Vertically Challenged : Standing Tall

Priya

Take an extrovert, an out n out-spoken one at that, nevermind the sanity of mind, mash a combination of the psyche of an overnight success and a struggler, give it the vibes of a middle-aged fortune teller, and shrink the final product by half. You have a 'Priya' right there. An inspiration for some, a success story of sorts, and a oppurtunist case study for me. Interestingly, I am the one who plays the helpless job-ridden moron whenever we are together. We are always solving problems that she somehow finds out in me with one look. I wont say she's any bad with that work, but just not quite there. And, her problems?..Well, here's how that works..She puts it on the table, for a talk over a coffee. She speaks, I listen. And when I am tired of listening, she speaks some more. And, unfailingly, I always figure a way out, sometimes a consolation in the midst of chaos. I spell it out. It is outrightly rejected. I suggest an improved solution, only by the looks of it though. A modified version of the same form. Something favourable to her. But, to no avail.
"You are a stupidly stubborn lady, u know that?! U should know that. People dont listen to me for no shit. I am practical. My suggestion is workable, practical, and easy on you! What else do you want?!!". I feel like walking out, with the end of those very words. I wish reality was as easy as the imaginary world. I dont walk out. I keep sitting, gulping the words down my own throat, with an idiotic half torn smile. She catches it immediately. She is sharp. (She is very sharp). It ends as a stalemate, and i hear it later over the phone how the problem was dealt with. Needless to say, her way always turns out to be the better one. Score!
Every moment spent with Priya, is pure fun. She may not the most funniest of people around, but she sure knows what fun is. And that's good enough, for me to ring her up the first thing, whenever I am in town. (expand...)
I dont particularly remember having any awkward moments with Priya, Unlike with Vatsala, except one. Yup, that's all. Not that I regret it ever happened. The situation, and the emotional quotient involved, most of all, has lead it to be permanently imprinted in my mind. It was in the evening of our farewell party. The continuation party. I hadnt attended the farewell, which has an interesting story of its own, and after hearing from truckloads of people what a pretty picture Priya made, with a 'Seedha-pallu' pink saree, I eagerly waited to see her, to atleast catch a glimpse of the remains of that morning in her. I dont know how it all could have been possible. But, that's not the point. She arrived late. And I was too high with the trance music(liquor, and dope was a strict no-no for me back then) that the Dj had been playing. I failed to notice her arrival. And her subsequent storming out too. I saw her pretty late. We were on the dance floor. She was dancing. And I quote, if Priya does that stuff out on the streets, well, thats a big big traffic jam just waiting to happen! If not anythng, shes definitely gonna give Shaimak a run for his money. Anyway, our eyes met. Naturally, I had to move to her side, for a 'much looked forward' heavenly dance together with her, an arms in arms jig. Things could have taken off from there. But hey, its me we're talkin abt! I choked. I had to make the move. But I screwed up. With a jammed mind, and a sad step to top it all, I kept jumping embarassingly all around her. She, and a lot others, tried hard not to laugh, but their resistance gave in. My dancing(if u could've called it that), ironically, didnt.The moment had passed.The bird had been let off free.She escaped, from my clutches. Though in the real sense, I just blocked out. Maybe she just waited for her guy to come up, and earn his reward. I didnt see her after that, until very late, nearing the end. She was leaving. And, she left. The brief moments in between wherein we walked hand in hand, and dropped her at her place, are all a blur to me.