About the artwork

Bride, acrylic on deep edge box canvas ready to hang. STORY TIME: That beautiful feeling. She sees things differently for that she has no sight. Her garden is her paradise, where she comes to see her beautiful roses with her minds eyes. The smell takes her to another time in life when she had sight, she was a little girl again and her mother gave her a pink rose from the garden. She will never forget the feeling of those petals and the fragrance of rose. Life is a hard mistress at times deals you some bad luck along the way. It was an illness that took Ahmya’s sight when she was just five years old. Just like the meaning of her name ‘black rain’ darkness became Ahmya’s future but she didn’t let her blindness lead the way, after a short period of sadness, she bounced back to her happy, joyful child that appreciated beauty. Of course, Ahmya had to now see beauty in a different way and her mind became a beautiful place where she lived. Ahmya’s life was fulfilled with learning to live without sight. Her mother and father showered her with love that she never missed not having siblings until the day came when her mother was taken away in a tragic plane crash. Her father couldn’t get over such loss he turned to drinks. Ahmaya focused on her mother’s beloved garden of roses. It was her mission to keep the garden beautiful as her mother had done. In some ways she felt that kept her mother’s memory alive. Today the garden was quieter, the birds chirping from the bamboo trees seemed to have stopped, perhaps it was due to the midday sun that felt warm and inviting to Ahmaya. She didn’t mind the quietness either for a change, the aroma from the roses filled the garden and Ahmaya’s mind with joy as she reached out and carefully felt the petals. Today would be the her last day coming to this garden. The Bride. Today is Ahmaya’s wedding day. It meant it was her last day at her parents house and this beautiful garden that she maintained and knew her way around even without sight. Today she has come to say good bye to her roses that she will now pass on the responsibility to the new gardener her father had found. The rose in her hand felt velvety and smooth to the touch, a small thorn pricked her finger ever so lightly as it was scolding her for leaving them. Ahmaya stroked the flower gently to assure it that she will be back, she also faced the challenges of a change after twenty one years of living in the same house and people, she now needs to move to her husband’s house and get used to living with her new family. She hoped that they were as good and understanding as of her own family. It was an arranged marriage, Ahmaya only met the groom twice before this wedding day but she trusted her father and his new wife and knew that they will do right by her. The rose felt soft between her fingers as she said her farewell silently. THE END