How to Read Smiles

 An unseen smile exists in each of our faces. The pandemic has not only brushed off our normal life, but also smiles we have a never-ending desire for. Masks are for health but it hurts to believe that the time has gone where we see a stranger in a cold morning and give him a smile. How fast the planet revolves, I think at times(even if this doesn't make sense regarding the virus), since the moment we started to hear the word "Corona". Of course, an unseen smile exists in your faces at least for a microsecond of time!

Eyes are the reflections of our mental state, I believe. Now we stare at people's eyes to decode their smile and sorrow. Ever had that feeling when you talk to someone masked, they smile and you see the smile through their eyes, and feel the most peaceful moments of your life!? Those little eyes are not just 'little'. They just show us a whole world of emotions and words. Emotions unexpressed and words unsaid. Oh, how I miss all those pretty smiles on footpaths! Little did we all anticipate the disappearance of smiles, this soon. Thanks to all the mask-less selfies.

Funny how a small fragment of a fabric conceals the representative part of our body! But it is this small fragment that protects us from the villainous virus. This is a reminder that masks can hide as well as guide. You neglect the rule of wearing a mask, you step onto the launching pad of a very risky bungee-jump!

Hidden faces are not just about smiles. A human being can have sorrow projected through his eyes as well. Sorrow is something we often failed to notice in people even before the time of masks. Sad, but true. Now that there are masked faces everywhere, it has become utterly difficult to detect the upside-down smiles of fellow humans. With no doubt, masks are teaching us to have empathy and persuading us to try to step into someone else's shoes. Upside down smiles are not feasts. Try to notice them, and re-draw them with love.

Do we have a time in the future without the hidden faces? We are just able to have faith in 'hopes for the best'. The pandemic gave us hardships, but it taught chapters of human emotions & mental condition. And all those, through these numerous pairs of eyes! It's not late to be empathetic, not late to know others and to be with them. You have more and more opportunities to extract the unseen smiles on people's faces. Those untold, unheard, masked beautiful smiles!!!