Slowly the golden rays of bright sun touched the cheerful face of a young lady. Her eyes gazing out at the busy street and her lips breaking into a sweet radiant smile.
Emma opened the windows to let in more sunlight and also to hear the birds sing. It was once again spring when a young woman's fancy turns to love. She could see the green trees, flowers and felt the refreshing morning air on her face. She stood in front of the mirror to see a beautiful lady, whom she thought was not he....and she still could not believe that a shy timid girl could win"The Best Journalist Award" of the year. Oh! Everything was turning out perfectly for her. She smiled again to herself.
Beep! Beep! The phone rang.
She raced for the phone. A familiar voice called out, "Hi! It's me Ava ". "Oh! Hi"
"I called to congratulate you. Congratulations Emma". "Thanks, by the way, are you coming tonight and are Amy and Mia coming to?". "Of course, sweet heart. We all are coming. Amy and Mia told me to call you on their behalf. They could not call you because they are busy at the moment. Anyway we'll see you at the party...bye for now".
She put the receiver down and went to her room. She opened her closet and took out an album containing her old school and college photographs. She flipped over the photos and stared at herself. She was a short haired girl who looked ugly amongst her beautiful friends Mia, Amy and Ava.
She could not stop thinking of her past. She was a shy girl who was laughed and mocked at by others because she could not express herself. Mia always talked about dramas, Ava always said she would migrate to a foreign country and Amy wanted to become a Doctor. But Emma kept her dream of one day becoming a Journalist to herself.
Her reflection took her back to her college days. She could still vividly remember their hostel room. It was the end of their college days and were all dressed up for the farewell party in the evening. But she was a skeleton and considered the ugliest of all. The party started with everyone dancing and enjoying themselves. But she was, as usual alone in the corner lost in her own little world.
After college, Amy pursued her ambition to become a doctor, Ava became an executive in a foreign agency and Mia an actress. Emma had still not achieved anything in life.
Once all the friends had gathered in Emma's apartment for a reunion party to reinforce their bond of friendship. It was there when Emma mentioned why she was the only one amongst her friends who still did not have a steady job or a good social life being shy and timid as always. Her friends advised her that she need to change herself and become more confident in whatever she does in order to be successful in life. Then she confided in them, they being her closet friends and allies that she liked Loke a prospective bachelor, extremely good looking and a successful business man.
"Does he love you?" Asked Mia
"Well I think so, he told me that once", replied Emma.
"No he does not... because he said that I'm beautiful and he loves me," countered Mia.
This made Emma's heart break into pieces. Tears rolled down her eyes. She was once again shattered.
"Listen Emma, let's face it, he doesn't love you...I'm sorry but what can I do!", said Mia quietly and apologetically.
"Cool down and get a grip of yourself," said Amy.
But it was too much for emma to bear any further humiliation and said resignedly, " I sometimes fail to understand whether you all are my friends or my enemies as every time my problems seem to start from you all".
This made mia angry and reacted harshly, " that's the problem with you....you are always afraid to face the truth and life. For heaven's sake, why don't you wake up and learn to live a life as it comes!". It was all so true that she was in fact, scared to face anything in life. After sometime, emma managed to pull herself together and confided in her friends. "Well, I too have dreams...I want to go to a city and become a Journalist...and I can't help feeling lonely and rejected at times. Oh, what am I to do", as a fresh stream of tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Oh! Emma you never told us that," said Ava. All were staring at her in shock.
"I kept it to myself", said emma in a low voice. They soon made up and became friends again. Emma thought about it for a long time and it was then and there that she decided to change herself and turn over a new leaf. So, "confidence" was the key to success! This was a turning point in her life which led her to new horizons in her life. Her attitude changed and so did her life changed dramatically and for the better. She moved to the city waving goodbye to the others and achieved great success in life. She is now the most confident and successful career women going around in town and all thanks to her dear friends.
Beep! Beep!
She snapped out of her reverie and decidedly walked towards the phone. It was her well wishers congratulating her. That evening she went to the party well dressed as she was the host of the party. She had put on weight on her skeletal frame; she looked tall, fair, her big black eyes sparkling with confidence. She looked gorgeous. Now she did not search for her lovers, but lovers reached out to her. Her three best friends entered the room and hugged her. She was then announced as " The youngest and the Best Journalist of the year". Oh, how wonderful life was! She thanked mia for her harsh but true words many years ago which jolted her back to reality that played instrumental in making her what she is today....a successful career woman exuding with confidence. Emma was now a cheerful lady who learned to live life as it comes and in a best way she could.
