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End of a Holiday




I’m not fond of long vacations.  Work keeps me engaged and happy.  This is the first time I took a long holiday (one full month) in Kerala.  I needed it.

One of the first persons I met after returning to Delhi (whose afternoon sun reeked of malice and vengeance in stark contrast with the monsoon that drummed a relentless yet enchanting rhythm on the roof of my brother’s car as he drove us to the Cochin airport) was the boss of a commercial conglomerate in the national capital. 

I met him this morning, two days after I reached Delhi.  Why didn’t I meet anyone in these two days?  People seem to be hiding themselves somewhere on the campus.  Did I smell fear on the campus?  Not even the children played in the courtyard of the staff quarters as they used to do till late into the night in summer.  Why weren’t my colleagues coming out of their homes on their usual evening walks, I wondered. Even those who dared to come out did not seem to dare to start any communication with anyone!

“Your school is becoming famous,” said the person whom I had to meet for a personal reason. “It got some place in a national newspaper recently.”

“I know,” I said.  [I had mentioned this report in an earlier blog.]

He was very much aware of what was going on.  “The new management is dismissing or suspending the staff like children throwing pebbles into the river,” he said.

I smiled at the simile.  Is life a silly game like those played by children, I wondered.  Or is it a nefarious game manipulated by people with protracted childhood?  People who failed to live their childhood as it should have been are some of the most dangerous creatures on earth.

“It’s an unfair game,” said the person as if he had read my thoughts.  “But where on earth do you get fairness?  Has anyone succeeded fighting the system?”

Just a memory of a bygone holiday
Money and political clout rule the world, he suggested.  “If you want to save yourself you can.”

I knew what he meant.  Never don the garb of a messiah.  Every messiah was martyred by the same people whom he tried to save.

Though I was aware of the futility of trying to save anyone except oneself, what he said disturbed me.  He had managed to throw a pebble into the tranquil pool of my consciousness.  The ripples reminded me that my holiday was over. 

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Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 24, 2013 at 4:21 PM

    Loved the first line: I’m not fond of long vacations. Work keeps me engaged and happy.

    Can totally relate and yes, I hope things get better.

    ReplyDelete
  2. rishi@juitJune 24, 2013 at 4:50 PM

    Hello sir..this short writing gave me a bigger picture of thunderstorms waiting 4 sawan.. whats wrong with this so called new management? What do they want n how fair is their demand?
    Worried fr the temple(sawan) I enjoyed living..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 24, 2013 at 5:01 PM

      Rishi, what I've written is a mere 10% of what my 'friend' (I can't call him exactly that) shared with me... Obviously I can't write everything here. Why don't you make an attempt to find out more?

      Delete
  3. SidJune 24, 2013 at 5:13 PM

    Unlike most people, I am not worried about Sawan per se. I am worried about its legacy(although some would say that its legacy is what feeds its existence). Its interesting that they too patronize the Red color(the color of Naxalism). I hope that they will mend there ways and stop their invisible yet profound breed of militancy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 24, 2013 at 5:25 PM

      Who is worried about Sawan per se, Sid? I'm worried about my job, I guess, just like any other employee. A student will be concerned (not worried, because worry belongs to parents) about his future. Who else bothers?

      Delete
  4. UnknownJune 24, 2013 at 7:12 PM

    Never thought school too has so much of politics. I thought this kind of petty games belonged to corporate sector. Best of luck.

    ReplyDelete
  5. www.lifepartneracademy.comJune 25, 2013 at 12:00 AM

    Schools are supposed to be the fountains of knowledge. They have now become fountains of money and politics. God bless the future generations. And yes, I do long for vacation in such exotic places.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 25, 2013 at 6:24 AM

      We can understand why the world is in such a mess!

      Delete
  6. AnonymousJune 25, 2013 at 10:42 AM

    Sad to know that .. enjoyed your holiday experience through your posts ... but still life can't stand still for long .... works engages us ...and this is what life is !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 25, 2013 at 12:15 PM

      No complaints. I take life as it comes. Life is the best teacher.

      Delete
  7. UnknownJune 25, 2013 at 3:27 PM

    Hello sir, totally appreciate yor words.
    don't worry everything will be fine soon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 25, 2013 at 9:37 PM

      Very consoling words, Shiv.
      By the way, I'm not worried at all. I'm amused.

      Delete
  8. jahidJune 26, 2013 at 3:59 PM

    One month Kerala holiday. U must be totally recharged!

    ReplyDelete

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