First earning 🖌️

2:45 am

I remember today... there was a painting exhibition in my college, and in my department, there was only one girl who painted, and she was really good. But the department head probably said that at least two people should be involved; otherwise, the exhibition wouldn't happen. and because of that, my classmate asked me if I would paint for the exhibition. She said she would arrange the art supplies; I just had to give her the money and make 10 paintings, but I only had one or two days. I carelessly said yes without thinking about what I would make or how I would do it, and how I would finish it so quickly. Anyway, the exhibition day arrived... I swear, no one was even looking at my paintings... and my friend's paintings started selling. Obviously, her painting was very perfect. Out of her 10, 3 were bought, and all 10 of mine were just left there,  2 of which were sad art.  I wondered who would even buy such a silly sad painting, but no one was buying the remaining 8 paintings either. I was thinking that if I hadn’t stopped doing art, maybe my paintings would have had some perfection... Anyway, I felt sad and went to sit at the back bench because I was too embarrassed to sit in the front chair, and I started scrolling on my phone. Meanwhile, I heard someone asking, "Who made this painting?" My classmate pointed towards me and said, "It's her, sitting on the back bench," and then she called me to come to the front.

I came a little nervously and was asked how much the painting costs. My friend who was beside me turned and said 450 rupees. By then, the girl who was buying the painting took out the money and handed it to me, saying, "This is very nice and creative art." You can't imagine the relief I felt. Before I knew it, 5 of my paintings were sold, and I couldn't believe it. Even today, I can't. But they say art is very subjective. Who knows when someone will like something? I sold 2 small paintings, 2 big paintings, and 1 mid sized painting. And do you know what happened to the other 5 paintings? A very close friend of mine casually told me to give him the paintings that didn't sell, so I gave him 3 because the other 2 were sad art... Anyway, this was my first earning. Obviously, I gave the money I made to buy art supplies to my classmate, and before we could settle the remaining money, Corona came, and my classmate and I never met again.And  the painting my friend took suddenly showed up in a video call a year later, beautifully displayed in his room... In my first earnings, I might not have received cash, but the way my stature increased in my eyes, I cannot express that. This is one of my best memories from college. Unfortunately, I never painted on canvas again.

पर मैं किसी दिन फिर से ब्रश लेकर उठूँगी। अपने कैनवास पर रंग भरते हुए, जो शायद मेरी ज़िंदगी में भी रंगों की बहार ला देगा। 🎨

S.S.