The joy after the storm

By Surat Sahni

Sanjay: “Darsh is yellow, I think. He’s bright and cheery. Like fairy lights and tinkling bells, you could say. I like him.”

Om: “And Advik, how is he?”

Sanjay: “He’s grey. A storm cloud. He’s thunder. I’m scared of him. But Nihal always calms him down. Nihal is blue. He’s calm and stoic. Like the clear skies after a storm. They are best friends.”

Om: “I see.”

Sanjay: “I like Tuhin. He sounds musical. A sort of pale yellow. I think he has long hair.”

Om: “That he does.”

Sanjay: “I can hear your smile.”

Om: “What can I say, I am an open audiobook.”

Sanjay: “That you are. Yash is like a rap. A dark blue rap. He speaks really fast. Only Adarsh can understand him. Adarsh is red. He has a fierce temper. He’s a discordant piano press. In a minor key, though. But he’s usually calm when Adya is around. Adya is his twin. She’s pink. Sophisticated and prim. She’s like ‘my favourite things’. Her best friend is Sachika.”

Om: “And what’s her colour?”

Sanjay: “Hers is brown, I suppose. I don’t like her. She’s loud and she always pokes and shoves me. Once she told me that we had reached the ground floor, so I stepped forward and fell. We were on the first-floor stairs.”

Om: “Were you hurt?”

Sanjay: “Yes, but the school nurse fixed me up. She’s white. Calm and nice. Always unflustered. She has a sharp tongue though. I like her. The schoolmaid is unpleasant, though. She’s like vinegar, essential but quite sour. I asked her to guide me to the school ground once. She just gave me over to Sachika even though she knew about the staircase incident.”

Om: “That’s mean of her.”

Sanjay: “Yeah. She got fired last year, though.”

Om: “I see.”

Sanjay: “Yeah.”

Om: “Who is your best friend?”

Sanjay: “I don’t have one.”

Om: “Your words inflict great pain on me. My heart is bleeding.”

Sanjay: “I thought you meant in school.”

Om: “I mean all over.”

Sanjay: “Hmm, let me think.”

Om: “I’m waiting.”

Sanjay: “I think it’s Grandpa. He’s my best friend.”

Om: “Oh, am I? I am honoured, young man. Indeed I am. Say, which colour am I?”Sanjay: “You’re a rainbow. The joy after the storm ends and when the skies are sunny and clear.”