The Rare Gem- ONE Part-L uploaded - Page 4

Part-F

... in kind that a woman's fingers could play in with total abandon.

Nandini's surreptitious scrutiny was interrupted by Navya. "This is Mrs. Niyonika Vardhan, Nandini. Mrs. Vardhan, this is the artist of that portrait: Nandini Moorthy."

Navya's back was to the couple as she uttered the next sentence, and Nandini tried not to burst out laughing as Navya prefaced it with her bug-eyed routine, complete with eyes rolling heaven-ward as she demonstrated what she thought of him. "And this is her son, Manik Malhotra. They were admiring your Old Salt."

Old Salt was Navya's name for a portrait of a grizzled sea captain done on gray drawing paper in white and brown chalk, which Nandini had sketched one summer when she'd returned to Maine to visit her parents. Though originally they are from South India, their family had left the place long back when Nandini's grandfather shifted to Maine for his job. With that their family occasionally visits India and their home town in vacations.

"Oh?" Nandini turned her attention to the woman.

"Yes. I like an artist who doesn't pussyfoot around with more elder people," the elderly lady chimed in, proffering one blue-veined hand to Nandini. As the two shook hands, Mrs. Vardhan continued. "For years my son here has been nagging me to have my portrait done. Its been three decades since I last posed for one, and certainly don't feel like doing that again!" She slid a reproving look at her son, which forced her to cock her head at an absurd angle. "However, I believe in honesty. And what I see an artist who can do a portrait of an old person and not try to take ten well earned years off their life on canvas, then I'm willing to discuss having that artist take a crack at my face."

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