Pink or Blue??

Do the nouns in the Title signify only colors, or something else?

Are these associated with a person’s identity in any possible way?

I am pretty sure that these questions do not generate much curiosity in minds of my readers. Probably even while reading the title, my readers would have imagined a particular thing or a person associated with the color. What was that thing or who was that person? Perhaps I know the answer well, but I would allow my protagonists to scan my reader’s mind.

Let us enter into the unconventional yet fascinating lives of Aryaman and Vidhi.

Aryaman’s Tale

Amidst her busy daily schedule, Dr. Rashmi always found time to devote to her son’s studies (who was currently studying in class four). Dr. Rashmi was a superwoman because she managed her demanding job of being a cardiovascular surgeon and her parenting duties toward her son, flawlessly. Nurturing Aryaman, singlehandedly after the death of the late Dr. Rajiv in an unfortunate road-traffic accident, wasn’t that easy for Rashmi. Aryaman was just 2 years old when this havoc wrecked upon his family and 6 years had already passed since that bloody day.

That was a fine Saturday evening. Rashmi was busy with some delicious delicacies as that twilight, her sister-in-law Pavitra with her son Aarav was going to visit them. Aryaman was busy with the TV as the next day was an off day and there was no homework for him to do. The guests arrived at the right time. The mother-son duo welcomed them. Pavitra and Rashmi chatted in the drawing room while Aryaman invited Aarav to his room. Aarav rotated his eyeballs across his cousin’s room and at last, it fell on the 45-inch screen in front of him. He gasped out in laughter and exclaimed, “Oye Chotu, why the hell are you watching a fairy tale, instead watch any good action movie.” Aryaman stated, “Bhai, it is my favorite movie, ‘Snow white and seven dwarfs’ It’s not just any normal fairy tale, it is an amazing heart-touching tale of a princess named, Snow wh….” “Stop, Stop, I do not want to hear such boring things. These types of stories can only fascinate girls. Boys watch strong and stout heroes fighting their enemies. When the hero, punches the villain “Dishoom-Dishoom” and blood comes out from his mouth, ah! What a treat to watch.”, declared Aarav. Aarav looked at the room to find a lot of dolls kept on the rack. He dragged one and started pulling its head. Aryaman ran to him and hauled his hands. “Bhai Stop, don’t do this. Stop.”, screamed he. Both the brothers started fighting. “Would you contest with me, you girl!”, shouted Aarav. “I am not a girl.”, yelled Aryaman. Soon both of their voices reached their mothers. They sprinted to the room and stopped the fight. Aarav cried, “Mom, I don’t want to play with this girl. Let’s get back home.” Pavitra hushed Aarav. Both of them expressed their reasons for the preceding fight, to their mothers. The mommies somehow managed the situation by clarifying the matter to their sons. Aarav didn’t talk to Aryaman even after the matter was resolved. Soon it was time for the guests to leave. While going, Pavitra gifted Aryaman with 1000 rupees and said, “Rashmi, do buy a new toy car or bike for Aryaman just as my Aarav has. Do boys ever like playing with dolls?” Rashmi was in a state of denial to accept the money but ultimately accepted it due to Pavitra’s continuous requests. After the guests left, Aryaman had a lot of questions in his mind, “Why can’t boys play with dolls? How can my favorite film decide if I am a boy or girl?” He wanted to know the answer to all these questions from his mother but kept silent. Rashmi could sense all these questions in the mind of her child but preferred to keep mum for the matter of fact that she was unaware of answers to such queries.

Aryaman was a sober and innocent student. He was liked by his teachers for his behavior towards them and his fellow mates. He was not a topper but surely a meticulous student. He had no decent pals because he was not very popular and yet very different from others. Owing to his benign nature, he was an easy target of school bullies. Just like Aarav, many of his classmates and seniors questioned his sexuality and associated him with terms like gay, eunuch, etc. everyone made fun of his choices. For an instance, Aryaman bought a new pencil box of pink color with a Disney princess theme on it. This became a matter of hilarious discussions in the whole class. Aryaman was always demeaned, and it affected his mental health. He couldn’t express his feelings to anyone but tolerated all the humiliations mutely. All of this had put a question mark on his true identity and had smashed his self-esteem. Even if he wanted to cry for his state, his mind whispered, “Don’t cry, or else you will be stated as a girl again.”

