I was at party, a small gathering at my friend's house a fortnight back. I prefer small gathering to the usual loud parties and big crowds, as it allows people to really strike conversations. Sometimes, these conversations provide great premise for opening up of whole new worlds through experiences of people from diverse fields and their engagements in their respective proffession and life in general. And at such delightful encounters of sharing, there is also silly laughter and absolute madness turning into still moments that makes one realize complete compatibility between even perfect strangers sometimes!
Most of the people present at the party were an interesting mix of accomplished artists, successful businessmen, a few known names from media and corporate sector. Just when I had started enjoying the mood of the conversations progress from formal to very casual, we all were greeted by two couples who walked in the party with that typical "in your face', "notice us" attitude, making pompous
proclamations about their "achievements" within the very first few minutes of their arrival. Obviously, everybody listened to them out of politeness but beyond a point, it became stifling as the conversation went only in one direction; grandeur of self importance and feeling of superiority through dragging people through dirt.
Any effort to change the topic by anyone present there was met with rude interruption and challenged with bratty arrogance. When they were ignored and some intelligent conversations were initiated on various topics, those couples dragged each conversation with sniffling servitude to the same " we have been there" "done that", "we know it all " and passed their "expert comments " on every possible subject persistently. When one couple was rhetorical, the other went on mindless praise to reinforce their weird sense of audacious "superiority" and this was their modus operandi since the moment they entered the party!
My friend was embarrassed for no fault of hers and she soon called everyone to join the dinner table and very smartly made a different arrangement for those two couples giving them a feeling of "special treatment", while the rest of us were relieved to have finally got rid of their torture. Needless to say, at the dinner table the conversation was back to normal and we all shared lot of giggles.
On my way back home, when I revisited the experience in my mind, I felt sad. Those two couples at the party hailed from very affluent background yet the way they behaved made me contemplate on lots of issues that I felt were hidden beneath their undesirable behavior. I am sure, we all have come across such embarrassing encounters where people try to define who they are through what they possess. The ultimate emblem of their existence is derived from their frequent world tours - flying first class, expensive cruises they sail, flashy cars, villas, jewelry and most happening gadgets that they flaunt at every possible opportunity! The mad race in which they participate "to be seen", "to be validated" and the extent they go in strutting their arrogance is shocking! The most pathetic part in such people is lack of depth, about which they appear to be blissfully ignorant.
I always look forward to meet new people and its very rare that I have been disappointed. I look for substance in people and believe me, I have met most beautiful people at the most unexpected places and learnt so much from them. The two couples at the party were snooty and lacked basic dignity and social skills completely. And because of them, that evening, everybody missed out an opportunity to engage in conversations that could have transpired into something real, meaningful or much more fun!
I don't like to discuss people and was in two minds to write on this topic. The reason why I narrated this incident is, it provides insight into human bahavior that we all are subjected to and need to reflect upon sometimes. As they say, it takes all kinds of people to make this world.
And money can NEVER buy culture and class.
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