a pepe a lee and me

 a pepe a lee and me!!

Man proposes but God disposes. This was how I felt at the end of the day. But I cant put the entire blame on Him. I placed myself in such a situation where He could have done nothing but dispose my plans.

My room mates went home for the weekend. I had plans to go home, but it didn’t work out. My parents didn’t like me reaching there so early (2 am). They were expressing concerns and were giving lectures on the consequences of reaching there at an unearthly hour during the chaotic election period(in kannur!!!). So I dropped my plan and I was stuck in my room alone. The weekend was ahead of me without really knowing what to do with it .

Half of the first day went without any fuss sleeping watching TV and turning few pages of a novel, then I started getting bored. Cleaning the room was a good option for the time killing, an uphill task which can keep you busy till the night unless you are lost in the mess. As usual I deferred it.

I have been planning to buy a jean to give due rest to the single accomplice I have, a black basics trousers. It will certainly try for an escape if I ever let myself out of it. A textile shop, Chaithram, was offering (popular) branded apparels at an affordable price, as the time was in plenty I decided to go over there. I just had a vague idea about the location, wasn’t confident about making it to the textile shop. So I didn’t take much money with me and expected an ATM somewhere in the near vicinity. But the place turned out to be a bundu. But luckily SB card was debit able there. Showering towering praises on the services that SB offer to its customers I went searching for jeans. I picked a ‘pepe’ and a ‘lee’ and went to the counter to settle the bill. The shopkeeper swiped my card and asked me to enter the password

Password !! (oh what was it)

Numerous combinations of 4 digits started to circle around my head. I chose a pin which I thought to be familiar. I tried once, the permission was denied. A digit button in the device was faulty. I tried for the second time with the assumption that the problem was with the device. But the result was same. This time I tried a new combination and the result was different, the account got blocked.

Now the shop keeper started looking me in a suspicious way as if I have done something fishy. My roommate Rishin says that wasn’t related to the card failure, according to him generally I look suspicious. The card attempts might have only added some spice to it.

When the day started I was moderately rich with two different back accounts one financed by my father and the other one by the company I’m working in.The other account didnt hold adequate amount to pay the bill, so I left the place with a promise that I will return with the money. Literally at the end of the day I was almost out of dime waiting for my roommates to turn up.

A pepe a lee and an unsettled bill still waiting for me and I’m back to square one with my old accomplice.

Nileena

Yesterday all of a sudden she came back to me, I mean her name crossed my mind quite unexpectedly. Like the way it came to my mind her entry in my life was sudden and so was the departure, leaving a tiny memory behind, a cherished one though. It brings a smile on my face each time I think about it.

Nileena was much like any other girl we used to ogle during our vayinottam sessions back in our college days. Only difference is that she is the one, as a matter of fact the only one, who said I like you. She just said I like you, but I loved it and her as well.

This was how it really happened.

We didn't let go any chance to talk (The Scientific name is Panchara Adi) to a girl and Nileena was one such victim. We (Hashim Narayan Ranji and me )the usual class bunkers were assembled in the department front taking account of all the trespassers going to and fro (all the girls who are passing by). The day was proving to be futile, we were about to move to the Pancharakadu (name itself says everything about the location). Then suddenly she came in.

Note: She is from Architecture Dept. Their Department  is known for its beauties and she isn't an exception either.

Hash and Narayan started asking questions (Me and Renji were onlookers). Being a fresher she had no other way than to stay there and reply or find some weird reasons to escape our badger. But I think she is intelligent because we were actually not so harmful guys among normal choriyan seniors. Our questioning and bit of sugary interrogations were far better than those of the other guys around. So from her angle it was better to stay with us and answer to our pretty queries in a slippery way than escape us and get caught by some other dangerous herd waiting for her.

Normal doubts like where was she from, who all were there in her family and all finished and then we needed something to add spice to the situation. We asked her about having any boyfriend. She gave a plain No (She had one, we came to know about it only later). Else she would have faced some questions which would have put her in a dire strait and an unattended blushing. Intelligent girl !

"Why don't you have one ?" .

Silence and a smile .

"It's a college, so there is nothing wrong in that. What do you say ?".

No answer.

Just her eyes said

"what should I say?”

Intelligent girl

We tried every sort of questions but she was cunningly slipping through each and every one with her cute smile or not giving answers directly.
We started getting bored. That’s the part where the girl wins. We needed some clear cut answers to get back to the track and carry the show on.

"OK. Among us whom do you like the most?".

I think Hash asked that and she was trapped. She couldn’t escape that question. A direct answer was inevitable. She had no one to help her out. One wrong answer could make her life miserable with some guy walking behind her all the time. She had to think. She kept her wises sharp.

