The girl inside the house is a well protected, well behaved, indulged, loved, baby of the family.
The girl outside lives a hard life. Her parents work at nearby construction site, she plays there with her brother. She is always covered in cement powder and wears shabby cloths.
They both are from different worlds, like we all were, when we get to a college or school or work place.
It started with shy smiles, showing off their toys and then stepping over the shyness and talking..... {TBH, sounds a bit adult, but it was totally childish and cute}
It was beautiful to watch across the road from my work place.
It was like watching a flower bloom or the sun rises.
[ Reading this with my last post would make me sound kinda crazy with a dual personality to boost. But i was really angry at the bestie, Di, but i love her now and forever and dedicate this post for her. If it was us, i would be the girl outside and she would love me with all the judgement and prejudice.]
Its been four months since i arrived in this City. And its my second fever in as much months. I think Cities make me burning hot. :P
Honestly, the cities have a way of attaching itself on you. Make you so crazy about it, even with all its imperfections. It grows on you slowly, and one day you realize that you don't want to go back, even though you hate the place and the people here.
Its like a sexy mistress, seductive; you know its not good, you know more times than not it is not so fond of you, you know you will have much more peace and understanding from the good old hometown where everyone knows you. But you cant leave. You live for its better moments, even though it is far and fewer in between. Its like a really bad addiction.
I know i am not the first to feel this tug o' war. I like living here, but there are moments when i miss my smalltown life like mad.
Especially when i am sick. And lonely. Fever is not some deathbed scene for me. But it makes me want my home and family with an intensity that is quite fierce.
Things i miss from Home- especially when i am down with fever.
Amma- Whenever i am sick, she gets on like an overprotective orangutan mom. She checks on often, and sometimes scolds me for being a careless baby to get the disease, which makes me crazy. I miss the scolding. Even though in the past few days she has called like fifty times, i miss her random checks and poor-baby pats and hugs.
Mom's chukku kaapi- Chukku is ginger and kaapi is, of course, coffee. Its a dreadful spicy drink, after drinking which you will run and mouth some sugar to cool your tongue. Mom feeds us that hourly while ill. We think she is being rather sadistic. But it makes the fever go away in like, a day. Here also i make something that tastes like that. How ever i try, its not as awful and it not as effective either. Sigh.
My Bed- Which rather hard, with a me-shaped dent right in the middle, but its the place where i get maximum rest and sleep.
My room- The one thing i hate and love in my city room is the pouring sunlight. Some days it makes my days brighter. But the fever photo-phobia makes my eyes crave my room with a huge mango tree right near the windows which makes it virtually dark at noon.
My dog, who knows when i am sick and in companionship comes and lies down on my feel. Which is rather painful, but i like it anyway.
Dad who runs after me with a paracetamol, which is something i abhor. His belief in modern medicines in something i didn't inherit from him.
Taking care of yourself is something you need to learn sooner or later. But it doesn't mean that you stop wishing someone would do it for you at your most vulnerable.
PS: The one thing i love most about the city is also the family. Them and their over-intrusive, overprotective, overbearing ways are a few hundred kilometers away. Aw, shucks.
I've had it, you have had it. I bet there is not a single internet user who hasn't experienced this. The internet friendships. There are those that go years long. Or those that die in hours. But there is always the similar pattern.
The Circle Of Internet Friendships.
Stage 1 - Casual Curiosity
The time you are aware of this new person on the horizon. You are not dying to know more, yet you are not shying away or deliberately avoiding them either. You don't change your profile to impress them or don't seek to know if they are online. Or Schedule your net time so as to suit this person. And you definitely, most certainly DO NOT THINK ABOUT THEM OFFLINE.
This stage is what you share with many many people. Some relations die at this stage, not getting into the next stage. That is good too. But if i did get into the next stage, it will complete the cycle.
Stage 2- Insatiable Obsession
You come to know a few things about this person and you like what you know. You are hungry for more. You are intrigued about this one and is happy when this person is online. You two make time to hangout together and you are on time for that. You schedule your offline life for your online time. With all the new found love, you are still insecure. What if all this is one sided. Is your friend as happy with you as you are with them?
You are doubtful. But its all worth it.
Stage 3- Delightful Comradery
You reach a stage in the friendship where you are secure with your friendship. The time of doubts have passed. Nothing can come between you and your friend, as tight as you two are. You share almost everything online. You have contacts offline too. Your friend randomly access your brain space and make you smile. You two touch bases because its wrong if it is not done. You are proud of your friend and this makes you feel better about yourself. You are happy with yourself and your friend.
