Superstar

It was pouring when I drove out for office today. Coldplay, my usual companion during the drive failed me, the CD had too many scratches from overuse I think. So, I had no choice but to turn to FM. Anyone living in Delhi these days knows that FM is quite the same as Television. All you do during a drive is flip channels and hear nothing but ads. Some sort of loyalty is necessary, otherwise all you ever get to hear is ads! I normally stick to Fever. This is probably because I liked the book by Richard Branson, and also because they play nice songs.

So, I left early today, oblivious of the traffic jam I always manage to find whenever I do so. Today I got stuck at the very first crossing. Normally, I am a stubborn ass when it comes to showing some road sense, and I stick my car and block as much traffic as I can so that the opposing traffic can move, and we don't block them unnecessarily. Today, however, something happened, and I played with the herd. I entered the queue and blocked all traffic. As, I already clarified, I don't normally do this, but today in my defense, the song playing on radio caused the problem. I was smiling, blushing, smirking and my mind was elsewhere. Fever decided to play Superstar by Jamelia.

Yeah, I know a lot has been said about her by everyone who wasn't even present at RPM at that fateful night, but those who were, and were in their senses (Samridh, Anshul and Jai.. Saraf was definitely out!) would remember that this song was probably responsible! I know its taken rather long, but now its my turn. My word is final in this legend :) , because I am the protagonist.

One fine day during third year, a cool breeze was blowing and the sun was shining.. We were lazing around in VVS (That's short for Shri M Vishveshvaraiya Hostel, officially SMVH), the corridor of power. Samridh came with a offer we couldn't refuse :) A bunch of girls from Miranda House had (somehow) agreed to go to a pub with 5 engineering students. Now that does NOT happen very often. It in fact never happens. Kudos to Samridh for his convincing skills. (We shall talk about Samridh's skills and appeal sometime later). As I said, it was an offer we couldn't refuse.

So, we all got aptly dressed on D-day, and moved out in (was it 2280?? I definitely need to write about Samridh!) Samridh's car, to pick the girls up. We picked them up, all of us got out of the car courteously, and then we stuffed inside like wild animals in a cage, and went on to pick more gurls up! To cut a long story short, after getting lost on the way in some village and taking a lot of time, we finally got to Basant Lok, and as is the ritual with cheap-skates, got a little drunk before we entered.

We were 5 guys, and 7 girls! We had a breezy entry into the pub, no questions asked, obviously for a change. We found ourselves two tables, and sat ourselves down like good well educated people, and kept throwing sideways glances at a gay couple, the only one enjoying the dance floor and the music at the early hour. After the first few awkward moments, we unanimously decided that we all needed to get a little more drunk in order to get us started. So, we ordered our first round, then second, followed by a round of Tequilas, and then we were set for a while!

We hit the dance floor as a group of 12, and danced in the group initially. Call it inconvenience of dancing 12 at a time, or natural selection, the group gradually disintegrated into smaller ones and gradually into couples. When I realized what was going on, I found myself facing a skinny tall girl with curly hair smiling at me. We tried some random steps, and after some mumbling, we decided I should follow her steps. Lets call her S. Now, S happened to be the choreographer for the Miranda House team. So, I was better off following her. (Not to mention I had no steps to lead with). She was a good dancer to say the least. I'm sure she was capable of much better and complicated looking steps, but seeing my caliber as a dancer, she probably selected the easier ones, and I was able to follow her with ease and actually enjoy the dance. It was really a lot of fun, and a little romantic I have to admit. An hour later, when we were given a compliment, we realized that we hadn't even looked at what the others were upto for so long! It was time for a rest. So, we sat down for a while, and I had to face a few witty ones from my friends, and I could do nothing but smile. So we exchanged phone numbers, and hit the dance floor again...

