Inspired by an encounter with two taxidermied water buffalo at the Museum of Natural History. Their positioning reminded me of a mother watching over her child, a moment that felt both endearing and deeply sorrowful. Having spent part of my childhood in India, where water buffalo freely roamed the streets, I felt an unexpected connection to them. Seeing these familiar animals preserved as lifeless figures brought a sense of distance between the warmth of my childhood memories and the reality in front of me. I was drawn to the quiet intimacy between the two figures, particularly the idea that even in death, the mother seemed to remain watchful over her child. Painted through loose, wet-on-wet applications and translucent washes of diluted oil, the piece explores the tenderness of maternal instinct, the fragility of life, and the way memory can transform an encounter into something deeply personal.