I was wondering why some people project themselves fearsome, raw and tyrannical in power that has got nothing to do with the other standing face to face with them. Don't they assume a lot to restrict themselves to such positions and situations?
A couple of months ago, while shopping in India, I happened to come across a man I know, who might have forgotten me, for it's too hard to sail up the river of life and keep abreast of what's up with all friends. He's quite younger than me and currently one of the top brasses of a regional TV channel. If we roll out and sing from the same song-sheets, we have a lot to remember and laugh about. He's to always wonder about my Malayalam fictions published not because of the greatness of writing but the good frequency that kept up. He used to consult me on how to go about the publishing of articles in various periodicals. We had met numerous times and he had no reservations for an open talk.
But when I met him and reintroduced myself and told him that we were old friends and used to meet up in the early eighties I found him cold-shouldered and felt like he's carrying the whole weight of the world he controls. He was so quiet in his reciprocation and seemed restrained. I wished it would have been a surprise for him if introduced me to his wife standing beside him, making the whole small world bloom! He didn't even give me a full-blown smile nor a sentence other than the stray ..hm.... hm..yeah..yeah.. etc. Are memories like water off a duck’s back even at a very younger age? First time in my life I had a feeling that I shouldn't have gone to him followed by the inner me saying, ''nothing wrong, for you've not gone for any favours.'' My wife who was busy shopping at a nearby counter also looked at me and felt my pulse that I’m at the receiving end.
I do not think that this is because of him being an introvert or prefers seclusion. After we left each other a few years ago he soon became a popular lyricist and had enough of the limelight in his field. I wanted to escape from the territory I felt I do not belong to. That left me absolutely cold and reminded me to take a small bite of the reality sandwich always first. I for one think that the other human being may be good at hundreds of
things I’m not good at or not even heard of and respect people as and where they are, irrespective of the professions they hold.
No wonder another celebrity film director asked my friend to facilitate me to call him up to get more information on a foreign film festival I'm attached to. Although all information is available on the net, he preferred me to call back. My friend who stood in between apologetically told me, ''you please call him up as he said he has some propriety and protocol to call you, being a national award winner.''
Did I hear the usage right? Propriety.... protocol..? Is there anything like that? Are we to throw the weight we gain from fame on others?
But I had called up without losing any of mine!