Editor’s Note: The first date. The first rush of feelings. the nervousness. The excitement. It is a one in a life time experience. But what happens if your parents come in just when your date has begun? Read this light hearted real life incident from our reader prathi.
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I still remember the first date I ever went on in my life. Usually first dates are memorable to everyone but for me it was something that I can never forget. I went out for my first date with my high school crush when I was in class eleven. It was a day that I planned for weeks and finally she, Rachna, agreed to come out with me, Prasun Roy! In school who was famous for being a person with a cool attitude with no constraints from the family end, whose parents were more of buddies than dominating guardians! However the fact remained that I too was from a middle class family with core values and principles like all others.
Back home I lied to my parents that I was going out for a school excursion and managed to get the approval of my parents and finally the day arrived.
After a short lunch at a funky restaurant, Rachna and I went hand in hand for a romantic movie. Even in the darkness of the theatre hall I went lost in her blue eyes, glossy lips and hair that could drown ships bigger than the Titanic, maybe!
She was the princess who was the incarnate of Diana, the goddess of love, for me and I hardly concentrated in the movie. Getting lost in her presence was more lucrative than the stars gleaming in the wide screen of the theatre.
We enjoyed the day in each other’s presence and time seemed to pass with flights of fantasy for me. As the evening was drawing to a close we were roaming in the streets of “New Market” talking to each other, about each other. Life suddenly seemed so beautiful.
All of a sudden out of the forgotten multitude that was also walking in the same street I could see a familiar face quite distinct, why I didn’t know.
As realization embraced my consciousness I comprehended that the face of the person approaching me from the other side was of none other than but my FATHER!
Within a fraction of a second all romanticism vanished from my heart and a fear engrossed it instead. I could interpret in that short time the amount of humility and shame I would face suddenly as my father would recognize me, scold me after we meet, and that was inevitable! Apart from the scorn that I would face at home, I could also feel the embarrassment I would face in front of Rachna, who recognized as the cool guy . in school as well as back home!
Crippled with the fear I only prayed that the earth would open up and I would hide there from all the humility. However there seemed no practical escape from it. Then some thing happened.
My father came near me, along with the now not-so-forgotten multitude, looked into my eyes as a stranger and passed by me rubbing his shoulder against mine and passed by without even recognizing me. It was the biggest shock and relief of my life. I still don’t know which emotion was predominant at that moment.
