HUMAN BONDAGE

Life is beautiful- as beauty lies in diversity. Just when u feel that there is everything perfect in life , it brings you back to mother earth and when you feel life is hell , it takes you back to heaven unexpectedly. It keeps happening with all of us, sooner or later and this is what makes life beautiful, its unpredictability and ups and down – like an open ended adventure! And this is the best adventure because it teaches you life long lessons.

It happened with me again few days back, though not like hell but life had become monotonous with same routine day and again. I was passing more of my time in the virtual world with little excitement in the real world. The break came in a much unexpected form –I was expecting a very boring trip but it turned out to be otherwise.

It was my 2 weeks with people who were different from me in every way- language, complexion, culture, social status, profession, family. It taught me the lesson of social behavior and human values which I had witnessed nowhere else. I carried a bundle of books, as I was expecting a very lonely trip with that language barrier. But I got so immersed in books, as always, that the books which I took for two weeks got over in 3 days. What next, was my next question as I found myself among total strangers? Though they were there with me since 3 days, but only physically, mentally I was in the paradise of books. It was a fascinating world with me flowing with the characters in their romance, love, grief and tragedy as well as those socio-political books which “take your socks off”! But this left me even more miserable as there was no one with whom I could discuss anything about those books and now I had 10 more days left with nothing much to do.

They were very different people, all of them Malyali, two of them could somehow utter some English words and one could utter Hindi, my only hope of survival there. Most of them from the lower class such as carpenter, bus conductor, small shop owner and like. Majority were Muslims and Christians. Only 1 was a contractor, that too from Delhi, so I was looking forward to some help from him. But within two days my whole perspective changed as I found Mr. Rich the most unsocial of all while others were so eager to help me, so much interested in me. The way they helped me initially, I was thinking they are looking for some reward as most of the people do in today’s world, being so called practical!

This is the problem with us-the middle class. We don’t do things without any purpose. It is very difficult for us to realize that some body will do our work on his initiative without expecting anything in the return. But that was the thing I found different in that lower class. With very few resources at their disposal they know the meaning of sharing and in that bargain loving. The care they showered on some one like me, who doesn’t speak their language, doesn’t belong to their religion, caste or community won my heart in 1 day. Then there was so much fun with them sharing our time together. There were no gadgets, no means of entertainment still it was such a nice time. With such a big language barrier, it was still so fascinating to share our things and times together. Their genuine interest in me, my life my world, their small jokes and little talks with Malayalam dessert decorated with bits of English toppings was one of the tastiest dishes I ever had in my life. And as my didi says though I never had any luck with young ladies, elderly people always find an image of their son in me. They showered me with their motherly love and it was deeply touching.

In the initial days I was waiting for my departure from that place as early as possible, back to my friends, orkut and “my life”. But last day I was feeling that nostalgia, u feel when you leave people whom u love dearly. I could sense it in them also. How just two weeks can develop a human bondage like this? I learnt the new lesson of life- love is above everything. And this makes me wonder about all those fights between different religions, caste and cultures. Human beings are not bonded by these small things, they are bonded by emotions and love which knows no barriers, no walls, no country and which can never be eroded! After all some times “Kanni Pyar” seems to be tastier then most expensive Pizza!