FF: Unexpected: updated 06_27_09

Unexpected

Part One: Alone

I was in my mother's studio. Her finished and unfinished works were spread all over the room. Light but intoxicating smell of paints brought back memories of my childhood! Nabila, Divya and I used to sit on the floor and play with paints and draw random things and mom used to smile at us while working on her award winning pieces! The easel, paint brushes and paints cried out of loneliness, they hadn't been used for almost a month. It just occurred to me, Mom hadn't called in the last two days. Paris must be fun—more accolades for her paintings! Sometimes it seemed Nabila's anger might be well justified. Mom loves her paintings more than us, they are her real children, not us. A sigh left my chest!

My poor kid sister used to sob in my arms whenever she missed mom while she was away for months in some exhibition somewhere half way around the world. Dad was so busy with his architecture firm, he was barely around. Nabila and I learned to be there for each other! Since none of them could be at home to keep proper watch over their beautiful teenage daughter, to protect her from any scary teenage mishaps, they shipped her off to a famous elite breeding boarding school in Boston and felt relieved! As if nothing bad ever happened in a boarding school! Why parents sometimes were so blind and far from reality, was beyond my understanding! I for some reason seemed matured enough to them and hence was spared from boarding school! Lucky me! I had to be matured for my little sister, even though I was only 2 years older than her, I was her guardian, confidant, and of course her best friend. Actually now thinking back she was all of that for me. Gosh I miss her, I let out a sigh again as I left mom's studio and went downstairs!