Aiming Fiction!!

I used to dread the fact that my father was Shankar. To the rest of the world, he was the champion of the Cause in SriLanka. To me, he was the man who used to wake me up in the middle of the night, once in a bluemoon, and give me money to buy sweets.

I was born in Dangyuppa in SriLanka. I wasn’t allowed to study or play in peace with the rest of the neighbourhood boys, as I had to play the real game of dodging bullets and bombs to stay alive.

When I turned 10, I was suddenly smuggled by a group of people in the middle of the night to a small boat waiting to take me to Rameshwaram. I knew they were my father’s friends, but my only worry was that my mother was not with me. When I kept crying for her, they told me that she had been killed and that I should leave Dangyuppa immediately or face the same fate.

I will never forget the journey that night, which was going to take me away from my birthplace, my mother, the only entities I owed my existence in the world to.

My mother used to despise the fact that my father used bloodshed to fight for the cause of the Tamils. She used to tell me that when she was a small child, there was hardly any hatred between the native Sinhalese and the Tamils. My mother always blamed politics to be the cause of the mutual hatred the 2 communities.

That night, when I was on that boat, there was just one thing that I was sure of, I would return back one day, suitably armed.

I got enrolled in a refugee school in Salem. That was my first tryst with the outside world. There was so much to learn and to discover. It was then that I understood that knowledge is power and if I had to lead, I had to do it by initiating the change I desire to see.

It used to hurt me to be passive about the injustice, we were subjected to by our matron. There were times, when I used to see sick boys being asked to work even though they could hardly get onto their feet, thanks to the matron, who thought he was King and the rest of us, his slaves. I launched a protest to see to it that he be removed, by getting the children to disobey all his orders. Strangely, I thought I would be the lone fighter, but was surprised by the amount of supporters I had. Though I could always live in the illusion that there were more female supporters than male, I was sure that they were only fighting for their cause. We were rebuked, beaten up, but we never gave up. After 3 long days, we won our battle. We had a new matron!

After my schooling, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, start a school, impart knowledge to those who cant afford the same and enable my people to fight for their rights. If you have ever read of stories of people who work by the night and study by the day,you are talking about me. I will not die the death of a man who did not try enough or give his best shot in pursuing his goal in life.

When I held my degree in hand, strangely enough the only person I thought about was my father. After returning to Dangyuppa, I was told that he was still alive.

When I met him, I hardly felt anything for the man. All I wanted to do was to strike a deal with him. I told him, that I wished to stay in the camp, not as their sympathizer, but as a teacher. I could tell that he was laughing at me. Not that I cared, I was determined.

I started on rather unconventional and shaky grounds.I almost felt like Bhuvan in Lagaan. My first class was held in the open, where I just went around the entire camp, talking about the History in SriLanka. Not that anybody even bothered to listen, probably they didn’t shoot me, as they knew my dad! But thanks to one enthusiastic kid, who came running after me with gun in hand, and asking me if such things actually happened in the past, the entire camp came to a standstill and I knew that this was the moment.

I was threatened to leave. I was asked if my lecture included the facts and figures of the women who had lost their dignity, of the men their families and of the children, their lives.I told them that by returning the atrocities, in all these years, did they gain anything at all? I promised them, then that the whole world would know their story and they would know what the rest of the world was upto!

After making it clear to my fellow campers that I was a non-violent person, I was the unofficial teacher on duty. My lectures catered to space, combustion engines and rockets in male dominated classes and poetry in the female dominated classes. It was a different matter that my classes lasted hardly for a few minutes. But it was a start of sorts.

My next mission was to highlight the cause of my people. The way I saw it, I could see 2 sides fighting the other and causing each other doom. My studies on the Tamil population in Jaffna, showed distressing results.It is not a surprise that we are a minority, but the appalling fact is that we are still a suffering minority, and our rights or the laws against us have not changed in decades. I do not recommend violence to be the solution. I only think that it has only created more damage than good even after all these years. But I don’t understand the government’s agenda. If they want the militants to stop terror, they must root out the cause for such terror.Who would live in a land, where the law is against them, people are against them and where they don’t have the freedom to enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.

My appeal goes to the international community, the government and to all the people of SriLanka. Help us save our nation. Life is short. Many of us have spent all our lives, away from the solution. Talks, peace treaties and laws come and go. Soldiers come and go. In the midst of it all, I have lost my right to lead a decent life. But I will not stop all of this from ensuring that my people get their rights, where their knowledge would supersede ignorance and their hatred to peace.

