On Silver Wings

Sunny maneuvered through the tall grass towards the back of the barn where the wild crimson hibiscus flowers blazed brightly in the mid-morning sun.

Within minutes he would see him dipping down from the blue or shape himself through the ether.

This time the wait was longer.

He raised his head and scoured the skies and the branches of trees.

Nothing.

He crouched forward with feline stealth.

All at once, there he was - slicing in from the skies, gliding effortlessly with the sunlight glancing off his wingtips. The talons gripped the mid-branch of the banyan tree with ease as the brown-striped wings folded back into the body.

The white face was still. The gold-yellow eyes - unblinking.

Nana, my Nana you came!

Always my Sunny boy…

From where? To where do you go?

I will come tonight to the balcony. Are you ready?

Always…

Afraid?

Never!

Sunny watched as Nana levitated briefly from the branch and vanished into the woods.

A brown rabbit erupted from the bush breaching the silence and raced with pounding heart into the field beyond. Sunny almost fell back.

Stupid bunny - Nana is not of this world!

A group of crows cawed in warning.

Aww go away….

Sunny sprinted back with joy, skipping back to Grandma’s house.

He almost bumped into his fourteen-year-old sister, Rupa. She glowered at him. It had become her hallmark expression.

“Where have you been?” She pushed him and stood arms on hips, waiting for a response.

“Why do you have to always shove me?” he retorted.

She pushed him again harder. “Where?”

“Why should I tell you, Creepo?”

“The back of the barn?? Again?”

Sunny stared at her in defiance and rage.

“There are snakes there! Didn’t Grandma warn you, stupid?”

She pinned him to the wall of the house and raised her hand at him. He cowered and squirmed away to avoid that sharp slap she could aim at any moment at his head or face or ears. Depending on her mood.

“Bullying him again?” admonished Grandma from the porch.

Rupa let go and turned around.

“He was behind that barn again, Nani! Mom emailed me from Mauritius this morning to keep an eye on him! It looks like I have to do it at all times!”

Grandma looked at Sunny, her disappointment writ large on her face.

“Come here, Sunny. Let’s talk.”

“Don’t go soft on him, Nani. He’s stubborn as hell.”

Sunny looked up at Rupa the tears welling up. She gazed back at him softening and then pulled him towards her chest, kissing her brother on the top of his head.

“I love you, Sunny. I don’t want you to get hurt - or stung by any snake. Understand? Mom and dad told me to look after you. For just two more weeks, can you obey the rules?”

He nodded as she wiped his eyes with her palms.

Grandma waited till Sunny sauntered towards her, feeling guilty and ashamed. He followed her inside. She made her way up to the attic.

“Why are we going there, Nani?”

Grandma walked wordlessly towards an old metal box and unlatched it.

The dim yellow bulb from the ceiling cast a pale gold light. Everything was half-lit, the rest in grey shadow. The dust made Grandma sneeze twice.

“Sit,” she said pointing to a low stool. Sunny squatted gazing at the dusty space that he rarely visited.

She pulled out a paper folder, laid it on top of the box and sank into a low couch that creaked under her. He watched intrigued as she eased out sheaves of papers.

She took one out from the folder and then another page from the deep pocket of her apron.

“Is this what you drew this morning?”

She looked at him. His answer seemed vital for her as she scanned his face.

He looked at the sketch of the owl he had worked on after breakfast. He was a good artist for an eight-year-old and a spate of drawing pads, sketch pens, pencils, acrylic paints had been a part of his growing years.

Grandma collected all his drawings when he was at her house and marvelled at the details. He relished all that she had said about his work.

“You will be a great artist. As talented as Nana,” she had told him when he was five.

He had lit up like the sun that day.

“Yes that is what I did this morning, Nani,” said Sunny taking the paper from her. I was thinking of painting it tomorrow.

He looked up startled as she rustled a folded paper towards him. He took it slowly and opened it up. His eyes widened in shock and astonishment when he saw the exact same sketch of the owl. The page was a bit crinkled and aged.

He stared from one sketch to the other, stupefied.

He finally looked up at Grandma and locked eyes with her. He did not have to ask the question. She nodded her head at him.

“Your Nana’s sketch…more than sixty years ago,” she breathed.

“How…,” he began. “He did the same owl!”

She held his hands and looked straight into his eyes.

“Do you see this owl…is that why you go to that barn?”

Sunny was silent and flicked his eyes away. She sat for a long time still holding his hands in deep thought.

