Stubborn Bitch?

So I got reprimanded for being too busy browsing other’s blogs and ignoring my own blog – glanced at my last post and realized that I have been ignoring my baby…

Sheesh – I don’t quite understand how this is happening. I’m officially vella since the last 3 weeks. No more Alliance Francaise classes till the results are declared and I’ve not taken on any more of the freelancing work I was doing. I had a slight tussle with my ‘employer’ over some minor ego issues and I’m refusing to back down, stubborn mule that I am…infact that led to a detailed analysis of this aspect of my personality. Here goes...

Geetanjali and her Stubbornness

I was never a docile child – infact my mother couldn’t leave me in a cradle 'coz I was too active for my own good and would end up tipping it over and landing on my head…she finally resorted to leaving me on a mattress on the ground, during the day-time. I could crawl off wherever I wished, but atleast I wouldn’t fall and do some permanent damage to my head…she started to suspect that the few falls I had already taken must have affected my head for I soon started asserting my (inherent) nature!

Innumerable battles over the milk bottle later, I graduated to eating food. And sure enough newer battles ensued. An incident that even I remember has me sitting on the table the entire afternoon refusing to touch the gajar methi ki sabzi. Amma had told me that I couldn’t get up from the table till I finished what was on my plate – so I didn’t. Till date that is one sabzi I abhor – gajar is meant for salads and gajar ka halwa…why would anyone want to mix it with something and ruin that sabzi?

My sister recounted another incident – I must have been around 5 or 6 at the time. Amma had gone to attend some family function, leaving me in the care of my father, brother and cousin sister. My “favourite” cousin sister at the time (one I’m still close it and whose house we are currently living in) – but even she couldn’t make me do something I didn’t want to. Good at mathematics herself, she thought I should do some extra exercises to improve my grades – Math was my only weak point till Marathi came along! Now, asking me to do more than the required number of sums was worse than asking me to eat gajar-methi. I refused. She insisted. I continued to stand my ground. When Papa came home from work, she told him what I’d done. Being the typical “Daddy’s girl” I thought I’d get my way. To my horror my father agreed with Didi – she couldn’t have done anything worse. Turning my father against me! How could she? I never got around to doing those sums – I also refused to talk to her for a whole year.

She thought I’d be a little embarrassed when she narrated this tale, especially since my Bhabhi was there as well and Bhabhi hasn’t had much opportunity yet to see me in action ;-) Little did she know that I’d retaliate with a similar incident…

A decade after my sister’s futile efforts at making me practice Math, my friend Mansi thought she’d tutor me in Math. Same result. I threw her out of my house telling her that no one tells Geetanjali Shrivastava how, what and when to study. We didn’t talk for over a year – for those of you who don’t know, Mansi is a bosom pal (chaddi pal if you prefer) – she’s seen me through my lowest, darkest phases in life, pulled me through a difficult puberty and been my rock ever since we became friends. I don’t think I’d quarrel with her over something so silly today, but yes, even she’s stopped trying to make me do something I don’t want to!

(We’ve had some remarkable moments over the years haven’t we Mansi? I think I’m going to take this opportunity to raise a toast to our friendship – Vive l’amitie entre nous!)

This brought up the whole Marathi exam saga – my parents had hoped that atleast one member of the family would learn Marathi. My brother never had the knack for languages so he didn’t pick up any of the languages taught to him in school. Having experienced that, my folks thought that some extra training in Marathi wouldn’t hurt me. So they enrolled me for these State Language Exams we could take, through school. Our school provided coaching lessons which would take place once a week, for a mere 45 minutes. But those 45 minutes were half of the week’s allotted time for “C.C.A” or co-curricular activities. I hated it. The idea of missing my art classes for Marathi was abhorrent. I didn’t sit for any of the coaching classes and when the notice came for the exam I calmly told my parents that I never wanted to take the exam, so I wasn’t going to. I was in the 5th std. Needless to say that was the last time my parents tried to bend my will and make me do something against my wishes! It’s also why they never tried to get me to take any tuitions for any subject, no matter how weak I was in it, or how important the exam was deemed to be (SSC / HSC / whatever!) – and I think I’m quite proud of the fact!!

Heh…I’ve mellowed down over the years and sometimes do follow other’s advice, but once in a while my stubborn streak rears up and then I’m quite unreasonable. Quite. Re-reading what I just wrote, I’m tickled pink at my abominable behaviour – I was a regular brat, wasn’t I ? – and I marvel at how much I’ve changed over the years. Definitely more subtle in my reactions and approaches. And more mature; or so I believe, though there are those who’d beg to disagree – hint hint! I’d like to think that I am an interesting character to have around, but I’ll let you’ll decide that! ;-)

Currently :-

• Listening to “Ladies & Gentlemen - The Best of George Michael” – can’t decide which I like the best – Freedom 90, Killer/Papa was a Rolling Stone, I Want Your Sex, I Knew You Were Waiting for Me, Faith or Father Figure…damn but the man sure knows how to spin his tunes…& damn but what a waste of perfectly delicious man! ;-)
• Reading Peter Mayle’s “Encore Provence” – a most delightful read…I must post a review of the book on Literary Mosaic!
• Sporting a toe-ring – it’s become a regular companion for my toe and I quite like it.
• Feeling upbeat and cheerful – the last remnants of a dark mood having passed into the inky blackness last night. A.Diddy – me thinks those three cups of coffee, did it’s bit in boosting those energy levels ;-) Muhahahaha!