Work last week was tough. It’s been three days that I have wanted to scratch my bum, the bum could only get its appointment with my hands only today. Words such as “recession” and “bad markets” are turning out to be humbug. Almost each day is “littered” with a new deal. One interesting new deal was for my school friend Hardik (ever tried pronouncing this name the Firang way? it sounds like the upright male unmentionable appendage!) X. Hardik X fell in love with this Gujarati girl of his class (“The Love Of His Life”). It’s a familiar story - same age couples - girl wants to marry immediately (claiming parental pressure) - boy is interested but still has to pay off his education loan, buy dad a new car, get the house refurbished and do everything to prove to the family that he was better than his cousin (not-so-Hardik?). The Love Of His Life’s father had already started circulating her photographs in the Lajpat Nagar type dresses (with a painted Taj Mahal background!).

The problem was peculiar, Hardik X feared The Love Of His Life may end up marrying someone else. He loved her, but could only marry her only after being the dutiful son. Hardik X in this delirium called me for my opinion. I (without the influence of 6 beers) offered to draft a Right of First Refusal agreement (“ROFR”). Under the terms of the ROFR , when The Love Of His Life finally chooses the man she wants to bed for the rest of her life, Hardik X gets the first chance to accept (or refuse) marriage with her at that particular moment. Only on Hardik’s X’s denial to marry her, can she marry her father’s choice! This gave Hardik X the assurance that he still had a last-minute chance to marry The Love Of His Life.

The signing took place yesterday. The closing will take place after completion of the CP’s. One touchy CP was that the “Lovee” (Hardik X) would not touch-feel-lick-ogle-caress (emphasis supplied) any women, men, animals and insects until the exercise of the rights under the ROFR. Quite a KLPD, but as they say “all’s fair in love and war”!

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