__
Hey guys :)
As I sat with my cup of tea this morning I thought it was only sensible that I told you all the inspiration for this story.
And before you all jump to conclusions, NO. It is most certainly not my boyfriend. :P
The idea of this story mostly came from a meeting with a certain person 6 months ago who's become a very good friend. Please bear with me, as I try to recreate the scenario for you. :P
So here goes. :)
October, or maybe November! I forget :P, I participated in a Youth Event in the city. It was this debate/discussion sorta thing and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. :) One of the people I'd met there is the person who's inspired this story.
Let's call him Blah.
SO, Blah was one of the moderators of this discussion. A very solid and intimidating guy. I'm not a very easily intimidated person, but this guy's intelligence and sheer knowledge creeped me out.
Needless to say, we didn't talk very much cause he had me rambling every time I was close. And I am not exaggerating, the kid is SMART. He can throw you off by stating Statistics and shit at 100km/hour speed!
A week after that, all of us panelists had a meeting at his house for purely educational purposes. :P We were all from different schools and colleges and I had come to his place straight from school, in uniform. I hadn't been too thrilled about the venue (Can you blame me?) because during the debate the previous week he had snubbed me several times. :|
YUP, not such great moments for my ego.
Somewhere during our meeting, I had a family emergency and had to rush out ASAP. I short of jumped out of his place, putting on my canvas shoes as soon as possible. My white canvas looked more brown, and I'm sure most of you know the feeling. :P
In my hurry, I put on my one of my shoes and one of some other random person's! Which I didn't realize until I got home. :|
And I slowly forgot about the incident. I spoke to Blah several times after this, trying to figure out an action plan for our project (Blah and I are from different schools).
A few weeks later, one of my friends (who happens to be Blah's friend too) told me, quite jokingly about how Blah had a dirty old shoe at his place and no one was claiming it.
I was mortified. Seriously. I had no idea what to do.
I picked up some courage and went over to his place one December evening and knocked at his door.
And this is pretty much how the conversation goes, as far as I remember.
"Hey Blah! How you doin' man? SO. I want my shoe back. Yeah!"
And he laughed at me. :) I honestly don't know for how long because I was quite scared. Remember what a creepy person I told you guys he was? He still sorta is. And was at that time.
He then gradually admitted that he had always known it was my shoe since it had my name scribbled on it at the sole, which is true. -_____-
BIG FAIL.
As much as I had wanted to run away at that moment and never see him ever again, he invited me over for a cup of tea and his parents were more than nice. ;) So I stayed.
And over this cuppa tea, you laughingly told me how I was such a Cinderella, leaving my shoe behind and everything. :P And I told you that would be true only if you were a Prince Charming. :P
And hell, you're getting there. :)
Over these past couple months, we've become really really good friends, Blah. :) You are so damn smart! You're like one of those people I see in the Guinness book in the future. :P
You've become synonymous with courage, intelligence and strength in my life. You've made me embrace most of my fears and try to find a way to get over them. A lot of the things I never thought I could ever do, I've done thanks to you! :)
I didn't realize it over that cup of tea but over this one, I most definitely do realize that when I walked out of your place that December day, I walked out with much much more than just a ratty old shoe and a dumb-ass smile. :D
Thank you so much for being one of the best friends a person can ask for. :)
This story goes out to you!
<3
Arjun
29