You think nothing can go wrong. Nothing can burst this moment. Can it?
Stage 4- Insatiable Obsession- Reprise
Something is wrong. You can't pinpoint it, but it is there. You know you two are drifting away. You don't want to, but you can't help it. You are compelled to find something via social networks again, the way you first connected. You try to read between lines. You try to be online when the other is. You don't want it, but you know the fight is going out of you. You are resigning to the facts all these present. But you are escorted to some last attempts of saving the normalcy, hence the obsession.
Stage 5- Casual Curiosity- Reprise
Yes,you guessed it. The relation comes to a full cycle. You know this person and they never leave your mind wholly. You see each other on networks. You get the news and you 'like' or retweet each other. You are interested in them, happy to know their success and new moves, but you don't sweat after it. Finally they are another number in your phone and another person in the mailing list.
It is finally what they say, 'OVER'.
The whole point of this exercise is, life goes on. Nothing is stationary and it is not a bad thing. But enjoy the little joys when it lasts. Lord knows it is not going to last forever.
PS: This is, in some ways related to my past experiences and some people in my life. But by no means is it accusatory or poking with the wrong end. I thought this was funny, when looking back on some of the happiest and saddest times of my life.
(Written for Life changing Device challenge at Blogadda).
I am literally going to go with life changing device and not a particular incident.
A few note worthy points before i start.
1. I have never owned a blackberry. because,
a) i don't trust CDMA because i have this freedom to change sim notion, which is ironic since the last sim change i did was 3 years ago.
b) i am poor.
2. I love gadgets. But don't own many. Refer to point (b) for why.
So it is my last phone, Sony K750i, he Life changer. It was rather a beginner's mobile, though i bought it after selling an S60 device. I dont think many goes back to just sony OS and java after using a symbian. But i did.
It might look lame but it is one of the most sold mobiles in the country(used to). However much i don't wanna be in a crowd, this was worth it i think.
This mobile becomes special because it was bought by my internship money. Which was not much, if you know anyone who has interned at a hospital. I wanted to get a sony walkman series, but this was all i could afford. But this has pretty much all the specifics but less looks, so much like me. (Backhanded compliment to self. Yes.)
How this mobile changed my life
I was in the last legs of college life and was getting to know Internet. Even though i had my laptop then, i used to hook to Airtel net using this phone here (word of thanks to airtel,unlimited net at 250 rs per month, it was a great plan, if a little slow). So i got into this whole social networking/blogging/just browsing all through this phone. This phone pretty much taught me how to handle internet. And have a social life and almost everything i know about web and mobile web.
After college i was really lonely. Having studied your entire life away from home will make you pretty much friendless in your hometown. This phone kept me busy. I had net, i had the phone. So i always had something to read or someone to chat to.
I reinvented my love of reading in this device. And through wattpad. Its not so awesome now, i hear, but it was great then. College was somewhere i got lost myself as a person. I found books via this phone. And its going great these days.
I had a best friend whom i only knew through chats. And my job don't allow me to carry the lap. So you can guess. The ebuddy and nimbuzz rocks.
People who know me will always complain i don't keep my eyes off the phone. I always carry it around. Its true. Its because i have so so much to do in it! I was never bored with it. And even when i bought my next mobile, i went for a better Sony phone. With 3g and all, (stupid, since no carriers for the network in my town) but i was pretty much comfy with the sony's style of doing it.
That phone made my life happy, and better and whole lot wise. Any day i would call it my EFB.
It was really disconcerting to find that for a hard core Harry Potter fan, i haven't wrote even one post about my favorite book series. And when i say hardcore, i mean obsessed, too much into it with too much info, every web forum, orkut communities, fanfictions(only reading), wallpapers, DPs.... I was really really a Harry Potter series fan. More importantly, a Ronald Weasley fan.
So how it all began? [ i am getting a feeling that i have written all about this before, but i cant find it.]