“Nana saw that same owl behind the barn…,” she whispered.

She knows, Sunny thought. He gazed at her.

“Did the owl speak to him?” he asked hesitatingly.

“That’s what he said….it also came to the hospital window when he was sick.”

“It did?” asked Sunny stunned.

“He kept asking me do you see it? So beautiful. He has shown me so many wonderful lands….”

“Did you see the owl, Nani?”

“No. But I knew he was looking at it - right in his room till he passed away. He was smiling all the time. So peaceful….”

“I miss Nana so much.” The tears flowed freely from Sunny’s eyes.

Grandma patted his hands. “He loved you very much. He kept all your drawings since you were three - in that box. He carried you around when you were a baby and nicknamed you Sunny…saying you looked so bright and full of light!”

They stayed for a while in silence.

“You will not say this to anyone, right?" asked Grandma. "Not to your mom and papa … not to Rupa or any of your friends.”

Sunny nodded. He was used to keeping secrets. Nana and he had shared quite a few.

“Can I look at his folder, Nani?”

She passed it to him.

“Go to the back room and open it there. Make sure the door is latched. I will tell Rupa I sent you there as a punishment.”

Sunny nodded.

“You didn’t answer my question…” said Grandma.

She searched his eyes. “Does it talk to you?”

He looked back at her steadily, not responding.

“You are so like Nana,” she whispered. “Your face, eyes, your sketches - and boy, you can be stubbornly secretive - just like him! I don’t want you to be going behind that barn, understand? No more. Yes, there are snakes there and their bites can cause a lot of harm.”

Sunny stood motionless.

Grandma shook him. “Do you understand? Answer me - Now!”

Her tone startled him. He quickly gave a single nod of his head.

“Now go," she breathed.

Sunny grabbed the folder under his arm and ran down the attic steps to the back room. He latched the door securely.

Rupa saw him racing there as she texted on her cellphone. He hardly glanced at her. Well as long as he is in the house and stays, she said to herself.

Grandma came down ten minutes later and saw Rupa sprawled on the couch giggling at her text messages. She looked up and asked, “What’s with him?”

“Punishment. I told him to stay there and read some books there till dinner time.”

Rupa nodded and gave her a smile and a thumbs up.

Sunny opened the folder carefully and with reverence. He had never seen the sketches and paintings that Grandpa had done in his youth. There were squirrels, rabbits, crows, cows, a few snakes, pigeons and yes a dozen owls. Their yellow eyes looked straight from the page and sank into his.

He picked up his owl sketch and juxtaposed it with Nana’s. Uncanny - they looked exactly the same. On that same branch of the tree. Both their eyes held that moonlit secret.

Another folder was full of paintings of landscapes, meadows, a host of hibiscus flowers, a colony of gigantic flowers - familiar and yet strange. They glowed, pulsed, breathed and emitted smoky auras and hues. They scented the air, sang in the wind, soaked and reflected a kind of light he had never seen before!

The more he gazed at these, he melted into their hypnotic colours. They called out to him softly with music that stemmed from their deep souls. In each, he sensed those moon-dipped orbs that floated sweetly far into his soul.

Nana, how I wish you were here to tell me the stories of these paintings, of these lands…

He gathered the sketches and paintings, placed them neatly in the folders and shoved them underneath the couch. Sinking into the pillows, he sank into a deep slumber.

The frantic pounding on the door startled him. He shot up from the couch, disoriented.

“Sunnyyyy! Dinner time. Open up!” Rupa rattled the door. “What’s wrong with you!”

He scrambled up and unlatched the door. Rupa almost fell inside.

“Idiot!” She glared at him.

“Mom and Papa wanted to FaceTime with you. I didn’t tell them you were doing timeout … nor did I tell her about this morning.”

She folded her arms, waiting. He looked up at her, still groggy.

“And what do you say to a very understanding sister who has your back?”

“Thank you,” he mumbled.

Grandma was quieter than usual at dinner time. Rupa nudged Sunny and whispered,

“What’s with Nani?”

Sunny shrugged.

Grandma responded, “Just tired dear. We are all going to bed early tonight. Shambu is going to take us on that boat ride he promised in the morning. So go brush your teeth and I will join you.”

“Yay!” screeched Rupa. She loved the water and a boat ride would cut the boredom of spending lazy days indoors.

Rupa and Sunny tore upstairs, racing each other to brush their teeth, change and sprawl on the kingsize bed that all three slept on.

Grandma joined them an hour later.

“Missy put that cellphone away! Where is Sunny?”

