However, the modern generation is not completely free from such perils of partnership.
by
Anuranjan Roy
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"Don't hang around with your buddies after work today. Try to come home early."
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A reasonably innocuous statement at breakfast time on a workday but I don't know why spider-sense is tingling, warning me of imminent unseen danger.
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"Why?" I ask Mom "What's the deal?"
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"Mr and Mrs. XYZ are visiting. Our very good friends from our days in Mysore. They've recently moved back to Kolkata."
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My parents' 1 year in Mysore was just before I was born so at least I'll be spared the regular "Oooh! The last time I saw you was when you were wearing nappies. Look at you now!" routine... I think. "No, you did not see me in my nappies. I wasn't born the last time you met my parents."
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"Will try to." I say and grab my motorcycle keys heading out to fulfil my quota of work owed to the world, a debt I shall have to keep paying up on till I reach retirement age.
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It's a routine day at work by most definitions - chit-chatting, work, lunch at the canteen while simultaneously cursing the food as we eat it, deadly post-lunch drowsiness, attempts at work, "EOD is here and I haven't got half as far as I was supposed to..." tensions etc but I still have to get to the bottom of the spider-sense warning. So I decide to dilly-dally a little bit more at office than head back home.
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I don't have to wait for too long after my regular departure time before my cell phone starts ringing. It's Mom.
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"When are you going to get home? These folks are eager to see you."
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"I'll be heading out soon." I reply while waiting for more obvious clues to their enthusiasm.
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"Their daughter is here too. She's getting bored"
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Aha! Spider-sense gets stronger.
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"We wanted to give her something since this is the first time we are seeing her. Ummm... let's see. Why don't you get some chocolate for her ***on our behalf*** on the way back?" she continues.
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"What?!! Chocolate? How old is she?" I enquire.
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"About 23-24, I guess..."
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Smooth.
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"[Cough! Cough!] Oh no! Something came up at work. Probably won't be able to take off right now. Will call you later. Bye!" I say before hanging up and dedicating the next 2 hours to reading random articles on Google News via my office desktop.
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Its 10:30 at night by the time I feel safe again to get set for the return journey. Any 'eager' parties should have taken the hint by now.
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For all the traps and set-ups in the world, I've only got one message. Spider-sense never fails.
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