Vendetta and the Inside of her Brain

Vendetta Kumar had once been told by a friend that Vendetta obviously didn't socialize on account of being an introvert. At that time, Vendy was hurt, because that friend was her social life. With that friend, she was as 'extrovert' as Vendy could be. Of course at that time, Vendy thought being an introvert was a 'problem'. Nothing serious, but like an issue that, at that time, Vendy thought she could 'resolve'.

There is absolutely nothing wrong in being either of the 'verts'. Vendetta realized that soon enough and was at peace again. She did time and again feel pangs of jealously when the 'out-going' crowd was going out. She could never be a natural at conversing with some people. She'd often find that people would also sort of converse with others and their talks would be so 'inside joke'- like that Vendy could not find her way into the discussions and end up being an 'also there with them'.

All this awkwardness would be a small portion of her life though. Major chunk of her every-day was in-fact silently observing and smirking at pretense that the non-shy junta possessed. Her no small talk way of life at work and outside suited her.

A colleague once asked her "Vandita! Are you looking for a guy to fall in love with?" Though Vendetta would love to fall in love, she replied with sincerity: "I don't really. I think I am not capable of emotionally investing myself with one because, dis-investing if things don't work out seems painful". 

But she did want to fall in love, effortlessly. Another colleague told her that it could not be effortless. She needed to party, go on trips, or at-least talk to people so that one-thing-led-another-and-coffee-happened. Vendy smiled. He was right, but she was not that person. She was content being indoor-sy.

The latest development in her life brought her in close proximity to fresh college grads. The bubbly chirpy kind that newly employed kids are, still accustomed to hostel level shenanigans. These kids do not come back from office with energy level drained to zero. They still have an eagerness to get chummy with others around and some of them have laughter that qualifies as noise. These are the ones who laugh at everything. Laughter comes out of their mouths along with words. Vendy didn't know that was possible. And like most situations in her life, these kids did not have the kind of discussions where Vendetta Kumar could pitch in. And much like always, she tried to go out of her zone to make way into these people's lives but came quickly back as she didn't want these people inside her life.

Playboy

Chapter E: "Flashback to Feb One"
read what happened on Feb One 

Feb One, In one of the boys' hostels:

(1) Sean Trumpman, meanwhile , was going through St. Columbas' Year Book 2010-11. He was happily revisiting those blissful days spent at his alma mater.

(2) Those detentions with Kunal, bunking Mr. Khurana's lessons to go to Friendship Colony (a place to find many "friendly" girls), tripling with Ankit-Sanchit on Delhi-Gurgaon or Delhi-Noida highways or standing under the ruthless sun for hours to get a ticket for India Pakistan cricket match at FirozShah Kotla (IPL and cheer girls were the latest attractions).

(3) Sean would frequent Convent of Jesus and Mary (to catch a glimpse of Mini Johny) and St. Thomas School (to bird-watch Devika Nanawati , when Mini was out of town).

(4) Dhruv, Kunal's younger brother and Arabella's eye-candy, had written a particularly "funny" joke in this year-book that made Sean stare at it for a little longer than required. How dare Dhruv write something like this about Sean's younger sis in Sean's yearbook?

(5)Arabella Trumpman was a good girl. [Every brother expects this to be true].

(6) "Tweet tweet, tweet tweet, S....M....S..!!" shouted Sean's cell phone. Bella's "I love my brother" kind of message.
"Tweet twee-" again. This time it was Shelly Sharma.
This Kanpur girl was driving him crazy. She topped in class, was great at Scrabble, always took his DVD's in that authoritarian tone and worst, Sean was being teased with this small-town girl.
 It read: "hey, i'm backing out of robo-race, really unwell :'( ".

(7) Now, Sean was lost. Should he be shamelessly happy (he would now be "in" in the college Robo-Race Team)? Or, should he be sad( Shelly was the best girl he would ever meet; hard-working and helpful, a girl with actual brains)?

Strange

Chapter D: Vendetta opines

I believe that girls are strange. Since I belong to the same species, I will not rule out the possibility that I may be queer too.

