Silence...

"Naresh, you are too silent! This isnt how you were at school." This is one of the most common comments I get when I catch up with old pals. I have changed a lot after school, and silence rules the changes I have undergone. I was very talkative in school, not that I amn't anymore! But, I prefer the wait and watch approach.

I bet anybody who meets me once would say, "This is a losing proposition." Let the person meet me again and let him/her talk to me personally and I am sure they would realise I amn't after all a boring person. I just take time to open up, and I like such persons too! Like minds, you see.

While rank new acquaintances rate me a quiet person and an introvert, the best of my pals would say the day I stopped speaking it would rain diamonds :P I actually meet a new person, listen others and the person talk and talk like there was no tomorrow from the second time. Lucky me that I never met a new person alone, except for one occasion and that person knows me as a very talkative person! :)

Actually, I like Silence. Ever sat in silence and tried to recollect the best parts of the day. And silence not necessarily means a state of no sound. It means a state of peace, a state where your mind is free of any turbulence, a state where you are free to think of what you want. The best silence for me is some soft music in background and some good book.

Silence, as the cliche goes, is golden and speech silver. Silence speaks a thousand words. If the comfort levels are high between two persons, silence communicates a lot more than what a harangue could do. People say if you are silent, you think a lot! That doesn't hold true in all cases I guess. You can just stay silent and relax, just not thinking of anything.

For me, Silence is observation. The first time I see people, I let them talk! I just observe and make mental notes. The second time I meet, I am ruthless! I can talk and talk and talk. Any good friend of mine will say that I haven't spoken a lot in the beginning. I see this as a good thing. Being silent allows you to stand and stare. As a friend of mine put it, Silence is Bliss! It is best thing you could have asked for when you feel out of place.

People say being silent is trying to be diplomatic, tryin to act philosophical! I feel its just trying to acclimatise youself to the group. Trying to find your identity among people who you are meeting for the first time or after a long time.

Whatever the interpretation people bring out of one's Silence, its a prized possession to anyone who can manage it because its always better to stay silent and remain alien than speak out of place and be termed a fool.

So people till then... Silence, The King's court is in session :P