Ansh was bored. Idly
he bounced his big rubber ball and it took a surprise bounce that knocked a
delicate photo-frame off the credenza. It fell with a crash and Vivek looked up
with a start. It was THE FRAME, the one, Diya had picked after a lot of scouting around.
Delicate shells and
mother of pearl entwined in white metal along with beads of shiny crystal that
sparkled every time they caught the light. The shells and beads now rolled on
the floor and the frame lay face down amidst scattered smithereens of the glass
cover. Ansh seemed paralyzed with shock and looked at Vivek with dismay all
over his tiny face.
“It’s okay buddy, be
careful there’s sharp glass on the floor. Don’t worry I’ll fix it before mom
gets home,” he assured the little boy. They all knew how much Diya adored her
artifacts; she was paranoid and super-finicky when it came to them. She never
let anyone touch THE FRAME or move it around; it was practically sacred to her.
It had always held a place of undisturbed pride all these years in every house
they had resided.
I could not believe I had been at the
beat-down, ramshackle handicrafts exhibition for well over three hours and it
didn’t look like you were going to give up anytime soon! What could be so
fascinating that you couldn’t drag yourself away? I couldn’t figure that out,
especially since you actually didn’t buy much! I patiently trudged along and
watched you - looking entranced by the sight of all the wares and curios on
display and gaily chatting with the artisans. Finally I thought you were done,
but just as we were proceeding towards the exit, you gave a little shriek and
hurried to some stall you had missed visiting.
I felt almost jealous when I observed
that look of ‘love at first sight’ as you were gazing at the tiny frame. A
jubilant look on your face declared: I got it! You didn’t even bother
to haggle over its price….how some things have changed now!
Diya sipped her
coffee, concentrating on the screen in front of her. In the adjoining cubicle
Shayna and Aditi were giggling over their mobile screens. ‘Silly girls, when
will they grow up!’ she wondered. She was used to seeing them go through constant
cycles of ecstasy and depression revolving around their ephemeral boyfriends.
She glanced at her
soft-board that was filled with memos, reminders…her eyes seeking out the cute
family photo from their recent holiday.
The first time we went to a photo
studio after our engagement, how the old photographer hassled us! Telling you to
loosen up, place your arm around me, telling me to drop my big goofy smile and
look a little coy.
Well, whatever he did, he managed to
capture the perfect candid moment with both of us rapturously gazing at each
other; while we thought he was preparing for the shoot. That was of course besides
that dowdy-goody-good picture our families had demanded of us!
Vivek frantically
racked his brains….where on earth could he find a frame so precious, one that
was so dear to Diya! He spent half the day googling all the possible online
shopping sites but came away with nothing. Little Ansh patiently sat through it
all with his Dad and finally he said, “Let’s go to Mom’s favorite store and
pick her a new one, even more beautiful?”
As the lift crawled
up to their floor, Diya hoped her maid had prepared the dinner with less
restraint on the salt and spice. She made a mental note to stock up on kitchen
supplies soon. She entered the house and found the boys and Vivek waiting for
her with a pretty bouquet and a beautifully wrapped gift. “Surprise!” they
chorused.
“Hey…what’s this for?
Tell me quick…Vivek, what happened? Taran, did Dad forget to pick you from
school? Ansh sweetie, did you eat lunch?”
Guiltily, Ansh came
forward with the gift, “Mom, I was playing with the ball and it knocked over THE
FRAME! So we got you one….even prettier!”
Diya felt moved, “Aww….
that is so sweet! Come on guys, group hug time…I hope the new frame you picked
is bigger so all four of us can fit into it!”
Vivek’s eyes met Diya’s.
No words were needed.
Sweetheart, THE FRAME is nothing to me;
it was the memory it held that made it so precious. It was the first picture we
took together as a couple, the one the old photographer clicked….if it’s safe,
that’s all that matters!
THE FRAME ensconced a beautiful memory
of our gentle, tender first love and with time it has endured and grown so much
more vast, rich and mellow!
****************
FRAME1<<FRAME2<<FRAME3<<FRAME 4 << And their life continued with many more happy little frames!!
Image source: MarlboroughAntiques
Disclaimer: All the characters in the Love in Frames series are fictional, any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental and unintentional.
Copyright © 2016 KALA RAVI