Note: I will try to be cordial with the truth in all possible way. But the only problem is that I'm not so sure about what went across her mind, Narayan got his own ideas which certainly won’t put me in a better view, so I will put my perspective in it.


Her studying gaze passed through each one of us..

These people (narayan and hash) look like real trouble, They have been irritating me like hell. I cant stand it any more. That leaves me with other two.

Oh this chettan (that certainly has to be me ) looks good and he is cool.

And she thought of all these conditions in those quick moments. There was no risk in that.

So she said "I like this chettan the most"..

Intelligent girl


P.S : Courtesy to Nikks(naru)

Seasons

This is a different kind of season. It comes twice in a year. Most prominent of the differences with the normal kind of season is that, it is custom made for each individual. It varies accordingly, with their performances of earlier seasons. What I'm referring to is an Exam Season.

The present season is getting closer. Each time I vow to make it the last one. But then a 'season next' always happens.

Scene - a sample day in a season

A room you might consider calling ‘a dumping zone’, unless you spot three untidy souls in its depths. It was lighted even in that late hours. Three of them were trying hard not to get away from the task they were supposed to carry out before the night fall, to finish three modules from the scratch. They have just returned after watching the Emperor fall before his nemesis Rafael Nadal in the final of French Open making millions of followers disheartened which includes two of them. Other one being a Nadal fan was having every possible happiness in the world. The time was running out. But analyzing the match was of the highest priority for them.

Skinny faced boy started it. Others joined him soon after.

He will certainly take it next time.

Try something else for the time being, man. You have been saying this for last two years.

I’m sure, he was so close this time, just some dip in his confidence, otherwise he would have taken it.

No Chance!

This 'will' and 'won't' continued for a while and a silence came in the end like the one which comes after a war. It was broken by a question from one of them who was by then clumsily lying down in the bed with a book in his hand pretending to be studying
He had just this one doubt.

write ya skip

No one cared to answer the question. The look on his face suggested that he had come up with an answer after some introspection. Cursing the university and exams he finds himself a good place in the bed.

Again a silence prevailed there for a while, only some rattling sounds of a person who was in quest for his sleep.

What about the girl, mate?

Who?

Talks goes on like this, without any topic in particular. What needed is a reason and nothing could ever be more enticing than an Exam Season.

how to look at a girl

It was a nice Sunday evening and I was spending some quality time with her. We were having snacks from her favorite hotel. We looked for a private space but couldn’t find any, so were made to sit in a corner in the highly crammed hotel.

As we were eating she complained that someone was staring at her. There wasn’t any point in creating an issue there, I asked her to let it go. She didn’t like the way I responded and was having a cold look on her face. I wasn’t sure if she was suggesting that I should question the person who did the blatant act. The point to be brave is always good (especially when you are with a girl). But the anonymity of the person behind my back scared me. If he turned out to be a heavily built one, it would have an opposite effect. I might not be left in a state that would let me do braver deeds later in life. More over we are from the country where Mahatma Gandhi lived!! So I tried to console her. But she was in no mood to let it go that easily and was going to question him. Some how I distracted her from it and we continued our talks.

After a while our anonymous man left. She said he was still staring at her, I was so busy with my Samosa that I missed him. She wasn’t going to leave the topic.

"All men are same, you people always stare at unwanted places“ She said.

What? (I didn’t like her generalizing it) How can you put the blame on rest of us for this?

How do you look at a girl then?

This was much like a question one faces during an engineering ragging section. But you can’t give a similar reply to a girl. There isn’t any point in denying the fact though. I tried to make it as mild as possible.

I look at a girl, you know, much like watching a sunset or a beautiful picture.

Is that so?

I looked at her face. she wasn’t satisfied with my answer.

Ok. I don’t know about the rest. I start with the face.

And?

Don't say that you people never want us to look at you. Why do you waste so much money and time dressing up then?

That is not an excuse for any kind of staring you people give us.

I looked around. We were at a safe distance from eavesdropping ears. But the place however wasn’t safe enough to have a discussion of that kind.

Ok what ever. It is getting late, we will talk about this later.

I paid the bill and we came out of the hotel. We walked in silence for a while. It changed the mood and we didn’t talk about the topic further. After having some pep talks we left for our respective perches.

Some other issues took this topic away from our phone calls during the following days. Even that didn’t help me escape having an introspection. This wasn't a test about the class where you belong, among good boys or bad ones. It was more about the curiosity to know how do I actually look at a girl?

Till that day what ever be the way that I looked at a girl there wasn't any thing that is deliberate in it. There wasn’t any method or plan, it was in a natural way. Mind was directed on its own accord. After that when ever a girl appeared before me there was a smile on my face. I was trying to know how my eyes traveled when I see a girl.

