Hello everybody! Here is the third video on my second fiction , ‘Spinning into a career’
Ranjitha is dark complexioned. Her shapely big eyes are impressive, but her body has no distinct shape. She is tubby, naughty, clever and smart. Ranjitha and her friends form a group and speak about a boy whom they call Burma because he has Burmese features. He does not understand Hindi. Ranjitha Murthy and her friends hide themselves in a classroom adjacent to the corridor. Any one who passes, whether a lecturer or a student, is startled by the sudden screaming of the girls. Ruchi merely watches them although also a member of the group. Ranjitha Murthy writes an English play. She improvises dialogues and stages her play.
Once, the college arranges a showing of a popular Hindi film for the students. Ruchi takes the back row. Standing, the students watch the film. Most of the boys make paper rockets and hurl them at the cinema screen. Ruchi witnesses it silently. Ruchi meets her schoolmate, Nayana Batliwala and tells her about the song she can sing on the stage. Ruchi does not understand Hindi much. Nayana tells Ruchi that the song is filthy. Ruchi changes her decision to sing the song.
During her first year college, Ruchi tries her hand at learning French. The initial lectures are incomprehensible. She decides to opt for Hindi. She goes to the office and applies for the Hindi class. There are lectures in History, Economics, Psychology and Logic. Ruchi likes the lectures in Economics. The concept of demand and supply is elucidated well by the professor. Ancient Indian History is taught by a lady lecturer. The study consists of the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas, Pandyas, and Guptas.
By the end of the second year students have to make an option between general B.A. and special B.A. with special subjects. Ruchi chooses English literature. Susan Cooper does the same. Ranjitha Murthy goes for Economics. The third year exam is going on. Ruchi puts her head up to remember. Suddenly, the French teacher says,” Get up, You have been cheating.” Bewildered Ruchi inquires, ” May I know if you are speaking to me?” “Yes” says the lecturer. Ruchi says , “I have not cheated.” The French teacher says, ” You have” He informs the principal that Ruchi has been caught cheating. Ruchi is threatened by the French lecturer that she will be barred from taking her exams for three years. Ruchi has to go to the principal’s office and declare that she has been cheating and that she is sorry and will not do it again. The incident makes her furious. Ruchi avenges herself by helping her friend Susan during the third year exam. Susan has forgotten some details. Ruchi allows her to cheat.
English literature notes are read and dictated by lecturers which Ruchi does not like. There is no pleasure of reading and understanding a novel. Literary periods are studied. A History of English Literature by Joseph Cornwell is prescribed. Ruchi enjoys and studies literature at home. She goes to Susan Cooper’s house. There are row houses. Each house has a compound. Susan’s house has palm and coconut trees and flowering plants in the backyard. Susan is fair, tall and hefty. She has curly hair and a pretty face with gleaming eyes. She offers dosas to Ruchi, made by using some toddy in the batter. Ruchi has rice and dal in her house.
Susan paints well. Ruchi loves to see her hand moving while she paints. Susan likes Ruchi very much. Susan expresses her wish. ” If I were a boy , I would have married you.” Once after dinner, Susan says, ” Ruchi, will you have some brandy?” Ruchi feels awkward. Susan can sense it. ” I will not give you much, just a little. Is it okay?”
Ruchi does not want to displease her friend. Being a teetotaler, she drinks for the first time. That night she has very good sleep. There is no restlessness or any kind of tension haunting her.
Susan depends on Ruchi for explanation of Shakespearean plays. Before an exam, Ruchi reads Richard II, dramatically to her. Once a professor, Mrs. Singh says, ” How did you develop this art of writing?” Ruchi smiles and does not know what to answer.
Thank you for listening. I hope you have liked it. I come again with another video. Till then goodbye!
Video can be viewed on you tube by typing ‘Spinning into a Career” by Usha Raman.
