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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Journey, engagement of a friend and others (Part 1)
Recently I had the opportunity to attend the engagement ceremony of a friend. We started to the native place of my friend by train, a place named "Viruthachalam", in the state of Tamilnadu. On the scheduled day of departure, we (me, my friend, Anwesha, her husband, and couple of cousins of my friend) were supposed to start from Yeshvanthpur railway station.
We reached the railway station almost 30 mins before the scheduled departure of the train, and were waiting for the train to arrive.
"What is the train no?" I asked politely.
"The train no is 2255, and it is the Pondicherry Express", told Anwesha.
After some time, the flash screen of the platform started showing the train no "2255".
"Oh, finally the train is going to come", I exclaimed.
"But the train is not Pondicherry Express, its something else, its "Garib Rath" (The chariot of poor people)", exclaimed another friend.
"So this guy is taking us in a poor guy's train, very bad, insulting", couple of friend's started teasing the guy whose engagement is going to happen.
"Actually Garib Rath is a series of train started by our former railway minister Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav, it does not necessarily mean that its a bad train or a train for poor people, its actually quite good" .. I was trying to explain in my as usual serious tone.
I was trying to read the complete text. "It is actually Puducherry Garib Rath Express, so its is not Pondicherry Express, its Puducherry Express".
"You stupid, Puducherry is same as Pondicherry", Anwesha told, exposing my lack of knowledge regarding the southern part of India. (I was thinking, I should be knowing this much at least, at least for the sake of knowledge)
Finally the train arrived and we all boarded the train. To our amazement the train was very clean and was in very good condition. Also since not many people were traveling, we were kind of at our own choice which seat to occupy.
After some chatting amongst each other and teasing my friend, we decided it is high time we should sleep. I preferred upper berth in which I always find some comfort.
... ... ... zz zz zz ... ... ...
"Hey guys, get up, we will be reaching in 15 mins or so", my friend was trying to wake us up.
We reluctantly woke up and to our amazement found that the always grayish cloudy sky of Bangalore is vanished and we are into the clear sky of country side of Tamilnadu, full of lush green and bright and sunny. I sat near the window for some time looking at the horizon admiring the beauty of the nature.
Finally we reached at our destination. "Viruthachalam", I was told by Anwesha that Poondicherry (famous for the Aashram of Shree ma and Shree Aurobinda) is only 2 hours traveling distance from there by train.
"Viruthachalam", was full of greenery and beautiful. It was surprising to see hardly any traffic after seeing a busy Bangalore everyday. The place was a bit warmer compared to Bangalore's cool cool weather, but still pretty pleasant.
My friend's father and his uncle weer waiting for us at the railway station to pickup. My friend's father welcomed me with warmth by telling the Tamil word "Vanakkam".
Me, being an utterly ignorant in Tamil, simply thought either as a word for someone else or is just something else, I ignored and started walking. Anwesha's husband was telling, "You did not react to the welcoming". I was ashamed to find out the details. Decided that it is high time I learn few basic Tamil words at least.
We had a pleasant journey from the railway station till the home of my friend. At his home, we found warm welcome from my friend's mom, aunt, sister and other relatives. I thought, "This is the beauty of Indian culture, where people show so much affection."
After we made ourselves comfortable, we had breakfast and tea. Breakfast was made up of 3-4 types of authentic Tamil breakfast cuisine and we all enjoyed it a lot (I am not describing more about breakfast owing to my lack of knowledge regarding the names and ingredients, nevertheless I enjoyed it immensely).
During conversation, my friend's father was explaining us the meaning of the name "Viruthachalam" and its origin etc. We started asking the same as question to my friend who arrived late for the conversation. And to our satisfaction, he was not able to explain the meaning or the origin properly, giving us an opportunity to tease him :)
After some leg pulling, we started watching movies in television ..
There are lot more interesting events occurred in the next 2 days, I am going to bring you in parts. I have to rush now for the preparation of a meeting.
Will keep all of you posted.
We reached the railway station almost 30 mins before the scheduled departure of the train, and were waiting for the train to arrive.
"What is the train no?" I asked politely.
