I reproduce correspondence with a friend from a couple of days ago. The series of emails made me wonder if men and women can ever fully know what the other one’s talking about. I haven't edited anything - even the typos committed in agitation remain. What we said to each other and why is bizarre enough.
Here goes:
Mail 1:
From: FRIEND@some e-mail address
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 10:15 AM
To: ME@ some other email address
Subject: RE: wrote a poem
Good Day.
One good movie that I saw & would recommend anyone is “Pyar Ka Punchnama” or Autopsy of Love. J
It clearly shows how girls in Cities manipulate guys. They have a lot going on in their life and how they use many guys for their personal benefit. It is so true and movie is hilarious.
Most guys from cities will identify with the 3 main male leads in the movie and must have been a victim sometime in their life.
Watch it you will love it.
Got 2 mock interviews today.
Mail 2:
From: ME@ some email address
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 10:18 AM
To: FRIEND@some other e-mail address
Subject: RE: wrote a poem
Yeah. Have heard about it. If guys from cities can indeed be used, it’s commendable. I’d think they are fairly useless. He he he! But more power to the women who think otherwise.
Mail 3:
From: FRIEND@some e-mail address
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 10:37 AM
To: ME @some other e-mail address
Subject: RE: wrote a poem
If you see this one you will change your opinion. But never mind why are we discussing, J . Its Friday and week ends yippee.
Mail 4:
From: ME @some e-mail address
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 10:41 AM
To: FRIEND@some other e-mail address
Subject: RE: wrote a poem
We are discussing because you started it. Seems like it is unlikely to get an email from you that is not laced with some sort of bitter sarcasm. And while I may like a film, it’s unlikely to ‘change my mind’. Different strokes for different folks.
A friend of mine is visiting from Bombay
Mail 5:
From: FRIEND@some e-mail address
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 12:29 PM
To: ME @some other e-mail address
Subject: RE: wrote a poem
Where was sarcasm ? It’s the plot of the movie. I was recommended by a girl to watch this flick.
Good have fun.
Mail 6:
From: FRIEND@some e-mail address
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 12:39 PM
To: ME@some other e-mail address
Subject: RE: wrote a poem
A ‘city girl’ recommended the film? You mean, those blighted creatures who ruthlessly use and abuse unsuspecting lambs (meaning city boys)? They actually recommend movies to others? Without any ulterior motive? How is that possible? Be careful. Maybe she wants your liver in return.
Oh, and maybe you didn’t mean it as sarcasm…but in your earlier email, you mentioned ‘It clearly shows how girls in Cities manipulate guys. They have a lot going on in their life and how they use many guys for their personal benefit. It is so true…’ You apparently believe that city women behaving like mean heretics is ‘the truth’. THE truth. (How one can arrogate oneself to the position where one’s opinion is disseminated as the absolute truth is disturbing and hilarious.) My email was a response to that.
And yes, I’ll have fun. Us city girls make lots of weekend plans. (We have a lot going on in our lives, as the movie apparently indicates. And who can argue with THE truth, right?) Plan to go for breakfast to ‘By the way’ on FC Road
From: FRIEND@someemail.com
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 3:49 PM
To: ME@some other email.com
Subject: RE: wrote a poem
Yeah I had met a girl last year - arranged meeting you know. She had seen it many times and had liked it. She was from khar ghar stayed with a roomie in jogeshwari because of work.
Ask guys around they will tell you how they can easily identify with the characters of the movie. It’s so real that’s why it became a surprise hit last year. Also the dialogues were good.
So you think that I am jealous of you having fun. I am tied up with a lot of responsibilities as of now. Work and family both. Financially too I am a bit stressed. Men are not gullible but many a times we are cheated very easily even as friends. You help somebody in need and when you are in need they give excuses.
It’s not directed at you. It’s just a general observation. J
Mail 8:
From: ME@some e-mail address
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 4:37 PM
To: FRIEND@some other e-mail address
Subject: RE: wrote a poem
No. I do not think that you are ‘jealous’ of me. And frankly – in time, people tend to realize that they get what they deserve, not what they desire. And if we help people in expectation of what they will do for us when we’re in trouble…I doubt if it can even be called help. It’s just a different kind of barter. General observation. Not directed at you or anyone in particular.
Mail 9:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ME@some e-mail address
Date: Fri, Feb 17, 2012 at 5:14 PM
Subject: FW: wrote a poem
To: FRIEND @some other e-mail address
If…
…you felt badly about anything, sorry. Friends?
Mail 10
From: FRIEND@some e-mail address
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 5:31 PM
To: ME@some other e-mail address
Subject: RE: if...
A few years ago I was discussing with my project mates that I saw ‘Musafir’ in theatre and I liked it. One of the guys who was from a small town & was quite orthodox said to me “Tujhe toh aisi hi filmein achi lagen gi” . The promos of the movie were bold – I think that’s why he said so.
Later he saw it on CD he came back and said he was sorry and I was right movie is good. He had formed a wrong opinion.
Well as I had told you a few years back you need to do something really awful so that I stop considering you a pal. This isn’t anything big.
Mock went fine.
Comments
Your apology email seemed unwarranted since you hadn't said anything offensive. Indeed, it was he who had a rather dismissive opinion of city women and should be apologetic. But then, to use your insight: you get the friends you deserve :)