02-12-2025, 07:16 PM
## Update 127: Golgappe, Insults, and the Plan (Avi, Sweta Didi, Sital Didi, and Poonam Didi)
My deep, exhausted sleep broke only at 7:00 PM in the evening. I quickly freshened up and sat on the edge of the bed, wondering nervously how I was going to face Sweta Didi. The shame over the pornographic booklet still clung to me. I was still lost in this thought when Sital Didi came into the room.
"Avi, why are you sitting here alone, looking so serious? Come downstairs. Everyone is sitting and talking," Sital Didi urged, leaning against the door frame.
"Didi, that book..." I began, my voice trailing off.
"So you're hiding and not coming downstairs because of the book," Sital Didi finished for me, shaking her head gently, smiling.
"Yes," I admitted, looking at the floor, my cheeks heating up.
"Sweta Didi already said that she doesn't have any problem with the book, Avi. You need to get the thought out of your head that Didi is angry with you. Now come downstairs. And try to come with a little smile, or Didi will really think that you're worried because of the book," Sital Didi advised, winking at me.
"You go ahead. I'll come down in ten minutes," I promised.
Sital Didi went downstairs. After the required ten minutes, I also headed downstairs, feeling much calmer. Downstairs, Sweta Didi, Sital Didi, Poonam Didi, and Raj were sitting and chatting animatedly. Uncle (Jyoti Bua's husband) was getting ready to go out on his night duty.
"Avi, how are you feeling after coming to the city?" Sweta Didi asked, waving me over to the sofa, her voice warm.
"The city is impressive, but I haven't seen it properly yet," I replied, sitting down carefully, trying to look relaxed.
"I'll personally show you the city tomorrow afternoon," Sweta Didi declared, her eyes sparkling, a clear plan in her tone.
"Yes, tomorrow we all will go out for a proper trip," Sital Didi agreed enthusiastically, clapping her hands once.
"I've been wanting to see the city for a long time now," I confessed, leaning forward, feeling excited.
"Before we go for any trip, you must get some decent clothes for yourself," Poonam Didi interjected, looking at my village clothes pointedly, her lips tight. "If you go out wearing those clothes, everyone will laugh at *us*."
"I was also thinking the exact same thing," I said, a wave of embarrassment washing over me as I remembered the stares at the society gate.
"You look rugged and handsome in village clothes, Avi. But I would definitely love to see how you look transformed into a city boy," Sital Didi said, tilting her head, watching me curiously.
"I came from the village thinking that I'll buy good clothes for myself first thing. If you are all with me, it won't be difficult to choose and buy clothes," I said, offering them the role of my personal stylists, eager for their help.
"We also want our cousin brother to look like a hero," Sweta Didi said, smiling warmly, nudging Sital Didi.
"Just make me a simple city boy, that's all I need," I said, laughing slightly, shaking my head.
"You just wait and watch what all we plan to do with you," Sweta Didi teased, her eyes mischievous.
Sital Didi leaned in close to Sweta Didi's ear and whispered, so only they could hear, "Didi, but where will we get so much money to buy him a whole new wardrobe?"
My heart squeezed. I had overheard her. "Didi, I've actually brought money from the village," I quickly said, wanting to relieve their worry, reaching for my bag.
"Oh, Avi, nothing happens with one or two thousand rupees in this city," Poonam Didi dismissed my offer with a wave of her hand, looking unimpressed.
"I have sixty thousand rupees," I stated simply, enjoying the stunned silence that followed, watching their reactions.
"What? Sixty thousand? Where did you get so much money from, Avi?" Sweta Didi gasped, her eyes wide with shock.
"From the village. It's my own money," I affirmed, shrugging my shoulders slightly.
"You didn't steal it, did you?" Poonam Didi asked immediately, her hand flying to her mouth, worry clear in her voice.
"No, I didn't steal anything. This is my savings so far—from the family and the fields," I clarified.
"Sixty thousand rupees? It's not possible to save that much in a village," Sital Didi protested, looking genuinely amazed, shaking her head.
"I'm telling the truth," I insisted, shrugging again.