What I said to her is partially correct, watching a girl is much like watching a picture. Generally we are in quest for finding beauty in anything we see, so end up watching or it is better to say the our eyes go for, what that is more beautiful than the rest.

Having someone close will change the way we look at the opposite sex. It brings in some nobility and we tend to be more chivalrous. We wont be gazing in a lecherous way atleast when (not if)they are with us.

After being made to go through such thoughts I couldn’t help but wonder how girls might be returning such favor to us. They might just be seeing some heads dangling in mid air or at least this is what they are trying to make us believe.

Watching or scanning (what ever the name is) a girl is almost the same with the men, it is a basic instinct. Girls do have such instincts as well. But most often they try to hide it with the fear of getting taint in their image. But I’m sure they won’t mind giving furtive glances that won't sully their reputation. I can't possibly say they are capable of giving same level of staring like what a boy does when he see a girl.

And in any case if they start giving some serious staring (not an angry one!!), how will a boy react to it ? Will that be a reaction mixed with some kind of perplexity or delighted that a girl is looking at you or may even feel bit awkward ?
I don't know..

A stranger

While you travel, at times you will get acquainted with people whom you won’t forget for a long time. I too made such acquaintances while I traveled. I think one of them is worth mentioning, a B'lore walla I met here in Kerala.

The IPL second edition was in its final stages. I personally didn’t follow any team for rarely did I get a chance to watch a match. I was being updated with match details by my friends.
That day I was having a journey to Trivandrum from Ernakulam. I don’t remember which train it was, but do remember that I got into a sleeper compartment with a general ticket as the train was about to leave. I was waiting near the foot board to get down in the next station to get back to general compartment

A person was sitting at the foot board enjoying the sceneries outside having a chat over his phone in his mother tongue (not Malayalam), suddenly made a triumphant action. I heard him mentioning Dravid at some point. Only then did I understand that it was regarding IPL. I knew that royal Challengers had a match that night, asked him if they won he said yes and a conversation started. It went on and talk was finally regarding our career and job. I said I’m an engineer!! working in a private company in Ernakulam. There was a startled look on my face when he said he is a Doctor preparing for his MD.

He saw that and asked “Don’t I look like a doctor?”

“No. As a matter of fact I didn’t expect you to be one.”

“Why?”

I couldn’t imagine a doctor to be a one with a cleanly shaved head traveling on the foot board of a train.

Hmmm.. We are also humans right?

I guess it is time to change my views.

I like to take risks in my life and I enjoy traveling like this.

Won’t you feel sleepy?

No I don’t sleep while traveling

.
I gave him free lecture on the danger of sitting on the foot board. My parents give me tons of advices on such things each time I make a train journey, so it wasn’t difficult for me to give a lecture myself (now a days I let them know about my journeys only when it is over). He merely smiled.

The talk continued and the train was approaching Kottayam. He suggested that I don’t have to go back to general compartment. He got down in Kottayam and I found an unoccupied upper berth keeping in mind that I don’t have an excuse to say if a TTE appears before me. But luckily no one came and I reached Trivandrum in the morning. I don’t know what paid off in the end, the risk I have taken like he said or the little fortune what we call beginners luck.

I don’t remember his name now, you won’t blame me for that if you know me well enough. But it really was a nice experience meeting him.

Les Noces

Les Noces is a French word for wedding. Yesterday 12th of July my college-mate Hasna got married.  It is not for the first time I’m attending a marriage function. And Hasna wasn't the first one from my class in college to get married. Two others got married before her but I couldn't attend both. So it was for the first time I was attending a function like this of any of my classmates. Countless others right from my school days might have got married which I’m totally unaware of, so I need not go into that.

The marriage was held at Municipal Town hall in Manjeri. Most of my classmates were expected to be there. Junu Hash and Narayan were busy with their own issues, so they were not attending. I was in two minds about going. Me Ojas and Abdulla were exchanging calls but none of us could convince each other to go. It was a chance to meet old friends. The call for rendezvous was strong but my laziness got better of it in the end. I decided not to go until I received a call from Abdu early in the morning.

The moment I set forth I knew I wouldn’t make it to the function on time, but still decided to go on with it. I went to the railway station to see if I could find any train that would take me to the nearest possible station. But it was long gone by then and there were no further trains available in that direction for an hour or so. Only option left for me was to travel by bus. From what I hear from my Manjeri friends direct buses to Manjeri are a rarity. I learned it the hard way.
 When I reached the KSRTC bus terminal there were none and there were none for no time soon. The person sitting in the enquiry gave me a strange look when I asked him about the direct bus. I had to take a bus from Ernakulam to Trissur then to Perinthalmanna and finally to Manjeri.