"The train no is 2255, and it is the Pondicherry Express", told Anwesha.
After some time, the flash screen of the platform started showing the train no "2255".
"Oh, finally the train is going to come", I exclaimed.
"But the train is not Pondicherry Express, its something else, its "Garib Rath" (The chariot of poor people)", exclaimed another friend.
"So this guy is taking us in a poor guy's train, very bad, insulting", couple of friend's started teasing the guy whose engagement is going to happen.
"Actually Garib Rath is a series of train started by our former railway minister Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav, it does not necessarily mean that its a bad train or a train for poor people, its actually quite good" .. I was trying to explain in my as usual serious tone.
I was trying to read the complete text. "It is actually Puducherry Garib Rath Express, so its is not Pondicherry Express, its Puducherry Express".
"You stupid, Puducherry is same as Pondicherry", Anwesha told, exposing my lack of knowledge regarding the southern part of India. (I was thinking, I should be knowing this much at least, at least for the sake of knowledge)
Finally the train arrived and we all boarded the train. To our amazement the train was very clean and was in very good condition. Also since not many people were traveling, we were kind of at our own choice which seat to occupy.
After some chatting amongst each other and teasing my friend, we decided it is high time we should sleep. I preferred upper berth in which I always find some comfort.
... ... ... zz zz zz ... ... ...
"Hey guys, get up, we will be reaching in 15 mins or so", my friend was trying to wake us up.
We reluctantly woke up and to our amazement found that the always grayish cloudy sky of Bangalore is vanished and we are into the clear sky of country side of Tamilnadu, full of lush green and bright and sunny. I sat near the window for some time looking at the horizon admiring the beauty of the nature.
Finally we reached at our destination. "Viruthachalam", I was told by Anwesha that Poondicherry (famous for the Aashram of Shree ma and Shree Aurobinda) is only 2 hours traveling distance from there by train.
"Viruthachalam", was full of greenery and beautiful. It was surprising to see hardly any traffic after seeing a busy Bangalore everyday. The place was a bit warmer compared to Bangalore's cool cool weather, but still pretty pleasant.
My friend's father and his uncle weer waiting for us at the railway station to pickup. My friend's father welcomed me with warmth by telling the Tamil word "Vanakkam".
Me, being an utterly ignorant in Tamil, simply thought either as a word for someone else or is just something else, I ignored and started walking. Anwesha's husband was telling, "You did not react to the welcoming". I was ashamed to find out the details. Decided that it is high time I learn few basic Tamil words at least.
We had a pleasant journey from the railway station till the home of my friend. At his home, we found warm welcome from my friend's mom, aunt, sister and other relatives. I thought, "This is the beauty of Indian culture, where people show so much affection."
After we made ourselves comfortable, we had breakfast and tea. Breakfast was made up of 3-4 types of authentic Tamil breakfast cuisine and we all enjoyed it a lot (I am not describing more about breakfast owing to my lack of knowledge regarding the names and ingredients, nevertheless I enjoyed it immensely).
During conversation, my friend's father was explaining us the meaning of the name "Viruthachalam" and its origin etc. We started asking the same as question to my friend who arrived late for the conversation. And to our satisfaction, he was not able to explain the meaning or the origin properly, giving us an opportunity to tease him :)
After some leg pulling, we started watching movies in television ..
There are lot more interesting events occurred in the next 2 days, I am going to bring you in parts. I have to rush now for the preparation of a meeting.
Will keep all of you posted.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Death of a fat potato, bring on the slim and sensible one
"You potato, u have nothing in your brain" .. told an agitated Anwesha
We were arguing on nothing specific, mostly because of my fat headedness and tubelight like nature, unable to grasp the subtle things easily.
I thought seriously for a moment .. "Yeah, may be it is true, I have grown insensitive towards everything, dipped in selfishness or ego or whatever may be".
But still my ego kept on provoking me.
I retorted back "Cmon, what can I do, I am not able to understand, confused, thats why I am doing mistakes"
"Yeah, yeah, you confused soul, the potatoes have captured your brain, always confused, your brain neurons are not functioning because you are eating lot of potatoes, they have grown fatter, and they are not able to carry any signal anymore." Anwesha retorted back
"Hmm .. very true, it is high time I change my attitude", I thought.
