A tailor and a random person made me realise that today.

Wait, I am getting ahead of myself. This story should start from the time it all went wrong. Yesterday.

I tore my track pants while working out at the gym. And no, it wasn't an intense workout. My pants got stuck in a machine, and now there's a small hole in it.

It made me very sad, because I love this one, okay? I wear it for like 3 days in a week. It's very comfortable.

So I took it to a tailor who told me he can't stitch it. So I went to another one who said he'll do it for the right price.

INR 50. I agreed. And then, I asked him: “Bhaiya, you'll stitch it with a black thread, right?” I swear, he looked at me with pity in his eyes. He knew I was broken.

Or maybe he thought I was high. I wasn't.

The customer standing beside me said, “Don't worry, he will use a black thread.” and the tailor added, “yes, let me give a slip.”

He gave me a yellow slip with something scribbled on it. I can't understand the language. It could be Chinese for 'I'm held as a hostage'. or it could mean see a doctor. Either way I've a ‘proof’ that he has my favourite track pant.

When I go back to my scooty, an aunty comes up to me and says, “seedha jaare ho? can I sit?” I said yes.

Now, I get very scared when someone sits with both legs dangling on one side. She sat just like that.

Being an introvert, and noting her age, I said a few words to a god I don't believe in and started riding the scooty.

It was hardly a two minutes ride, but I was going so slowly, I think it took us forever to get there.

She told me she has trouble walking these days. I kept quiet.

She then asked, “kya karte ho?” / “ji, job.” / “sarkari?” / “nahi.” / “shaadi ho gayi?” / “nahi.” / “badey ho gaye ho, karlo.”

And then, we said nothing. Nothing at all.

It was the weirdest conversation I've had with a stranger. I low-key wanted to slam into a truck and end it all there, but I didn't want her to get hurt, so I suffered in silence.

Stop laughing at my misery.

I think she was my mom's friend, trying to convince me to get married.

Moral of the story: Don't help strangers. They might tell you to get married. 😅