"Well-in-time" Day

The brouhaha surrounding this occasion is unbelievable. One half of the city has gone berserk in outdoing its better half at buying expensive presents, one fourth is in the doldrums bemoaning their single status, one fourth is up in arms against the "westernization" of our Indian culture and the remaining one fourth are the florists who are on their way to deposit doubloons in their swiss bank accounts, pointing fingers and laughing at the miserable lot who they ripped off on this dreaded day.

Boy and I spoke about this a few weeks and then again a couple of days before the 14th. We mutually agreed on not to celebrate it, not to buy anything for each other and generally treat it like any other day. We both walked back home relieved and being able to afford a decent meal at the end of the month. When the "V day" arrived, I weakened. I did not want to succumb to the insane pressure building up around me, but I did want to buy Boy something just to show how much I appreciate him being around and spoiling me rotten. So I managed to surprise him with a very nice present. Except that I gave it to him in the car and he had just unwrapped it when his phone rang. I have long accepted the fact that his work takes precedence over everything else, including me and for my own respect, I shouldn't even try and compete.

So there I was holding his semi wrapped/ semi unwrapped present and he is on the phone and after a 4 minute long conversation, he turns to me and proceeds to tell me, in great detail, the intricacy of the problem faced by the caller- his client. And I was just sitting there with my jaw all but hitting the floor, aghast at the way Boy was reacting. I dont expect him to do a jig on being given a present but an acknowledgment was the very least I expected.

So Boy went on and on and suddenly, probably on seeing the tears well up in my eyes or the dumbfounded gaping mouth of mine, he snapped back to the present (present/ present..ha ha funny na? thank you) He fell over himself apologizing. But the damage was done. The day was ruined, I had started bawling (I know, sorry, its a very chicky thing to do but sometimes when I get REALLY angry and cant do a thing about it, the helplessness of the entire situation makes me cry) We did go on to have an excellent dinner and I did genuinely have a great time but at some level I am still a lil upset. Well more worried than upset. But right then in that car, I swear I could've killed him.

In other news, on a local radio station on V Day, a guy was offered a chance for a weekend getaway to holiday destination. When quizzed as to who he would like to go with, he named X. Immediately his wife spoke up at the other end of the phone line, live on air and what followed was truly hilarious since X was his Secretary and his wife was Z. May his soul rest in peace, though I have a sneaking suspicion its resting in pieces)

hope your valentine celebrations were better.

All work and no p(l)ay.

Did, in former college lingo, an "all nighter" the other day. Before you start getting any whacky ideas in your head, an "all nighter" refers to a situation when you ending up studying/ now working for the better part of the night. I did one in office the other day and at the risk of sounding like a workaholic, it was great fun. There is something fascinating about staying up late in office, munching on a slice of the dominator pizza while palpitating over when you'll be able to wrap up work and head home. Since I am now almost a veteran at these all nighters, I now know the best way to deal with them and ensure that work's done. First I calmed my colleague, who is a rookie and this was his first all nighter. Then I ordered in pizza, enough for all of us. BTW, pizza is a great motivator to get the sluggish office staff to double up the photocopying. Then came the gentle cooing and egging on for rookie colleague and office support staff and then came the military rule. It was awesome. Poor Rookie was so thrilled at the prospect of putting in so much work one night and coming back early morn for a conference on the matter that he could barely contain his excitement. what was particularly funny was how his friends refused to believe that he was in office and when word spread in his circle of his hard work, they offered to bring him coffee, smokes and the like. Two of his friends even turned up to offer him moral support. Rather sweet. Funny, but sweet.

Then came the early morn meeting, which was hell. Was hoping to glide through the day in a stupor, instead, I was alert as a hawk. Seriously, man I too am surprised. probably it was the adrenalin that kept me going, but the following day was a charm. I was supposed to catch up with S and her boyfriend in the evening but was scheduled for another partial all nighter. G (S's boyfriend) finally told me that maybe I required "intervention" the Alcoholics Anonymous variety and all I could ask was "legal or divine?" At which point he gave up on me and told me I needed professional help to wean me away from my work. I dont think so. I love my work, et all, but I do have a life away from it. I mean take this for instance. I find time to wrtie, sparingly, but I do. Also, check out the contents of my posts, do not all of them include some details of an outing or a date or something? I think G's just too hard on me!! Sniff sniff.

In other news, I am taking a week off in the end of February for a few weddings. I am so looking forward to shopping, dancing, mehendi and making merry. Some good old fashioned bollywood, dhinchak bhangra and vodka :) Ah what it would be to have a glass of wine right now.