That New Girl In The Colony

There was a new girl in the colony, the landlady told the ladies of the neighbourhood who she knew personally about her new tenant, that she is a 20 year old student and that she will be staying alone in the apartment. Now  that was something which widened everybody’s eyes, all the ladies looked concerned with all their ‘hows’ and ‘whys’. The landlady asked them to stand for help in case Nishtha needs. Nishta, the new girl in the colony.

A month had passed, Nishtha adjusted easily. She was an independent girl, she did not employ anyone for any sort of aid, from Kitchen to Bathroom, from studies to her hobbies, from family to friends, she managed everything herself. Sometimes, she even managed well in giving a homely welcome to the unwanted/unexpected guests, her friends or distanced relatives.

But she never interacted with any of the neighbors, while she stepped out of her apartment, took out her two-wheeler and rode away, she never even passed a smile to anyone who’d expected even an introduction.

Was she a loner? An anti-socialist? Someone suspicious? Or just afraid about her own security that she decided not to befriend any of the neighbours.

Another month passed and people just kept observing her, some nights, she used to come late, some days she used to come back with a group of friends and some days with just one person. And some days, she didn’t use to come back at all.

People started talking about her.

Mrs. Mathur in conversation with Mrs. Bhardwaj

Mrs. Mathur - You know, yesterday I saw Nishtha picking up a boy from the main road. Now you only tell me, if there is nothing wrong why did she pick him up from the main road, he did not look like someone of this area. She could have asked him to reach her inside the colony itself.

Mrs. Bhardwaj - Why would she think that bringing him inside the colony would be an issue when we have already seen a lot of her friends coming home which also included boys? They must be in a hurry!

Mrs. Mathur - No I don’t think so, I have a feeling that this girl is misusing the freedom and trust which her family has bestowed upon her. She lives alone, we have no idea what she does inside all the time, maybe she is into drugs, or maybe she is sexually active, maybe she has affairs. And you see, she never interacts with any of us, she always has a serious look on her face as if she is scared about something or hiding something.

Mrs. Bhardwaj - You have a point, she has been given too much freedom in such a vulnerable age, You know once Mrs. Kaur told me that her husband tried to interact with her with an excuse of asking her to check if her motor was working properly, she didn’t even let him in. I wonder. what is she involved in....

Mrs. Mathur - Oh god! this is a matter of concern, there are young boys in the locality, if someone gets involved with her, the families will be defamed, and did you think about the daughters, she might influence them without even accompanying them.

Mrs. Bhardwaj - You are right, may be we should talk to Gauri (the landlady)

Mrs. Mathur - Yes we should talk to her right-away.

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Mrs. Banga in conversation with Mrs. Sahni

Mrs. Banga - I really like this girl Nishtha, we should ask our daughters to befriend her.

Mrs. Sahni - Yes, you are right, her company can inspire our children to be self-dependent.

Mrs. Banga - Seriously, at such a tender age, she has learned to manage everything, I just wonder why has she decided to do everything on her own when she has the options to get a maid to clean the dishes at least.

Mrs. Sahni - Yes why not! When her parents can avail her such a luxurious house, they can easily afford to get her a maid as well, I suppose!

Mrs. Banga - Obviously they can. But it’s good, not only girls but even boys should learn self-dependence. When one doesn’t rely on anyone, one doesn’t give anyone the power to disappoint him/her.

Mrs. Sahni - Yes exactly, the best thing parents can do to their children is make them hardy. The world is not a nice place for the weaklings and un-adjustable personalities.

Mrs. Banga - That reminds me of what other people are talking about this girl, they are doubting her to be involved in some filthy activities, as she never interacts with anyone.

Mrs. Sahni - What non-sense! I think she doesn’t interact with anyone because she doesn’t have the time.

Mrs. Banga - I think so too, you know once the courier delivered her parcel at my home because her door was locked so later I had to go to give it to her. She talked to me very nicely and I even asked her how does she manage everything by herself, she said she cannot boss people around to work for her, so she does it all herself.


Mrs. Sahni - Hmmm, I wonder what made other people think like that.
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Different people had different opinions about her and some people had none at all, these were two extreme conversations revolving around that new girl in the colony but both of the conversations and thousand of other opinions didn’t tell a single thing about that girl but surely did tell a lot about the people talking.