THE MASQUERADE - PART 7 - Continued from Part 6.........

THE MASQUERADE - PART 7 - Continued from Part 6.........

It was a Sunday . Nimmy earnestly want to spend more time with Ravi and delve deep into the nuances of various philosophical thoughts which often rages her mind . She hoped that she will be able to talk with him endlessly without any interference from anyone . She have found in Ravi a similar minded person.

She took a bath , dressed quickly and reached the dining area where she could see Sanku uncle and Sarada aunty dressed up and having food.

Nimmy: Hi , good morning Uncle and aunty . Where are you going .

Sarada aunty : Oh , what to say Nimmy . Today we have two marriages to attend , one house warming session also , to attend . The driver has not reached yet. All functions are at the same time .

Sanku uncle : we will just show our face and then hop to the other . Like wise we can complete attending all the functions .

Nimmy : But , you could have prioritised and avoided one or two.

“ No Nimmy , It's not possible , we have to look at their face in future also and we have to maintain the friendships and relationships . All are locals . They will not look at our face if we did not attend the function and the whole relationship will get strained.” , Sarada aunty interrupted .

Nimmy: But , how could you attend all the functions at the same time and also whether the friendships and relationships have only that much depth whereby inability or lack of interest in attending the functions are the sole criterion which determines the future of the relationship. What kind of friendship or relationship is that . Nimmy wondered .

Nimmy continued , “ To my knowledge true friendship or relationship is understanding each other and accomodating each other”.

Sanku uncle : Nimmy , the value systems you have learned has no value in this society . Here all outward expressions like attending functions , giving presents , building big houses , owning many vehicles , dressing pompously, attending and hosting parties etc are given value and given recognition. You take the case of us today , We go there in car , We just go straight to the parents of the bride and give the present and by that time , our laughing and greeting faces will be captured by the cameramen , that is sufficient , then we just escape to the other function . Nimmy , you will learn all these tricks , in due course .

Nimmy: Sorry , Sanku uncle , I don't want to learn these ' tricks ' . You are not going to these functions for participating , out of genuine desire , you are going there to please the relevant people because you are afraid , lest they will not look at your face . You go there , show off well and after attending the function , gossip among others about the defects you found in the host who invited you and you say this is the sign of friendship and you maintain relationships and friendships like this . Great ! I wonder how much we have downgraded ourselves through our thoughts and deeds , even though we are fortunate enough to be born in this land which gave birth to many well known personalities who considered the thoughts like , Simple Living and High Thinking as their religion . Shame on us !! Well , I can't understand these approaches to friendship , relations etc , any way bye , I am going to the house of Ravi . Bye , see you .

After a moment of silence , Sarada aunty called Nimmy from behind , “ Hey , Nimmy , who is Ravi . Why are you going to his house .”

Nimmy came back and replied , “ Maya knows who is Ravi . She will tell you , bye .”

Nimmy left the place and took the scooty and went straight to the house of Ravi.

On reaching the house of Ravi , Nimmy pressed the bell . The door was opened by Roopa . “ Hi , nice to see you again. I know you came to talk with Ravi . Just go upstairs to his library . He will be there .” Roopa said with a smile .

“ Thanks Roopa ” , Nimmy muttered softly and went to the room shown to her by Roopa .

Nimmy entered a medium sized room , with open windows and green scenery and roof garden full of blooming flowers and fresh air . The walls of the room were adorned with the portraits of philosophers , writers , thinkers , poets , artists etc from all over the world, drawings , meta physical symbols , and several abstract thoughts , inscriptions etc and every inch of the room crowded with books , a computer,music system and a small TV. On entering the room , her attention was drawn to an inscription which read ,

“ This space belongs to all who seeks TRUTH , KNOWLEDGE and LOVE.”

On one corner of the room , Nimmy could see Shyam , the son of Ravi , fully immersed in his note pad and in another corner , she could see Ravi , sitting simply , staring to the greenery outside ,with a cup of tea in his hand, fully engrossed in thoughts . Nimmy stood still , wondering about the whole ambience . The total silence of the room brought peace to her mind.

“ Hi , Ravi , am I disturbing you”. Nimmy exclaimed .

Ravi slowly turned back from his chair and replied , “ Hi , I was just thinking about you and your interest in philosophical thoughts at this young age itself”.

Nimmy : That is why I am here . I think I have found the right place . Do I have the freedom to use this library .

Ravi : On that point , there need not be any confusion . You can see the inscription on the wall , at the entrance of the room which read ,

“ This space belongs to all who seeks TRUTH , KNOWLEDGE and LOVE.”

Now , keep this key with you . From your eyes I could see how much sincere and devoted you are to your favourite interest , KNOWLEDGE . This space is yours . Whatever knowledge you could gather from here , take …..... You have full freedom .

