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................