"So what should be done to get rid of the fat potato", I asked with curiosity and quizzical nature.
"As long as the fat potato brain exists, nothing is gonna happen, that fat potato must die" .. Anwesha said.
"But, how can I die and change" .. I was confused again.
"See, you moron, not able to understand this much, everything taking up to yourself literally" .. Anwesha retorted back.
Somehow my tubelight head started glowing ... may be more voltage flow happened somehow
I understood the meaning finally.
"Oh, so you want the death of the fat potato headedness like attitude, hmm .. its a thing to ponder" I told.
"There is nothing to ponedr about, its a split second decision" .. Anwesha told.
"Very true" I thought. "Why the hesitation, bring on the slim and sensible one now on immediately."
With tons of determination, I have killed the fat potato ruthlessly.
From now on, a new slim and sensible one is going to appear permanently :)
We were arguing on nothing specific, mostly because of my fat headedness and tubelight like nature, unable to grasp the subtle things easily.
I thought seriously for a moment .. "Yeah, may be it is true, I have grown insensitive towards everything, dipped in selfishness or ego or whatever may be".
But still my ego kept on provoking me.
I retorted back "Cmon, what can I do, I am not able to understand, confused, thats why I am doing mistakes"
"Yeah, yeah, you confused soul, the potatoes have captured your brain, always confused, your brain neurons are not functioning because you are eating lot of potatoes, they have grown fatter, and they are not able to carry any signal anymore." Anwesha retorted back
"Hmm .. very true, it is high time I change my attitude", I thought.
"So what should be done to get rid of the fat potato", I asked with curiosity and quizzical nature.
"As long as the fat potato brain exists, nothing is gonna happen, that fat potato must die" .. Anwesha said.
"But, how can I die and change" .. I was confused again.
"See, you moron, not able to understand this much, everything taking up to yourself literally" .. Anwesha retorted back.
Somehow my tubelight head started glowing ... may be more voltage flow happened somehow
I understood the meaning finally.
"Oh, so you want the death of the fat potato headedness like attitude, hmm .. its a thing to ponder" I told.
"There is nothing to ponedr about, its a split second decision" .. Anwesha told.
"Very true" I thought. "Why the hesitation, bring on the slim and sensible one now on immediately."
With tons of determination, I have killed the fat potato ruthlessly.
From now on, a new slim and sensible one is going to appear permanently :)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Dream
I was dreaming, don't know what time of night. The dream was beautiful, astounding, marvelous. It had the sense of peace, serenity and calmness as if you do not need anything else. I was amongst all of my closest friends, surrounded and walking in a blissful morning in a plateau full of greenery. Just plain greenery, beautiful warm sunlight spread all across, music of fresh water spring somewhere nearby as if soothing your heart. I thought, oh God, I just want to be in this state forever. Is this eternal piece? Its the moment I always cherished, nothing to worry, no hunger, no work, no stress, nothing, just plain peace and peace and serenity. I have everyone, all friends, everyone I have nearby, this is what I wanted for my entire life. The horizon is looking serene too, conglomerated with the greenery and the greenish yellow tint that the sunshine has created.
... ... ...
Time passed by for some time in this, but slowly the peacefulness in me is getting converted to irritation, I don't know the reason. I am getting agitated, agitated with my friends, agitated with the nature. Is this calmness for long hunting me or is it something else, like a signal before the storm. May be the later was true, in the midst of a brightly lit sunny day, dark clouds started mocking at me. Before I realized, I found that my agitation mixed with my ego, my negative traits, has turned into a monster dark cloud. That is hovering over the brightness of the Sun. Now its growing like a monster, big and strong, I am afraid of that, its full of darkness, thunderstorms are coming, I am trying to escape the lightnings. I am afraid, running like a dog who can not face its opponent who is more powerful, I am running forgetting all friends, running everywhere. But this opponent is created by myself, my traits which I failed to control. I am feeling so low of myself, my self esteem is gone. I am ashamed to show my face to my friends, they are bearing all this because of me too. I am running away with all my force, but the monster grips me, its is going to kill me, oh God, save me please. I became unconscious.
