Metamorphosis: Episode 6
The Fallout
Gurpreet didn't talk with his parents about his new appearance. He tried to avoid seeing them. He knew they would eventually find out the truth, and he wasn't looking forward to all of the negativity, the shouting, the shocked reactions, and the drama. He just wanted to stay out of all of it. So he spent more of his free time with Lee. He felt like a free bird now, so he could go to the bars and pubs and generally hang out with Lee without anyone affording him so much as a second glance. It felt really, really good not to be noticed. For the first time in his life, he felt as if he could just mind his own business and enjoy the evening out or whatever he was doing, without being bothered or disturbed or judged or attacked by total strangers. It was a relaxing, freeing feeling.
There were other side effects of his change of appearance, too. Back in Modern Physics class, one day he sat next to Michael Nesmith again by chance. Michael seemed to vaguely remember him, but couldn't quite get that it was Gurpreet.
"Are you in this class? You seem familiar, but I don't think I've actually seen you here before," he stated, hesitating.
"It's me!" Gurpreet said emphatically, "Gurpreet! Remember, we went to Friday night sermons at your church!"
"Ohhhh, Gurpreet?" Michael stared at him in surprise, "what happened to, uh, your beard and turban?"
"I decided I needed a change in looks," Gurpreet delivered his well-rehearsed line smoothly.
Michael nodded, was lost in thought for a while, and then said, "There is another Friday night sermon this week. If you're interested in coming?"
Gurpreet politely acknowledged Michael's invitation, but declined the offer. "I think this Friday, I already made plans," he said, "but thanks for the invite. Maybe some other time."
After class, Gurpreet talked with the instructor to inform him of his new look. He didn't want the instructor to mistake him for another student, or think that he was not attending any more and give him a failing grade. The wooden expression on the instructors face didn't change a bit as Gurpreet explained himself. At the end, he nodded once to acknowledge that he knew who Gurpreet was, and that was it.
When he was walking down the hallway, he noticed the same beautiful girl with the long brown hair and oval eyes. She was standing outside the classroom waiting for the students to vacate it. He slowed down as he approached her. She glanced at him without any recognition.
"Hi!" he said cheerfully. She gave him a puzzled look.
"Hi?" she replied, a little confused.
"It's me, Gurpreet," he said, smiling widely.
"Gurpreet?" recognition slowly dawned on Megan. She looked at him curiously, her brow furrowed.
"Yep, it's me," he stood in front of her like a model, waiting for her assessment of his new image.
"What happened to your turban?" she asked, curious, "and your beard, and hair?"
"Oh, I had a change of style," he tried to sound as casual as he could.
"Oh, ok," she replied quietly, "Is it what you wanted?"
"Well, yes. It is what I wanted. I chose it," he said.
Megan nodded, and didn't say anything more. Her class was about to start, and she walked into the classroom with the other students. Gurpreet shook his head, feeling deflated, and walked away.
Lee was sympathetic. They had met for lunch outside the student activity center, and were eating their burrito's on the grass under the shade of a large tree.
"People are never happy," Lee advised Gurpreet in between bites of the huge burrito, "basically, people suck. You can't count on them. Better to have no expectations."
"Yea, everyone is giving me this weird vibe," Gurpreet lamented, "you know, I thought they'd at least start treating me normal. But instead, now they're acting all confused and shit."
"Well, up until a few days ago, they only ever saw you in that tribal dress. So they need time to get used to the new you."
"Yes, I think you're right, they just need to get used to my new look."
"Which is awesome, by the way. Welcome to the modern world."
"Thanks, it's been good so far!" They laughed at the joke.
It was several weeks later when Gurpreet finally met his parents. He went home on a Sunday evening for dinner. He chose that day so that he could leave early with the excuse that the next day was a school day and he had to be up early for classes.
He had been dreading the visit and when he finally showed up at the door, the reactions were mostly as he had expected. His mother opened the door and as soon as she laid her eyes on him, her mouth dropped open and she gasped. She covered her mouth as her eyes teared up, unable to speak.
His father, wondering what was taking so long for Gurpreet to come inside the house, walked to the front door and froze when he saw Gurpreet. He just stood there stoically, and hugged Gurpreet's mother.
"Can I come in?" asked Gurpreet, feeling a little awkward standing for so long outside the front door.
The dinner was quiet, with very few words. Gurpreet's father didn't shout or yell, didn't admonish or question him. But there was something in his eyes that Gurpreet had never seen before. It was deep sorrow and pain.
After dinner, they cleared the table and finished up washing the dishes in the kitchen in silence. Then, seated on the sofa chairs in the living room, Gurpreet finally said, "Look, I'm happy, ok?"
"Does this make you happy, beta?" his mother asked tearfully.
"Yes," he replied, wondering why she couldn't understand, "Yes, this does make me happy. Why can't you be happy for me?"
"Happy? For you?" his mother said in disbelief, "how can I be happy for you when you've thrown away everything!? You've lost the most important and precious thing in your life!"
"What, my hair? Like that really was the most important thing in life! How can hair and turban be more important that your own happiness? What good is it if it just gets you in trouble? You know the other day I was almost attacked because a bunch of guys saw my turban and thought I was a terrorist? It's not safe, it actually puts me in danger! Better to be without it, life is more important than hair!"
His mother was silent now, looking at him quietly. Her tears had also dried up for the first time during the whole evening. His father sat with his head in his hands.
"Well, I have to go, I have class in the morning," said Gurpreet, rising. He felt a pain in his chest. He wondered where it was coming from, the hurt he knew he had caused to his family, or the inevitable rift he could see was happening.
His mother and father walked him to the door, and they both hugged him before he left.
"You are still our son," his mother said, with great effort.
"Of course I am!" he retorted, annoyed by her words, then turned and left.