I don’t really like to have longer journeys in a bus. It usually takes the hell out of me, that bus journey made my conviction even stronger. As it was raining, the bus was moving in a slow pace. When I reached Manjeri it was almost three. I took an auto and went to the auditorium. Oja and Abdu were bit earlier than me and they could meet many of our classmates. They were waiting for me to meet the bride and her groom. Without wasting any time we met Hasna conveyed our regards and wished her for a prosperous married life. We had a photo session in case someone asks for the proof that we were there (orkut album suggests that there are some snaps of Oja and Abdu taken on the occasion, so in that case it is just for me). We told her that we had to be leaving as it will be late for us to reach our respective locations(as if we were spending the whole day there). So it was over in about half an hour (20 minutes was spent on eating Biriyani). We met many of our classmates on the way and got a glimpse of some from a distance.

After the function we went to Jithin’s house. After spending some time with his parents we went to Calicut. Met Nikhil in calicut (he reached there after attending another marriage function), had a little chat over a cup of tea. He displayed his new Canon and soon Abdu was found trying his skills with that (luckily Nikhil got his canon back without any damage). And finally it was time to return back to Ernakulam. I reached here around 2am.

Everyone was asking me why I didn’t attend Hasna’s Marriage. I can’t blame them. It was strange when I looked back. The reckless twelve hour journey I had made to spend less than a couple of hours with friends. But I don’t think I repent over that decision. Only remorse is that I should have made the decision bit earlier.

Red Killers

Now I started believing in fate! If you return home safe after travelling in the Private Bus service in Ernakulam, I believe it certainly has something to do with destiny. The way they run the service gives one the implication that they are directly recruited by The Lord of Death.

When I landed here in Ernakulam my friend Rishin gave me the first introduction precisely like this.

"Man, these are the Red Killers, keep a distance from them".

But that is not possible for the simple reason that we are relying on red killers for our transportation. Keeping a distance is a distant thought for now. So it is up to destiny to make its decision here. But it certainly is an experience travelling in a Red Killer. You will start valuing your life, makes you alert on every second and they teach you how to be fast in your life (bit too fast though). My colleague Aswini says the name of a bus always suggest something like if it is 'Heaven' you will see the heaven while travelling in it. I'm eagerly waiting for my turn to travel in (but not to) the Heaven.

What thrives these buses are the races that takes place between them. Our Mr. Vijay Malliya found wrong F1 drivers in Fisichella and Adrian Sutil for Force India. Instead he should have tried anyone among these Red Killer drivers, he would have returned with flying colours. When a race starts between two of them a passenger will get an opportunity to have a roller coaster ride at a meagre price. Most entertaining part is while you are boarding or getting off. Your life depends on your timing. Fraction of a second late then it is a gone case. So should be right on the mark every time.

It was raining today. When I was to get off from the bus I had to make a choice either to get myself soaked in rain or to fall down and get injured, the bus won’t stop for a second more so that you could open your umbrella. I preferred to get wet than to getting injured; even then I had to try hard not to fall down while getting off as the bus didn’t stop, the driver just slowed it down a bit.

I’m still acquainted with Red killers, having our meetings each day with a hope that fate won’t let me down. I have my belief in destiny.

Ai'me

Last day Narayanan(Nikhil) one of my cronies, asked me to write about Ai'me. Like he said it is the feeling that mattered while you are writing about a person and not the content. So I‘m taking the courage to write about her. Back in the college days, there were people we secretly admired. But we didn’t let it go beyond us. She was one such person we admired.

When attendance shortage forbids you to be out wandering in the college premises, you could have a single alternative for time killing, keep enjoying the resources available in your own classrooms. We electronics students are considered to be most unlucky, extremely troubled with severe shortage of beauties we could call our own. We had to depend a lot on Civil, Electrical even CS departments to compensate for our scarcity. So when being made to confine in the class you got to make yourself satisfied with whatever grace luck bestow upon you. That's how we started looking Ai'mie.

During earlier days in the college it was Chérie. She was cute, like a Barbie doll. But when time went on, and got aged it the process, we went ahead looking out for other beauties.  And a further quest ended with Ai'mie and stayed there for a while. After seeing her we thought why the hell did we miss her all this time. She was peculiar in many ways. Be it her anger or the way she talks everything had its own natural beauty. When ever I tried to remember her after I left my college, a single frame kept popping up ahead of all the others. Ai'mie wearing a red salwar. She always looked stunningly beautiful in that.

In the act of watching a girl that extends from ogling to worship, I would put it somewhere in the upper class close to divine admiration. It’s not that we miss her among us. But missing her presence. Whatever we wanted to say about her has been made into a song by someone, for me and on behalf of her other admirers, I dedicate this song for her.


