The Sun was setting. Everyone was returning to his own shelter. A silence, fabulous silence was incorporating in the atmosphere. The silence that assists anyone to discover his own. The silence to mourn on all failures. The silence to sit with the dear ones to share a cup of tea. The silence, the pleasant silence, a kind of joy for everyone without any discrimination.
The noise of lifting shoes was increasing gradually, as they were lifted step by step in a narrow street. The bulbs in the streets lighten up at once and off at the other moment. She was going on step by step. Every step and everything in the atmosphere was reminding her that she is in this world from 18 years, but she is still useless. There was a grace in her walking attitude.
A blank canvas laying on the garbage requested for her one glimpse. She looked towards it. She bent and lifted the torn, shattered into pieces, a blank canvas. A canvas, blank canvas, as useless as was she. She looked towards the sky and thanked the God for sending a useless companion as was she. A canvas, blank canvas, as useless as was she. She repeated slowly with a smile. As useless, as I am.
CHP No 2:
Black mark Stories:
The door was opened slowly. Bulb was lightened up and a flood of light appeared in the congested flat like washing off the darkness of all life. She put up the blank canvas on the table and went to kitchen as she was about to die with hunger. The door of fridge opened, staring at the things, searching for the answers of so many questions. She kept gazing at the things until a wave of hunger in her tummy reminded her to cook something. She picked up kebab's mixture and arranged the kitchen to fry it. Frying kebab one by one she was thinking that no one knows how much their words and actions hurt someone's feelings. As, I am hurting the sweetie kebab only for my own benefit. She smiled. She was sitting on the sofa talking and eating kebab one by one with ketchup. Do you know, people also call me useless? My parents consider me a burden. I am useless, and you know also a black mark for everyone's fate. There was loud laughter in the lounge. She hardly controlled her smile a black mark. Do you know, once I tried to help out a student to pass out his exams, but he failed. Guess why. According to his mother, I helped him to pass out the exams. Ain't funny. Again laughter. Ok, ok, ok. Once, our relative was suffering from high fever. Everyone visited him in hospital. My parents too. I was also with them. As, we returned to home after visiting him, his son called to my father he was recovering very accurately but died at once after their visit. Innocent, innocent, innocent dead because of my visit. The most interesting incident I'm going to share with you. Oh! Really you're also amusing from my black mark stories. Now, listen this one, the most interesting. Once, I attended a wedding with my parents. Everything was going fine. It was love marriage. At the last moment, the groom family left the ceremony because of some personal issues. Every aunty in the ceremony doubted on me and gazed at me. Guess why. Because I was the reason for all of this. A loud laughter again in the lounge. It seemed that everything was amusing by listening her black mark stories. She came near the blank canvas, smiled and gazed at it. You know. You'll be the next target of my black mark. Again laughter in the lounge.
CHP No 3:
The first satisfied laughter of the life:
Next day, she got up early in the morning. She prepared and did breakfast. There was her interview for a job. Am I going to find out a job or going to make the persons jobless working in the company? Ahh! Sorry dear ones. But I've to visit your company. She smiled by looking in the mirror. No doubt, she was beautiful. She arrived at the company in time, was waiting for her turn that suddenly alarm rang in the office. This was the fire alarm. People tried to control the fire. When, it was controlled. An old person maybe the manager of the company was advising the secretary to call the owner of the company that everything has burnt in the fire. All important bills. We've destroyed.
Walking on the side of road, she was deeply thinking what I've done. I shouldn't go to the company. She was really sad at that moment. But suddenly, she smiled and murmured that they also don't care about us. How much all that hurt. So, why should I mourn. I saw how rude manager ridiculed the worker for his little mistake. They deserve it. They deserve it. She smiled. Oh!, the only positivity of mine black mark, she repeated it with excitement and laugh loudly. Finally, first time in her life she was satisfied with her black mark. Oh! Isabella you have done a great job. Again loud laughter in the atmosphere. It seemed that nature for the first time showering all his blessing on her.
CHP No 4:
Selecting the colors:
The night was going to be more deep and darker. She was sitting on lonely on the road playing with her hands and creating happiness and joy by her own. The first time in 18 years of her life, she was so satisfied and happy. Am I useless? Am I useless? She again asked from herself, Am I useless? Am I as useless as blank canvas? Yes I'm. She smiled. Yes, I'm useless like blank canvas, but it doesn't matter to me. I achieved this few moments of happiness, I felt the air in the evening, I felt the flying birds, I felt the setting Sun, I felt the silence a pleasant silence in the air. I am blessed. Not everyone can't get these moments in his life. Although, I'm useless, but I'm the luckiest person on this Earth. Look, Shining stars and moon are also wishing that they would be Isabella and can enjoy life like her. Oh, woooooowww! I'm luckiest than you Mr. Moon. Now be jealous. She again smiled. And no doubt she is the luckiest girl on this Earth but who knows….
