But Neha was not complaining. She had worked so hard to be this busy. Her J.J. School of Applied Arts stint was reaping benefits. Neha's art and ideas were stuff success stories were made of. She was happy. There were a lot of other things Neha hoped to find in life. But at this juncture of life, Neha could smile without reasons. And that was a rare blessing.
A lot had changed in the last few years. Pencil and crayons had been replaced by digital programs. Colours had more types than water colours and oil paints. And abstract had intermingled with commercial forms in deeper ways. Neha was watching and contributing to this rapid art movement. However every day after work, Neha had developed a habit in the last few months. And she was dedicated to keeping this habit alive.
She was very motivated towards human emotions. She believed emotions were beyond the navras. There were more. And she was sketching a new emotion every night. The face was hers. The emotions altered every night.
And that night when Neha finally finished her ritual and shut the lights, the arguments began once again. Neha's faces were fighting. Each believed herself to be Neha's perfect face. Hope and Belief argued. Anger and despair swore a hurtful face off. Vanity and Pride continued to ignore each other. Happiness and Peace gave each other company and kept away from the deal. Tension tensed its muscles and fear began to glow red. Each had a point. And none would give up.
Suddenly the lights switched on. Neha had come back to the room. She had forgotten her sweater behind and needed it to keep her warm on that cold night. As Neha bent to collect her comfort wear, she noticed the emotion drawings out of place and some strangely scattered.
As she began to keep one in place, the other face screamed from behind. " I am what keeps you safe! I am your face Neha." Shocked Neha looked back. And her body shivered the moment she realised that the face of Bravery was talking. As she walked towards Bravery, a loud voice echoed behind her. "And who makes your glory walk so perfect. Me ofcourse!" Vanity was proclaiming that she was the ideal one for Neha when suddenly a deeper voice challenged her. "You are a false notion. I am what the real thing is." Pride was inviting Neha.
As she looked around bewildered, all of her faces with those many emotions started calling out to Neha. The room was a panic center suddenly. Neha could see each of them clearly. Happiness, fear, confidence, sorrow, anxiety...each emotion was asking her to adopt them and give up on the rest. Neha tried to choose. But this mayhem was beyond her control. Absolute chaos filled the room and Neha couldnt leave without choosing one. She looked around confused and seeking. She began cursing herself. After all, these faces were her work. She had created them. Carried them from her face into sheets of paper. And now each asked for her excludive right. Neha tried and felt she would have to give up.
Suddenly a spark of light hit her. Neha had found it.
She picked it up and as she chose the winner, the rest of the faces with their emotions receded back to their rightful positions. The winner had been chosen. Each emotion felt the pinch of not winning, but choosing was Neha's right. And they had to oblige.
As Neha prepared to sleep that night she was happy with what she had chosen and looked at it one more time before closing her eyes to the challenging day that had passed. This was what all emotions would obey.
That night Neha said her good nights to a blank piece of paper. That was what she had chosen. It was just like her face. From something to everything to nothing to something to everything to nothing...
Just like Neha. Just like us!
