Dream Teen!

LIFE BEFORE 13

‘School-eat-play-sleep-school-eat-incomplete’homework-play-sleep’__ I used to think this mantra is going to last forever. Unfortunately or fortunately, not one of them did.
My hometown is Nagpur, Maharashtra, though i am a native of Kerala. I still remember screaming out to my neighbourhood friends that ‘i belong to Maharashtra because i was born here. My mom and dad are from Kerala.’ And also, ‘No i don’t eat dahi-chawal (curd-rice) and Idli-sambar everyday!’ This question will haunt me my entire life. To those who know me and will know me and want to know me, I DONT EAT SOUTH-INDIAN FOOD EVERYDAY.’  Some facts about you will never change no matter how old you become.
I used to study in a missionary school for girls. It was not much of a problem back when we were 12, but later, you know... (Giggle). My school used to get over by 2. We had reserved rickshaws’ and school vans waiting for us and some strange boys as well. They were none of our concern but we used to watch the older girls getting irritated, though some of them used to pass smiles at them. Teenage is like an answer key provided to you for all the questions that were never answered within the past years. It is not good as it sounds. You may get the worst shocks of your life. I did.
Till 12, the only difference boys and girls ever had were that of hair and choice of cartoons.  This difference which amazes me today, sort of was an irritation back in my preteens. As i told you all before, i had received my former education in a school that saw nothing but women. We had sisters, madams and girlfriends. I still don’t understand why we used to tease the girls of different schools for having to bear boys. Who knew we would be envying them in absolute silence really soon. In my completely girly life, i had this one boy that existed; my neighbour Sarthak- my first male encounter, my first crush, a petrichor that announced my teenage. Well, he will be the protagonist of my next chapter so we will deal with him later.
One thing is sure, whatever you experienced within the age of ummm... since you developed memory till 12, teenage is the absolute contrast with a hell lot of new introductions. It is embarrassing, feign, diplomatic, yet the thing you would never want to skip. Teenage for me was that movie which i always wanted to watch but was never allowed. I remember when i was 12, I wanted to be a part of a teenage conversation that my neighbours were having and they boycotted me because i was not old enough. Trust me they were 14 at that time, LOL.
I miss being a preteen though. I don’t get to carry my favourite doll everywhere i go, i don’t get to walk run jump and twirl all at the same time on a busy street. Oh and those tiny tops and skirts with Barbies printed on them, i miss them all.  But now i will have to miss teenage as well and this pain is not bearable, i swear.