Fish Pond short story snippet

Contrast,

Blazing South Asian Sun –

Pale, freckled skin

She should not be out at this hour of the day.

Her feet dangling into the cool, clear water of the fish pond.

Luscious deep green lilies enthroning lilac blooms

Koi nibbling her toes …

The reflection of brilliant blue sky in the water.

When I think of India, I never think about the sky-

I always think about the soil, the people populating the streets and lands, the hustle and bargaining bustle, the richness, the vibrant diversity, the layers upon layers of past and present and pending future.

I don’t think of freedom.

For freedom demands space.

Her father was an accountant for the British army, that’s how she finds herself, pale skin, freckled face, red hair, here in India. Today she has wandered out of the compound, found this beautiful, sacred garden… Gate slightly ajar-

 she slipped in-

moments later her feet drawn to the cool water…

Unfastened dusty sandals, bare feet …. Soothing, lapping of cool.

She was always a loner, didn’t care for the foolish games of childhood, preferred to slip off on her own, quietly unnoticed… like today.

Suddenly; silently, a gentle voice is heard beside her, “hello child, may I sit beside you?”

A weather worn face, molten brown eyes, a tangerine turban, and perfect English. Who is she to judge, “perfect English”. The English form opinions quickly about the imperfections of others speaking their language forgetting how imperfect their own if any attempts to learn another language are and forgetting how borrowed and bastard their own language is.

Fascinated, startled, she does not answer but stares.

 He slowly sits down,

 bare feet, now too dangling in the cool water…

 The carp move over to his toes.

Silence is golden … creating a space that brings togetherness … a togetherness that begins to build a bond across the divides of time and class and race and religion.

His weathered worn exterior exuding peace, the pale, delicate red-haired girl, noticing the reflection of the sky in the water … the beginning of finding freedom.