My Experiences with Flirt

     

  Scene 1: - Sometime in 2008 :

      I love to make friends in every possible way and if she is a good looking girl, she will be on my priority list J

      I was searching for friends, through friends of friends, in Orkut, when I saw her profile. She was dressed in a blue tee and was all smiles in the photo. ‘Rithvika’ was her name. The name was unique and the face was so appealing that I couldn’t resist myself from sending a friend request.          

A Week Later :          

      She had accepted my request and I was overjoyed. How many girls would accept the request of an unknown guy ? This girl was different. I liked it.          

      She was very active on Orkut, constantly updating her profile, adding a photo or two, replying for scraps and comments. I hadn’t sent her a scrap though. I was so hesitant at first and felt odd - The initial inhibitions, you see.          

      One fine day she had added a photo in her profile and she looked breathtakingly beautiful. I just couldn’t take my eyes of her nor could I resist the urge to comment in that picture.          

      “You are looking awesome in the photo” I typed.           

      After ten minutes I saw a reply comment there.           

      “Thank you Dani”           

      I was on cloud nine. She had replied to my comment and had mentioned me. You had to be me to know how I felt that day. I was jumping with joy.            

      One week later I went to her profile and saw the photo again and checked the comments section to see my name typed by her. It was there - Goose bump moment. There were also many other comments. Sure, this girl quite a many friends, I thought. The comments read as,

      “Nice picture ma’am. Where did you take it?”           

      “The picture looks good ma’am”                 

      “She is a teacher?! Oh my god !! ” My dreams shattered instantly. I was in my college final year then. She being a teacher, should have definitely been elder to me. I was upset, nevertheless wanted to befriend her.

      One fine day, when I was in a happy state, I decided to put an end to the wait and sent her that scrap.                

      “Hi Rithvika, you look good in those photos” ..

I knew I had already said those words, but I didn’t know any better way to start a conversation. I was still naïve, when it came to initiating conversations with strangers.                  

      “Thank you Dani” came the instant reply.                 

      I was excited and sent the next message.                   “

      “I just cant believe that you are a teacher. You look like a 12th standard student. Which college lecturer are you btw? SASTRA ?”                 

      I was waiting for the reply scrap like a 12th standard student waiting for his final results.                                  

      After ten minutes of dreaded wait and silence came the long anticipated reply.               

      “What Dani ? Are you kidding me or what? I am your college lecturer.!”                

      My heart was in my mouth by then. She knew me. I had never known her, rather I didn’t remember her. She had seen me when I used to meet the other staff in the English Department. I was introduced to her and I had forgotten that.                 

      This was height of embarrassment and I was speechless. I didn’t know what to reply and after some minutes of worry, I apologized to her.[for not recognizing her, not for calling her a 12th standard student… come on it’s the best compliment one can get ].                                 

       We then eventually met in college became good friends.                   

      That day I decided not to send request to any unknown… Indian girl.. LOL..I started sending request to Brazilian and American girls, the Orkut days were fun too !!

Scene 2:           

      I met her first in my sister, Ruth’s marriage. I was sitting with my mom when she came and surprised us with a loud, “Praise the Lord aunty” 

      I was startled.

      She was a perfect beauty. She was a flawless, ethnic beauty, who knew how to wear her charm in her smile. Even on the first meet, she stole my heart. I was admiring her beauty when she turned towards me and asked that question

      “How are you Dani? Do you remember me?”

      “No, but I will never forget you from now on” I wanted to say, but said..

      “No.. but Praise the lord.. it was nice meeting you”. May be I should have said what was in my mind.     

      She then walked away and started talking to my dad. Without taking my eyes of her, I asked my mom.

      “Who is she mom?”  

      “Helen.. don’t you remember? Anne aunt’s daughter”  

      “I don’t..I forgot!”  and continued to admire her.  She fit in all the criteria I had for my wife - beautiful, caring, adorable, friendly and a family friend too, what more would one want ?

      Like Helen Of Troy, She was Helen of this boy.

      I was following her madly that day, without her knowledge. She had already left an everlasting impression.

Two months Later:    

      I had the chance to meet her again in another family friend’s marriage. She was all smiles again and inquired mom about her health and turned to me and asked  

     “How are you dani?” 

     “I am fine Helen and you?” She still remembered me. How sweet of her! 

     “Fine too” saying she vanished in crowd as quickly as she came.   

     After sometime I saw her at a distance playing with the kids, running behind them. For a moment I cursed myself for growing up. Had I been a kid, she would have played with me. She looked at me from the distance. I smiled. She smiled back. It felt heavenly.     

     We then had to leave for the day and I didn’t get a chance to meet my Helen again.

Another Two Weeks Later:        

     My parents were discussing about Anne’s family, sitting in my room and so I happened to over hear their conversation.       

     “I heard they are looking for a bride for Caleb” my dad was telling mom.   

     Caleb is Helen’s elder brother.       

     “Oh that’s nice to hear. Nice fellow he is.”      

     I was blushing by then, I wanted to tell them that I was ready to marry Helen but was a bit cautious as well. So I framed the question carefully.      

     “What about Helen mom?”      

     “What about her?”      

     “When is her marriage?”       

     “She is married for five years already!”       

     “What? Really?”       

     “Yeah, that day you saw her playing with a kid in that marriage na?”       

    “Yes mom”       

     “She is her daughter”       

     “That small kid with whom she was playing?”

  

    ”Exactly”

  

     My heart broke into pieces. Why shouldn’t have I been born five years earlier? Why has God forsaken me and Why such things keep happening just for me?

I cursed my luck !!