………………………………………………………………

Vidhi’s Saga

“Bravo, keep it up Vidhi”, exclaimed the Sensei after Vidhi’s fantabulous performance in the match. “Thank you so much, Sir. It is just for your guidance that I have been able to improve so much.”, stated Vidhi with a gleam on her face. “If you go on playing like this, soon you would become a brown belt.”, said sir patting her shoulder. Vidhi was currently a blue belt in Karate by the virtue of practicing diligently for the last three years. She was hopeful of getting selected for nationals in a few years. Since her early childhood, Vidhi craved to learn self-defense. She had an uncanny craze for action and stunts. Though extremely talented, her parents Mrs. Disha, a homemaker, and Mr. Rajveer, a software engineer faced a hard time nurturing her. Aggression always stayed on the tip of her nose. There wasn’t a single day that the parents of colony kids didn’t ring the doorbell of Disha’s house, accusing her daughter of beating their child black and blue for some petty reason. All the boys and girls of the colony were afraid of Vidhi. All limits of patience were crossed when Vidhi’s class teacher called her parents after she bet a boy on his head making him lose his sense just because he teased her by calling her a bull. “I am not talking to you. You are not my daughter.”, cried Disha, that day. Vidhi tried to calm down her mother in several ways but instead got some good thrashings for all the trouble that she caused to her mother’s life. Rajveer was trying to calm the mother-daughter duo but failed. The next day when the heat wave elapsed in the house, the parents decided to channel the fury of their daughter. They got Vidhi admitted to a karate class. Since then, Vidhi worked hard to establish herself in the game.

Many relatives and neighbors expressed their worries about the girl to her parents though nobody dared to tell her directly. They said, “Are you both out of your mind? Girls get out of hand learning such manly sports. These are not what a female should do. She may get injured or get scars, then would it look nice? Who would accept her as a bride learning that she indulges in such violent games? This is not what we do to our girls in this society.” Nevertheless, Vidhi’s parents were least interested in listening to such crap. They were just bothered about her uncontrolled ways but after she joined karate, she had only brought laurels for them.

……………………………………………………………………..

Probably now my readers got clarity about pink or blue, or wait, wait... blue or pink. Whatever it is, probably I confused you all, or did I give you some clarity? Now, I am confused, but surely my protagonists aren’t.

Be it by Chance or By Choice, the rowdiest and the dumbest of them all, read in the same school and of course same class and section too. Too predictable, isn’t it? May my readers continue running horses of their mindful prediction and I may proceed with the tale.

Saga of breaking stereotypes

The results of the half-yearly exams got declared. Aryaman had scored decent marks in each subject whereas Vidhi’s performance had degraded miserably. The teachers were worried about her unceasingly deteriorating marks. Undoubtedly it was due to her lack of interest in her curriculum. Teachers explained the whole matter to her parents, but they were unable to help, looking at the hectic life of their daughter and her craze for her game. The teachers decided to make Vidhi sit with a good student who can help and guide her in her studies so that it would be easy for her to manage both aspects of her life. But all the good students were sitting with their friends, and no one wanted Vidhi as a bench mate. Left with no option teachers decided to place Vidhi with Aryaman who was equally isolated in the class as her. Teachers were satisfied that Aryaman would be able to help Vidhi in at least some ways if not more. “Oh God, Am I going to sit with this dimwitted lad.”, thought Vidhi in her mind. “How am I going to adjust with this hooligan? She would just kill me off.”, a tensed Aryaman thought. Both of them forcefully adjusted to each other. They had already set some rules for the bench, for example, both of them kept their bags in the middle so that they maintain distance from each other and their ways. Already a chalk line was drawn on the desk to demarcate each other’s territories so that no fights happen concerning this, afterward. There was not a talk from both of them for many days though Aryaman helped Vidhi with math problems by sharing his notebook with her or sometimes Vidhi herself snatched his notebook to copy the numerals in her notebook.

