Native Talk

This time, when I was walking past through the familiar roads of my native town, Madurai, the way I viewed the happenings around me was far more different than how I used to see the same place during my childhood days. There happened to be no change in the mindsets of people though. Their customs, traditions, perspectives about life and the expectations from life all remained the same.

The people here are a set of contented group for whom there is no better heaven than Madurai. Goddess Meenakshi was there guiding them in every walks of life. Though the children from many of the families have got settled in metros and places abroad, their parents felt at peace in their small homes that they had built in the past out their scrimpy savings as a govt employee of those good old days.

I happened to accidentally meet few girls who were my childhood schoolmates. I made no delay in recognizing them as they looked the same they looked when I left that school after my 10th class. But the case was not the same with them. As I never looked like one of them. After leading more than 4 years of life in metros anyone would have evolved from a small-town girl look. When I was enquiring about what they are doing and also about few other frens of mine, all I got the answer was that most of them were married with at least a kid. I even got to meet one girl who was always marveled as the tallest girl of our school (particularly by me ;) ) with her 3 year old kid.

For a while I was shocked to see that girls still don’t get to follow their dreams in most of the families in towns like this. But then the reality was different. Many of them liked to be what they are though apparently for reasons that this is what any normal girl’s life at Madurai would look like. Maybe people lacked the courage to go chase their dreams or even to dream rather. Or they just are forced to abide by the custom of the society.

In any case these girls were happy. After all what do we live on this earth for? Ultimately to be happy! And that I could see in their eyes behind all those buried dreams. Although there was a trace of longing for a life like mine, there were no regrets about their present. This does not tell all about the city and its people. This city had traces of everything. People like me and people like the girls I met.

The economy here also has seen its boom these years and the bustling activity in and around the city and the town hall says it all. You don’t see flashy cars much on the roads but the air is fresh and free from any pollution. You would not like to drive through the narrow crowded roads and broken bridges but behind the conservative minds of the people you certainly would love the warmth they show. There is a truth in the way they live and people don’t regret for what they have in life.
Above all they live and let live!

Cheers!

Sukanya Krishnan