Mane

Vid took me to Bosco Mane........now Vid used to take classes on "Life Skills" as part of Dream a dream foundation's initiatives....

I promised her that I wudnt disrupt her class...if she took me along....actually..I dont think I have ever disrupted a class in my entire lifetime....simply coz I was always a big boring studious student :)

Vid was to conduct the class for the ten children studying in class 10.........n I was all too happy to get back to a classroom...

Buddhivantha effects

My 1st n last Kannada movie in a theatre till date has been the "REAL STAR" starrer Upendra's Buddhivantha....which was a total paisa vasool experience....I can pretty much manage the dialogues of this movie...n when I heard Raghavendra n Narendra start off with the Howdu Judgeeamma Nanavanalla dialogue....I made the mistake of telling them the Pushuk antha love bandhanthe dialogue :)

To those of u who have not watched this movie...n r seeing stars....the hero plays a conman n is accused of cheating gals....n thats when the hero defends his statements in court...telling the female judge ...that It wasnt me....

The Love wallah dialogue is actually cute....The English translation is as follows:

There was this guy who was riding a bike on a single wheel...n this gal .....like it happens in telugu n hindi movies...fell in love with the guy....

Buddhivantha apart....let me now take u back to Bosco Mane.....

Vid's topic for the day was "Goal Setting"

Age: 10-14 years

D' Souza was working in a hotel in Mangalore as a "Room Boy"....He has no family.....did not go to school...was earning to survive.....

Ganesh was working as a cleaner in a Darshini....again did not go to school...had to support himself....

The other boys were either employed in cracker factories or in railway stations....n had very little chance to study....

The only thought that came to my mind was that....these boys were all real people....who had no other choice but to earn to survive....forget about studies....they were people who had begun their lives struggling...sometimes without a roof over their heads....or otherwise....not knowing where their next meal would come from....

Age: 14 to 18 years

Most of them are in Bosco....n want to study hard....Suresh wants to work as well as study...so that he can start saving now for all the courses he has in mind....

Age: 20-25 years

D'Souza told us that he sees himself working.....but he seemed rather laid back when compared to the other children who told us inspiring stuff....made me wonder if D'Souza was just telling himself....that ...there is no use dreaming that I will be that...or I will be this....I will take life as it comes.....

Sunil wanted to open an office.....

Narendra wanted to be a software engineer...

Ganesh wanted to be in the Army....

Another boy wanted to join the police force.....

Kumar wanted to be a swimming coach....

But 1 thing they all wanted to do in common....was to give back to Bosco what Bosco had given them....

Bosco's Service

Vid took me around and explained the work that Bosco was involved in.....Bosco rescues children from the streets and sets up rehabilitation centers for them.....I am told they have booths in Magadi Road...in Majestic Railway Station and Bus Stand.....

After the children are rescued ....their roots are traced.....if they have families....they are united back....n if their family is ok with Bosco supporting the kid's education.....then the kids stay in Bosco Mane...attend school....n are supported till they earn a livelihood.....

If the parents are not supportive....the children are handed over back to the parents....

I was way too impressed with the approach that Bosco had ...coz I saw a difference in the attitudes of the boys I had interacted with....Bosco gave the children plenty of avenues other than studies...so u had Kumar...a swimming champ....or Sunil...an artist.....n all of them were people who looked determined to make the most of the present...

I will end this write-up with what the head of Bosco...told me...when Vid asked him if she could take me around the school....He said something like this..." You know these days...there are lots of young people ...who are tired sitting in front of their computers day in and day out...working...n want to make a difference....So they come to our schools...n try to help out.."....

I looked at him n smiled....that sounded way too familiar:)

Untitled!!

The title here is titled intentionally!!!

I dont think I can message the ppal I am writing abt...n tell them that...hey..I have written abt u...coz I know for certain that they wont read this posting....but I sure hope U do!!

Lakshmi Paati:

Our earliest memories of MoC is that of Lakshmi Patti...who used to hug us telling us " Ayyo....my children....they have come to see me.....I love u maa"...............

V used to visit MoC once a month...n there used to be times...when I used to get held up with other stuff...n used to miss the MoC trips....Finally on 1 such visit....Lakshmi Patti had left us.....

Rajeshwari

She is my Aunty in MoC......every month...I used to run to her..asking her if she remembered my name....She used to always call me Sangeetha....n when I used to tell her..no....she used to flash an extremely adorable teethy smile..n call me "Ceeema"......

