Decision

The 30th of April is a very special day for Sonaa. Well, it's not
her birthday. It's the day her parents got married. She can't explain
why she feels so strongly about this last day of April. It seems so
greatly linked to her identity-even her self-image. Sonaa's parents are
somewhat old-fashioned and like to have a quiet dinner at home on their
anniversary. But Sonaa likes to go out and do something special on the
day. When she was in school or in college she would either visit a
disco with friends or go to Aquatica, the fashionable water park on the
outskirts of the city. Sonaa works for a newspaper now and is a very
busy person. So busy that discotheques and theme parks must now make
way for dinner in a top-notch restaurant. Some place where the d?cor
and ambience are better than the food. And yes, Sonaa is a beautiful
young lady and it's a shame if she dines alone on a special evening.
All her male friends are ready to shoot each other for being able to
accompany her. But the choice is always between two people. One of them
is a colleague. He is dashing, dynamic and poised for a very rewarding
career. His name is Arin. The other person is a friend from her school
days. He is a struggling painter. No one other than Sonaa is interested
in his art. Sonaa finds his paintings very promising and aesthetic. The
name of this man is Ian. Every time Sonaa asks him to dinner Ian has to
hire clothes from a friend's laundry. Somehow, no matter what Ian wears
on any evening with Sonaa he looks like a dream. It is due to this that
Sonaa keeps inviting him despite knowing about his problems. Both Arin
and Ian have been asked to meet Sonaa today. At home, though.
It is seven thirty pm. Both Ian and Arin are waiting in the living
room. Sonaa emerges from her bedroom looking like a million bucks. Both
Ian and Arin stand up instinctively. "Sit down." Sonaa tells both men.
"Now boys," Sonaa says, "Exactly ten days from today is my parents'
anniversary. I want to dine at the Sheraton on that evening. I know
that a lot of people will give an arm and leg to go with me. But I have
chosen the two of you. For obvious reasons." Ian began shifting in his
chair. Sonaa picked up his discomfort and added, "Don't worry, my
parents are going to foot the bill. I have called the two of you for
this reason. I will go to the Sheraton?now listen carefully boys. I
will go to the Sheraton with that man who shows me the picture of the
most beautiful person in the world in seven day's time. Is that fine?"
Ian began to say something and then stopped and smiled. "I will meet
you in exactly seven days." was what Ian finally said and left in a
hurry. Arin was lost in deep thought. He mumbled incoherently, "I will
try my best." while playing footsie somewhat reluctantly. When he came
out of his reverie he discovered that Sonaa was no longer in the
room.
Arin was busy in the next seven days. He took leave from office and
collected photographs of beautiful ladies. Filmstars, models, beauty
queens, tv anchors-he collected images of them all. Every evening he
visited Sonaa to show her the day's photographs. Sonaa looked at the
photos and gave no evidence of any interest. The harder Arin worked the
more he was ignored by Sonaa. At the end of the sixth day Arin was
convinced that Sonaa was just playing games with him.
Seven days had passed and Sonaa had still not decided who would go to
the Sheraton with her . It was a Sunday morning and Sonaa was still
sleeping after a hard week's work. The doorbell rang sharply and Ian
came in with a long, flat thing wrapped in brownpaper. Sonaa was
informed about Ian's arrival and she entered the living room fifteen
minutes later. "Well Ian," she said, "what do you have there?" Ignoring
her question completely Ian spoke, "You know Sonaa I was reading my
nephew's Physics textbook yesterday. The thing I have with me is only
half your size but includes all of you." "What are you talking about
Ian, just get to the point." Sonaa reproached angrily. Ian began to
unwrap the brownpaper-covered thing and spoke, "You know Sonaa you are
very proud. Very very proud. So, when you said you wanted to see the
picture of the most beautiful person in the world I knew what you had
in mind-right away. Well here it is." The brownpaper had now been
removed and under it was a mirror just half Sonaa's size. And in
accordance with laws of physics Sonaa could see her complete self in
the mirror. As she began viewing her image in the mirror with great
interest Ian said, "Here you are Sonaa, your own image, the picture of
the most beautiful person in the world."