Living life

Note: This month has been a long one for me, more than 31 days, so don’t complain if you find this post long

This month so far has been (and will be) the most weird month in this year’s calendar for me. A lot of things have been happening to me, suddenly, so unexpectedly, that i sometimes think is this what life has to offer me? Nothing better? but when i ask my friend’s how theirs is, they have very little new to share.

The month had just begun when i broke my left wrist, sitting as a pillion we had to fall down from the bike to avoid a collision with a old man riding his cycle on the middle of the road. (Had we hit him the case would have been much serious). I was left with a broken left wrist, and my friend, who had come to Chennai, to look around places, had his quota for the day. He escaped with minor bruises and a torn shirt. The immediate effect of getting my wrist band-aid was added discomfort. Crumbling tissues after tissues was how each day in this month started for me.

The middle of the month, (with the arm still fractured) saw us do some crazy stuff at the Broken Bridge.

Added to this adventure is when i decide to travel more, to another city, to attend for my friend(es) b’day. Clueless where to hang out, they had decided to move their lazy bones for a trek when i join them. Fortunately, the plan to trek conceptualized but unfortunately not executed well. When it was me and Teja around nothing would work out. Always so far, exclude Kolkata, when ever we meet, we end up saying “that day was useless”. This time Rohan was also saying the same. No one hires a car just to go to Mysore for having lunch. (It was not intended to be like that, but it turned out to be so). Next day, in order to face a imminent pissing off from relatives i had to cut open the PoP band-aid prematurely to appear unhurt, only now to realize where it hurts when i tug a shirt, comb my hair, when spin a ball, or throw a Frisbee. (thankfully no tissues).

The next couple of weeks was spent in deep introspection of what the trip had done to me. (rather, it was all there from the beginning). In order to give the hand some sort of exercise i started riding the bike again. This time i knew where it hurt when i clutch the clutch. Once again when life was getting boring, i decide to meet my friends at Chennai, rather bring my friends here. A couple of them obliging did a lot good for me. I could relieve boredom.

Next week, it was my turn to go to Chennai. Just, when i was about to leave to Chennai, it threatened to rain. Realizing about the formals that had to be given to laundry i rushed. Returning back on the road, i happened to catch this race with rain poring down. Suddenly the day light dimmed, a bus coming from the opposite end left me blinded and shocked like a animal coming under the headlight. I had to break immediately, but i had crashed into one umbrella and two mid aged women with the vehicle. Amudha was 40, Godhai was 35, the umbrella brand new, were lying on the ground. My right arm started to pain, Wow once again a fracture i thought. Amudha and Godhai were not seriously hurt, but the impact had a shocking effect. They obliged me taking them to a hospital and the nurse asked how this happened, when they stump me out. A police complaint was to be avoided. A series of negotiations and sounding concerned about their injuries helped me. (BB adventure had helped). They let me go. Somehow, i move out of Pondicherry and get in a bus to Chennai.

The radio in the bus announced that CSK lost the semis to RCB, my friends were elated. The driver stopped the bus at a tea stall and started to discuss about the match. Finally, when i had reached home it was 12 in night. Ravi had brought home a bitch that day, a Dalmatian, Jiah she was named by friends. It added to the population. Seven and now, Seven and a bitch. It was definitely exciting. People wanted to toast for Jiah, and so we did. My coming from Pondicherry, Rapi’s culmination of Civil prelims, Jiah’s inclusion in the family coincided well. And so we toasted.

The next day, was the big day, IPL finals, DC had played well but RCB was threatening to win. I decide to watch the match in the institute and thus walk out of home. Speaking over the phone, i left home walking on the road all alone. I had stopped for a friend who was to come with me on his bike. There was a delay for him to come and thus i continued speaking on the phone walking further up the road. I was asking how things were going? It was a like friends meet after a long time type talk, He had explained how his side of life was, when it was my turn, two people come riding a bike and snatch my mobile and whroom…they are gone. By the moment i had realized that my cell was gone, snatched, they were nowhere on the empty road. It was a brilliant plan these people had come up with, but, it was a useless piece of cell phone that i carried. It would break into five parts when dropped gently. Operating it needed skill and patience. I stood on the road laughing. But, when i realized that i had also lost all my contacts with that mobile, then it hurt.