Nenjukkul 

Peithidum

Mamazhai

Neerukkul Mulkidum Thamarai

Saikintru Maruthu Vanilai

Pennei Unmel Pizhai

Nillamal Veesidum Peralai

Nenjukkul Neenthidum tharakai

Ponvannam Soodiya Karigai

Pennei Nee Kanchanai


Oh Aim'ie Ai'mei Oh Ai'mie

En Uyire Uyire Neeyenthi.


All the names mentioned here are purely imaginary(Hope I didn't leave much clues behind!). if you find resemblances with any person in particular that is just a coincidence and I dare say it is just because you tried to picturize someone else(whom you have been secretly admiring) instead of "Ai'mie".

LIC

That fine night was also on its way to be a sleepless one, we were having an exam. Subject was Linear Integrated Circuits, LIC in short. Me Hashim and Midhun a.k.a MR were having it. The whole three of us got assembled in Hashim's house. As we were used to getting backlogs, it didn't put much sense in us. After spending time having fun with others those who didn’t have the exam, when we opened the syllabus, it was too late and a night was left for us to make a quick ride through the topic. MR and me decided to stick on with the nightout and Hash succumbed to sleep( he chose to sleep he would say).

Night went on, we tried several methods to keep the sleep at bay. Half sleeping half studying we were advancing towards a successful night out. But when it was around 4am I knew I couldn’t hold my sleep further and MR was already having a little nap. I wasn’t anywhere near one and a half module mark and sleeping at that time would spoil every little hope that was left. What I could think was to have a hot cup of tea to get away from the sleep. A thattukada near our college used to open so early in the morning, around that time. I woke Mid from his sleep and told him the plan. He agreed.

Hashim used to own an old RX100. The bike with its peculiar sound could bring anyone nearby to full senses even if they are deep in their slumber. We didn't want to wake anyone there. Slowly, without making any sound we took it outside the gate. The key was with me, I gave it to Mid.

Me: Aliya Nee odicho.

He didnt take it

MR: Vendada.

I looked at him for a second to make sure he had fully recovered from his sleep and repeated the demand hoping that this time he would budge.

Me:  Nee thanne odicha mathi.
MR:  Enikku Vayya.

Both of us were reacting as if it was a prestige issue.
I forcefully placed the key in his hand. He looked at me and said

Da Enikku bike odikkan arinju kooda!

I just went blank and it took a while to recover from that.

Me: Ithu nee adyame parayande..enikkum arinju kooda!!

We didn't look at each others face for a few minutes.Slowly without making any sound we moved the bike back to house and walked to the thattukada. While walking we were quite diplomatic in not bringing the topic to our talks.

After this incident I took a pledge to learn bike riding which, like the promises given by politicians, is still a promise.

back to square one

What ever ways I have tried to redeem myself have gone in vain. En Route to this point of my life has been a blend of fortuitous events rather than intentional ones.

Last night I tried to picturize myself, say, after ten years in a realistic manner. It seemed quite dark. I could see myself cursing for the chances I have spilled. I hoped I would revive after having serious thoughts for the first time in my life, apart from day dreaming about becoming Bill Gates. Nothing really happened. I was back to my usual self. EasyGoing, Carefree and lazy.

Nothing could define me in a better way.
Back to Square one. "Chankaran pinneyum thenginmel Thanne"

a kiss

I got a Kiss. I would say it was a sugar kiss, from a girl for sure. Its charm isn't lifted even now, though it was a mere sms kiss. More over it was a misdirected one. I wasn't the intended recipient rather peeped into my friend's inbox and read(by mistake) the message from his love interest.
Early in the morning I was woken up by a message alert tone from his mobile. I looked at the 1 message received tag that cost me my sleep. knowingly and unknowingly I opened it. Before I could realize what was happening there were kisses all over me. I thought about waking my friend and telling the account. Though he is one great friend I wasn't supposed to read that kinda stuff and content was beyond giving a realistic presentation

Few hours later he darted towards me.

H: Did you read any of my messages?
Me(innocent face): Ya.. ..eh I saw that ..What was it?

(CounterAttack is the best defense)

H: Don't act. I know you have read that properly!
Me: eh.. But I forgot.What was that actually?

He didn't say anything.But still had that cold look on his face.

Me: If Someone wakes you up with a sweet kiss, That's great. isn't it?

What ever flesh that is left in his skinny face reddened. I have had a rare opportunity to see him blushing.

Buhari

It was 00.00.15. Finally the time had come. We decided to move according to our ‘plan’. The conditions prevailing were perfectly fitting for the execution of anything you could call a plan - "tedious exam season". The Plan was simple, 'a Night out'. That was the last part. To have a night ride to Buhari (a hotel in kizhakkekotta) have food from there (mutton chops was really popular back then)  and study the whole night (if possible) was the plan.