Anitha

Anitha loves Pravs....that explains y she always comes to me..holds on to me...looks at Pravs...n tells her ..Tu...Tu.....

She is d most enthusiastic person I have ever met...she will run to see u off....she will give us updates on d other inmates..there have been times when she has taken us to her friends....n asked us to talk to them too....:)

She was d one who told us abt the rituals they have in MoC...She is our guide.....

Rita

There are very few ppal in this universe...who..say...even if I were to be seeing them for the 1st time in my life....I can tell that they r adorable....n genuine....

A wonderful dancer.....always asks about u.....if u have had food....if u r doing ok...Watch her dance..once....n u will feel ur heart go out to her!!

Bindu...

Pravs wasnt able to make it to MoC ....d last coupla months.....n our very own Bindu madam....who is blessed with the most adorable smile....I have ever seen ........asks her today in half sign language n in half words....why didnt u come all these days???

Whenever Bindu watches me...I somehow always feel that she knows what Im thinking about...that she can see through my mind.....Must be the smiley charm:)

Anonymous

I am always bad with names.........but I really sad I forgot her name.....My next mission is to find out her name....

She has d official duty of helping out the inamtes of MoC who can barely touch their food....eat....I have seen her feed ppal after ppal....n she does this with sooo much of dedication...that I have always admired her dedication........

Aunty...

This is how she will call u...n then all she wants is for some1 to speak to her....n to be heard....n it makes up her day!!

Talk to me!!

I used to always see her in a lonely situation.....she didnt seem to be the ones who wud interact with others...so I was heading off to her..to try my luck....

Thats when I realized that she is one cute sweetheart.....she loves to have ppal around her...but wont quite accept it:)

Amazed

U will be amazed by the number of times....v have just uttered a simple hello....to ppal....n by the amount of love n affection ....they will shower in return.....

There have been ppal...who on 1st impression wud look like ppal who were introverts or ppal who kept to themselves...but talk to them...n then u will know:)

Paatti

Paati was very sick when v met her last....n another volunteer Veni was feeding her porridge....with so much of patience....that Paati was finally able to swallow food....n Veni told us.....that ..u c..I have a son...who makes a big fuss about eating....My patience n perseverance comes from running after him with food....

Rooooopa

Rooopa loves to talk to ppal.....she will take u to a comfy shady place....make u sit next to her...n start off ...n if u happen to stand up in between...or if u try to coax her telling her that u wud come d next time around.....she will ensure that u sit back:)

Flower

She is the best dressed person in MoC...She loves flowers....a very practical person....by nature...she is not one who gets swayed easily.....she has her head firmly on her shoulders...n is extremely adorable.........

Naaani

She was amongst the first few friends we made in MoC...n v used to have long conversations with her.....V were only required to sit beside her....n she would talk to us abt just abt anything....

Didi

She greets u with a long flowing sentence in Hindi...n that always leaves me struggling for words to frame my replies:).....If there is one thing that all the inmates in MoC love n admire in common....It is Moses....

Y not?

If u see a whole lot of them clustered around a radio with deep attention listening to the news or songs....or if u have volunteers or children performing for the grannies ...or if u have special Christmas or Diwali celebrations....U know who is the driving force behind.....

Baby

She is a destitute who was brought to MoC .....a ver sweet person...who will complain if u r late...or if u dont speak to her:).....

After me!!!

There are days...when the whole wide world is after me....telling me that Cma...High Time...U did this....high time...u did that....Today was one such day.....n the strange part being that a whole lot of them were strangers!!

My driver asks me the question I dont like.....Do u drive?...Y dont u learn??.....My driver is an extremely sweet person.....But me a fully stubborn non-driver!!

I hate Deutsche bank debit cards....n if u went through what I did today....probably u wud feel d same....I blissfully forget to carry cash from home....on my way to MoC this morning.....n land up in a petrol bunk with 100 bucks cash n a Deutsche bank debit card.....Something inside me....kept telling me that....wat if the card doesnt work.....ask the petrol pump guys to put in 100 bucks worth ka petrol only.....But my alter ego....which has been putting me into trouble in the recent past..disagreed strongly..telling me that ...WTH....U used the card a few days ago only naa.....

So...yes....Our car is loaded with 500 bucks worth ka petrol.....n Im holding out my card for any1 who wants me to pay....n yes...yes....the card refuses to work....