I was not a fan at first. I remember watching the first Harry Potter film joking about the Troll and complaining the film is too dark and irritating Sruti. She was too into it, had all the books, read it all more than once.. I never got her. Thus, passing my days, i once happened upon a malayalam translation of the Philosopher's Stone in a local library. I took the book and went back to hostel. Why? To make fun of Sruti. Since i do read an awful lot, i decided to spare a few moments for the book. And i fell violently in fascination. With the whole world, with hogwarts and with Ron Weasley. [From first book onwards i liked Ron the best. He brings the life in to it. Harry is rather self involved prig, i feel. :P] Anyway, I finished all the books in record time, from 1-6, not in the right order(1,3,6,2,4,5) since the deathly hallows was not released then. By then I was obsessed. I reread all the books, saw the movies, and hated them :p I tell ya, only diehard potter fans can hate the films. They are as such wonderful entertainments, but you wont be satisfied, as in your mind, the full potter universal is so much bigger. I even read quiddich though the ages. Well, partly anyway. By then I was becoming an online person. I joined many orkut communities, moderated a few, became known in some circles as a faithful pottermaniac. There were forums, discussions, fanfictions [amongst them were some really nice ones and really twisty weird psycho ones (Seriously, Harry and Draco? You gotta be shitting me!)]
And in my friends circle, I became the somewhat eccentric one who wont shut up about Potter, Ron. To a point where Sruti became a very normal person who only read HP books.
When the deathly hallows came, i insisted on buying the original book, not the sidewalk 150Rs one. Di got it for me as a gift. And i think me crying on her shoulder when i read in an online forum that Ron died in the HP7 (on the previous date of release of book) prompted her to do that. And not even crying. I was sobbing. And against popular opinion, i loved Deathly Hallows. I used to read it when ever i got upset. (If anyone doubting this as my teenage antics, i was 24 then. :| )
And then slowly, it started to die. I stopped checking for updates, i started reading other books(I even read twilight, but i am not that crazy i guess :P), my HP7 book started gathering dust, my HP gyan began to diminish. The Half Blood Prince movie came and went, i didn't went crazy when i saw it. And i started forgetting an age in my life where i used to doodle Ron on my class desk and have only HP related display pics in orkut.
Then i saw the Deathly Hallows trailer in Utoobe. It is so great! Looks better than any HP movie ever..
And it all came rushing back! The excitement, the madness, the love... It was like meeting an old friend again... So Nostalgic..
Yesterday i took out my Deathly Hallows book.. Took it to work to read.. And i laughed and smiled through pages.. Yes, the POTTERMANIA is back! Even thought the movie sucks, i wont regret this preview that opened to me a window from my past, which i thought was dead and gone.
One day, i was chatting with her in kitchen when she was fussing with lunch and i was playing lazy.
Me: Mom, you have known me a lot of time na? Saw me in all my looks, all my moods, all my make overs.
Mom: Yeah. Every ugly look included.
Me: So, which one do you remember the most? Think hard and answer.
Mom: *Thinking* Hmm, The best one i remember is the time i just gave birth to you and they showed you to me right after. Squiggly and small and dirty :)
Me: Aww!
I can script this dialogue. But honestly, i didn't. Even though we two fight more than anyone else in the world, we also share moments to true love.
Happy Mothers Day Amma. Have a long life. Be with me always. Seriously, a life without you scares the crap out of me. And i wont swear again. :P
First of all, happy vishu and happy new year to all Indians to whom it applies! Have an awesome year ahead. :)
So, Vishu. Childhood vishu was all about sleeping till early morning, waking up by mom with her hand closing my eyes.. then opening my eyes to the Vishu Kani, the splendor of classically arranged riches. Then praying, followed by some crackers and sleep some more. Later, pocket money by mom and dad, also known as a Vishu Kaineettam. Then the splendid lunch. Altogether, one awesome day.
Four years ago, after my college term started, i started feeling like a lady and decided i can do a better job in arranging the kani than mom(DO NOT TELL HER!) and i pestered her into letting me do the job, and when i say since then my family has been seeing better kani, i am not bragging :D
So this year too, around 11, after everyones dinner, i started out doing and completed it in 45 mins(Yes its a lot of work) unlike the last years 2 hours. Hmm i am improving. :) And like every year, i slept, mom woke me, took me down stairs, i didn't tripped or opened eyes in between, which i do every year and later lie about, and had an awesome view and slept promptly later. Mom had made all dished and left the Kheer for me to make, which i didn't messed up.. We didn't do any crackers, as our neighbors have a 3 month old kid. But we were shocked when we heard crackers and went out to see them bursting crackers. *facepalm*.
So all in all, yet another nice Vishu.. may this be a nice indication of the year i am about to have. Amen.
So the treat for you! see.. see.. i didn't bragged et all..
And another view...
So once again, Happy vishu, have all the riches this year, and do forgive the writer's block-ed self of mine. Adios Amigos!
The reunion was more than a month ago. So blame it on friends who says they will send the pics the next day and then forget it for months. Though i am posting no pictures here. So, aham.
