With nearly fifty vaccines nearly ready, I can imagine this scene soon: The phone rings, and you answer, Yes?”
“Sir we are from the Russian vaccine company! We have free gifts to offer along with the dose!”
“How nice!” you say, “And what are the free gifts?”
“Five masks with each dose!”
“Masks?” you ask.
“Five sir, five!”
“But why should I wear masks after a dose of the vaccine, isn’t the whole idea to get rid of the masks?”
“But why take a risk sir!”
“Risk?”
“Suppose it doesn’t work, then the mask still helps! We will even make it six masks?”
You cut the call, and find it ringing again, “Sir, we are from the UK vaccine company!” says a voice brightly.
“And how many masks do you offer along with the vaccine?” you ask.
“No masks sir! Why would we offer masks? With our vaccine there’s no need after one shot?”
“How costly is it?” And when he tells you, you gasp, “But that is ten times costlier than the other one?”
“Yes, but this one guarantees you total effectiveness sir!”
Which do you take?
And this is not just about vaccines, it’s nearly about everything in life. How many of us, booked a home years ago, because the price was less than other flats around the same area and today, we find walls crumbling because the material used was sub-standard? And now, day in and day out, with masks of fear on, you look at walls that may come down on you any day!
Or was it a driver or cook you employed, paying a little less than the market rate? And now you look at the gearbox repair bill, or feel the effects of a tummy ache and shake your head in despair, beneath the mask of compromise!
Or the qualifications you have! Didn’t want to study farther, or go to a better college! Too much effort, and now wearing the mask of shame, with a low paid job, you live on.
What is the mask you wear, even after those cheap vaccines? Fooled by the low pricing, less effort or involvement or less, the giving in of yourself!
What?
Or, what spiritual guidance do you follow? One, which tells you to donate some money and that guarantees you a richer life, or one, that says, you will have to submit body, mind and soul to get a transformation? And now, after taking the wrong spiritual vaccine, you tug at the mask of hypocrisy, stuck to your face, hiding your old nature within!
“No masks required after this vaccine!” says the doc, giving me a jab, “Though I wonder how you’re going to pay my bill!” And we laugh as I throw my mask away with gay abandon..!
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and author. He blogs at www.bobsbanter.com and can be reached at bobsbanter@gmail.com
