Mariyadhaiya un kazhuthula irukura nagai ellam kazhatee kudu
thats the dialogue mouthed by most vazhi-pari kolllai karangal in our tamil movies.
so much respect even when robbing a person of everything they own. such scenes are now passe but then it happens in my life even now. Not exactly in the form of robbers. But then in the form of a TERROR who is beyond description.
It always starts as a gentle request "thaango" and soon reaches mammoth proportions "THAAAAAAANNNNGOOOO". The decibel level cannot be easily measured but is a sure shot method of extracting the desired results from the persons it is being targeted at.
On similar lines we also have "WAAANGOO" and also many a times "VEEEENNNDAAAM" when it comes to food.
With so much of mariyadhai running abound, one can not easily refuse the requests of this demanding yet cute 2 year old. As long as the request doesn't require one to stand upside down or bring the moon to her bedside, placating her needs is a little amusing.
The best mariyadhai i received so far was POOONGOOO i.e. Get Out...
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Finding her!!!
Blink and miss. He saw her now and the next minute she was gone. It was in a restaurant, at the wash basin. Her face on the mirror. He had never seen eyes like those, her face so luminous, the lips that he could picture uttering sweet words. He looked around, looked over the entire place, but could never see her again.
His nights were now filled with dreams. He could feel her, laughing and talking to her friends, her laughter ringing in his ears. He woke up suddenly, he had to see her again. He decided that he will find her. With no name and with only a barely had glimpse of her face, he set out to the very restaurant he had first seen her. He ordered a coffee and waited. He ordered lunch and waited. After two long days of waiting for her, he realised that she may not come there again.
That night, he dreamed again. He could hear her voice, he heard her planning for going to a coffee shop with her friends, even discussing the red tee she is going to wear. He woke up startled. The dreams were so vivid. Was he psychic? Would she really visit the coffee that he dreamed about? He had to find out. He figured out a plan. He decided to write her a note, a note to the girl in the red tee, telling that he wanted to be-friend her. A note that contained his number. "I would really like to be friends with you", he had written and added his number below. Nervously hoping that she would respond and not spur him.
He had arranged for a little boy to deliver the note when that girl comes and then waited for her call on his phone. No new messages or calls. He knew it wouldn't be so easy.
His dreams about her increased, and every time he heard her voice. Her laughter filled his mind. He was slowly getting worried cause she was occupying every waking thought of his and he could not concentrate on anything else. Even when asleep he would dream of her. That is when one night, he heard a name. It was her name, he knew it instantly.
He started looking up for her details on the internet, scanning all profiles on all networking sites. Her name was on his lips always. His anxiety grew each time he opened a profile bearing that name, but then on seeing the picture in it he would be left disheartened. He started question hi sanity, how could he believe that the name he heard in his dream could be hers. Before he could raise more questions about how absurd everything was, he hit upon it. It was the profile, the one that he was searching for. It was the very girl. The same luminous face and pretty eyes. The face that eluded him for so long. It was her.
Her mail address was available on her profile. He immediately mailed her and couldn't believe his eyes when she had replied. He decided to mail her often and not rush to meet her. His e-mails to her were promptly replied to, but always remained blank. But just the fact she was reading them, gave him happiness. And finally after a week of mailing, he asked for her number and address. To this also the reply was a blank.
He didn't know where things were going and with every blank mail, that once livened him up, he could feel the dread setting in. Unable to bear the silence, the maddening thoughts, he wanted to be rid of the pain inside. He found a knife and slit his wrists.
The ambulance sirens were roaring loud. The patient was unconscious due to loss of blood. The doctor assured the anxious parents that things will be alright. They realised where it had all gone wrong and could not stop lamenting that they should have known that something was wrong.
It had started when their daughter received an anonymous note from someone who wanted to talk to her. From that day she had complained that she felt like she was being stalked. Her fears came through when the she started receiving mails from that same unknown, professing his love for her. She never knew how he knew so much about her, and that worried her the most. Every night after that was pure nightmare and she could be heard talking in sleep, sometimes laughing and sometimes sad.
In an act of desperation, she had finally slit her wrists.
Suddenly from his trance he awoke. The pain in his wrists was now unbearable. He realised he was in a hospital, surrounded by equipment and blinding lights. He wanted out of his agony and yet he found himself in greater pain now. A nurse near him noticed that he was awake. She immediately rushed to the doctor that the patient was now conscious.
Within minutes the room was filled with anxious faces. Wading through the crowd the doctored moved in. He enquired how he was feeling. But something was not right cause the doctor was using a different name. The name of THAT GIRL.
He protested, saying he was not who they thought he was. Mistaken identity he claimed. Suddenly a lady in the crowd ran towards him, crying and calling him. Again with that girl's name. the pressure was too much for him. He fell unconscious again.
When he woke up the doctor was with him. He was talking to him gently asking him his name. And then he showed him the girl's picture. He recognised her and told the entire story to the doctor.
The doctor was now convinced. He gave him a mirror in his hand and told him that being in the hospital has paled him. Unassumingly he looked in. To his shock, the girl was looking at him. He looked around but couldn't find her. He looked again, afraid of what he might see.
It was her again.
His world started spinning around. He cried out in pain. Something was very wrong.
The doctor calmed him down and gave him a shot in his arm. The medicine worked quickly and he soon drifted off to sleep.
As he lost consciousness he heard the doctor's voice announce, "It's a classic case of Split Personality".
Inspired by the story of Narcissus..
His nights were now filled with dreams. He could feel her, laughing and talking to her friends, her laughter ringing in his ears. He woke up suddenly, he had to see her again. He decided that he will find her. With no name and with only a barely had glimpse of her face, he set out to the very restaurant he had first seen her. He ordered a coffee and waited. He ordered lunch and waited. After two long days of waiting for her, he realised that she may not come there again.
