This post is an exercise I have been trying for some time now. I wrote whatever sentence came to my mind. No editing. I did not plan on any plot, no ending in mind. This is just to see what I can come up with, by letting my mind go free. I enjoyed it.
"I'll give you 30 rupees for that"
"No no! Fixed price madam, 50 rupees."
"Come on anna, 35"
"What are you going to gain by saving 15 rupees...fixed price madam"
"I am not being unreasonable. 35."
"Ok, give me 40"
"Fine, what choice do I have? Here you go"
She got the pair of earrings and started walking away, a sense of satisfaction traveling through her veins creating a sense of victory in its wake. The joy of haggling for 15 rupees for a nice pair of earrings that you really did not need but want to get nevertheless is unequaled. It is a girl thing.
She was about to cross the road when she heard her name being called out.
"Harini! Harini, here, behind you on your right!"
She turned and saw Prakash.
"Oh no, not this guy" she thought.
"Oh hi!" she smiled. That smile was reserved for such emergency situations. She felt like kicking herself for stopping to buy those stupid earrings. She would have been on the bus by now.
"Long time no see. How have you been?"
"Good good." she smiled again. She hoped the conversation would wither away. She wanted to exchange 2 more sentences after which she could safely say that she would like to talk more but she really had to leave. Polite, but not interested. That would be the perfect way to leave. Only if life were that easy.
"I was actually going to call you now. How is work?"
"Going good, how is work for you?"
Great, 2 exchanges down, one more to go.
"Going good. Actually I am thinking of getting married and settling down now."
Oh God, now I have to be polite, exclaim that it is great to hear that and ask him something about it. One more exchange of pleasantries. Fine.
"That is great! All the best!"
There, polite but not interested. Now dude, just say thank you so that I can leave.
"Do you remember your friend Ramaa from school? We are in a relationship now. We are getting married next month." He gushed.
Aww, I am sure that is the most important thing to you but I am really not interested.
"Oh yes I remember her. It is very nice to hear that you guys are a couple. Do convey my best wishes to her too. We have not been in touch for a while."
"Oh, you have not spoken to her in a while, isn't it? We talk about you often. Wait, let me call her. She would love to talk to you"
What? No no, this cannot be happening to me.
"Oh, it is ok. She must be busy. I'll find her on Facebook and talk to her later. Don't disturb her now"
"No no, she has resigned her job and is at home. She will be thrilled to talk to one of her old school friends."
Oh man, why do I get caught in these situations! I should have just got her phone number and said that I would call her later.
He dialled Ramaa's number.
"Hi sweetie, guess what, I am with Harini. Yes, yes. I just saw her here. Yes, I was just telling her about us. Do you want to talk to her?"
She cursed her own politeness and took the phone grudgingly, while maintaining a neutral smile plastered on her face.
"Hi Ramaa! How are you?...Yes, I am good....Yes, he told me. Very happy for you guys, congrats...Oh no no, why would I mind. We are old friends but we have not been in touch for a while now. Why would I mistake you for not telling me...Seriously, I am happy for you. My best wishes to both of you...Yes, I'll definitely try to come...uhh, ok yes, I'll come..Nice talking to you, let me give the phone to Prakash"
He took the phone, went a little further, spoke to Ramaa for a few seconds and came back.
Ok, are we done here? I really must leave now.
"It was nice meeting you after a long time, Prakash. Congrats again. I need to leave now..I have some work."
"Thanks Harini..." He hesitated "Thank you for talking to Ramaa. It really means a lot to both of us."
"Hey, no problem. Bye!"
"Bye" He looked very thankful and relieved.
She was certainly relieved to walk away.
She rushed to the bus stop and got into her bus. She took out her headphones and started listening to her favorite song. She had not listened to it for years. She got a text message. It was from Prakash:
"Thank you again Harini, for being so kind. It is really nice of you to be happy for me and Ramaa. I am so sorry about everything, again. I regret all the unhappiness I caused in our marriage. I hope our divorce was the right thing for you too."
Of course it was the right thing. She deleted the text and changed the song.