This equation between the two continued as it is until that single day. One day the bullies of the class decided to have some enjoyment amidst their boring lives. And of course, their only source of entertainment was troubling the innocent. “Let’s have some fun with that Gayman.”, said one of them. It was the name with which Aryaman was often teased. “Yes, it has been long since we troubled him.”, said another. “But, that bull. If she comes to know about this, won’t we fall into trouble.”, expressed one of them. “Don’t worry, both of them don’t even talk with the other. Bull will not even come to know about all this as Gayman comes very early to the school.”, assured the first one. They waited near the gate to look for Aryaman to enter the class. As he entered the class, two people surrounded him from the front and two of them hold his hands. Some people from the back started removing his bag. Aryaman tried to stop them by moving his legs ferociously, as his hands were placed stagnated. But the two people in front who wore heavy shoes stamped on his legs cruelly. He shouted but no one was there to help. Then the bullies ran away taking his bag. Aryaman ran behind them. “See how the half-girl is running. Slow down or else you will fall and then cry. Ha, ha, ha.”, they all kept on teasing. Aryaman ran behind them and shouted, “What have I done to you all? Why are you troubling me? Leave my bag, please.” “If we leave the bag, how will we get entertained? You come and take the bag if you can, Gayman.”, said they, giggling cunningly. Aryaman ran behind them and they carried the bag to the canteen. There they handed over the bag to a senior who was also involved in all this. Aryaman reached near him gasping and exclaimed, “Bhaiya, please return me my bag. Please, Bhai.” “You want to take the bag. Take it from me then, so simple.”, guilefully said the senior. As Aryaman reached near him, the senior pushed him hard. Aryaman fell on the canteen floor and his hea

Advertisement

d banged on the marble below. “Now, it’s perfect.”, said the senior. He continued, “You will get back your bag, only if you rub your nose against my shoes.” “No bhaiya, I won’t do this.”, said Aryaman gathering courage. “You won’t do it then. Then forget your bag and have this.”, saying this the senior raised his leg to kick Aryaman. Suddenly he felt as if his leg wasn’t moving. He tried to move his leg forcefully but the grip was strong. He looked back and was astonished. It was Vidhi holding his legs from behind. “Now Girl, you would fight with me. Leave my legs, or else you would be injured unnecessarily. I don’t like to injure sweethearts.”, saying this the senior winked. “Just as you wish sweet heart.”, saying this Vidhi pulled his leg back and freed the leg. The senior couldn’t maintain balance and fell with his nose getting rubbed on the ground just near Aryaman’s leg, who was now standing after much effort. “You didn’t do good. Just wait and watch.”, screamed the senior angrily. He got up and attempted to punch Vidhi. Vidhi held his hands tightly and kicked him in the abdomen. He fell to the ground again. “You Morons, just standing and watching me get beaten. Handle both of them.”, shouted the senior on the bullies. Many of them had escaped the scene after seeing Vidhi. Two of them who were still present approached Vidhi. As they were going to beat Vidhi from behind, who was busy freeing Aryaman’s bag from the senior, Aryaman held both of them from behind tightly. He called Vidhi. Both of them fought with the bullies together. As the brawl worsened, the teachers who had already arrived, ran to the scene. The senior now changed his colors and started wailing. He cried, “Mam, see how ferociously she has bet me. I didn’t fight, respecting her to be a girl but she kept on injuring me.” Vidhi’s fury reached the seventh heaven listening to this. She slapped the seniors in front of the teachers. This infuriated the teachers and they asked Vidhi and Aryaman to come to the principal’s chamber.

