A complete sketch

" Knock knock ", Sammy opens the door . As expected , it is an early morning delivery . She , carefully , holds the cardboard box and takes it inside . With cat - like feet , Sammy tiptoes in the study room . She doesn't want to disturb her daughter - Tiara , who is sleeping in the adjacent room . Sammy sanitizes the box and keeps it on Eric's desk … Covid and additional chores of sanitizing ! 

Eric has gone for a morning walk . Sammy is happy with the fact that Eric is a meticulous husband and loves leading the ' healthy ' life . She has already prepared breakfast - cheese omelette , bread toast and orange juice . She is dreaming about the time of their college , when they had met for the first time , when she is jolted by a single , but a loud knock on the door. 

Her dear Eric is waiting , with a soft smile and pearls of sweat on his face . His smile is a gift , she cherishes and ' pearls of sweat ' are a testimony to his long walk , enjoying the morning array of sunrays , in the tropics !

Eric enters with a huff , removes his shoes and socks , puts the shoes in the shoe closet , holds the socks in hands and drops them in the laundry basket . After a refreshing warm shower , Eric goes into his study to check the day's schedule , when a blue box catches his attention . It is not very bulky , but very fascinating . Inquisitive Eric uses paper cutter to remove the tape . There , he finds his long lost love - a sketching kit consisting of sketchbook , pencils , eraser , colour pencils , crayons , colourpens , paint brushes , watercolours , colour palette and much more …. a comprehensive ART SET ! 

Eric storms out of the room into the kitchen . He yells at Sammy saying , " Why are you adding salt to my wounds ? I have already suffered a vagabond ' s existence and problems of unemployment , thanks to my sketching hobby ! I had dared to dream and had converted my hobby into a profession . What was the result - a broken man with broken dreams ! Do you want to break me again ? Take it away from the study room , or else I will throw it in the trash . " 

Sammy was stunned by such an outburst …. She collected herself and without uttering a word , she picked up the art kit and kept it in her wardrobe . She returned to the kitchen and set the table for breakfast . With a grumpy face, Eric gulped his breakfast . After some gargling and irritating stares at self , in the bathroom mirror , Eric headed towards the study room for the day's office work . 

Sammy was working , washing the dishes , cutting vegetables for the soup and fried rice , but her mind was thinking of some way to convince her husband to restart sketching , daily .  ' HOBBIES  are a healthy habit . ' Sammy believed in this philosophy . Sammy was of the belief that hobbies help a person to relax , recharge , rejuvenate and release any negativity . Any creative practice is a rejoicing , happy activity . It helps to break the monotony of a daily life .  Even before reading the book , Sammy felt  that Eric was an excellent sketch artist . It was not always about money . He was being unjust to himself and his artistic capabilities by not applying art in his life . 

Sammy , herself , was an amateur sketch  artist . She had an active, online social media presence . She used to post sketches , participate in prompts and she , even used to create and host Art prompts , in her online page . She thought of a brilliant idea . She took a break from her kitchen chores and searched for local sketching groups . Fortunately , Sammy found two groups . One group was having a ' sketching meet ' , in a city park on a Sunday morning . Sammy danced delightedly and strummed a make - believe guitar , too ! She shouted , excitedly , " Yes ! " , hoping Eric had not heard it - which was next to.  impossible . Eric had closed the door of his study room and the door of his artistic mind , too ! Sammy was bubbling with a hopeful happiness ! She proceeded with the day's routine and moved into her angel 's room - Tiara had to wake up for school ' s online meetings . 

Sammy did not delve into this sensitive topic , for a couple of days . She did her ground work . She registered three spots for the sketching meeting . It was a ' free for all ' meeting , but she emailed the sketch group co-ordinator and also joined their online group . Their county's Joggers track was open to the public . Even seating could be used in the COVID situation . Rest of the park facilities like kids' play area was closed . On Sunday , Sammy shared her wish of visiting the county park . Tiara was joyous . After a long time , she would be visiting the park and cycling , there . Eric also loved the idea - he was also bored of walking in the same resident community 's joggers track ! By now , he could recognize every tree , every bush , lined along the track ! 

Sammy insisted on having breakfast , before leaving . Eric and Tiara also agreed . Sammy took her backpack . She had already packed   it , last night with the goodies ! After ensuring a good fill of water bottles , fresh fruits , caps , sanitizer , wipes and the special guest in the backpack - some contents of the Art kit , Sammy locked the home door and headed towards the parking . Tiara and Eric were already sitting , all set for something different , the duo were blissfully unaware of the magic ! 

The county park was two miles away from their home . They arrived in few minutes . Joggers track was not crowded . Few joggers and walkers were present . A group of sketch artists was also present . The threesome began walking . Tiara had planned to cycle after walking for few minutes . The group of sketch enthusiasts was busy sketching in their sketchbooks . Whenever Sammy , Eric and Tiara passed by the group , they observed how observant , focused and engrossed were these artists . Some of them were chatting and giggling , too . Another interesting aspect was that each sketching artist was carrying different drawing and colouring materials . Some were using brush pens , some were carrying water colours , while others were happy with colour pencils and some preferred the simplicity of pencils . After few rounds , Sammy excused herself from Tiara and Eric . Sammy said , " I would like to join the sketchers ' group . " Eric was not surprised , as he knew Sammy would draw regularly , in her sketchbook . Tiara also felt like joining her mother . Eric continued with the walk , he said , " OK , ladies , enjoy yourselves . " 

Sammy said to Sierra , the sketching group co-ordinator , " Hello , I am Sammy …. " There was no need for Sammy to explain any further . Sierra smiled and said , " Welcome to the group , Sammy and Tiara . " Sierra introduced the mother - daughter duo to the group . The group members were warm and cordial . In a span of few minutes , Sammy and Tiara were comfortable. Sammy had brought three sketchbooks with her . Tiara decided to draw an Oak tree . A young , palm tree caught Sammy 's eye . When Tiara looked at the drawing of a girl , sitting next to her , she was amused to see herself as the girl's muse ! Her new acquaintance , Anna was around her age , twelve years old . Tiara loved the fact that Anna had captured Tiara's walking and gait , in her

sketchbook ! 

Sammy was enjoying her sketching , too , but her eyes were searching for Eric . Where was he ? She stood and moved aside from the group and shifted her gaze to get a panoramic view of the park . But , alas , her vision did not find  him . An array of thoughts rushed in her mind . Was Eric angry ? Was Eric waiting in the car ? She removed her mobile from her   pocket . She was about to call him , when she noticed Eric . 

Eric was sitting amongst the group of sketchers! He was busy drawing …. Eric looked at Sammy , their eyes met… Both smiled - Sammy's sketchbook had an incomplete sketch , but her heart was happy , with a complete sketch ! Art had won ! 

• Rupali Gore Lale
• © 2021
• January 28 , 2021