As medical students living in the hostel we looked forward to those weekends. Every once in a while, when  we were not preparing for a test or rushing home, we would go to a friend’s place in South Delhi. Apart from her mother’s excellent hospitality, the chance to watch English films and gorge on pizzas  which were  unheard of in Haryana, it was her father who drew us in. A respected and driven CEO at work, he  was a childlike prankster when home. Interaction with him was a battle of wits in which he almost always won but we never quit trying to outdo him. And occasionally when we succeeded he  showed  amused appreciation. I  believe  he taught me my first lesson on  work life balance and staying young at heart. More importantly, I learnt the true meaning of having a sense of humour which is not about making the perfect joke but taking  one graciously.

We were a bunch of seven  opinionated, somewhat rowdy teenagers and it surprised me how easily he could tame us. On one visit  he told us that he had learnt a way to measure IQ by the curvature of the forehead. We were intrigued, hadn’t we just learnt that the fore brain was the seat of intellect. We begged him to show us how but he was reluctant saying he wasn’t sure if it worked. After some cajoling he gave in and drew an elaborate  chart. We were told to wait in the other room while he assessed us one at a time and we could watch once our turn was over. I was last and was greeted by the amused grins of my friends . Uncle told me not to get distracted lest it affect my score.  I was to  roll a coin down the centre of my forehead over the bridge of my nose and then let it drop on the chart. Every time the position of the coin was marked with a pencil run around its rim and the coin was handed back to me to repeat the process. Uncle would make calculations from  the coin’s circular imprint and dictate them to aunty who would dutifully  note them down. He remarked that as  expected I seemed to have  the highest IQ. Encouraged, I continued earnestly,  with my friends giggling in the background.  After a while he asked aunty to show me the score. She showed me a mirror and I was horrified to see my  face blackened from the lead of the pencil. Amid guffaws uncle suggested that like the rest, I could wash my face, now that I knew my IQ.

We got our chance to get even in the evening when he took us out for dinner at a fancy restaurant. All seven of us started calling him papa loud enough for fellow diners to hear.  I went a step further and said that we should get food packed for our three brothers at home. His embarrassed  smile  through  dinner  pleased us. We were so happy with his discomfiture that we skipped dessert. Revenge is sweet!

Next morning he came to drop us at the bus stop and boarded  after us. Pointing to me, he addressed my friends in a loud voice,” There is no need to worry. I have given her medication and she’ll stay calm. Ignore her if she laughs too much but if she gets violent tie her with the ropes in this bag.” Suddenly everyone in the bus became very quiet and all eyes were on us. As the driver started the bus, for what would be the quietest journey of my life,  I could feel the nervous  gaze of  the passengers,  following my every move. Embarrassed, I called out to his retreating form ,

 ” Uncle this is not funny and its not first April.” He smiled  with that impish glint in his eyes and said,” Some people can be fooled all the time!” 

( published as a middle in the Tribune on 1/4/2015)