Both of them were taken to the principal and their parents were called. Teachers exclaimed, “Sir, now the matter is going out of hand. This girl has crossed all the limits. She is neither good at studies nor at maintaining discipline. All the children of the school are afraid of her. If this all continues then the decorum of the school will be spoiled. These days she has also started influencing other students to fight. The most innocent student in our class, Aryaman also started fighting being instigated by her. It is high time to take stringent action against her.”, the enraged teacher said pointing at Vidhi. Vidhi’s parents bowed their heads down in shame. Vidhi explained, “Mam, the way the whole incident got portrayed in front of you is completely false. I have not done anything wro...” Vidhi’s parents looked at her with protruded eyeballs just as if they were asking her to stop arguing. “Stop, stop the nonsense. Don’t give lame excuses.”, shouted the principal. He continued, “Looking at the whole situation, I have concluded that the school does not need such unruly students. Vidhi is rusticated from the school.” Suddenly a voice interrupted. “I beg your pardon sir, sorry for interrupting you but kindly listen to me before taking any decision.”, exclaimed Aryaman. Everyone was shocked. Rashmi looked up at her son. Vidhi was afraid that Aryaman would not be able to say the truth out of fear but she was pleased hearing him speak. “Sir, Vidhi has no fault. Those students in my class and the senior bullied me. Vidhi just saved me.”, continued Aryaman. He explained the whole matter to everyone present in the chamber. The teachers said, “Why shall we believe you? You would surely support your friend who is going on corrupting your mind.” This time their class teacher interrupted, “Sorry sir and my colleagues, I know that both of them did a miserable mistake but we can check the footage of our corridor and canteen to know the whole truth.” The CCTV footage was checked and the whole matter became clear. The bully gang and the senior were called to the chamber. They were shown the recorded footage. They were afraid and begged apology. The principal ordered, “Say sorry to Aryaman and his mother.” Looking at the whole matter, it was decided to suspend the senior for one month. The principal warned the bullies to not trouble Aryaman anymore or else strict action would be taken against them. He said, “Vidhi, it is nice that you saved your friend from trouble. But it would have been much better if you would have reported the matter to your teacher, instead of handling it yourself. I warn you to avoid such altercations and scuffles in the school or else harsh action would be taken against you also. Mind it.” The teacher and students dismissed the site. Outside the chamber, Rashmi thanked Vidhi for saving Aryaman but the parents explained to them to not get involved in such fights anymore but rather report to their elders in any such situations. Saying this they left the school. Aryaman and Vidhi walked to the class together. “Thank you for saving me.”, said Aryaman. “I am happy that you showed courage to speak for the right. I was really afraid that you would not be able, to tell the truth in the principal’s chamber, out of fear. But you proved me wrong. Thank you for that.”, said Vidhi. The perception that both had regarding the other had changed drastically that day.

Following that day, conversations began between the two as they started understanding each other better. Aryaman could now see the generous person hidden inside the ferocious covering. Vidhi could realize the maturity that her bench mate had, which she had once confused with dumbness, just by listening to the judgments made by other people. They started accepting each other for who they are. “Vidhi, tell me why you love harming people around you. No one here is your enemy.”, asked Aryaman. Vidhi replied, “who told you that I love injuring people around me? Am I a beast? It’s just that I am a bit short-tempered and get provoked by people easily.” “Though I have the least knowledge about Martial arts, I certainly know that the first lesson that is inculcated in any athlete, especially in martial arts is self-control and anger management. Look, people are all set to infuriate you all the time, but you need to control yourself. You know what, by getting angry, you are harming none but yourself. Anger makes your mind unstable and that is what those conniving people want. Do you want them to get successful in their wicked ways?” “Surely not, I understand this, but I am unable to help myself. Would you help me out in controlling my anger?”, asked Vidhi. “Is it something to be asked? I would always, without a doubt. I feel you should do meditation to calm yourself. Also, whenever you feel someone is provoking you, ignore the person instead of reacting. That person will get tired and stop annoying you. But remember, I can just provide you with some ways, but you have to help yourselves. After all, do I like hearing people calling my bench mate a rude rowdy monster.”, continued Aryaman. “Do they all call me by this name? Do you also think of me as this?”, asked Vidhi. Aryaman replied, “Probably everyone calls you by this name only and coming to my part, sorry, but certainly I had the same thought when we didn’t know each other well, but now, I am clear that you are not rude and rowdy but surely a monstress (With hearty laughter).” Vidhi exclaimed, “You monster. You wait.” Saying this both started fighting with their pencil box laughing at each other.

