That was quite rude, Mister!

I was told off by my better-half over the weekend. That was quite rude.

The remark related to my phone conversation with an old friend. I had called her up on Friday evening to ask if she would like to come over for lunch. She was at a work party and promised to get back to me later in the evening.

Prior to this, I had spoken with her husband - also a good friend - who said it was fine with him, but that he would need to consult with the wife. Don't worry, I will call her myself to check, I said.

The lunch was over by the time she called up late afternoon on Saturday. My guests were still around, so I didn't pick up the phone. A part of me was also miffed.

On Sunday, my better-half's phone rang. It was my friend and she wanted to speak to me. You didn't pick up your phone on Saturday? Well, the lunch was over and I was with my guests. Yes, but you could have picked up the phone and told me you'll call later. I could have, but understood it to be a routine chat which could wait. But you didn't call me. You called me up before I could. Yes, but it is nearly a day after my call. I know, but your call also came a day after it was promised.

My friend said that I had become "combative" of late, and my better half seemed to agree. That was quite rude of you. You shouldn't have said some of the things you did.

No excuses, but the anger seem to emanate from yet another effort gone waste. This was my third or fourth attempt at inviting our friend over, and like all previous attempts this one ended in disappointment too.

Life seems to be very hectic in Delhi. The weeks go by in a flash and planning the weekend is difficult. Give people too much notice and they will commit and forget. Give them reasonable notice and they will commit and have other commitments too. Give them short notice and they will take forever to refuse or confirm the invite.

Let's get together seems to be an oft-heard resolve. But the resolve to get together seems battered by distances, traffic chaos and - in summer months - extremely warm days.

Quite different from how weekends in UK were. There was always a plan and we knew the when, where, how and for how long at least a week in advance. Spontaneous get-together happened too as we had a reasonably good idea of our spare time.

My friend did mention that she may need to go somewhere, but it would have been helpful to hear either YES or NO. In the absence of either, we were left wondering if they were on or not.

Which is what probably blew my fuse. Should have exercised restraint, but the heat eventually gets to you.