Those days, I thought, that was how things worked. Boys
proposing girls at the age of 9-10 seemed natural and normal. Back then, I didn’t feel there was anything strange
about it. Though today, it intrigues me. Age 10!!! My son is 11 now and I cant
imagine him falling in love. I understand having a crush. But, falling in love…LOL, with all capital letters!!!
I cant imagine him going behind a girl to woo her or make her understand his
deep love for her to get married to her.
Yes, you heard it right, Marriage. That was exactly
what I used to hear when these young teens confessed their love. Today,
such love would be misunderstood as “lust” or “sex”. But those days, it had
only one meaning. 'There is love in the air and if they both have same feeling,
soon we will see them married.' It sort of sounds cute now as I think of it.
Anyways, the tom boy me, was a perfect friend for
many such girls who were being proposed by boys. Every festivals, every inter
school competitions, every get-togethers – We found such boys. Mostly in a bicycle,
they came in as a gang and would do every single idiotic thing to get the
attention of the girls. When it went over board, I would be back answering
them. Wonder, what was I? A Bouncer for the rest of the girls. Whatever.
There was even a regular “Proposer” who claimed to
be in true love with every other girl at every other location. Once, I even
asked him, how could he say so. And he said, “Ha, no dear. Last time, I was
misunderstood. That was not real love. But this is. I am truly in love with
this girl. Please, can you help me.” Gosh, isn’t that crazy. Yes, it was. For me.
I felt, it was odd to have such flickering heart that beat fast for every other
girl. But, he had no shame, I suppose. He went around proposing girls and I
kept witnessing it. Now don’t ask me, why was I everywhere. I used to be an
active participant in talent shows and sports competitions during my school
days and such places were a favourite spot for such fickle-minded boys, I
assume.
Ok, maybe, only I had this opinion about such boys.
But the girls who were getting that extra attention from one such boy was
always in an elated and excited mode. She would be seen walking around with
more poise and extra dose of shyness. And if she got proposed, then are the
days about sharing the secret news and would be talking about it with much
pride. Post the same, I would be witnessing secret meetings on the road side or
the bus stop or even the temples. Personally, I had even accompanied some of
them as a ‘friend’. Now I realise, I was just a ‘cover-up’ for them…hehe!!!
So, somewhere from age 8-11, I played the role of a
‘bouncer’, ‘loyal friend’, ‘cover-up’….In a Bollywood movie, think my role
would be considered as a ‘side-kick’…
Gosh, should I laugh or be pathetic on my role…
A “Sidekick!!!”
