Episode 88 : "Who is it?"

As I got out of Java City last night, I realised I missed a call. The call was from a Madras-based mobile number that I could not place, though it appeared familiar.

I dialled the number.

'Hello'.

'Hey, how are you?' So he knows who I am while I am trying to find out who he is.

It used to be a game where old classmates call and you have to find out who they are. I tell them to go on and, within a few minutes, I identify them.

The problem here is that he expects me to know who he is, and I don't want to disappoint him!

'Am fine... you remembered after a long time?' A trick that works more often than not.

'Heh, heh' Just as I suspected, but I still have no clue who he is.

'I need a favour from you' he continued.

'Now we are talking!'

'One of my friends is interested in a 1998 Machismo and is quoted 30K. Do you know any mechanic who can take a look at it?' So this person knows I ride a Royal Enfield. Is he a friend from school or college (very unlikely though) or an ex-colleague?

'I don't know any mechanic here; I am yet to get my bike serviced. A friend (I was referring to the Jehadi) and I will take our bikes for service on Saturday; we can check the bike for your friend. Tell your friend to mail me.' I am furiously thinking out possible identities for this person.

'I already told him that. I tried calling you earlier, but there was no response.'

'I was with some friends here, having coffee. Now I am going to my office.'

'You work in the night-shift?' Is he an ex-colleague?

'No, no. The coffee-shop is close to my office and I am returning to get my stuff and go home.'

At that moment, I stood outside my office and spotted a white-coloured Enfield. I relayed the news.

'Tony's bike?' he asked. So he knows the MBMC guys.

'No, I haven't seen him after all that happened.' Now why should I tell him what happened when I am still not sure who he is.

'I met Tony at J's. He has gone for the Himalayan Odyssey ride... My bike is at J's now. I am getting it painted and chromed...' He must be an MBMC member, but who is he?!

'... I have also fitted a single-seat and got the height adjusted. What have you been doing?' he continued.

'The Jehadi and I went to Chikmagalur and Kemmanagundi last weekend. A 240km up and 300km+ down trip' I told him. And to think I referred to the Jehadi a few minutes earlier as "a friend"! And if I told him I was having coffee with the Bangalore bikers, he would have recognised them too!

And then it struck me who it was. Ramath, who had recently mailed the MBMC group about a Lightning 535, had also mentioned getting his bike fixed.

And then on it was smooth sailing. Five minutes of talking and, thankfully for me, he had no clue that I had no clue who he was till we neared the end of the call!

I am still good at the game.