Viral Malaria

Wondering what it is, aren't you? Don't, 'coz I'm coming to that...

It was an affliction that had caught on more than a decade ago. We were a group of wide-eyed teenagers then, content with our sneakers and cloth sacks. Our only concern in life - have fun and forget the world. From pulling down raw/ripe tamarind and eating them till our teeth were numb to breeding guppies in empty jam bottles - we did everything and were feverishly happy all the time.

Our only worry, perhaps, was finishing the homework. Once that was done, the world was ours.

Till it was time for the boards...

The tamarind tree shaded us as we waited for the bus; empty jam bottles went as scrap. We became grumpier. The sneakers started pinching our feet and bags became heavier...

Until Viral Malaria struck...

An incarnation of Elvis Presley, his puff could be spotted even before he was on the horizon.

When every other guy would sport faded T-shirts and jeans, he'd wear shiny shirts in plum, navy and beige. And if you spotted one crease on that trouser, you'd sure win a special sundae from the most happening ice cream parlour around. But that's a different thing that no one ever won one!

And the shoes, how could I forget them! He just needed to break into a jig, Ek Haseena Thi... Ek Deewana Tha... a la Rishi Kapoor from Karz. Shiny, pointed with a metal 'buckle', we forgot samosas and chips with our daily bottles of Energy. Everybody would talk about his shoes - during lunch breaks, between classes and even while they were on.

In fact there was a mini-protest against them once. His previleged footwear kicked someone's shin and drew blood. And we boycotted him, rechristened him, stayed miles away from him. Even when he'd try winning us over with those puppy-eyed looks. We just didn't melt...

As the year neared an end, he was desperate to bury the hatchet. Many of my buddies did give in and became friends with him. Soon there were girls who started finding him the next best thing to have happened to them after Salman Khan, fresh from his Hum Aapke Hain Kaun success. They loved his puff, his shirts and of course, his shoes. I let them be and twirled my thumbs as they gushed over him...

One day as I was preparing for a test, someone ran in to grab the empty chair next to me. I poured into my book harder; Ohm's law never made sense to me and I didn't want to flunk... But I was curious, so I looked. He was just like another guy. Still in his school uniform, he looked untidy, dishevelled and mundanely attractive. He smiled at me... eeks, horrible, dracula-like teeth. I pursed my lips; I had to crack Ohm that day.

But as I sailed past Ohm's law, I realised I was completely distracted. After the test, as I was packing my bag, he came and stood by my side.

"How... how was the paper?"
"Not bad at all," I said without meeting his eyes.
"Ok..."
"Ok, bye."

"Oh, wait! I didn't meant to hurt your friend. It was an accident. See, I've even stopped wearing those shoes."
"Ya, so?" I gave him my best do-I-care-look without even bothering to look at his shoes.

The bus ride back home was not same that day. I knew I was being looked at.

Though I joined the girls who'd talk about him with awe, I chose to shut my mouth and listen. I slowly became a silent member of the Viral Malaria Fan Club.

Soon, a class picnic was announced. He came up to me and said,
"I won't be able to make it."
"I see," I cared a little.
"Have fun," he tried hard to smile and hide his teeth at the same time.
"I will. Thanks." I felt human.

On the day of the farewell party, he rocked the evening. Danced, sang and won all hearts. Every guy wanted to be like him... sing and dance like him. The girls cheered, shook their best-skirted hips to his tunes...

I was the first to leave the party. As I walked home all alone, I knew we were all struck by an affliction. Most were down with it and I was fighting it...