Shades of Fame (reading extract)

the fragility of the other while with the free hand they held in their stomachs that were painful with
the laughing. Each attempt to bring the situation down to normal ended in renewed cramps of
laughter. An end to this pleasure was not in sight.At some point they both could not laugh any more,
so great was the physical exhaustion and as soon as an opportunity came about they fell into each
others arms, mutually supporting each others fragility.
“What is your name? “She asked him in a carefree way. You still have not told me your name?
Oh really. You never asked me?” He replied amiably.
“But I am asking you now, “She insisted
“Please tell me. I could not catch it as you were being greeted by your friends.”
“You were not in the least interested in me as I came to the table.”
She saw through his game and didn’t enter it.
“Alright what is your name?”
“In school my friends call me Easy. Ya my name is easy.”
She looked amazed
“You are called Easy ? That is a figure from Rao Chatterjee’s
novel.The hero has this name because of his good looks through which he easily seduces women.
Are you like that? “And she looked him directly in the eye. He blushed. Evidently he was surprised
by her literary knowledge.
“You know this novel? Do such books exist in the Convent library?” Through this question he
elegantly freed him self from the embarrassment.
Shea laughed, “No No not there but my aunt’s in Mahabeleshwar.
She has an apartment filled with books and this novel is one among many.” She looked at him and
regretted having embarrassed him. She excused herself.
“I’m sorry if I’ve compared you to the person in the novel. But your name is extremely rare. But
your friends must know why they call you so. You boys have crazy ideas.”
She had hardly finished the sentence when she sprang to her feet with a loud shout.
Oh no
Easy looked at her in shock.
“What’s the matter, what happened “
Shea was still screaming.
“Ant`s! It`s full of ants “she cried out. At which point Easy also sprung up because he too had
noticed the crawling. Both ran a little
hand to get rid of the ants from her skirt but she did not immediately succeed.
A few insects had cheekily crawled under her skirt and Shea could not rid herself of them without
lifting her skirt. She turned away from Easy and with a swift movement pushed up her skirt and
removed the last burdensome visitors. She put her clothes back in order and turned again to him.
“Its curious that I always have ant`s around. “ she said.
What do you mean? “ asked Easy curiously but Shea remained silent. For her the matter was settled.
They continued their conversation where they had left it off. Soon their mood was lifted by the
wave of mutual sympathy and as it was already dark and getting cooler they came closer to one
other so as to warm each other.