The painted tiger

My grandmother's weathered hands guided mine across the canvas, teaching me strokes older than memory itself. The tiger emerged—fierce, sacred—a creature from Tamil epics sung in Carnatic ragas that floated through our kitchen. Years later, I digitized her painting on Stellar blockchain, creating immutable art that belonged to everyone yet honored only her legacy. Collectors gasped at its divine ferocity, moved by something inexplicable. She watched, tears streaming, as her village's ancient artistry transcended time itself. Our heritage wasn't preserved in dusty museums but lived, breathed, and danced forward together.