Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction, even though most of the characters and situations are inspired by my experiences, they have been exaggerated and some plot twists have been added.
I got the idea for this story when people started asking me about how I changed my stream from Science to Arts. I have added some of the problems that even though I didn't come across, many people would have. Like family and peer pressure.
The background of this story is that in India, Arts is a frowned upon stream and almost equivalent to not getting an education. Basically, you're announcing you cannot do anything else and that's why not many people opt for this subject and those who opt are ashamed of it.
I have spent so many days plotting revenge with my fellow Arts friend on the people who say we are capable of nothing. But let's face it, it's difficult when the mass is against you.
Such struggles are highlighted in this novel. Please read, vote and comment. Constructive Criticism is welcome.
Your opinions encourage me to write.
This is being written for CampNaNoWriMo so expect regular updates.
All my love,
April.
Prologue
No one wants conflicts in lives, I was no stranger to that feeling. I wouldn't say that I am a Psychologist, but when I quote Sigmund Freud when he said that every single one of us had mental problems and some of us just were more problematic than others, I would like to inform you that I understand the wisdom of his words.
Sigmund Freud's life was surrounded by controversy. Basically, his life was a controversy, his theories were frowned upon.
Why?
Simple, because his ideas were novel, something against the simple bubble in everyone lived, against the herd mentality. Trust me, when I tell you that if you go against the herd mentality, you will be titled as crazy. If you think that when you prove them wrong or right, then they would shut up, you are sorely wrong my dear friend. Because, let me assure you these people won't stop.
If you prove them right, they will taunt you with their "I told you so" and if you prove them wrong they will swear that they know you could have done better if you had done what they said and followed the bandwagon.
I am not saying I have done either. At times I feel like I have proven them right, and am going to be unemployed, poor or a house-wife. On other times, I have proven them wrong because, I am the topper of my class and best at what I do.
It's annoying, it's terrible. But it's my choice. It's my passion.
Now, if you're wondering how I made this incredible choice of doing what I love?
It had many ups and downs. And I was sure, I was going to follow the bandwagon. Actually, I had bought the tickets and almost boarded it.
What happened?
Won't you like to know?
The Time Exams Ended
Chapter 1
The day after my exams ended, I woke up as the most peaceful person on the planet. It wasn't like I was stressing anyways. Yes, Boards are stressful and people said that they were going to define my future, and I will have to score good on them. So there was a mild stress of studying hard and scoring at least a ninety per cent. I studied hard, and had gone with many stressful early mornings, I could not stay up all night even to save my life. All-nighters were not my thing. I needed sleep, sleep was my best friend.
Yeah, it was kind of sad that I didn't have a best friend back then, I had many friends and I use the term friend loosely, if you asked me whether I had a confidant, I would say no. Because, I didn't, I never braved up to tell my secrets to anyone after a particularly nasty incident with Hansika Shah, my then best friend, in my seventh standard.
Yes, I was emotionally scarred, if that is what you're wondering. Of course, I didn't know the fact back then. No, back then I was just this normal person, who had no best friends. But in reality, I had a best friend, by the name Jyoti, her name basically meant flame, and she was just like a flame, a bright and overly cheerful flame, she shared her secrets with me, we gossiped together, talked about the latest dramas and break-up, and all that kind of stuff. But she didn't know my secrets or my fears. She believed that I had no secrets, and I believed that, too. Because, basically, I was a simple, shy, studious girl with a limited social circle because of her inability to speak in front of people, or even greet them without it sounding like a squeak. I needed help. But no one believed that, neither did I. I was perfectly normal back then. It was perfectly normal to be unable to speak to people as long as you scored good marks. And I was cursed with a brain that topped the class with minimal effort. Or maybe, I took normal efforts and my friends told me that they studied more. Up till that point of my life I had studied maximum four hours a day, and those four hours had at least ten minute break after every thirty minutes.
Ironically, I later learned that this was the ideal method to study according to Psychology.
Back then though, people swore to me, if I didn't study eight hours straight, I was going to be a failure.
When I was in tenth standard, we, as in the whole youth of the nation, were under the 3 Idiots effect, I believe that you have to watch that movie at least once in your life. That movie is extremely impractical, things didn't happen that easily, but at the same time it had the message of following your dreams and passions. Five Point Someone, the book on which the movie was based never caught my attention as much as the movie.
