Part Two: Creep Gyp
When I came downstairs I nearly screamed! Thank God I managed to swallow it back before I made a complete fool of myself. Divya was sitting cross legged on the couch of our living room. She looked like a ball of colors. A gypsy would look plain compared to her. She always wore skirts that had about 100 multi-colored frills and shirts or tops that were three size bigger for her. Where did she find these? Who'd say she is almost 15? She was so skinny and small, she could easily pass as a 10 year old. Her long thick hair was parted in the middle and her two braids were asymmetrical! No wonder kids at school called her "Creep Gyp" short for creepy gypsy. She lived in a strange world of her own. I fought to hide my chuckle, she did have a strange sense of fashion and it's hard not to laugh!
"Hi Divya"
"Hello AB" she seemed down and sad. Nabila and Divya called me AB, short for Amar Bhaiya. My Bengali Mom wasn't too happy about it. She wanted Nabila to call me 'dada'. But they convinced mom that AB stands for Amitab Bacchan as they thought I was equally dashing! Mom was happy and content, never scolded them anymore, apparently she liked the "angry young man look" of Amitab and thought being called AB would make me as charming as the real AB senior one day! Artists see the world through colored glasses and truly live 1000 miles away from reality! I smiled at her. In many ways Divya was like my mom, impractical, super sensitive, very innocent and completely devoid of reality.
"Is everything okay?" her sad face made me concerned. When Nabila left, she became really lonely. My sister was her best friend, actually her only friend.
She hesitated a little and then mumbled in a low voice, "I've failed in Math" She blushed crimson red and looked down. I understood her predicament; it is hard to talk about failures to strangers. Well, I wasn't a stranger but I wasn't her friend either. We were pretty close when we were kids but I became so busy with my studies, my football and basketball teams, I didn't hang out with them much in the last two years. But I was surprised at this news because even though she had a terrible dress sense, she was extremely intelligent, a math wizard. How can SHE fail in math!
"Math?" I couldn't conceal my astonishment, "But you won the NY State Math League Championship this year. How can you fail in math? You know more advanced stuff than Prof Aidaman!"
She kept looking down. "It's not that. The problems in the exam were boring and not challenging. I didn't feel like doing them. I don't know why I started sketching the "Vitruvian Man" trying to maintain all the proportions from memory. I didn't want to turn in the bluebook but the Professor said I have to. He had no idea I drew Da-Vinci's Vitruvian and complained to the Headmaster that I have drawn a nude man in my final. My parents are now furious with me. I am probably grounded for the rest of my life!"
OMG. I couldn't believe my ears. I knew about her fascination with Da-Vinci, specially the Vitruvian. But creep gyp truly outdid herself this time. I imagined Professor Aidaman's face when he saw Divya's bluebook and burst out laughing. "That is wicked!" I blurted out! I couldn't help myself. His best student ever, drew a nude man on her exam! I clenched my stomach with both my hands as it started to ache from my laughter. But when my eyes met her gaze; my laughter died instantly. Oh no! Shit!
There she was, a fragile innocent being, totally oblivious to reality who some how scuttled through the cruelty her classmates everyday, looking at me with utter disbelief. I was no different than the vagrants in her class. Her eyes brimmed with tears. My smile faded and I felt terrible! She ran out through the back door before I could even say anything. I ran after her screaming "I am sorry Divya. I didn't mean.." she sprinted through our backyard before I could finish my sentence and I saw her entering her house.
I felt guilty, felt like a low life. Just because I looked like a well built 6 feet tall, thick headed, emotionless, macho football player, I didn't have to act like one. She was my little sister's best friend! I was like an older brother to her. She trusted me and came to talk to me about her grief and I acted like a stupid jerk! My head started rationing with me! I didn't mean to hurt her. It was hilarious, who would be able to contain oneself? Creep Gyp stirred the school for sure. What should I do now? I thought I should go and apologize. Nabila would give me a piece of her mind if I don't.
I hurriedly walked through the back yard and entered her house. It had been long since I came to her house. I ran into Divya's parents. Both were busy doctors at St. Johns hospitals. "Hello Amar" their warm greetings brought a smile to my face.
"Hi" I beamed. I liked them a lot as I wanted to be a doctor and they always encouraged me.
"So what brings you here?" Divya's mom asked sipping her coffee or tea. She was really beautiful, I mean elegant and graceful for her age. Her dad was also quite handsome, I noticed it for the first time. If she didn't wear those weird gypsy skirts, Divya would be quite attractive too. But honestly she needed to go through a major make over. What the hell is wrong with me? Why would I even bother how she looked! I guess her sorry state pushed me to think about ways to make her life a little normal!
"Amar, do you need anything?" I was so lost in my thoughts, I could feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment at Divya's dad's inquiry. I nodded negative, "No..I..Umm..Divya was at our place and she told me about her math test. She was quite depressed about it. So I thought I should talk to her!" I felt there was no point in spilling out how I hurt her with my inappropriate, out of place, stupid hilarity.
Financial markets and global economy
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
