Behind the Specs : A Girl’s Whisper

Hi Naina!!

“Naam bhi khubsurat hai aur tum bhi”. Remember that encounter with Aditi at the mall after all those years? Her casual “what are you doing?” met your mumbled “Nothing much.” But your mother, beaming like Aditi was a spoiled brat, proudly announced you’re a star medical student, the college topper! In your eyes, though, Aditi was living your “One Day” life. Can I ask you something? In that moment, did a part of you yearn to cast off your glasses, ditch the perfect daughter image, and escape to Manali? I feel you, Naina. I know you wanted to scream “YES!” But you stayed quiet, just like so many of us, just like me. Every day, we all harbor silent screams, wishing to stop something wrong that’s been going on forever. But for one more day, we let it go. We bury our deepest desires beneath the weight of responsibility. Maybe it’s fear, maybe it’s just not wanting to hurt others. So we choose silence.

But you were different, Naina. That night at dinner, you defended Aditi against your mother. You shouted, you screamed that you were tired of this life. But your mother, bless her, just thought you needed a vacation. It wasn’t a beach and cocktails you needed, Naina. You craved a space where you could be yourself, embraced by understanding and unconditional love. You yearned for laughter unleashed, not bound by rules, and someone to share tears and hugs with. You needed a break, Naina. And I’m so proud you took it! Bunny was right, you are brave. You left for Manali, leaving a letter behind, ready to rediscover yourself !!!

You almost missed the train, fear a cold knot in your stomach. But then Bunny motivated you to come along. Did you fall in love with him at that moment itself? I don’t know, but I would have. In a world where everyone’s jealous of you or worried about you, even your own parents, how could you not be smitten with someone who saw your wings and urged you to fly? Bunny wasn’t just saying it would be okay; he promised it would be fun, painting a picture of carefree adventure that washed away your doubts like a warm summer rain.

But for sure, even you will agree that Bunny has something. When everyone else judged your non-alcoholic choice with raised eyebrows, he offered you appy. When your friends giggled through a game of “Never Have I Ever,” you slipped away, not from exhaustion, but from FOMO. Through his quiet gaze, I knew he understood. When Aditi and Avi went through the door after that dance on ‘Chuma Chuma’, bunny invited you to come along. “Girls like you, Naina,” he said, his eyes filled with an unspoken promise, “are meant for love, not for flirting.” And finally, one night, bathed in the soft glow of your torch as you burrowed into a book, he uttered the words you’d yearned to hear. “You’re not boring, Naina,” he said gently, “you are just different. Stop being pity on yourself, just love yourself”.

But how can you fall in love with yourself without falling for the person who showed you your own worth? You were in love, Naina, and you knew it deep down. Tell me, what did you wish for at that sacred ‘Bharav ka Mandir’? Did you whisper for Bunny or for this magical journey to never end? Whatever it was, you found what was missing, your squad — Aditi, Avi, Bunny and you. May be, this friendship won’t have romantic entanglements but you have someone to cry and laugh with. Manali was worth the leap, wasn’t it? On that final day, you slipped off your glasses, put on the lenses, and danced like the rhythm had always flowed through your veins. Not just Bunny, but everyone was stunned by your transformation.

And that’s the magic of love, Naina. It gives you the freedom to do what you want without fear of judgement. I don’t know about Bunny, but I fell in love with you that day, your spirit ablaze with newfound freedom.

And finally, when you were going to confess it, the news of Bunny’s scholarship letter from Chicago University felt like the ground beneath your feet crumbling. You desired to stop him, to confess your love, to hold him close and never let go. But how could you? The girl who dared to defy everything for her own dreams, how could she stand in the way of his? Instead, you choked back your own tears and fuelled his excitement. It was in that selfless act that you truly revealed your strength and the depth of your love. Initially, I thought you’d be lucky to have Bunny by your side, but as I witnessed your sacrifice, I realised he was the one who truly won the lottery. He can’t eat ‘Dal Chawal’ daily and you can’t drink alcohol daily. So, you let him go.

Naina, “Naam bhi khubsurat hai aur tum bhi”. But you know what’s more beautiful than that? Its who you are, Its what you think and what you believe. You are inspiration to thousands of girls, who hide themselves behind the books to fight the world. You are an inspiration to me. I promise to carry your spirit with me, a beacon of courage in my own fight for freedom.

With Love & Appreciation From A girl, just like you