Of crush and misinterpretations.

You are going to office. Just like every other smart bachelor efficient in time management, you sleep till late; even if that means you have to skip breakfast. You catch the metro or bus almost in breathless condition.  While you hold on to door trying to gain your composure your eyes rest on a pretty girl. You blink for a moment and it’s a short story thereafter :-) Does the situation sound familiar?  Atleast to me, it does!

 Cute, smart, tall and sometime attractive enough that you can’t keep your eyes off.  God made beautiful creature – girls, and then made admirer of beauty -boys. Let me state that I am not favouring anyone here but no doubt, God blessed the two, with hearts quite different from each other. One like a safe mutual fund and other like a volatile equity.

Back to our situation, you see her. On a numerous such occasion you will have a quick look and then doze off or  may be a lightening have already struck you take a sneak peek every 2 min. This is just one phase which happens to boys at some point in their life. Lightening and awestruck. Love at first sight, crush, infatuation or the basic instinct ...whatever it may be, boys are always fast decision maker as if they are living life on edges.

But if the whole drama can be viewed in a different light, you will be amazed with what goes on the scene sometime. Here are few possible scenarios from a third person’s view.

1. She is lost in her own world when you see her first time. May be a treat for eyes for few moments before she realizes that two pair of eyes are constantly staring her. She looks back and you turn around or try to pretend to look outside window.

2. She is talking to someone over a phone call. She is probably using a handsfree. While she talks she might have a cursory glance around her surrounding which include you. At times as she talks, she would flaunt with her hair, probably even curl it 360 degree around her cheek. And if she happens to have a blank look at you while doing this act, you are flattered. It’s not a problem with us. Guys always have half knowledge about girl psychology and take this as a positive signal. Poor guys !

3. This is the third scenario while you may or may not be lucky. It depends a lot on your luck and look on a particular day. In this situation the girl actually finds out you are taking a sneak peek. She might look back at you for two reasons. First, she just wants to ensure if she knows you or you are just some random stranger who is starring her. Second, this is rare case contrary to popular myth – the girl would have no objection on you starring at her. When you look at her, she will pretend that she is not fine but, when you look through corners of your eyes, you will find her checking you out as well.  And chances are that she might gossip about this incident with her friends later.

But call it crush or infatuation... guys are like that. We think that we understand girls, just like I thought that I have captured every aspect of their psychology; but I haven’t, no one can. But still it was just a humorous attempt to capture how guys can be fooled around by their own misinterpretation and at times by girls :-)

A kid story

At 9 Aarushi was not very different from other kids of her age. Mamma’s girl who switches party, when mom is in scolding mood.  Born in a middle class family, she was brought up with great care and affection. But in- spite all the regular traits of a pampered kid she was very special. Always centre of attraction, be it home, school or any place she goes with her parents. She would always grab other’s attention as a cute looking girl with twinkle in eyes, dimples on cheek and spontaneous answers.

Being pampered demanded that her wishes get fulfilled with immediate attention. Though at time Mom would get furious on her but for the most part she will get what she want. Her intentionally made innocent look and cute acts would win everyone's heart. But too much love and affection sometime have side effects as well. She was a bit short tempered, if things doesn't go her way. At times when she insist on buying new cloths, becomes difficult for parent to handle her.


Toys were Aayushi’s fascination. All kinds of toys- dolls, train, cars, monkeys. Among all dolls, one sweet little Barbie dressed in pink was her favourite. She and her Barbie were inseparable. She would play with her, eat with her and every night sleep holding her Barbie next to her pillow.

One fine day, on way to school Aayushi saw him. He noticed her too. After that day, she used to find him everyday at the same point near bus stand. One day she didn't see him. She was sad at school and in a bad mood even when returned home. She didn't say a word to anyone and went straight to her room. When she opened the door, she saw him sitting quietly on her bed. She couldn't believe her eye and exclaimed with excitement. She jumped to bed and hugged her sweet strange friend. Her dad who was standing all the while at doorstep was smiling. Aayushi ran to her dad hugged him and said "you are the best dad in whole world".


With Chikoo's arrival, everything was diferent now. "Chikoo", yes - that’s what she named her new friend, a big teady bear which her dad gifted her. Her attention now was divided in between Barbie and Chikoo. And as any kid would have it, time spent with new toy was more in this case too.


Soon Barbie was envious of chikoo. She told aayushi that chikoo is not the correct toy for her. And that she is a girl and should rather play with other dolls. Aayushi listened to her Barbie, but could not leave chikoo. She loved Barbie too and so wanted to make peace between two. But fate had something else as the Barbie didn't quite wanted to share her space in Aayushi's life with chikoo. On the other hand, now Aayushi was bunking school to play with chikoo at home. She will give some health reason to mom and then stay at home. One weekend Aayushi's best friend and other school friend came home to meet her. Before Aayushi could meet them, her friends met Barbie. Barbie who was looking for opportunity, told them that Aayushi's new friend is taking her away from everyone else. None of the friends quite liked this newly found bond. They demanded Aayushi to choose between them and Chikoo.


Alll this drama left Aayushi in deep sadness as chikoo, besides being a soft spoken toy, was a caring friend too. She can never see Aayushi is pain. Probably that was the reason Aayushi got so much affection with him in a short while. Today, at one end it was just chikoo and at other end was Barbie and all friends. After a lot of thinking, Aayushi decided to part way from chikoo as she couldn’t leave all her dolls and friends. Chikoo was sad at this decision but didn't protest as he just wanted Aayushi to be happy. Next morning, Chikoo was dumped in the big trash box outside Aayushi’s home.


After 2 years, one day when Aayushi was shopping in a mall with her mom, she spotted a chikoo look alike teddy. A pretty girl was holding him with affection. They both were looking happy with each other. Aayushi couldn't stop herself and walked towards that girl to enquire. Aayushi asked about the teddy and got to know that girl bought it from a second hand toy shop. It was not as new but was cute enough to pull her attention. And that’s how she met him. Aayushi looked at chikoo with a mixed feeling. While she was happy that chikoo found a new home she was sad because all her friend eventually left her alone one by one. Chikoo looked into Aayushi eys with sadness, yet with affection. As if his eyes were saying Aayushi that life doesn't give a second chance to everyone. The girl moved away and chikoo and Aayushi kept starring each other till they were out of sight.


Moral of the story: Think twice before you choose who your real friends are. 


note: old story which I read to my 7 yr old niece quite sometime back, publishing it now. She loves hearing all sorts of stories from me and doesn't leaves me untill I recite/ tell her 2-3 stories daily, whenever I visit home.