... ... ...
Suddenly after sometime, when I got back my consciousness, found that the thunderstorm is over, the serenity is not like earlier, but its still peaceful. The thunderstorm just had an impression for a small moment, but now the plateau looks more beautiful. And all friends are around me, telling how they restored me from the thunderstorms. This is more beautiful, much more that the serenity in the early morning. It may not be the same, but its much more meaningful now for me. Its so strange, despite me succumbing, initiating and causing all the trouble, all friends are still with me, they saved me, and we are in a much greater friendship now, which can not be broken anymore. I am indebted to all my friends forever, to everyone whoever has helped me anytime. And those friends who had saved me from this monstrous thunder, I cannot describe how much I owe them. I am still feeling low as why I ran away leaving all of them to face the wrath of the thunder (AFAIK created by me).
... ... ...
My sleep broke, its early morning, Birds are chirping, the chanting of mantras from nearby temple is soothing.
Later in the day I told Anwesha the dream. How I got saved, and she was there too to save me amongst few others too.
I asked, "Why did friends save me when I caused them the trouble, when I left them and started running?"
"That is why friends are for, they do not desert you even if you have committed mistakes and even if they are in deep water because of you. Just make sure that, if ever you face that situation in real life, do not run away, face the thunder, face the monster along with your friends, you are sure to overcome it. Everyone commits mistakes, without mistakes how can you learn, so do not think much what you had done bad, how you had hurt others, think what you can do in future. Life is more beautiful when you overcome obstacles together, not when you are in serenity without any event, nor when you runaway. Face it always, true friends will be always by your side whatever the situation may be." ... Anwesha said with a jovial voice.
P.S. This is a completely imaginary dream, though at times I feel like this
... ... ...
Time passed by for some time in this, but slowly the peacefulness in me is getting converted to irritation, I don't know the reason. I am getting agitated, agitated with my friends, agitated with the nature. Is this calmness for long hunting me or is it something else, like a signal before the storm. May be the later was true, in the midst of a brightly lit sunny day, dark clouds started mocking at me. Before I realized, I found that my agitation mixed with my ego, my negative traits, has turned into a monster dark cloud. That is hovering over the brightness of the Sun. Now its growing like a monster, big and strong, I am afraid of that, its full of darkness, thunderstorms are coming, I am trying to escape the lightnings. I am afraid, running like a dog who can not face its opponent who is more powerful, I am running forgetting all friends, running everywhere. But this opponent is created by myself, my traits which I failed to control. I am feeling so low of myself, my self esteem is gone. I am ashamed to show my face to my friends, they are bearing all this because of me too. I am running away with all my force, but the monster grips me, its is going to kill me, oh God, save me please. I became unconscious.
... ... ...
Suddenly after sometime, when I got back my consciousness, found that the thunderstorm is over, the serenity is not like earlier, but its still peaceful. The thunderstorm just had an impression for a small moment, but now the plateau looks more beautiful. And all friends are around me, telling how they restored me from the thunderstorms. This is more beautiful, much more that the serenity in the early morning. It may not be the same, but its much more meaningful now for me. Its so strange, despite me succumbing, initiating and causing all the trouble, all friends are still with me, they saved me, and we are in a much greater friendship now, which can not be broken anymore. I am indebted to all my friends forever, to everyone whoever has helped me anytime. And those friends who had saved me from this monstrous thunder, I cannot describe how much I owe them. I am still feeling low as why I ran away leaving all of them to face the wrath of the thunder (AFAIK created by me).
... ... ...
My sleep broke, its early morning, Birds are chirping, the chanting of mantras from nearby temple is soothing.
Later in the day I told Anwesha the dream. How I got saved, and she was there too to save me amongst few others too.
I asked, "Why did friends save me when I caused them the trouble, when I left them and started running?"