I say this because of two particular girls in my mind right now. Miss Rihanna and Miss Petunia. In increasing order of bafflement they arouse in me. No, that’s strange.I wasn't thinking about these two. Actually I had two boys in my mind whom I associate with the aforementioned girls. Both these males smoke. Mr. Adam updates facebook statuses which read: “Marijuana should be legalised”. R always makes it a point to frown and speak as abominably about A’s tobacco habits as best she can. Mr. Drake apparently told P about his sad story of lost father, not so sophisticated background and his consequent entry into the world of chain smokers. P was once too close to me (a fact that sometimes embarrasses me; but hey she was my best friend then. This fact is undeniable and the fun we had together unmatchable. No, she was a crazy being, determined to pull me down and so, embarrassment is justifiable and validates the fact that I’m sane after-all.) . She would often confide in that the only thing she detested about her otherwise perfect boyfriend is smoking. She hates smokers. Why then she befriended D who cooked up this unfortunate tale and served it with a pinch of wanton and garnished it with puffs of smoke? A too has a grievous saga to explain his affinity towards the world of tobacco. Well, he hasn't shared this saga actually with R but she told me once that his life back home is tough. Upsetting. Inhuman.

So?

I maintain that there are thousand excuses to do wrong. Not a single reason. D added in his tale, to gain the sympathetic shoulder, that he never wanted to smoke. Also he is ever since meaning to quit. If you have this much insight and are that much willing to correct the incorrect, do it! A says that he knows that this habit is cancerous but he does not wish to give up the solace. I say shut up! Along with yourself, you are breeding many innocent and imbecile passive smokers. To these two pretty ladies, I can only grimace. One had been my best friend earlier, the other still earlier. Both these missies have all the brains in the world. In comparison to me, I mean. If they are so good at academics and daily chores, respectively, why cannot they acknowledge the simple fact that befriending a wrong-doer makes them abettors too? They are committing the sin of tolerating tobacco. Strange I call them. Not senseless though. R and P do know that smoking is bad and sad stories are bull-shit. They aren't senseless. Only strange ,by remaining nonchalant to this tobacco thing. 

Two different kinds of same girls

filed under Vendetta

Read Chapter A or Chapter B

Chapter C
Pearl Montecristo burries her head in her pillow. Just next to her sits Vendetta. She has a quiz tomorrow. Havoc has fallen on poor Pearl.
Vendetta is unable to study! Pearl's studious room-mate can't study! And she's not even sick. Why then  hasn't Vendy studied a single page of her supposedly mountainous syllabus?
Pearl is the one who remains elusive to books even if it's a few hours left for exams. She's the one who watches Naruto and similar animes , rather than hopelessly trying to waste time studying. Agreed, Vendy is a teachers' favorite but she's a book-worm. That's one thing totally uncool and awe-inspiring about her.

Pearl stares at Vendy, wondering all this and also, whether or not she can kick Vendy's ass... after all Montecristo is state-level Karate champion and world renowned sleep-kicker.

Vendy meanwhile rethinks her whole life minus the fun things. Oddly, that guy in seventh grade who proposed to her on her birthday comes to her mind. Then, that wicked teacher who deducted her marks in French Grammar in  class 6 to ensure her son tops the class. (He didn't! He fared poorly in two other subjects and Vendy stood first yet again.) Class 10 when no one asked her out for Junior Prom. Life has been unfair to her . And  one thing she's always been good at is studies. She's a self proclaimed nerd. Guys around her generously call her "Beauty With Brains"------- STOP! Vendetta Kumar has to study( she tells herself).

Knock-knock.
(Pearl: What fresh hell is this?!)
Enters Shelly Sharma.
Pearl wants to kill. Either these two girls, or herself! If only she could... atleast punch in the face must be mandated! Why the heck is internet down suddenly? Shelly must not touch my Happy Meal Doremon! (Damn, she just did it). Vendy must not start discussing tomorrow's quiz and "kitna padha" cry-baby song. (Oh boy, they are into it.)
These studious kids! They sap out all the fun out of life! Why does Shelly bother if Priory Of Sion exists today or not? (Dan Brown just wrote a novel! End of story!) Why does Vendy fret that she'll flunk in tomorrow's test ? (The girl aces all the exams since forever! She stood first even in pre-school!)

What about Pearl? No one cares about her! (Well, good for her! Yesterday, Pearl's brother scared the crap out of her by lecturing her on sincerity.  Later, she realised the prank Freddie Montecristo had played on her. She sighs in relief that her life is normal. Everyone in her family expects alot from her and no one remembers what class she is in ! They only want results. Well, that's normal life, if you look at weepy Vendy and sleepy Shelly...)

Shelly sits confident . Vendy sits nervous. Shelly has read all the Dan Brown novels back-to-back in 2 days + for her quiz. Vendy has re-seen The Big Bang Theory for like gazzilionth time and says there's no time to study.  But wait! Internet's back.
Pearl quickly puts on her head phones and you-tubes Supernatural's latest episode. These two oddly different kind of similar people can go to hell!

Going berserk at the dawn of tweenage

filed under Vendetta
Chapter B: Vendy turns twenty


Then: You're 12, you are excited about being on the threshold of teenage.
Now: You're 19, you go berserk about entering tweenage!

