Sand

His gaze stretched across the golden sandy beach. "Solace, Peace",
were the words drifting in his mind. Was he a coward to have run away
from his busy life or was he trying to sort out the turmoil that was
troubling him for the last few days. These thoughts repeatedly worked
in his mind, and he wanted to overcome this.

Now as he sat on the vast stretch of sand, he was alone.

***

Manas worked for an Ad agency. He was an artist - draw, paint, create
wonderful sketches, a juggler of colours ? creativity was his strength.
Hardworking by nature, he helped his senior to give the best. Most of
the time it had been his handiwork but the laurels had never touched
his shores.

"How many years can I give away without a word of praise attached to my
name", a few words he often murmured to himself.

He had left behind his job, which in no way gave him satisfaction
because of a senior who was a Bully. Manas knew he could never climb
the rungs of the ladder of success when there was someone standing
above giving him no room to move ahead - instead Mr. Bully basked and
bathed on his hard work. Without giving a thought to his future Manas
had resigned after a heated discussion with his senior.

The other day ?

His senior had spelt out nasty words, "you are a good-for-nothing, you
have no sense of creativity, this project has to be completed by
tomorrow".

"Sir, I think this has to be worked out with joint efforts. You (too)
can use your brains", said Manas in an irritated tone. This was the
first time in his eighteen months job he spoke in a harsh tone to his
senior.

"What are you paid for?" said the haughty angry voice.

"To assist you" was all that Manas could tell the hot-headed
senior.

"What do you get paid for? To boss about! (Pounding this expression
with raised eyebrows). You are my junior and I would like you to stay
THERE". He shrugged his shoulders, gave his command, "I want it
completed by tomorrow morning" and walked out of the room with hasty
strides.

Rage battled in Manas's mind. Instantly he typed out his resignation
and forwarded it. Manas could very well imagine the fate of his bossy
senior at this juncture. He thought, "sitting in a Lost World without
my help, this ridiculous bossy senior will have to go out of the front
door after being told by his Boss, 'You are fired'". Thinking of these
three words, the lips had broadened into a smile, and peace taking over
the tumult of his mind.

The very next day, after collecting the money from his office, Manas
took the next train to this beautiful sea-side town to drown himself in
the cool moist salty air that blew across this place.

***

Manas had always enjoyed the smell of the salty air and the sand of the
beach. As a little boy Manas loved to play with the sand and dump his
body weight on the sandy floor of the teeming beach. He had come with
his father, mother and elder sister to this seaside destination during
his school days. Come summer holidays, they would pack their bags to be
near the sea for at least a week. How he loved those days - long hours
at the sea-side, his gaze would catch the waves at work, beating forth
and back - non-stop workers. "How can the breakers work day in and day
out, not tiring themselves, yet give pleasure to the great multitude
who loves to see them at work" was all that he thought of the tireless
waves.

Once again he was back, to the place he liked. Though he had taken a
room on rent, he felt he was more of a vagabond now. So Manas spent
most of his time at the edges of the water, staring blankly at the
horizon. He watched the sun come out of its sleeping bag in the eastern
sky, the crimson stretch overlapping the blue and the vast stretch of
water getting a reddish tinge, as the burning ball emerged to lighten
up the earth after having rested for long hours. The stretch of sand
with its yellow touch glistened like gold as the sun moved up in the
sky. People swarmed the beach - to bathe, to drink the moist air, to
lie down and enjoy the ambiance around, to walk along the shore and
collect shells - and much more that captured the eyes of this man ? and
Manas, trying to come out of the confusion working in his mind.

Manas saw the days of the week move along and he felt time was playing
hide and seek with him. His confused mind poured restlessness in his
behaviour making him move crazily on the sandy shore for hours. He
walked along the crowded beach, stopped at the food stall on the beach
to nibble. Life was so different from what he had been leading. ''You
are good-for-nothing, you have no sense of creativity" the domineering
words kept stinging in his ears. He knew he had talent that was being
misused. At this juncture he missed the company of Radhika.

***

Manas had fallen in love with this pretty girl, Radhika, in his college
days and till date he was going steady with her. He had always felt
that Radhika was more strong willed than him. She would never crush
under pressure, always stirred his spirit when he felt lost. She
appreciated his talent and had said, "Manas, one day your work of art
will get recognition". Taking his hand in hers, she would squeeze his
palms and make him feel comfortable. Manas knew he lacked self
confidence, he knew he had to build it to survive in this world.

Radhika looked pretty in the tall structure, short hair that covered
her ears, always dressed graciously and carried herself with an air of
dignity. When her lips parted into a smile it was worth a million. She
could have very well been in the fray of a beauty contest but that was
not her cup of tea. She loved Manas and longed for the day when their
nuptial knots would be tied. She cared for Manas and longed to be his
life partner.

