Boys are back in town
When the cat is away, the mice come out to play,” said an early 14th century English philosopher, whose words are still finding resonance more than seven centuries later. While the philosopher said it with reference to the King being away and the subjects doing as they please, in today’s world, it can be quoted to describe guys’ behaviour when their girls are out of town.
PR executive Nikhil Acharya chooses to see the silver lining in his girlfriend being out of town; he says it gives him a chance to be lazy and not bother about preening himself. “I have to shave everyday and dress well to look good because I meet the girl. When she’s away, I can get away with an unkempt look. I can also be lazy and sleep till late, or go out drinking with the gang. The freedom to do what I feel like is liberating for a change,” he laughs, while praying that the girl wouldn’t get her hands on this article.
Investment banker Ankush Makhija seconds this thought, saying that the girl being away is the only opportunity a guy gets to indulge in some male bonding. “I generally meet up with friends and go out for drinks or just hang out with them. They too keep cribbing I have completely forgotten them since getting a girl,” Makhija said.
While it might appear that most guys welcome the break they get to do their own things, hang out with their buddies and have some non-girl fun, they also agree that the boredom starts to set in within a few days. Photographer Shobhan Singh says the loneliness and feeling of emptiness offsets the advantages by a long way. “All of a sudden she is gone and you have too much time in hand. It takes time to adjust to the absence of someone so close,” he said.
The girls, on their part, are happy that the boys get to have their share of fun while they are away. Kavita Nair says her work takes her out of town quite frequently and that she doesn’t really expect her boyfriend to mope about her absence in the time she’s away. “One has other friends too and he’ll want to hang out with them during such times,” she says. “However, it would be really nice if he decides to come along with me or surprise me wherever my work has taken me. Doing that once in a while would be a really nice sweet surprise,” she said.
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