The last semester exams were going on and we were having a combined study. We (me and Narayanan) started our preparations earlier than usual, two days before the exam and had every sort of frustrations doing an act we were not so used to. Someone proposed the plan and everyone seconded the idea without any second thought. Whole day went without much ado planning the night out. Obviously studying nothing....

So we set for Buhari in a bike. The signs weren’t that good.  The Bike, like any other two-wheeler in the college didn’t hear much about the word petrol after its initial heydays. All those who use it fill petrol as per their need nothing more if not less. So we had to make a stop at the nearest petrol bunk, Pattom. It was supposed to be a temporary halt but was looking as if it would get extended a bit more than we expected. Even after many attempts lid of the tank didn’t open. The suggestions from the bike owner Peppatti (I’m not trying to be profane here, that’s how he was known in college) proved to be futile. Finally one among the onlookers came forward and offered help. He simply broke that lid open and placed it in my hand. I don’t know if we were supposed to thank him or not. Before we could decide he left not waiting for our response and so we continued our journey.

We reached Kizhakkekotta without much problems but to our dismay Buhari was closed. It used to be open till 2 am or even later. Only then we came to know that authorities, who ever that is, asked them and every other hotel in the city to be closed by 12. On our insistence they were ready to give us parcel, asked us not to wait in front of the hotel and create a problem for them. We started walking in the gravely silent city. Both of us were busy with our mobiles, didn’t realize we were quite in the middle of the road, suddenly made aware by a headlight from an approaching vehicle.

Me: Da athoru Police jeep ano ennoru samshayam?

Narayan: Aey alladei.

Before I could draw any conclusion the vehicle had reached closer and took a sudden halt just near by us.


A highly censored version is scribed here for public reading. Those who are interested I can provide a detailed version.

I don’t know his name. I still don't. So let me call this unknown entity, 'X'. 

Mr.X. : rathrikalathu ninakkokke enthada evide paripadi?

Narayan: Kazhikkan vannathanu, Sir.

Mr X. : evidennu ??

We pointed towards buhari. He instructed his subordinate to enquire. As Buhari was supposed to be closed by that time they didn’t have to be generous and save us, which they didn’t. I meant they weren’t so generous. We stood there before the police officer like two culprits who were waiting for the area to clear, to put their plan into action. X looked so happy to have captured two preys.


The interrogation started (this is where I had to use my editing tool).

Both: Sir CET Students!

This has been one dialogue that saved us for years. I didn’t think this would serve the purpose here but still gave in a try. They don’t have any respect for CETians, but certainly were bored of us.  According to the CET myths it is said that  a new Police Station was established in Sreekaryam near our college only to keep CET case files.  Anyway he changed the pattern of questioning, as our status changed from criminals to Uzhappanmar. Mr. X then started acting much like our staff advisor, started lecturing on how students like us studying in such a reputed college waste our lives as our parents are not aware how we are dealing with our studies. He asked us to call our parents and tell them the situation we were in.

Even after exhibiting the maximum flexibility of our back bone he didn’t waiver. One after another we were supposed to call our parents. Narayan took his mob dialed his dad’s no.

Narayan: Sir vilichittu kittunilla, avide range illa.(he was successful in controlling his laughter to a certain level)

Slap

Before he could say anything another one followed.

Slap

I was waiting for my turn to come, It didn’t (It’s true, believe me)

Mr X: Land Phonil Vilikkeda

Narayan: Sir land phone illa….

Final Year exam anu, nightout irunnu padikkan….



X: Back logs undo?

(We had to try very hard not to laugh at that. What has he got to do with our 'back logs' ?)

Me and Narayan were unanimous in saying “illa Sir”. Even our old King Harishchandra would have preferred to lie.



X turned towards me, asked few questions and made sure I’m giving the same answers. By that time Buhari hotel people admitted that they had taken a parcel order. we were saved.

On the way back Narayan asked me not to mention the incident to anyone in the hostel, which as a matter of fact I didn’t do, more over added masala while narrating. Narayan couldn’t enter Hostel for days.

Tour Diary

Topics are really draining out. So I have decided to use Dumbledore's Pensieve and dwell into my past (refer Harry Potter Series, 5 onwards to know about pensieve). As I'm so blessed with a highly deteriorated memory even a pensieve can't be of much help. let me try.

This is about a journey I have had, to Bangalore few months back. It was planned as a casual visit to my cousin sister's house, who has been residing there after her marriage. Since then she was asking me to go over there which I didn't do. My college life kept me busy. But as it was over and I was staying in my home, doing nothing but staring at the roof. I thought a different roof won't do much harm to my eyes. So i decided to go over there. My cousin brother Deepak was also with me. He was the one who planned the trip, booked a ticket for me and what I had to do was to sit in the bus and wait for it to reach the destination.

Day One.

