Know when to say no

"You need to learn to say no!"

I'm on phone with my friend from work who called me up on a weekend to prepare a presentation only because someone senior asked her to work on it - late on a Friday evening

I give her the usual Gyan and get out of my room satisfied. It feels good to help people.

I see the husband trying to suppress his smirk. Thinking he might have just read an insider joke, I force him to tell me

"You gotta practice before you preach" he says

I'm determined to try this out now

I reach the metro station late with a dropped uber rating. The driver asked me if he can take a detour and stop at the gas station. Remembering my oath, I said "no! I gotta reach office on time" followed by an "I'm sorry". But guess that went unnoticed in between the curses he threw while the vehicle stopped moving midway

Enroute to office, I refuse to get up for a lady who I've seen oftentimes intimidating people and making them offer their seats. I see her with a stern look and make it obvious that I wouldn't budge. I see myself being kicked and loaded with her bags all along the way

Reaching office, I find myself alone in desk (as I said no to coffee breaks), eat cookies as I say no to accomodating a taste less food and get drenched as I don't take my friends offer to give me a ride till the next building to board my cab

I get into the cab and a colleague who stays in the same vicinity days "I'll take the first drop"

Now.. she stays 2 kms after my place and it's practically a dead end. She doesn't have a family to give her a disapproving look nor a kid waiting to get a diaper change. I look at her and shake my head. She gives me a stern look and I hear myself saying "of course! Sure.. I can take the last drop"

I can see the driver in rear view mirror and the husband inside my head shaking their head in a knew-this-would-happen manner

I try hiding the shame with a pop song