That night, he dreamed again. He could hear her voice, he heard her planning for going to a coffee shop with her friends, even discussing the red tee she is going to wear. He woke up startled. The dreams were so vivid. Was he psychic? Would she really visit the coffee that he dreamed about? He had to find out. He figured out a plan. He decided to write her a note, a note to the girl in the red tee, telling that he wanted to be-friend her. A note that contained his number. "I would really like to be friends with you", he had written and added his number below. Nervously hoping that she would respond and not spur him.
He had arranged for a little boy to deliver the note when that girl comes and then waited for her call on his phone. No new messages or calls. He knew it wouldn't be so easy.
His dreams about her increased, and every time he heard her voice. Her laughter filled his mind. He was slowly getting worried cause she was occupying every waking thought of his and he could not concentrate on anything else. Even when asleep he would dream of her. That is when one night, he heard a name. It was her name, he knew it instantly.
He started looking up for her details on the internet, scanning all profiles on all networking sites. Her name was on his lips always. His anxiety grew each time he opened a profile bearing that name, but then on seeing the picture in it he would be left disheartened. He started question hi sanity, how could he believe that the name he heard in his dream could be hers. Before he could raise more questions about how absurd everything was, he hit upon it. It was the profile, the one that he was searching for. It was the very girl. The same luminous face and pretty eyes. The face that eluded him for so long. It was her.
Her mail address was available on her profile. He immediately mailed her and couldn't believe his eyes when she had replied. He decided to mail her often and not rush to meet her. His e-mails to her were promptly replied to, but always remained blank. But just the fact she was reading them, gave him happiness. And finally after a week of mailing, he asked for her number and address. To this also the reply was a blank.
He didn't know where things were going and with every blank mail, that once livened him up, he could feel the dread setting in. Unable to bear the silence, the maddening thoughts, he wanted to be rid of the pain inside. He found a knife and slit his wrists.
The ambulance sirens were roaring loud. The patient was unconscious due to loss of blood. The doctor assured the anxious parents that things will be alright. They realised where it had all gone wrong and could not stop lamenting that they should have known that something was wrong.
It had started when their daughter received an anonymous note from someone who wanted to talk to her. From that day she had complained that she felt like she was being stalked. Her fears came through when the she started receiving mails from that same unknown, professing his love for her. She never knew how he knew so much about her, and that worried her the most. Every night after that was pure nightmare and she could be heard talking in sleep, sometimes laughing and sometimes sad.
In an act of desperation, she had finally slit her wrists.
Suddenly from his trance he awoke. The pain in his wrists was now unbearable. He realised he was in a hospital, surrounded by equipment and blinding lights. He wanted out of his agony and yet he found himself in greater pain now. A nurse near him noticed that he was awake. She immediately rushed to the doctor that the patient was now conscious.
Within minutes the room was filled with anxious faces. Wading through the crowd the doctored moved in. He enquired how he was feeling. But something was not right cause the doctor was using a different name. The name of THAT GIRL.
He protested, saying he was not who they thought he was. Mistaken identity he claimed. Suddenly a lady in the crowd ran towards him, crying and calling him. Again with that girl's name. the pressure was too much for him. He fell unconscious again.
When he woke up the doctor was with him. He was talking to him gently asking him his name. And then he showed him the girl's picture. He recognised her and told the entire story to the doctor.
The doctor was now convinced. He gave him a mirror in his hand and told him that being in the hospital has paled him. Unassumingly he looked in. To his shock, the girl was looking at him. He looked around but couldn't find her. He looked again, afraid of what he might see.
It was her again.
His world started spinning around. He cried out in pain. Something was very wrong.
The doctor calmed him down and gave him a shot in his arm. The medicine worked quickly and he soon drifted off to sleep.
As he lost consciousness he heard the doctor's voice announce, "It's a classic case of Split Personality".
Inspired by the story of Narcissus..
Saturday, April 24, 2010
From my life...
little girl to me: "akka u act nicely ka"
me shocked... cos i was just playing the part of a table in a street play....
older girl: "endha kadai'la arisi vaangara??"
me: (innocently) ration kadai'la
classmate in exam hall: Miss she is copying miss....
ME: No miss..i only asked her spelling for banyan...
interviewer: What's your father??
Me: My mother's husband :)
me shocked... cos i was just playing the part of a table in a street play....
older girl: "endha kadai'la arisi vaangara??"
me: (innocently) ration kadai'la
classmate in exam hall: Miss she is copying miss....
ME: No miss..i only asked her spelling for banyan...
interviewer: What's your father??
Me: My mother's husband :)
Friday, April 23, 2010
When in Travel with Old Men
Thatha 1 and me in the same bus... he is almost 80... sitting in the midst of women...
thatha: (after talking to all other ladies) where do u work ma? u travel this route regularly??
Me: (had to stop listening to music to reply) i am working in a CA firm... ya i travel daily..
thatha: what have u studied?? and ur husband??
me: i am a CA... so is my husband..he works nearby...
thatha: so u have done ur B.Com? (he doesnt know what is CA)..you have to go home and cook?? (looking out the window) this is Taj hotel... very good...
me:(looking at the over-sized tea stall called Taj hotel).. oh ok!!
Thatha 2 and me...once again in bus...
thatha:(in kannada) which bus stop comes first BDA or petrol bunk?
Me:(again was listening to music)..sorry? i didnt get ur question.
he repeats and i answer explaining that i dont know kannada much.
thatha: what phone is this..
me: sony ericsson
thatha:(taking phone away from my hand) this can record music? this has camera also? how much is it?
me:(slightly shocked by the invasion of privacy) yes..yes..now it costs 4k..
then he spared me conversation and went on with his AAAAwwws (yawns) and aaarrbsss (burps).... and finally moksh for me when he got down...
just 1 question.... why dont they realise that person listening to music is (a) not interested in conversation and (b) cant hear a thing when u talk to them
but on a final note..maybe they are lonely and need someone to talk to...
final opinion is.. if u can take it...sit next to an older person.... if u cannot steer clear...
thatha: (after talking to all other ladies) where do u work ma? u travel this route regularly??
