***Part 4***
Sometimes, when we are happy, we do not want to hang out with people who are sad and low. At the same time, when we are sad, hanging around happy people makes us sadder. Like the saying goes misery loves company.
It has been two days and I was getting used to things in chachus house. My chachus were going to take me to join the college, continue my studies in India. I somehow do not want to join college yet. I mean I know my mom and dad sent me away. But, seriously, do they expect me to stay here for two years. I am sure in a few days or max, few weeks, their anger will subside and take me back. I just want to chill and enjoy my time with Beeji till then. Muje kaunse yaha settle hona hai?
It was dinner time and Beeji called me. She was making all the things that she thinks are my favorites. To be honest, I am not a big fan of food and definitely not Indian food. It was too spicy for me. Nevertheless, I enjoyed all her attention.
I went down and I saw Picky chachi fussing over Tanu's dinner. Tanu didn't want to eat so Chachi was running around her and feeding her bites with her own hand. "Beta, thoda kalo. Khana nahi kaogi toh kamzore pad jaogi. Ek aur bite.." she was pleading her to eat as Tanu was turned her head around irritated.
I hurriedly ate a little bit and got out of there. I lost my appetite. I couldn't bear to see all the drama. I mean she is like twelve years or something, can't she even eat her own food. I don't ever remember my mom run after me like that or even feed me for that matter.
I remember this one time, I was little and was very upset because she didn't take me to the zoo. I refused to eat my food. She just told Nancy to take the plate away and not to give me any food until the next morning. "You cannot take your anger on food young lady." She said. "This will be a lesson for you."
That's my mom, tough love. I never repeated that trick again though.
It was 7 PM and I felt like seeing how my folks were doing and I also wanted to talk to them about the college thing. I think they forgot that they have a daughter. Nancy answered the home phone.
"Hey Nancy pancy. What are you still doing there? The one good thing that happened by me leaving there is putting you out of work. Aren't you done with packing your stuff? Don't you steal any of my cds" I warned her remembering my cd collection.
"Bad news for you, your mom decided to keep me." she said triumphantly.
"Really? Good for you. So basically you are getting paid to sit your ass in front of the TV and watch desperate housewives and all the other x-rated channels on the TV."
"What x-rated channels? I do not watch any such channels? I am not even aware we have any of those." she raised her voice offended.
"Really? Why are you angry then? Is it coz I said you watch them or coz I didn't tell you about them before?"
"I AM NOT WATCHING ANYTHING." She cried.
"Jooti, moti, kabhi toh sach bol deee." I liked talking to her in hindi. I could get away saying anything and she wouldn't understand a word. "Anyways, I didn't call to chit-chat with you. I need to talk to my mom or dad. Their phones are switched off."
"You mom and dad are not home, they are out of town. And I know what moti means." She replied.
So? What was she going to do? Tell on me? Haha..to whom? Knock yourself out moti!
"Genius! Where did they go?"
"I don't know. They will be back in two days. Is it important? They told me to tell you, to not mess around with your college admissions there."
"Did they now????????" a real evil idea made its way into my head. I thought of a solid plan.
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"Manvi, do you want to come with me? Mama wants me to give these dishes to Vanshika aunty." Jeevika asked me from the door after knocking it.
Good girl! She is a fast learner if not anything else. I taught my cousins to knock before they come in and I also explained to them in simple words how my room is not a lounge for them to drop-in at all hours of the day.
"Sure. Why not. Gimme 10 min." I said. I was getting bored anyways. Atleast, there I could go play with kutta. I hate calling the dog kutta though. I thought of a brand new cute name for him. I am going to rename him. I will deal with Virat later.
"Nahi Manvi. We have to go before 8." Jeevika replied with a worried face.
"Oh yaaa? Alright, lets go." I din't even bother asking why before 8. She had a big boring story for everything. So, I went with her to the Vadhera house.
We walked in and the atmosphere seemed very tense. People were hanging out in different parts of the living room but none of them were talking. They were pretending to do something or the other. We were passing the study and from in there, we heard someone yelling. Jeevika froze near the study. I was feeling bad too, it seemed pretty rough.
"How many times did I tell you to stop going after these useless things Virat? None of these things are going to help you earn money or make something of yourself, you idiot. Why you cannot focus on studies like your brother, I fail to understand. Forget about topping the class, are you atleast going to move forward or sit in the same class again? Let me get this inside you head straight, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO THIS CAMP!! And I do not want to hear about this again. Understood?"
"God only save us! such a disgrace for us all.." I heard Vikram uncle, Virat's dad rushing out of the study angrily. He stopped on seeing us.
"Ohh Jeevika kaise ho beta? Aur yeh Manvi hai na?" he asked looking at me.
I on the other hand was looking inside the study. Virat was standing inside looking at the floor. He suddenly looked up when he heard uncle talking to us. He looked at me and our eyes met briefly, he quickly looked away and walked past us quickly. I couldn't read into him completely in those few seconds but man, his eyes were a little watery. I never imagined this happy-go-lucky kid had so much going on. Why was uncle yelling at him?