"That is why friends are for, they do not desert you even if you have committed mistakes and even if they are in deep water because of you. Just make sure that, if ever you face that situation in real life, do not run away, face the thunder, face the monster along with your friends, you are sure to overcome it. Everyone commits mistakes, without mistakes how can you learn, so do not think much what you had done bad, how you had hurt others, think what you can do in future. Life is more beautiful when you overcome obstacles together, not when you are in serenity without any event, nor when you runaway. Face it always, true friends will be always by your side whatever the situation may be." ... Anwesha said with a jovial voice.
P.S. This is a completely imaginary dream, though at times I feel like this
Monday, June 22, 2009
Random Conversation - Part 3
"I am ready", Anwesha said with sarcasm and hopeless mood in her voice.
"Ready for what, for the blood test", I asked calmly (Anwesha is supposed to go for some routine generic blood test that morning)
"Yes, they will puncture my body and take away my blood", sob .. sob ..
"Its fine, its for your own good only, you need to take the test na", I explained with soberness in my voice.
"Yeah, yeah, its easy to advise, but I have only to face the doctor", she retorted with full energy.
"Ok, ok, you go now, its getting late, you are supposed to give blood twice right, once before eating and once after eating, you have taken the food right", I tried to remind everything.
Anwesha and her husband started for the hospital.
For our readers' knowledge, Anwesha does little bit of knowing nuisance while going for these medical tests. (Its not that she does not want to take, in fact she is the one who decides to take the tests herself, but the knowing nuisance is just part of the package. I was doing bigger nuisances when I was young, may be now also I will do too, so I will not blame her as such :) )
... ... ...
"You came back so early, all test done so fast?", I asked
"No, not all tests, I need to give 2nd sample of blood after 2 hours of eating only", Anwesha said
"Oh, you did not confirm that with the doctor before you start, you unnecessarily took packed breakfast", I did mild shouting.
"As if you know everything, you could have helped me right, you could have asked right, men are hopeless", came the prompt reply.
"True? well may be partially", I thought, kept my mouth shut instead of arguing.
... ...
"So, you did not get nervous while giving blood", I asked
"Actually I was about to faint when the nurse started taking a full syringe of blood, at least normally I feel little dizzy, but she was taking the blood so slowly as if every molecule was being extracted from my body with effort equivalent to the gravitational force of some legendary planet like Jupiter, so I got really bored and let her finish at her own pace", Anwesha said with full of enthusiasm.
"So someone bored you off while taking away blood too, very bad" .. laughter .. laughter ..
... ... ...
"This breakfast has gone bad, Dosa, chutney everything has been mixed, I can't eat this", Anwesha was shouting.
"What will happen, they will anyway get mixed in your stomach", me and Anwesha's husband were trying to explain.
She gave us a you-know-nothing look and retorted back, "yeah, you eat like this, why do you need to even cook, just eat the raw material, you hopeless morons are good for nothing"
Somehow the phase passed by with she finally consuming some juices and milkshakes.
... ... ... 2 hours gone ... Time for Anwesha to start again ... for the post breakfast blood test
I was cooking in the kitchen, I heard the sobbing again ..
"Ok, Anwesha is going, thats why she is sobbing again", I thought.
"You potato brother, hopeless, will not come to see why I am crying, you guys never bother", I heard her shouting.
"Well, well, we know you are leaving for the test and thats why you are sobbing, I was busy in kitchen work right", I told calmly while hurrying from kitchen.
"yeah, yeah, you will ignore always, you will never come even if anything happens to me", she complained knowingly that it is absolutely false complain.
"Ok, I am going" ..
... ... ...
Anwesha came back after an hour or so.
"They damaged both of my hands", she was showing the mark in her hand where blood has been taken from vein.
"Why the hell they need to take syringes of blood for general tests", she was asking with anger.
"I don't know, may be they are storing the extra blood in their blood bank", I gave a seemingly non-plausible explanation.
"Whatever effort you had put to gain some blood, you just donated to the nurse, full two syringes just like that, now you need to eat again more to gain that blood", I told comically hoping that will lighten the moment.
"You don't know how to joke too, I am going to hit you nicely if you give insensitive comment like that gain", she retorted back with anger and sadness.