Me: (had to stop listening to music to reply) i am working in a CA firm... ya i travel daily..
thatha: what have u studied?? and ur husband??
me: i am a CA... so is my husband..he works nearby...
thatha: so u have done ur B.Com? (he doesnt know what is CA)..you have to go home and cook?? (looking out the window) this is Taj hotel... very good...
me:(looking at the over-sized tea stall called Taj hotel).. oh ok!!
Thatha 2 and me...once again in bus...
thatha:(in kannada) which bus stop comes first BDA or petrol bunk?
Me:(again was listening to music)..sorry? i didnt get ur question.
he repeats and i answer explaining that i dont know kannada much.
thatha: what phone is this..
me: sony ericsson
thatha:(taking phone away from my hand) this can record music? this has camera also? how much is it?
me:(slightly shocked by the invasion of privacy) yes..yes..now it costs 4k..
then he spared me conversation and went on with his AAAAwwws (yawns) and aaarrbsss (burps).... and finally moksh for me when he got down...
just 1 question.... why dont they realise that person listening to music is (a) not interested in conversation and (b) cant hear a thing when u talk to them
but on a final note..maybe they are lonely and need someone to talk to...
final opinion is.. if u can take it...sit next to an older person.... if u cannot steer clear...
Eating the Apple Pie....
"Okay now here you go" she said...laying out the cutlery and crockery before little Jenny.. "Do you see the difference between this fork and that?? Can you tell me why??".. without giving her time to respond she continued, "it is for the different foods that you will eat"..pointing to each she started "this is the salad fork.. this dinner fork and this one is the dessert fork.. that knife is the dinner knife and the two spoons are the tea spoon and soup spoon... remember no clanking of the cuttlery.. and no slurping noises...no elbows on the table... and chew with your mouth closed"..
it was her grooming session before the big dinner the British family next door was hosting... Jenny's mom wanted to impress their hosts and show that they too possess enough class and culture and are good enough as anybody else in the upper class neighbourhood they had just moved into...
Jenny's sky blue dress was all ready...her hair was combed into a neat pony and held by a pretty bow...her mom took great care and pride in dressing her up as a proper little girl... she herself was dressed in a Lilac dress running up to half way her toned and waxed legs... it was a formal dinner and she didn't want to look out of place... after all it was looks that mattered most... to look proper and well presented... she didn't spare her husband too, who was now grudgingly stepping into his freshly dry-cleaned black suit...
The hosts, Mr and Mrs Taylor wore a warm smile and pleasant look and welcomed Jenny and her parents... the gathering held around 50 guests... all living next to each other... the dinner was just an excuse for the Taylor's to show off their wealth and the other reason for holding it that day was to announce that they would be moving away shortly... ofcourse to a bigger and better place...far more swanky than at present...
all her ettiquette lessons clashed in her head..but she was mindful that her cutlery didn't clash... she sat quietly and ate what was served to her... the Taylor's had arranged for butler service too... the food was accompanied with fine wine...
Jenny had successfully sailed through the dinner... her mom's approving face smiling down at her stood proof of the fact.... it was now time for the desserts... her most anticipated moment as the dinner had been a boring affair for the little child...
dessert was served... it was apple pie.. topped with cream... a delicacy that anyone would find hard to resist....
she didn't attack her plate... but rather approached it with pure childish excitement.. and in no less that two minutes it had vanished down her throat.... her hand quickly shot up asking for one more....all her etiquette lessons forgotten..
some stared at the little girl...some amused and some appalled... she was simply enjoying her pie... her mother was too embarrassed to react...all she could do was to look into her plate and timidly fork pieces of her pie and nibble at it...
dinner was officially done... all guests thanked the hosts and left... Jenny was quiet as she knew that her mother was not happy... they said their "good byes" to the host who had made their announcement..
as she waked back home.. her mother stayed silent... finally on reaching their doorstep she spoke to her mom... " i am sorry mommy... the pie was so delicious... after all they had invited us for dinner... and dinners are meant for eating... and i only ate what i liked a lot.... sorry for embarassing you"...
Realising the folly she had committed, she looked at the child with remorse showing on her well made up face... she got down on her knees and hugged the child... and gently whispered "I am sorry baby" and kissed the child...
Jenny's dad finally managed to find the keys after fumbling through his wife's purse...he unlocked the door and the happy family walked in to their home sweet home...
it was her grooming session before the big dinner the British family next door was hosting... Jenny's mom wanted to impress their hosts and show that they too possess enough class and culture and are good enough as anybody else in the upper class neighbourhood they had just moved into...
Jenny's sky blue dress was all ready...her hair was combed into a neat pony and held by a pretty bow...her mom took great care and pride in dressing her up as a proper little girl... she herself was dressed in a Lilac dress running up to half way her toned and waxed legs... it was a formal dinner and she didn't want to look out of place... after all it was looks that mattered most... to look proper and well presented... she didn't spare her husband too, who was now grudgingly stepping into his freshly dry-cleaned black suit...
The hosts, Mr and Mrs Taylor wore a warm smile and pleasant look and welcomed Jenny and her parents... the gathering held around 50 guests... all living next to each other... the dinner was just an excuse for the Taylor's to show off their wealth and the other reason for holding it that day was to announce that they would be moving away shortly... ofcourse to a bigger and better place...far more swanky than at present...
all her ettiquette lessons clashed in her head..but she was mindful that her cutlery didn't clash... she sat quietly and ate what was served to her... the Taylor's had arranged for butler service too... the food was accompanied with fine wine...