Then: Whoa, I'm gonna be a grown up now!
Now: Sigh, wish I could be 5 again!

Then: I'll be out of Middle School, and will have my own version of High School Musical.
Now: I want to enter the best B-School, earn at least a zillion , and HAVE to look the best.

Then: Since last three months, going gaga over the fact that my bday is round the corner.
Now: Like exams, the D-day is knocking on the door, and I want to take as long as possible to turn the door knob.

Then: Hinting mummy now and then , during supermarket excursions, to buy the inevitable Vanilla Essence.
Now: Feigning the lack of knowledge that your pals are bringing some random cake.

Then: Your family gives you a lavish party.
Now: The hole in your pocket just transformed from its microscopic self to a gargantuan avatar .

I don't have any X-factor or Y-factor or whatever you call it

filed under Vendetta
A. February One, 2012

(1) 
This one's about Vendetta. Pronounced as Vandita. And apart from the name's spelling, nothing about   her can be termed stylish.
She's short, but can carry off heels comfortably.
She has got rid of some of the flab, she flaunted thanks to sumptuous home-made food and absolutely no exercise.

(2) 
That was before she came to the girls' hostel. 
Vendetta's room-mate is Pearl. Pearl is what Vendetta wants to be. Pearl loves art, sports, food, clothes, places, people, everything.
Vendetta loves Pearl.

(3) 
Everyone at their graduation school believe Vendy is big entertainment in small packet. 
Vendy (she hates this nick-name) can set fire on any ramp, college fest's or Paris Fashion Week's. Any. If she wants to.

(4)
Pearl can vouch for the fact that Vendetta (not Vendy, as Pearl knows way too well her room-mate detests the nick-name unanimously given to her) has a sweet voice.
But not singing-type. But again, Pearl knows way too well that Vendetta can easily win hearts, if not the award, in any competition she participates in.
Vendetta has that "X-factor"( don't you dare call it "oomph"!) that can win over the judges and audience alike.
Judges are the male professors, audience the male students. Oh yes, these girls study in an engineering school.
Vendy doesn't agree( I'm short, slightly plump,I don't have any X-factor or Y-factor or whatever you call it)
(She has this thing with X and Y, they rule engg, they rule chromosomes: crazy, but complete Vendy stuff.)

(5)
Pearl can tell you. 
Vendetta shops in Paris, with her fashionable aunt, when it comes to 'chick dressing'.
Vendetta shops in London,where she used to live, when it comes to everyday wear.

Agreed that with Vendetta's size, which is neither too thin, nor extra large, most of the clothes are embarrassingly tight or shamefully loose.

Whereas , with her slim(=perfect for Vendetta), tall frame; Pearl finds it hard to wear anything that wouldn't appear to be on a hanger.

(6)
They both have issues. Common and different. Both suffer from hair fall and pimples. Both can't make big circles of friends. They have friends " who aren't close" or as they say : "are at a safe distance".

(7)
Shelly is their closest friend, or so to say, comes closest to being their friend.

(8)
Shelly is a mix of both Vendy and Pearl. She's short and slim. Studious and sporty. Charming and charmed.

As Vendy charms her seniors and faculty into giving her notes and marks, Shelly charms the huge crowd of nerdy males of her "Robo Rage" society.

As Pearl is charmed by the guy sitting just behind her in every class with his jokes, jibes, male-jargons; Shelly is charmed by Sean- her benefactor of movies, encyclopedias and wild dreams.

(9)
Sean owns reservoirs of DVDs, books, photographs and dimpled smile-killer eyes.
And all these, he happily shares with Shelly, nerds, professors,the security guards of the boys' hostel, the security guards of the girls' hostel and anyone and everyone who can benefit from him, and he from them.

 (10)
Vendy is sure that the only benefit Sean derives out of Shelly is her notes.
Shelly's notes are inevitable, to pass any test. 
Shelly doesn't like to share Vendy's ideas about Sean.

Shelly chooses Pearl's opinion of Sean.
(Pearl loves to watch movies, old and new, and read books of all kinds, and Sean provides all this to Shelly, Shelly to Pearl.) 
(Thus) Pearl basically calls Sean a good boy who is sharing and caring.

(11)
Our three ladies often go to theatre or restaurants or shopping together.
Vendy and Shelly study together (because Pearl never studies), Shelly and Pearl eat out together (as Vendy is still struggling for a figure that's not 'round') and Vendy and Pearl watch their "heroes saving the world" on Vendy's laptop.

(12)
Tonight Shelly is sick. (I will find this virus and invent an antidote for this viral infection, I swear).

