A lift home
It is one of those rare occasions when he is in a car with someone he barely knows. She had offered to drop him home because it was on her way. And he accepted. Now there's 45 minutes of journey time to be filled with conversation. He starts off by thanking her very much for the offer. Oh it's nothing, she dismisses. And that's the end of that. So he sits trying to think of another conversation starter. Her work. How long has she been at the job, he asks. 18 months. And before that? She used to be in a different job. Oh, ok. And what was that, he wonders. Same thing, she says. Oh, ok. And why did she leave her earlier job? The boss harrassed me. He is sorry to hear that. More silence follows.
Should he ask her about her family? May be something less personal. Perhaps cricket. Or politics. Or reality tv. He looks up and remarks how terrible the weather is. Yes, she nods, terrible weather indeed. Nice shoes, he says. Yeah, thanks. I've always liked good shoes, he says, god, I love a pair of good legs. He does not know how the last bit slipped out. Awkward pause. I didn't mean it that way, he stumbles. You have nice legs. And I like a woman with good legs. But I don't fancy you. Not that you are not fancyable. But you're not my kind. He rambles uncontrollably. Do I take a right here? she asks. He can sense the iciness in her tone. Yes, please. The next house on the left. He gets out, thanks her, runs inside and shuts himself into a closet. He doesn't want to see another human for the next ten years.
Hahaha.. I was squirming in my chair :D
ReplyDeleteLooks like he is Jeff Murdock from Coupling
ReplyDeleteRavi, thank you. I was wondering if there was something wrong with me feeling that way!!
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same way about her writings. Although they're still good, it seems like she's making such an effort to write, while her earlier ones were pure talent
Is this a repetition? I remember reading this earlier.
ReplyDeletekarthik
I loved this one!
ReplyDeletethis was hilarious. a freudian slip, n then the struggle! brought me a smile!
ReplyDeleteThe story from the other end:
ReplyDeleteShe had offered him a ride home. Something she had never done before. But he looked like the right guy to give a lift to. Tall, handsome. Well! Not really. But he had a nice smile. And seemed like someone who wasn't the everyday guy you meet at work. In the car she liked his blabbering nervousness. His discomfiture. A change from the suave and smooth James Bondian guys she had met before. Terrible weather, he discovered and she nodded. What a lame piece of cliched conversation. Terrible weather indeed. Then he burst, nice shoes, pair of good legs and blah! Then he made the cardinal sin - I don't fancy you, he declared, you are not my kind. Her face fell, a deflated balloon. Do I take a right here? Iciness in tone. He got out mumbled some thanks and ran indoors. She drove to her own lonely apartment. Why can't I have a decent relationship with someone nice? Am I a nice-guy repellant, she cried to herself. I don't want to see another human for the next ten years.
Good one - Ammani and Speech is golden :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Star(Tamizh) birthday to you Ammani tomorrow! Atleast nalaikkavadu un kayyala samayal (sweet) panni kozhandaikku kudumma!
jeff frm coupling .... :)
ReplyDelete- hurry.
I hope that woman doesn't go on Blanknoise and talk about sexual harrassment.
ReplyDeleteThat was a real good one Ammani and what Arignar Annavin Thambi said was hilarious :-)
ReplyDeleteThat was funny Ammani. Ravi, I am looking forward to your starting a blog and writing interesting stuff.:-)
ReplyDeleteLOL @ speech is golden. That was classy!
ReplyDeleteAmmani - another beautiful one. Somebody already mentioned the word "freudian slip". An "uh-oh" moment that downslides. Happens all the time, doesnt it?