She is a Keeper...

I was in NY this weekend. I had been there to attend a job fair. Until 1 week back, I was the recruiter. In a week's time, I was the applicant. Suddenly the feeling of being on the other side of the fence crept in. But, this post is not about how I delivered my elevator pitch or how I sucked up to the recruiters. This is about something funny!

On Saturday evening, Deep, Govind and I boarded a PATH train from Newport station to 33rd street. We were meeting a few of our EY-Kelley buddies to celebrate Govind's birthday. As the threesome got busy chit chatting, an old lady entered our Bogie. She traversed the entire length of the compartment, twice, in a hope to find a place to sit. I watched her jostle her way through the insensitive and un-noticing eyes. She was on the far end of the compartment. I sat between Deep and Govind, moving my head in acknowledgment to their banter, with my eyes closely following her movement. In a few seconds, she was at a feet's distance from me.

Mrids - Ma'am, would you like to take my seat?

Old Lady - Well, I would love to. Thank you so much. God Bless you.

Mrids - Oh, don't worry about it. That's fine.

I got up and the old lady gladly sat between Deep and Govind. It took the 2 guys 2 minutes to realize that I was standing in front of them and not sitting between them. I laughed at their funny expression. So after a split second, both the gentlemen got up too, each offering me a place to sit. I smiled and took one of the seats besides the old lady. She whispered in my ears - "I think you put them to shame". I smiled and continued my conversation with the guys. Old lady got busy with her newspaper too.

After a few minutes, as the train halted at 14th street station, she panicked.

Old Lady - Are we in Jersey City again?

Mrids - Oh no ma'am. This train is New York bound. We are a couple of stops away from 33rd street station.

Old Lady - Thank goodness!

She got back to reading her newspaper and we got busy being nostalgic about our school lives (read cursing the busy-ness of our current life). In a few minutes when the train approached 33rd street station, I told the old lady that we were in NY.

Old Lady - Thank you. You are old school. I have not seen girls like you in a long time.

I smiled and stepped out. As Deep and Govind passed her, almost getting out of the compartment, she shouted from the far end...

Old Lady - Guys.....She is a Keeper!

Hearing that, both Govind and Deep almost tripped....They laughed uncontrollably...I wondered, what happened to them suddenly... 

Govind shouted back - It's too late Ma'am, she is already taken! But we will let her husband know...

All three of us laughed loudly as we walked out of the smelly station!