Jenny had successfully sailed through the dinner... her mom's approving face smiling down at her stood proof of the fact.... it was now time for the desserts... her most anticipated moment as the dinner had been a boring affair for the little child...
dessert was served... it was apple pie.. topped with cream... a delicacy that anyone would find hard to resist....
she didn't attack her plate... but rather approached it with pure childish excitement.. and in no less that two minutes it had vanished down her throat.... her hand quickly shot up asking for one more....all her etiquette lessons forgotten..
some stared at the little girl...some amused and some appalled... she was simply enjoying her pie... her mother was too embarrassed to react...all she could do was to look into her plate and timidly fork pieces of her pie and nibble at it...
dinner was officially done... all guests thanked the hosts and left... Jenny was quiet as she knew that her mother was not happy... they said their "good byes" to the host who had made their announcement..
as she waked back home.. her mother stayed silent... finally on reaching their doorstep she spoke to her mom... " i am sorry mommy... the pie was so delicious... after all they had invited us for dinner... and dinners are meant for eating... and i only ate what i liked a lot.... sorry for embarassing you"...
Realising the folly she had committed, she looked at the child with remorse showing on her well made up face... she got down on her knees and hugged the child... and gently whispered "I am sorry baby" and kissed the child...
Jenny's dad finally managed to find the keys after fumbling through his wife's purse...he unlocked the door and the happy family walked in to their home sweet home...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Hows it going??
Ever had weird questions posed to you??? the ones that either irritate you or the ones that just tickle u silly to give comical answers....
i have two questions that fall into each of the above category...
Hows it going he would ask... that manager at a client place.... every single time he used to cross our table... and every time i would politely answer that its going fine....
and finally when he asked it for the nth time... i made up my final answer for the n+1th time he was going to repeat it...
the answer???? well with a very sorry looking face and head bend down... nodding it side to side "Very watery Sir"
but alas... he never asked it for n+1th time... and i never got to give him the answer....
and the next big question is HOW DO YOU DO
do i have to elaborate what sort of answers my mind was making up??? better leave that to your imagination....
i have two questions that fall into each of the above category...
Hows it going he would ask... that manager at a client place.... every single time he used to cross our table... and every time i would politely answer that its going fine....
and finally when he asked it for the nth time... i made up my final answer for the n+1th time he was going to repeat it...
the answer???? well with a very sorry looking face and head bend down... nodding it side to side "Very watery Sir"
but alas... he never asked it for n+1th time... and i never got to give him the answer....
and the next big question is HOW DO YOU DO
do i have to elaborate what sort of answers my mind was making up??? better leave that to your imagination....
Love Story..
Arun was late. Late to the railway station. A friend from his hometown was arriving today and he had to pick that guy up. Try as he might, his bike wouldn't transform into a Jet and neither would the sea of locomotives split up if he like Moses would pray and put his bike on top gear...
He had the perfect excuse all figured out. He would simply say that he was lost. But after 5 years in the city no one would believe him if he said that. But then again he had really been lost. Lost in his girl friend's eyes. Corny, as it may sound, it still is not entirely false. He had met her for lunch and just lost track of time.
It had become a habit to turn up late. And this habit had got him in trouble with Sonia, his girlfriend. He promised to meet her for dinner and arrived fifteen minutes late. She was a sucker for punctuality and was very angry with him that she waited for him and marched off the moment he entered the restaurant. It was 3 days efforts of non-stop calling, messaging and apologising that finally won him a lunch today. And he did not want to commit the folly of cutting it short before she said it was time to leave.
The race through traffic finally ended and now he got on foot and started racing towards the platform where the train had arrived. Frantically he scanned through the crowd that thronged the station.
Kumar was coming to the city for the first time. He was a naive small town guy who finally managed to get a job in the big city. Moving to an unknown city had greatly upset him. Not for the fact that he would be away from home, but rather that he would be in a new place with no one he knew. That is when his father reminded him of his schoolmate Arun.
Kumar was a typical timid loner and had not made many friends in school except for Arun. Arun was on the contrary a very outgoing guy and took interest in Kumar, knowing that he was shy and had no friends. He would always stand up for him. That was in school days. And once again now, out of school and college years, Arun took upon himself to help Kumar.
His nervousness on finding no familiar face in the crowd had resulted in huge sweat drops on his forehead. Being a typical worrier, he was now frantically scanning the crowd for the friend who would pick him up. That is when he saw him Arun. With the same solid face, changed yet unchanged since all those years. With those sincere, penetrating eyes, scanning the crowd and searching for his friend, searching for him. His heart now was pounding with joy.
Arun greeted him with a warm hug. It was good to see an old friend after many years. The ride back to his room was filled with stories from days that were long gone. It was a happy reunion and he was feeling very happy to see that Kumar had turned out fine. They spent the whole day talking and finally stepped out for some late dinner and then to a peaceful slumber.
Kumar was enjoying his days in the city. The freedom he enjoyed away from home left him feeling euphoric. For the first time in life he had been out of his father's shadow. His workplace was fine, his work was suited to his tastes and best of all Arun was just great. He was too smart, knowing everything. He had taught him everything about the city, about the pickpockets in the bus and the fleecing auto drivers and even about where to get your cheap pirated stuff.
Sonia was curious. She knew that Arun had a new roommate, but she was curious because he would often talk about him and remark how naive he was. She wanted to meet the guy who was her boyfriend's childhood friend. And so finally a sunday lunch was planned.
Kumar was not informed about the guest. He had slept well the previous night. They had gone for a walk on the Marina and he had really enjoyed the walk that he and Arun had shared. The few moments where they were only the two people walking on the face of earth. He had never been to a beach before and he really loved the splashing of the waves and the cool breeze. But wherever he looked, he found many couples cuddling and cooing. That somehow he didn't enjoy much. This distasteful thought finally woke him up.