Nimmy : Thanks , Ravi .

Nimmy felt very happy .

Ravi : Nimmy , you can go through the materials available here . I am in the midst of some thought processes and we will talk later, may be after half an hour.

Nimmy: Ok , Ravi , thanks for expressing your mind . Let me go through your collections.

Nimmy was surprised at the depth and variety of the collection of materials like books , DVD 's , portraits etc in the library of Ravi covering every branch of knowledge . She went to Shyam .

Nimmy: Hi , Shyam , How are you

Shyam : Hi , fine . Do you like our place .

Nimmy : Sure , your place is like heaven , far..... far..... from the masquerades.

Shyam : That's because you think like that . The people whom you say wear masquerades think that it is the proper and practical way of living and they boast among themselves that intelligent people live like them. They consider people like you and my father as people who don't know how to live.

Nimmy was surprised at the analytical depth of the thoughts of Shyam

Nimmy: Ok, Shyam , what do you feel regarding the whole subject , I mean , which is the correct way of living , according to you

Shyam : Well , Nimmy , I am also with you considering the fact that I was fortunate enough to learn these values from my father , but I feel sad because majority of the people , especially among my generation are not having access to people like my father or his thoughts since the current society is moving in another direction and every one are swayed by their feet in the hurricane of crass commercialisation . You breathe and live the air full of commercialisation and the society and its thoughts , beliefs , culture , value systems etc are eroded and projected as per their marketing agendas by the forces of commercialisation , to such an extent , without our awareness , that even older generation who are deeply rooted to the values of truth, are finding the going difficult , let alone , we , the younger generation.

Nimmy: Great , man , how you came to such bold conclusions , even at this young age itself .

Shyam: I don't know.

“ Well , I also don't know”, exclaimed Ravi , who joined them .

Ravi: Roopa , the mother of Shyam says both myself and Shyam are negative characters because she thinks the masquerades are positive people since the general character of the current society encourages wearing masquerades . So she wears masks happily and positively , proud of her positivity in dealing with the society after wearing masks . She chides me and allege that I am instilling all the ' negative ' TRUTHS in the mind of Shyam . But , actually , I have never done that . I have never imposed my thoughts or enquiries on anyone . I have given Shyam full freedom to have his own enquiries on LIFE and SOCIETY. But , fortunately , he has found eternal truths at this young age itself . It is not my effort . It is his own effort and the blessings of God.

“ Come , Nimmy , We will sit there in the garden and talk” , Ravi guided Nimmy to the corner of the room .

Nimmy : Ok , Shyam , will talk to you later

Nimmy : Ravi , you told me , you were thinking about me . What was you thinking about me .

Ravi : Why or How one feels affinity to another

Nimmy : May be , it is the like mindedness aspect or admiration to something or someone like whom we are unable to become or which we are striving to become.

Ravi: Ok , why you came and talked to me . Why you feel like coming here and talk to me . Why I like talking to you . Why Shyam likes to talk to me . Why Roopa is not interested in having lengthy talks with me . Why Maya likes to talk with me . Why I like to talk with Maya. Why Deepu is not interested in talking to me . Nimmy , we are having varying degrees of affinity towards different people . Our grades of affinity varies towards , Mother , Father , Children , it have varying degrees among friends , relatives etc etc

Ravi continued , “Nimmy , I have gone indepth into the subject of , Why people think and behave differently . Different people think and behave differently .It is not due to circumstance alone , as Shyam has said . People in the same family , born and brought up in the same circumstances think and behave differently . WHY”.

Nimmy : Ok , Ravi understood , what is the result of your enquiry . What is the answer you found on the subject of varying degrees of affinity .

Ravi : Well , Nimmy , You think about it and give me an answer or the result of your enquiry , next time we meet..

Nimmy : Ok , Ravi , I take it as a challenge . Let me conduct an enquiry into the subject.

Ravi : Nimmy , I will give you some words as clues ,

Whether we feel affinity to some one due to or out of (1) Innate instincts we have for self expansion ( 2 ) Kindness (3) Attraction to intelligence (4) Identification with the Self (5) Admiration for the unachievable or what we strive to achieve (6) Requirement of someone to listen to our vaunts ( 7) Attraction of the senses (8) Gratification of the senses (9) Feeling of loneliness (10) Boredom

Ravi: Nimmy , you give me your observations on this topic , next time when we meet . I have to go out with Roopa . Bye … You leave when you feel like leaving … I have given the key of this library to you , You may come and go , as you wish . Bye .

Nimmy : Sure Ravi , let me go deep into the topic , bye …

TO BE CONTD..............