Incase I wasnt clear anuf...n Im pretty certain I wasnt....I dont drive!! or rather I cant drive!!...I have been able to overcome stage fear...shaky legs...scary heights......dangerous...by my standards...trekking sites....But road fear.....Not yet!!

So....with 100 bucks in hand...I rush to my driver....asking him if he has cash.....n turns out he is as poor as me....

Have u noticed...that when ur in trouble....strangers land out of nowhere n hurl their unasked for suggestions...which is soo irritating ...that it makes me think....Y cant they mind their own business.....there was this UKP who asked me to keep my mobile phone with the petrol bunk...n to try an ATM elsewhere....I know....He doesnt know abt my everlasting love for my phone.....But seriously..how foolish can any1 get....

The petrol bunk ppal....were firm that one of us had to stay....while the other cud go get the money....To me..It was like a movie scene....where they keep heroines on hold...till the hero rescued her out....

I was no hero...n my driver ..no heroine.....

I admit I was totally responsible for getting myself into this mess.....But it was only yesterday when I was complaining that my life had very little adventures...n God was listening.....I must admit...

D auto driver wud have thought this gal is nuts....coz after taking an auto from the bunk asking him to take me to the nearest ATM..n after knowing that the auto charge wud fall less than 100....I kept laughing when my card refused to work at any of the ATM centres......

Finally....Moses who was in MoC came to my rescue.....n I actually wanted to hand over the 1000 bucks ka note to the petrol bunk fella...n tell him.....Keep the change.....But.....It was only a thought....

After picking Pravs from MoC...who BTW starts off with y dont u learn to drive lectures.....n I give her the most insanest..actually foolishest of excuses....abt how I cant drive....wont drive!!....want to spare other mortals...their lives.....thingy n all....

In MoC...my office team had already left..n I ..the latecomer...dragged Pravs.....to MoC again....Pravs...who had bid them goodbyes 15 mins ago...was back wishing them helloo....all thanks to me!!

Since the ppal in MoC knew I was late....they wanted to know how I had come....n they wanted to know if I cud drive :)

After getting back home...my mother dragged me shopping.....now this is not one of those hep shopping escapedes......this is rice n provision shopping in RMC yard ..Yeshwanthpur.....which BTW is always sooo crowded ...n gets me all dusty n sad.....coz u c a whole lot of labourers at work...carrying huge huge mootas of rice......n other groceries on their backs...on their heads.....n after 1 guy carried 50kgs of rice to our car.......I cud hardly lead them to the place where our car was parked amidst all that dust...commotion....n crowd....we were asked to pay him 20 bucks..imagine!!

On my way back to the shop....d person who carried all that load....asked me..y didnt u park ur car closer...I told him...no place...God knows what caused him to ask me "Do u drive??"...I told him..nopes.....he told me one more sentence...n walked off.....City nalli idhu...neevu yaake kalthilla??

Wat to do!!!

Sometimes...no...no...no...actually....these days tho...I keep wondering every other time...I have the time....about what I am doing....and about what I could be doing....given a choice....yes...am coming to d wishlist of things I have always wanted to do!!!

Pravs got me introduced to it....n I thought it was d coolest thing ever.....

So what is this whole wishlist thingy??

U make a list of stuff u always wanted to do....set a timeframe...n then u will be amazed by the number of things u have actually been able to achieve....now the list should have stuff u have yearned to do....n definitely not only stuff that u know will happen...

Long awaited!!

This has been in the writing since 2007......n even now when Im posting it.....am still wondering if I really should...But I also dont c a reason y I shudnt:)

TSA trips!!

TSA stands for Technologists for Social Action!! Our office used to visit Missionaries of Charity(MoC) and IGIA on the 2nd Saturday of every month. Today, we visit only MoC....

MoC

MoC is a place for the destitutes...both young n old.....what you see here is the Fag end of Life……You see people who do not fear death and also people who are not afraid to live…..

You meet old people deserted by the ones they love....thrown out of their homes by their children for money.....or just coz they were growing to be burdens to their children....

There is another Ashram in Uttarahalli....Rags took me there once....Same scenes there also....But the Ashram has mentally challenged children n trust me ...it is very difficult to come back from that place without shedding a tear...n anger building up inside u....that keeps u wondering y children do this to parents!!!

What do these ppal expect?....a warm hug or a kind smile or a namaskara or a hege idhira(How r u in Kannada) or a Eppadi irukinge in Tamil….and u can actually see the difference…..It lightens up their day……..

