Old school girl, you stole my heart!

“I might be sentimental but don’t get so judgmental. So what if I am an old school girl, an old school girl…..” Old school girl Kusum, you simply rocked when you sang these lines! Loved you absolutely. You were the show stopper in the movie. Innocent but strong. Soft at heart yet courageous. Impulsive but controlled. You had me thinking a good deal. I cried with you. Laughed with you. You felt like a part of my soul. And trust me, there are a good number of girls who felt a close connection with you. As for boys, I don’t know about the majority but few would have been definitely besotted with you like Sharmaji.

Your story looked so true. A middle class, Plain Jane from rural backdrop struggling to prove herself in the patriarchal world falls in love. And things go haywire. But what can you do? Love is like that. It comes uninvited. Catches its victim ruthlessly and if the individual happens to be someone like you, all hell breaks loose. For your shoulders have to bear the weight of expectations and your heart has to be mindful about “what will people say”. And you decide to deny yourself the invaluable gift of love and say the goodbye.

“Badi jimmedariya hai mujhpe Sharmaji, kehne wali baat ho jayegi, badi gayi thee Datto Dilli Indira Gandhi ban ne, aur aashiqui me pad gayi…. Is mamle ko na Sharmaji yehi khatam kar dete hai….”

And then you walk off. Broken but brave!

But love finds you again and you come back. Who can refuse it if it is so sincere? Your heart melts seeing the earnest Sharmaji and you are there at his home, willing to take on the rough journey. But when you ask

“Prem toh kare hai naa Daaktar Saab”

we see a flicker of doubt engulfing your mind. However, a mere nod from Sharmaji and you are ready to take the bull by its horns. You rightly say

“Sharmaji, bas decide kar liya hai, bhid jana hai saad tey, jo hogi dekhi jayegi”

You go ahead, helping his friend as though he is your own friend. So, sweet old school girl. Hats off!

And in your village, when the bulls come charging, you are all ready to battle. No one dare touch Sharmaji. And no one can shame you. You will take on the entire world. You are determined through the turmoil and then things become favorable. Destiny favors brave hearts! But here comes Tanu, ridiculing you and mocking your worth, thinking you would cower down. Little did she know, you are well aware of your self-worth. Confident and cool as a cucumber, you give her a reality check. Fabulous!

And, things move ahead favorably. But when someone signals about the trouble you will be causing to Tanu, your conscience kicks you to question Sharmaji. He assures and you accept. Still, your tender heart can sense other’s feelings. It is not blind and self-serving. So, you stop during the last phera and salvage everyone except yourself. You walk off, sans any drama, hiding behind a door and weeping bitterly. Dear old school girl Kususm, you make the best finish. Nice ones don’t finish last. You are a topper. Thank you so much for inspiring our hearts. Your sentimentality shines the brightest. 🙂