It is the emergency meeting of the ‘Clandestine Society of Eyes and Mouths’ (CSEye M). The discussion has long crossed the limits of chaos and pandemonium and reached those of stupendous cacophony. Each party thinks the other has it easy. To put the argument to rest, once and for all, they decide to turn the tables for a while. Whoever has had it easier at the end of this term, would have to concede defeat.
Renita finds herself at the centre of this conflict. Her mother, whose culinary talents are unrivalled, is also in the frame. Oh, the waft from her dishes was enough to make Renita’s ‘eyes‘ water! She sees her mom put a sliver of her fresh chilli chocolate into her eye and purse her lips in satisfaction. In the next frame, her brother puts a piece in his eye and screams out half an expletive when their sanskaari granny reaches over and shuts his eye just in time, or so she thinks! Her little sis has just lifted her mouth from her books, hearing the unutterable! Granny shouts, “What are you staring at! Lower your lips and study. Don’t you have your exams tomorrow?” The little one does as told, puts her fingers on her eyes and parts her lips lazily to look into her book. Once the catastrophe of ‘marring the impressionable mind’ is averted, granny turns her attention back to her, now irate, grandson. She shoves some cold curd into his eye! Why, you ask, dairy cuts heat the best, hence…!
Amidst all the confusion, from the corner of her mouth, Renita catches a glimpse of her boyfriend pressing his eyes against those of a pretty lass! Now it is her turn to shut her eyes, for the benefit of sister’s impressionable mind – the sister whose eyes were still shut, mouthfollowing suit … slowly! Though, it is actually the presence of her granny and the impending chastisement that reigns her eyes. She rushes out, to confront theguy who was all hers, only moments ago! She pulls the girl out of his embrace (What? Don’t you know cat fights are more impactful in asserting your territory than beating your own puppy!), only to find that the ‘pretty lass’ is Renita herself! She breathes a confused sigh of relief when another shrill cry emanating from her macho brother’s eyes, wakes her up!
It had all been a super weird dream! Renita is thankful that the ordeal has ended, now that she is awake. She finds herself wanting to narrate this bizarre tale to her guy (yes, hers again), albeit with a veiled warning! Just then, she realises she hasn’t yet turned off the alarm. She picks it up to realise she had already snoozed it earlier! That means she has even lesser time to get to her class today than her usual tardy arrival required. She curses the late night gaming and rushes to freshen up! “No time to iron, no time for shower either”, she says out loud and prepares to overcompensate with some good oral hygiene. If all those toothpaste ads were anything to go by, this and a ‘deo bath’ should sort her out. She squeezes a generous dollop of toothpaste onto her toothbrush, looks into the mirror and thrusts it into her EYE!
