WEIGHTLESS-PART 1

MATURE CONTENT | Reader Discretion Advised | Eating Disorder

Anshul was nervous. New School. An ordinary-looking, big-boned girl from a small town, small school, suddenly to go to this swank school in a big city. Yes, she was nervous, walking down the road leading up to the main foyer. It seemed as if every pair of eyes was boring into her back. She felt like a fish out of water. Her skirt was too long, her socks too high, her shoes flat and plastic, her pigtails hanging to her waist with matching simple rubber bands, very uncool, her bag like an ordinary satchel, and she even had a water bottle. Nobody seemed to be carrying even a regular school bag, let alone a water bottle. 

She walked into her class, and there was suddenly a silence as everyone turned to stare at her. No one smiled. She tried a tentative smile as she hesitated where to sit. But wherever she looked, someone placed a book or a bag to indicate that the seat was blocked. Leaving only the first bench empty. There was already one other girl sitting there. She seemed to be on the outside as well, with her unruly hair, big glasses and frumpy clothes. This girl very casually shifted her weight as if to make space for Anshul, and Anshul sank into the bench with relief. Once out of their imminent eyeline, the class resumed its chattering, discussing the summer break, announcing the new clubs, planning which parties. 

‘Hi’ 

‘Hi’ 

‘Saru’ 

‘Anshul… Thanks’ 

Saru shrugged nonchalantly. 

‘I just felt sorry for you.’ 

Looks her up and down,

‘You are quite pathetic.’ 

Anshul, taken by surprise, 

‘Excuse me?’ 

Miss David, the English Teacher, walks in just then. She was one of those rare breeds who was secure and knew how to handle these brazen, entitled teenagers, almost adults, with utmost surety and calmness, maintain boundaries and was not a pushover. All in all, with her smiling firm-handedness she exuded and invited confidence. 

All students stand. Miss David is in the middle of taking attendance when a bunch of girls trapeze in. 

‘May we come in Maam.’

‘No, you may not.’ Miss David continues with the attendance. 

‘Aw pleaseeeee Ma'am….’

‘Where were you?’ Miss David asks, closing the register. 

‘Swimming Trials, Ma'am. We have the districts coming up.’ 

‘Agali baar no excuse.’ Miss David shakes her head, opening the book. 

The girls titter and troop in. The most attractive one, tall, lissom, almost thin to the bone, must be size triple zero, lingers at Anshul’s table, looking her up and down. 

‘Be nice Kadambari’. Miss David warns without looking up from the book.

‘Yes Maam,’ says Kadambari without moving from the spot. 

‘Hmmmm,’ Miss David pushes her glasses back, ‘Since you are so enchanted with the new student, come and sit next to her.’ 

‘Oh no Ma'am,’ Kadambari is galvanised into action. 

‘No,’ Miss David continues. ‘In fact Saru, you move back, and Kadambari, I mean it, come and sit next to Anshul here.’ 

‘Whyyyyyyyyy Maaammmmm!!!!’ Wails Kadambari most dramatically. Saru and Anshul exchange a look. 

Saru rolls her eyes at Kadambari’s histrionics. Anshul lets out a small giggle. Kadambari notices this exchange and is furious. 

Miss David turns from the board where she was writing to warn Kadambari to move it. ‘Kadambari!’ 

In the midst of a lot of sympathetic sounds, Kadambari with dramatic sighs collects her books and comes to sit next to Anshul, and behaves as if Anshul is plagued with some contagious disease, making Anshul more and more uncomfortable. 

‘You dare to laugh at me with that goat slime Saru. You are finished.’ Kadambari threatens Anshul under her breath. Anshul looks very worried.