Vendy has been reading a book; not full of circuits , but on how to impress your boss. 
(Which boss she wants to impress? Probably, she'll apply the same rules to play her seductress role on the lab assistant tomorrow...)
Pearl is window-e-shopping. Browsing many a things on Vendy's laptop on various online stores.

Shelly enters. No, Shelly weeps. She has an upcoming Robo-Race and has to combat this strange viral infection.
All the three head towards a nearby medical dispensary. 
Medical staff here knows Shelly quite well. (As much due to her frequent check-ups as much as for her research on use of syringes)

Vendy and Pearl sit outside, praying for their friend's health.

Vacation Ends

PROLOGUE  page2

Her summer break started. The exams had ended and now it was time to have full on fun for coming 3 months. 
Itinerary for this journey had been prepared in her mind the moment the last exam ended.

The first stop of her fun ride was at the TV Tower she used to look up to while 
waiting for the movie to start at the open theatre Drive-In Cinema.
Ride itself was on BRTS , the cool bus service that made her city less congested . 

Next stop was in another city, where her cousin was getting engaged . This meant meeting the near and distant relations , beer, biryani, gossip and gala. 
Now the joy train headed towards Mumbai . Shopping and sea-link at Worli . Back to home.
Watching TV became her 9-5 job .

Next week was a road trip to the city where her elder brother used to go to kindergarten as a toddler. This place had changed from what mummy remembered it to be. Of course, she wasn't there in the picture then.
Seeng dana, "Sachin" mangoes and the smell of  fish filled this city.

Her tour now took her to a food mela. Here, there were fruits day, veggies day, dairy day and at the end, a feast .

A little break was needed to fuel up the tank for the rest of the journey.  Also, the wait for rains wasn't over yet.  Neighbourhood quarrels, community bhajans and a few daily sitcoms later, she is again raring to go. After-all , nothing on her itinerary has been covered as yet. And, 3 months are now over. 
So what, a new plan can be chalked out, a new train can be boarded....
Waise bhi, college itself is another vacation , whatsay?

Videocon Multie 6800

PROLOGUE page1

DISCLAIMER: This post is not about  Videocon Multie 6800's
merits or demerits . It simply features as the washing machine present
in the girl's hostel in which I used to be and is a part of fond memories  :)

One day, probably the previous semester , during some conversation which she doesn't remember (who does?), Vendetta  said she washes clothes at home.
Like every teenage girl, she has a mom, who would like to see her daughter doing as well in daily chores as in studies.

Vendetta doesn't.

No cooking, cleaning, stitching or ironing. 

Well, according to Vendy , she can do these things... well, whatever!

Pearl was actually impressed that Vendy actually does that, washing clothes, even if she operates washing machine for that. 

Unbelievably Vendy washes her clothes by hands when in hostel. She has her own reasons. 
a) She doesn't trust any of the hostel resource.
b) In the first semester, the first week itself, Sasha had told Vendy that her new tee got torn in hostel washing machine!!

Reason enough for our spoilt rich kid Vendy to do "haath ki safaai" even if it takes a lot of labour.

Today though Vendy decides she'll use the washing machine, she's done with using her muscles and tiring her limbs.

She requests Pearl to give her washing machine training as hostel's machine is different from her home's.

Pearl squeaks " Vandita! All machines are same. Engineering student hai be! dimaag laga....."

Vendy sadly heads to the laundry room where thankfully Sophie is present. Sophie "helps" her out. well, a little bit in her own way.

Vendy is completely stuck though. She doesn't know wash/spin is followed by drain followed by wash followed by dryer . Well, she manages to go past wash/spin stage, which Sophie has done for her. She smses Pearl to tell her next move to which Pearl tells her something that sounds as familiar as Japanese. 

Finally convinced ,  Vendy comes back only to realize , with Pearl's help that detergent isn't washed off! 

Pearl : " Vandita! How do you operate the washing machine at home?"

Vendetta: " By clicking a button."

Pearl:" Why didn't you click  them today?"

Vendy:" Arey! told you no only one button! "

Pearl:" Do you mean you operate an automatic washing machine at home ?"

Vendy:" Yeah, told you  no..."

Pearl:"Abey yaar!!  that means you don't actually do anything, like every other thing, no chores at all! Sorry Vandita! Next time will surely accompany you to the laundry. "

Vendy:" (Sob) Yeah, but no thanks , washing with hands is much more comfortable (sob)".

Pearl realizes her spoilt little friend is sad and tells her how she herself gets scolded by her mummy for not doing anything worthwhile.
A few seconds later hostel supervisor yells:" Bandeetaaa !! Masheeeen ka kya haal bana diya chhori!"

More sobs follow.