10 things I learnt From Archie Comics

So all through my teens and adolescence and adult life, I have read Archie Comics. I still try to steal the time out to read the occasional comic only now in its digital avatar. Nevertheless Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead continue to humour my daily life out of its monotony even though I am 3 times the age of when I first discovered this Riverdale Gang. Going back I realise if it wasn't for Archie and his friends there would be so many things I wouldn't have known. Simple everyday things, but very important to know thingies. I decided to  make a list to share. So here are the top 10 things I learnt from Archie Comics-

1. How the School Tap works in US Schools- Now for some one like me I grew up in a standard school which had a normal tap which gave out water vertically downwards. If I had not read Archie Comics I wouldn't have known the existence of the tap that gives out water upwards. I would be ignorant and made fun of during my trips abroad.
2. Ek Ladka Ladki Kabhi dost nahi ho sakte- Even before Salman Khan was told this in his Maine Pyar Kiya, Archie Comics had already taught us this. Thanks to the love triangle/quadruple of Archie/Betty/Veronice/Reggie, we already knew that the opposite sex can only fall in love.
3. Kissing- Now actually kissing is something that I had never done. even talking about kissing was taboo and next to porn. But Archie randomly kissed Betty, Veroninica and other girls. So the learning was that a kiss isn't taboo or porn, it is actually an emotion, an affection.
4. There is something called Drugs- At the back of each Archie Comic used to be a message called 'Say No to Drugs'. I used to wonder what do they mean. Drugs were medicines and medicines are important if one takes ill. Quite later I came to know what drugs meant. Dope aka grass aka hash came into the lives of an Indian teen of the 1990's quite late thankfully.
5. Drown your sorrows in a thick Malt- I had never heard this word. Jughead was responsible for this. He introduced me to malt and that someone can actually drown their sorrows in a malt. I follow that to the tee. Only I put on weight and he is on a different metabolism completely.
6. The Detention Room- Though I still have to see an actual detention room but if it wasn't for Riverdale High and the antics of Archie and his friends I would've never known what detention is.
7. People can have red hair- Carrot top, or whatever you call him. He is truly adorable. But neither had i ever seen or known that a human can have red hair. Archie walked into my life with a totally new colour of facial hair.
8. Weekends are for fun- Growing up as a youngster in a small town, we had no concept of fun, parties or weekends. Archie and his gang looked forward to weekends and long drives and parties. I am glad they showed me and the world this. Otherwise how would Varun Dhawan croon 'Saturday, Saturday!'
9. It is good to be skinny- a decade before the size zero mania hit the country, Betty and Veronica had already told us that it is fashionable to be thin and in shape. I could never manage that though.
10. Good guys don't finish last- whatever stupid things Archie did, he was always the quintessential good guy. and at the end of each comic, he did manage to get the girl. Thus the old adage 'Good guys finish last' was beaten and hope was restored in the goodness of people.

This lovable gang has now evolved to include a more modern outlook with a gay couple coming in the picture. Archie has even died I have learnt. But they continue to be such cool people for me. they are my 5 minute cat nap that I don't get in the day. They are my cooling gels that I use when there is no one around. And see they taught me so much. I sure wouldn't be this cool if Archie wasn't around.