It was Sunday and it was laundry day. Arun was already at it, washing his clothes. Kumar sat up in bed and watched his friend toiling away with the clothes. There was a strong feeling growing inside him. A feeling which he did not realise and therefore was easily ignored.
They were getting ready. Sunday used to be cook and eat day. But today Arun had said that they had plans. So he put on his new jeans and the t-shirt he had got based on his buddy's insistence. He preferred to spend the day indoors but then had to go out. It didn't seem to be his best Sunday so far.
Sonia was already there waiting. Arun was late as usual. He knew that he would be treated to an irate face, but knew that since Kumar was with him, she would behave better. And finally they met.
Kumar didn't realise it at once, but then he saw that Arun sat next to her and then he introduced her as his girlfriend. This time the feelings inside Kumar were strong and he noticed that pang of jealousy pit in his stomach. Every minute he sat there was excruciating for him. He realised that Arun was not his, but of Sonia's.
It was his first time alone on the beach, the second ever time he was visiting it. He needed to think about what had happened. He needed to think sitting alone. He could not understand anything, he could not gather why he was jealous of her. Watching the waves, the hours flew. He still had no answer. Thats when he heard Arun's voice. He had come searching for him. That is when he knew. He was in love, in love with Arun.
The days that followed the realisation were the hardest in his life. Seeing Arun's face every day, he got constantly reminded of the fact that his love would always remain one sided and can never consummate. He knew that the time for taking a decision has arrived. A choice had to be made, to stay and suffer or to leave and move on. Atleast Arun would remain his friend. He made up his mind.
Within a month, his employer had offered to depute him in another state. An opportunity that seemed like a blessing in disguise. He packed his bags.
Arun was concerned, how his friend would manage alone outside. But then his mind was made and he only assured him that he had learned enough from his stay with him, to manage by himself outside.
The airport was not very far from where they stayed. Arun insisted on dropping him there and so he refused the company cab. A final ride together he thought. Seated behind the bike, he really wanted to steal a hug, but realised it would be futile and hugged his bag rather. After an eternity, the airport arrived.
A parting hug, a few exchange of 'stay in touch' and 'take care'. His heart was heavy. He knew that he would never see Arun again, he didn't want to betray his feelings and break his friends heart. Hoping that the distance and solitude would mend his heart, he stepped into the airport. Waving one final 'goodbye' he walked off past security.
Arun never realised what was amiss. But felt sad that his defenceless friend had to leave so early. He hoped that he would fare well. His worry lines were deepening when Sonia offered a word of comfort and told him that Kumar will be fine. Praying for his friend he drove back, all the while talking to her and telling her the stories of the poor guy whom he had just sent off. A good guy who was just too shy and timid.
Kumar, looked down from his flight. His maiden journey, a journey into the future, leaving the past behind, leaving his Arun behind. He said a small prayer for Arun, and wished for his good life with Sonia, and then one for himself so that his acing heart would find peace someday. And watched in awe as the clouds covered in orange sunlight spread out across the sky and how far he has come in just a short time. He laid back in his seat and drifted to sleep with this thought lingering on his mind.
He had the perfect excuse all figured out. He would simply say that he was lost. But after 5 years in the city no one would believe him if he said that. But then again he had really been lost. Lost in his girl friend's eyes. Corny, as it may sound, it still is not entirely false. He had met her for lunch and just lost track of time.
It had become a habit to turn up late. And this habit had got him in trouble with Sonia, his girlfriend. He promised to meet her for dinner and arrived fifteen minutes late. She was a sucker for punctuality and was very angry with him that she waited for him and marched off the moment he entered the restaurant. It was 3 days efforts of non-stop calling, messaging and apologising that finally won him a lunch today. And he did not want to commit the folly of cutting it short before she said it was time to leave.
The race through traffic finally ended and now he got on foot and started racing towards the platform where the train had arrived. Frantically he scanned through the crowd that thronged the station.
Kumar was coming to the city for the first time. He was a naive small town guy who finally managed to get a job in the big city. Moving to an unknown city had greatly upset him. Not for the fact that he would be away from home, but rather that he would be in a new place with no one he knew. That is when his father reminded him of his schoolmate Arun.
Kumar was a typical timid loner and had not made many friends in school except for Arun. Arun was on the contrary a very outgoing guy and took interest in Kumar, knowing that he was shy and had no friends. He would always stand up for him. That was in school days. And once again now, out of school and college years, Arun took upon himself to help Kumar.
His nervousness on finding no familiar face in the crowd had resulted in huge sweat drops on his forehead. Being a typical worrier, he was now frantically scanning the crowd for the friend who would pick him up. That is when he saw him Arun. With the same solid face, changed yet unchanged since all those years. With those sincere, penetrating eyes, scanning the crowd and searching for his friend, searching for him. His heart now was pounding with joy.
Arun greeted him with a warm hug. It was good to see an old friend after many years. The ride back to his room was filled with stories from days that were long gone. It was a happy reunion and he was feeling very happy to see that Kumar had turned out fine. They spent the whole day talking and finally stepped out for some late dinner and then to a peaceful slumber.
Kumar was enjoying his days in the city. The freedom he enjoyed away from home left him feeling euphoric. For the first time in life he had been out of his father's shadow. His workplace was fine, his work was suited to his tastes and best of all Arun was just great. He was too smart, knowing everything. He had taught him everything about the city, about the pickpockets in the bus and the fleecing auto drivers and even about where to get your cheap pirated stuff.
Sonia was curious. She knew that Arun had a new roommate, but she was curious because he would often talk about him and remark how naive he was. She wanted to meet the guy who was her boyfriend's childhood friend. And so finally a sunday lunch was planned.
