School scene - 1

It was 9PM and my stomach was making strange noises. I was speed walking out of the class so I could go home quick and have my extremely delicious dinner made by myself. (sandhula sindhu)

There was a big crowd near the elevator. Couldn't take the stairs as I was too hungry and I was on the 13th floor. Somehow managed to squeeze into the elevator that was actually going up. I didn't care. I just wanted to get in. There were some 40 people in the elevator and there was an Indian guy.

In New Jersey and New York, you shouldn't smile or say "Hi" if you see other Indians because even if you do, they are going to look away like it has happened to me many times before. I don't now why and I wasn't ready for any "bulb" at that time. I tried to act like a local and didn't look his way. He kept staring at me and he probably thought "Lemme see how long you can avoid looking this way, Missy". I conceded defeat, looked and smiled (not too much) and before even I could finish that perfunctory smile, he went "Which part of India are you from?" Instead of saying "Whats your problem and why do you care", I unintentionally sounded decent and the words "Are you asking me?" came out. Before I could finish the sentence with "me", pat came his reply. "I am from Ranchi. Do you know Ranchi?" I nodded as I said "I've heard of it". And as usual, he wasn't interested in what I was saying or going to say, he went "Dhoni is from there. Do you know cricketer Dhoni?" I said "yes" but why did I even bother answering, I don't know. Not that he paid attention. He was most surprised by my yes and he asked "You know Dhoni?!" He could've as well said "Hey woman!! You know cricket and even know cricketers' names!! Thats very surprising." And I don't think he believed that I'd heard of Dhoni. Ranchi pasangala, too much I say. To add to all this pride, he captained and the team won the world cup. I think the guy's mission that day was to tell any Indian looking person that he was from Ranchi. Pasila potruppen. But common sense prevailed. I think of Dhoni, the Ranchi-ite, as a "kaattaan" and one should never mess with him (them).