While we were in for a post graduate seminar 4 days ago, I observed a girl that seemed too young to be a PG student. When the seminar was going on, they needed someone to move the mic from one end to another; she was at it. When it got to “Item 7,” they needed someone to move the refreshment around; it was the same girl. I just knew I was going to have a word with her afterwards, to especially acknowledge her selfless service. That’s me. I just like to say thank you.
Unfortunately, the end of the seminar coincided with a mild fever for me. And so I went on my way. However, it turned out that we both were headed in the same direction and she happened to be walking as fast as I was. I didn’t quite notice her until she branched off the road and was now headed in a different direction. Funnily, too, at the point that I noticed her, we were simultaneously on the phone. “Saying thank you isn’t gonna take ages, right? Why not do it now.” That was the voice in my head doing the talking, and I knew it was the truth. And since I still had Stanley at the other end of the line, I could only waved her down. I did, and she stopped – while still on her own call. [First observation: she stopped in a way very few girls would; she stopped gracefully]
It happened that I was already saying “I’ll keep in touch” when I motioned her to stop; my call ended just seconds later. And so I made towards her to do just what I wanted to do and then get going before something bad happens to my seemingly sickly body. On getting to her, I observed she immediately excused the person at the other end of the line. I was just to say thank you and then walk away, right? It happened that it didn’t work out that way; she gave me a reason to ask her a thousand and one questions. Interestingly enough, it got to that part where she asked me if I were done with my questions. And to prove that she was ready to take more questions, I heard her tell someone she was supposed to be seeing already that she’d be needing an hour more.
At this point, I started connecting all the dots… This girl was speaking to me like she’s known me from Adam. And if I’ve thoroughly quizzed you before, then you can guess what manner of questions I asked her, and she’d answered all of them without taking offence at any one. And so, I asked her, “You speak to me like you know me already.”
I was shocked to know that the answer was a YES. She did not only know me in the passing, she knew me very very well, and she began to tell me how well she knows me and how much she’s heard about me. Funnily enough, she’s the best friend [or girlfriend] of a mentee of mine, and she told me they discuss me from time to time. She even reminded me that I’d spoken to them years back at their first year orientation (she’s now in final year), during which I’d gifted each of them a book. She even knows Amara.
Think about this: What if my intention wasn’t to say thank you? What if I stopped her to ask her out?
Truth be told, you really never know. It’s always been a small world. And then I went my way, without even bothering to know her name; the lesson was just fine for me.
Cornel 