Aryaman and Vidhi soon became good friends. With each passing day, the bond between them grew stronger. Both of them got that person in each other with whom they are comfortable, expressing their emotions. Vidhi got to know much about Aryaman, his likings, and hobbies. Both of them discussed each one’s hobbies, and favorites and enjoyed thoroughly listening to each other’s choices. Once in a conversation, Vidhi said, “You know what Arya, “Haathi Chale Bazaar toh kutte bhonke hazaar”. Just don’t care, what people say about you. If you are on the right path, people around you would try to pull you back. Your choices are your own, no one has the right to comment on them. You don’t need to become anyone else but need to become a better version of yourself.” Aryaman with courage and the support of Vidhi faced all the bullies who tormented him daily. He raised his voice against them and also brought this matter to the teachers and his mother. All of them supported him. He started accepting his identity and didn’t let anyone question it. Aryaman accepted the fact that he is unique and that’s what makes him beautiful.

On Aryaman’s birthday, Vidhi Gifted a Snow-White sketch made by her, to him. “How do you know about my favorite?”, asked confused Aryaman. Vidhi replied, “Idiot, you keep on ranting the same name now and then and now you are asking me how I know about it? Am I dumb like you?” “Oh, is it so? Let me check what is written on the bottom of the sketch, “For Ayraaman, now my intelligent friend, you could know about my favorite character but not about the spelling of my name in these many days? Now who is dumber?”, Aryaman replied. “Still, it’s going to be you and always you, does it matter if I write Aryaman, Ayraman, or anything else because you are going to be my same duffer friend always.”, expressed Vidhi.

In each other’s company, both had become so comfortable that they were least bothered about the gender stamps set by society. They as best friends, had become shields of each other. They faced all sorrows, and happiness together. With each other, they discovered their hidden talents and worked on them to upgrade their versions.

The ending of a class is always destined to be by the declaration of the results of the final examinations. Vidhi had performed well in all exams while Aryaman, this time, had topped the exams much to the astonishment of the so-called toppers (more accurately the bully gang) of the class. “Just see their faces, they are the people who called you dumb. But you believed in yourselves, and see where you have reached.”, stated Vidhi. Another good news bombarded them just as the class was dismissed that day. Vidhi’s parents received a call from her sir, “Congratulations Sir and Ma’am, Vidhi is selected for the nationals going to be held the next month in Delhi. Ask her to practice well.” Vidhi and Aryaman were overjoyed to hear this. Aryaman exclaimed, “Now, this is my best friend. Proud of you.” As both of them danced with joy, Aryaman expressed himself, “Vidhi, you know what I never had a good friend like you in my life who would accept me for who I am. Promise me that we shall continue to be best friends forever.” Vidhi screamed, “PROMISEEE, PAKKA WAALA PROMISE.”

The sacred bond of friendship has superpowers. The ones who were lost in the stigma set around by society accepted their own identities, grew together, and emerged bravely from the orthodox societal norms, becoming the heroes of their own stories.

Why is it that the pink box is always of a girl and the blue belt is always of a boy? Don’t you think that with changing times, the conservative mindset needs to change as well? Now it’s up to my readers to decide on Pink or Blue.

Until then let my protagonists come up with more interesting tales of their friendship continuing to enthrall, oh sorry, to confuse all my readers.

To Be Continued ……………………………………………………………………