A Short Togetherness of Science and Art

on November 18, 2008

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Kartikey Sehgal

A scientist studies some fishes in the Amazon River. After noting their weight, size and food preference, she adjusts her oxygen mask and prepares herself for a few hours of observation. Outside the river, her team sits under a tree. Some reptiles and insects watch the men intently; watch them scratch their head and make some unidentifiable expressions.  At once, the animal kingdom is superior to the men. They exhibit the qualities of patience and observation and are equals to the scientist under water.

The man in white shorts and cotton shirt scratches his neck in boredom. He wishes to have a large fortune so that he can spend his time in the casinos of Las Vegas and expensive hotel rooms. Dr. Amilda Szekely never wanted an expensive and wasteful lifestyle. She was born in a financially comfortable family and never wanted to spend her life collecting money. The man outside, in white shorts, is always inventing ideas to attain money and women. He has failed in his ambition thus far.

Dr. Szekely is waiting for the yellow-gold fishes to come to the spot she is observing. These fishes like to eat together near the shore of the river. The doctor shuts her eyes and starts musing over the art of writing short sentences.

The leaf flutters in the breeze and then stops fluttering. If it fluttered for a long time, then the observer would become disinterested. It is the shortness of its movements that makes the artist watch it carefully. Sentences should be short and sometimes they must be repeated. She remembered a dead writer who is not very popular these days. He wrote simple lines and repeated the imagery in his stories. He was famous when he was alive. Few people read him now. They like action and suspense in every third sentence they read. They want the leaf to flutter for a short time and then break away from the stem and disappear.

The fishes appear. Dr. Szekely smiles.

The fishes stare at the human form and then run away. They appear some time later and start eating. The doctor knows that they are studying her movements. They feel safe around her. Her scientific observations are now artistic.

The fishes eat for some time and then run away; they appear after a few minutes. They are testing the doctor. One fish swims towards the doctor and feels her surface. The other fishes join in this sudden expedition. They retreat and gather again much closer to the doctor. They accept the new body. The doctor wonders if they now want her to eat with them.

After lunch, the doctor steps out of the water. She is satisfied and smiles at the men joyfully. They smile back for carnal reasons. She dries her body with a towel.

Dr. Szekely knows that her job is the same as that of the writer.

The writer sits amongst the Amazon trees and watches the bird flap its wing. He is writing a mythic story about a kingdom. The imaginary king has habits and desires. His queen has an affair with a sentry. She steps out of the room to notice any movement. Then she runs inside the room. She appears some time later to confirm anybody’s presence. She retreats. Then she latches the door.

 

 

Drawing: Kartikey Sehgal

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