I was enchanted, just like my other classmates who were singing the heart touching song with the lyrics, "H2SO4 ne saara bachpan jala daala" (H2SO4 burned the childhood) Basicaly, the lyrics were trying to tell the transition between childhood days and the college day stress to get good marks and eventually good job.
The intention of the movie must have been nice and all. But for me the message was slightly different.
The moment the character left IIT to follow his dream to become a wild-life photographer my father said, "Ha! That's so impractical, life is not that easy."
And I was brought down from my high, let me tell you I came back crashing down.
Photography can be a profession, but my passion of writing, was forever going to be a hobby.
When I woke up on the first day of my holiday, I was met with a text informing me Jyoti had planned a party, and I was supposed to attend. She knew that my parents were probably the coolest parents and always allowed me to party and hang out with friends. I liked to think it was because I hardly demanded these privileges. I was seldom invited to a party or at a friend's place. Most of my friendships started and ended in school. I didn't worry about it, because, my parents had informed me being a social recluse was probably in my genes, I am not sure how, my father happened to be a successful businessman and if you can't interact with people how will you sell your product? At the same time, my younger sister was the queen been of the "It" Group of her class.
While my birthdays had to be elaborately planned by my mother and the invitees would be mere 6 or 7, my sister gave a party to half of the class and announced the day and location of the party a day before. Of course, it was because she needed someone to pay the bills, otherwise I doubt we would have been invited. Even my mother had a friend circle including the mothers of my classmates whose lives revolved around our studies and grades, and sometimes the gossips. Nothing escaped them. They had spies somewhere, I was sure. So, I guess it must have been my grandparents who are social recluses, but no, my grandfather was more social than my parents, my grandmother was the president of society's association.
If there was a social recluse gene, why did it skip almost all of my family and entered me?
For a fact I knew that my great grandfather had friends more than I could imagine. It was like he had 700 Facebook friends and had met all of them personally, exchanged letters with them and had information about them. He earned my respect. He was like a truly social person. I have maybe 100 friends on Facebook. And most of them are my classmates whom I see everyday. Remaining are my relatives, whom I hardly see. I never got around talking to my cousins because I hadn't met them personally. Seriously though, I couldn't talk to people I knew personally without going red in the face and you expect me to talk to a person I have never met in my life.
Okay. I have met them, but seriously, you think my five year old mind remembers my cousin with whom I apparently played "ruin all the mattresses" in the house?
The truth is I did remember them. But I thought they won't remember me.
I was scared of socially awkward situations, so sue me.
I can almost imagine how the conversation would go.
"Hey... Do you remember me?"
And they would reply.
"Yeah, aren't you Hasan Uncle's daughter?"
"Yeah! Do you remember we played that really awkward game when we were five?"
And they would be staring at the sign with raised eyebrows and weird facial expression.
So, yes, the gist of the random ramble was to explain that I was a socially awkward social recluse. And while I said, I didn't worry about it. The fact was eating me up.
I finally decided to get off my lovely bed as it was getting warmer as my mother must have turned off the Air Conditioning early in the morning. Save electricity. And wake up your sleepy head daughter early. Two birds in one stone. Yep, my mum was awesome. And a super smart woman.
The little city in which I resided was a hot, hot, city as it was in the wrong side of the mountain, which made the city really, really hot.
"Good morning," My mother greeted me, as I entered the kitchen, thankfully it was only ten and not afternoon, I am usually a morning person. But giving Board examinations gives you a bit of leeway and allows you to sleep a little later, I am not going to complaint. I like the arrangement, as long as it is going to last.
"Morning ma," I greeted back, she wasn't angry at me for getting up late, which was good. I usually got up early, but as I said, the last few weeks had been sleepless due to stress and anxiety, I felt like I was going to explode honestly.
Now, that the exams are over all of us are relaxed, or that is what I assumed, because the first question my mother shot at me after she handed me my breakfast of scrambled eggs was, "So, now what is the plan for future?"
I mentally raised an eyebrow; I couldn't possibly dare to give that expression to my mother, my plans for future involved joining the gym and getting more flexible, and a bit thin. Honestly, I didn't like being flabby and clumsy.
I was not fat, fat, but one could say that I was slightly overweight. Not much but it was there, what scared me was my complete lack of stamina, I couldn't even run properly.
I related my plans to my mother, who shook her head in exasperation and that is when I realized that mum was talking in terms of professional career.
The honest answer was I had no idea. It was a running joke among the family members that I would eventually toss and decide my career, but I had no idea what I was going to be.