Now, where does Superstar come in? The DJ at RPM that night played the song at least 6 times. So, from whatever hazy memories I have of that night, we were always dancing on that song! Whenever I hear it now, I'm reminded of that night. Later, we dropped the girls off at their place, and standing outside the car that night, thinking of what to say to this girl, all I could think of was "I had a great time, Good night." As soon as we got back into the car, all hell broke loose!

Sam: Had a great time, Good night? Had a great time, Good night? Is that all you could think of Vicky?
Me: (Feeling rather stupid) mmm...
Sam: You guys looked so cute together. Couldn't you have said "I'll call sometime", or "We should meet up again". Kyaaaa Vicky yaar....
Me: mmm....

All I could think of at this moment, was a tiny satisfaction of not making the mistake Chandler Bing always made! I knew I would call her, and probably meet her too, but what difference does it make if I didn't commit to it in word?

I was received in the Hostel amidst much fanfare, cheering and hooting. I was going red by now. So, after facing the music for a while, I decided I needed some sleep and sobering out. Ohh, btw, did I mention that S was the only one who had no drinks all evening.

A week later, Samridh decided that it was long enough for the girls not to think we were desperate, and as Engifest happened to be in the same week, we (Samridh) invited them over for the Choreo night, I think. We were all scattered somewhere in the OAT when they arrived, and we gradually grouped a little distance away from the stage and started chatting. Saraf was over animated, having lost out on the previous opportunity because of not being in his senses, he was overcompensating. Saraf was smitten by a girl (I don't remember her name, lets call her Q). Both Q and her elder sister had accompanied us to RPM that night, and Saraf had taken a liking to Q. So, when I joined the group, this conversation was going on.

Q: It was a lot of fun that day..
Saraf: Yeah it was, what is your sister doing?
Q: Explains that she is doing her Masters in something..
Saraf: Masters? She is elder to you? She doesn't look like it!

Having realized the blunder Saraf had made, we all were stunned. Anshul was the first one to find words.

Anshul: What are you saying Saraf, are you off your nut. Q definitely is the younger one..
Saraf: Taken aback by the rebuke No.. eh.. that's not what I meant..

Sam&I mumbled something in agreement.

Now, It had become a little awkward, and someone mentioned that the dance performances were about to start, and we jumped at it. We all went and sat down at the steps of the OAT, well almost. S asked if I could show her around college. I agreed. We started to walk around the Saraswati Marg (also known as the ring road because its a large circle going all around the campus). All the time, she was firing questions at me, and I was handling it like a Viva, taking breaks in between to point out different parts of college. By the time we completed half a circle, I was fed up of the never-ending stream of questions. I don't remember having asked her even one, or even having gotten a chance to do so!

A whiff of music floated our way, and I immediately suggested that we should go watch the performances, and she grudgingly agreed. We went and rejoined the group. By now, I had made up my mind that this girl was too intrusive and not the type I could hold a conversation with. I was in fact fearing that she may start again. While we were sitting there on the steps, and it was cold I agree, she said "I'm feeling really cold, can't we go somewhere warm?" There, I have laid it bare. People have taken out their own interpretations of this statement, and you can read most of them wherever on the Internet they are. I however, choose to say nothing about this. I was as a whole, rather disappointed, and looking for an opportunity to get away. So, coupled with the fever I had 2 days ago, the amazing chocolate cookies Samridh had a stock of, and some mumbling about a relapse, I managed to concoct a lame excuse for myself and left Samridh alone to drop them home.

The only mistake I made that night, was to let everyone in on the conversation we had. What followed was pandemonium. I was made president of GSDCE (I stand corrected, it was S.H.A.G.) for life, and was asked to give a speech to an arbit gathering of 50 people outside the hostel late in the night, on my supreme penance. It took a while for the gossip to die down, but the legend lives on....

PS. I did try holding a conversation with her on a couple of occasions over phone, but never really hit it off..


Update:
Yesterday I got a mail from Samridh, and I just couldn't stop laughing. It had S's latest snaps. Click on image to enlarge.



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You’re currently reading “Superstar,” an entry on Gedanken

Published:
12:15 PM
by Vivek