Short Story - MASK UNCLE - MASK AUNTY!

Mask uncle and mask aunty, the two terracotta face masks, hanging on the garden wall, look at Saranath.

“Mask uncle and aunty, why do you look so sad today?” asks Saranath, looking out of the window by the porch. Saranath is a naughty and sprightly five year old boy.

It seems to Saranath that Mask uncle and aunty are sporting a frown today. But just yesterday, he thought he had seen a smile on their faces. Saranath is puzzled. “I must really find out why mask uncle and aunty are sad today”, ponders Saranath. He quickly gulps down the glass of milk his mother had given and goes out to play with his friends.

Next morning, Saranath is on his way to school. Seeing a street dog, he picks up a stone and flings it at the poor animal. The dog yelps in pain and he giggles. When he returns home that evening, he finds mask uncle and aunty seem sadder than ever. Saranath doesn’t understand why. He runs to his grandmother and asks, “Why are mask uncle and aunty sad today? They appeared happy yesterday”.

“I don’t know. Maybe it is getting too hot these days”, replies grandmother.  Saranath is not convinced. Just then, he sees his mother watering the plants and he joins her. He carries a small watering can and waters the plants. After helping out in the garden, Saranath rushes to mask uncle and aunty. They seem to have brightened up. Saranath spots a glimmer of happiness on their faces.

The next morning, Saranath looks out of the window from his favourite spot by the porch. “The smiles are still there”, Saranath muses to himself. He goes to school a happy kid. At school, he bullies his classmate Bhargav. “You skinny boy. You are no match to me. Skinny, skinny, skinny…”, screams Saranath. He feels happy on seeing Bhargav crying.

Back home, the masks appear upset again. Saranath rushes to his grandmother and says, “I don’t think that it is the heat that is making the masks change expressions. There’s something else. Please tell me why”.

Grandma replies, “Hmm…let me see. What have you done in the past few days, my child? Tell me everything”.

Saranath says, “Two days ago, I helped mother put away the dirty dishes. The day before yesterday, I threw away my food. Yesterday morning, I threw a stone at a street dog near the school and in the evening, I watered the plants. Today I bullied my classmate Bhargav. But what have all these got to do with the mask uncle and aunty?”.

Grandma replies, “Child, don’t you see it? Every time you help or care for someone, mask uncle and aunty seem to be happy. But when you hurt or bully someone, they seem to become sad. They are trying to tell you something”.

Saranath realizes the reason now. He doesn’t want mask uncle and aunty to be sad again. “I will never hurt or bully anyone again. I will water the plants, help my mother and love animals”, he promises, quickly darting a glance at mask uncle and aunty. They seem to be smiling again!

-Swetha Kannan