Odhni is a contemporary abstract painting by Ritu Raj — four feet of one red laid over a 2021 canvas, with a dark upright standing through it. Oil on canvas, 2026.

The pause after motion — ridges cut for another painting, now running across water instead of down it.

Shiva's blue throat — the colour that comes from holding something and not letting it go.

Green, then yellow, then three blues, then red. For three days it would not balance. This morning I laid red across the whole canvas, put down too much, and spent the afternoon bringing it back with blue — scraping the whole time, so the red comes up through.