Page 89 of One Indian Girl
‘Like draught-beer-brewing machines?’ I said.
He laughed. ‘I admit it was a bit of a fraud. But we did visit the Goa Shipyard and Vedanta’s iron ore facility.’
‘For ten minutes?’
‘Fifteen minutes. Rest on the beaches. But hey, we submitted a report and everything.’
I took another sip of beer.
‘This is what happens at NIT? Goa trips in the name of industry visits?’ I tut-tutted.
‘Some of our classmates did go to the Bhilai Steel Plant. They hate us till today.’
We laughed together.Okay, I can do this,I told myself. He may not be the most interesting guy around, but the engineering college stories did make him more human.
‘You seem to have had fun in college.’
‘I’m not as boring as you think.’
‘I didn’t say you are.’
‘Actually, I am. Particularly when it comes to talking to women. But with the boys, I did have fun.’
‘Yeah? You like boys?’ I said and winked at him.
‘No...no I meant...’ he said and blushed.
I laughed. ‘I am teasing you.’
‘I know. Sorry. You got me.’
‘You think women are different?’ I said.
He shrugged.
‘They are, right? Women are not like men,’ he said.
‘Well, in some ways not. But in many ways, yes.’
‘Of course, we are all people. People are the same,’ he said.
I tried not to stare at him too much. I wondered if he ever thought about things like gender equality.
‘Brijesh, do you know what is a feminist?’
‘Sort of. But what exactly is it?’ he said and blinked his eyes. He genuinely didn’t seem to know.
‘You haven’t heard the word “feminist”?’
‘Of course I have. I sort of know what it is. Equal rights for women, right? Is that the definition?’
‘Feminism is a movement that seeks to define, establish and achieve equal political, economic, cultural, personal and social rights for women. A feminist is someone who believes in this movement.’
‘Wow,’ he said.
‘What wow?’
‘The way you said the definition. It’s cool.’
