make it look lively, he let the clouds float and birds flock around the rainbow. Now, there was life in his room.He was unstoppable. He then grabbed some glass paints and drew angels and butterflies in the huge sliding glass doors of his balcony. This time he did not bother about the money it will fetch or what is it that a customer wants. He just continued painting until his heart filled with ecstasy and contentment which no amount of wealth could match. He continued, until the ray from the rising sun, hit his balcony and filtered through the glass and eventually all his paintings. The golden rays mixed with the shades of the colors from the painting spread across the living room and lit it up in MYRIAD OF COLORS just in a matter of minutes. He had finally managed to bring all the colors back into his colorless life. He did what he loved. He killed the monotony and relived his Dream. After all, he was a painter. Along with a brush, right colors, his creativity and the PASSION he could even recreate a heaven. That’s exactly what he did. HE PAINTED HIS PARADISE AND IN IT, HE WENT.P.S: The painter in the story is all of us. We all are victims of a life where passion takes a backseat and only Money is of utter importance. Do not let that happen to you. Because it steals you of all the colors which is happiness and contentment your life has to offer. Do what you love or Love what you do,HPK!!!