'Hullloo, About time, eh?' He said, stretching the words out, with obvious sarcasm.
'Happy Birthday, Da.' I said, not sure if I should sound apologetic or if I should laugh my way through.
'Thanks!... Soo, whose courtesy is this call?'
Why did he have to ask?
I laughed. It was so obvious, so much so that I had to force myself to continue laughing as he kept guessing names and finally got the right one.
'Yeah.' Man! I sounded pathetic.
...
Minutes ago.
...
'You suck man! You got almost everything wrong dude!...You suck!' He said, not really meaning it. 'You are supposed to know all this B&*%$!' Not meaning it, again.
'Its about me, macha. You ought to know. I woulda scored full if it was about you.' He said, making me sink a little lower.
'Ha ha ha...' I laughed. I could have got all of them right. Damn!
I know him better than anybody else but I didnt wanna say it. I just screwed the freaking Quiz!
'...yeah well...anyway he was all excited about it when we went out for the drive yesterday-'
'What drive?' I asked, interrupting.
'For the Birthday dude!'
Huh! 'Wha-'
'You forgot, didnt you?, I so know it! I so know it! You forgot! Ha ha ha ha ha...' He couldnt stop laughing. 'He was getting all these calls at midnight... and you forgot.'
'I'm using my old phone macha, the reminders are'nt there...' I try and explain.
'So, you think I have reminders for all?' He cut in, taunting me.
I dont forget. I know the dates. Its just that... hmph. What do I say? 'Hang up! I gotta call him now.'
'You suck ma-'
I hang up and look at the time. Shit.
...
...
'I was waiting for tomorrow, just so that I could really lay it into you.' He was being nice, not really making a big deal out of it.
He did expect me to call. Obviously. 'Well, you did forget to call me in Final year' I said out of desperation. A misguided desire to salvage whatever was left.
Damn! Why did I say that? I couldnt even remember that day. Had he called?
'WHAT?? I called you from DUBAI...All the way from there!!' Umm..he had called.
'Heh heh he...' I laughed. I was starting to hate these last-resort laughs. They make me feel pathetic. "So what did you guys do?' I asked trying to change the conversation.
'We guys went out for dinner and ... .... ...on ECR road, at midnight, with the trunk open. It was awesome!'
Silence. I wish I had been there.
'You should have been there.' He said, voicing my thoughts. He has always been like that, making sure its ok. He always chose his words better than I did. He would have figured out whats on my mind by now. He does, most of the times.
'Its awesome you know? This whole thing. I mean, its great that it did happen. I'm glad you enjoyed' I said sincerely, meaning every word with all my will. Where would we all be a year from now? Chennai chapter is finally ending. It more or less has for me. I think so.
'Its realy nice' I reiterated.
'Yeah... it was.' He replied. He was catching on.
For some reason I wanted to listen to Pavarotti's Nessun Dorma right then. Always dramatising.
'Its okay. I forgive you!' He as-ever-graciously said.
'It just makes it worse.' I complained. I had no reason to.
'You can always call me the Generous-One.
G-1, you know?' He said, his voice laced with laughter.
'Yeah...right!! G-1. Ha ha ha ha...' I laughed. Really laughed.
I really wish I hadnt forgotten.
I push the thoughts down and... Laugh.
XXX
Oh!...G-1... a.k.a Yogi, Happy Birthday...
You are old!!... Atleast senility and distance will save you from me kicking your ass on this brilliant day... also the part where I forgot.. yeah, definitely that too..
Get Drunk! Throw up and Oh my GODDE!, throw that book away!...
Missing the good ol' times...