I am sure he must have done something stupid.
We hung around with the rest of the kids for some time before going back home. I looked around for Virat but he had like gone underground or something. Whatever. None of my business, like he said the other day. I missed the giant furry ball, he wasn't there anywhere either. I can totally imagine them cuddling together in some corner. I went back home and tried calling my parents again with no luck.
Take lite.
Time to sleep. I have a busy day tomorrow, I better get my eight hours.
I tossed around unable to sleep. Maybe Virat is also pseudo adopted like me, I couldn't help wonder. What am I thinking? Why can't I get that study wala scene out of my head? Whatever. He can deal with his shit, I need to deal with mine. Good night Manvi Chaudhary!!!
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So, the next morning, I was sent along with my chachus after a pooja and arti and putting a big tilak on my head to give me good thoughts. With all this divine blessings and sadh buddi I was bestowed upon, I went to the college.
I decided not to open my mouth in front of the principal and the three instructors who were present to decide if the classes I have taken abroad were worthy enough to put me in second year engineering. When I finally opened my mouth, I gave them the most absurd answers. My chachus were sitting right behind me. Although they couldn't understand how exactly I goofed up, they did understand pretty clearly that I goofed up.
"I honestly got very tensed chachu! They were bombarding me with so many questions, my mind went totally blank." I told Madan Chachu with a hint of amusement after coming out.
Madan Chachu kind of bought my story but Nandan Chachu didn't. Nandan Chachu is more like my dad. He saw though me. The faculty in the interview thought that I had to repeat my first year again instead of making me continue in the second year classes. So basically, I am losing an year of my life by studying in India. Thanks to my extremely well thought out interview.
"Nahi Bhai, yeh natak kar rahi hai. Isne jaan buj ke ek bhi sawal ka jawab nahi diya?? Anand Bhai teek kehte hai iske bare main. Ek number ki shaitaan hai." "Mannu!!" he yelled "you cannot do this here. This is not London. Our family has a reputation here. I will not tolerate it if you jeopardize it in anyway." He was fuming angrily at me. Who does he think he is?
"Yaa..what will you do? Send me away like my parents? That's ok, it looks like a world tour is in order for me." I retorted sarcastically.
"Bas Mannu!" Madan chachu came in between.
"How can she talk like this bhai? Waha bhai aur bhabi ko pareshaan kar raki hai aur ab yaha aa kar hum ko bhi." Nandan chachu pushed past him and warned me with his finger pointing at me "You know what? I am not going to send you away, I am going to punish you so badly that you will think your mom and dad are angels in front of me. You will cry and regret coming to India every waking minute of your two years here."
"Ohh yaa? Flash news for you! I already regret coming here!! And you have no right to punish me. You are not my dad or mom." I screamed at him. How can he say that to me? Who the hell is he to punish me? My own dad never talked to me like this.
"Mannu, beta, ro math, dekh, chachu tumhare liye bol rahe hai. Abhi tu ja class main. Hum baad main baat karenge. We will talk to the principal again and get you another interview. Tab tak tu thoda comfortable ho jayegi. Then they will reassign you back in second year." He said making me sit on a bench there.
"Are Virat, is ladki ko lekar jaa, tumhare class main hi hai abhi. And please see that she does not create any more trouble. Call me if anything happens." I heard Nandan chachu tell Virat who was passing by and stopped seeing us all there. Nandan Chachu left giving me an angry look.
Madan chachu stood still and for some time but then it was time for the classes so he too left asking Virat to take me to the class.
As chachu moved away, I saw Virat, or rather his legs walking towards me, as I was looking down, trying hard not to cry.
"Chale? Ya aur natak kar na hai. I don't need anyone and all" he asked me laughing. I looked away to calm myself. And then got up in a jerk and walked ahead of him towards the classes, hiding my face.
"Oye Chipkali, our class is this way." He said. I turned back slowly and looked at him. "This way" he said showing me the opposite direction. Our eyes met briefly and his expression changed to a grave one after that.
"Wait a second, our class?" I asked forgetting everything that happened until then.
"Yes, that side is the law college. Bhai and Jeevika are in there. Engineering school is this side." He said walking fast. "Chale? We are getting late for the class."
"You are in my class?" I asked puzzled catching up with him.
"No. YOU are in my class. Sorry about that by the way."
"But, why? I know you are studying computers too, but shouldn't you be in second year?"
"Yes, I should be. I thought I will give you company today." He chuckled.
"Ohhh! Now I get it. Was that why your dad was yelling at you? They detained you?" I asked, more like stating it. It made sense now.
He looked at me with a 'burn in hell' look as I was in my own thoughts "Why are you detained though?" I continued with the questionare fully realizing that I am treading past the line of control.
We were just outside our class and he glared at me seriously. "Just asking" I said throwing my hands up in the air, trying hard not to laugh. We were already late and the class had begun.
We asked for permission and walked inside apologizing; I was walking behind Virat and sat in the last row beside him. It felt very strange and different than my class. Every single student in the class was staring at us both, turning back and whispering among themselves. I felt very conscious. Is there something wrong? I looked at my dress and hair.
