Living Through The Mandala [COMPLETED]

It All Began This Way

"Congratulations, my dear! Who would have thought that you could become a world known artist?" Her high school art teacher was talking animatedly to her that afternoon. It was the inauguration of her art exhibit at the Picasso World Art Museum. It was named 'The Mandala'. The hall was jam-packed, even for a Sunday.

"So, Prachi, how come you became an artist when you had taken science at university. I heard that you were ..uh.. having some trouble at that time. What changed?"

Her worried expression made Prachi smile and she said, "you would never believe me", as she flashed back to 3 years ago.

                             ***

It was mid-afternoon, and Prachi was at the university bookstore. She was looking for a new dictionary, her older one was battered and torn. She had been working on her assignment all morning, but now she was stumped for words. Her black hair was a rat's nest. The fact that she was dead tired, hadn't had a shower since the day before and had bags under her eyes didn't help. The work was killing her.

She grabbed the first dictionary she saw and was on the way to the counter to pay for it, thinking at least she had the money to buy a dictionary.

On the way, something caught her attention. It was a mandala colouring book. "It's unputdownable", it said on the cover. She didn't know what, but something attracted her to the book and she picked it up and joined the queue to check out.

The lady on the counter was an old soul, who always wore a lot of beads around her neck and wrists. Her blue eyes twinkled with youthful energy. When they met Prachi's brown ones, it was as if she could look right through her. Prachi was the one to break the eye contact. She put the two books she wanted on the counter and politely said, "I would like to buy these, please."

"Of course, love." She scanned the barcode for the dictionary and then took the colouring book in her hand and studied it as if it was a specimen. Her eyes locked with Prachi's with that same hold as before and she commented, "life is a canvas, but it depends on how you paint it." Prachi's thought that age was getting to her, and quickly thanked her and left the bookstore with a weak smile on her face.

Back in her shared room, she started rummaging through her work. Her bed was a mess with random pieces of paper and sheets lying around. Next to it, on her nightstand, was framed a photo of her with her parents. Crinkling eyes, toothy smiles and the same raven-coloured hair, they were chips of the same block. In her hand were two certificates. One for winning the regional science quiz, and the other, almost hidden behind her back, for being in the Top 3 in the national painting competition. She missed them.

She heard the door close out in the hall. A few moments later, a petite girl poked her head into the room. "Hey, thought you might want these." She chucked a bag full of Prachi's favourite brand of 2 minutes noodles.

"Thanks, Liz, but I don't even have the 2 minutes to cook these noodles. My essay is due tomorrow and I've still got heaps to do."

Elisabeth was usually an easy going girl, but now her mouth set in a straight line and her jaw tightened. "You haven't eaten anything in the last 24 hours, Pri."

"I know but I have to finish this," Prachi whined.

Elisabeth wasn't in the mood to back down. "You haven't eaten, brushed your hair or made your bed. You have been studying late at night, taken unhealthy amounts of caffeine, and haven't been out for the past two weeks. You barely even smile or talk anymore."

"Liz, it's nice that you're concerned," she countered, "but this is normal in university."

"No, it's not. University is supposed to be hard, but not hard enough that you stop living like a normal human." Then, softening her tone, she asked, "are you sure you don't regret this... regret choosing science?"

Now it was Prachi's turn to get angry. "God, Liz, that was one time. I told you to forget about it."

"Yeah, but Prachi, you told me you didn't want this, your parents did. You wanted to pursue art, open your own gallery. I've seen your drawings, Pri, they are amazing. I'm not going to forget what you told me because every time I see you, you are buried deep into one of your books, studying for some kind of test and knowing nothing what it's about. Your grades just go to show that. You might be good at atoms and velocity and stuff, but you are not passionate about it. It's time to let go and move on.

"Liz!" Prachi almost shouted, "I told you I was frustrated and said those things unintentionally."

"You were frustrated for a reason," Liz reasoned. "I am going to drop this topic, but think about this: are you doing this to make yourself happy, or your parents happy, who are not even here anymore?"

Prachi searched her mind for a comeback, but Liz's words struck home.

In a smooth turn, Liz swished out of the room, rendering her speechless.
                                         ***

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