It was scheduled after so much planning from Aji and Yaseen. So this goes to them.
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*on entering the room* Me: Hiyya Guys!! Everyone: Hiyya Sree! Someone: You lost weight! Me: Yay me :D Someone: Are you wearing lipstick? Me: :-/
(This is a warning for all those tomboy college girls who return later, all girly)
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Aji: Why were you so late??
Me:I thought this was a whole day thingy!
Ambu: No its not!
Aji: Who said that? I am the organiser, i said 9.30-1!
Me:But it was 10 to 4 in facebook event!!
Aji: And who was it that created the facebook event?
Me: Me. :|
Aji: Ahha!
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Di(on phone): I forgot my footwear. Me: Whaaat? Are you without any? Di: I am wearing one. It’s a chappal. Me: This is so sad. :D We'll go shopping :D :D After some hours when Di is coming in to the hall.. ME: Guys, Di coming. Everyone look at her foot first. Everyone Looks *Hoots and laughs* Di: Nice :-/
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Me: Where is fou? Nish:She is nursing her kid. Me:Hi fous.. Hi Adi… Fou: :) Me: Oh god, there's your boobs! :| Fou: Yeah x-(
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Me:Hi seb!Is this your kid?*pointing at the 4 year old*
Seb: yeah
Me:is he the one who came to tour with us?
Back history: she was 7 months pregnant when we had the grand 10 day south India tour. And she jumped in all the rides and believe it or not, we were responsible for the safe delivery of that kid by forbidding her to enter many rides. By sheer force.
Seb: yeah. He is the one.
Kid: What tour? X-(
Kid:(after half an hour) What tour?
Me: :-S
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Me:Serena, would he like ice cream? (Her son is 1 yr old)
Serena: You can try. I haven't given him it yet.
Me:Ok, Let me.
Me:He likes it!
After five minutes
Me:Ok let me go irritate fou's kid now. bye!
Serena's son: *looking at me* MAMA!!
Serena: :O
Me: :D
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All the fun aside, it was a joyous occasion. Most of us came and those who didn't, called. And those who didn't called, does not deserve mention :P
Things i remember:
There were loads of Kids. All cute and little. Ayshu's were exceptional, but no surprise as she and her husband look godly. i bought ice creams for many. Especially to Seb's kid who only mellowed to me after the ice cream. And of course, serena's.
We have all gone to a millions of lunches together. In packs of varying numbers. We have shared dishes, pestered to get treats, stolen from each other's plates and received angry glares for them and a million other things that college mates do. All those times we did bicker about money a lot. This time we were all earning. We all ordered separate dishes. And not looking at prices. And then we sat around picking food, not really hungry. Seeing each other after 2 years was really fulfilling :)
Everyone, how ever sophisticated they may be, return to their old selves in old company. I was loud, ambili was chatty, Serena still laughed a lot, Amar was pulling legs, Rahul serious as always... It was like we never left the campus. :)
Like everyone, i too scorned the idea of getting off my tushi on a sunday morning to go to the food'n'fun, a new restaurant near college where we met. Then afterwards we were discussing to do this again in a half year or annual basis. :P
I stayed with Di and ambu that day even though my home was only one hour away. We talked into night, me and Di, like our college days, the pillow talks with whispers and giggles and drooping eyes.
The best day indeed :)
PS: This photo is not from google. But from my college albums. It was the day after our final exams and we went on a tour to Munnar to unwind. Obviously, everyone is feeling as crazy as they look.
Grandma is visiting. (This is mom's side. Dad's side has remarkably short life span and they say all my genes are from him. Now you know why i don't make long term plans.) So, coming to grandma, mom-grandma relationship is really filmy and its a long story. In short, they don't like each other. Mom was the daddy's girl in her family of 5 kids. So grandpa(Appoopan, as i used to call him) was quite chummy with her and when ever mom tells her childhood days, all the happy tales feature him.
Llater when mom married and had me, Grandpa came to live with us. As it was tough on mom to go to work and to juggle me, a miniature jumbo. And till i was around 2 and half, he lived with us and then he left this world. I have no recollections of him, though everyone starts talking about him as soon as they see me. I used to be confused why it is so. I mean yes, he was my grandpa. But he has numerous other grand kids before me. So why me? Then one day i said a curse word related to grandparents. It was quite innocent. Everyone says those so much so that its not so curse-y anymore. Mom looked at me in shock and sadness. And reproached me beyond my comprehension. Then she told me about him.
