My first time (part 1)...

        For those who know me well, they'd say I'm a happy go lucky chap, always up for pranks....And indeed I liked it that way. Happily nestled at Bangalore, earning my spurs by designing aircraft and burning midnight oil to watch Chelsea play on those amazing Champions league nights, life was great. But as some wise man had stated, all good things must come to an end for the next one to begin. Well, one fine morning (1pm to be precise) when I woke up rather grumpy...because Chelsea had just been knocked out of the Champion's league by none other than Jose's Inter the last night, my dad called me up. After the initial pleasantries, I was shaken out of my slumber by what he said next- 'beta...you are 27. Is there some girl about whom you'd want us to know? be free, you know how frank we are with you". As flabbergasted I was, I was pleasantly surprised. Why not...After all  I get to meet some girls and maybe...just may be...start being in a relationship.  After regaining my composure, I replied "com'on dad...You know I'm single...and happy".  Thankfully, it ended there...for the time being.

       The very next day, It was my mom. I guess they were paying one of those 2 on 1 handicap wrestling matches (WWE) that I used to so enjoy watching through my childhood. Here I was consistently outmanoeuvred to submission and I was helpless but to listen to them. I always knew my dad is tech savvy. Thanks to this, my parents had made a wonderful li'l profile of their dear "sarva gunnnn sampanna" son on one of those modern day matrimony website. With nowhere to go, I reluctantly agreed to go thru the profile of a girl who had apparently expressed her interest in my profile. Trying not to be overly enthusiastic about this development, I asked them how do I check it if I don't have a login and a password? To my dismay, my parents, they had all the bases covered. They simply passed me on the required credentials and a deadline for me to revert to them with my view. This left me with no choice literally. After the call, I duly obliged. Though I was not toooooo impressed, I thought...just like you try mock interviews before u shoot aim for the dream job, I thought let me give it a shot.

       As my luck would have it, I had to travel to CHENNNNNNNAAAIIIII....in search of my soul mate. I had spent a couple of weeks in Chennai earlier, on official assignments. And no offence to the city, but I felt like a fish out of water during my brief stay in Chennai. So I dreaded at the prospect of having to travel to the same place, this time for meeting a ‘prospective life partner’. I thought, the ramifications for this visit could be fateful. But then, can any ‘good son’ win against his parent’s emotional attack?? Most certainly NO. And subsequently, just like all ‘good sons’ do, I was convinced by my parents to meet this ‘susheeeeeeel girl’ and her family in Chennai.

After initial hesitations, I buckled up. After all how bad can it be? For I was travelling to Chennai to meet this girl (whose profile I had looked up and admired on a matrimony site). She could be fun to be with. And it was just a day trip. I will be back to namma Bengalooru by nightfall, the next day. So I boarded the night train that would reach Chennai central by early next morning.

Chennnnnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiii……...

       My friends would vouch that I am terrible at waking up early. But the train had reached its destination at 6am. And I lazily picked my back pack and lumbered off the train to the platform. I thought “it would be a good Idea to make myself presentable to ‘my prospective in laws’ when I meet them, rather than turn up in my ‘messed up 6am’ looks”. So I trudged off to the washroom, cleaned myself up in front of the mirror that had a diagonal crack running across it. I realised…I was a mirror cracking material indeed. Then I came out of the washroom but realised that my breath stinks. I suddenly remembered that I had not brushed my teeth. Not a problem though. I promptly took out toilet kit and made my way to a series of taps that were lined up. Done with brushing my teeth, to get rid of the last bit of laze, I started to splash water on my face vigorously. It was then that I realised that a few ladies were shouting at each other. From my feeble understanding of Tamil, I realised that they were actually cursing someone. Well Oblivious to the happening, I continued my ‘clean up’ and then just when I turned back, I realised that those ladies were actually not quarrelling among them, but their ire was directed towards none other than myself. I wondered, what did I do? Then I realised, I was using the tap that was near the ladies wash room. Anyways, I ignored them, moved on…Outside the station, I booked an uber to the address that was provided. All good till now, barring a few minor hiccups.

       Once in the cab, though a wee bit sleepy, the enormity of the situation gravitated upon me. I was going to meet a girl…who could potentially spend the rest her life with me. OH SHITTTTTT…..why did I sign up for this….Can I turn back now? Oh no…what would my parents think? Also If I turn back now, it will be like chickening out of the situation….That girl would think of me as a coward. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. With no way out of it, I decided to take on the situation head on. ‘How brave of me’. I did my hair once again, checked myself up on the car mirror…boy handsome. That gave me courage. The cab driver thankfully could speak English. That helped easing my nerves. After about an hour’s drive, I was there….To meet a girl and her family…for the first time… with the objective of spending the rest of my dear life with her…Oh No…God Help me. Why me…?? Pleasseeeee…..ok…..Calm down…u can always reject her…Hell, she can reject u…oh no…that would be embarrassing…Grrrrrrrrr…it’s a mess…what do I do now?

(To be continued.....)