My Un-serendipitous Encounter

So, today I finally go out to celebrate my first week in Mumbai. A booked tickets for this play By George (it’s by G. B. Shaw). She was telling me about NCPA last weekend and I told her to book a ticket for me whenever she is going for a play (I dint want to lose this habit of going to plays, it’s feels nice to watch something live than on screen, makes it more real I guess). It all started in Lucknow, thanks to all those annual plays that happen in the city.

Anyhoo so we got tickets for all four of us and got all dressed up (actually I dressed down with a real grungy look of the 80s :) ala Kurt Cobain).  We almost dint make it but thanks to understanding Mumbai taxi walas and their speeding we were there on time. I enjoy English plays much better than the Hindi ones and I was really looking forward to this one in particular. It was directed by Naseeruddin Shah and had a really nice cast.

The play starts and I was really getting into the mood when suddenly my phone rings and presto it’s my manager. She called me to ask about tomorrow’s agenda which was duly mailed to her on Friday. People don’t read their mails!! After updating her for the nth time, I turn around to see all my HelL junta. Yippie! I don’t like doing the small talk with people, its fake and both parties are not interested in the conversation, and they just want to move on. There was no way out this time though, so talked (you know the whole how are you? I doing great. The job is awesome. I m loving it, Mumbai is such a great place to be)

I so wanted to get back to the play, I was in such a nice mood, and already two strikes. I walked back and see none other than PR (she was my batch mate from IITR and the biggest gossip queen). The play was going on when she walks from across the room and goes “Why did you not come to B-B’s wedding!! You should have been there!!” It took me some time to freaking digest the fact that she was here and on top of it shouting at me. I dragged her out, where she tells me that the reception is at 8 PM and I should be there. I couldn’t even come up with a good reason to get out of it.

I go back to my seat with a bitter taste in my mouth. I had so many plans for the evening, shopping at Colaba, walking on marine drive and then sipping nice cocktails at not just Jazz by the bay. And here I was stuck in this night mare.

I got out of the theater thinking of some good reason to back out. But for some perverse reason, I wanted to meet these people, talk to them. I wanted to see how they have changed in four years. I know it’s weird. It was as good as a reunion and you want to know what has happened to all those people that you used to hang out with(in my case, avoid hanging out with).

So, after a really long debate with K as to what to wear for this occasion, I went wearing my FabIndia best. I was looking alright, if I say so myself :). I met them in their hotel and went to the function hall. As I started talking to them, I realized they have not changed a bit. I mean they are still nosy; they wanted to know what happening with everyone’s life, very subtly(!) asking about everyone from HelL.

It was good for some time though, reminiscing about the past, talking about the good old days. I was actually remembering the times when PR told me that I should stop cursing because I am a girl and good girls don’t curse :D. I remember the Diwali celebrations where I was stuck with their group where I tried really really hard to fit in but failed miserably.

Fast forward four years, the conversation is still about the same things. What other people are doing, where are they right now. I don’t know what it is with their need to validate their life by comparing with others. 

Well, it was a good experience. I know judging myself against these people is not exactly how it should be, but I felt good that I am different for better or for worse.