She was standing in the front of a painting shop. There were all colors. The beautiful and pleasant colors. She smiled for a moment. She stepped in the shop.
Greetings Ma'am! Said by the front standing guard.
"Greetings", she replied.
She went inside the shop. Looking and staring at the colors. She picked up the colors one by one. She came towards the counter to pack all of them and pay for them. The counter stared at the colors and then at the Isabella.
"What happened", she asked, "Have you discovered some awkward thing in me?"
"Nothing", he said, "If you don't mind, I just want to ask one thing from you"
"Sure, why not", she replied, "but you are looking so confusing at that time as you have to purpose me for a marriage" laughter, "sorry, I am that kinda person", again laughter.
"Why have you chosen up all the black colors there's no one other", he asked?
"All colors are beautiful but black has its own importance", do you know she was continuing, "It is not selfish like white. It absorbs all the things with their bad and good and convert them into a beautiful one by using there all features creating a Fabulous in the atmosphere."
"Oh, so you're going to work on this philosophy. Nice and amazing." The counter person said.
"Yaaaaaaayyyyy, a nice and amazing philosophy. Yup, I'm going to work on it", she said excitedly.
The staff inside the shop looked at her and passed a smile. She looked towards everyone and said, "Sorry, I'm that kinda person." Do you all know, "the people, who have never enjoyed the big one happiness, they go with these small ones."
CHP No 5:
Little Joys:
A tasty smell of fried kebabs was coming from the kitchen as she opened up the door. "Oh! Grandpa, when you came", she was so excited. He was wearing chef dress and was busy in frying kebab when he listened these words, he turned. She hugged him like a cat movement as someone is going to steal him from her, and she doesn't want it.
She was 12 years old when her father passed away and how her mother lived with grief for one year and after one year she also passed. She was upset in the start because she thought that her mother left her deliberately. She could fight with her illness, but she didn't. Furthermore, she invited and accepted the death because she wanted to meet my father. But with the passage of time she was healed. And, she said to her Grandpa that she wants to go city for higher education, and he allowed her. How these six years changed her life. No one could imagine. She met with different kinds of people. She made friends. Although, her friend circle wasn't big one, but there were few ones. Alice was her closest friend. Once, they were in the college and Alice asked:
"Isabella"
'Hmm mm….'
"Isabella, I want to ask one question, will you answer me?"
"Sure, why not".
"Isabella, ..."
"I think you liked a guy and wants from me to convince your parents for this proposal", Isabella said that and took her mobile and began to dial up her mother number. She moved like a cat and snatched mobile from her, but call has been received.
'Hello, how are you dear Isabella"
She cursed and abused her at that moment as much she could. "Should I told the truth to the Aunty?", Isabella whispered. She punched on her tummy with full force and only Isabella and her God knows how she endured this punch at that moment.
'Hello Aunt, I'm fine and what's about you." By tolerating the severe pain she hardly answered.
"I'm also fine, Let me know how Isabella remembered me."
"Nothing special, I was thinking about a lunch invitation from you. So, I called you."
How instantly she made this idea. Alice gazed at her face with wonder as she wasn't expecting this from her.
"For sure, why not, come towards us with Alice from college, I will make everything you like."
"Yeah… Thank You Aunt. You're so sweet. Ok bye. I have to attend a lecture."
As she was about to put on the call, Alice stood up quickly because she knew what will Isabella do with her after putting up the phone.
"Ok….. Bye." (Call ended)
"Alice….no one could save you from me."
She searched her everywhere, in the college Library, in every classroom, toilets, but she was nowhere. The only left was café. "Umm… She'll be there. I am coming Miss Alice." As she entered the café, Alice looked her. She tried to hide her behind a burger eating fatty boy. "If not today then, when will his thickness come to use.' She thought and laughed slightly. Isabella looked here and there, but she couldn't find. She came and sit with this fatty boy. 'Hello… Fatttooo (his nickname) what's going on." He smiled by eating burger that meant was everything is fine. He looked hidden Alice at his back. "Actually, I want to ask, have you saw the Alice." Alice Shaken her head by showing that he should say No. He said, "Ummm… I think I saw her… Ummmmmm…. She is hidden behind me." Alice abused him as much she could and stood up smiling. "Isabella, You are my best friend. You know I didn't act all by my will." She stopped and then continued, "As you know, some of human actions are involuntary. So, my punch one of them." She stopped and now only God could save her. Isabella looked towards her with full anger, arranged her hands into punch came near to Alice and by chance hugged her. "Now, my pain has been vanished." She said. Alice thanked God.
