You don't have to!

My journeys from Delhi to Rampur ( which is home for a few years) have always been amusing and amusingly, this only applies for the trips way back home... nothing unusual, funny or weird happens when I travel from home to Delhi. Cabs arrive late or not at all, I reach the station early only to find the train is delayed or I catch it DDLJ style - a smiling middle aged lady replacing Raj, which was still good! I've been jeered at and worst of all, a guy once asked me - "Kya aapke pati CRPF me kaam karte hain? ( Does your husband work in CRPF?) For God's sake! I don't look that old! 


This story is one of all those, goes back to the time when I was either in first or second year ( because I remember being scared and pretending that I'm not). Winter. Old Delhi railway station. It was around 11 in the morning. The train was delayed and there wasn't an option but to wait. To my good fortune and surprise, one of the benches were vacant! Yes! ( If you've been there, you know how unusual it is).  I sat down, observing the platform and people around. This decent looking guy ( ok, good looking guy! ) comes and sits besides me and strikes up a conversation. ( For all those friends who KNOW me : No, I didn't have a crush on this guy).


He : Student?
Me: Yes
He : What course?
Me : B.A. Programme, 1st/ 2nd year
He : I'm in Eco, 3rd year, interning at (some well known company which I forgot).
He lists out these particulars smugly. I just smile, which is what I do in any situation.
He : Which college?
Me : St. Stephen's.. You?
He : ( in a changed tone now ) DDU.. Waise DU ke toh saare colleges achhe hain. (All the colleges in DU are good!)

I don't know what, his changed tone or the explanation, but something triggered my laughter, and I tried my best to stifle it, not to seem rude.

What followed was just unfortunate. Unfortunate.

*spat* 
A pigeon pooped on my jacket.
I was expecting a divine voice to announce : You don't have to be like them, little one.. You don't have to.

No divine announcement followed, but I got the point.
Lesson in humility learnt.