Under The Pink Evening Sky

18 | interview continues

₊‧꒰ა❤︎໒꒱ ‧₊

Before Sana switched on the recorder, she glared at Shrest. "Lengthier answers, is that clear?"

Shrest blinked at her, not confirming anything. She let out a resigned sigh and switched on the recorder.

"This section of the interview will be pertaining to your private life and background. Mr. Gupta, when did you learn that your interest was art and that was what you were going to pursue?"

"I've always liked to draw, ever since I was young. In school, we were once taken to a tulip field, in 6th grade."

Sana's hands, which were jotting down the important points of his answers, stopped.

"That time, I saw one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. It has been my life's goal to reproduce that sight."

"You mean, the tulip field?"

Shrest shook his head. He didn't follow up with a reply.

"Okay. How receptive was your family about your passion and career choice?"

"They weren't receptive. At least, my mom wasn't. My dad and brother supported me but they were still worried."

"I think that's understandable given how scarce the job scope is in the field."

"That's actually a stereotype. It's not that the job scope is scarce in the field. It's that you need to make your job in this field. In other professions, the job is ready-made - clerk, a manager, a director, etc. In this field, you have the freedom to do anything and everything."

"I don't only work as an artist. I work as a freelance cover illustrator for books. I do art prints and sell them independently. There's so much that can be done if you don't limit yourself to a specific word or career. The only disadvantage is something my friend had articulated well. This is a profession in which you will be living paycheck to paycheck. You've got to get comfortable with that."

That was the lengthiest answer he had given her throughout the course of the interview, so far. Finally, Sana's eyes gleamed. Something to pounce upon.

"Is that your advice for budding artists?"

"No. I have no advice for them. They need to learn for themselves as to what they need. Whatever I say is mostly only applicable to my life. It may not necessarily apply to theirs. The only thing I can say, which would be universally applicable, is to do what you enjoy."

"That is true. One of the problems we face is that many of us are unaware about all the opportunities within the field, like you listed. Do you think people in the art community should raise more awareness around this and encourage popularizing all these professions?"

"Definitely. But the target audience shouldn't only be kids but parents as well. If I say I want to pursue a career in music, people will immediately assume I want to be a singer. But there's so much more to music than just being a singer. You could be a bass guitarist, a composer, or a producer. It's limitless. This is true for all artistic pursuits. That's an idea that should be popularized."

"Let's return back to your personal style of art. Many artists have their own style of working. Do you usually plan your piece before you start or you just start and see where things take you?"

"It's a combination of both. Sometimes, I have the idea in my head like the title piece of my previous exhibition. Sometimes, I just start and the idea kicks in."

"What do you do on days when you have no inspiration?"

"I just paint. Sometimes, it's just a mix of strokes and colours. But, I'll still paint every day, even if it doesn't lead anywhere."

"Are all your pieces usually done in series or separately?"

"If it's targeted for an exhibition, then I do each one separately but with a central theme. Otherwise, it depends on the requests of the client. I usually only do standalone pieces for clients with specific requests."

"Is there any particular piece you've done for a client that you think is one of the best pieces you've done?"

Shrest contemplated it. "I don't think so. I usually only feel satisfied to a certain extent with ones that spring out my own imagination completely."

Sana bunched up her papers. "That's all for today. We have a few more questions which we'll finish up in the next session. When will you be free next, Shrest?"

"The day after tomorrow."

Sana nodded. "We'll do it then."

Vidhant took a few more photos of Shrest before wrapping up and leaving. As he left the gate and pulled out his phone to book a cab, he glanced at Sana who had walked him out.

"Sana..."

She glanced at him.

"Are you aware that you're Shrest's muse?"

Sana nearly choked on air. How did he know...?

"How...?"

"So you know." Vidhant let out a sigh of relief. "I really thought I was going to watch one of those dramas play out, you know? Where the female lead is oblivious despite everything the male lead does."

Why did his words feel like an arrow that pierced her brutally?

"It really isn't that difficult to piece it together. Plus, you're a smart woman. I'm sure you had already figured it out and known since the beginning."

Sana averted her eyes.

"Well, in any case, I wish you guys the best. He seems like a really good guy. I'm sure you will get along very well. You have got that...what do you call it? Chemistry? Compatibility? Yeah. That. You two have got it."

Sana, "..."

Why don't you book your cab and leave already?

Much to her relief, it didn't take long for the cab to arrive. Before he got in, Vidhant said, "Keep me updated on all the details, okay?"

Sana, "..."

What details?! Shrest and her weren't in a relationship!

She watched him leave and lingered there for a while. Truth be told, it hadn't really struck her that she was Shrest's muse. Perhaps, if she had taken the time to view all his artworks carefully, she may have figured it out. But she hadn't. She had been so caught up in her life, she hadn't bothered to really take a look at what he was doing.

Slipping her hands in her pocket, she trudged back into the apartment. As soon as she closed the door, she heard a chuckle behind her.

"It looks like he has already figured us out."

Sana slowly turned around. "So...?"

"So?"

"You..."

"Are you planning on finishing the question today?"

Sana wanted to hit him with a brick.

"Don't you understand what I'm trying to ask?"

Shrest shrugged. "You need to spell it out."

Sana fiddled with her fingers, her heart racing. "You.."

Shrest sighed, whirling the water in his glass. "I guess, I'll be sitting here all day."

"Nevermind. I'll go back in. I've got work." Sana felt her embarrassment spread across her cheeks and looked away. She hastened inside her room.

"You've got work on a Sunday?" His amused voice rang out with the promise of laughter to follow. 

She shut the door.

Since when was she attracted to her opponent? Wasn't the rule to ignore her opponent?

₊‧꒰ა❤︎໒꒱ ‧₊

wordcount: 1152 words