Life without Plan B

A rebel without a cause, a girl that shows no care. This is who we want to be, this who she came to be. Living in a world so unique, a lone inhabitant, she’s never felt safer, never felt happier. Here’s a glimpse into her universe.

- Neena Haridas

The first time I saw Ninja Singh, she was sitting on a wing chair crouching in an almost fetal position with a giant book in her hand. She was poring over it as though her life depended on it,completely oblivious to a bunch of young girls who were throwing their noise across the hotel lobby. With her earplugs, glasses and book, there was nothing more out of place in that space.

The entire excitement was about a nation-wide model hunt by Ford Modelling Agency and the girls, including Ninja, were among the ‘lucky ones’ who had made it to the finals. There were about 20 of them from the boondocks of Dhaulapur to the plush Colaba of Bombay with one single goal–the top model title that ensures them a deal with the agency and work in New York, the ultimate dream of every model.

An entire team of grooming, posture, beauty, styling, jury members had been flown down to prepare the girls for the final walk. They all knew it was make or perish. And as each one of them walked up to various experts seeking advice frantically, the girl with the book sat there reading, seemingly uninterested to the point of arrogance. Clearly, she is not winning 'Ms Congeniality', I thought.

Finally, I walked up to her and asked why she was ignoring the rehearsals and what that big fat book was all about. She whispered, “I am sorry but I am studying for my final exam in dentistry. I am going to become a dentist.”

So then why was she wasting everybody’s time when there were 19 others who would chop their lashes off, if it meant walking the New York Fashion Week. I told her it was unfair to be there if she didn’t care enough to take on modelling and that it meant someone somewhere lost her chance to get here.