Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Through A Stained Glass

I've been interviewing the staff of the Library for the souvenir. And I'm struck so much by how much our attitudes colour the way we look at life.

Here is U, an Anglo Indian. Now past 70, its hard to see the beauty she once must have been when she was crowned Ms.Bombay. Having lived it up as long as she could; she settled down late in life with someone she feels was second best. Her life has been a downward spiral monetarily and finally her husband and she landed up in Ooty. They've been given a free cottage but she has to make do with her small salary. She's always well made up and dressed well inspite of her ill health but thinks life hasn't been too good to her.

Contrast H, who is quiet and mousy. Happily married, she says she wouldn't change anything about her life except maybe ask for a better voice to sing. She might even work for free at this job if need be. All the staff at the Library are like her family.

Helper S, is pushing 80 and can't remember any happy event in his life. Life just is - he feels. He lives with his wife and 4 children.

Helper D, also born in the same year has had 2 wives and 5 children and lives alone in the same free home as U. He is grateful for the rooms, grateful for this job which gives him peace of mind and his children whom he visits every week.

Sadly, how much money one has does seem to matter a lot and colour the way we feel about our lives and other people.

7 comments:

Swarna said...

Interesting - and revealing - perspectives.
Thanks for sharing, Kalyani.
Now I know that your souvenir's recipe includes a warm and caring heart.

Gowri Mohanakrishnan said...

'Sadly, how much money one has does seem to matter a lot and colour the way we feel about our lives and other people.'
Too true - and sad too.

Lakshmi Bharadwaj said...

interesting, and quite true...really,i guess the world is like that. Your words, Sadly, how much money one has does seem to matter a lot and colour the way we feel about our lives and other people are so correct!
keep writing!

Maddy said...

that had a nice philosophical touch. i think you must do more of these, not everybody is good at observing and remembering..

RAJI MUTHUKRISHNAN said...

Yes, as Swarna says, perspectives ...

"Two men look through the same bars
One sees mud and one sees stars"

kallu said...

-Swarna, thank you. :-)

-Gowri , Money does matter, doesn't it? :(

- Lakshm, thanks and you seem to know a lot of truths for somebody so young. You are the bird that sings in the tree which is Mysore Park.:-)

-Thanks Maddy. Im not sure what you mean; everyone can draw conclusions and good ones when circumstances dont involve them perosnally. Still , it feels good.:-()

Raji- yes, each of us looks at the same thing so differently- for instance a married couple. :-)

Maddy said...

yup - u are right. what i meant is when one lets the mind drift, interesting outputs are sometimes generated..