"Okay. Well, this amount of money will definitely be enough for your makeover," Sweta Didi concluded, a new plan forming in her eyes, already calculating.
"We'll buy some clothes for you all too, and some small gifts for Chachi," I offered, wanting to share my new wealth, feeling generous.
"What? You're going to buy things for us too?" Poonam Didi asked, sounding touched, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Yes. We'll go shopping for clothes tomorrow," I declared firmly, standing up.
"We'll go tomorrow, but first, let's go out right now and eat golgappe," Sital Didi suggested, jumping up, eager for the snack.
"Yes! Raj will also love that," Poonam Didi agreed, nodding enthusiastically.
We all left the society. There was a popular golgappe shop just outside the gate. There were a few other boys and girls hanging around. We walked into the shop, and instantly, everyone stopped what they were doing and started staring at me. Everyone was laughing, trying to stifle the sound behind their hands. The two girls who were sitting right where we planned to sit were laughing the loudest. Both girls looked like twins. They were laughing continuously and openly pointing at me.
"What, Sital? You couldn't find anyone in the city, so you brought a monkey from the village to impress us?" the first girl sneered, her voice carrying across the small shop, full of malice.
"Not from the village, Anu. He must be from the zoo. Such monkeys are only found there," the second girl, her twin, mocked loudly, gesturing dramatically.
"She didn't have any other option besides this village bumpkin. City boys don't go after village girls. They certainly don't make village girls their girlfriends," the first girl continued, tossing her hair, looking down her nose.
"Look at them! One is a village girl, and the other is a village boy, or should I say monkey? What a pair, truly out of this world," the second girl said, covering her mouth to hide a laugh, her eyes sharp.
Everyone in the shop started laughing along with them. I felt a surge of cold, blinding anger. I would not have felt bad if they had said anything only to me, but they had publicly humiliated Sital Didi and Sweta Didi. My fists clenched hard at my sides. I was getting up from my seat, ready to teach those two girls a lesson they would not forget. But Sital Didi quickly reached out, gripped my hand hard, and pulled me back down.
"Let it go, Avi. These two are always like this. Why do you want to spoil your mood and ours by getting involved in a fight with them?" Sital Didi whispered urgently, holding my wrist tight.
"They just openly mocked and humiliated you both. Still, you're stopping me?" I hissed, my jaw tight, my eyes burning with rage.
"We'll end this fight in a different, better way," Sital Didi said, her eyes narrowing with determination, her grip firm. "We'll show them tomorrow that you are much better than any of the boys they know in this city."
"What are you going to do tomorrow, Didi?" I asked, my anger still simmering, looking at her intently.
"That, my dear Avi, you will find out tomorrow. Now, let's just eat the golgappe," Sital Didi said, pushing a plate toward me, forcing me to shift my focus.
I controlled myself with immense effort, taking a deep, ragged breath. Then we all started eating the golgappe. We quickly ate the tangy, crisp balls. I paid the vendor immediately.
"What are you doing, Avi?" Sweta Didi asked, surprised, looking at the money in my hand.
"I'm giving the money for the food," I explained.
"You're a guest here, Avi. You just enjoy your time, eat, and roam around. We will pay for everything," Sweta Didi insisted, trying to take the change.
"Whether you give it or I give it, it's the same thing—we're family," I countered, putting the change back in my pocket.
"Now that you've given it, let it go. But don't do this from tomorrow," Poonam Didi warned, shaking her finger, her expression softening.
"Yes, Poonam Ji," I agreed.
"And stop saying 'Ji' after everything," Poonam Didi said, smiling playfully.
"Okay, Poonam Didi," I corrected myself instantly, nodding.
"You catch on quickly, Avi," Poonam Didi complimented me with a laugh, linking her arm with mine.
Then we came home. After coming home, we ate a late dinner. After eating, Didi, Raj, I, and Jyoti Bua sat together talking. Raj had slept in the bus, and I had slept in the evening, so none of us felt sleepy. Sometimes we talked about the village life, and sometimes Didi told us fascinating stories about the city. We kept talking and sharing until 11:00 PM. Then, finally, we all went to sleep.