The only careers I knew were Doctor, Engineer or Chartered Accountant, of course, there were other acceptable professions were lawyers and teachers.
I have seen a teacher's sufferings, while some students may respect them, most of them were assholes and pranksters to them. I had no intention of becoming a teacher. I hated Mathematics, so that killed Engineering and Chartered Accountancy or B.Com for that matter, I wasn't going to do an M.B.A.
Briefly a thought crossed my mind that I could do a Creative Writing course, or enroll myself in some sort of Writing Program. I had been star struck by J.K. Rowling and wanted to be an author.
When I related this idea to my mother she looked aghast and said, "Writing is a hobby, darling. These authors you quote were professionals before they became famous, it's a risky job. You can always write while studying."
And that seemed like a reasonable idea. I could always write when I was studying. I wrote while giving Board exams, how difficult was it going to be?
So presently, I had no idea what I was going to do in the future.
Being passionate about a subject was a foreign idea. I was passionate about English, remotely History, but they didn't give me any professional background to have a career, the most I could do was become a teacher and I had already shot that idea down.
So, I told my mother the simple and honest truth that I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do.
My mother was enchanted with the idea of me being a doctor when I said that I could be a doctor.
I shrugged, and decided to look into it.
The day passed in a lazy haze, until the time came for Jyoti to come to my house so we could head for the party together.
Jyoti was unlike my any previous friends, I used to be in the It girl group of class but eventually I was kicked out as I was too shy, too nerdy, and dared to have crush on one of the boys taken by one of the leaders.
They made fun of me, and how Kanan Saha would never ever be interested in me. And let's face it, I already knew that Kanan would not be interested in me.
I was thirteen year old when I had this really crazy crush on him, and now I am sixteen, I think I have grown up and matured enough. I am talking about my career here, so I must have grown up over time.
I mentally wiped a non-existent tear from my eye, in a rather dramatic way, and basked in the fact that how fast the time had passed.
Jyoti was a simpleton, just like me, but unlike me she was outgoing cheerful and really happy. She was like this ball of energy and warm hugs. She was a little fat, fatter than me, but I had never heard her say that her weight bothered her, she was really cute. Like a teddy bear, I called her Winnie the Pooh, for that reason. She had big brown eyes, a round face, and an ever present smile. I had never seen a person so happy in my whole life.
You know people like her should rule the school, people who make you feel good about yourself, unlike people like Hansika, Jenna and Reya, who made you feel like you were useless and gave you various complexes.
If our school had a voting system, I would vote for Jyoti to be the Head Girl. Heck, I would vote her to be the president. But the thing wrong with this world is people like Jyoti don't want to take charge, they are good and happy and content.
I hated the fact that she didn't even stand for the Head Girl.
She came in the room bouncing and laughing in her usual annoyingly happy manner, which I liked.
"What's up?" She asked me as I was still dressed in my track pants and t-shirt.
"I don't wanna go," I whined.
Going would mean making a conversation, I didn't want to make a conversation, because whenever I made conversations they ended in awkward silences. I hate awkward silences.
I grabbed my book and continued to scribble on it the plot for my next fanfiction. I was going to involve a bit of time travel, okay, so the whole story was based on time travel.
"Stop writing your silly stories," Jyoti groaned, "You can't bail on me, we're going for movies with Gauri and Mri and I want you there because they will make me feel like a third wheel.
"Natasha isn't coming?" I asked surprised, Natasha was the other best friend, and I may have been jealous of the fact. But I never fought.
"Yes," Jyoti replied, "Family outing."
"Lucky her," I replied, "I want to leave this place for a while."
"She went for a holiday, not forever," Jyoti replied exasperated at my behaviour, "Come on, I know you want to watch the movie, it has Ranbir."
Ranbir was a nice enough reason for me to endure an evening with Mrinalinee and Gauri, gosh, I was even ready to gossip and socialize. Not many people knew I liked Ranbir Kapoor, no I pretended like I was completely indifferent about him while I sat back and watched "Wake Up Sid!" everytime I was free. Liking Ranbir would be cliche, there are too many fangirls who would claim to die for her. While I absolutely adored him, I wouldn't die for him. And besides, I will be like any those other girls who liked Ranbir.
I was a tomboy and strove hard to live up to the image of being all tough and not-girly, of course I liked guys, I drooled over Jensen Ackles, but squealing and giggling and wearing dresses and fancy tops was not me.
