The Ultimate Escape: A battle within

 Mr. Brain spoke looking exhausted, remarking, “Today was very bad. I don't know what was wrong with the right leg today… and the hands. They were shivering. It was really horrible. Let's watch something good.”

Mr. Heart sighed deeply and replied, “Yeah really, today was not our day. Let's watch the new web series that has been released…”

Ms. Conscience expressed her concern, “But kids shouldn't watch those… those are too violent.”

Mr. Brain snapped irritably, rubbing his forehead, “What's your problem? As if what's happening around is good for kids… and who is a kid?”

Mr. Heart leaned back and admitted defensively, “Today was such a horrible day. We deserve a break.”

Ms. Conscience muttered softly, looking down, “Yeah… the pain, the workload, the fight and what not.”

The argument slowly faded as the screen took over their attention.

Mr. Heart shifted uneasily and suggested, “Let's watch something else now.”

Soon they were interrupted by Mom’s call.

Mom intervened firmly, folding her arms, “Hey, you have been watching the phone for a long time. Get up, do some homework now for a bit. After that, you can rest again.”

The words hung heavy, but logic slowly regained control.

Mr. Brain nodded to himself and reasoned, “We have been watching for the past 3 hours. Let's study something, at least do some homework now.”

Ms. Conscience quickly supported him, “Yeah, let's. Otherwise what will we say tomorrow to the teachers?”

Mr. Heart clenched his fists and complained bitterly, “True. Those people don't even understand the students. If we say why we can't, they will call us a weakling.”

Despite the resistance, the books were opened.

An hour later…

Mr. Brain stretched his fingers and announced slowly, “After one hour of toil, finally it is done. Ms. Hand has already given up.”

Mr. Heart spoke in a low, weak voice, “This fever really flogged a dead horse on our dreams. It is so bad.”

Mom’s voice cut through the silence, “Come, have dinner.”

Mr. Brain murmured without energy, “There is no strength left. Let's skip dinner.”

Mr. Heart’s eyes lit up as he protested eagerly, “But today our favourite dish is made. We can only have it next week then.”

Ms. Conscience immediately warned, raising a finger, “We can't skip dinner, otherwise Mr. Stomach is waiting for a chance to increase our trouble.”

Others nodded in agreement.

Mr. Heart leaned back, satisfied, patting his stomach.

“What a hearty dinner… we would have missed it.”

Mr. Brain adjusted his posture and worried aloud, “And now both Ms. Spine and Ms. Hand are not ready to go to school tomorrow.”

Ms. Conscience reassured calmly, “How can they? We have a minimum of 8 hours more. A good sleep and everything would fall back to its place.”

Mr. Heart glanced sideways and asked hesitantly, “Shall we continue to watch that movie?”

Mr. Brain paused, then responded uncertainly, “Mm…”

Ms. Conscience shook her head and declared firmly, “Hell no. Let's sleep, we have school tomorrow.”

“Okay,” both agreed half-heartedly…

The lights were off, but thoughts stayed awake.

After another exhausting day at school…

Mr. Heart crossed his arms and burst out angrily, “What's her problem? Does she think of herself as some goddess or what?”

Mr. Brain scoffed sarcastically, “That's how teachers are. They think they can do anything. They have the ultimate power, right?”

Ms. Conscience tried to calm the storm, “Don't be like that. She is like that doesn't mean everyone is like that.”

Mr. Heart pointed sharply and challenged, “Oh really! What about Mr. Ankil, Ms. Manvesha and the others?”

Mr. Brain recalled the events, his voice tightening, “Shruthi was troubling us, but we got punished instead of her, thanks to Mr. Ankil. And Manvesha, she beat us for her mistake. And her excuse—‘I didn't eat food since morning and also forgot to bring lunch.’ God… mind blowing.”

Ms. Conscience exhaled wearily, “No use scolding them. Just ruining our mood. Just forget them.”

“But how? We are not robots that won't feel anything, whatever the other says!” Mr. Heart shouted.

Ms. Conscience quickly changed direction, “Let's play something now. Only way to stop swaying away.”

Mr. Brain stopped mid-thought…

"Oh God… we have been playing for such a long time… oh no!”

Brain froze for a second… then panic hit him.

“No… no… no… we have a ton of things to do!”

“Guys, it is enough now. For how long are we going to be like this?” Ms. Conscience asked.

“I know our marks have really gone down… we barely passed this time…” Mr. Heart sobbed.

Mr. Brain replied, fed up, “Oh God, just shut up. It is not like our life came to an end. Also, marks are of no use. Many successful people were not toppers.”

“Brain, that's not exactly true. Just listen,” Ms. Conscience said.

“We went through a lot. We are overwhelmed, exhausted, but we can't let it stop us. We need time, but it shouldn't interfere with our dreams.”

Mr. Brain cut in, “That's why we should stop being a bookworm and live our life.”

“Let me complete,” Ms. Conscience insisted. “We are good at academics. Let it be. Otherwise we won’t have anything.”

Mr. Brain sighed, “So what do we do then? And for God’s sake, Heart, stop it.”

Ms. Conscience suggested, “First, let's start with a little exercise, maybe yoga or meditation. Slowly we can find ways to handle our emotions.”

Mr. Brain replied, “Fine… as you say.”

Days passed, but the heaviness didn’t leave.

Mr. Heart complained, “The meditation helped… but I still feel heavy.”

Mr. Brain added, “Same. I am still exhausted.”

Ms. Conscience paused, “We can do things to relax like pouring out our heart into the paper, or dancing our hearts out, drawing, playing an instrument or something like that. Remember when we did it during holidays how relaxing it felt..!.”

Mr. Brain replied, “Yeah… something I haven’t felt for years.”

“So let’s do it again,” Ms. Conscience said. “Pour out everything.”

Mr. Heart agreed, “Yeah… let's try.”

A week later…

“Oh God… such a relief,” Mr. Brain exclaimed.

Mr. Heart added, “But still… emotions weigh hard.”

Ms. Conscience explained, “We need to focus on the bigger picture. You have to let go. If one of us falls weak, all of us get affected.”

“Mmm…” Mr. Heart nodded.

“Wow, guys, we did it. Finally,” Mr. Brain shouted.

“Bravo to ourselves,” Ms. Conscience said.

“Our scores have increased, and I don't feel the weight anymore,” Mr. Heart said happily.

“Let’s keep striving…”

“FOR OUR FUTURE,” they said in chorus.

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