The Mask

I remember as a Child I used to love Masks. For a small town girl in those times, going to see the Circus was a treat. Those clowns with colorful clothing, distinctive makeup and fancy masks, I found them to be funny, entertaining and lovable. I wanted to buy those masks from local fairs and pretend to be someone else. It was fun to wear that colorful mask, cover the face and exciting to look someone else. With changing times, the clowns were replaced by Super-Heros and the masks represented more power.

We never realized how the masks have become a part of our lives. Situations, fear, surroundings, experiences… each element added a strong reason to wear a mask. I wore mask to present a docile, refined self in the initial years and each time I wore it, I often did not recognize me. Many times the real emotions behind the happy face remained hidden and elusive. As a woman, I was expected to remain silent when there was a volcano erupting in my life. I have seen women who wear masks all the time just to be a woman of perfection, hiding their emotions, thoughts and dreams in front of the society.

Standing on the crossroads of life, I finally gathered strength to tear the mask away and face the world. I failed, learned, experimented a lot and eventually learned to be fearless, evolved as a new me! Although it helped to wear a mask many times.. it made me smile when I was not happy, be brave when I was falling apart. But somewhere it was hiding my soul and I let go of that.
With age, I came across masked people. The childhood concepts of the masks have taken an absolute new dimension. It turned out to be a mysterious world of dishonesty, unfaithfulness and much more.  The real faces behind it scares me sometimes.

I think it is important to be true to oneself and not to others. Dare to hold on to own identity and self-respect.

People might not like it, may damn you but Be perfect for yourself Anandi !!