Awkwardness of it all

Neha and I - We were both Gupta's and were called the "Gupta twins". Though i must specify that we were the kind of twins that Barney and his brother are in "How I Met Your Mother" - If fairness is defined on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being charcoal and 10 being Nicole Kidman, then i was a 4 and she was an 8.5.

We were best friends in school. I was number one in class (academically) and she was third. She had the best hand writing in the class and i had and still continue to have the worst, almost illegible. We would always sit and study together. Ours wasn't the most liberal of the schools and one of our teacher would often comment to us,"Tum dono jud kyun nahin jaate? Besharam kahin ke. (Why dont you two join together? Shameless creatures.". We would do all the leg-pulling together. I had this habit of never bringing a pen to the class and for almost 2 years she carried a spare one for me. She would whisper the answers sitting next to me when i was in the firing line of teacher's questions, often getting caught in the process. She knew about my crush in the class and would always tease me. We had a great time together.

After class 10 we went to separate colleges (In Amritsar and few other cities in Punjab, you have on option of going to a college or continue in a school for 11th and 12th standard). We never met for the next 8 years or so. Then we met on Orkut and finally after 8 years we met at Brijwasi - an awesome chat papdi and kinda stuff place very close to my place.

It was interesting meeting. On the day of our meeting i didnt want to be the first one to arrive so i was wandering in the park close to our rendezvous point, always keeping an eye at the entrance. I saw a good looking 8.5 (on a 10 point scale of hotness) arriving in a car. She was wearing a red sweater and was looking really good. I was wondering what she was doing at that place. It was not the best of places for a chic of her standards. Anyways, she didnt enter the place. She had one eye on the watch and the other sweeping the area looking for someone. I kept waiting for Neha for about 10-15 minutes but when she didnt show up i decided to go in and see if i had missed her. The moment i passed by that good looking chic, from the side of my eye i saw her staring at me.

Now i am not someone who is usually, rather ever, stared at by good looking 8.5's. Usually i get a 90 degrre head movement i.e. they look away and try hard not to even give a second look - a very potent and effective weapon used by them to keep guys like me at bay. Now since she was staring i thought of talking to her. The moment i turned, she smiled and said "Anurag Gupta, ab to tu pehchanega bhi nahin (Anurag Gupta, now you wont even recognise me)". It was Neha. I must mention here that Neha used to be quite overweight in school days and must have lost a lot in the last 8 years. I smiled, shook hands and we went in. While walking in, i took a second look at the place and then at her and was embarassed at the thought,"What the hell was i thinking inviting her to place like this". We had a good talk, shared memories of past and what we have been upto in last 8 years and then left. I never met her again till yesterday.

I was at Amritsar railway station, claiming the motor cycle that i had sent from Gurgaon after before leaving that place. I saw her passing by me and must mention that she was looking even better than the last time we had met. Now she was definitely a 9. I poked her with my finger as she passed by. She turned, smiled and shook hands with me. I started asking what she was doing, how things were and how it has been almost 2 years since we last met. She was feeling very uncomfortable. Fake smile on face, nervous demeanor and clutching of hands. And then i realized why.

While checking her out i had not realized that she was not alone. Then she introduced me to others," Anurag, this is my mother-in-law; he is my husband and she is my mother". I had not clue what to say next. And then a hand grabbed me by my arm and hugged me,"Anurag bhaiyya, mujhe pehchana?(Anurag, do you recognise me?) I am Neha's younger brother. Used to be your junior in school." He then faced me with his back towards others, stared at me with anger, his crazy eyes clearing saying,"FUCK OFF". Next moment i saw myself saying good bye to them all.

It was all so weird. In my usual disregard for circumstances and people, i had once again made a fool of myself. Anyways, lessons learnt:

1.) Dont ever poke a married women in public.

2.) If you do end up doing that, then make sure that you dont make her and others accompanying her uncomfortable with your friendliness.

And the most important one...

3.) Stay off a married female friend's brother. They are liable to get very angry.