The Masquerade - Continued from part 2

THE MASQUERADE - Continued from Part 2

It has been a sleepless night for SethuLakshmi, mother of Nimmy and Vishal. Anxiety and depression over staying away from her children for the first time in life , has completely overpowered her.

"Sethu", called her husband Sam (Father of Nimmy and Vishal)

He continued,in his usual down -to-earth manner "Try to develop detachment and be more realistic. Nimmy and Vishal are not small kids. They are grown ups. They have to learn to live independently, facing the myriad complexities of life and society.  Moreover they have gone to our own place and people. So don't worry. Get up from bed and be more positive. I can understand your emotions. I am also having the same emotions.But, you have to face the truth. Try to learn from Nature .   Have you not seen cuckoo birds. They leave their children immediately after birth , to make their children independent Today or tomorrow all of us are alone. We come to this world alone and leave this world also alone. We have to make our children independent. Moreover, more importantly, they have to learn to navigate through life in our own land and people , because we all ultimately belong to that place. Here, we are all immigrants. We have to go back today or tomorrow."

"Sam I understand what you say but....", Sethu said hesitatingly.

Sam continued."Sethu, your emotions prompt me to travel back  30 years and think of the emotions our parents have tried to overcome when a young man named Sam and an young woman named Sethulakshmi , both from diverse orthodox sections of society took a bold decision to break free from all the orthodox society imposed shackles  and to express their love and admiration for each other and to live together, devoid of any material support from any sections, except hard earned educational qualifications and decided to go to some other place in search of greener pastures, leaving back their own mother and father who has to face severe ostracism from the traditional sections of the society in which they lived, for the decision taken by their children."

Sam Continued , "What would have been the feelings of our mother and father at that time in such circumstances when they parted with us for the first time."

"True, Sam, I now understood their feelings and emotions, at this stage of life, though circumstances are milder now when compared to then."

Sudden ringing of mobile phone interrupted their thoughts.

"It's Nimmy," exclaimed Sethu excitedly. Sam was relieved at the sight of happiness in the face of Sethu.

On  completion of her conversation with her mother, Nimmy and Vishal rushed to the exit area, where , in the visitor's lounge, they, to their surprise was greeted by a bunch of people of all ages, from two years to ninenty, all hugging and patting them with exclamatory remarks and introductory messages in different tone and languages.

Sanku uncle,a tall, bald and sixty plus stout man with a thick moustache and with a photo of Nimmy and Vishal in his hand, walked to them and introduced himself.

 Sarada aunty, short in stature but fully draped in glaucous glazing costumes and heavy ornaments rushed to her and hugged her as if she was very familiar with her. Sanku uncle exclaimed , " Nimmy , you look just like your mother."

Suddenly, Nimmy felt a push in her shoulders and a thundering sound from nowhere. She turned back and saw a smiling middle aged woman asking her "Don't you know me ?Have not your father told you people anything about me ?"

Nimmy was confused. More confused , when she heard Vishal responding with a stout "NO" , in a harsh voice.

The woman who greeted her replied, without considering Vishal , "I know, he will not be allowed to mention about me. I am his only sister, Betty . I had a  grievance against you people"

She took them aside and asked in a hushed tone, "Why are you going with Sarada ? Why don't you stay with me ?" Suddenly Sarada aunty, sensing something quirky , rushed to their side.

Nimmy replied politely, "See Betty Aunty , we are planning to stay with Sarada Aunty because it is our ancestral house and we all plan to settle there one day." Nimmy felt her reply had resulted in different emotions in the faces of Betty aunty and Sarada Aunty.

A hoary man with a hoarse voice came to them and exclaimed loudly, "We have taken all the luggages to the vehicles. Now we can all go to the house of Sanku and celebrate tonight."

Before Nimmy could react, situation went out of her control , with  a furious and tired Vishal retorting rather loudly, "Sorry all, and thanks for your support. Now we require a good sleep. Please don't disturb us."

"Exactly", supported Sarada aunty who broke the silence that befell the whole group.

Nimmy, rather surprised at the way Vishal reacted, looked at him in a threatening way and showed him the diary which contained the  commandments of their mother.

While travelling, on the way to Sanku uncle's home in his car, Nimmy watched at the paradoxes  outside and on the streets unfolding amidst the  panoramic views in the ' land of her dreams,' like ........,imported SUV's running on  pot holed roads and out of control traffic jams and disorder , skyscrapers standing tall with entrances mobbed with beggars and prostitutes in the back drop of  epidemic of crumbling roads and pavements with ditches , heavily lit and air conditioned malls and streets with flashing and glittering out-of-the world huge advertisement displays with scantily clad men and women models  , amid government imposed power cuts and frequent power breaks ....... she felt the same pattern of pompousness and display everywhere in contrast to stark realities existing on the ground level. She felt the people she saw are at a loss of identity.

