Friendship at first sight, like love at first sight, is said to be the only truth.
College was nothing less than a “prison”, as it was fondly called by all. As any engineering college in Chennai, boys and girls are not allowed to speak to one other.
I am generally a loner who does not bother about friends as I am mostly incapable of finding my kind of person. I am neither the mingling nor the flirting type – as I told you, I don’t belong to this world. The ordinary doesn’t excite me. It’s only bizarre that does.
I like to be on my own, minding my own business. I had a couple of bad experiences in school, with friends who had cheated me. So, I promised myself, that in college, I would be on my own, without getting too close to anyone, boy or girl, whoever it be. What are lessons in life for, if you cannot learn from them?
First day in college was uneventful. I was sitting with Divya, as I knew no one else, I didn’t have much choice. I would have been a lot happier without her.
On my way back home, on the bus, a beautiful, homely-looking girl sat beside me – lean, fair, bespectacled, curly-hair well-oiled and braided. As someone said, “The first handshake and the final goodbye are the toughest things on earth”. Well, I guess someone said that. I am not sure.
Yeah, I was thinking of the right words to start, when, out of the blues, she said: “Hi, I am Devi. Studied in JGVV, Anna Nagar. And you?”
Wow!! That homely-looking Devi started the conversation! Unbelievable. At least, she isn’t that much of an introvert as I am.
“Hi. This is Karthika. Studied at Ewart. What did you say, was the name of your school? Sorry, I didn’t get it right”.
“JGVV – Jai Gopal Garudia Vivekanada Vidhyashram”
“Oh, haven’t heard of it. Is it CBSE or State Board?”
“CBSE. It’s a famous school. Surprised you don’t know it. I get down in Mylapore. How about you?”
“Oh that’s pretty close. I get down at Mandaiveli. I am in CSE department. How about you?”
“Same. Are you a vegetarian?”
(Oh! I wanted to ask that question myself)
“No, am not. Am non-vegetarian. You?”
“Same, non-vegetarian. Thought you were a Brahmin”
“I too thought the same of you”
“Ok Karthika. Nice meeting you. My stop is coming. Need to go. Bye. See you tomorrow on the bus”
“Sure Devi. Bye. I will save a seat for you”
And off she went, sparking the first flames of friendship
*****
The reason I wanted to ask that question was because, I hate Brahmins. I have had bad experiences with Brahmins in my school days, and I loathed them for it.
They have tricked me, insulted me, spoken ill of me to others, mocked me so much so that I reviled them beyond words.
So, generally I wasn’t fond of the lot that they were. If only Devi had been a Brahmin, I definitely would not have had anything more to do with her.