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