The Call!

There are a few people I’ve met in the past, whom I don’t want to meet, in future! I guess it’s a pretty natural thing to do and most people do have their own ‘people to avoid’ list!

Anyway, one way to get pesky people off your back is to not give them your mobile number when you have changed it! But what if they do get your number from a common friend, and call you up?

It can end up being really embarrassing, as it did for me! I was at the office pantry yesterday morning, chatting with friends while I got this call.

Me: Hello?

She: Hello, is this Ashwin?

Me: Yeah.

She: Hi, Ashwin! This is Megan! How are you?

Me: Oh hi, Megan! I’m doing good! How have you been?

She: I’m doing good, too! How have you been? And where are you now?

Me: (Huh? I just answered that, didn’t I?!) Good, good! I’m at work. So what are doing these days?

She: I’m in the eighth semester now. Can I talk to you now, or are you busy?

Me: Hey, I can talk! (I’m in trouble!) Are you in your vacations now, or has college started?

She: College has started, but I don’t have to go to college, as we have to do our projects.

Me: Oh? So where are you doing your project? (How did she get my number?)

She: HAL. (And she went on about the details of her project) And why haven’t you messaged or given me a call?

Me: (Oh crap! What do I say?!) Aah, I had a problem with my phone. Lost all the numbers.

She: Hmm, its been long. (I think she figured out that I wasn’t being honest!)

Me: Yeah, it has. (Its been about a year and four months, actually!)

She: I’ve got placed!

Me: Congrats! Where?

She: Thanks! (And she tells me the two companies she’s got an offer from.) So, how are you? Aah, how’s everyone at home?

Me: (Is she playing a tape, or something?!) Everyone’s good. What about you?

She: Everyone’s fine. So which company do you think I should join?

Me: (Huh? How do I know?) Aah, I don’t really know much about what goes in a software industry, as I’m in a mechanical setup, so, I don’t really know if I can help you out with this.

She: No, just tell, na?

Me: Pick the one, which is closer to your home! (Duh!)

She: Training isn’t going to be in Bangalore, and then I could be posted anywhere.

Me: Oh? Well, who is paying you more?! I mean, is there like a big difference is the pay package? (How difficult could it be?!)

She: Not really, just about two-three thousand. (She tells some more about the offers!)

Me: I can check with a my friends and let you know. But I think both these companies are good, and to start off in either of them is great!

She: Hmm! So, what’s new?

Me: Well, have I told you that I got transferred to a new department last year?

She: No.

Me: I’ve changed my number too! (I thought it was more polite to bring it up this way!)

She: Yeah I know! I called you old number now. Your friend gave me this number.

Me: That’s my dad! (Okay, I agree that I am really stupid!)

She: Oh?

Me: Then, what else? (Yeah, what else?!)

She: Well, I'll call you up sometime. Keep in touch!

Me: Yeah, okay! Bye! (Strange, she’s hanging up!)

She: Bye!

I was a little uncomfortable after the call. I felt I shouldn’t have done this, at least not to her! I think was probably more disappointed with myself, than embarrassed. I was thinking about it once I came back home too. I did send her an apology message before I went to bed, but even now, I still feel bad about it!

(Some names have been changed to protect their identity!)