User blog:Manasa Kashi/A Month In

 "Hey Manasa, I heard you're taking another round of orders for truffles?", asks a boy.

 "Yeah, do you want?", I ask back.

 “Yup. Put me down for five chocolate truffles", he replies.

 This is a conversation almost identical to the ones I've had with about ten other people over the last few days. On one hand, I'm pleased to be getting this many orders; I'll probably reach hundred SSS by next week. On the other hand, I wish I could have a normal conversation with somebody again. "So, what do you sell?", “Are you in SSS", and "Have you got what I ordered?" seem to have replaced the previously used "Sup", "What's up" and "How's it going?".

 At lunch, I ask another girl if I can borrow one of her books. “It’ll cost you 5 SSS”, she replies.

 I’m a little taken aback. She wasn’t even a part of SSS yesterday. Just goes to show the growth rate. And, secondly, I’m sure that if I had asked for it yesterday, I would have got it for free.

 All this is not to say that I am completely faultless, either. After lunch, when I go back to my hostel, I am prepared to give a chocolate that I am saving for myself to somebody who is willing to pay. But not share with a friend who isn’t part of SSS but, just last night, gave me biscuits.

 The next day, a boy is stationed by the sinks, charging to wash your plate for you. I decline. I am late for a lottery that is to be held in the hostel.

 Shops have spent up to twenty SSS on tickets, which are 2 SSS apiece. 20 SSS is a fortune, a goal to be reached for many. I am past that, but I have gambled on this, buying two tickets.

 Amogh draws a number out of a hat. “23”, he calls out. The people are blank. Nobody has that number. Dyuti runs in, breathless. “Sorry”, she says.

 Turns out, she has number 23. She has bought exactly one ticket. Looks like the big shops just suffered a huge loss.

 I guess what they say, that the person who buys a ticket almost reluctantly is the person who wins. And, the winner takes it all.