Kumar was not informed about the guest. He had slept well the previous night. They had gone for a walk on the Marina and he had really enjoyed the walk that he and Arun had shared. The few moments where they were only the two people walking on the face of earth. He had never been to a beach before and he really loved the splashing of the waves and the cool breeze. But wherever he looked, he found many couples cuddling and cooing. That somehow he didn't enjoy much. This distasteful thought finally woke him up.
It was Sunday and it was laundry day. Arun was already at it, washing his clothes. Kumar sat up in bed and watched his friend toiling away with the clothes. There was a strong feeling growing inside him. A feeling which he did not realise and therefore was easily ignored.
They were getting ready. Sunday used to be cook and eat day. But today Arun had said that they had plans. So he put on his new jeans and the t-shirt he had got based on his buddy's insistence. He preferred to spend the day indoors but then had to go out. It didn't seem to be his best Sunday so far.
Sonia was already there waiting. Arun was late as usual. He knew that he would be treated to an irate face, but knew that since Kumar was with him, she would behave better. And finally they met.
Kumar didn't realise it at once, but then he saw that Arun sat next to her and then he introduced her as his girlfriend. This time the feelings inside Kumar were strong and he noticed that pang of jealousy pit in his stomach. Every minute he sat there was excruciating for him. He realised that Arun was not his, but of Sonia's.
It was his first time alone on the beach, the second ever time he was visiting it. He needed to think about what had happened. He needed to think sitting alone. He could not understand anything, he could not gather why he was jealous of her. Watching the waves, the hours flew. He still had no answer. Thats when he heard Arun's voice. He had come searching for him. That is when he knew. He was in love, in love with Arun.
The days that followed the realisation were the hardest in his life. Seeing Arun's face every day, he got constantly reminded of the fact that his love would always remain one sided and can never consummate. He knew that the time for taking a decision has arrived. A choice had to be made, to stay and suffer or to leave and move on. Atleast Arun would remain his friend. He made up his mind.
Within a month, his employer had offered to depute him in another state. An opportunity that seemed like a blessing in disguise. He packed his bags.
Arun was concerned, how his friend would manage alone outside. But then his mind was made and he only assured him that he had learned enough from his stay with him, to manage by himself outside.
The airport was not very far from where they stayed. Arun insisted on dropping him there and so he refused the company cab. A final ride together he thought. Seated behind the bike, he really wanted to steal a hug, but realised it would be futile and hugged his bag rather. After an eternity, the airport arrived.
A parting hug, a few exchange of 'stay in touch' and 'take care'. His heart was heavy. He knew that he would never see Arun again, he didn't want to betray his feelings and break his friends heart. Hoping that the distance and solitude would mend his heart, he stepped into the airport. Waving one final 'goodbye' he walked off past security.
Arun never realised what was amiss. But felt sad that his defenceless friend had to leave so early. He hoped that he would fare well. His worry lines were deepening when Sonia offered a word of comfort and told him that Kumar will be fine. Praying for his friend he drove back, all the while talking to her and telling her the stories of the poor guy whom he had just sent off. A good guy who was just too shy and timid.
Kumar, looked down from his flight. His maiden journey, a journey into the future, leaving the past behind, leaving his Arun behind. He said a small prayer for Arun, and wished for his good life with Sonia, and then one for himself so that his acing heart would find peace someday. And watched in awe as the clouds covered in orange sunlight spread out across the sky and how far he has come in just a short time. He laid back in his seat and drifted to sleep with this thought lingering on his mind.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
When boarding a train...
when boarding a train...
1) check whether u have the ticket..
2) check train timings...
3) check the DATE...
4) check platform, coach, seat, luggage
Have a safe journey....
But when me and my colleagues followed all the steps above.... me missed out one small detail...
- check date and time together in correlation with each other....
why???? u may ask...
that is cos we had asked the travel agent to book the Friday night train.... which leaves at 1am.... and he had booked the Friday 1am train aka Thursday night train...
what happened next??? we checked that the ticket was for Friday(date matched)... saw the time as 1am... and dumbly noted that Friday night we have to catch the train...
catch the train we did.. running and jumping into it and our luggage thrown in after us... the adventure had already begun....
and catch us did the TT do... cos we had an expired ticket in hand...
finally with jus 2k in hand and 4 ticketless travellers... we managed to give a cut to 2 TTs and book general tickets and change compartments in the next big station...
the luxury of 2nd AC was given up so that we cud have some money left atleast for some chai paani the next day...
so be warned and stay alert...some adventures are fun...and the others are called a SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS...
1) check whether u have the ticket..
2) check train timings...
3) check the DATE...
4) check platform, coach, seat, luggage
Have a safe journey....
But when me and my colleagues followed all the steps above.... me missed out one small detail...
- check date and time together in correlation with each other....
why???? u may ask...
that is cos we had asked the travel agent to book the Friday night train.... which leaves at 1am.... and he had booked the Friday 1am train aka Thursday night train...
what happened next??? we checked that the ticket was for Friday(date matched)... saw the time as 1am... and dumbly noted that Friday night we have to catch the train...
catch the train we did.. running and jumping into it and our luggage thrown in after us... the adventure had already begun....
and catch us did the TT do... cos we had an expired ticket in hand...
finally with jus 2k in hand and 4 ticketless travellers... we managed to give a cut to 2 TTs and book general tickets and change compartments in the next big station...
the luxury of 2nd AC was given up so that we cud have some money left atleast for some chai paani the next day...
so be warned and stay alert...some adventures are fun...and the others are called a SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS...
