It was over the weekend eagerly awaiting my breathing space to sling back into my TV chair and scan the channels, when… RING, RING, there’s goes the phone.
Jumbling up her words, as if her water had broken, I hear the screeching tone of my frantic girlfriend. “You are not going to believe this Pri, it’s been almost six hours and Sanjay hasn’t left the Nintendo Wii!!” she exclaimed. Not one to intervene in domestic issues (unless I’m the issue…i.e. why is Priya always here?) I was nevertheless cornered into this scenario.
Admittedly my initial thoughts were, ‘So what?’ After all, it’s the weekend, and everyone likes to zone out and play idle, I mean what’s wrong with some electronic fun?’ But no, Gita was far from enthralled by my nonchalant response. And bang goes the receiver. In hindsight, though why, when it comes to gaming antics do men go overboard? Surely when the screen bolds out ‘Game Over’ that should be the case…switch off and pay the missus some attention…but sadly no.
Having an excessive social circle of male friends, I endure the natter of Pro Evo (no, this is not business jargon ladies, it’s a football game) and eavesdrop upon their scheduled ‘Game Nights’ , which let me add, requires more strategic planning than the UN forces. Subjects such as where the session will take place, to who brings what control pads are stringently assessed and organised . “I can’t explain, when your playing video games, it is almost cathartic. You are in your own lil’ hub, with only one focus in the world. The conversation, jokes and banter which roll are truly bonding, explains my soon-to-be –single friend (yep, that’s Sanjay).
I suppose like most women would do their bubbly jaunt to the mall to catch up and muse over events of the week, men do too. But unfortunately, with these besotted gamsters, nothing can intervene – dare you call, intercept or attempt to cross the TV screen – the outcome, let me warn could be fatal! So bemused by this male obsession of the so-called ‘Game Nights’, I invited myself to the night of Nintendo mayhem, to find my every word silenced, ‘Shhhhh Pri, we’re concentrating’ to being sectioned into the kitchen to make chai – charming! Mind you ladies, we’d do the same if we were summoned to a sale at Zara – so I guess if you can’t beat them, then join ‘em!