Knight on Ninety Horses
Chapter 4
Maan walked beside her on the wide road and people greeted her constantly.
"So Maan, what do you do?"
"I am in my third year of B.E Mechanical. And what about you?"
"Oh I am going to appear for my 10th grade finals in a few months. I can't wait for my exams to be over."
"Are you done with your preparations for the exams?"
She looked at him in disgust.
"Uhh, puleez. For one whole year that question has been the bane of my life. Every uncle and aunt that I know and don't know has been asking me the same question, plus papa has banned me from watching TV for so many centuries now."
"Umm... Geet centuries?"
"Well it feels like centuries, especially when I am forced to sit in my room and I can hear the TV playing in the next. The Handas are a mean bunch and their cruelty knows no bound. My father says no TV, my sister says I can't read Mills and Boon until I am done with my 10th grade exams."
Maan wondered what kind of books these Meals and Bone were. From the name they sounded perhaps like diet and weight loss books. He looked over at the skinny girl beside him and decided to prod her about it.
"I think your sister is right in keeping those books away from you for now. You are going to appear for important exams in a few months. For your mind to work at its optimum you need to eat healthy, nutritious food and forget all about fad diets right now."
One moment she was looking at him as if he had sprouted two heads and the next she was clutching her stomach and laughing like a loon.
"What is so funny about meals and bones Geet? He looked at her in exasperation, hands on hips.
That set her off again and she was shrieking with laughter when somebody called out her name.
A middle aged lady was walking towards them from the opposite direction and a bag with leafy greens peeking out was clutched in her hand. Geet saw her and rushed towards her.
"Mai you look tired. Come sit at our place for a moment, have some lemon sherbet and then go home."
She took the bag from Mai's hand and started walking back with her.
Maan stood at the side of the road and looked on in amazement. She had forgotten about him completely. He sighed in resignation and went and stood behind her.
"Mai did you get any fish at the market today?" Geet enquired.
Mai grinned happily and stopped. She took the bag from Geet's hand, dug deep inside and pulled out something wrapped up in a newspaper.
"I got these fresh Bombay ducks for very cheap today. Wait let me give some for your mom."
At the mention of Bombay ducks Geet's head whipped around and she looked at him with embarrassment and horror. She hastily whipped the package from Mai's hand and stuffed it back in the bag, but in her haste one of the slippery ducks slipped out and landed on the street. Maan looked at the duck that was not a duck but was in fact, a skinny fish that had landed at his feet and even in death the eyes of his namesake seemed to be mocking him.
Edited by Susegad - 8 years ago
Shiv Shakti
Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
Cricket
75