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya....
it was a thavam.... not just for the director... but for me too... i waited long to see this movie... and it finally happened nearly after a month n half of its release...
my first intro to the movie was based on its music.... and what to say about it??? AMAZING.... every song grips u and gets u into the feel of the story... without even seeing a single trailer... i could clearly picture every song... the mood of the film..including the kind of visuals that may be included.... and i did rightly figure that Anbil Avan was the climax song.....
not just the movie...but the songs and lyrics were sheer poetry oozing out... LOVE was never portrayed so simply and beautifully.... Aaromale.... when the singer cries out in angst... u cud feel the pain and yet realise that the hero is not angry with his beloved... just feeling helpless....
omana penne... afterall its a malayalee christian.... and wat about the song Vinnaithaandi Varuyvaya????? OMG!!! it is my favourite song from this album.... the picturisation shows the gentle exchange of love between the lovers..so neatly and subtly.... decently... the passion that binds them... the love..
the background score - outstanding... Jessie's been driving me crazy...
i never felt sad that they couldn't get together... the end seemed practical... karthik accepted it.. and decided to be happy that he got to experience TRUE LOVE in his lifetime... Jessie was again being practical in choosing to listen to her parents... it would not be easily acceptable to many lovers... but then thats what she did... and maybe because their love story didn't have the happy ending.. it became an epic.. it conveyed that TRUE LOVE can exist on its own... unselfish and without expectations...
i did have tears in my eyes.. not sad ones... and strangely very happy and peaceful at the end of it...
simbu and trisha have both lived their parts.... finally they have delivered as ACTORS... sinbu has exercised so much restraint on his expressions and fingers... he has finally proven that he is capable of meaningful cinema.... Trisha is now finally an actress and no longer an exhibition doll in movies...
GAUTHAM MENON... has done it again... looking forward to his next... the director with such a unique style and feel good movies... well grounded, plausible stories... characters well defined... music and lyrics chosen aptly for the story.... camera, costumes, lighting... everything done in line with the story and its mood... casting... he has truely laboured to deliver the perfect baby.... CONGRATS!!!
VTV!!!! must have in the film library...
my first intro to the movie was based on its music.... and what to say about it??? AMAZING.... every song grips u and gets u into the feel of the story... without even seeing a single trailer... i could clearly picture every song... the mood of the film..including the kind of visuals that may be included.... and i did rightly figure that Anbil Avan was the climax song.....
not just the movie...but the songs and lyrics were sheer poetry oozing out... LOVE was never portrayed so simply and beautifully.... Aaromale.... when the singer cries out in angst... u cud feel the pain and yet realise that the hero is not angry with his beloved... just feeling helpless....
omana penne... afterall its a malayalee christian.... and wat about the song Vinnaithaandi Varuyvaya????? OMG!!! it is my favourite song from this album.... the picturisation shows the gentle exchange of love between the lovers..so neatly and subtly.... decently... the passion that binds them... the love..
the background score - outstanding... Jessie's been driving me crazy...
i never felt sad that they couldn't get together... the end seemed practical... karthik accepted it.. and decided to be happy that he got to experience TRUE LOVE in his lifetime... Jessie was again being practical in choosing to listen to her parents... it would not be easily acceptable to many lovers... but then thats what she did... and maybe because their love story didn't have the happy ending.. it became an epic.. it conveyed that TRUE LOVE can exist on its own... unselfish and without expectations...
i did have tears in my eyes.. not sad ones... and strangely very happy and peaceful at the end of it...
simbu and trisha have both lived their parts.... finally they have delivered as ACTORS... sinbu has exercised so much restraint on his expressions and fingers... he has finally proven that he is capable of meaningful cinema.... Trisha is now finally an actress and no longer an exhibition doll in movies...
GAUTHAM MENON... has done it again... looking forward to his next... the director with such a unique style and feel good movies... well grounded, plausible stories... characters well defined... music and lyrics chosen aptly for the story.... camera, costumes, lighting... everything done in line with the story and its mood... casting... he has truely laboured to deliver the perfect baby.... CONGRATS!!!
VTV!!!! must have in the film library...
Monday, April 19, 2010
When in Kerala...
When in Kerala.... watch out for one thing.... God's own country has all the beauty and picturesque scenes to offer any tourist... but it also has one minor problem... bandhs...
bandhs are a common phenomenon...and when will one be called upon no one can predict... this particularly puts travellers to the state in a bit of a fix... especially when u have other places to go to... trains or flights to catch to a different location and so on and so forth...
this is stemmed from a trip to kerala my family and I had taken up sometime back... we were on our way to Guruvayoor... we had just reached Ernakulam and had been to Chotanikara... that is when we learnt that the next day it was a bandh... problem was that we had to get to Guruvayoor that night itself...else our return would be jeapordised...
getting out of Chotanikara itself became a task..due to the following day bandh, bus services to Ernakulam were already halted... finally bargained and hoped into a rick to the city.... there another trouble awaited us.... buses to Guruvayoor...
we ended up travelling all night long on a bus to Thrissur and thereon on a bus to Guruvayoor... the entire journey was done standing due to the huge crowd... finally on landing in Guruvayoor we had to search for a place to stay also... because of the bandh all hotels were full....
luckily we were able to find decent lodging and managed to find few hotels in operation...
it was one travel that will not be easily forgotten... and the bandhs will never keep us away from Kerala either....
bandhs are a common phenomenon...and when will one be called upon no one can predict... this particularly puts travellers to the state in a bit of a fix... especially when u have other places to go to... trains or flights to catch to a different location and so on and so forth...
this is stemmed from a trip to kerala my family and I had taken up sometime back... we were on our way to Guruvayoor... we had just reached Ernakulam and had been to Chotanikara... that is when we learnt that the next day it was a bandh... problem was that we had to get to Guruvayoor that night itself...else our return would be jeapordised...
getting out of Chotanikara itself became a task..due to the following day bandh, bus services to Ernakulam were already halted... finally bargained and hoped into a rick to the city.... there another trouble awaited us.... buses to Guruvayoor...
we ended up travelling all night long on a bus to Thrissur and thereon on a bus to Guruvayoor... the entire journey was done standing due to the huge crowd... finally on landing in Guruvayoor we had to search for a place to stay also... because of the bandh all hotels were full....
luckily we were able to find decent lodging and managed to find few hotels in operation...
it was one travel that will not be easily forgotten... and the bandhs will never keep us away from Kerala either....