I could not remember a single number, except home. The SIM has certainly become Smart, it makes you feel so dependable on the cell phone, that you are become handicap to socialize. Its amazing how brain has replaced the brain. Books and libraries are maintained because you cant hold so much information in your brain, a further advancement to this concept would be storing data in cell phones. Thankfully my Gmail was not hacked and thus i could ping ping ping people and tried to establish my contacts back. I am storing the contacts online until i get a new cell phone.

Incidents like these have not been new to me, i have been living through these moments all through my life. Just, when i had thought i had enough for the day, the month, the last ball of IPL 2009 was bowled. DC won.

Maybe i would, maybe i won’t

Maybe i would listen , maybe i won’t

Maybe i would walk long, maybe i won’t

Maybe i would hold, maybe i won’t

Maybe i would see the smile, maybe i won’t

Maybe i would first tell it all to our friends, maybe i won’t

Maybe i would just turn back and walk, maybe i won’t

Maybe i would turn around and see, maybe i won’t

Maybe i would call, maybe i won’t

Maybe i would just do it..maybe i won’t

Maybe i would go back home, maybe i won’t

Maybe i would work out, maybe i won’t

Maybe i would take it as it comes, maybe i won’t

Maybe i started to believe in destiny again, maybe i don’t.

P.S: it happened on a ugly day that i happen to listen to this song and i am now glad that day existed in my life.

Broken Bridge's broken adventure

Broken Bridge (BB) is the place where Ajith sings “Oh sona Oh sona” song in vaali movie; its the place where Madhavan and Surya fight in Ayutha Ezhuthu. Its a popular shooting spot for the tollywood.

One evening after sunset four friends ventured to broken bridge in a car saying the day has just started for them. Kal was the strongest of the four – he owned the car and was driving it, Kannadi was sensitive fellow because of his broken arm or maybe otherwise, Kev liked the place because he had been there. Kaamal said on phone (to?) that he wanted to feel fresh air and so decided to join the three.

The road to Besant nagar Elliot's beach is known to everyone but the road to BB is less travelled. One has to first reach to the northern end of the Elliot’s beach (maybe SHOULD park the vehicle there) and just venture into the nearby fishing hamlet. The lone road there directly leads to the mouth of BB; here is where the four had parked the car.

The four K’s sat around in circle and lighted it. It was a recharge gaf. The K’s had the first round of it, Kannadi was rookie, the other three had tried it time and again. The momentum of the discussion shifted to ‘future and the lucky breaks one gets in their life that makes them look successful’ from enjoying the beauty of the BB which cut across the Adyar river and ran across the Bay of Bengal. Slowly they lighted the other gaf, the discussion on future had now grown intense. In the dark the four K’s noticed some approaching figures towards them, one they initially saw, two it was said kev, it was finally three men standing beside them in the dark.

As they tried to approach the circle the K’s formed, fear loomed in their hearts. Maybe they were some people like them or they would be some locals. It so happened that the K’s in order to appear casual did not put off the gaf and lit a gic. As the men approached one of them smelt the air of gaf and sat with the K’s. He knew it was not right to have gaf there at the moment, the K’s knew it too, but it was the youth feeling that had driven them there. They were now caught and spotted by the local fishermen who threatened to alert the police. They had some papers with them which explained why they were calling as local life guards. The K’s were stoned so had no reason to argue or pick up a fight , It was simple, they wanted some money and K’s did not have any option.

The K’s and the three locals walked back asking for money, everyone emptied their purses to gather only a few hundred rupees but the three wanted more, so more threatening and thus more pleading by K’s. One among the three locals was a thing and a Limping Lucy(LL), one who could be typically knocked down easily(had the wind cooperated, the K’s had only two to tackle); the second one was tall and had good physique. The two were crazy to snatch all the four mobile phones and all the valuables the K’s had. Kal had successfully hid one of his golden ring in his pocket while the other was still in his little finger of his left hand. He was tense that the two would not snatch this, but had a laugh when he saw a golden chain around kev’s neck. That chain was worth 20,000 bucks just a day before. Luckily nothing of that sort seemed to happen when there is the third person around. He was very reasonable and not very greedy, he wanted the K’s to pay for the mistake.