I reluctantly agreed to go for the movie. Just because it had Ranbir Kapoor in it. I was dressed in pyjamas when Justin arrived so I quickly changed into whatever clothes I found first and it was my signature jeans and a size too big Slytherin shirt.
All my life I thought I'd be a Gryffindor. Just for Harry Potter's sake, you know, but as it turned out, Pottermore believed I was a Slytherin and ever since I have been loyal to Snakes. My whole family, whom I forced to take a test, happened to be Gryffindor, and of course, that meant I was the black sheep.
Jyoti made a face at my shirt, "You do know we will be surrounded by half our batch, don't you? You could've at least worn a kurti!"
I shrugged, "If they are from our school, they would be least bothered and for people not from our school there's not a reason to be bothered."
Jyoti conceded to my logic and I smirked, I said goodbye to my mother and sister and extended my hand to ask for Jyoti's Activa's keys, knowing my compulsive nature for driving, she handed me the keys and we set off.
This one is dedicated to QuirkyKatana for being the first voter. :D
Chapter 2
The Time I Murdered… His Ego
When I was five, a chimp entered our class and I was absolutely horrified of that chimp. I had grown up in a small middle of nowhere city, but that didn't meant I usually conversed with chimps. I was a normal person, and I was scared of wild life and nature, I am still scared of wild life and nature.
To be honest, that particular even of my life has nothing to do with this story, but the reason I am recounting this event is because, I was that bored in the movie. No, the movie was fine, it had Ranbir in it. That just made the movie worth watching. But I have a quirk. When I am watching a movie, I am watching a movie, and I absolutely despise people talking around me.
Then why watch a movie in theater? One genius might question.
It was not my intention.
But my tolerance level increases in theater, I am used to the usual screaming and wolf-whistling that happens in theater, but I am not actually used to this random bursts of giggling.
You see, I have another quirk. I have never in my life attended a coaching class or tuitions.
And that's all good and fine. But that also means I really lack social connections. Translation: I really don't know any people outside of school, unless, I have met them in inter-school competition. So in a nutshell, I had no idea who the heck, pardon my language, Vedant Agrawal was, but apparently he was this great hunk which had all of my friends giggling and drooling. And guess what? He was in the theater sitting right in front of us.
So, I cannot watch Ranbir and Deepika on screen in peace because, Vedant was sitting in the front row.
Seriously? Like, seriously?
I gave a sideways glare to Mrinalinee and Jyoti who were a giggling mess beside me, guys can you be any more obvious. Gosh, this is embarrassing.
Plus, Ranbir Kapoor is on the screen, you can drool over him, I am pretty sure that some sixteen year old bloke is not as cool as Ranbir Kapoor.
Okay, enough about Ranbir Kapoor.
Here is the thing, I don't know who Vedant is, I don't know how he looks but he is disrupting my viewing and I do not like him because of the fact.
I was so engrossed in grumbling and complaining that I missed it was Interval until the lights turned on.
I swore loudly and my friends turned to me with disapproving looks on their faces.
Okay, so it is allowed to practically drool at an unsuspecting male but not to swear when you miss the cliffhanger before the interval. Talk about double standards.
If I needed to get through this movie, I needed to get some food in me, or at least coca-cola. Otherwise, this would be the most horrible experience of my life. So, I turned to my disapproving friends, why were they still looking at me? I looked at the seat in front of me.
Oh, the apparent hunk had left.
"Anyone wants to come with me to grab something to eat?" I asked, turning back to them.
"You just ate a bucket of pop-corn," Gauri informed me looking aghast, so eating was a crime, yeah, we get it, "Aren't you worried about the calories?"
"I don't usually get popcorn," I informed her, "Plus, the four of us shared it, I am getting an individual one now. Plus, I am hungry, you guys must feel full after all the staring, but I didn't even get to see Ranbir because of all the giggling."
"Stop complaining," Mri giggled, again, "Once you see Vedant, I am sure, I am absolutely sure that you will forget Ranbir."
"I doubt that," I shot back a disbelieving look on my face, then I decided to add some spice, with a mock mournful look, I pressed my hands against my chest, as though my heart was in pain and said in my best sad voice, "You only love once."
"Okay, okay," Jyoti cut in, before we began to fight, "I'm coming with you, but I am not having anything."
"Great," I muttered, "Now, I am going to look like a foodie."
I was annoyed, I was more than annoyed, no I was close to murdering my best friend who dragged me here.
