What did I do ! ?

Are there times when you are so lost in your own world , that say or do something that is so absolutely hilarious and disbelieving to the people around you. The world around seems to stop functioning and everyone seems to stare at you to watch your next move in eager , nervous , curious, hilarious anticipation.

Your world goes on in its rhythm for a while and it takes some time for you before you realize, oops ! am I missing something here?

Well I have always been very straight forward. I don't seem to understand too much of signals and special signs people put out. This has put many of my friends in a lot of embarrassing positions more than once.

Among the many friends I have , I have a friend who is a good reader and most importantly good at collecting and maintaining her books. She has a good library at home with books of all sorts for the book lovers. Needless to say, hers books are perpetually in high demand.

One day when we both were coming back from yet another of our shopping trips, one of our mutual acquaintances came up to us. She said a hi to me and started talking to my friend eagerly. She said, she had been thinking of calling her for quite some time. She needed a book on photography and she remembered my friend had it. She then asked my friend with a cute smile "Can I borrow your book for two days". To which my friend tells her with a very innocent face and the nicest smile I had ever seen on my friend's face- "Oh ! Well ! I would love too. But I cant ! Its with Veena".

Uh! I remembered that I had returned her book. Maybe she had got mistaken . For sure, I did not want to inconvenience my friend. Also it was important to clarify my position with her . Sure that she will be pleased to have this news, I looked at her with a happy face and big round eyes and said- "Hey , no ! I don't have the book anymore. I have returned it to you last week". Did I see my friend turning towards me in surprise - maybe she remembered something - I ignored that expression.

The next moment , my friend seemed to move and stamp my foot completely - almost trampling my toe. Ouch ! That hurt ! I looked at her in reprimand and said in my loudest exclamatory voice- Hey ! Watch out ! You are stamping my foot !

My friend seemed incredulous , gave me a disbelieving and exasperated look on her face - ( I thought she was trying to be apologetic , but I sure couldn't understand her look) Her eyes seemed to say - You are impossible !( why was she giving me funny looks ?) She went on to complete her conversation.

Not understanding the confusion - I waited till they had finished.

Once she packed the girl off ! I got it royally from my friend.

What did I do ? - I wondered.

Why cant you understand my signals - she said.

What signals !

My friend put up her hands and gave up .

That sure was funny. What did I do to animate her so much ? - I thought.

My friend was trying to nudge me to keep her secret since she did not want to share her book !

How was I supposed to know !