My First Date...

It was a Sunday morning; I was sitting in the balcony with newspaper in one hand, and sipping my all time favorite cappuccino from the other. You hardly get such kind of ‘me time’ when you are working in a BPO. Round the clock working, night shifts with hardly any breaks, prolonged sitting hours and continuous callings leaves no room for a me-time or to even  have the slightest desire for the same. Thankfully it was my week off today. No, the reason was not it being a Sunday, but because I got a double week off, based on my ‘par excellence’ performance in the previous week’s ‘pressure test’, where you had to take maximum number of calls, while maintaining a 8 out of 10  ratio of satisfied customers throughout the week . I broke my own record of 200 calls a week with a power packed 250 calls this time along with 30 appreciation mails from satisfied customers. I could have asked for anything else from my team leader who was boasting around about my performance with other team leaders and how he got best team players in his team on the entire floor. He was a bit reluctant on giving me a double week off at first, but finally agreed as he didn’t  want to lose the  ‘ace performer’ of his team.

So here I was enjoying my ‘Sunday’ and making full use of my ‘me-time’.

Suddenly my phone beeped and I saw messages from my bff  Rahul

“Hey power packed performer… how are you doing?”

“Enjoying your week off huh?….Oh sorry I mean week offs ;P”

“Just wanted to let you know that Ms Riya Khelkar wants to meet you in CCD sharp at 10:30am”

“Good luck buddy… have fun ;)”

Riya was an office friend. We shared a great rapport with each other. We often hang out together, pulled each other’s leg and enjoy spending time together. People often thought we were a couple. Although, Riya didn’t mention or showed any such inclination towards me, but I had feelings for her, and only my close friends like Rahul knew about it

I looked at my watch. It was already 10:15 am, and I only have 15 mins left for my first date . I didn’t want to get late, so without a second thought, I grabbed my jacket and car keys and zoomed out of the apartment.

CCD was a 10mis ride from where I lived. I reached just in time. . I didn’t want to look like a jerk that haven’t brought anything for his lover on their first date. So with a bouquet in one hand and a chocolate case in the other , I reserved a sitting place for ourselves near the window.

It was 10:45 and still there was no sign of Riya.

“Its our first date, maybe she is finding  it hard to choose a gift for me, which is why it is taking her a long time to come. But somebody should tell her that my biggest gift is her only. I don’t want any materialistic gift” I mumbled to myself .

Just then the waiter came and asked for my order.

“I am expecting someone….we will order in a while”

He nobbed and went away

It was almost 11:00am and Ms late laatif Riya was nowhere in sight.

Exasperated I dialed Riya’s number…but it was coming out of reach. I tried 2-3 times but all went in vain.

Then I called Rahul

“ Kyun bhai, mil liya bhabhi se..?” he said in a teasing tone

“Kahan yaar…. woh to abhi tak aayi hi nahi…kab se wait kar rahan hoon” I grumbled

“Beta woh aayegi bhi nahi” , he smirked

“But why???  Tune hi toh bola tha ki woh  mujhse milna chahti hai?” I said shocked

“Aaj Kya date hai Bhai?”

“1^st April” I said puzzled

Toh phir Happy April Fool’s Day. He chuckled and cut the phone.

I went into a coma like state for a few seconds. I didn’t know how to react.

After sometime, I laughed at my own stupidity and realized that I stood up on my first date :D