As I entered the apartment, she was standing there with a calm expression as if she waited for my arrival. She stood by the hallway, still and drew me towards her. The eyes were poised, with thick brows and her lips were chiseled to perfection.
"There were heaps of files today. All staring at me and asking to help them find a suitable place of rest. All day, I wait for your look, your eyes know where my resting place is," and I went on with my daily blabber. She listened silently, without interrupting my nonsense. Without halting me to an abrupt stop.
I went into the kitchen, "what shall we have for dinner today...I'd say lets try sweet in the end. I learnt a new cake recipe from our receptionist. Now don't you think otherwise," and I started laughing. All this while, she listened without uttering a word. This is the routine every evening, I speak, shout, laugh, do the chores, cook, eat, sleep and all that time, she's there beside me, absolutely still. Well, atleast there's someone.
I had bought her a month back from the store two blocks away, down the street. I was told everyone has it in their homes. Working people, mid-aged, children; all have their own separate demands. There a number of shops selling them in the city. One could place also place orders according to choice and preferences. These Mannequin stores had mushroomed, feeding on the needs of our capitalist society. Once every need, every wish was brought under codification, the entire space of consumerism changed. Every wish, every attribute was now quantifiable. Companies started using technology and flooded the markets with ultimate grandeur of materialism.
These toys filled the vacuum that the society was caving into. Every individual you met had the urge to be taken, to be sheltered, to be cared. Everybody was in want of something. But there were no givers. Then, we started substituting our needs with cheap source of entertainment. People were ready to pay any price for fulfilling their demands. I don't know exactly who came up with this idea; but 'twas a smart sell! In fact, I can't imagine my evenings without having that plastic around. Her presence exuberates positivity to my home.
"I'm home", I said in my usual exhaustive tone entering the room. She lay there flat on the floor, her arms were broken and her skull was cracked. Rooted to the spot, I stood shocked beyond belief. My voice was stuck somewhere inside the throat and tears filled the eyes. "What should I do, where do I take her, could she be brought back?" All these questions bombarded within my grey walls. She was a beautiful specimen, simple yet adoring.
"Hi, could I have a replacement for this mannequin?The one I had bought broke apart and thankfully, It's still in guarantee period". I was at the store the next morning, searching for another piece. There she was, 'the' another piece, made of better plastic and more real looking. And I got a discount too. Couldn't have been happier. My evenings are restored.
"There were heaps of files today. All staring at me and asking to help them find a suitable place of rest. All day, I wait for your look, your eyes know where my resting place is," and I went on with my daily blabber. She listened silently, without interrupting my nonsense. Without halting me to an abrupt stop.
I went into the kitchen, "what shall we have for dinner today...I'd say lets try sweet in the end. I learnt a new cake recipe from our receptionist. Now don't you think otherwise," and I started laughing. All this while, she listened without uttering a word. This is the routine every evening, I speak, shout, laugh, do the chores, cook, eat, sleep and all that time, she's there beside me, absolutely still. Well, atleast there's someone.
I had bought her a month back from the store two blocks away, down the street. I was told everyone has it in their homes. Working people, mid-aged, children; all have their own separate demands. There a number of shops selling them in the city. One could place also place orders according to choice and preferences. These Mannequin stores had mushroomed, feeding on the needs of our capitalist society. Once every need, every wish was brought under codification, the entire space of consumerism changed. Every wish, every attribute was now quantifiable. Companies started using technology and flooded the markets with ultimate grandeur of materialism.
These toys filled the vacuum that the society was caving into. Every individual you met had the urge to be taken, to be sheltered, to be cared. Everybody was in want of something. But there were no givers. Then, we started substituting our needs with cheap source of entertainment. People were ready to pay any price for fulfilling their demands. I don't know exactly who came up with this idea; but 'twas a smart sell! In fact, I can't imagine my evenings without having that plastic around. Her presence exuberates positivity to my home.
"I'm home", I said in my usual exhaustive tone entering the room. She lay there flat on the floor, her arms were broken and her skull was cracked. Rooted to the spot, I stood shocked beyond belief. My voice was stuck somewhere inside the throat and tears filled the eyes. "What should I do, where do I take her, could she be brought back?" All these questions bombarded within my grey walls. She was a beautiful specimen, simple yet adoring.
"Hi, could I have a replacement for this mannequin?The one I had bought broke apart and thankfully, It's still in guarantee period". I was at the store the next morning, searching for another piece. There she was, 'the' another piece, made of better plastic and more real looking. And I got a discount too. Couldn't have been happier. My evenings are restored.
