Hilath's Home Page - The Love Wall Crisis

The Love Wall Crisis

by Maryam Nadhrath

Entwined figures are seen perched at every three feet of the Wall, entertainment for the passing joggers. Hey! It's another reason to howl and hoot.

The respected elderly walking up and down gasp and self-righteously declare it was never so in their time. They tsk tsk about it until it's time to go back home. Thank God their little girls are not mounting the dreaded Wall.

How could she? The wise parents ask themselves, after all she's under 24-hour surveillance.

The smiles fade when one of the precious siblings is seen carving her name on the Love Wall. And it's just their luck the guy turned out to be a grade eight dropout with an attitude. Or worse he could be a 'drugie' with a cute smile.

The Law of Purity has been violated. The betrayed parents bang doors and throw tantrums. They ask questions like "What about all the sacrifices I made for you?" and "Don't you realize that if it wasn't for you we could have gone to India or Lanka every six months?" It could even come down to the extra pounds the Mother gained after giving birth.

Now the Mother will never be able to go fetch the young ones from school, too many I-saw-your-daughter-this-your-daughter-that from "well meaning friends". As for the Father, the good ol' saihota will never be the same. His buddies would be sure to point out how little control he has over his kids.

It's a major mess. She can't go to the tuition class, she's not supposed to be home if any body calls her. But did any indignant parent stop to wonder why a self-respecting girl with a few brain cells would climb up the Wall? If the parents would stop playing Ostrich for a few seconds they would realize that every thing is mixed nowadays. You cannot keep the guys and girls separate any more, even the ten-year-old knows what a 'bit' is thanks to the kind of movies and stuff they are exposed to. And no thanks to the great communication gap the parents don't have a clue about what goes on in the minds of their kids.

"Does she think she's old enough?" "Is she seeing some one?" The questions are never asked.

Now, those parents who understand that the kids are looking for companionship say, " OK bring him home" and these are the parents who can sleep peacefully at night. At least they know where she is. She's right there on the joali under the 60 watt tube light, with a guy you have been introduced to, not on the Wall, under a nonexistent moon, with some creep who smokes pot.

(This article appeared in Haveeru Daily)