Austerity

The longest , prettiest tresses , ever seen on the planet were those that  were never seen . It belonged to nuns who taught me in my primary and high school , and kept it all neatly pinned into obedient buns , unseen , hidden behind a veil . That was one of the first lessons in contradictions of our life for me .

Another event that shaped my opinion was the day we were asked to collect colourful sarees for a cultural event . The sarees , tagged , numbered , were lying in a heap on the table . A gaggle of nuns entered the classroom , and excitedly talking in their native tongue , shifted through the colourful fabrics . Bright eyed and loquacious , one of them went ahead and wrapped one of the best , zari-bordered one , around her waist . There was a stunned silence . The nun , fed up of the  mono chromatic existence , had given in to the lure of colour . Unforgivable! The nun in question saw the look on her fellow nuns' faces , and slowly unwrapped and folded the saree , replacing it on the table  .  The rest of the class continued to do what they did best , make noise , and not take notice . The nuns resumed chattering , as if nothing had happened.

There was another pretty nun, a teacher of ours , of course , who used to wield tremendous power. She had complete sway over all the official decisions taken by the principal , a father. This was greatly resented by other , more senior teachers   . Only now , in retrospect , I realise that the influence must not be without its very human failings . Even priests are known to be swayed  in presence of gorgeous physical beauty , how much ever  cloaked in the mono chromatic religious colour /fervour that is visible to the outsiders like us .

Another sister (nun) once slit her wrists , and we were told an elaborate story about broken window panes and storms etc.
While this particular nun was known to be high strung and temperamental , the other nun who committed suicide by jumping into a well , was  of milk complexion, had a very sweet disposition and round black eyes . Again we were told a story of accidental fall .

Now , as I have grown up , and can see things from a  different perspective (and height) , the pain , isolation and human agony that these fine human beings underwent , is all the more palpable. The prison-like rigid world of archaic austerity which they are subjected to , or subject themselves to , seems agonising and unnecessary.