That, since the day he saw me, i was never seen anywhere except in his arms. That he used carry me around, where ever he went. That he used to play games with me. That he used to call me baby seal, as i was always rolling around in the bed.
He was a witty old man, carefree funny and jolly type. He used to play cards well and everyone teases me how i shuffle the cards like him(i am an expert shuffler), he used to fish and was rather good at it too. These were what little people tells me. He didn't brought national changes, but he loved me. Dad, who always criticizes everything from mom's side, only speaks fondly of him, even saying that those days living with him were some of the best in his life. They even bought a dog, chief, and i don't remember him too.
Then grandpa had to go back, and soon he fell ill. When mom went to see him, (he couldn't speak then) he gestured with his left arm to ask her where i was, as i was quite a fixture on that arm for more than two years. Days later he died and i don't remember that too.
Today while we (dad mom and me) were sitting in kitchen veranda and talking about grandma's visit, mom sadly said how happy she would have been if it was him and not grandma(yeah, that sums it up) and dad also grew sad thinking of him and again said how fond he was of me and they both thought how he would have liked my brother aQQui, who looks like him. And there i was, the cherished granddaughter, the one whom he loved more than the rest and the one who knew nothing about him.
I have never missed another person more in my life.
December is here. Its my second favorite month of the year. January only beats it because of having the privilege of being my birthday month. Still December is so divine naa. Why?
In Kerala December-January is the winter. And as much as i love my place, i miss the cold and the dew and to be very silly, the snow flakes. The winter temperature here is around 20-22 'C, so no hope of anything remotely winter-y. Still its cold and somehow serene. And romantic. I feel winters are the most romantic season. People go on and on about spring and autumn, but i am in love with winter. And monsoon. But lets go with winter now, as December is here.
In my childhood days Dad got a transfer to a hill station. First we all were very sad as he had to stay away from us, and i was already at boarding and this left mom alone with Aqui. Then during the Christmas vacation, as we all were free and Dad wasn't, we went to stay with him. And those days are more alive in my mind than the last Christmas. It was foggy, and there was slight snowing, cold beyond bearable, i slept under a heap of blankets hugging mom, and there were sweaters and heaters and campfires and books and card games by campfires... It was like i slept and lived in a dream. I used to go walking in the morning(and i never walk usually) to feel the mist and the chill on my face, the dewdrops on my hands, the uncertainty of not knowing what lies before 3 steps and the sudden happiness when someone i know just mysteriously steps out in front of me through snow.. it was my best holiday ever. And i love December for it.
Speaking of holidays, December holidays are a favorite of mine. Though onam is awesome and all, i love Christmas too. Even though mom is religious, we were brought up to accept and celebrate Christmas. And it was a break of 10 days from my god-awful boarding school and it was in my favorite season and there are cakes!! I absolutely love cakes :D ! I can write a blog post about cakes.. Hmmm.. pieces of heaven i call them :) So every Christmas, there are so many many of them. We buy a lot, we gift a lot, we get a lot, we eat a lot... and i gain a lot (of weight). :P This years Christmas is going to be extra special as i am making the cake! And remove that frown from your face guys, i bake awesome cakes :) And i will post a pic for you all!!
Then there are the cards. Ah.. I really miss Christmas card craze!! Is it me or the cards are like totally out now?? During my college days, i used to make a list on December first week-(I am not an orderly person, so a list is like my ultimate devotion) -of people i want to send card to, of people i have to, of people i should, and i used to spend all my pocket money on those. Then i would get an unexpected card from someone and i would go "damn,what will i do for money now" and grudgingly shop for them.. And there were these cute little cards our girl gang used to distribute amongst us. They were so small and so cute, with little cute messages.. i miss those girls and the cute cards. I have a huge box of cards i received during college time and many many of those are Christmas-new year ones :) This is one thing i don't like about the virtual world creeping upon us. Even with songs and animation and all, e-cards don't make me feel anything. Its not personal. It doesn't have little PS and a funny comment. It doesn't have scrawled price tag. And it doesn't have that feeling of your heart jumping when you open it. [And is it again me or did card prices like shot up in recent years? Now a days i walk in to a hallmark shop and freeze seeing the prices.] Send me card!! Its like angels in little covers!
Then December holds the birthday of the two important girls in my life. Mom and Di. So this month really breaks my bank. But i love dispensing joy, so, i don't really care. Those two evil, devilish and incomparably awesome girls gets the best. I don't really care.
