ABNORMAL TIMES CHANGE NORMAL PEOPLE

ABNORMAL TIMES CHANGE NORMAL PEOPLE
Hamid and I grew up together in the same locality. We went to different schools but played the games together in the only space called Municipal Park in our Mohalla after school. Many a times we fought over various issues but came back to the playing area without either of us inviting or surrendering. In effect we lived a normal life as all normal people do.
Our families were not close but were familiar and would wish each other. We got our clothes stitched form Hasid’s father who owned a tailoring shop and they would buy clothes from store owned by my father.
Our locality is inhabited by lower middle class families. People have been living here for years in perfect harmony and no incident of violence was ever reported. In fact our locality was quoted as a living example of communal harmony. The families of both the communities were historically segregated on communal lines and no one from one community even tried to own a house on either side of the community divide represented by a narrow street. Herds have to live together for protection and survival.
Everything however, changed after 26/11/2008. There were some under current after the demolition of Babri Masjid on 6/12 to be precise but no weight was ever given to rumors. Now there were rumors that policemen in plain clothes were moving in the area and were in the lookout for some suspects who helped in the logistic support to the terrorists on and before 26/11. The whole atmosphere smacked of conspiracy and distrust of the other community.
People started behaving abnormally. There were no more wishing to other community member, avoiding became the norm. People no more talked but whispered. Business deals too became community centric. My school uniform was sent for stitching to some another tailor in the town. There were clear instructions to us not to play with children of the other side of the street. Women did not move as freely, particularly after sunset.
I still went to the Municipal Park but stayed away from Hamid and children of his community. Hamid was no more a playmate. If it is happening in our Mohalla, could this be happening in Malegaon also? Was it possible that some Mahesh there was no more a playmate of some Hamid there too?

I just wonder how abnormal times change normal people. History is full of stories when normal people behaved quite abnormally. The memories of Partition of India in 1947 are still fresh in the minds of people who were directly involved. Stories are told of the great Bengal famine of 1943 when humans became inhuman in the face of hunger. Abnormal times turn friends into foes. Abnormal times make charity, dignity, compassion a rare virtue.
On the positive side there are stories of normal people remaining normal in the worst of times- helping their fellow beings, sharing food and shelter, protecting against mob furry.
The worse side of human nature, alas, comes in the open in abnormal times.