***

Manas spent hours on the beach, watching the waves run up and down,
again and again. Fifteen days - the hours he did not calculate, the
minutes would be more in number and the seconds would simply remind him
of the tick tock of the time machine. He could just imagine time as -
the slipping sand of an hour-glass. Sitting on the immeasurable stretch
of sand he tried to silhouette and incarcerate time but time was
'running like a lone wild wanderer'. He felt restless and his
creativity bounced and bumped in his mind as it did not like to remain
dormant in a shell.

"I should have told Radhika about my resignation. At least I should
have given her a phone call, I know she'll be worrying. Radhika, I love
you, I miss you," were seducing thoughts that blew across his mind as
he lay on his bed. He wanted the feel of her touch ? so soothing, so
comforting. He lay flat on his bed and looked at the fan whining away
overhead. His blank stare at the ceiling spoke of his discomfiture. The
moonbeams washed the floor and as he looked out of the open window the
stars blinked at him. The wind flirted with the clouds. Engrossed in
the serene, soft look of the silvery moon he got drowned in the ocean
of sleep.

Sunlight was there to welcome him when he opened his eyes. With no
routine to follow, Manas worked his day lazily. "My clothes need a wash
and the growth on my face needs a good shave. If I don't crop off the
growth within a short time it will grow like a wild bush". He ran his
palms over the bushy growth on his cheeks.

He rushed for a bath and a shave, his clothes sent for laundering and
with the feeling of freshness he settled in the quiet corner of the
restaurant for his breakfast. He looked handsome and high spirited.
Soon he was at the seaside. He saw the fishermen struggling to get
their boats out into the sea. Difficult task, for it took a few
attempts before the boat was sailing beyond the tossing waves. The sun
in the eastern sky injected new-fangled energy and vigour in Manas who
had felt so desolate all these days. Manas saw a group of children
building pyramids with sand. A child set his foot on the sand bed and
the others helped to heap up sand to cover the foot. The heaped sand
finished up like a pyramid standing twelve to fifteen inches above the
floor. Once the pyramid stood safely, the small foot came out from
under the weight of the sandy structure, leaving an opening to the
grand structure these tiny hands had built. They laughed and shouted
and soon demolished the arrangement they had built a few minutes
ago.

Manas found a place away from the crowd and started to work with the
sand. His hand worked nimbly with the sand and his imaginations flew,
his fingers cut and shaped the figurine he imagined. After giving it
the final touch Manas looked up to see a huge crowd that had gathered,
peering at his artistic work and in their eyes he read "Appreciation".
He was astonished to see the result of his sand art. People came and
went, sang a few words in praise and strolled away. Some of them
showered a few coins in appreciation. Carefully Manas collected the
coins and put them in his pocket. Manas spent his day near the sea and
there was a sense of satisfaction in him and on his way back to his
room he gave away his small earning of the day to the street
urchins.

He had a good nights sleep. The next morning he sprang up from his bed
bubbling with energy. He worked on his sand art. He carved out another
figurine that he had seen on the temple walls. No hammer, no chisel, no
beating into hard surface to get the shape and finish. The palm and the
fingers did it all. People drowned him in their words of admiration.
Suddenly life brought about a change in his mental condition,
everything seemed so meaningful. By the next morning his shapely figure
lost its shape and form and he was there again creating another fine
piece of art.

It was the sixth day of his 'sand art' as he named it. A gentleman
walked up to him and said. "Excuse me", Manas looked up at the sound of
the heavy tone.

"Yes", said Manas and carried on with his work.

"I have been watching you for the last five days. Everyday you work out
a new figure. Your work has the evidence of maturity. You are very
talented. Would you like to work for me?"

Hearing the question Manas looked up straight into the eyes of the
gentleman. He was middle aged, wearing expensive clothes and his
approach was gentle. Manas could not believe his ears and said, "Sir, I
hope you are not joking".

"Will you accept my offer? I run an Ad agency. Your creative work has
fascinated me." So saying he handed over his visiting card to Manas and
added, "I am leaving for Calcutta by the night train. You can meet me
at my office any day and join my firm anytime. I hope you will not
disappoint me". He shook hands with Manas and walked away leaving Manas
to let his gaze trail him till he was out of sight.

In his excitement Manas had stopped working and soon realised people
had gathered to see his sand art. He worked cautiously and gave it the
finishing touch. People came, saw and went - in groups, pairs and even
in single numbers. The day flew past. The sun sailed and suddenly dived
in the western horizon bringing dusk to take over. The moon walked out
gracefully clad in silver - serene and calm - wading across the star
lit sky, sometimes hiding behind the patchy clouds and stepping out
again to beam at the living world preparing to go to their nest after a
day's hard toil. Manas took a handful of sand, looked at it, covered it
with his fingers and let it flow down from the gap of his close
fist.

At night Manas was there, at the railway station, waiting for his
train.