The point is... through life's rushes and races, stop a moment to look at the world around you and me. And appreciate little gifts of life. Sometimes you will be amazed by the kindness nature shows us.
Adopting two lines from Lenka's The show..
It’s a joke nobody knows They've got a ticket to that show..
So, these days i am more immersed in my work(going and coming back, reading medical texts..), net life(twitter,farmville, facebook etc) and family(cooking, being there, fighting..). Believe me i was So not like this during my college days. I was this carefree girl who lived and breathed fun and friendship.
So, leaving my net-family-work schedule, this sunday i went to visit Sony and Jo. Four months ago i wrote about Sony giving birth to a boy and making me a Masi. So that is Joel, whom we all call Jo.
Sunday we(me and H) planned this 4 hour journey to see them. I packed and left my home at 6 and wen to the place i had to meet H. I knew i would have to wait for H. [H is the only person who comes in later than I,every single time. This is usually drives me crazy and amuses others as they wait for me and H. :D] So, H came in late, and i was SO happy seeing her, i didn't even made a face. So after a round of hugs, we departed for Sony's place and talked a lot on the way, which was SO like our old days. I thought this was because me and H are still single and not much changed. We got there and Sony was waiting for us with Jo in hand. I was rather afraid to find out that Sony would be so mature and changed. Nay, god loves me. Sony is as boring as ever :D and is as funny as i remember. Only Di was missing. We made a lot of fun over H, like we always do(she is a vegan and does accidental stupidity, which we all think is because she is vegan), had great food, talked like we always do, teased me a lot, remembered old blunders... it was like our cramped hostel room during internship,but not so cramped..
And we met Jo..
Joe is such a delightful child at 4 months. Sony says he wasn't so till very recently and i can attest to her calls mentioning sleep deprivation. Anyways, we all carried him around, he laughed for us, made happy noises and thankfully, didn't pooped on me or H. As he grows up, i promise i am going to be there for him, for fun and for serious stuff.
After lunch we both returned and on way back made fun of this girl who gave us some troubles sitting in bus (Buhahaha.. I and H are evil sisters!)..
It was like good old days.. Made me realise that my friends from those old days are still my best friends. I lost the casual ones. Gained some fake and real ones. But the strong ones are still them. My gal pals who knew the old me and continue to love the new me. I don't have to describe myself to them as i don't surprise them in the base levels.
Soon Sony is moving to Bangalore. And Di is off to Mumbai in few years. God only knows where Me and H would end up.
Am I afraid?
No.
Even though seven seas and eleven mountains comes between us, we would still have this.
My mom, who is a retired teacher, runs tuition now. Not for everyone but for difficult kids, without fee. She says this keeps her connected to her roots. So there is hardly one or two kids which gives her no stress and someone to talk to, who wouldn't interrupt her rants and make faces. So this time, its our neighbour's relative's kid, who is here for summer holidays. So after the class, they stepped out to garden, mom doing some gardening, and the kid on tow, answering her questions. Then this other guy came home. He is also from neighbourhood, the usual poor guy, who drinks a lot, jumps from one job to another and runs errands for everyone. He looks frail and dark now, a shade of a good looking guy that he was once. So he and dad are now planning a vegetable garden in the backyard. Some background story, from mom's local news bureau- This guy, let me call him Mr.V, was a very nice guy when he was young, had a good job at a store and was a local hero, being a footballer and every one's on-call guy during fairs and temple fests, very popular and equally charming. The cherry on top was that he was in love. Her name was Padma, the demure village girl, Shy, not very beautiful, kind of cute with grey eyes, not that good at studies, temple going... the general good girl. For years one knew they were in love. It spanned through years, everywhere, but subtle. But like every secret, this also came out. When it did, it spread like wild fire, fast and equally destructive. There were all sorts of stories too. Some true, some lies.. Like every scandal. Her parents were furious. Padma was married off in a hurry. That was the only solution they could think of. the caste system and all would have resulted in a greater scandal if Padma married Mr.V. Since then, Mr.V was a wreck. He drank away his heart ache, threw away a budding career, married some girl whom he never loved.. became a disgrace of a husband, father and human being. A pathetic existence. That is Mr.V's story.
So, after discussing the crops and the works to be done, he came to the front garden on his way out and stopped to talk to mom about her need of some fertilizers. Seeing the fumbling boy, he looked into the pale gray eyes of the kid for some moments and asked him "who is this kid?" Mom said "He is Padma's son" Mr.V stared at the kid for sometime and walked out through the gate. Forgetting to say bye.
Year 2006. 1 month since the last post's incident.
