Blind date.

You may by now hopefully have an idea how things work out here in Delhi. People generally speaking are polite, respectful, modest and friendly. Well, friendly just went above and beyond the call of duty after a very strange phone call!

I answered the phone while holding a chuntering Sillli and unfortunately didn't get the name of the person speaking at the other end. The conversation went like this:

"Hello.............................. (didn't get this bit because of Silli) How are you"?

Me - "I am very well thanks and you"?

"Good, good, good. We were wondering if you and your beautiful wife would like to have dinner with us on Sunday"?

Now I am in a bit of a situation,firstly I do not know who I am speaking to but assume it is one of 'A's friends through work. Secondly, I don't know if we want to go to dinner or not. Mind racing, I came up with the parent's escape clause.

Me - "That would be lovely, but first I will have to check we can get a baby sitter, what time"?

"8.30"

Me - "Where abouts"?

"At our house"

Me - "ok I will check with Amanda and call you back if that is ok, sorry I didn't get your name, who is calling"?

"VJ. This is Sanjay isn't it"?

Me - "No, this is Gareth"

VJ - " Oh dear, it would appear I have dialled the wrong number, my apologies. Where Are you from Gareth"?

Me - "I am from England"

vj - " And where are you living now"?

Me - " Shanti Niketan"

VJ - "Ahh so do we, so listen now I have invited you, you really must come to dinner"

Me - " That is very kind of you but you don't know us and you were trying to invite Sanjay"

VJ - " No problem, Sanjay will still come and so will you, we are neighbours and it will be great fun. Take down my number and check with your wife, call me back and let me know if you can make it. If not we will re schedule"

Me, in shock - "Ok, I will call you back"

The most surreal thing that has ever happened to me. I have been invited to dinner by a complete stranger who got hold of me through a wrong number!! It turns out we actually live on the same road and about an hour ago I got the above invite through the post! 'A' and I are now going on a blind dinner date, and to think I was fretting about making new friends in my last blog!

Sod the school gate, I am going to kick back and wait for the wrong numbers to roll in.

India, what a place!!