I had always hoped that a change of place might bring something good. I couldn't have dreamed for a better start - missed the stop where we were supposed to be off.

Woke up after a while, travelled about half an hour enjoying the sceneries outside through the window still confident that ours was the last stop. Bus did cover a great distance when we realized our mistake, so had to travel back by a local bus. When you are new to a place you can learn about them if you got an uncanny sense or by an unexpected exposure(my case). We reached her house, slept for a while (as if that wasn't enough). By the time we woke up our story had become a hit back home. After spending time till evening talking, we left there.

Forgot to mention about Abdu. Though I didn't plan my trip, had an understanding with him. He also left for bangalore the same day from Calicut. A rendezvous was fixed at Kairali Hotel (a mallu hotel, the name itself suggests that) with our friends working over there in B'lore. That place brought nostalgia of college life and Zam Zam especially- famous for its sumptuous shawai. Me, Narayan Deepak Abdu and Ojas were sitting there trying to relive the glorious days of past.

What attracted me wasn't the grilled Chicken, though I exhibitted heavy appetite, it was a cute girl sitting next to our table. Even Ojas and Deepak(supposedly decent guys) couldn't stop themselves looking at her. She wasn't a knockout type, but was adorable. We kept looking at her. It went for a while until we got a red signal.

Girls I believe have many ways to let you know what is in their mind . This one went beyond our imagination. One guy from her gang (not good looking ! )stood up and walked , stopped by her side (veruthe pedippichu) started caressing her, well did something to that extent . Did I see her glancing towards us and having a smirk? I'm not so sure. But somewhere I heard a shattering sound. Glass I reckon.

I heard Naru saying

" She ain't that beautiful, mate"

Perspectives change bit too fast

I looked at her, suddenly realized she wasnt that good looking any more !!!

Wow!!


to be contd..

what it takes to be being me.

this isn't a short cut or route to reach a pinnacle what u can call being me. Apparently I don't know how to describe myself either. If I have to settle for a one word to describe myself I would rather end up in Confusion. So I'm leaving the general scenario, which is making the things complicated. Just thinking about the situation right where I am, it is in a sort of state which is shuttling between confusion and reluctance.
I don't like when I'm made to work. A person like me would think why the hell did humankind make progress. Let alone technology why did we even come out of our cave life. it would have been real fun. I would have certainly enjoyed living a brute life.

change of priorities!
The Work.
With an attitude like this when if I'm tied up in a work anyone can deduce how well I will be coping up with the situation. For a person in the genre of a nomad when he is made to confine his life in a cubicle(a hall with everyone trespassing is to be taken as the definition in this particular case ) nothing else in life can be more odd.

The way they(we, including me) used to utter our Boss's name brings in, a sense of dejavu. It is just how the name Voldemort is mentioned by other wizards in Harry Potter series. Each time when it is required to mention his name it is uttered so lightly as possible as if it is tabooed.I don't have any such fears but still why taking risk, right??(I strongly believe he wont come anywhere near by my blog)..He is a very nice person,I would say generous or how else would I find myself in Acrodelon.


Note:
let me take the privilege to make little additions to this so as to prevent people from drawing hasty conclusions. I really admire my boss. He is a virtuoso in his chosen field and has got an aura in what ever he is doing. What I have mentioned has nothing to do with him. The way my colleagues(ok, including me) utter his name made me write it..

First Sight

According to my friend Junaid (junu) the effect caused by first sight is diminutive. He says, rarely do we see things with their real magnitude when we see it for the first time. More often we are prepared to belittle the real magnitude.

I don't have a philosophical view about this, rather it was Her if you ask me. She was so gorgeous. I liked her the very moment I saw her. In almost every case a boy will be happy seeing a girl, but I was sad. I couldn't even bear the mere thought of being not able to see her again.



Situation many a times won't let you think but forces to act even if that is absurd. I walked straight to her.

Me: Hi
Answer was nothing but a perplexed look on her face.

Me: This is an awkward thing to do. But I'm left with no other option than this. From the moment I saw you, I couldn't take my eyes off you. And I don't mind doing that over a life time. You are the most beautiful person I have ever seen.

(Till now I didn't mention her name. Even if I got any such intentions I can't for the sole reason that I still don't know what her name is.)


She was still in the same confused state not expecting such a blatant act from a total stranger. This gave me an ample opportunity to kneel down. Romeos are supposed to do that, so I heard.

" You are very special. Life will be more interesting with you around my love".

WHAT ARE YOU DOING!

At times you wont like your mother looking on your face even if that is glowing with affection. This certainly was one such occasion(no guilt feelings since I didn't find any affection on her face then). All of a sudden I was taken from a five star luxury to a largely plebeian precinct(with all due respect to her). As it was slowly poising towards a  Happily Ever After ending she unmercifully took me to a happily never after state. She couldn't understand why I was getting angry with her.