The only way the K’s could come out of this situation was to go out in public, K’s said that they need to go to an ATM to draw some cash as they were broke. The three entered the car, two in the front, Kal obviously driving, at the back kannadi and kaamal had to adjust with the three locals, one on the top of other two. One local apparently replied to his mates “…dei otha! asgama okaar..on kundi elamb kuttardh” (don’t move fuckers, you bony ass is paining me) It was hard, the three locals seemed to open up by asking kal’s number and saying they can party here anytime from now as all of them have become friends. The police patrol added to the drama, and pressure of turning the car about. It was impossible task to move the car on a sandy embankment with sandy slope failing with every brake-clutch- accelerator action. The approaching police siron was nothing when compared to the fog on the car’s windows, these three thugs wanted the window closed all the time till they are out. Maybe the day was good for the K’s the car seemed to move out from the parking slot at the right time and seemed mobile when the police van approached. K’s were safe, but the thugs were still in.

K’s started to negotiate with the thugs but the three did not seem to loose out. They knew exactly where each ATM was. The boss (the first person named JAI KUMAR) knew everything about the K’s foul play, he did not succumb to any of them. He was busy controlling the other two foolish man. As the car move out of the BB area, Besant nagar was welcoming us. This was LL’s first car trip and he was getting excited, moving here and there and examining the windows, automatic start and close. He was certainly impressed with the car. Finally as the K’s moved into the city they tried to have their laugh back…they had finally agreed for 200 more and a drop back to their place. K’s agreed.

Way back to BB again kal dropped them at their home and asked a cool drink as they were tired. Jai Kumar obliged as they were friends now. Laughing at their foolishness they drove back home thinking of what worse could have happened. They certainly came back home and replied again “The day has started”.

P.S: The K’s forgot to read this

P.P.S: The BB’s pictures is available in this blog. None of the above characters in the picture happen to be K’s

I’LL GET ONE TOMORROW

I always wanted my hair long and this is the time I thought. Four months of stay in Pondicherry had helped me in this cause, but the premonition of going home was always there. I somehow avoided going home, but this time around I had to come home on a holiday, a holiday which was too difficult to refuse (freaking 5 days holiday, I could have easily made it to 7 if I had been voting).

First couple of days I could successfully dodge my parent’s attempts to send me to a barber shop. The resistance my side was stiff but I had to yield to their sayings. They had won this altercation on growing hair. Like a warrior taken captive after a loss in a war I walked to the barber shop. I could not help myself but remember this funny little poem that I had read in my 9^th standard. This poem by Ogden Nash is one of the few poems that I loved to read. (I feared that the syllabus would have changed, but it did not. I wondered why the guys don’t change the state syllabus…).I liked a few stanzas as it holds some relevance even today to us, but the entire poem is equally wonderful. The poem titled “I’LL GET ONE TOMORROW” goes like this…

Barber, barber, come and get me;

Hairy torrents irk and fret me.

Hair and hair again appears;

And climbs like ivy round my ears.

Hair across my collar gambols;

Down my neck it wayward ambles.

Ever down it trip it tickles;

Yes, where it trips it tickles.

Barber dear I wish I knew;

Why i do not visit you.

Why I grudge the minutes ten;

In your smiling den.

Why I choose to choke on hair;

Rather than to mount your chair.

Men no busier than I;

Weekly to your office hie.

Men no busier than myself;

Confront the armory on your shelf;

Men no wealthier than me;

Gladly meet your modest fee.

And for a fraction of a dollar;

Keep the jungle off their collar.

I alone am shy and flustered;

Solitary, cowardly custard.

Shaggy as a prize angore;

Overrun with the creeping flora.

Barber, barber, you’re in luck;

The bell has rung, the hour has struck.

Sloth strong, the hair is strong;

I cannot stand it any long.

Barber, barber here I come;

Shake up the odorous bay rum.

Bring on your shears your scythes, your snippers;

Bring on your crisp electric driers.

Employ a dozen extra sweepers;

Bring giant harvesters and reapers.

I warn you a bumper crop;

Waits to overwhelm your shop.

Baber, barber, be verbose;

Be anything but clip me close.

Leave me razored, leave me scissored

Leave me hairless, as a lizard;

Barber, barber, single and scald;

Barber can’t you make me bald?

I will be the happiest of men;

And never think of you again.

P.S: Google Ogden Nash for his poems and I bet you’ll not have found this before this post.

