I have built a home only to see it get uprooted way before I thought. I have a life, a job and a decent source of income. I have everything that people are envious of me to have in their life but they doesn’t.
Emma was living a perfect life in her perfect home for the longest time known to people. She is known to be quiet girl, a good girl and a homemaker without any marriage. She has the patience and empathy of a mother since her mother died shortly after her sister was born.
As a sole caregiver, she was compelled to take everything under her wing. Be it cooking, keeping the house clean or washing the clothes but at the end of the day, all she heard was this is not right, why is the food served cold. Her sister named Emily will be thirteen this April but all Emma could think of Emily , her life, her future. All her aspirations of pursuing humanities will be fulfilled through her. On the contrary, Emily is good at maths and science. Once she fumed the entire chemistry laboratory with mixing unknown chemicals together. Emily is a topper, a brilliant student but not the one qualified to plan her future with English.
Emma dreamt and dreamt of her sister living her dream , travelling to Paris , London and Italy. Emma dreamt of Emily becoming a teacher and teaching foreign students. She said to Emily, “You are not for science, pursue humanities.”
Emily deep down inside was fighting a battle of her own. The grass looked greener on the other side. The dresses looked good but sometimes, waiting for a perfect dress to fit your wardrobe is a sweeter experience. Emily loved her life. She loved her sister. She wants to say “NO “but does not know how. Emma loved muesli so Emily loved muesli. Emma loved eggs so Emily loved eggs when the latter felt like vomiting . Emily doesn’t know what to do. She kept quiet, enjoyed her studies of periodic tables and Newton’s law. Emily cried to herself without explaining the conflicts going on within her. The thought of getting distant from science was breaking her heart in shreds. She loved her life but a vase remained empty.
Sometimes, materialistic possessions cannot make you happy. A bit of your favourite coffee from your favourite café helps for adults only but that doesn’t cure the emptiness. Emma knows that quite well. Her own mother wanted her to pursue science and she did it grudgingly. She loved the world of Charles dickens , Bernard Shaw and Charlotte Bronte. She loves to be carried away by the shore to the unknown worlds of London, Paris and Italy. Emma never had the chance to do so. All she thought was earning money, do chores and raise her sister right.
One day, Emily was deciding on her clothes for the party while Emma was rushing through her makeup. Emma was little under the weather with mood swings of her hormonal medicines for PCOD. Emily was trying one party dress after another . From shimmery sparkly dress to Maharashtrian sarees with a Nath to the lehengas her sister brought for her. None of the dress she wore met what she is looking for. The dresses were scattered on the floor, on the bed, some pair of earrings lying here and there. Emma was complaining about the condition of her home when one of the earring pierced in her foot. No sooner did she scream than Emily rushed to check upon her sister.
“For a Christian wedding, you are wearing your dance costume? What the hell, Emily? Don’t you know how to keep the things in place!”
“What the hell is wrong with me, I do what you say, I live, eat according to your way. Once I start to show who I am, you are getting angry at me.”
“Emily, honey, what is wrong with you? Why are you fighting like this with me?
“I don’t know Emma. I am sick of your love, your choices. I am sick of the food, the house, the clothes, the books you bring for me. I am sick of the constant smile you force me to put in front of the world. Do you know what, I can’t live without science, I want to pursue science, live with it, be with it for as long as I can. Do you get that?”
Emma remained puzzle as the pointed edge of the earring hurt her again. She plucked it out as she screams in pain once again. Emily helps her with bandages and dressing, Emma got well soon. The latter allows her to choose the former’s passion.
Years later, Emily finished her education. She started to earn her own money, she started to work on her professional development journey when she came across an open university where people irrespective of who they are can pursue English with no age barriers. Emily used her first hard earned money to fill up the form for Emma’s admission for joining MA in English instead of buying the diamond ring for herself that she promised to herself as a child.
“How am I going to do it? I am old, out of studies for way too long. I haven't touched a single book in my life except the ones I read on the bookshelves.,” answered Emma, on her reaction to Emily’s gift.
“Growing old doesn’t stop you from living your dreams as long as you show up for yourself”, replied Emily.
Both raised a toast to each other’s achievement and popped a champagne in delight.
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