Her thoughts were frequently interrupted by the sermons pounded on them by Sanku uncle and Sarada aunty, taking turns, all through the journey meticulously, on the complexities and differences in the societal setup of the society in which they were born and the society in which they currently are in.....like when to go out,where to go, how to behave , what to talk , whom to avoid , never to talk with gents  etc. etc....., the only relief she felt was that Vishal was by now in deep sleep, tired of their long journey. 

After listening to all this, Nimmy wondered about the lack of self confidence that a generation will develop on growing up amidst the "four walls of the so called moral guidance", enshrined in the entire sermon pounded on them.

She wondered, whether freedom of thoughts and expressions will ever bloom in the shadows of the people like Sanku uncle who seem to cover everything in a negative and sceptical  manner and who thinks  that their format of perceiving the world is the final word on the subject and will not such jargons  erase the free and independent development of the character of younger generation of this society by the imposition of preconceived shackles of one sided and short sighted thoughts.

She thought of the words of Hellen Keller..... " Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through the experience of trial and suffering, can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

If the younger generation of this place is cocooned in an imposing manner by the thoughts of the people like Sanku maman, can they ever develop character? Nimmy mused. 

Their journey ended in the porch of a traditional house with touches of modern embellishments, here and there , but which still retains the touch of traditional architecture. She felt the house symbolised the current state of the society .

From inside the house, a young women, slightly younger than the age of Nimmy,and with a tired and resigned to her fate expressions in her face and eyes with one child in her hand and another small one accompanying her like a tail  came out and greeted them.

It was Maya, the daughter of Sanku maman and Sarada aunty.

Tired after a long journey and face to face with new experiences and thoughts Nimmy and Vishal fell into deep sleep in the comforts and cosiness of their room which was having wooden floorings and ceilings with wooden roofs and traditional wood carved windows.

                                                  To Be Continued............ 

  

 

 

The Masquerade - Continued from part 1

The Masquerade - Continued From Part 1

 

                                             

                                                    After much jostling in the counters at the airport of the "Land of her dreams", Nimmy somehow managed to obtain a local simcard.
                                            
                                               Exhausted and tired after the long flight, Nimmy settled herself in the cosy comforts of the lounge while Vishal went to clear the baggage.

 

                                              Nimmy took out the diary and searched for the numbers of the "LIST OF RELIABLE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS", her mother had given to her.

Among the members in the list, Sanku uncle (Brother of her mother)  and Sarada aunty had promised to pick them up from the airport and had offered accommodation for them. Nimmy also preferred to stay with them since they lived in the outskirts of the city, away from the crowd. She called the number and got the reply that they are already in the visitors lounge of the airport.

While waiting for Vishal and baggage, she suddenly felt very much self conscious due to staring and prying eyes, here and there. She remembered her mother's commandments to be observed while in her Mother's native place and immediately sat upright after re-examining her sagging and worn-out costumes.

She thought, maybe, she felt self conscious and uncomfortable since she is coming face to face with this part of the world for the first time. 

Interrupting her thoughts, Vishal suddenly appeared before her with the baggages and with a tired look.

Nimmy shared with Vishal her life long dream of meeting Sanku Uncle and Sarada aunty for the first time in her life, wearing the traditional dress, because she wants to create a feeling of oneness with them.

"But no one here wears the traditional dress which you had shown to me in photos . If you want to be one with the people here , you can continue with your present costumes." Vishal retorted in his characteristic soft voice.

"Here, so far, everything is the same as in our place, the same type of people, with backpacks, jeans, smart phones , market updated technological gadgets and all such , paraphernalias  and with a business like demeanour. The only difference here is in the skin colour of the people and the number of people."

"Hey, hold, hold, it's too early to arrive at such conclusions", Nimmy restrained her brother grimly.

She told him, "You wait here, I am going to become one among the people of the "Land of my parents", whatever you feel"

Nimmy came back clad in the traditional dress, wide eyed and with an assuming smile. Vishal roared into laughter on seeing this scene created by his sister for the first time in her life. He searched in futility for another similar traditional dressed young lady , for comparison . He got hold of her and screamed at her , " Sis , are you mad  "

However, sensing distressing looks from people around him ,  he controlled his emotions and regained his composure remembering his Mother's Commandments to be observed in the land of her birth place, that is,

 Always suppress your emotions, thoughts and feelings for making others comfortable , at the cost of your conscience, freedom and liberty. Whether it is love, hate,pain,gratitude or societal systems like marriage, friendship, relationships, family  or every where , the same norm applies .   

