Five minutes can change your life!

In my college and Mastek friend circle, I was known to be a bad planner of get-togethers. I would blame it on luck though. I was an unlucky planner. Each time I planned something, even a week before the event, someone would end up pulling out and then, like a cycle falling in a cycle stand, the rest would back out as well. So much, that I almost stopped making plans. Became a part of just enjoying them. Consoled myself by saying that, some people make plans, others enjoy 'em.

I decided to do the 'enjoying' bit.

Now, the reason why I write is not because I feel a sudden urge to crib. Far from it. In fact, today, something very surprising - pleasantly at that - happened, that which was also totally unexpected.

Seen a typical Bollywood Slapstick Comedy movie? Something like a No Entry? Or any of such countless lot. Movies that use hyperboles aplenty and coincidences galore to drive home a point. Something like that.

It had been a peaceful day. A lunch with Jeetu and Pooja was all that was to write home about. At Atria mall.

It stuck 5.45. Like it did daily. Twice.

I had no work. Almost like daily.

I packed up. Got out of the office. Got into my bus.

Thought about the evening plans. Nothing so interesting there in the middle of the week.

Opened 'Timeline' and had barely read a page or two, when the cell phone rang.

I knew it would be Peeya.

"Hey babes!"

"Huh? Praneet here."

Alrite, so I had made the cardinal mistake of assuming. Assuming that it would have been Peeya. Thankfully, it was only Praneet. Lesson No. 1 of the day!

I wonder what would have happened, had it been my Boss.

Or worse, my mum. My dad.

The possibilities were innumerable, and frightening.

"You still there?"

"Yeah."

"What plans for tomorrow?"

I had big plans for 'tomorrow'. And interesting ones as well.
Needed to attend a web seminar on SAP. At 8.30 p.m.

I reply, "Sorry mate, cannot meet you tomorrow, boss's treating all us Interns at Mainland China. How about day after?"

Yeah rite. Mainland China it seems. Could very well have been the midnight buffet at Renaissance.

MBA teaches you to lie so easily.

He thinks for a full one minute. Says he will call me back.

I sigh. Keep the cell phone back. The light on the mobile screen had not even gone, when the cell rings again.

"Hey Praneet!"

"Abey Deepshikha bol rahi hoon, yeh Praneet kaun hai?" (This is Deepshikha, now who's this Praneet)

Thankfully it was not as bad as "hey babes" this time. Lesson No. 1 not learnt yet. Lesson No. 2 of the day.

Then, another horrifying thought strikes me. It is only 6 in the evening. Does she want us to go for another Tam. movie? Or worse, Sivaji in Telegu? Again, the possibilities are frightening.

I am still thinking.

"You there? Why do you always go into a slumber mode while talking to me?"

"Yes...I mean no....I mean yes, I am there, and no, not in any mode, just could not hear you with all this back ground noise. Tell me." Noise in background? It was as peaceful as a white pigeon.
I say all this with apprehension of another impending idea.

"I am free right now, coming over to your place for dinner."

Relief. Huge one at that.

I say ok. Anything is better than going for another such movie.
And besides, I have no plans for the evening.

I keep the phone back into my pocket. And it rings again.

This time, I check it, it is Praneet again.

"Alrite, so, come over today to Andheri, we will meet there."

Huh?? Till about 4 minutes back, I had nothing to do on this Wednesday evening. Now, I had my plate full.

I ask him, what time.

"Reach Andheri by 9 p.m."

I do a quick calculation. Deep and NP come home by 7, dinner done by 8.30, takes about half an hour to reach Andheri. I can meet him by 9.

"OK. Done."

In a time span of 4 odd minutes, two plans made. I felt as elated as a salesman who's finalized two deals in a day when his target was one for the week!

Will update about the 'actuals' of my evening some time later.