Common Man

There was a time (and maybe still is) when I used to dream utopian. There was a time when I was unaware about how a real human being behaves when he is set free. I was even unaware about the weaknesses that are inherent in a human being. I was an idealist but being an idealist is not enough, I have learnt for it makes you blind. It makes you blind about how the world moves actually. An idealist just dreams in his own world.
But being stationed here in Jammu, surrounded by real people has taught me a lot. It has been an interesting journey to learn how the "common man" behaves. I have never had such an interaction with the "common man" earlier, except in Nigeria where I passed them as exceptions. And thats because he (the common man) used to hide behind my relatives, friends and people whom I respected and trusted. But the question here is - who IS this common man? What does he look like?
A common man is a married man with two kids and a wife, working in a renowned company for Rs 25,000 a month. He is 35 years old and owns a car, although he lives in a rented house. He lives in the society, surrounded by various people. He follows the customs and his religion and is quite God fearing. He loves his family and his parents and has no great ambitions except to increase his income twofolds, maybe.
He has mastered the art of looking content and is extremely concious of his image. He says he drinks socially and smokes no more than a couple of cigarettes a day and he is proud that he has controlled his senses after marriage and that is why he disapproves of looking at other (pretty) women. A common man, my dear friends is a liar and a hypocrite. He is selfish and jealous and he is also dishonest and corrupt but most importantly he is weak and timid. Here I present before you the real face of the "common man". You give him just a little bit of freedom and he turns out to be a satan, a mean slimy organism who can fill your heart with unimaginable hatred. He is not a lion but a wolf he is not a hawk but a vulture. He is cunning and crooked and he strikes on your back.
You give him free liquor and he turns out to be a drunkard. You show him a dark alley with a lonely damsel and he turns out to be a rapist (provided the damsel forgets every damn thing the following morning). You give him a million rupees and he can sell away his country. He doesnt mind cheating on his wife time and again while away from home. He doesnt mind stealing goodies if no ones watching and he can hurl every abuse on this earth to the womankind if noone is listening. He has an eye on his younger sister but is too afraid to make a move. He can kill his boss and his wife and throw away their corpses in river but is too weak to proceed. He can rob a bank provided you give him safe haven. He can even abandon his children if you assure him that someone would not let them die on streets.
This is the "common man". The man next door. The man on street riding a hero honda. The man working as a financial advisor in ICICI bank. The man who enjoys cricket after workin 10 hours in the office. The man who never forgets to bring gifts for your children on Diwali. He moves amongst us - the "common man". Beware !!

~<051120071057>