The line was so long! And guess who was blocking it?
Just guess! Yep, you got it right, Vedant Agrawal.
Okay, I checked out Vedant, and in my defence, it was to know what the fuss was about?
He looked alright. I mean he was not drop dead gorgeous, as everyone claimed him to be.
Yes, he was better looking than any of our classmates. He had a strong jaw, which was a plus and I think it was his lean muscled body and his well gelled hair that had girls swooning. I admit it, with raised hands in submission, that he was good looking. But my heart was reserved for only one, Ranbir, okay, counting Ed Sheeran two, okay, I think we should add Kanan Shah to the list, so three men. I mean, come one. These three men… That's all I need. Wait, I forgot about Josh Hutcherson, but oh well, he has Katniss, I mean Jennifer.
I am pretty sure, that Vedant was not my type. First of all, he knew the effect he had and kept smiling at the girls who were practically swooning to his feet.
I saw Shivika, the beauty queen, who was practically holier than us mere mortals, being all nervous and stuff.
Why? It was not like he was… Sam Claflin or someone like him, just please move along, I have a lot of work to do and you are blocking my way. We only get twenty minute interval. What if someone had to pee? They will miss the movie because of you! I hope you feel good about yourself, Vedant Agrawal.
"You know," Jyoti said beside me in an extremely amused voice, "If you keep glaring at him, he will think you're a creeper."
"Please," I replied, reaching my back pocket for my purse, okay, it was a men's wallet, but it was more organized than women's purse, I liked it better, "Girls are practically falling at his feet, I don't think I will look like a creeper for glaring at him because he was blocking my line. That's a logical response."
"Why are you so irritated by him?" Gauri asked me, "You don't form opinions that quickly, usually, you are all for give people benefit of doubt and stuff like that."
"Yeah, and stuff like that," I repeated, looking back at the front of the line, finally, Vedant got what he wanted and had left, taking most of the line with him. "Finally!" I exclaimed and almost jumped when I got my coke and popcorn.
"You didn't answer me," She said, as we closed our screening theater.
"Ah, well," I shrugged, sipping on nectar, I mean, cold drink, "He just smiles too much."
"What?" Jyoti exclaimed, she looked really out of it.
"Eh," I shrugged again, "I mean, I don't know why all of you are like this crazy fangirl around him, he isn't even that good looking,"
"Um, Myra?" Jyoti asked as though she was doubting my sanity.
"To be honest," I continued, disregarding my best friend, "He looks like an Indian Edward Cullen and I am not saying that as a compliment."
"Well," Said a deep voice behind me, completely startling me, "That's just mean. I think you murdered my ego."
I turned around sharply, knocking the tray in Vedant's hand. He was smirking down at me.
Soon my sarcasm kicked out, as I saw the popcorn drop to the floor.
"I am so sorry!" I exclaimed, his smirk widened, he was totally un-bothered by the fact that I had dropped his popcorn. "Do you want me to pay for them?" I asked, already reaching for my purse.
"Excuse me," And for the first time, I saw his face with an expression other than a silly smile or smirk. I thrust a hundred rupee note in his hand and with a last sorry, I dashed back to my seat. I was embarrassed. For all the talks, I really didn't like dropping things, which I almost always did.
Gauri, Mri and Jyoti laughed at my expense as we got out of the theater, walking towards the nearby ice-cream café. It was getting dark and it looked like we were walking towards the sunset. Some things I liked about living in a hybrid between city and town, was that at times it got too peaceful, and other times, it was actually very boring.
The only good thing about the ten minute walk was that it was dinner time.
Gauri shook her head, she was sure there was something wrong with me with all the amounts of food I consumed. But I swear there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. I am growing girl and I require food in my system.
"So you just pushed a hundred rupee note in his hand and left?" Gauri asked in confirmation, her voice cracked with laughter, and I nodded, "Really?"
She laughed boisterously and I shook my head, trying hard not to laugh myself, I really made a fool of myself.
"You know what's amusing?" Mri asked, after a round of laughing.
"What?" I had to ask.
"That you weren't bothered in the least about the fact he heard you insulting him," She pointed out, and again my cheeks flushed as I realized indeed I hadn’t bothered to notice that little detail.
"Oh my gosh," Gauri cooed, "She's blushing! That's so cute, now I am sure she isn't a lesbo!"
"Ugh you guys," I grumbled, walking briskly, "I don't like him."
