For staring out aloud

“You look terrible”!

Wow, what a great greeting. I was at the airport to receive my friend. It was almost a year since I spoke to her last when she called in the middle of night and said, “dude you stay in an induvi place in Delhi right?”

“Yea…” I said cautiously. You never know with her. A tank if there is one.

“Cool! I am coming there next week. I will sms the details, come to IGI… I am in a mood to be pampered”

When are you not! I felt like asking.

I was not in a mood to have company and God knows how long she’l stay. I was getting quite comfy with my routine. Karate in the morning, work, tennis in the evening, cooking, studying and singing myself to sleep. I limited my socializing considerably (Saturdays). With her landing everything would get topsy-turvy.

I didn’t know whether to glower or smile. I pulled myself together. After all, shes coming here all the way from Hyderabad to catch up the good ol times. There is no need for a tantrum display in front of her. So I left for the airport with a good grace. To be honest, by each minute I was getting more and more thrilled. Now things will happen.

And there she was running towards me, coming to a sudden halt and scrutinizing. My kajal was smudged and hair resembled a hedgehog’s back. Eyes were tired due to extra practice and studies.

“Nid, I ran away from home. I will just find a job here and settle. I didn’t waste time acting shocked. Nothing will surprise me about this girl. You won’t believe her types exist unless you meet one. And you have to be exceedingly lucky or unfortunate enough.

Oh reason why she ran away? She doesn’t want to marry her bf. After some dramatic fights, her parents and his parents finally agreed and now she is not sure she wants that. Yea, don’t even try to fathom her. But I could kinda understand where shes from.

I was tempted to inform her mom but she quelled me with a ‘DON’T YOU DARE’! Personally I agree. Indian parents sometimes ask for sharp lessons like these. When she expressed her doubts to her parents they all fell into brainwashing cum emotional blackmailing tactics and all the rest. Come on, there is more to life than saving your face in society.

She got a job in 2 days. It is Delhi after all. Lying on the terrace with a glass of red wine we listened to instrumental music all night. “Mmm… I am relaxing like this after sooo long”. That of course was a lie. You might say its impossible. That girl is always happy. I have never seen a more insensitive positive brat. But I was feeling content after so long and it was there to stay. I became beautiful again.

May be she did come at the right time! Now that I have moved out of Delhi we have not seen each other for months. May be we will… quite soon :)