Episode 122 : Twenty-something

The same setting- lunch time at the office cafeteria. And the same actors- two colleagues and I.

The topic of conversation soon veered from software issues at work to television programmes we watched as children. I became eloquent on the subject and talked about the programmes I watched as a child. My colleagues soon became quiet.

When I asked one of them why he was quiet, he said 'We never saw them da. You did.'

Oh yes, I forgot the difference in our ages. They are in their early to mid twenties while I am in my late twenties.

I talked about Disney Hour and they talked about Ducktales and Talespin. I talked about Ramayan and they talked about Mahabharat. I talked about Yes Minister and they looked blank. I didn't want to talk about Are You Being Served?

I suddenly felt old, really old.

For as long as I can remember, I never looked my age. Or felt it. I like to blame it on the spell of malaria I went through at the age of four, but the reason is more likely to be genetic.

People think Mama Hyde is in her late-forties; that Papa Hyde is in his mid-fifties. Edwina, however, is an exception.

And I look a year older every four years. Maybe I was born on February 29 and the calendar was wrong...