my first date...1997

I was in my second job in Delhi when I first went out on a formal date – with her, my ex-colleague from the previous organization. We used to exchange birthday greetings and general haal chaal. Nothing more. Then one day she asked me if I had time and that we could perhaps meet some place in South Delhi and catch up on latest gossip.

She ended the call saying, ‘so we are on a date’. I blushed with the thought of a date – magical word, ‘date’. True I had a crush on her starting March 4th 1996 [she was the only one to greet me in the new office], but ‘date’was a magical word indeed.

On 'THE' day, my PM, wanted to know why I wanted to leave early that day. Did we ever asked him why he used to take ½ day off on every Saturday. To play that idiotic game GOLF! I don’t recall what goli I gave him, but I was out of office and on my way to South Ex. I remember paying 15 rupees for the auto.

Was she late, or did I reach early I don’t remember, but do remember all the stupid things I did.

• Unable to decide where to eat! And then, what to eat!
• Sitting next to the red and green letter box in South Ex I. Not my mistake, there was no rose garden near by.
• She was crying because of whatever reason. I did nothing to stop her from crying. I remembered: “if someone wants to cry, let them, dil ka bojh…”, but I think formality sake kuch bolna chaaheyay tha. Sala dimag ghaas charnay gaya tha kiya?
• ‘What are your career plans?’ was her question. This took me by surprise. I told her I want to open a small bookshop. She said that cannot generate a stable income, and if I have more responsibilities, as in shaadi and kids… I told her that I am not comfortable with responsibilities at this point!!
  

So this was that formal first date.

O yes, I remember meeting her again, just three months before her wedding in 2003. She asked me to get flowers for her. After we met and had idly in a South Indian joint in CP, I offered to drop her home as we stayed in the same area. And I gave her the flowers she asked for when she was inside the car. I was too embarrassed to carry them to the rendezvous and hand over to her. More than embarrassment I was concerned if someone who knew her saw her with me and told her fiancée!

I gave her a toaster as her wedding gift!