Greybeard

Standing in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection, I was aghast.

They were there, all right. Tiny ones, barely visible but present. Try as I might and will them away, they wouldn't go. Repeatedly, I shut my eyes tightly only to find them there upon re-opening my eyes, glistening slightly as if making some lewd joke at me. The dying rays of the setting sun caught upon them and traveled to my shocked eyes providing a visual stimulus that started many a chemical reactions in my body and which probably terminated on reaching my mind producing a state of shock.

There are many things that may shock people. Bad news, extreme emotions, surprising revelations and the like. Only today did I realize that two tiny strands of glistening grey hair were also capable of providing that same response.

Its difficult to describe what I thought at that instant of time, whether I thought anything or not. On retrospection, I think it was probably the feeling that it was a reminder of sorts that time was running out that caused my startled reaction. Time to achieve something in my career, to pursue my interests, to do something worthwhile. All of it running out with me unable to do anything till now.

I am no stranger to grey hair. My hair started greying when I was in the seventh standard. Its not difficult concealing grey hair. Apply some dye or some colouring agent and voila! You are good as new, or maybe slightly different (if you use a colouring agent). But grey beard? How do you hide it?

I don't like shaving frequently and am no daily shaver by any means. And its difficult colouring your beard when you are going to shave it off in two-three days time exposing the glistening grey underneath. And I don't prefer longish sideburns too otherwise I could have got it dyed.

On the other hand, does it really matter that my beard is growing white? I am still the same person, with the same desires and wishes (the only difference being that they have been scaled down to fit my prospective budget and social standing). Decidedly older (and with grey beard to show for it:)) but in no way different or incapable. And aren't young girls supposed to be more impressed with older and mature looking guys?

Well, its for time to decide and tell (maybe I can also tell it through this blog) whether and in what way this grey beard, of which the two strands are just the sentinels, shall affect me, my thought processes and my life. Hopefully, it'll be for the better.

Amen!


(Inspired by Harishankar Parsai's 'Pehla Safed Baal')