They were walking in the park of college when Isabella said to Alice, "You were asking a question from me." Oh! Yeah. But let it go. I don't think so it is so important question. 'No… you can ask. My offer for a limited time', and then she passed a smile. Alice also laughed because she knew that she is such kinda person. "Ok… I just want to ask why you become happy about little things like frying kebabs, eating chicken burger and pizza, an outgoing with friends and a magic show in the college. I never became on these little things. Likewise, I couldn't feel. How you do that? Why you're not like others?"
"Umm mm….. nice question", she said, "Because, I'm a poor girl and I can afford such little joys rather than big ones." When she was saying that the innocence of the whole world reflected in her, and she looked like a little angel. "You know my Grandpa always said, those who couldn't afford the little joys couldn't also afford the big ones. The path towards big joys goes through little ones and the luckiest are those who can enjoy the little ones, although they remained deprived off from the biggest one like winning awards and prizes. But they wouldn't be able to feel that how it is soothing and relaxing feels when wind passes through your hairs, filtering out all evils and purifying your soul. The God hire only special people to feel it on this Earth."
CHP No 6:
Her cousin Bella entered the flat. She has done her graduation with good grades from the famous university of the city. She was here to meet his Grandfather and Isabella.
"Welcome, welcome and welcome to the valley of devastation. The one glimpse of the queen of this destroys everything. Ain't you afraid of that girl? You may die because you have stepped in my valley. Then, what will be all of your struggles and success. Useless. So sad. Silent grief." Isabella said, as she was the famous actress of the Hollywood. Her Grandfather was sitting on sofa eating kebab. Bella sat with the Grandfather. Isabella filled up with anger, "At least, you can appreciate me without any tax. I'm not going to ruin you."
The Grandfather asked her to sit with him. "No one ruin anyone. Only their deeds." He said with great love. "Yes's, if my fate couldn't ruin my success then no one dear Isabella." Added Bella.
"Why this desperate canvas hanging on the wall?" asked the Bella.
"Desperate Canvas?" asked Isabella. This is disappointing. "This is here because only an artist knows the best value of the art."
Grandfather passed a smile. "Am I right?" asked Isabella from Grandfather. "Yeah… without any doubt."
"You and your philosophies...I couldn't get and never will" said Bella in a ridiculous tone. "Because a lot of intelligence and wisdom is required to understand. This isn't your fault." Said Isabella and went towards room left Bella with red face.
In the night Isabella was with the canvas in her room thinking that how should she make it special once looked in the street from window. She looked towards the Canvas, smiled and asked, "We shouldn't miss any chance when nature send it."
"Hey, Bella" She shouted from window, 'I think this is your boyfriend. Nice". Bella shocked who was stood in the street with a pleasant looking guy. "Nothing more. Only one pizza and Cornetto ice cream. I will not tell anyone" Isabella said with a smiling face. Bella abused her as much she could, Shaken her head in the "Yes" because there was no other option. Isabella smiled and closed the window.
At 1pm of night, Bella entered in her room. She was making a painting on that desperate canvas." Here is your Pizza and ice cream" said Bella, "God never except this blackmailing food", she added more. 'But relationship', added Isabella. It was enough for Bella. 'You know no one can win from you in conversation', said Bella, 'For Sure', said Isabella.
Bella looked at the canvas and painting that was before few minutes. This was the desperate Canvas on which the painting was going on. A girl standing alone. Her lips were so silent as deep lake. Her hair was shattered. But the most awkward thing she found there were no eyes. This was a girl face. 'Isabella, where are her eyes.' Asked the Bella.
'People have steal it.' Isabella replied by eating pizza.' But why are you painting this on that desperate canvas. I'll buy a new canvas for you. Then paint on it.' Said Bella. 'Money doesn't decide the value of things, only your inner. This canvas is special one from all precious canvas. By spending a million dollars no one could prepare like that. The girl on this canvas is special too. No one can become this one. Both of them are useless but providing an important thing for that million dollars will not be anything.' This shocked the Bella, but she didn't want to ask any more questions. By picking up the one slice of the Pizza, Bella said,'How much you are cold. At least you can offer me.'
'How much I cold, I could snatch this slice from you, and you couldn't do anything.'
There was loud laughter in the room in deep silence of the night.
CHP No 7:
The Life-changing events:
"God please make her and her painting the winner of the contest." Her Grandfather made a wish while he was sitting in her room. Her painting was in her hands and she was sleeping like little angel. Likewise, her Grandfather kissed her head and thought that it seems like nature is ready to shower all his blessings upon her. She woke up at 2pm in the afternoon. 'Oh God! This is too much late.' She took shower, wear a black dress, black sandals and made ready herself to win a prize for his painting.'
'Isabella, how more you'll sleep. Please wake up. We've to go market.' Bella was shouting on her head. She woke up quickly. Look here and there. 'Ok, I'm coming.' Bella left her room.
