Follow Me….

Saturday was a ‘sinister’ day! Doesn’t it happen that sometimes everything that occurs on a day seems to have an ominous feel to it? This was one of ‘those’ kinds of days.

First stop: the library

When you procrastinate on returning a book you’ve borrowed from a library you end up having to pay a fine. That’s to teach the borrower to return the book on time! But I am a slow learner.

 “Overdue again, Ms. Joshi”, the librarian commented.

“Yes, I’m sorry. But I have my reasons and you wouldn’t have the time to listen, I suppose. But if you do have the time, I can explain…”, I reply.

Librarian shakes her head. And I smile. What was her problem, exactly? I was paying the fine without any negotiation or bargaining; that should have made her happy. What would have happened had I returned the book within the due date? First, another member may have borrowed it. Or, second, it may have just found itself in the bookshelf waiting to be picked up by some warm and loving hands! So, the library was actually earning more money from my delays. Right! Then why was she so upset?

I had to borrow another book but didn’t find it in the indexing. So I asked the assistant for help. I mentioned that the book is a popular one but I did not find it in the catalogue. Could it be possible it was missed out or that they didn’t have the book at all (bad!)? After taking the name from me and asking me about details of the author, he began suggesting alternate books instead.

And then he said, “Follow me…”!

Something about that phrase scares me, as if I’m being lead into the realms of the unknown. Mysterious, but scary! I returned without the book I wanted.

Next stop: the nursery

This is one place where I am completely lost - I don’t remember names of plants and often find myself describing or drawing them. But then the people here are quite used to my vagaries, so that makes it a tad easier! I don’t usually walk around here unescorted; the creepy-crawlies scare the daylights out of me.

The attendant said “Follow me, madam”…Again?

Made me wonder: do I look so lost? It was the second time I was being told that today…

Third: get to an address given by a friend to collect some things she had sent for me

Google maps on my phone malfunctions. When you have only an address and no directions on how to get there, you get lost in the labyrinth of ‘mains ’and ‘crosses’. I find a 23rd cross and a 25^th cross; whatever happened to the 24^th cross? Or was this a script from J.K. Rowling’s? Between thinking of ‘muggles’ and looking for the address, my head is in a muddle. So I pull over and try to find my bearings. Even the formation of the clouds had changed in this interim! I ask a gentleman, who didn’t seem quite as lost as I was, for the directions to the address that I had on my phone.

“I’m going in that direction, follow me”, he said.

I didn’t have much of a choice. But as I followed him I wondered: what if he were leading me to a secluded place? Or what if he mugs me? Or what if…

I quickly messaged the number on the licence plate of his vehicle to a friend, just in case.

I reached safe.

Back home, I make myself a cup of green tea and get to my computer to work on some assignments. And up pops my mailer: “Follow me (on twitter)”! 

'Lag ja gale', Lata Mangeshkar