Maria and Nika’s story feels like something from a dream. Two artists from different worlds - Maria from Serbia and Nika from a small town in Russia who found each other in the heart of Serbia.
It was at an artist's event, a meeting point for creators from around the globe, where these two souls connected. Instantly drawn to each other, they shared a mutual love for art, creativity, and exploring the world.
Both Maria and Nika carry their own unique style, influencing each other in ways like no other. Maria, full of light and laughter, is a force of creative energy. She’s more into Fashion and Graphic designing, reflecting her playful spirit and passion for creation. On the other hand, Nika who is into Music Production professionally, brings a darker, bolder energy, a lover of gothic tones and moody expressions.
Together, they form a perfect harmony - two contrasting colours of life that blend effortlessly into each other.
Two Worlds of Ink
It’s no surprise that Maria and Nika each have a deep connection to tattoos. While Maria has 14 unique tattoos, Nika carries around 15-20, each etched onto his skin as a personal memory. For Nika, tattoos are his “memory album.” Each one represents an important event, a moment he wants to keep close to his heart forever. To him, tattoos are much more than art, they are the story of his life, told one ink stroke at a time.
Maria, however, views tattoos a little differently. She didn’t initially feel the need to mark every memory, yet over time, her skin became a canvas reflecting two contrasting sides of her personality. One side of her body is decorated with bright, colourful tattoos, full of life and joy. The other side is a world of darker, colourless designs, expressing a more serious, reflective part of her soul. Together, her tattoos mirror the duality within her – the light and the dark, the laughter and the silence.
A New Chapter in India
When Maria and Nika planned their first vacation together, they chose India – a land of ancient culture, bright colours, and deep spirituality. It was a trip they had dreamed of for a long time, a journey not just across miles but into the depths of their souls. India, with its deep-rooted history, seemed like the perfect place for these two artists to find inspiration and add to their personal stories.
While exploring the beauty and mystery of India, they came across Aliens Tattoo, renowned for its unique and meaningful designs. The idea of getting a tattoo in India, one that would connect them to the country’s ancient traditions, immediately sparked something within them. After careful thought, they decided to get a Sanskrit script tattoo, something that would would symbolise the depth of their lives and beliefs.
The Circle of Life
After hours of discussing and planning with the tattoo artist - Grishita Suthar and Bhanu Pratap Singh, Maria and Nika chose the phrase “मृत्यु पुनर्जन्म” (Mrityu Punarjanam) for their matching tattoo. This Sanskrit phrase symbolises the endless cycle of life. For them, it held a deep resonance. In life, they realised, every beginning marks an end, and every end signifies a new beginning. This eternal circle – birth, death, and rebirth connected with them on a deeper personal level.
This matching tattoo, written in a script as old as time, captures the emotions of their journey and beliefs. Every stroke of the tattoo tells the story of their intertwined lives, their shared dreams, and the depths of their individual experiences. It reminds them that life is never truly over – it is an unbroken circle, forever flowing, always moving forward. And for them, this tattoo became a shared piece of their souls, a bond that would remain even when words fell short.
A Bond Beyond Time and Distance
Watching Maria and Nika share this experience at Aliens Tattoo Studio in Mumbai was incredibly moving. There was something so tender, so real, about the way they looked at each other and then at their newly inked tattoos. It was as if, in that moment, they knew that no matter where life took them, no matter how far they drifted from each other’s side, this tattoo would keep them connected.
They now carry with them a piece of India, a piece of each other, and a piece of an ancient tradition that will forever be a part of who they are. Each time they look at their tattoos, they will be reminded of this shared journey, this special moment when they chose to ink not just their skin but their very souls. It is a piece of art, a mark of love, and a symbol of eternity.
Forever Inked, Forever Together
For Maria and Nika, this tattoo is more than an addition to their collection. It is a promise – to remember, to cherish, to never forget this time they shared. It will be with them wherever they go, a silent witness to their memories, their dreams, and the beautiful life they are building together.
In a way, this tattoo is the beginning of a new chapter in their story. It is indeed a reminder that, like the ancient Sanskrit phrase, life is an endless journey. And while they may travel to new places, meet new people, and experience new things, this tattoo will be a constant in their lives, a piece of India forever etched onto their skin.
No matter what the future holds, Maria and Nika will always carry this piece of each other with them, a timeless bond, a shared memory, a love that is now inked onto their hearts, for all eternity.