---
My deep, exhausted sleep broke only at 7:00 PM in the evening. I quickly freshened up and sat on the edge of the bed, wondering nervously how I was going to face Sweta Didi. The shame over the pornographic booklet still clung to me. I was still lost in this thought when Sital Didi came into the room.
"Avi, why are you sitting here alone, looking so serious? Come downstairs. Everyone is sitting and talking," Sital Didi urged, leaning against the door frame.
"Didi, that book..." I began, my voice trailing off.
"So you're hiding and not coming downstairs because of the book," Sital Didi finished for me, shaking her head gently, smiling.
"Yes," I admitted, looking at the floor, my cheeks heating up.
"Sweta Didi already said that she doesn't have any problem with the book, Avi. You need to get the thought out of your head that Didi is angry with you. Now come downstairs. And try to come with a little smile, or Didi will really think that you're worried because of the book," Sital Didi advised, winking at me.
"You go ahead. I'll come down in ten minutes," I promised.
Sital Didi went downstairs. After the required ten minutes, I also headed downstairs, feeling much calmer. Downstairs, Sweta Didi, Sital Didi, Poonam Didi, and Raj were sitting and chatting animatedly. Uncle (Jyoti Bua's husband) was getting ready to go out on his night duty.
"Avi, how are you feeling after coming to the city?" Sweta Didi asked, waving me over to the sofa, her voice warm.
"The city is impressive, but I haven't seen it properly yet," I replied, sitting down carefully, trying to look relaxed.
"I'll personally show you the city tomorrow afternoon," Sweta Didi declared, her eyes sparkling, a clear plan in her tone.
"Yes, tomorrow we all will go out for a proper trip," Sital Didi agreed enthusiastically, clapping her hands once.
"I've been wanting to see the city for a long time now," I confessed, leaning forward, feeling excited.
"Before we go for any trip, you must get some decent clothes for yourself," Poonam Didi interjected, looking at my village clothes pointedly, her lips tight. "If you go out wearing those clothes, everyone will laugh at *us*."
"I was also thinking the exact same thing," I said, a wave of embarrassment washing over me as I remembered the stares at the society gate.
"You look rugged and handsome in village clothes, Avi. But I would definitely love to see how you look transformed into a city boy," Sital Didi said, tilting her head, watching me curiously.
"I came from the village thinking that I'll buy good clothes for myself first thing. If you are all with me, it won't be difficult to choose and buy clothes," I said, offering them the role of my personal stylists, eager for their help.
"We also want our cousin brother to look like a hero," Sweta Didi said, smiling warmly, nudging Sital Didi.
"Just make me a simple city boy, that's all I need," I said, laughing slightly, shaking my head.
"You just wait and watch what all we plan to do with you," Sweta Didi teased, her eyes mischievous.
Sital Didi leaned in close to Sweta Didi's ear and whispered, so only they could hear, "Didi, but where will we get so much money to buy him a whole new wardrobe?"
My heart squeezed. I had overheard her. "Didi, I've actually brought money from the village," I quickly said, wanting to relieve their worry, reaching for my bag.
"Oh, Avi, nothing happens with one or two thousand rupees in this city," Poonam Didi dismissed my offer with a wave of her hand, looking unimpressed.
"I have sixty thousand rupees," I stated simply, enjoying the stunned silence that followed, watching their reactions.
"What? Sixty thousand? Where did you get so much money from, Avi?" Sweta Didi gasped, her eyes wide with shock.
"From the village. It's my own money," I affirmed, shrugging my shoulders slightly.
"You didn't steal it, did you?" Poonam Didi asked immediately, her hand flying to her mouth, worry clear in her voice.
"No, I didn't steal anything. This is my savings so far—from the family and the fields," I clarified.
"Sixty thousand rupees? It's not possible to save that much in a village," Sital Didi protested, looking genuinely amazed, shaking her head.
"I'm telling the truth," I insisted, shrugging again.