                
 Vishal recollected his Mother's words during one of her narrations relating to her nostalgic reminiscences of her native place on a chilly night , 

 " In my birth place .......... , she continued,

Hypocrisy and Pretensions are the rule, rather than the exception. 
Survival in that society is directly proportional to the degree of proficiency in those two areas "

Though he didn't understood the meaning of what she said then  ,but now , right here , standing in the gateway , in the airport of the land of her Mother's native place , Vishal felt he is slowly delving deep into the meaning of the words of his mother  , by coming into face to face with the current evolutionary stage of a Civilisation which is as old as mankind.

Vishal suddenly regained his composure and became self conscious to be in  tune with the new environment to which he is inducted for the first time ever since he was born 17 years back in a totally different world and environment free from pretensions.

                                                                     To Be Continued................
                                                
                                            

The Masquerade - A Novel

                      THE MASQUERADE

A NOVEL BY B.C.HARI SANKAR

In advance , the author seeks pardon for being forced to publish the Novel in different parts( only during week ends)  , since  during week days the author will be busy masquerading for satisfying demands from various quarters on the premise of leading an ordinary life as per the expectations of the mundane world ( at the cost and risk of loss of self ) to which the author is helpless .

DISCLAIMER

ALSO , IN ADVANCE , THE AUTHOR SEEKS PARDON FROM ANY READER WHO FEELS SEMBLANCE  OF SIMILARITY WITH ANY CHARACTER , EVENTS OR  CIRCUMSTANCES NARRATED IN THIS NOVEL, ON THE GROUND THAT SUCH SIMILARITY IS ONLY COINCIDENTAL AND NOT AT ALL INTENTIONAL IN ANY WAY AND THE NOVEL , ' THE MASQUERADE ' IS PURELY A CREATION OR FIGMENT BORNE PURELY OUT OF THE IMAGINATION OF THE AUTHOR ONLY AND THAT THE NOVEL IS NOT INTENDED TO COMPROMISE AUTHOR'S  HIGH RESPECT TO THE CURRENT SOCIETY , CULTURE , VIEWS , THOUGHTS ,  TRADITIONS ETC OF THE CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY  WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT IN MAINTAINING THE SOCIAL FABRIC. IN FACT , THE AUTHOR WILL BE SATISFIED AND HIS IMAGINATION AND INTELLECTUAL INSTINCTS WILL BE SATISFIED , IF ANY OF THE CHARACTERS , CIRCUMSTANCES OR EVENTS NARRATED IN THIS NOVEL PROVOKES THOUGHTS AMONG THE READERS WHICH FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL FABRIC THROUGH EMANCIPATION OF PERSONAL DIGNITY, FREEDOM , LIBERTY AND CULTURE

 

  .

                                                It was a sleepless night for Nimmy. Tomorrow she and her brother Vishal will fly to  ' the land of her dreams ' - the place where her parents were born and bought up before they immigrated to this place in search of better prospects some 25 years back. She once again went through the luggage and ensured that the tickets, passport everything is safe.

                                  Ever since childhood, she had always listened with awe the narration by her parents about a land where mind boggling philosophies, civilizations and  culture merged across centuries incubating the genesis of a rare genre of humanity which welcomed with open hands all major civilizations of the world and upheld the concepts of personal freedom , liberty , tolerance, sacrifice and co - existence.

                                  Her dreams and sleep was disturbed by a knock on the door. It was her mother.

"Nimmy, It's time you get ready", her mother said.

"Yes mother", Nimmy replied.

                                    She leaped out of the bed and hugged her mother. Her mother once again reminded her about the diary she had given to Nimmy detailing the Do's and Dont's  to be followed after landing in her native place. Nimmy once again promised her mother that she  and her brother Vishal will observe all the commandments enshrined in the diary and compiled by her Mother.

"Nimmy, John called you yesterday. he told me to convey his best wishes for your journey", Mother said.

                                    John has been Nimmy's classmate during her MBA course.

Ever since she decided to do Research  for her Doctorate in Philosophy( which has always been her pet subject and topic of interest life long )   in the land of her parents native place, John was very envious and had always told her that he don't have such a place to go. He became more confused when she told him that she will only marry a person from the "Land of her dreams".

John always wondered what is special about the ' Land of her Dreams'

                                   John always felt envious of the imaginary person of Nimmy from the land of her dreams but he always admired her and her thoughts though which left him always confused.

 

                                   

                                   The announcement from the pilot of landing, within half an hour in the ' Land of her Dreams '  made Nimmy and Vishal jump in joy in the comforts of their flight. Nimmy and Vishal leaned to the window and stretched themselves to have a view of the land below.

                             

                                          Down below like dots which came more and more big, with the descent of the flight, she stared into a green patch of land entrenched with lakes, rivers and sea.

