The Empty House

Neil Oberoi, 29 years old, was an Interior Designer in Delhi. He did a fantastic job when it came to turning his vision into reality. He worked with famous celebrities and earned a huge sum of money. He was in love with his job. He felt satiated every time he delivered a fascinating spectacle. Nature’s theme was Neil’s forte. He did sheer justice when he blended nature with decor. Neil’s wife, Mansi, fell in love with his creativity as she herself was an Artist. An Interior Designer and an Artist. A match made in heaven.

Neil and Mansi bought a posh bungalow in South Delhi. They painted their home with the color palette of love and harmony. Neil took responsibility for the interiors. After all, he was a renowned designer in Delhi. What good are skills if one can’t use them for oneself? It took a week for Neil to finalize the decor. The execution started. It went on for a month. Mansi kept her calm as she trusted the process. Don’t forget that she is an Artist.

Time for the reveal. The reveal of Neil’s decor didn’t win Mansi’s heart this time. She felt suffocated in her living room, dull in her bedroom and disappointed in her kitchen. Neil was shattered to see her like that. He couldn’t understand the reason as he was sure his decor was top notch. And he was right. There was a huge crystal chandelier in the hallway — a classic statement piece that exudes opulence. Sofas, armchairs and cushions donned velvet upholstery in deep jewel tones. There were marble coffee tables and countertops. Lamps, handles, and mirrors had metallic finishes. The highlight was an oversized antique mirror in the bedroom that created depth and grandeur. The floor was covered with Persian handwoven rugs with intricate details. There were designer art pieces such as limited-edition paintings, and sculptures all around. Honestly, he left not a single unused space. You guessed it just right – this was the problem. This itched at Mansi. She couldn’t breathe in her own house. Neil failed to understand the art of minimalism. He got so overwhelmed with the excitement of decorating his own house that he literally filled every inch with creativity. There was no emptiness.

Mansi understood that her husband had gone over the top without even realizing it. She decided to address the elephant in the room. She said, softly, “Darling! Don’t you think we can reduce a few elements here and there?” Neil replied, “I wanted to make this place, a palace for my queen.” What a lovely thought! Mansi felt like the luckiest lady in the world. Her husband adores her to the core. He leaves no stone unturned to pamper her. The air filled with love, covering even the little spaces that remained. Mansi came back to the real problem. She said, “You never fail to impress me, dear. Your decor is always magnificent. But with magnificence, there follows a sense of peace, calm and relaxation. I feel, you missed your signature essence this time.” Neil fell silent. He still couldn’t understand his area of improvement. He knew that it was constructive feedback. Her words kept echoing in his mind. After a lot of brainstorming, he realized his mistake. He said, “My Love, I know where I went wrong. I shouldn’t have bombarded the house with all the possible things on the planet.” They both laughed. Lastly, Mansi said, “Emptiness isn’t absence, it’s peaceful presence”.