Such if Life!!!!!

When they walk past by you get to hear all the OOZ and AAHz..and OMG..look at him..or is IT her!? Some merely ignore them.some give them an x amount of money because their blessings are considered very pious..while the modernites like us would just pass a smile..go upto them and talk. Yes. Talk to them..about them(if they feel comfortable!)..or just discuss stuff with them. A few of them know it all- from politics to sports to entertainment..they are well read. A few just know about fashion..the newer trends..new ways to attract “customers”..newer lipsticks and much much more More than what a cosmopolitan reader would know. How? Ask them!
Some would just sit on the footpath..light up a fag and see the world pas by not caring of what-how-who and where. And some..cry. Curse god on their way of life. However, the one I met, was a lot different(okay..not different but a mix of the above).

I was on the red light when Alka came to me. She wore an orange saree,orange lipstick. A sparkling gold necklace, matching earrings and orange bangles and the look was complete. Her chest protruding out..out enough to grab many eyeballs! She came to me..(I was in the car, driving! Yes..in my next write up would mention about some driving incidents!!!) and asked for money,clapping her finger-opned hands..she also remarked- God will always bless you(yes..in English!). I was stunned. English. How? I couldn’t help but comment, “ You speak good English”. To this one would generally expect a kind Thank you but what she replied dropped as a bomb on me. She rep “ Your vocab is good..would be a better compliment”. Flummoxed. I looked at her and she looked back..Gosh, those 60 seconds on the red light seemed like 600 years. I knew it that moment, she is special. I hesitantly asked her to join me over a cup of coffee careful of not giving her any wrong signals.

She agreed. We went to CCD’s. While entering, she paused..looked around and asked, “ You comfortable here?”. I looked around..i knew why I had been here and what I wanted from her..i nodded in a positive manner and we sat at the corner table, My all time fav. I was in my mind just praying to God that no cousin or relative of mine sees me with her. Not that I mind being seen with her in public..but parents you know, will never understand a few things here and there.

We ordered cappuccinos and cookies..it was going to be a long long conversation. I looked at her..and said “Hi..i am Kinni. 2nd Year. Journalism. Delhi University”. To this she replied, “Oh..so you want to write about me, my community and problems we face and all that,huh,?”. I stopped myself from throwing a saucer at her. She is rude, Kinni. Calm down. I told myself. I ignored and moved on, “No! And what do you mean by your community..you are a part of OUR community. Anyway, I want to know, with such good English…” She stopped me and replied, “ You want to know why I work as a eunuch? That’s about it right!”. I nodded. She said “Don’t waste time kid..the amount of time I am wasting on you could be converted into big money”. I held myself..not to throw the cup or chair or the table at her. But then it srtuck me..and my best reply was, “ Then why did you agree to come with me?”. She was stunned. Amazed at the reply and wondering how to deal with me. She replied, “ You would be amazed to know..but I am here because I like this job. I have the power of two. I know, most people are forced into this..but I am different.” She indeed is. “I worked as a journalist in *********(sorry..cant take name).” I was shocked. Surprised. Confused. Only now I know why she was so well read. I was just about to ask her why did she quit and stuff..but then I saw her eyes..The calm that her face had. She wanted to say more. I let her. She said that her journalistic career did give her fame but never satisfied her. She quit and entered fashion industry. I could not digest the cookies. I had nothing to say. What should I. And she continued, “Year after year, job after job..i somehow missed something in life..and one fine day I assisted a director for a documentary.” And that is when things changed for her..she said when she met more of her COMMUNITY during the research, she fell more and more in love with them and she realized she is one of them. Now she got answers to her being a hermaphrodite. Her family-the home and in laws did not accept this. She was alone when she met Meena, the head. And today she is where she is. Enjoying her life. The way she wants to. And during this entire conversation, she had not even once done anything that made me think twice about her.

She also asked me to read about her friend “Bhagmati” in one of Khushwant Singh’s book. We finished our coffee and ordered for the bill. I opened my bag. She took my hand and gave me a dirty stare. She was back! Now I should throw the table at her! She took out her purse from you-know-where and paid. Sweet! I dropped her back from where we had started. She left(in someone’s BMW..doing her job..the one best at!)
I smiled. I was there wondering how people are so different. There are many people..with so many stories. I was lucky to meet her. I loved her..the way she was-very confident and happy of what she was doing. Strange is life..more strange is the path which leads to it. I don’t have words to express myself..maybe never will have. All I know is that sometimes..its better to just listen and not say a word. Patiently.