From Life To Me

Burning the Books

Atticus Finch used to say that to know a person, you have to walk around in their shoes. I have done that, yet I still can't understand him. And, now I just don't have to, nor do I care to.

You must be wondering what in blazes I am talking about. Who's he? Well guys, I'm talking about my (ex) maternal grandparents. Emphasis on the ex.

Let me take you a few years back. My boards had ended and we had shifted in with my MG'S. (you have any idea how long it takes to type the whole thing). Things were fine. Until October when their ex maid arrived with her son, whose parentage and lineage are both a subject of confusion. But, me being me I made friends with him quite easily. I think I scolded him once, while we were eating fish curry. You see he was blabbing and there was a risk of a fishbone getting stuck in his throat. Hence, I told him to shut up and eat and then chat with me if he wanted. When Dad returned from office, he was told that I had abused the kid and after that had also abused my MG'S.

At that point, I was trying to get my head around the fact that a guy who used to clean my puke off the floor, always have a chocolate waiting for me, put me on his knees and tell me fairytales, could actually be a cold hearted bastard.

So, I stopped talking to him for a month, and made him wilt. He had a flaming row with Dad on the subject of my upbringing. That was after I had smashed the front door with my bare hands. You see, my MG'S are used to being kings of the castle and now they had a problem. Me. More importantly, I saw my MG'S without their masks, revealed in all their glory. However, I wasn't surprised because I realized that I had seen through them a long time ago. A few more incidents later, we shifted house and that chapter remains closed. So why did I write this? I guess I'm burning the book. And to them I would like to quote these lines from a poem by Anwesha Chattopadhay, a friend of mine-

“I have found, that I like walking in the rain,

Just me, myself, and I.

I have found, that I like reading a good book,

Alone. By a warm fire.

When I wake up, I like knowing,

That I’m Here. Ticking inside.

I like having dreams, and plans,

That I neither have to share, nor divide.

Perhaps, One day, that will change.

And I shall welcome a bond, a tie.

But, for now, I’m glad to be free.

And I’m very glad that you said goodbye.”