"Okay. Well, this amount of money will definitely be enough for your makeover," Sweta Didi concluded, a new plan forming in her eyes, already calculating.
"We'll buy some clothes for you all too, and some small gifts for Chachi," I offered, wanting to share my new wealth, feeling generous.
"What? You're going to buy things for us too?" Poonam Didi asked, sounding touched, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Yes. We'll go shopping for clothes tomorrow," I declared firmly, standing up.
"We'll go tomorrow, but first, let's go out right now and eat golgappe," Sital Didi suggested, jumping up, eager for the snack.
"Yes! Raj will also love that," Poonam Didi agreed, nodding enthusiastically.
We all left the society. There was a popular golgappe shop just outside the gate. There were a few other boys and girls hanging around. We walked into the shop, and instantly, everyone stopped what they were doing and started staring at me. Everyone was laughing, trying to stifle the sound behind their hands. The two girls who were sitting right where we planned to sit were laughing the loudest. Both girls looked like twins. They were laughing continuously and openly pointing at me.
"What, Sital? You couldn't find anyone in the city, so you brought a monkey from the village to impress us?" the first girl sneered, her voice carrying across the small shop, full of malice.
"Not from the village, Anu. He must be from the zoo. Such monkeys are only found there," the second girl, her twin, mocked loudly, gesturing dramatically.
"She didn't have any other option besides this village bumpkin. City boys don't go after village girls. They certainly don't make village girls their girlfriends," the first girl continued, tossing her hair, looking down her nose.
"Look at them! One is a village girl, and the other is a village boy, or should I say monkey? What a pair, truly out of this world," the second girl said, covering her mouth to hide a laugh, her eyes sharp.
Everyone in the shop started laughing along with them. I felt a surge of cold, blinding anger. I would not have felt bad if they had said anything only to me, but they had publicly humiliated Sital Didi and Sweta Didi. My fists clenched hard at my sides. I was getting up from my seat, ready to teach those two girls a lesson they would not forget. But Sital Didi quickly reached out, gripped my hand hard, and pulled me back down.
"Let it go, Avi. These two are always like this. Why do you want to spoil your mood and ours by getting involved in a fight with them?" Sital Didi whispered urgently, holding my wrist tight.
"They just openly mocked and humiliated you both. Still, you're stopping me?" I hissed, my jaw tight, my eyes burning with rage.
"We'll end this fight in a different, better way," Sital Didi said, her eyes narrowing with determination, her grip firm. "We'll show them tomorrow that you are much better than any of the boys they know in this city."
"What are you going to do tomorrow, Didi?" I asked, my anger still simmering, looking at her intently.
"That, my dear Avi, you will find out tomorrow. Now, let's just eat the golgappe," Sital Didi said, pushing a plate toward me, forcing me to shift my focus.
I controlled myself with immense effort, taking a deep, ragged breath. Then we all started eating the golgappe. We quickly ate the tangy, crisp balls. I paid the vendor immediately.
"What are you doing, Avi?" Sweta Didi asked, surprised, looking at the money in my hand.
"I'm giving the money for the food," I explained.
"You're a guest here, Avi. You just enjoy your time, eat, and roam around. We will pay for everything," Sweta Didi insisted, trying to take the change.
"Whether you give it or I give it, it's the same thing—we're family," I countered, putting the change back in my pocket.
"Now that you've given it, let it go. But don't do this from tomorrow," Poonam Didi warned, shaking her finger, her expression softening.
"Yes, Poonam Ji," I agreed.
"And stop saying 'Ji' after everything," Poonam Didi said, smiling playfully.
"Okay, Poonam Didi," I corrected myself instantly, nodding.
"You catch on quickly, Avi," Poonam Didi complimented me with a laugh, linking her arm with mine.
Then we came home. After coming home, we ate a late dinner. After eating, Didi, Raj, I, and Jyoti Bua sat together talking. Raj had slept in the bus, and I had slept in the evening, so none of us felt sleepy. Sometimes we talked about the village life, and sometimes Didi told us fascinating stories about the city. We kept talking and sharing until 11:00 PM. Then, finally, we all went to sleep.
---
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