He felt thirsty. It was midnight. He went outside to take water from the earthen pitcher. Gulped. Gasped for the breath. May be, it was because of that dream! The cool water parched his thirst and its sweetness melted into his throat. He looked at the bright moon and sparkling stars. They all looked absorbed into their cosmic meditativeness- rapt and attentive. The silence at night was something too absorbing for him and Bramhli looked a perfect piece of cosmic beauty amidst such sylvan environment.
When he was about to go into his room, he found distant voices. Inquisitively he traced the voices to see and enquire if his presence was needed or some urgency there. When he reached besides the tree along the pond side, he was amazed to see Urka and Bikta engrossed in their talks. He couldn’t believe. They both seemed to be at ease and discussing something important. He wanted to intervene but decided to stay back.
On the other side of the pond he went and looked into the calm and quiet water. Moon, along with stars present, witnessing his journey as though, spreading their presence over the water blanket. On an auto-pilot mode he reflected. He was shocked and surprised. It wasn’t allowed in his home to talk at late night. A man or a woman; a girl and a boy talking to each other, rather eyebrows would be raised and many questions would be asked in his family.
He immediately recalled his college party when he had come late and his parents had asked multitude of questions. He was with Latika, Divya, Emula, Bishu, Tejas, Kunal, all his friends with whom he had developed affinity in his college days and spending time with them was something that he longed the most. His rigid family had warned him, however, not to stay back late and talk at night and coming to home late was also, not at all allowed. He had to follow the family norms.
His parents were the most loving and caring. He adored and followed them. Since childhood they had taken care of all his needs and wants. This deep friendship was not acceptable to them though. Night-outs and late night calls were prohibited. In college days after study he had to talk to all his friends and sit for discussions and studies in the hostel. The discipline of the home didn’t allow him to follow this. He had to follow the routine set by his parents. What he liked or disliked that didn’t matter to them. He must be obedient, do what they say.
His gregarious nature though always flocked more friends to him than otherwise would have been possible. His subjects and friendship demanded a lot of time and attention. He wasn’t given permission. He couldn’t continue with Iikita because of this. Iikita felt very close to him and would share all her pangs and dreams. When he couldn’t continue, his anguish found expression in moving away from his home, from his family. This became the reason, he had come to Himalayan Retreat Centre.
Today, he witnessed two souls taking to each other without limitation of any social and societal inhibitions. ‘What’ they talked he couldn’t hear nor was he interested in that, his quest was to know and ask “Who decides these norms?”
Norms-why do they matter?
The Almighty