Secret Santa

So recently I underwent a  workshop at work on human traits and competencies. I got to know of a new term situational self-awareness, commonly known as social cues. Although I always knew that I am bad at it but even took a test which validates that I suck at it. This blog is a quintessential example of that. I am a straight arrow and quite vocal about whatever I feel. Sadly though the world doesn't work that way, there are much finer details and cues to be kept in mind; conversing is different from talking. I am sure if the blog posts would have been written by the muses, the narration would have been entirely different.

Anyway, coming to the muse of the blog post. Our office like a lot of others was following the tradition of 'Secret Santa' where we have to buy a gift for a co-worker who won't know who it is from and we'll get a gift the same way. It is a cyclical loop based on the principle that the happiness people get on receiving the gift of a nominal value is more than the botheration that we have while buying a gift for someone else. So there is a net happiness in the whole group. I was at a gift shop near my place to buy something for my 'Santee'; that's where I met her. Right outside the shop, there were two girls snapping their pictures. I noticed her, not just because of her impeccable looks or her flawless skin or her million dollar smile; but because of the fact that her eyes looked really beautiful especially in the black eyeliner. She walked into the shop a few minutes after me.

Now, in life, I am quite indecisive from the smallest of decisions to life-altering decisions. The worst part is that I make decisions on my gut feeling and then analyze them and come up with metrics to justify those decisions. Anyway, buying the gift was also no easy task and I needed some genuine advice. Since I had to buy it for a female co-worker so I asked this girl for some advice. She actually helped me out and as we got talking we got along quite well. Anyway, she had to go for some apparel shopping with her friend so we exchanged numbers and she left.

Following the six-hour rule, I texted her and as we got talking, I got to know that she is working with a leading newspaper and is into brand consulting. I found it to be intriguing and told her that I would love to know more in person. A couple of days later, I got a call from her; she was around Bandra and wanted to know if I was free to catch up. I replied that I am working on a client deliverable but would most likely be done in twenty minutes.  I was watching episodes of 'How I met your mother' on my laptop at a cafe near my place.

She met me outside the cafe and then we walked back to my place. Another big reason as to why I prefer in-person interactions is the time consumed is a lot less. On the way back home, I got to know so much more about her although it was just a few minutes walk. We had a few drinks and were talking about things on the personal front as well. We were sitting by the window looking at the magnificent sea with soothing music playing in the backdrop. We connected on so many levels; I was so enjoying her company that I didn't notice the time fly away.  She has time restrictions at home and her mother had already called her twice, so she had to leave. I went downstairs to drop her as I wanted to spend as much time as possible with her. Also I had to buy something from the chemist.

So is this it? Love is the gift that Santa got me this year? Well, she is actually seeing someone and is in love with him. She was unsure where it is heading; another way of saying that the guy didn't want to commit. I am no cupid but I did help her get clarity from her perspective. I told her more about dopamine which is associated with physical intimacy and oxytocin which is associated with emotional intimacy. Guys are quite driven by dopamine and since he is already getting that so it might be one of the reasons that he won't be wanting to commit. I did get my gift, not exactly love but something similar. Although, it came with a clause that I won't ever get to see her again. So in essence, she turned out to be my secret Santa.

Later
Sidhant