"We never said that," The three of them smirked together. Creepy.
"Are we going to the café or not?" I asked trying to change the topic in vain, they just laughed.
We entered the Central Perk styled café, this was the best thing in the hybrid town was this café. I never understood the significance of the café filled with couches, and why my parents loved it, but later I learned about Friends, and by later means last year when me and Sahil, one of my friends decided to binge-watch it. It was really awesome. The story behind this café was that the owner and his wife bonded over the show. Isn't that the cutest thing ever!
Well, I find it the cutest thing ever. It's already hard to bond in arranged marriages, or so I have heard. I don’t know, I have never experienced them.
Why am I thinking this anyways?
Okay, Myra, let's take a deep breath and relax—
"Oh, fancy seeing you here," Said that annoying same voice rudely bringing me out of my reverie. He was smiling cockily and Gauri and Mri apparently lost their tongues on the way here.
I rolled my eyes and pointedly ignored him, thanking God that I didn't drop his ice-cream this time.
"What do you guys want?" I asked my friends, who were frozen in time it seems. "Hello?"
"Oh, um, Myra," Jyoti began, but she was not looking at me, she was looking behind me and I rolled my eyes again.
"Last time I checked that was not a flavour available," I pointed out and Vedant actually laughed behind me.
Okay, so it was not as lame as it came out.
"Okay," I said lamely as my friends were still standing like wax statues, "I will just go and order my ice-cream, you guys decide."
I moved to the counter, and I discreetly watched Vedant smirking and winking at my friends, and they started conversing. Oh, so they were not wax statues after all. Nice to know.
There was again a line to get to the counter and I took the time to look at the menu, it consisted of snacks and ice-creams.
"What do you want, sweetie?" The aged Uncle asked behind the counter. He was the owner and had a knack of knowing everyone by their names. I found it really cool.
"The usual, Cookies and Cream and a Burger and… fries," I placed my order, "I think that'll be all."
I went to my purse again. I noticed the lack of a hundred rupee note.
See, I am well to do, but that doesn't mean I am not concerned about the money I spent.
Okay, I was a bit stingy.
I handed over the money to uncle and made my way back to the couch my friends, Vedant and his friends were sitting on.
Great, they decided to form a club and didn't even invite me.
I played with the coupon in my hand as I approached closer.
"She usually doesn't speak?" Vedant's friend asked pointing at me.
I raised my eyebrows but chose not to speak.
"Nah," Gauri said waving a dismissive hand, "She is usually really shy."
"Unless she is murdering people's egos," Vedant adds, and everyone laughs like it was the funniest thing ever.
My eyebrows rose further.
"I'm sorry," I apologized, even though I was snarking in my mind. My parents demanded me to be polite, it's not my fault.
"It's alright," He said smiling. Okay, he smiled way too much for my liking.
"Guys, you are ordering or what?" I asked my friends but apparently Vedant and his crew thought they were invited, too and decided to hang out with us for rest of the night. Hallelujah. And other girls were actually glaring at us. Great, just great.
***
I finally got off Jyoti's Activa and glared at her.
"Come on," She laughed, "It's not my fault Vedant wanted to talk to you."
I rolled my eyes, "If I only knew before that the best way to grab a guy's attention is to insult him," I informed her, "I would've acted like you and other girls."
Jyoti parked her Activa in our garage and got off, "Like us?" She asked.
"Yes," I nodded, "All fangirl-y,"
We made our way to the first floor where I lived, whilst talking.
"You act like you didn't enjoy the attention," She laughed.
"I didn't," I told her seriously and she laughed even louder.
"So the movie was that amusing?" My mother asked coming to the door.
"No Aunty," Jyoti shook her head, "It's your daughter that is amusing."
"Oh yeah, mother,' I said deadpanned, "I am becoming a stand up comedian."
"Oh, it's comedian today," She laughed.
"Career reminds me," Jyoti said as we made our way inside the house.
"Are you giving Wankhede Sir's entrance exam?" She asked, "People say it guarantees you a place in any GMC you wish.'
"I don't know," I shrugged, "I am not sure I wanna be a doctor. They say PMTs are tough. What if I fail?"
"You won't fail," Jyoti stated in a matter of fact way, "You are Myra Azeem."
Now that's nice.
"You know what?" My mother interrupted, "Give the entrance, if you pass, then go for PMT if you don't we'll think about something else."
I shrugged. That way I won't need to make a decision.
Sometimes I do wish I made a decision.