MoC impact.....

I know my father struggled to get to where he is today…….My grandfather passed away when my father was very young…….My grandmother struggled a lot to make ends meet and has kept herself hungry to ensure her children had enough food………My father being one of the younger members of the family had the luxury to complete his studies, something his elder brothers could not do as they had to leave their hometowns, when they were barely 11 to earn. My father started small, had to cut on his expenses, has never had the kind of luxury that I have had in my student days, but he was always sure of one thing, his children would not go through the difficulties he had seen in his life.....

Yes…..yes…My father has done a lot of personal sacrifices and has put up through most of my nonsensical demands when I was much younger…..One such incident….was when my cab driver had to take a different route and I happened to pass by the Barber shop and old memories came flooding back……

I was 12 years old then…. I used to believe that only if a Barber cuts my hair, my hair would grow back faster and thicker…..

So I pester my father one day… to take me to a Barber Shop, not anywhere near my place…as I was not comfortable with the idea of having known friends see me in one.

So, dressed in a frock to look younger as I was pretty tall for my age, also with a lot of people asking me if I was in Middle School when I was in Primary and if I was in High School when I was in Middle School and so on, frock seemed to be the optimum choice. Getting back to my incident…yeah….I managed to comfortably drag my father to the farthest one, that was located 5kms away…..and get the job done….whether the hair grew back fast or stronger …I really don’t remember……but why my father did that, I know now.....

My father, sister n me used to always love going shopping to Comm Street.....there was this 1 time...when I saw a white stuffed toy...k..k...a monkey....but a damn cute one....in one of d shops....n I loved it so much...that all I had to do was to look at it...n then at my father....n I knew I wud get it....But my sister was against me buying it...as it was around 500 bucks...n thought I was too old to be playing with such stuff......But my father told her....that ...she wants it...let her have it....

Our fridge at home...used to always be loaded with chocos...now u know y I hate them:).....coz all my sister n me had to do ...was to take my father to a shop....give a quick glance at the chocolate n then at my father...n v used to get the chocos.....n thats when the fights began :)...coz the chocos were always equally divided between my sister n me.....I used to save mine...till v got the next set...n my sister used to finish hers in no time at all..n eye mine:)

When I get really busy with work, to create a mark for myself, to get that satisfaction that yes, I have done it, there are times when I forget, I have a family. When I don’t even have 5 mins to call them, but all the time in the world to cut their calls. There was this time, when I was working to finish a document and all of a sudden, my extension phone rings. Im still wondering who is calling me, as my colleagues had left to grab some food, when I hear my father’s voice on the other end, asking me if I have taken food and if Im alright...

My manager once told me this that in the race to the top or at your deathbed, the only people who will stand by you is your family……

I love my parents beyond the faintest doubt in the world. But yes, there are times when I take this for granted…. …..But after TSA, I got the feeling that …God…..My family does sooo much for me……What do I give them in return?.....Scold Amma…….if the curry is not to my taste…..Not her problem…U c…..If my father likes the curry….I don’t…….So…..what can poor Amma do?

Sometimes I wonder why is it that she works the way she does……And yes she does it 24x7 365 days in a year…..

IGIA:

When I was small....I used to love playing 2 games.....one was the house game...where in I used to create an imaginary house....I remember having a small set that had cooty cooty vessels n all......the 2nd one was the teacher game.....I even had an attendance register...with names that I liked.....ya ....It had loadsa of Urvashi, Rambha, Menaka..:).....Had a very strong mythological upbringing...heeheehee

IGIA is one school that v share a very special bond with...It was almost like a dream come true...when v got to teach there.....

My office used to visit this school on the 2nd saturday of every month....during one such visit...V met Manjunath who had been teaching in the school for the past couple of years....v called for a meeting of volunteers n d 1st thing he told us was that ...I see a lot of energy in this room..but it wont last....Im sure v wont have a second meeting.....Thats when Pravs n me were determined to prove him wrong....n we did that for d next 3 years...

Our 1st class in IGIA was with Manju showing us how to teach.....Pravs n me were all overwhelmed by the fact that oMG...v r getting to teach....n all...when sudd-suddenly...Manju threw a chalk piece at 1 student and warned him to listen...He was extremely strict with the children......n wud punish them if they played the fool.....n all....

After class, when we asked Manju why he was so stern with them...his reply was "U will learn"....n v did....coz if u r all chatty n paly with the kids there...they take advantage of u...n dont study...so u did have to act a little strict if u had to get them to open their books....