Not any-other Day

...We all sat around in a circle. Someone in the group lit it, it then passed from one person to another. It was my turn, I inhaled then immediately exhaled. I then passed it around to the next one in the circle. This time it was my turn again, I enacted the act again. After three - four rounds i wanted to control my breathe, when it was my next turn, I inhaled ....and passed it....waited for my next turn.When it came again i exhaled. Bloddy hell! I thought...what was happening to me...?

The party ended. We immediately went in and locked ourselves in a room. Started music. Dev-D one song after another, Pink Floyd one after another;I close my eyes I can see the universe. Names of friends i could recollect them all..I open my eyes I can hear only three sounds Aa ..uu..and mmm...Was i getting enlightened? (def not maybe). There was excessive mirth later, people would continue doing what they had to do for indefinitely long...Laugh for a silly thing, all join in...the mirth... we were all joyous...I started to fear.

I suddenly thought about this, last time around this same time i was missing a lot of similar fun...This time it was a similar occasion..Hostel Nite. Same friends around, I wanted to stay alive this time. The circle of smoke was fun, It was helping in my cause. Now, suddenly i see around the room and find everyone slept(some snoring, the rest dead). Was this an achievement, for it was not any other day for me??

Confession: I wont take it again unless its a real big occasion.

P.S: I had written this on that day, so in case you don't understand this, don't demand an explanation

This day - today

Earlier in the day i was reading this. This post was very refreshing. I do not know this person neither the person knows me, i thought i will expand his list with mine(no blog activity since long) . Also feel that every rookie blogger must have these nostalgic moments captured somewhere( thumb rule)

• DD2 - those good old times when we used to tap DD2 connections without my dad's getting aware
• Big-Fun bubblegum - we used to buy those for the cricket cards; rupee 1/- for a gum and a cricket card(we had an option to chose). Later we decided we have to buy those cards for 50 paise avoiding the bubble gum; Collect 100 BF wrappers and mail it to ... to win (cool) soap (bubble) watches
• Video games - Those 100 (sav) chance mario game for 10 min by paying 2/-
• Champak/Tinkle books - we borrowed from a local library. And come every summer vacation we used to buy these comics (Tinkle digest costed a huge 25/- bucks, how much does it cost now??)
  
• I got my first cycle at the age of 14, I used to play marbles/hide and seek/occasionally street cricket until then

These 5 are the things i got in mind now. I definitely know i have many more of such incidents. (This post may be continued).

Further in the day when i wanted to post this, I had to be shocked because of this (related blogs) .I had to tile my blog as Itchy fingers (because i blog when my fingers itch...arbit funda!) ... wait, do i have to give a explanation... Until i gain a new recognition here i go with the old name no matter what.

A strand of hair

A long strand of hair was whirling on my bedroom floor when I switched on the ceiling fan today, just like a whirlpool, just like the ripples created when there is ebb, like how the clothes spin inside a washing machine. I wondered where this particle could have been from.

I immediately recollected that this particle belongs to the person who inhabited the room for almost a month since the person was not present now, and I was maybe disappointed (or maybe obviously rejoiced). The person had come into the team a month ago; the person seemed to be a reasonable team mate. We were earlier four members in our team, had one bedroom each. Due to this person’s entry we had to make immediate adjustments to our sleeping positions. One of us had to share rooms with this new entrant. Everyone pointed fingers at me, I was the obvious one.

At the start, we slept with our faces facing each other. At nights we would go to nair kadai for a cup of tea, my partner would hate this tea. I would neither complain nor comment. Later when things happened to go on well, and I happened to understand this person well, I changed the sleeping position. We aligned at 96 positions. (Ask me why? I really had no choice here) One weekend we were momentarily separated, the next week we were 160 Kms away, the week next I called him home to Chennai – we were not allowed to share the bed there. In the forthcoming days I had a room vacant. One of my colleagues was either absent at the work place or attending interviews or entering into a new era of their life. I had to choose the separate bed available for me. This is how I was separated from him slowly and it was no more my room. Everyday when I switch on the fan I would notice a long strand of hair circling, next morning the vellaikari would sweep that into dustbin.

Today, I picked this swirling hair strand (which was obviously hiding from the vellaikari’s reach) and throw it in the dustbin and hope that this is the last time I see that hair strand again, for the strand’ was that of a surd.