Known is less than a drop in the ocean of Unknown

The most awkward moment in life is when somebody comes and asks very sweetly, "Oh dear! Last I saw you, you were a kid clinging on to your mother. You are so grown up! How are you? Do you remember me?" and for a jiffy, a hundred thoughts flash in my mind viz.,

"So you knew I was a kid then and still you want me to remember you? What are you? Tom and Jerry?" 

"OMG! How I wish somebody near me knows this weirdo?!" 

"So... Who could you, possibly, be?" 

"I am very sure, I have never seen you in my life, ever" 

"Memory loss is it? Definitely selective!" 

"Why don't miracles ever happen to me?" and so on.

At this point, right when I am back to reality, I am left ONLY with two choices - One, talk as if I know them so well, evacuate the place after a quick conversation and then seek a person who might actually know them, for enlightenment. Two, throw a sheepish smile at them until they volunteer to actually introduce themselves.

Unfortunately, not all people we face give up easily. Some simply remain undeterred.

Some time, last week, I was just darting into my office, when a girl walked to me, "Hey hi! How are you? Got into project huh?" and my mind was filled with those hundred and odd questions instantly. "Aaah! Yeah! I am in one... Sorry! Do I know you?" God! I hate such surprises!!

"What?! You don't remember me?"

I relent by, very slowly, moving my head from left to right with an expression similar to Joey's smell-the-fart-act from F.R.I.E.N.D.S (my favourite sitcom), being cautious not to be rude.

"We met last month"

Duh! LAST MONTH you say?! I vaguely remember what I had for lunch yesterday, "Uhhh.. "

"At the Tidel, during the interview"

"OMG! Yeah" still not sure, deciding to go with choice One, "I'm sorry! I have a very poor memory. So... How are you?"

How I wish I had an in-built Google Glass!!

"Ha ha! I'm good. So what's your domain?"

Still working on my memory database,"Telecom! What about you?"

"What?? You don't know my domain? I am also with Telecom only. You really don't remember me even a little, do you?!"

Ouch! That was harsh!! I was just trying to be polite, repeated the EXACT question she posed and now, I am the accused! Great! Some people can just go on to be a pain, consciously! I am pretty sure she doesn't even know my name in the first place. It's not that easy a name to remember, you know.

All these, think-later-laugh incidents, just make me wonder, why can't people make things easier? All they have to do is be nice. There are various available options to do that.

ONE - This is a tricky job. You have to be real smart to get this right. Look at the person in the eye, (from afar of course!) if you see their eyes brighten up on seeing you, LO! They definitely remember your face, just walk up to them and begin the conversation with your name.

TWO - If their eyes brighten up and they smile, they definitely know you. You can start right away with "Hi! Hello" followed by the usual small talk.

THREE - No eye contact businesses. Just walk straight, give a brief intro and wait for a positive reply, failing which apologise, without fail. Not because you initiated but because you have taken the person's time away.

FOUR - The easiest, simply walk away.

When people do any of the above, chances are more likely that there develops an intangible bond and that those people tend to remain in touch even after that short conversation. After all, being nice always has its own benefits, doesn't it?

PS: Had that girl come up with an intro initially, we could have gone to become friends, but now, I don't even remember her face, again!!

This leads me to Square One, cozily!