Hope, happiness and survivor-ship

Had written this way back in 2007.. just dug it out when I was searching for another piece and figured that sometimes all it takes to smile is a warm memory!

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When all hope seems lost, do you turn to the skies and pray with your heart, believing that the almighty will lead you through darkness, into a new dawn? I always believed in it, and always will do so. But at times you realize you dont have to look so far, for hope, happiness and survivor-ship, you realize are just round the corner. Crane your neck or break out of your thoughts and you might just realize that there is a story of survival almost everywhere.

I was out for lunch with a friend at one the pizza hut joints when my friend realized she had to rush as her mentor at Moto was waiting for her. Not wanting to dash off with my meal too, I hung back to eat peacefully and read my book (I was reading The Simoquin Prophecies and was in no hurry to finish it! A must read!), and being the perpetual slow-eater, was earning dirty looks from the waiter who was waiting to clear my table off. Wanting to order masala lemonade, I waited for another waiter to pass by, so that I wouldn’t have to lock horns with the grumpy one. Soon a young waitress swished past, and I almost screamed out for my lemonade, startling the poor girl! She took the order, dutifully recited their overused line “Your lemonade will be ready in 6 minutes” and vanished behind the counter. When she had returned with the drink, I was talking over the phone and was arguing about the pronunciation of penchant with someone, with me pronouncing it as pen-chant and the other one arguing that it was pahn-shahn. I hung up the phone as soon as the drink had arrived, not wanting to continue the call further, sensing that I was fighting a losing battle. The waitress was clearing the table and I gave her my customary colgate smile for the drink and continued with my book.

The girl was about to leave when I remembered I had to get a pizza for my intern-mates at Moto. I had no idea about non-veg pizzas and was forced to ask the waitress to suggest a good one. She suggested the day’s special, chicken supreme or something and again recited her customary “Your order will be ready in 14 minutes”. I was actually surprised by her impeccable English and found it a little odd that she was working in a fast-food place. She could have just as easily gotten into a BPO and would be earning a more handsome pay. When she had come back to clear off the plate, I complimented her, saying that she had very good English and told her she could try for a job at any call-center. I thought I was going to surprise her by my comments, but it turned out it was my chance to be surprised. She replied back saying she actually worked at a BPO and was working at the joint for some extra money. By now I was in a chatty mood and didn’t want to go without hearing the full story. I started my usual rapid-fire question round and understood that she was working to fund her education. She wanted to pursue masters in textile designing at NIFT, but hadn’t got the permission from her parents to get into that field, as according to them it wasn’t respectable enough! So she started working at the BPO, and without their knowledge also did some hours at the food joint. She was saving for a rainy day, she said, in case she clears the NIFT entrance and her parents refuse to fund her, she would go there by herself! I was rather surprised and impressed and told her how amazing it was, since here was a girl who had done her degree from some neighbourhood college and still had the confidence to pursue her dreams. And I thought you need to go to a college of repute to actually get that confidence! Silly me!

She said, “As long as you are fighting for it, it is fun. The moment you give in, all of that fun simply vanishes, leaving a constant drone in your head” and she disappeared behind her counter. She suddenly re-appeared and said "You actually do pronounce penchant as pahn-shahn" leaving a pleasantly surprised me! She had given me her number, asking me to let her know if there was some position in Moto for which she could apply to. I have since lost that number and even forgotten her face, but I can never forget that kick-ass attitude she had to fight for what she wanted. She was working two jobs and was even ready to oppose her parents, to actually do what she liked. Surely, Indian woman has come of age! Amen.