Salim and Kayal #Watty's 2016 # YourStoryIndia #ProjectWomanUp

Sikkim and secrets

Statutory Warning: Smoking is injurious to health

Kayal's POV

I'm in that stage of my life where I feel that time flies really fast. We were all ready to leave for Sikkim first, to let Sara impress John's parents and then to Kerala to let John impress Sara's parents. Sikkim is the smallest state in India. It doesn't have an airport, because it is situated in rocky terrain. The nearest airport is in Bagdogra, West Bengal. Gangtok is five hours away through a cab. We freshened up quickly in the Bagdogra airport restroom and waited for the guys. At last when they came out we hired a cab to reach Gangtok. The scenery was amazing. The sun was playing peek a boo in the mountains. It was yet to rise properly. We three women sat in the middle seat of a SUV. Salim sat in the front. John and Harneet sat in the back. Everybody else other than me slept. I was enjoying nature by resting myself in the side window. The air was so pure. Somewhere within one hour of our drive, our cab driver stopped for tea in a roadside shop. I was craving for my caffeine dose. I woke up Sara and Jaanu for tea. Harneet and John also got down for tea. Salim was hesitant to drink tea. He said, "I haven't brushed my teeth yet. I don't want tea now."

"Salim, have you ever seen lion, cow or for that matter any animal brushing it's teeth? They don't suffer from cavities. All these toothpastes make us victims of capitalist economy. So be brave and today stand up against capitalist exploitation. That's what you were talking about in your previous presentation, right?" He had a weirdly funny expression in his face. I didn't want to tease him more. I then opened my bag and took my mouthwash out. I called him and threw it at him. "Help yourself."

He then smiled, "Thank you."

Since we were the first customers of the tea shop, it was taking the tea vendor a little more time to make tea. John settled for a smoke. Harneet and Salim stood away from him. Sara went near him and snatched John's cigarette from his mouth. She then started smoking. John, Harneet and Salim had shocked expressions in their faces. She said, "John, it's so nice. From now onwards please buy cigarettes for me as well." 

John spoke with so much of anxiety that Jaanu and I had a tough time in controlling our laughter. "Sara, smoking is not good for health. Please don't smoke."

Sara replied "John, is it good for your health? Does it give vitamins and minerals for men?

He sighed, "Ufff. I know this day would eventually come but not this early in my life. I promise, I will stop smoking. Now please throw that cigarette away."

"Good. I trust you to keep up your promise and let me finish this cigarette. My only cigarette in my life time. You better throw that packet away."

He came near the place where we were standing to throw the packet away, when I said, "Stop John. Wastage is a social crime. So let me smoke this last cigarette for you."

Now all three of them were looking at me as if I was some three headed demon. I lighted my cigarette and started smoking. Harneet was looking at me with a horrible expression. "Harneet, are you going to give me the crap like women like me are spoiling Indian culture? Save it. I know this would be the first and last cigarette in my life. If you have the same confidence about your self control, you can also try it."

Harneet said, "No thanks."

Jaanu and Sara gave me a knowing smile.

Salim was glaring at me, "Salim, you know what there is a proverb in Tamil 'Kalavum Katru mara'(Learn the art of robbery and forget about it) . Today I am going to learn about smoking."