Episode 160 : Roses and neurosis

A school mate landed in Bangalore on Friday. We met on Sunday afternoon. As we turned off Brigade Road onto MG Road, the usual conversation started.

'Who else are left?' she asked.

'Altruist, VN, AS and I' I replied.

'So when are you planning to tie the knot?'

'Not any time soon. I want to see if I will be the last man standing.'

'Because?'

'Because I don't see any reason why. Give me one good reason why I should get married.'

She tried several. 'Every reason I give you, you turn it into an excuse.'

I laughed. 'That's because your reasons are not good enough.'

After a cup of coffee and an hour of old times, current times and future times, we walked back to Brigade Road. As we passed Barton Center, a young girl holding a few roses cut across my path.

A scene from the past... a February day... a rose. I snapped back to reality when I heard the girl plead...

'Saab saab ek rose le lo na'

'Rose nahi chahiye'

Having read this and its comments, I knew what to expect.

'Madam ke liye le lo na'

'Agar madam ko rose chahiye, toh tumse khareed legi'

My friend almost burst out laughing. Stumped, the girl moved out of my way.

Some other time, for someone else but not today, I thought to myself.

But I know one person who would have gladly beaten me up for not buying her a rose, amorous intention or otherwise.