We started spending our weekends there.....that year Pravs n me knew no rest on weekends....we had a team of other volunteers ..Anusha, Krishna, Shilpa, Soumya,Shwetha, Ranjeetha...sooo many of them.....that it was also huge fun going there...

V used to have a blast teaching them Maths, Science n Social Science......U had to start with the basics...they wudnt know if a minus into a minus was a plus....or if plus plus minus was a minus....

I have always lived through dates n events in History:)...n so to this day, my most treasured class was the one where I got to teach them "World War I & II"...

Favs

All the teachers had their favourite students as well..mine was Selva....not coz he always topped...coz he used to always care a lot for his teachers.....he used to drop me off to the bus stand if I was alone.....used to get me to play throw ball in the breaks.....He was also extremely hardworking and attentive in class....

Im not 2 sure...but I think Pravs fav student was Kajan...he was Mr.Smart.....knew how to tackle things from a very practical point of view.....but hated theory.....v had to beg him to study the languages...coz Sir...was only interested in action....n Maths was his fav...

Ranjeetha's fav student was Krishna....a very interesting character....this guy was the unofficial electrician there....he was 1 student who had transformed from a not at all interested student to some1 who showed so much of interest that it shocked us.....

All said n done.....abt my partial teachers.....IGIA had a miracle that year....Only 1 out of 11 students failed their Board exams....n this was in contrast to 1 or 2 passing out of 10 in the past....

I still remember Shilpa calling us n telling us the results.....Pravs n me were shopping n both of us were almost jumping away to glory scaring our fellow n felli shoppers....

N so continued our journey into the next 2 years....we had new volunteers...v spent our weekends discussing about IGIA..if we were unable to go there...V cribbed that they didnt study...v cribbed that they werent serious.....V met Vishnu n Subbu...2 of our most dedicated teachers....they used to visit IGIA n teach the kids there on every other Sat n Sun....prepare test ?...motivate the kids....

We had DJ...who taught permutation n CombHINATION :) with that underlying Hindi accent to the kids:)

We had Shwetha teach the kids Maths....

We had Anusha n Krishna do the Kannada honors....n s....at times...I have also taught them Kannada:)

We had Ahmad, Archana, Aravindan, Bavani n sooo many others do a lot of teaching.....

Special mention to Bavani, Ahmad n Archana....these ppal were not only new to B'lore....But used to travel all the way from BTM layout by buses...not even being able to read the Kannada words on the bus routes.....to teach the kids at IGIA.....

Today....none of us no longer teach ....but Im glad I gotto to do it sometime atleast....U have no idea....I love teaching history.....n I hope v do get back to teaching at some point of time in future....Started off with IGIA in another post....so wont repeat those experiences...other than the fact...that today I miss IGIA a lot....I miss the funtimes v used to have teaching, playing, arguing, fighting, me speaking in broken Tamil..... Pravs, Shila n me losing our tempers n blasting d children if they didnt pay attention in class....Shila was the softest...though.......miss complaining abt them to other volunteers or family....b4 u think this is all v used to do in IGIA....I know there were times when I used to wonder wat v were doing there...if they needed us...or if v needed them.....

V dont work with them anymore.....IGIA started with a dream to make a difference....with an initiative....which treated d volunteers to a learning experience....there were times in IGIA ...when I used to stand there delivering lectures on life..n half d time...I used to tell myself...Cma...practice wat u preach.....in d last 3 years...v have not seen our efforts make d difference it had to....simply coz if u wish to clap...U cant do it with only 1 hand :(

Chrysallis

Started with Christmas parties, then a wonderful programme which had special kids integrated with normal children .....n having such a blast together...imagine having kids...splash their legs in paint...n having to have their footprints imprinted on sheets of paper...or painting each others faces...or teaching d other dance....or songs.....

V continue to work with Chrysallis to arrange for gifts for children located in every other special needs home or remand or orphanages..

Daaaaaash-------

Have always loved the last min dashes to reach places...unless n until I believe there is a cause involved...I rarely make it in time to any place.....n even if I do...U know how I do...:)

July 2005: Training in Office.....My assignments were taking time to get done....cudnt catch the regular cab at 6:30....n had to catch a train to Chennai at 10:30pm...that night....

