There were four of us . All girls , of course . I just took them in. One large , doe-eyed, almost with a naughty gleam in the eye; other , tall, dark , slim , bespectacled and serious, yet another , small, frail , and with cherubic dimples on her face . I was the last one .
When I entered, the large room was dimly lit , with very high ceiling , and tall rafters for hanging fans . Even the tube -lights hung on pairs of hanging rods, dangerously low. Thick maroon curtains hung on the doors and windows . There was a whiff of grime and talcum . I gathered the unoccupied bed was mine , so was the bookshelf with pencil shavings rolling about in the dust , on the shelves . A newspaper was spread on the spare bed , some one was reading it as I entered.
My roomies looked as lost and new as me . Possibly a bit apprehensive or scared even. I didn't wear glasses , nor had dimples , neither was huge and intimidating. But I was as scruffy and scrawny , and as homesick, as the others. There was no home , nor its material and emotional comforts , all we had was each other .
I smiled tentatively , and I got smiles back . All was well. The tall , bespectacled girl would immediately glide in , and remove the newspaper( two days' old, I was to learn later),crumple it into a ball and chuck it into a dustbin kept in a next room , hidden from view . "Basketball",my heart leapt up. I had found a kindred spirit.
When I entered, the large room was dimly lit , with very high ceiling , and tall rafters for hanging fans . Even the tube -lights hung on pairs of hanging rods, dangerously low. Thick maroon curtains hung on the doors and windows . There was a whiff of grime and talcum . I gathered the unoccupied bed was mine , so was the bookshelf with pencil shavings rolling about in the dust , on the shelves . A newspaper was spread on the spare bed , some one was reading it as I entered.
My roomies looked as lost and new as me . Possibly a bit apprehensive or scared even. I didn't wear glasses , nor had dimples , neither was huge and intimidating. But I was as scruffy and scrawny , and as homesick, as the others. There was no home , nor its material and emotional comforts , all we had was each other .
I smiled tentatively , and I got smiles back . All was well. The tall , bespectacled girl would immediately glide in , and remove the newspaper( two days' old, I was to learn later),crumple it into a ball and chuck it into a dustbin kept in a next room , hidden from view . "Basketball",my heart leapt up. I had found a kindred spirit.
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