Here is something I've never expected in my lifetime. Two girls sitting opposite of me from the bus as I was finishing off my Rubiks Cube for the umpteenth time.

"Oh my God!! How did you do that?! That's so unreal!!"

"Oh this? It's just something I dabble with from time to time."

Of course, I was sitting with a friend of mine who proceeds to snatch the cube and pass it on the the girls so that they can mess it up for themselves to prove what I did wasn't just a fluke. The first go that got their attention took me 2 minutes to solve because I was just going slow at my own pace. The one they handed back messed up, to me took 1 minute and 5 seconds. Bedlam ensued right after.

"My God!! How long was that?"

"Umm…about a minute and five seconds"

"That's just amazing. Wow, I'd have to shake your hand"

So they did, which by now, stirred a commotion on board the bus, attracting everyone on it to the scene that was unfolding in front. Much to my embarrassment obviously because I was again feeling very uncomfortable taking in the compliments.

"What did he do?"

"He finished the Rubik's Cube in one minute and 5 seconds."

"No way!!"

"That's incredible!!"

"Do it again! I want to see it!!"

At that point, I don't know who started it but the entire bus began to applaud what was just a routine thing I do whenever I'm on public transport. It was the single most self-satisfying embarrassment I have ever experienced in my life. It was a moment I felt torn in two between gloating over the attention that I am receiving or making a break for it by smashing the fire escape open and jumping from a moving bus.

Of course, I didn't entertain them with another moment of putting the cube together simply because I already had my answer. I got up, I took a small quick bow at my audience, I smiled to the girls that were still in awe after shaking my hand and I quickly exited the bus at my stop with a Cheshire grin on my face.

Nowhere have I found a greater source of attraction than the 3x3x3 Rubiks Cube that I carry with me all the time. Nowhere will it win you free drinks during happy hour or have admittedly pretty girls take an interest in you. Certainly nowhere will it have had the entire bus giving their complete attention, applauding your feat. There are days when it pays well to be a geek with an eccentric behaviour. Other days, it's just a reason to come back, take it out and have them fall in love with you all over again.