Place: A boys get together. @Ray's hometown.
The common friend mentions Di's inquiry to Ray. Who went all calm and asked "Oh really? Di? Huh! Ok! You have her number. I will call her if i find time." All this in the most indifferent tone he could muster being a very enthusiastic guy. All the while a very triumphant animal roared in chest awake from a long sleep. Collecting the number in a very nonchalant way, Ray walked away from the cafe with a smile.
A week later
In vet boys hostel-Ray's Room
Contemplating the decision to call Di. Calling. Cut the phone before it rings. Repeats. And finally goes to sleep.
3 days later
Di's room
Di n STG studying(Di studying and STG browsing on phone).
Suddenly Di's old 3310 went off and on answering, a very macho voice said hello and asked her if she remember an old friend. Very confused but that much sure Di answered in an unbelieving tone "Ray?". After 10 minutes, when the call is over, she looks at the very anxious looking STG, and says aloud "Yes!"
Thus began a string of conversations.
High school crushes who never talked in their time together, catching up on each other, their characters, which have changed and so unrecognisable, but still lovely and somehow understandable and lovable.
Two worlds which were different in every little thing, but despite all that colliding together and emerging as a whole new beautiful world.
Two people who loved each other so much their time together and apart, falling in love, again anew and even though they are the same, this time the love is more mature, more stable and more spicy.
Our favorite kind. ;)
End of story.
Later
Ray proposed 23 days after the call. It took some very tactful sms and one half drunk man seriously in love.
With a very happy parents, they were wed after 2 and a half years later.
Di hadnt seen Ray for 5 years now. Di was doing medicine and from her family contacts, she knew Ray was studying for Vet and is gonna be out of college soon. Di had moved on. New place, new life, new friends. Tons crushes and college stories later, she had no regrets in love life. None concerning Ray or the the things that didnt happen with him. Somewhere a
long, she spilled her first love's story to her best friend, who, along with others used to tease her about it. And that was all there left of Ray. An old memory which still brought a smile to her lips.
This day Sony had an exciting news to tell. Her Brother was engaged and her sis-in-law-to-be was studying in Vet College. Sony, who wanted to do Private investigation on this poor soul who was going to get the chaabi of her home, discussed this with Di's best friend, Small Town Girl(STG) and deviced a plan. Find out it en route Ray. Sony had the clearest of aims, where as STG was evil. STG, who believed in fairytales and magic, decided to play Fairy Godmother and along with Sony pestered poor Di for two days after which she relented. She called a commom friend to ask for Rays number but the call went unanswered.. Multiple times.
Its safe to say that STG was more diappointed than Di and Sony. Di once more pushed away thoughts of Ray with regret (or relief!).
The other day i was telling this hostel story to RB, and in his insistence am blogging it. So if u found this boring, its his fault and if u found this funny.. its all ME!
Our hostel is quite a big one, hosting around 130 girls in 3 floors. (Its doesn't sound that big huh? well it has a badminton court in the middle.. ) So the Christmas holidays of 2006, our batch, being the only batch with exams in near future was alone in hostel. Many from our batch were also at home, so the total was around 20. My room mate through college, Di, woke up at 2, and opened the door to go to bathroom which was at the end of corridor. So when she stepped into the corridor she she saw this figure running fast and hiding behind a column.. She who possess immaculate sense even in the midst of sleep, got back and bolted the room. Then i was forced to wake up. When i came to sense, she told me about the person in corridor. I the COWARD FATSO, told her to go to sleep and never to open that door again. She decided to call our neighbour, having seen my support. Rest in bullet points.
Di decided to call Jassy, and in the midst of calling her i reminded Di of the free Hutch sim card we had. Di changed sim after staring at me like am an alien and called Jassy. I thought i would be praised for my rational thinking in dire circumstances. But till now, people laugh about that. Why, i would never know. :|
Jassy and Di went out spotted the thief who ran then.. We woke up all girls, watchman(who was grumbling) and called the men's hostel.
Boys came faster than wind, having their Christmas wish came true, to see the inside of ladies hostel and the girls in their night dresses :P . So the search began.
Before the boys came, we girls did our own search during which everyone took one fire wood for protection. Fez, for extra protection i think, took a HUGE wood, which somewhere along, fell on her leg and had to be bandaged for a week. :D
Boys searched every room. Either they were searched by thief or locked from outside. Finally they found a room which was locked from inside. It was our dear friend Sishu's room. Boys were sure that the thief was inside. With Sishu. So they started banging it. After 10 minuted of heavy banging and calling out, a very sleepy and disgruntled Sishu came out and voiced out 'what boys were doing in the hostel'. I think sishu's hair which will put Kankana Ranaut's hair from Gangster to shame scared the boys off and they went to search outside hostel.
