Sketches from a Moving Canvas

The air in the train was thick with the mingled scents of instant coffee, Samosas, and the noisy rumble of conversation accompanied by occasional touches of laughter.

- Ankur R. Gupta

I was scanning each face as a writer with an insatiable hunger for stories for my next novel.

As the train rumbled to life, I squeezed into my seat comfortably, and my curious eyes wandered around my compartment. A group of college students huddled together, their faces alight with excited chatter, sat across the aisle. They were in deep conversation and often burst into laughter. As they saw me looking at them, their loud laughs mellowed into frequent giggles.

Looking at them reminded me of my time as a Youth when friends meant the whole world. Seizing the opportunity, I initiated a conversation, seeking to bridge the gap between our generations. Soon, we were all engaged in a lively exchange.

"So, tell me, what is your happy space?" I inquired, the writer in me ever-present. They exchanged puzzled glances. One, with fiery red nails and a mischievous glint in her eyes, says, "Hanging out with my friends like this! Sharing crazy stories doing crazy stuff, knowing they'll have my back no matter what."

The boy beside her, hair tousled and sporting a chipped tooth, chimed in, "Cricket! Winning a match... nothing beats it!" He grinned.

My heart warmed at their unadulterated joy. But happiness wasn't the only story I wanted to hear. "And what worries you the most?" I asked gently, " I mean the things that keep you up at night?"

A momentary silence descended upon the group. The girl with the red nails speaks again, her voice softer now, "The future? Entrance exams and finding a dream job...... feel like never-ending challenges. There's so much pressure to succeed at each step and so much to figure it all out."