My uncle was supposed to drop me off to the station....so I leave office at 7:30pm...catch all the possible buses..TTs.....just about anything that came in first and land home at around 9:15pm....n then I get to know that my uncle wont be able to drop me off owing to a personal emergency....

My family was in Chennai...n I was supposed to join them there......n there was hardly an hour left to catch d train....n d station was a good 45 mins away!!!

Thats when my neighbour uncle stepped in....he had plans of taking me to the nearest auto stand n accompanying me to d railway station..But...hey ..in my area....there were absolutely no autos in sight....n I forgot to mention that neighbour uncle had a TVS Luna.....n I 2 big fat bags.....

V were moving at an extremely slow pace...naturally....:)

After rubbishing the auto idea....n after stopping at a petrol bunk for fuel....I realised there was no point....n was preparing myself to return back home after cancelling the tickets...as it was already 10:15pm....

But then....d climax to this story is that...I really dont know how v reached the station....how I was rushed into the nearest platform...n how I caught a train which was just begining to move....at 10:30pm sharp :)

Moral: Murphy's law revisited...but if u have an uncle with a kind heart ...noble intention...n even with a TVS Luna....U can still make it just in time....hehheh.....

N if u r wondering y I chose to write all this now...coz of 2 reasons....

1. My friend missed her train in the recent past owing to traffic jams...

2. 4 d 1st time in my life....I missed my cab at 6:45pm today.....with a battery down phone....but still managed to reach a function just in time.....thanks to a certain Royal Enfield :)

Talennzzz!!!!!!

I wonder what mine are!!...If u can call watching a movie and getting so involved that it actually takes time for u to get out ....actually..the bookies also have the same effect on me....

Will skip mine....n save u d trouble from reading my self-obsessed stories this one time....

Cindy

Now this 1 is 7 years my senior....has been with me every single moment of my life....always fought for our rights or freedom....I didnt have to do anything.....By the time ....I was old enough...things were already on the platter:)...Caring for others...is in her blood....she was the only reason I studied the way I did...when I was in school...Imagine having to get back home facing the sad face of Cindy when u tell her that I think Im not gonna get the 1st rank...coz I will be losing a quarter mark here or a quarter mark there..Anybody wud plain be determined never to repeat their mistakes... till this day.....most of the stuff I do has been her influence.......Is very cute with her thoughts....has an extremely good sense of humour...goto her when u r feeling down n then u will know....unfortunately has talenzzzz that only her sister is aware of :)...hehehe...the world is yet to discover Cindy.....

N if u thought distance as in thousands of miles could ever weaken a relationship.....I would suggest ...think again...coz if u r with Cindy..it only gets stronger n stronger........

CJ...

An absolute charmer....but has a wonderful side to her personality...that I always wonder not many people are aware of....Her talent lies in being this extremely caring n always giving person...to her pals....to her family....to just about anybody around her.....

She can carry herself in just abt anything.....has a wonderful taste ..when it comes to clothes, make-up, foot-wear n accessories...

She is also somebody that each of us have immense respect for...ya...ya...blame it on the fact that she is the 1st born in the group....but for the way...she gives in her best all the time....be it work....or fun...or just plain talking:)

Bacha:

This 1 is abt a certain Mr. Shayandhu who is almost 23.5 years my junior...n just missed being born on Shw's and my B'day....actually Im extremely glad that he was born exactly a day after Shw's B'day....or else...wat if he turned out to have her characteristics.....

Dance is his fortray......as it also runs in the family :)....if Sir hears Gujarish song from anywhere in the universe...He will run to the TV....Stomp his feet....turn around.....clap his hands...n dance.....hehheheh

He is d only other person in the entire universe...who truly adores my phone...as much as I do.....c him cry for it...n then u will know...d min...he gets it in his hand....observe him key in something here...n something there...n then lo..behold...d next moment....d phone is on his ears....n u can hear him talking away into it....with deep interest....

Maskafying ppal to go out......U shud c sir running after me at home...after Im just back from office...it is almost like the rest of the ppal in the house...dont exist anymore.....

Im told he is speaking now...but is yet to name his Masee :),,,,,,

Shila:

Talk the walk or the chat or the chair...or the footpath ...or the road..or the building ...I think this gal talks in her sleep also....hehehhe:)

V were in the same school.....didnt know her much then....I dont know how she missed talking to me...must be she got better with age....n haa....n Engg...she talked n talked n talked some more..n became a close pal....

I will lay ur talking to rest now...or else.... I might face dire consequences....hehhe...

