We had a long chat and in spite of the distance separating us my mother instantly recognized all my apprehensions and anxieties through my voice. She finally asked me, "Are you dating someone????"

I did not know how exactly to answer that question... atleast at this point of time since technically speaking, I am still to meet Vishal formally ever since we started 'going around'. And as far as our Facebook conversation had gone, maybe it was more of a random affair at it's best!

I told my mom about the latest developments and my 'not so clear' feelings about Vishal. I even mentioned that he was coming to Delhi next week and we had planned to meet.

My mother took a deep breath and started... I could feel the excitement in her voice. She began by instantly showering me with a lot of motherly advise that was colored in various hues of concern. She later mentioned about her coming to Delhi on an official visit somewhere in the next month too. She would be staying with me atleast for two days... I immediately began to look forward to her visit.

But being a mother first and then a friend, could she have just hung up? Of course not... What followed was a series of tips for my first date with Vishal. Some were commands, while others sounded more like instructions and friendly advice. She also asked me to send one of his photographs along with some of our Facebook conversations. "Only if you are comfortable with the idea of sharing your personal conversation with me," She had added unnecessarily.

I loved this trait of my mom - liberal and protective all at the same time.

After an hour long conversation we finally hung up. I immediately dressed in a pair of worn out denims and white Tee to be present for my appointment at the spa for a detoxification and rejuvenation session.

The beautiful svelte girls at the spa asked me to change into a peach and white floral knee length gown with noodle straps. The whole ambience of the spa was so very calm and soothing, in fact so much like what I had always imagined it to be. The aroma of herbal oils and candle lit surroundings had actually relieved me of my fatigue. I closed my eyes while lying on the massage table. The girls began by massaging me with warm aromatic oils and as they pressed my pressure points in complete rhythmic tandem to go along with the Buddhist chants playing in the background I fell half asleep. While the other half of me still awake enjoyed the gentle strokes and the lingering fragrance of oils.

I remember coming back to my senses as soon as the girls started applying a mud pack on the whole of my body. It was indeed an out-of-the-world experience and I loved every aspect of this treatment!

While I was still besieged by the wonderful experience, my mobile buzzed. It was my boss Taruna Kalra on the other end. I so hate this piece of human innovation and constantly blame it for being an absolute infringement of personal privacy.

Tactfully, I tried avoiding even the mention of my appointment at the spa for the simple reason that my boss' competitive spirit was not limited merely to the professional front but extended right up to the 'mirror mirror on the wall' syndrome. She believed in extolling her self-proclaimed superiority even when it came to being the best looking female in the office and my visit to the spa being a direct threat to her superiority, it would definitely not be taken in good taste.

"I am cleaning my house, ya," I told her instead, while giving a friendly wink to the spa girls. She informed me about an important meeting that I had to accompany her to.

As I asked the girls to hurry up so that I could get going on my business, some remote corner of my heart told me that it was my boss Taruna Kalra who made me tell the lie... even though unintentionally - she is surely affecting my life.

To be continued...

Disclaimer: Characters and events in "The Diary of a Desigirl" are purely fictional. Any resemblance to living or dead person is purely coincidental.

See below to read previous entries
The Diary of a Desi Girl Volume 9 - As Fresh As My Tea
The Diary of a Desi Girl Volume 8 - Two Ends of the Spectrum
The Diary of a Desi Girl Volume 7 - Confusion and Resolve
The Diary of a Desi Girl Volume 6 - Rendezvous with My Inner Self
The Diary of a Desi Girl Volume 5 - My Karmic Dilemma
The Diary of a Desi Girl Volume 4 - The Vishal Effect
The Diary of a Desi Girl Volume 3 - I Break My Rules... Well Almost
The Diary of a Desi Girl Volume 2
The Diary of a Desi Girl Volume 1