Allura...
"Beep beep" beeped his phone.. a sms from someone unknown. "I am sorry", it said... He felt obliged to reply, to tell the sender that the apology had not reached the person it was meant for... He replied..
It was day 3 of messages.. She had told that she was apologising to her boyfriend and mistyped the number... She had told everything that had happened before and poured out her anxieties over the calls that went unanswered... He read every message patiently, wondering who she was and why he was getting involved so much... He did not even know her name, he never asked, she never gave...
And then one morning there was the missed call... it was her... she had called him in the middle of the night.. he called her back... there was no response... then there came a message saying she was Shy to talk to him now and would rather message... and he patiently continued...
His days had been going as usual.. mundane things.. the usual work.. usual friends and the usual flirts.. nothing new... and suddenly an apology put the verve back on...
The messages were exchanged day and night... she was concerned about her lover... the guy who never called back.. the one with whom she had been in love with for almost 4 years.. her first love.. a handsome man.. college love.. sweet words and promises.. the crumbling of the world around her...
And then she called.. it was midnight.. he answered in his sleep.. and the meek voice on the other side said "Hi its me".. He didn't know what to say and didn't know what to talk... but talk they did for 2 long hours... she sobbed and sniffed, telling that she was sad... Henry had left her for good.. he had left the city making the end very clear.. she sobbed harder telling that Henry was the love of her life and that she was now broken and dead on the inside..
He listened patiently, lending her his shoulders to cry upon... he wanted to comfort her.. to pat her head and say "it will be alright".. the urge to see her started growing inside..
"I want to meet you", he said... she suddenly became all quiet.. she gave some excuse and shortly cut the call...
Confused was not the only word to define his emotions... he was now angry too.. his life was happy the way it was but why did he have to message some unknown girl day and night... was he that desperate in life that he needed an unknown person to make him feel important and wanted... he had questions and all were only for himself... and he had no answer..
A whole week passed with no messages.. his eyes would glance to his silent phone.. and then he would chide himself for his obsession... he exercised utmost restraint.. he kept himself busy with work, friends, movies and parties... but found himself peering into his phone time to time.. he was angry with his helplessness to overcome the need to message that unknown girl...
It was sunday night.. the beep went off frantically... messages galore.. apologies.. request to answer calls.. inviting for coffee to meet.. and then came the call... She sobbed.. said she had been confused.. apologised and asked to meet him for real.. He listened patiently and finally relented.. the date was fixed... Saturday night at 8...
Messages rained through the days.. about crushes, love, kisses and more.. she kept calling every night just to kiss him goodnight.. Their date kept nearing and their distances kept fading.. he was completely lost, her sweet cooing had blown him away.. It had all happened so fast that he forgot he still didn't know her name..
It was a sexy saturday.. she had spoken to him all through the night... a dozen kisses in between..lovers talk one could say.. she had promised to dress up for him in her very best..and just before day break she said she was in love again...
The table was set.. the Wine was ready.. candles were lit... he was there.. watching the people dining and the crowd that kept coming and going... wide eyed he waited.. searching for her.. it was not yet time, he was early and so he waited.. Every time the door opened, his heart skipped a beat... whenever a young lady walked in his eyes grew wide.. but then they would droop seeing their companion following behind...
The minutes slipped away into an hour... he messaged her... his nervousness grew.. she was nowhere in sight... no replies to his messages and no response to his calls... she must be on the way he thought... but couldn't stop from perspiring in nervous thought... finally he realised he had waited too long...
She was gone.. completely gone.. her number was no longer valid... the girl with no name..who caught his fancy and filled his time... he realised that it was the same girl who had now made a fool of him... fooling him with her fake tears and by acting shy.. her sweet talk and tender kisses... fooled him for God knows what... maybe he was a toy...maybe she found it to be a sport... a sport where the loser is left ashamed and scorned.... "Why me?" he thought..
He had a silent dinner and walked home, head down.... this day would soon get buried in the past... but then he would never forget how he had fallen for this Allura...
image courtesy google www.layoutsparks.com
Chees-astic...
Cheese.. a piece of which lures Jerry out of his home to fall in to Tom's trap...
Butter.. the intelligent butter-licious advertisements from Amul...
Both make my tongue water..Both taste good... both are from milk... the difference??
cheese is not a well known delicacy to us as we restrict ourselves to using butter... butter on our bread... butter on the stove melting to Ghee... for many of our sweets and delicacies we need butter or ghee... every day meal is incomplete without spoonfuls of Ghee...
and cheese???? available in plenty on the hot hot pizzas we order... coated on top of the pasta and penne we eat at the Italian restaurant in some place... pizza, pasta, penne... all traditional European dishes.. traditionally bathed in cheese...
paneer is something that we are all familiar with... but overall in the world... cheese is consumed the most by the Greeks, French and Italians...
butter vs cheese??? butter is by churning the butter milk... and cheese is by hardening curd... long process...
cheese need not be a vegetarian delicacy... thats becos Rennet that is used to coagulate the milk can be veg / non-veg depending on its source.... traditional Rennet is made from animal stomach lining... yucky...
there are so many varities of cheese too...so many means so many... nearly 50 odd names i read...i had only heard cheddar and mozzarella before.. there are even ones with the mould in it... blue veined ones... can i call it yummy???
now u can make ur pick...cow milk, yak milk, goat milk, sheep milk...etc etc... u milk it to make it....
and yes... i love my cheese...
footnote: image courtesy google
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