Fasting day

Just like today, it was the day of Sankashti Charurthi - a day when I fast. I would eat fruits, milk, and buttermilk on the days of fast. That day also, I had fruits in the lunch. At 4 pm I went to the cafeteria to have coffee. My friend Nikita accompanied me.

I took coffee and sat at the table. Nikita asked me, "what will you have?"

That was an unusual question. Nikita knew that I do not eat anything after lunch, otherwise I cannot feel hungry for dinner. Despite knowing this very well, I was surprised why was she asking me.

"Nothing, just coffee," I said why raising my coffee mug. I thought maybe she asked because I was fasting.

Nikita got up and went to the food counter. I saw her returning with a pack of chips. She opened the packet and said, "here, have some chips. They are salted potato chips. You can have them".

"I do not want chips. Thanks for offering though," I smiled and replied. It was kind of her to bring me something. But again she knew I don't eat chips, so why was she asking me to have them.

"Girl, just take them. You are fasting, you are already gonna lose weight. So do not nee to worry if the chips are going to make you gain," she said sounding like she got irritated because I said no.

I was baffled by her remark. I was seeing a different version of Nikita. I said, "I don't like chips. That is all. People eat chips while fasting but I don't".

Nikita looked angry by that time, "you do not need to be so fussy about food. Just have some for me, there is nothing wrong with eating chips while fasting. It is not like you are breaking your fast early. Besides who does not like chips?" Nikita kept insisting to have chips.

"I don't like chips, you know that. I don't eat them otherwise, so I am going to skip them today as well," I was trying to stay calm and polite. I do not want to lose my temper.

"What am I going to do with this packet? Help me finish," now Nikita had gone from ordering to requesting.

"Well take the packet to the floor. Share it with other colleagues," I believed my alternative was fair. But Nikita was upset. I could not understand what was so upsetting.

A couple of days later, we learnt that our friend Madhav was dieting. He was on his diet challenge that was half way through. He were all impressed to hear his progress. This time I again noticed something unusual but familiar. Nikita brought a hufe pack of biscuits and she started insisting Madhav to have them. Madhav politely denied informing that it was against his diet plan. But she kept insisting and accidentally blurted out, "I don't like when people diet. I feel like I should sabotage their diet plan".

I was shocked to hear that from Nikita. I could finally connect dots. She was insisting me to have chips because she wanted to sabotage my fast just like what she was trying to do with Madhav.

This is when I realised: Not everyone is your friend. We never know the true intentions of people. What thoughts are flowing behind the smiles are impossible to guess.

Needless to say, I learnt my lesson and ended friendship with Nikita.