Coffee with 'S'

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I have run into 'S' several times after the training. Each time, we act as if we are complete strangers. Not that i wouldn't acknowledge his presence or smile at him, but he always cut me short with his blank stare, as if i am totally non-existant. My smile would freeze on its way.
Recently i have started a new way of reciprocating. Stare blankly and act as if he is non-existant. So imagine my plight if he decides to have a cup of coffee with me unexpectedly...
I was running 10 mins behind schedule for the 4 o'clock session, when i decided to make a quick dash to the Travel Desk (TD) before attending the session. I just ran into the lift area in Phase-II, only to find 'S' also waiting for the lift with a cup of coffee.. As usual i dint dare to look at him. We got into the lift, 'S', me and a third person. When he saw me, my first instinct was to smile, which again froze on its way when he stared at me blankly.. I reverted back to my old tactics. Reached the TD, took a seat and waited for my turn..
A chair is pulled next to me. I turn.. to find a smiling 'S' saying 'Hi', taking his seat next to me. I murmer 'Hi Shubhankar'.. (Did he hear that? I wonder.. Did the sun rise in the west? May be.. I am always too sleepy to notice anything..)
'S' : So which team are you into?
Me : AirMagnet
S : (Ponders for a while, sips coffee as though he has all the time in the world..) Its an American project right?
M : Yeah (Smiling)
S : Do you have a development team there? (Now!!! who knows about that.. Atleast i am happy he knows about my project.. Geee.. I answer rather unconvincingly)
M : There are some guys over there (Watever that meant.. I am not able to think straight.. Dammit..)
S : Is Padmaja in your team? (I look at him confused. Name sounds familiar. Sujatha.. Kavitha.. Abitha.. But who is this Padmaja? My brains not working at this time.. Btw it never did.. )
S : Padmaja Jagannathan..
M : No I dont know (I am embarrassed)
S : Might be you dont know her..
M : (Smile.. I have found out that smile is the best answer for many things..)
S : The project is on Wi-Fi right ?
M : Yes..
He falls silent. I dont have anything to speak. Think.. Think.. What can i speak to him.. Finally i give up and sit still moving only my eyeballs to watch the happenings around.. I look straight at the TD and to my right, where a guy is mopping the floor.. Never to my left. In my visual field I can see him looking at what i am trying to concentrate on. Might be he was enjoying my uneasyness.. All the while I think of a topic to ease out the situation.. Gosh.. Did he have to find a seat next to me of all the empty seats?? After an eternity, i come up with something..
M : Do you stay in Malleshwaram? (Gee.. What a superb topic to converse with GOD..)
S : No. Why??
M : I think i saw you in Malleshwaram once. Might be someone similar to you.. (How stupid..)
S : (Bridging his eyebrows) No.. When did you see me??
M : Some one and a half ye... (Oh god.. What am i speaking)
S : YEARS!! HA HA HA.. No..
M : Months, months..
S : Oh no.. I stay in Sarjapur road. Its very far.. I am wondering what to say next, when the TD associate comes to my rescue.. A group of people swarm his desk. The TD asks us if we are in the queue.. Subhankar raises his hand and says 'yes'..
Associate : Why are you far off?
S : (With his typical accent ) I thought we are supposed to be far off when others speak to you. (Some dumbhead speaks up.. In all probability, he has never attended 'S'' sessions)
S :You have to be faa.. faa.. when others speak.. (I am smiling gleefully. I like 'S' for this. He gives it back even before he gets it.. smart eh..)
Next is his turn. He finishes his work and walks past me as if i am non-existant. I revert back to my previous tactics..

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Like - Dislike

The weather today morning was so good that i dint want the journey to end.. It was one of the best commutes to office in five months.. It made me ponder over many things and a few are here..

What i like the most:

1. Dogs, Dogs, Dogs, Puppies and lots of them.. You forget the world when they are around. Somehow the dogs find me interesting... he he.. The other day i was walking home at night and this cute pomeranian, who was out on a walk just came running to me and started licking my feet.. Soooo Cute... The owners pulled him away.. He was still trying to reach me.. Hope i will get to meet him someday..

2. A long journey sitting in the window seat.. The road should not be bumpy.. A smooth drive and silence all through.. There is nothing like it when you see the paddy fields, mountains, rivers, railway tracks, roads, bridges, people, animals, vehicles and many such things whiz past and you get lost in your thoughts.. Its even more good if it has rained.. I miss our coastal area roads for this reason..

3. Books.. Take me to another world. When you are attacked by gloomy thoughts, read a book.. When you are happy, read a book.. When you are tired, read a book.. When you are sad, read a book.. Uff.. Books are my only friends, in the true sense..

4. Sports, sports and sports. Be it watching or playing.. They help me relax.. The best table tennis i ever played was on the previous night of the day i had to leave Mysore.. One of the saddest days and i took out all my sadness and frustration on the tennis ball.. :D..

5. Sea for its magnanimity.. The vast sea, stretching beyond the reach of my eyes simply mesmerises me.. The depth, the force in it, the sheer amount of water in it, the fishermen fighting all odds against the sea are a sight to behold.

6. A stroll with my friends.. Especially at nights.. Enjoyed lot of these strolls during college days.. Keep walking aimlessly, speaking about anything under the sun..

And there are these things which i dont like so much:

1. Sentences like 'None of your business', 'Mind your own business', etc. I feel its just too rude to tell this to anyone, especially to a friend, unless things have gone too overboard..

2. Having beautiful sisters is really nice.. But I would never want to introduce them to my friends - boys.. Soon, they start hitting on my sisters, methodically.. Get the number, send forwards, start chatting, move on to flirting, and try to see if something works out.. Haaaa.. Boys grow old, but not wise.. :P

3. Harsh and rude parents.. They kill the child even before he gets to know about life..

4. Kids troubling animals for fun..

Did i hear you say boring? Well, well.. Will come up with more interesting things shortly.. :)