ZESTY BEGINNINGS

As we brace ourselves for the arrival of who knows who, my parents and Bhai are holding a brief internal discussion. They still do not trust that I might be innocent. I cannot blame them, though. For one thing, I hit my now-friend, then frenemy and got suspended. They do not give away too much, but their forehead creases deepen, and their voices grow crisp, meaning it might be more significant than I imagine.

 

Through the crowded, fussy hall, our neighbourhood chai master, whom I vaguely remember from a long ago, enters. Almost like the star of the moment. He looks at me, his lips turning into a grin, and I immediately realise why he is here. 

 

“We knew you don’t hold so much trust in your own child as much on a third person. So, we brought him here with us,” Ms. Srija says, clear enough for everyone to hear it.

“Why? He is the tea master from near your school. What is he here for?” Bhai retorts. “How did you get him here?” I ask Christy, who is still standing clumsily by my side.

“Oh, we were on our way here. And we were discussing how to make this all stop while stopping by his shop. He said he knew something about Salim stalking you and agreed to speak for you. So, we brought him instantly,” she winks. An hour-long discussion follows, but all I hear between gasps and shrieks is him telling my parents about how I warned Salim not to stalk me anymore. There is a bit of a change in their faces, which has softened and become calmer than before. Ms. Srija walks towards me and takes hold of my hand. 

 

“Let's go confront this Salim,” she says, dragging me along. She doesn't wait for my parents or Bhai’s approval. I look at their faces, but they don’t flinch as much. I see them now following us behind. 

                                                      *

Salim and his mother are outside the principal’s office. There is commotion all around. His mother looks disgusted, while Salim is jittery like a fish out of water. Ms. Srija pulls me through the crowd towards the office with Christy by my side. All others lag behind.

“We have done all that was needed. It's your turn now. Go speak for yourself,” she says, nudging me gently forwards.

I stagger and slowly March towards the duo. Meeting him makes me feel horrible that I almost want to throw up. I shake but I still hold it all together.

“Why did you have to do this to me?” I ask him but he doesn't look up. Instead it's his mother who replies. “He has done the right thing by exposing you. Maybe his ways are wrong, but you deserve it,” she says.

“Salim, do you think I deserve it?” I don't validate her presence and continue talking to him.

“Do you even see I am losing school just because you wanted to avenge me for rejecting you?” I ensure I am loud enough for my Bhai and parents to hear.

“Do you realise what that makes me? The girl who you wanted me to be.” My parents reach my side this time, and Ma wraps her arms around my waist.

“Do you even know it just takes a sentence for a man to frame a girl while it takes such a huge crowd with so much persistence for her to have even basic freedom.” I feel Ma’s hands tremble against me. I slightly move her away and walk beside him.

“Yes, let that be the right thing. But its time my parents get to know as well. But let them hear it from me,” I look at them, this time meeting their eyes. “Ma, Baba, Bhai,” I pause briefly and then gather courage. “I am not attracted to men. I rejected his advances because I can never like him. Not anyone ever. I am romantically and sexually rigid.” I finish in one go and Ma is quick to cover her chest with her hand. Bhai disapproves because how can a girl talk about her sexuality in the open, that too very young? I can almost read his mind. You cannot know this about yourself yet, he thinks.

 

“And I am not ashamed to admit it. While this guy here,” I quote my fingers in the air and resume, “thinks he is man enough because he has been living like a shadow.” I can almost see the outrage in Salim’s mother's face, which makes me not want to stop. But Salim suddenly turns towards me, almost like a person whose guard is let down. “I am sorry. I shouldn't have done such things. I never expected that to turn so disastrous.” he says, and I know he is talking about himself.

“I will never behave like this ever. I am sorry. I hope you can forgive me.” he then turns to Bhai. “I lied to you last time when you asked if my Ma was right. No, she wasn't,” he says, walking away hurriedly. Her mother follows soon after. Bhai knows he cannot stop me now. His desperate efforts to cover up his mistakes have failed, too. I relax only after Ma agrees to send me to school again. I hug Ms. Srija and thank her. Christy holds my hand tighter this time. I know this doesn't stop here. This shouldn't have been such a battle. But it's a start, at least for now. Because every ending is a seed for a fresh, zesty beginning. 

This is a part of BlogchatterA2Z 2025

#penbooksandscalpel