I don't quite remember if it was a day or a night. But I'm so certain about one thing.

It was a nice little dream.

Frustrated Days

I don't know where to start this. I mean, which part of my life where the depression had an upper hand over other emotions. And putting me further in the pain is the fact that no one has anything to do with this or I could have shared some of the blame with them. It is just because I didn't have any job with me and not by any means it has anything to do with, me not able to make any money..

So Depression or Frustration started when I passed from the college, not really the way you expect when you hear the word passed. I mean some way you have to get out of the college, by the time normal students finish the course the college will relieve you though you may be so blessed with many arrears(Thank God supplementary papers got such a great synonym. Even though the situation is horrible, sounds great when you utter it). So I have had arrears. As a matter of fact I still have it in my credit.

When I was studying in CET there were ample opportunities to grab good jobs. It would have been better if I used ' when I was in CET ' rather than using hard words like 'studying'. It is said that opportunities won't knock the door twice. I didn't even let it knock once. Being there in the haven I didn't have room for any serious thought. But when I got out and with no hope of world's sudden end in the near future, I was put in some serious thought. Even if you are with friends being out of the college premises will make you serious, though it was bit too late to be so..
I could do nothing but let the frustrations creep in


P.S: I got a job now. At present I'm working in Acrodelon

En Route

The real inspiration I got to start blogging is from Deepak R. who was my senior in CET. He finished his B.Tech long before I made my plan to start one. What ever acquaintance I have had with him was enough to cherish for a life time though.
He used to be a teaching staff at Barton Hills TVM. During my third semester in the college he was the external in charge of the University lab Exam. As expected I didn't get any output and the viva was my last hope. I was praying for a miracle to happen, an emergency exit, to escape the only possible verdict.


Here comes the first question.

Mr D: How many back logs did you have in your first year??
(possibly making me aware that he won't hesitate )

Me: Three.

Mr D: What all ?

Me: Graphics, Civil and ..eh..

Mr D: And what ?

Me: And Electronics.

Mr D: Electronics !

That was because I was an electronics student. He would have hoped for a confrontation with an Electronics Geek but rather ended up with me. He wouldn't have expected such an act even from a commoner in Electronics(like me) .

As a matter of fact those were the only questions I could give correct answers. Even our Adoor Gopalakrishnan couldn't have made the situation more somber than the way it was then. One shouldn't have to be an expert to predict the verdict in my case. I knew one more log was added to my back even before the results were out.

After a few years, don't count much may be a year or so, I happened to read his blog and admired the way he had written it. At somepoint, in his blog, he wrote

" I joined as lecturer in NIT Calicut yesterday. Inside the administrative block , on the ground floor, there are two small fish ponds. Some big gold fish were swimming in one of them in company of an angel and a turtle. I was waiting there for some reason and my mindless eyes were on those gold fish for a long time. When my mind joined the eyes, it started a conversation with them.

Fish (to me): Which direction should we be swimming?

My mind (to me): Ahh, It's that same old Alice in Wonderland question

'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'
'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,'
'I don't know where. . .'
'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,'

My mind (to me): Ohh, let me not be so philosophical. Let me try, if I can help those fishes. Think. Think.

think ...
think ...

My mind (to the fish): It doesn't matter which way you swim. What matters is that you have to swim."


This really inspired me. So friends If you don't have any destination in mind for your life, you don't have to bother thinking about the direction...Such a Cool Thought!!


Let me borrow his words to conclude

En Route

I started this blog in my favourite way, without knowing what all to do with it, ... the natural way of life

Redeemed !

When I read 5point someone of Chethan Bhagat I admired the way he had written it. I always admired the way authors like him came up with stories that are so close to us. We find the characters in those stories so real and feel like knowing them from somewhere around us. We could find so much familiarity in those characters but won't come up with stories like they do or produce anything close to that. We have barricaded all our senses but those people observe the world around them and use it in their stories. They might have molded their senses by associating each one of us with their characters. Let me also start viewing the world like they do and see the change, my change in perspective brings to me ....Let me find my protagonist

It is easier to say something. I just proved that right here. I know,I am not much of a raconteur. I am not good at describing anecdotes. My friends tell me that I beat around the bush a lot. I'm doing the same thing here too .OK let me come to the point now.
Seedhi Baat No Bakhwaas. Blog it is..

When i made up my mind to start blogging, two factors made me keep the idea at bay for a while. I doubted my writing skills and I couldn't figure out where to start it.

What ever you do in your life you will certainly leave trails, by which people remember you and those trails will form your identity and so is the case with writing. After leading a life of complete disorder till now why should I bother about a good start or think of bringing about an order to it..
So be it..