Home Work

It seemed that Silvi was the only onewho hadn't done her homework. She couldn't believe it. Until break, she'd had the comfort of knowing that she wasn't all alone. When Sam and Anwarwere discussing the points they had noted down, she shrugged and yawned several times. Pointedly. She wanted them to knowshe didn't care. But they didn't care that she didn't care. Soon, she discovered that everyone had something ready.

"Sam, Sam, S-a-m! Quickly, suggest atopic. It was funny how one went from being jolly to desperate when there was no company to be absolutely carefree, Silvithought to herself.

Sam rolled his eyes. "What, now? Are you mad? You can't do anything now!" She should have known better than to ask him, she thought. Of course, he wouldn't help her.

"That's fine. I already have one. I was just testing whether you would give me a topic,"she said, icily*

."Why should I give you a topic in the last minute? And I bet you haven't got one.Or you made it up just now!" His nostrils flared, triumphantly. Silvi did not change her expression. "Gypsies. That's my topic. What'syours?"

"The Todas."

"Oh, that's been done before," she tuckeda strand of hair behind her ear.

"And you discovered the gypsies, right?"Sam gave a short, sarcastic laugh.

Jeev Sir, their History Teacher, saunteredin, muttering an apology for being late. "So, let's get snappy. Who wants to gofirst?" He leaned against his desk and rubbed his hands together, smiling. "Silvi?"

Great. This just wasn't her day. Asshe walked up, she noticed Sam had even brought a Toda shawl to show off. "So gypsies - what does everyone know about gypsies?" She would use the interactive method. Get everyone to give you answers and then make stuff up, Silvi thought.

"Gypsies are mostly nomads!" shouted someone.

"They steal cats and they eat them, "said another.

"They hunt. They carry guns."

"They sell beads."

"All of you are right!" Silvi beamed good naturedly, much to the amusement of Jeev Sir. "The gypsies in the city live on the streets. They don't live for too long because they like to keep moving. Their children are lucky because they don't have to go to school like us - they sell beads and make stuff. Their clothes and the way they dress are very unique. Their women wear big hair clips, jewellery, knee length skirts and the men also have long hair. During the monsoons..."