How some Indian marriages start -- The awkward first phone call
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The Scene: The Girl is a 23 year old investment banker working 
in New York. The Boy is doing his residency in Boston and was 
given her number by his mother, who  is  a friend of the Girl's 
aunt's brother-in-law's cousin's uncle's wife in  Chicago.

Monday night, 10 pm

Girl: Hello?

Boy: (Shit, she's home!) Umm, hi! Is this ---?

Girl: Speaking.

Boy: My name is ---. I don't know if you know who I am- 
     (God, what if she doesn't know who I am? I'll sound like 
     a complete idiot.) Hell, I already sound like a complete 
     idiot. I don't even know why I'm  doing this!)

Girl: Oh, you live in Boston, right?

Boy: Yeah. (Ok, she was told about me, that's a fucking relief. 
     I wonder what she was told - "He's a resident, tall, and 
     fair, and he graduated from Ivy League school!" God, she 
     probably hates me already!)

Girl: Yeah, my mother mentioned you had my number.
      (I can't believe he actually called!)

Boy: So, how are you? Oh yeah, that's real original, but what the
     hell else I am supposed to say- Umm, hi, I don't know you, 
     but do you want to be wife?)

Girl: I'm fine. And you? (Ok, this is off to a great fucking start)

Boy: I'm good.(Ok, think, think!) So, I heard you're an investment
     banker?  (Oh, that's a real winner. Now I can be a bad 
     conversationalist and an idiot!)

Girl: Yes.

Boy: (Ok, she is not helping me at all!) Where do you work?

Girl: Merrill Lynch.

Boy: Hey, that's a great firm! (I sound like a complete moron.
     I should just hang up except my mother would somehow find 
     out and kill me!)

Girl: Yeah, it's a nice place to work. (God, this guy sounds 
      like a complete loser)

Boy: So...(Stall ,stall!)

Girl: So you're doing your residency in cardiology?   
      (Like my mom didn't tell me that 500 times already!)

Boy: (Ok, I can handle this...)     Yeah, I'm in my second year.
     (Alright, now say something else, but what do I say? Do you 
     drink and have sex? Cause if you want to marry me, you can't 
     be one of those goody goody South Asian girls who think if 
     they kiss a guy they've practically gone all the way)
     So, what do you like to do in your free time?

Girl: (Umm... get wasted...) Oh, you know, hang out with my friends,
      go to movies.

Boy: Where do you like to hang out in NY?

Girl: (Shit, what am I supposed to say? This guy could be some 
      religious freak! I can't say bars - I'll say clubs, you can 
      go to clubs and not drink...)  Oh, sometimes we go to the 
      movies, or there's a couple clubs that are good... (That 
      was good, I made it sound like I like clubs, but I'm not 
      really into them...)

Boy: (Ok, she goes to clubs, that's a good sign. If she was really
     religious she wouldn't do that.) Yeah? I like to dance also.

Girl: (He likes to dance- that's a good sign. He can't be that 
      stiff!) So where do you hang out in Boston?

Boy: (Should I say it- alright, I'll say it, what the hell!)
     Umm, the same, bars, clubs, stuff like that.

Girl: (He said bars! So he probably drinks. Good sign. I should 
      explore this further...) Are there any good bars in Boston?

Boy: Yeah, there are some nice ones, I mean, I'm not a huge drinker,
     but I like having a good time. (Ok, that gives the impression 
     of someone who enjoys drinking but is not an alcoholic - 
     pretty good, if I do say so myself!)

Girl: (That sounds really positive. This guy sounds kind of cool. 
      But if he's so cool why is he calling me? Shouldn't he have 
      a girlfriend? Or not need to call random girls his mother 
      tells him about? God, what if he's completely ugly? Or has 
      never been kissed?) 
      Yeah, me too. Although I hope my parents never find out.

Boy: Yeah. I know exactly what you mean. (I wonder if she's butt)

Girl: (Ok, so he didn't freak out at the living a double life 
      reference- another good sign. I just wish I knew what he 
      looked like...)     So...

Boy: (Or she could be really fat with a huge mustache. Well, there's
     only   one way to find out!) So, I know this sounds a little 
     crazy, but I'm visiting some friends in NYC next weekend and 
     I wonder if you'd want to get together for coffee sometime.


Girl: (Coffee. That's totally safe. If he's totally nasty I can have
      a quick espresso and run like hell!) Yeah, that sounds great.

Boy: (Alright that went pretty well. Coffee's pretty harmless. And 
     who knows, maybe she'll be cool. Now I have to get the hell 
     out of this conversation...)
     So I have your e-mail, should I just e-mail you soon and 
     we can figure it out?

Girl: (E-mail is sooo much better than the phone. Thank God for 
      e-mail!) Yeah, just e-mail, I check it all the time at 
      work, so-   (God, this is getting painful)

Boy: Alright, I'll e-mail you soon.(Meaning in two days cause 
     I don't want to look too desperate, but at the same time 
     I don't want to look like I'm trying not to look too desperate)

Girl: Cool. Well, I'm glad you called.   (I think...)

Boy: Me too. Well, I'll see you soon.(Please be hot, please be hot!)

Girl: Alright. Bye. (I can't believe he called! Too late to back out
      now. Besides, maybe he's   cool. He didn't sound so bad on 
      the phone. I really hope he's not a virgin.)

Boy: Bye.(I did it! I am the man. I think she wants me. Yeah, she 
     definitely wants   me.....  I hope she has nice breasts.....)


contributed by Smita Baliga

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