I looked at Virat for an answer but he was still angry with me. He took his books out and started listening to the class, jotting down stuff from the board. I tried to concentrate too but I already knew everything from last year. And it was a Math class. Math came very easily too me. And besides, I had a number of extra-curricular questions in my head for Virat.
I passed him a note "Why is everyone staring at us?"
He stared at me weirdly and wrote back after a few minutes "Everyone is staring at YOU"
"But why?" I passed it back immediately.
He crumbled the note angrily and threw it at me signaling me to stay quiet. Somehow his anger made me laugh. The professor must have seen me laughing.
"What's going on back there? What is your name miss? The new student." He stopped the class and asked me.
Virat looked down holding his head as I stood up. "Manvi. Manvi Chaudhary" I said consciously. Everybody was staring at me again.
"Manvi? Can you repeat about what I just said about solving this equation?" he asked challenging me.
"eh..yes, yes Professor. Actually, your way is a bit long. I can solve that equation in half the steps." I replied to his annoyance and the class's astonishment.
"Manvi? Kya kar rahi hai?? Do you want to get thrown out of the class?" Virat mumbled under his breath.
"Ohh really? Is that so? Very well. Can you enlighten us all with this spectacular method of yours, Ms. Chaudhary." He said extending his hand to hand me the chalk with a smile that was a mixture of sarcasm, annoyance and amusement.
I looked at Virat who was covering his face and shaking his head. I slowly walked up and took the chalk, looked at the professor, and then the class and solved the equation in 4 steps while the oldie took 13 steps to solve it.
I gave him back the chalk as he dropped his jaw looking at the board. "I guess I will go back to doing what I was doing since I already know all this; way better thanmost people in the class." I said signaling with my eyes that most also includes him. I gave him a big wide smile and went back to my seat with an evil grin that I couldn't help sporting.
Everybody in the class were talking very loudly among themselves and I looked at Virat who was trying not to laugh. The professor was looking at me and the board and then back to me. He threw the chalk down angrily and left the class as it was beyond him to control it.
"Can't you stay without getting in trouble for 5 min?" Virat asked half angry, half amused.
"What did I do now? He was the one writing chapters where a single para would suffice." I shrugged. "And he asked for it." I replied. I honestly didn't see anything wrong in what I did.
"Right? You think I don't understand why you are doing all this?" he said looking away.
"Accha?? What do you understand??" I turned him to face me. This girl sitting in front was repeatedly turning back and looking at Virat.
"Manvi Chaudhary, principal sir is calling for you." Announced a messenger. The class got noisier.
I looked at Virat. "I am not even going to tell you to behave before the principal coz I know you will not." Virat said matter-of-factly. "And I am not even going to threaten you that I will call Chachu, coz I know you would do exactly what you are not supposed to do." "But, think about how Beeji will feel when they suspend you. When chachu will scold you in front of her?" He said without looking at me.
I looked at him for a second before following the peon to principal's office.
How come langoor knows everything I would do. I have a feeling he is going to become my best friend here. Smart kid.
Actually, I didn't think about Beeji at all. She will be so sad if she comes to know of all the things I did since morning. I should probably hold on to some of my other ideas, including corrupting all the computer hard drives in the lab.
Did I tell you guys I know computers inside out? I do, I am kind of an expert. I tend to mask it thoroughly with my 'I am so dumb' expressions, because it is absolutely hilarious when the other person doesn't know what hit him. Like the number of times my dad goes helpless when his data disappears for two days and miraculously appears on the next day. The way he would pull his hair out in frustration and yells at the wall not knowing what happened and how it happened. Man! His expression is worth a million dollars.
So, inside the principal's office I was charged with disturbing the class decorum. Whatever that means. Irrespective of that, I apologized to the principal and the professor, basically told them that I wouldn't be such a smart ass. The professor seemed to be okay now, I could say he was a little amazed by my method of solving the problem but was too arrogant to admit it. Like I care dude, get over yourself already.
And the principal seemed puzzled at the vast improvement in my intellect since morning. "It was just a fluke." I assured him. I still needed him to think of me as dumb and slow.
I followed the math professor to the class, walking behind him. I promised him that I would be quiet and attentive and learn to do the problem his freaking way, even though his way is so ancient that it had accumulated centuries of dust and mold on it. Well, I didn't use those very words but just conveyed him the essence in a much lesser condescending way.
I walked back to my seat relieved; it was occupied now. What the hell!
"Excuse me! This is my seat." I pointed to the girl sitting beside Virat. She was thin to the point of being anorexic and wore so much makeup that she looked more like a plastic mannequin that they place outside shopping malls.
She gave me a dirty look and held Virat's arm possessively. Then it hit me Duh!
"Ohhhkey butterscotch huh?? Sorry girl, my bad" I said sitting in the front seat which was empty now. "Not impressed dude" I turned back and told Virat who rolled his eyes and signaled me 'cut it out' as butterscotch fumed at me.
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>>>part 5
Edited by bluebolt - 12 years ago
Financial markets and global economy
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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