The Masks

The Masks

By

P.R.Ramachander

( Based on a short story  I read in Kumudam  , The tamil  magazine.

On reading it  , I could   think of   the  need   to have  several such masks,

So that life   becomes   tolerable    and bearable)

 I was one day   standing in market  street,

With my friend   , who works   with me,

One gentleman known to me  approached me,

And   I started   taking to him as  follows.

I  have   come here    to this market to make purchases,

Since I have  lots of savings   in the bank  ,

Though our  washing machine   and fridge ,

Are not at all old , I thought  of buying  new ones.

That gentleman   said great  news   and left the place ,

Another   gentleman   now approached  me and I told him,

This is my friend  , since   I am  badly in need of money,

I approached  him for a big loan  and he  too  left immediately.

My friend    who was   standing  with me  was blinking ,

And asked me  , “ I am not   able  to inderstand you”

And I said  “Very simple  the first man   was my neighbour ,

And I want to impress him, and second my close relation.

I wanted   to make him  understand   that I am not that well off,

And if he   is thinking of tapping me  for money , I do not have it.

These  are   two of the masks   that  wear very often,

So that I can  impress the people   as per my choice.