I know she never liked those tests, but needed to do as part of health checkup, she was sad about that.. And I gathered myself and tried to console her rather than giving quirky remarks.
"After all my blog contents will be dried up if she becomes sad."
So finally, after some consoling she is back to form and we are arguing again in full flow .. .. :) :)
"Ready for what, for the blood test", I asked calmly (Anwesha is supposed to go for some routine generic blood test that morning)
"Yes, they will puncture my body and take away my blood", sob .. sob ..
"Its fine, its for your own good only, you need to take the test na", I explained with soberness in my voice.
"Yeah, yeah, its easy to advise, but I have only to face the doctor", she retorted with full energy.
"Ok, ok, you go now, its getting late, you are supposed to give blood twice right, once before eating and once after eating, you have taken the food right", I tried to remind everything.
Anwesha and her husband started for the hospital.
For our readers' knowledge, Anwesha does little bit of knowing nuisance while going for these medical tests. (Its not that she does not want to take, in fact she is the one who decides to take the tests herself, but the knowing nuisance is just part of the package. I was doing bigger nuisances when I was young, may be now also I will do too, so I will not blame her as such :) )
... ... ...
"You came back so early, all test done so fast?", I asked
"No, not all tests, I need to give 2nd sample of blood after 2 hours of eating only", Anwesha said
"Oh, you did not confirm that with the doctor before you start, you unnecessarily took packed breakfast", I did mild shouting.
"As if you know everything, you could have helped me right, you could have asked right, men are hopeless", came the prompt reply.
"True? well may be partially", I thought, kept my mouth shut instead of arguing.
... ...
"So, you did not get nervous while giving blood", I asked
"Actually I was about to faint when the nurse started taking a full syringe of blood, at least normally I feel little dizzy, but she was taking the blood so slowly as if every molecule was being extracted from my body with effort equivalent to the gravitational force of some legendary planet like Jupiter, so I got really bored and let her finish at her own pace", Anwesha said with full of enthusiasm.
"So someone bored you off while taking away blood too, very bad" .. laughter .. laughter ..
... ... ...
"This breakfast has gone bad, Dosa, chutney everything has been mixed, I can't eat this", Anwesha was shouting.
"What will happen, they will anyway get mixed in your stomach", me and Anwesha's husband were trying to explain.
She gave us a you-know-nothing look and retorted back, "yeah, you eat like this, why do you need to even cook, just eat the raw material, you hopeless morons are good for nothing"
Somehow the phase passed by with she finally consuming some juices and milkshakes.
... ... ... 2 hours gone ... Time for Anwesha to start again ... for the post breakfast blood test
I was cooking in the kitchen, I heard the sobbing again ..
"Ok, Anwesha is going, thats why she is sobbing again", I thought.
"You potato brother, hopeless, will not come to see why I am crying, you guys never bother", I heard her shouting.
"Well, well, we know you are leaving for the test and thats why you are sobbing, I was busy in kitchen work right", I told calmly while hurrying from kitchen.
"yeah, yeah, you will ignore always, you will never come even if anything happens to me", she complained knowingly that it is absolutely false complain.
"Ok, I am going" ..
... ... ...
Anwesha came back after an hour or so.
"They damaged both of my hands", she was showing the mark in her hand where blood has been taken from vein.
"Why the hell they need to take syringes of blood for general tests", she was asking with anger.
"I don't know, may be they are storing the extra blood in their blood bank", I gave a seemingly non-plausible explanation.
"Whatever effort you had put to gain some blood, you just donated to the nurse, full two syringes just like that, now you need to eat again more to gain that blood", I told comically hoping that will lighten the moment.
"You don't know how to joke too, I am going to hit you nicely if you give insensitive comment like that gain", she retorted back with anger and sadness.
I know she never liked those tests, but needed to do as part of health checkup, she was sad about that.. And I gathered myself and tried to console her rather than giving quirky remarks.
"After all my blog contents will be dried up if she becomes sad."
So finally, after some consoling she is back to form and we are arguing again in full flow .. .. :) :)
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