When You are Nervous

One of the meanings of Nervous given in Oxford Dictionary is anxious or apprehensive. Be it that test tomorrow for which you have not studied at all, or the presentation which you know how so much you prepare the chances of getting a positive feedback on that is 10% or less, or in some cases when you are going to take a major step forward in your life. The first day of a new school, college or work sets off the butterflies in the stomach. Now imagine the nervousness of a man when he stands next to a lady with a ring in his hand all ready to get engaged. What will be his level of nervousness?

One of my best friends went through it today. He got engaged! Congrats, you know who (don’t want to name him here). Anyways thinking of settling down first of all is a faraway thought. But actually going and doing it is sheer courage! In recent times I have seen quite a few of my friends getting married/engaged. And the symptoms are all the same for all cases and I mean the interviews and tests and all but the following are most accurate for the engagement.

It all starts with “Have I made the right decision?”. Then you waste a few hours thinking over it. Going over and over, playing each scenario, each one more improbable than the previous one. You fight yourselves into the corner. Finally, after boxing yourself into a corner, you get an absolute amazing idea. The idea is “Phone a friend”. Next you call up a friend who you think will understand your plight. But Alas, all he does is laugh at you for being a chicken! But after calling you a chicken, he does provide you with some encouragement like “you made the right choice”, “she is the best thing that happened to you, so count your lucky stars and be happy” or my favourite “you should have thought before”.

As the days go by and the grand occasion is coming nearer and nearer, you feel a sense of dearth. Again you call up that friends of yours who you think will understand. Again that friend makes light of the situation and tries to laugh it off. You also laugh along with him and realize that you are making a big deal out of nothing. So, you let it go.

Finally, the day arrives. Your dear friend calls you up and wishes you luck still making some joke or the other. The feeling is still not sinking in. You inhale and exhale deeply to calm yourself down. Finally, the moment is here. You take a deep breath. You say “I got to pee!” Go to the bathroom, you look yourself in mirror. And your bachelorhood whizzes past your eyes. Those drunken parties, those awesome trips. You think to yourself “Is it the end?”. But somehow you manage to pluck up some courage and go to the ceremony and 5 minutes later you are engaged! All the build up panic, apprehensions go away. You feel deflated. You are tired without exactly doing much. So you sleep. Your friend calls you up again and this time he just wishes you. Finally, the doubts are out. You feel at peace with yourself.

All I can tell you is that for the time being the panic attack is avoided. Now let’s wait for the wedding!

P.S: Congrats Chigi! I know I have made a quite a number of assumptions above and blown everything out of proportions, you ask why? It wouldn’t have been funny!!!!