“He wanted me to sleep in the middle, Nani. Says he wants to see the fireflies and the moonlight - geez!”

Sunny uncovered the blanket from his face. “I’m here, Nani,” he laughed. Grandma blew a flying kiss at him and pecked Rupa on the cheek.

“Okay lights out and nobody sleeps in late!”

Grandma started to snore soon enough. Sunny peered at Rupa who surprisingly had fallen asleep too. Oh yes, the boat ride was foremost on her mind.

He turned towards the balcony. The fireflies twinkled in the woods. Nani used to tell him they were stars that had spilled from heaven. As a child he believed each and every story they told him, even if Rupa refuted them.

The moon swam from behind the clouds. At the same time, silent wings dropped on the balcony railing and watched him with incandescent eyes.

Nana….

Ready?

Sunny looked back at Grandma and Rupa.

They won’t know…come.

Before he could ask how and where Sunny felt his body melting and melding into the owl. Now he was in flight gliding on the silvery beams of the moonlight…through the gold-blue vapour.

He swirled and moved with ease and silken smoothness through feathery trees and starry nights.

The golden-hued mist opened up to radiant gardens, brilliant meadows, the bluest rivers, and multi-coloured blooms that cascaded down the hills.

He could be anywhere he wanted and everywhere at the same time.

He sank into the blue pearlescent waters and walked on the bronze-gold spongy floor of the river.

He flashed up and flew with rainbow birds and felt the stars flow through his fingers. He was part of the gossamer-shimmer of the galaxies and tumbled over the moon laughing.

The joy, the sheer ecstasy of becoming and being whatever, wherever, whenever. Free. Luminous. Forever.

He was in and of the flowers, the stars, the silken seas. Now he glided on shining wings and settled on clouds - watching, feeling, soaking in.

____________________________________________________

“Nani!” screamed Rupa.

Grandma shot up startled. “What?? What!”

“Sunny is not waking up. I have been shaking him! And rolling him. Is he dead?”

“Shut up!” Grandma said sharply.

She ran to Sunny and touched his cheeks.

“Wake up, Sunny.”

Rupa could see the alarm on Grandma's face. She too had felt that his limbs were cold.

Nana…no I want to be here with you. No, don’t take me back!

He streaked through the vapours and diaphanous veils and melted back into his body. The density felt heavy as rocks.

Sunny gasped for air and coughed.

Grandma and Rupa held him up, rubbing his back and then cuddling him, crying into his hair.

“What are you two doing?” he asked trying to get mouthfuls of air.

“You scared us!” screeched Rupa. “We thought you were….”

Grandma shot her a sharp look that clamped Rupa’s mouth shut.

“Come on, go get showered and get ready for the boat ride,” ordered Grandma. She watched Sunny closely as he scrambled throwing the sheets back.

They ran to the bathroom, eager to seize the day.

____________________________________________________

“Time passes by in a flash, doesn’t it, Sunny?”

He nodded at Rupa, now pregnant with her third child.

“Yep, you have crossed into your thirties, old woman….”

Rupa shut his mouth with her palm. “Enough…three more years you will hit thirty too!”

She looked around at the art exhibition. Mom and Papa are so proud of you. They are showing the Vision Magazine cover feature of you and your art to each and everybody.”

“Where is Nani?” Sunny asked.

Rupa pointed out to a chair where Grandma sat gazing into nowhere. She looked so lost and tiny now.

Sunny walked and sat down next to her holding her in his arms. She smiled up at him weakly asking him a question. He could barely hear her.

He bent down to listen.

“These are beautiful landscapes…so much light and peace,” she murmured softly.

“Nana inspired me,” Sunny whispered in her ear, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“And the owl…” she asked hoarsely.

He looked at her startled surprised she even remembered.

“ You told me there is an owl hidden in each painting of yours…our secret.”

He held her hand tight. “Our secret, Nani.”

“I see the owl, Daddy!”

The voice came from the far end of the gallery - crystal clear and pure.

Sunny spun around to see Rupa’s five-year-old son, Shiva, lean towards the painting.

“See right there…he was hiding in the grass and flew on that branch and then flew into the sky….”

Rupa’s husband Prakash laughed. “And where is the owl in this one?”

Prakash had carried him to the one where the moonlight had shed its silver rays on a field where the rabbits slumbered and mice skittered.

“He flew into the moon…you see it, daddy?”

Sunny looked at Grandma, stunned.

“The secret passes on, child…” she whispered gently.