Not As In...

"How did your day go?" Vivek asked when Sadhana returned from work.

"Mmmm..." she replied noncommittally.

"Is that a yes or a no?" he asked, more from masochistic intentions of needing evidence to lament later on.

"It was good," Sadhana answered, but her tone did not reflect 'good.'



"It doesn't seem to have been good, from the tone of it."

"It was good, but not good as in good."

Vivek threw his hands in air. "What is that supposed to mean? Was it good or not?"

Sadhana didn't reply. "Women!" Vivek complained to the universe.

*

"You stayed till the end? I am surprised! The movie must have been good..." Vivek observed when Sadhana returned from an evening show.

Sadhana laughed... "It was ok..."

Vivek interpreted, "It was bad?"

"Noo..." Sadhana drawled doubtfully.

"It was good?" Vivek asked impatiently.

"It was not good, not bad..."

"Average?"

"Not so bad..." Sadhana said thoughtfully.

Vivek frowned.

"It was bad, but not as in bad..." and then she chuckled, seeing Vivek's frustration.

*

"Oh, are we going to the party? I thought you said we had not be invited!" Vivek smirked.

"No, she sort of invited..."

"She either invited or she didn't. What is this sort of?"

Sadhana opened her mouth to explain. "No! Please don't tell me 'invited not as in invited...' blah blah blah!" Vikram intervened.

"You never understand," Sadhana grumbled.

*

"Hi Madhu! Long time! I believe you are working now?" Vivek greeted a friend.

Madhu greeted him with a hesitant smile and hugged Sadhana.

"So tell me about the job..."

"There is nothing to tell," Madhu said dismissively.

"Oh, errrr... you are working, right?" Vivek asked, confused.

Madhu flicked her wrist. Vivek's eyes widened in confusion. Did she or didn't she have a job. He looked at Sadhana for help.

"Oh poor dear," Sadhana put a hand on Madhu's shoulder. "You don't sound happy about it."

"Ya man... nothing to write home about..."

"It's just a job," Vivek started but was glad that his voice was drowned by Sadhana's softer question, "Why do you let it bother you?"

"This is not what I wanted to do... but yes, I should be thankful that I have a job..."

Sadhana put an arm around Madhu and the two moved away, talking about the job. Vivek stared helplessly, wondering why women couldn't speak straight.