CHENNAI: The vantage-point of being single is that you can fix your eyes on any girl you like. You don’t have to worry about their increasing number or feel guilty about it. But most ‘importantly’, you don’t have to think too much about the one you liked the most yesterday, because meeting another pretty face is very much possible any time. But I wonder, how the image of her was so fresh in my mind that I recognised her within a few minutes after she said ‘Hello’. The whole episode happened towards the end of my college life. I had seen her a few months bank at a boutique and, as with any good looking girl, I was naturally attracted to her. This happened for just 15 minutes and then I had to leave for some work. While I had thought she was just another pretty face, three months later I saw her again at my friend’s place, and she said ‘Hello’ and smiled. I thought of pinching my hand to check if it was true. Instead, I asked her if she was the one I saw at the boutique. She nodded her head and said that she had gone there before leaving for a function. Now, she was a friend’s friend, and we met often to discuss a play in a theatre fest. We had time to ask about each other and I started with the usual queries — her education, family, career, interests and, the least, how she ended up at this theatre fest. I already knew she was single, thanks to other friends in the group, I already had all the ‘necessary’ details. Our common interest, apart from theatre, was music. She is a singer as well and told me of her aspirations to become a star. I also shared with her my failed attempts to learn veena — which I never share it with anyone else. Nonetheless, I don’t think I was obvious about my intentions; and I’m pretty sure I never gave a hint. All was well or so I thought it when she suddenly stopped talking or coming for the discussions. I was mystified by her actions. Much later, I came to know that she had problems with a common friend of ours. She completely cut me off without any explanation and I hadn’t heard from her after that — no text messages or phone calls. Though I have never tried to contact her, I couldn’t help but fume at a friend recently — ‘How can she suddenly shun me when I had been so nice to her?’ My friend consoled me and suggested I talk to her. Yes, I have her number and I can contact, but why should I? As these thoughts flood my mind, I suddenly see another girl riding her bike at a traffic signal. Thoughts come to a screeching halt and my mind goes blank for a few seconds — until the signal turns green!
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