Perfect Painting

“You are always on time Maya, just like father.” Arnav said with some sort of pride. “Yes my brother, our family resides on this simple motto. Punctuality. Except you, of course.” Replied Maya with some disappointment towards the end.

“I like to live for me, not for life.” Arnav said casually while starting the car. He was different from his family. They were amongst the biggest names of the city and everyone either adored their legacy or hated for not being one of them.

“So now, will you tell me, what is your concern all of a sudden? Why did you asked for this meeting?” Inquired Maya.

“You may not believe, but I respect you guys, although you don’t. You all think, I am not man enough just because I don’t throw lavish parties and I don’t attend them and not part of your corporate world. But I want to tell you one thing. I never was a coward. I am an artist. My life is painting. My heart is the paint that flows through my hand……” Arnav was interrupted just before he was about to finish.

“Will you just cut crap out of it and tell me the real reason. I have more valuable things to invest in?” Maya asked furiously. “Let us reach home.” Arnav said while driving.

But patience was never Maya’s friend. She again asked the same question. “If I tell you now, it won’t be surprise anymore. But till we get there, I want to few things. Do you know, Maya, sometimes I imagine weird things. Very strange things. And I just want to paint those. But I can’t. Its not because I can’t gather those thoughts; those things are about people I care about. And when ever I try to regather those thoughts, its sickens me. So I came up with an Idea, I will make those weird things possible. I will paint them with those things in front of my eyes……” He was again interrupted.

“I can’t tolerate you anymore. Either you shut up or I will take a cab.” Maya said furiously. Her brother’s conversation was nothing new to her, but when she thought about his words, she realized, his thoughts were weirder than ever.

Few minutes later they reached home.

“Why there are no guards today?” Maya inquired. “You will know soon.” Arnav replied.

“Mom, Dad, where are you? What was so urgent? Where are you all?” Maya shouted in order to get some response back. But she heard no one. She went to their bedroom. The things that lay in front of her eyes, she could not imagine. Her parents were laid dead in front of her. Father’s throat was wide open, while blood was sprayed from her mother’s abdomen. She freaked out and couldn’t cry for a moment. When she turned around, her brother said, “Now I can paint the whole picture”, and he sliced the knife into her stomach.

Thus, he began his painting from where he left of. He completed while being immersed in it soulfully. But, again, he wasn’t satisfied with the painting. He fumbled in his thoughts. While the painting looked good to him, something was missing. Something was not right and was far from perfect. He stood in that bloodied room and continued to think. Suddenly he realized the missing part. It was him. He was missing from the family painting. He needed to be there. He took the same knife and held inwards and pulled with all of the force in his abdomen.