The unconventional title. An even more unconventional girl it speaks of. Not the girl with a tattoo,but definitely one you wouldn't miss.Or wanna miss."Yaar,load ho gaya",she tells me because she's clueless about the next day's exam and I've been keeping her from making an effort. I stick out my tongue,and together we laugh. "I think we're falling in love",I tell her. Her eyes seem to pop out of their sockets,and she laughs ,harder this time."I think so too . Isn't this great?".I wink. Anoushka Shanker is playing in the background."Chal chal,it's time for dinner". Oily paranthas! I make a face."Are,khana zaruri hota hai.Achhi bachhi ho na?" "Nahi.Mann nahi ho raha." "Please Stuti"."Nahi!" "Uthti ho ki nhi?""Erm..achha achha. Daanto mat.Tum gandi ho."Evil grin that earns her a kick."Pataaa hai",she says in an Allahabadi accent which reminds me of home.
Scene2,after dinner,as we proceed for our ice-cream."Mam,ice-cream chahiye",we ask the mess-wali-mausi(read suprintendent). "Are ladki! Tum to ice-cream lekar gayi thi na abhi?"Silence follows."Maine to abhi dinner kiya, Mam.""Nahi,tu lekar gayi hai,maine dekha hai." Tension in the air.Suddenly,my seemingly benign friend is not so happy anymore.(read flaring nostrils!)"Ye to hadd kar di apne ,Mam.Soch bhi kaise sakti hai aap ki mai aisa krungi! Koi sona-chandi nahi hai ye jo main bar bar aungi yaha.Rakh sakti hai aap apni ice-cream apne pass.Aaj ke baad mai ice-cream khaungi hi nahi is hostel mein.Aur aap ki complaint bhi karungi ki aap bachho ko aise treat karti hai." And then she turns around.I take cue.Obediently,I follow her back to the room.More of that silence that is so disturbing you wanna kill it walks alongside us.This girl who a while ago was the perfect prototype of affection was now baffling me with her new 'Jhansi-Ki-Rani Avatar'. I mean,this two-in-one friend was let's face it,so awesome! She taught me something I had been trying to learn for like an eternity now.Standing up for yourself isn't just for bullies or fatsos who fear not a thing,a person in the world.It's for us.For me and you and them and those.It's not so difficult after all.I can only imagine the contentment sweeping through her right now.Little things that matter.Much Respect,Dear V.
Scene2,after dinner,as we proceed for our ice-cream."Mam,ice-cream chahiye",we ask the mess-wali-mausi(read suprintendent). "Are ladki! Tum to ice-cream lekar gayi thi na abhi?"Silence follows."Maine to abhi dinner kiya, Mam.""Nahi,tu lekar gayi hai,maine dekha hai." Tension in the air.Suddenly,my seemingly benign friend is not so happy anymore.(read flaring nostrils!)"Ye to hadd kar di apne ,Mam.Soch bhi kaise sakti hai aap ki mai aisa krungi! Koi sona-chandi nahi hai ye jo main bar bar aungi yaha.Rakh sakti hai aap apni ice-cream apne pass.Aaj ke baad mai ice-cream khaungi hi nahi is hostel mein.Aur aap ki complaint bhi karungi ki aap bachho ko aise treat karti hai." And then she turns around.I take cue.Obediently,I follow her back to the room.More of that silence that is so disturbing you wanna kill it walks alongside us.This girl who a while ago was the perfect prototype of affection was now baffling me with her new 'Jhansi-Ki-Rani Avatar'. I mean,this two-in-one friend was let's face it,so awesome! She taught me something I had been trying to learn for like an eternity now.Standing up for yourself isn't just for bullies or fatsos who fear not a thing,a person in the world.It's for us.For me and you and them and those.It's not so difficult after all.I can only imagine the contentment sweeping through her right now.Little things that matter.Much Respect,Dear V.