She felt sudden burst of emotions and a strange feeling of landing into a fairy tale world.
                  
                                                   To Be Continued, next week end ..........

 

Mother - Am I Fortunate ?

Mother - Am I fortunate ?

Forty Years Back................

From the eternal slumber in the 

womb of nature and from the cosy 

comfort of evolution of nine months, where

vibrations from an unknown source 

sustained and caressed me with life and blood..........

A sudden jerk woke me up from the

sluggishness to face to face with two 

weak, wearied and tearful eyes looking

down at me with tenderness and two 

pale hands scooped me yet again 

into the comfort and warmth of

which I am, by now, very familiar with and fed me into the liveliness

and energy to face the mundane existence.

Over the years , the two

tender, weary and tearful eyes suffered 

and sacrificed in silence and in earthy patience witnessing

the evolution of her creation 

with the same warmth and affection , as if

it still is a part of her own body.........

Through the savanna of  

picturesque experiences during the

evolution, the creation (myself) always

felt those two eyes behind me,

supporting and sustaining me in every way 

possible, as if the creation is still part of

her own body..........

Over the years of search
of the creation (myself) for  more
comfort from different sought out sources, channelised by the so - called society,the
same two anxious eyes followed me, the
creation, always seeking my welfare.

Over the years, exhausted
after the search by me ...............for all the
comforts sought after..... still
myself, the creation, could see
two anxious eyes behind my back......
which , now, I felt more weary and yearning for my soothe and support.

On realization ,  after an exhausting and exacting search that, the ULTIMATE TRUTH  is nowhere external ,but internal , my source ,the owner of those two weary eyes , my earthly existence ......
 MY MOTHER ....... MY CREATOR, MY GOD, MY RELIGION , MY CASTE ,  MY CREED , BREED , BLOOD, FLESH, EMOTIONS, MIND, THOUGHTS
MY EARTH, MY NATURE and  MY UNIVERSE.



With remorse ....... when
I turned back, the same two eyes
comforted me with tears and reminded
me of my duty towards mundane and earthly life and
pushed me again to mundane
existence and towards my self discovered and society and earthly mundane world guided, imposed  and compelled  traditions, ethos and culture which can be epitomized with the epithet,
"comforts and hapiness"

As seasons rolled by, I felt
those two eyes more weary and
teary and the pale hands which swooped
me into her breast and fed me, more weak,
but still unwilling to accept back
the comforts offered by her creation(myself)
on the premise of
lessening of discomfort to her creation.

As TIME passed by ............ I watched with envy ........the affection showered on my son by his MOTHER ( my wife ) and also  I watched with home sickness the affection showered by all MOTHERS of all creatures to their children and I longed to return to my birth place , the same cosy , comfort zone  from where I came and to fall into deep slumber in the breast and comfort of my MOTHER , breaking free from all  superficial  restrictions of current existence ,  rewinding forty years back .............like in a dream , only to wake up to the reality  ........ exposed to me by the ethereal , eternal and ephemeral TIME which whispered to me the golden rule - PAST IS PAST which I realised with a broken heart .................

The two anxious eyes......
still follows...




.......And I feel, fortunate are
those who are able to leave this
world , at the end of existence looking at those two weary,
weak and anxious eyes, which bought us
into this mundane existence ......again into the deep slumber in the WOMB OF NATURE

In that context, MOTHER,
AM I FORTUNATE ?

Dedicated to all MOTHERS of this world and
the other world.

By 
B.C Hari Sankar

Adolescence (some thoughts)

ADOLESCENCE

 

 The intermission between puberty and
maturity......
with warmth and support available galore
from support systems,
Ideas and rudderless thoughts
at its exuberance best.......
Innate audacity  disfigured and expositioned as arrogance,
Notions of everything under the earth at its incubation,
Wafer thin boundary which separates
fantasy from reality......
Reasoning of reason at its lowest ebb,
In the end ........... only to find oneself
in the clutches of the endemic and
ever pervasive, sardonic saturation
point of mediocre
comfort zones - Projected, extolled and glorified as
the ordinary, normal and
natural , customary way of life, which is nothing
but the hearth of adolescence and the
dawn of adult hood.

Some thoughts
by
 Hari Sankar

Thunder Shower (Poem)

              Thunder Shower           

       

Lush Green Foliage spreads,

With blooming Flowers.

Tiny droplets fall down down from leaves,

Into the ground below and disappear,

Like the thoughts which fade into the depths of nowhere,

Only to resurface again like the dark clouds,

Which appear and disappear.

    

Thunder Showers maybe are the 

Lullaby of nature to help

all creatures to efface oneself of

Fading and resurfacing thoughts,

Only to look forward afresh with

hope of better assumption.

  

A poem by

Hari Sankar