'These people don't allow innocent like me to dream properly.' She murmured in the sleepy voice. She was ready in the next one hour, waiting for Bella in the lounge.
'We're going to market. We've to purchase the important things. We'll come back in the evening. Furthermore, we'll buy food from outside. So, not try to cook by your own.' Said in a breath. These were all instructions given by the Bella to Grandfather.
'Ok…. Goodbye', they said and left the flat.
They were in a store buying kitchen material. But there was something wrong with the Isabella. She was again and again checking her mobile. A little tension was reflecting on her face. Now, they were in the front of a restaurant to pack the food for night. Everything was going on in own way. No one knows how much he harms other. This world is only show off. Everyone is fake, with a fake personality, spending his life like me. She was thinking.
'Isabella, what are you thinking', and, 'I am noticing since morning. You are upset. Is there any problem.' Asked Bella. They were walking on a road. It was going to night.
'Nothing, Nothing happened.' She replied.
'I can never expect such a decent reply from you' said Bella and there was a loud laughter. Isabella also passed a smile and this was the first thing in the whole day that brought a smile on her face.
They have done with meal. Bella was in the kitchen washing the dishes.
Grandfather came into her room. After a few moments Bella also came. She said, 'Suppose, you'll not win the contest' Grandfather looked towards her with anger face. 'I am only preparing her mentally' she said. Isabella stared into her eyes and said:
'If Isabella will not win the contest then, I bet no one will. When my black mark come to use if not this time. I have record of devastating the things.' She laughed loudly.
The pain behind this laughter only one person could understand, her Grandfather. Bella noticed an awkward thing in her eyes that she never. Was that fear, pain, tiredness and something else. She couldn't get it. Bella admitted, wisdom and intelligence require to understand the art and artist that she doesn't have. She admitted, Miss Isabella you are absolutely right. I have no wisdom and intelligence. God hire special people for this, and I'm not among of those. I am an ordinary person with good grades and nothing more. You are absolutely a great person.
"Don't be worry, everything will happen for best of you." Said Bella. Isabella was staring at the moon. The night was going to be darker and deeper. It seemed that everything in nature was praying for her. "You hurt yourself in the silence, and you are also healed in the silence." She murmured staring at the moon.
'Final announcement has been made.' Bella was telling her in the morning. 'All the winners will get an email'
'Bella, can you favor me. Please open up my mobile and check my mail inbox. I have no more courage to fight more. I'm tired.' Said Isabella.
'Do you know Isabella. Some people couldn't meet their success. Guess why', said Bella, 'Because they gave up at the moment when they were going to win. Don't be among of them.'
'This is your fear, your fear that your black mark will snatch your success. Free yourself from this fear. You have hands as are mine. No one is black mark here. This is only fate. God awards someone without any struggling and someone after a lot of struggles because he wanted to keep his special one with him. Open by your hands. Free yourself.' Said Bella.
Mobile was in her hands. Her hands were shivering. 'Free yourself Isabella.' A sound hit her ears. Her hands were shivering. Her whole body was shivering. 'Free yourself Isabella.'
All of her fears faded up and vanished. Her hands and body stopped shivering. She held tight the phone. Looked towards Grandfather and Bella, passed a smile in a satisfied way. It seemed that she has free herself from the cage that people build for her. She opened up the email inbox. Only closed her eyes for once and then opened. She looked towards Grandfather and Bella.
'Bella, I'll be always thankful to you to free me from my fears. Grandfather you too.' She said and hugged both of them.
'I wish you win', said Bella inner her.
After five minutes later,
'How much you people are cold. No one of you have asked from me about my painting. I'm the winner. Woah' she said loudly in excitement. Tears of joy were in her eyes. Bella jumped up on the sofa and hugged her tightly.
'Be careful…. You'll break this sofa.' Said Isabella.
'No worries, ….. we'll buy another one from your money. And you by yourself can't spend 100 million dollars by your own, I'm here to help you.' Bella said each word in the excitement and jumping on the sofa for each word. 'How much stubborn are you, I jumped a lot, but you didn't break'. There was louder laughter in the lounge. Everything in the flat were laughing on her success.
She was on the stage, dressed in the black, in the black night, holding the canvas in her hands. Everyone was cheering up her. She was happy. No one can count her happiness. There was a great appreciation and applause for her everywhere.
They were in their old flat where repair was in progress. Although, Bella insist too much to buy a new house and shift in it, but she refused. She said to repair it and to make it worthy. She again said to Bella,' Money can't buy the value of old things. We'll repair this flat like blank and desperate Canvas and make it worthy.' She was happy. She looked towards the hanging canvas and girl on it without eyes. 'You know Bella why I didn't make eyes because people eyes will shape out this girl. But in the end she will discover her own. She will free. Maybe, She'll find another Bella like you.' She said to Bella and passed a smile.