While outside, everyone banged into one another and told the story on how close they were to catching the thief. Boys and their egos!!
Our friend Naz's phone was the only item which went missing, which she left in her room en route to bathrooms. We were more thankful that her izzat was safe as she was roaming in revealing clothes ;) . And some of us were wondering HOW this guy found a phone in Naz's room as her room was the messiest room in the whole hostel and that just surpasses mine.
Sony and Srut being the coward-est asses in hostel stayed in their room throughout it.
I was thanking god that my room mate spotted this guy, as, if she went out, he would have entered our room, where i would be sleeping. Unlike other rooms, where the room mates were in home during the grand theft, in ours, he would have a person ie ME! :O
Thus the day was all together the funniest Christmas story ever, even for Naz, whose phone wasn't that good anyways. We all remember the thief very fondly.
I am Missing college and hostel. All people involved are heavily missed and remembered.. :) where ever you all are stay safe...
Sony was my first friend at college n one of the best till now. She is more like a sister to me. Not the brightest of friendships, but rock hard, with the faint glow of trust.
So, when we were in our 1st year at college, (that is 6 years before) she gave me this pressed flower of golden shower tree(in front of our college, there was this tree that flowered irrespective of seasons..i think she got the flower from it.God, i miss college!)
the thing was that, the gesture was so casual and irrelevant, i dont remember anything about it. she just gave me that and i put it in a book i was studying then. Somehow, for fun i think.. i put it in the 143rd page.
The amazement started after 1 or 2 years, when i took the book again, and was quite touched when i saw the flower in there, safely resting in the 143rd page. Sony was also amazed when i showed it to her, i think. After a while i forgot it again. and though out my course, the little flower made cameo appearances.
After college, sony got married and moved to a metro, i stayed small town and single. Recently, i again took the book and saw the flower in it.. safe and beautiful. unchanged. its like my friendship with her. not much the 'lets-get-on-roof-n-shout-out-we-r-best-friends' type. the silent presence, the comfort, the trust, the confidence..
Today when i saw the flower, it felt like sony is trying to convey that if also she is not there with me, she will be there for me..in my joys and sadness... through thick and thin, for ever.
Miss u dear. SO much. Mmuah! And all the best with the baby. Am gonna spoil 'her' rotten!! :)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Am not a poetry kinda person, more of a prose one. Yet there are times when i am totally bowled over by poetry. But prose i like more. Because hidden meanings and undertones are so difficult to get, and after a while, its just tiresome. This one i came across 1 year back and still marvels at it. So i think i would like to share it with you.
Sonnets from Portuguese. Elizabeth Barrett Browning
how shall i love thee? Let me count the ways I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach,when freezing out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace
I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need; by sun and candle light I love thee freely, as men strive for bright I love thee purely, as they turn from praise I love thee with the passion put to use In my old grieves and my childhood's faith I love thee with a love i seem to lose with my lost saints-i love with the breath smiles, tears, of all my life!--and if God choose I shall but love thee better after death. -fin-
how is it?? i dedicate it to all my friends who have known what is it to love truly. So i think that covers a lot of people.
Midnight rains always make me sad. And, as you guessed, I am a regular late sleeper to hear it.But hearing the serene pitter-patter of rain is so romantic. If only u listen once, u will understand its difference from the day rain. Of course, day rain (in my part of world, rain is very often, seasonal, called monsoon, famously) is quite a sight and is still romantic, but it can never ever compare to the night rain.
The day rain makes you want to touch it, feel the coolness, and in a totally mad and abandoned moment, makes you want to step into rain, feeling the coolness and the excitement seep into your body and clothes, with a naughty smile.
And here is it differs from night rain. At night, wen it rains, u totally feel a whole lot, more than what you get from standing in rain, by just listening. The moment is so earthly and divine, u feel tears in eyes. It so reminds u of loneliness, (of course if you are single only), and sadness, passion, love and loss. It is a wonder all these emotions can be perceived while only listening and feeling slight coolness with closed eyes.
So, dear reader, if ever you happen to wake up to a midnight rain, just stop a moment to listen to it, open yourself to the feelings it brings, it’s a magical experience. Lose yourself in it. You will feel closer to heaven. Closer to yourself.
