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Writer's pictureParinitha MN

I Don't have Time!

Updated: Nov 4, 2018


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She looked at me in awe and almost quietly mouthed the word "Wow".

Then she said out loud, "What's hiding in those folds?"

"Chaos" I said.


As I smiled and walked a little ahead, I looked up at the gloomy sky with the sunlight flickering in between. I heard her tiny footsteps catch up "Wait I'm not done yet"

"Ask away" I smile.

"I know you find peace in the Grey's. How?"

"Look up at the sky" I point.

"The suns playfully hiding and the sky is a wonderful myriad of reds and yellows. There's always a lot hiding behind the Grey. You just need to take the time and look "


"Now I get it", she quips. "Red is your favorite color."

I smile gently. "Why do you think so?"

"You're in the present and always aware of whats going on around you. You have a never dying spirit that's contagious. You are an eternal optimist."


I smile wider. "I'm getting tired now! I don't know how much longer I can hold on."

"Did you just show me your pessimistic side? I didn't think you even had one."

At this point I couldn't help but laugh.

"Maybe I do. Maybe I don't."


We walk ahead together. "Everything is changing so rapidly. People aren't as patient anymore. They have no time for the things I've got to say or show. I don't fit in."

"I do. I have the time. I'm here."


We continue walking and I decide to sit down on the mouldy stairs for a breather. She sits beside me and continues, "I said I'm here. Why is that not important?"

I sigh.

"If I know about you, I can tell your story. And I can assure you there will be listeners."


I look at her calmly and don't respond. But she excitedly continues, "Your story needs to be told. People need to know who you are. There's no need to hide. Look at the future for a bit. The possibilities are endless. You cant give up. We can connect the dots. It gives us hope, reason and a way forward."


We walk a little ahead and now decide to sit on the rocks and I stare into the horizon. She, as chirpy as ever, mind buzzing, words flowing says "Ok lets make a plan. Actually I will. You don't think about anything."

"Kid. There's a lot of layers to this that you don't understand. My time is coming to an end. Look, the suns setting and there's almost nothing we can do."


"No way" she shrieks. "There's no way you're giving up, because I'm not giving up."

I don't say a word.

She senses my indifference.

"I wont let you live in the grey. I'm going to bring you into the light. Or even better, I'll bring the light to you."


"I'm not hiding. I never have. I've been around for more than 400 years. I've seen everything. The work, the artists, the rise, the glory, the adaptations, the acceptance, and the whole downward spiral. I'm not complaining. It has been a glorious existence but I know I'm not going to hold on much longer. Everyone's running too fast into the future. No ones looking for me."


"I don't know and I'm not speaking for everyone either but I found you. Your story inspired me to tell the world about it. Likewise, someone else will find you. I'd like to think we are a better generation than we get credit for. We always come back to something, we speak our minds, our truths without fear. We are and will be agents of change. This I can assure you!"


Of course I was awestruck by her simple yet unnerving belief in this outlandish dream but she gives me hope. As the sun continued to descend we sat there quietly with almost the same thought in our minds.

Well, the possibilities are endless.

We look at each other and smile.

We knew!



----Excerpts from a conversation between an age old Art form and a young girl.




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