Absolutely caring......very very giving....tolerates me big time....sometimes with my mood swings n sometimes with my constant boring tales....poor gal..I do pity u at times...ya

Shw:

A wonder in her own right.....Can paint like crazy....can do just abt anything under the sun....be it dance....n sometimes braying without caring for the rest of the world :)....have u ever had a friend....who had an arts exhibition in Chithrakala Parishad....The Arts Centre for professionals n have artists with thadis n over 40 years of experience in the field...ask u ...where u were trained...when u haev done it without it at all..something like Kishore Kumar singing without having formal training!!!

Pravs:

Actor, Dancer, Writer.....is the official solution provider to all our miseries :)...Has all the time in the world....to do stuff that she truly believes in...so dont be surprised that till date no1 has ever travelled that far to teach the refugee children on a regular basis....or actually drop in at times....when u need a shoulder to crib on.....

Gotto meet her when v were 11....over a round of Anthakshari.....n to this day..if there is any1 who knows us better than any1 else in the entire universe..It is her :)

Is a constant learner......learns from ppal...from experiences.....is bloopy at times :).....is an avid reader.....does awesome sketches....does a whole lot of things on her own...U will wonder where she learnt it from!!!

Prets:

A natural in more ways than one......is one hell of a care-taker, likes feeding hungry souls, no degree of finesse acting can stop her from doing what she wants to do!!...ya..ya...Am referring to the million times...madam has landed on my doorstep...when my parents were out of station....with food fit for a Queen!!!

An adventurer by nature, you are most likely to find her doing cute stuff like scaling trees, robbing fruits :)....ya...she claims that stolen fruit tastes the best....running into just about anything .....wanting to discover stuff....

She exudes a warmth with a lovely down to earth feel to it....except when it comes to her Kannada speaking skills....she has a looong way to go!!

Laks:

If Im already surrounded by caring pals....add Laks to the list 2.....this gal is made of stuff that very few ppal can comprehend...but if they cud.....U will be able to understand the recipe to staying cool n performing even under constant pressure:)

Initiator of sorts...does a lot for pals..has ensured that even after nearly 3.5 years of passing out...our coll gang is still in touch.....I like it best to watch her fight or argue or peck on Rams....she is 1 gal who has always stood by her pals...through thick n thin....I can never forget the Jan 1st accident n d amt of courage this gal showed all thru it.....

She is always loaded...so she was my constant money lender in coll......will never forget B'days or to remind poor souls like me n Rams to wish the others ...hehehe

Rags:

When it comes to doing stuff for others...be it supporting handicapped gals in their operations, ensuring that they earn a decent livelihood or providing learning resources to Government Schools...or visiting orphanages or old age homes...n bringing cheer to the lives of others.....U have Rags.....Unlimited :)

Though extremely practical in nature...when it comes to helping others....she thinks with her heart....is extremely self-less....n an extremely dedicated woman ...be it in her work or her social service activities.....Is my inspiration!!

Deps:

U didnt ask me to write abt u....a few of d others did :)...but I wanted to....

If there is 1 person...u meet after say...5 years...n u talk n have a blast just as how u always used to....U r ref to Deps....

Wisdom as they say comes with age...n if there is anything new or different in our friendship..is that...1/2 the time...when madam is busy hurling wisdom arnd....I do d pretending to listen act....

But there are times when u believe that simplicity n plain affection make such a powerful combo :)

DJ

This post is being written only coz he complained that u always write only about ur friends....n I wanted to prove him wrong :)

Born on Republic Day.....This bandha is perfect Achan-Father character....ppal have told me that not too many guys like being addressed that way....But thats precisely y I do that...

He is the 1st UKP....Ullu Ka Patta..I have known....who has all d time for his pals....I still remember d times when Shar, RJ, Shanthu, Shila, DJ n me used to have lunch together.....n sometimes when I used to get crazy abt work....even if I used to tell d others to carry on....this bandha wud come over to my workplace...n wait till my work gets done....n refuse to leave until I joined him!!

He was my official counsellor ...n has guided me thru tough times .....But if ur his pal..n r online blogging till 2am...n if UKP happens to be online 2....Gone...His fatherly act will take over n he will order u to sleep :)

Shar:

Thought he was Mr.Introvert when I met him 1st....But all that was due to change in the months to come...coz if u r wondering as to wat is that gals apply on their faces before they apply make-up n if u have 2 other gals in the group trying to wonder wat it is....Shar will give u d....U dont know that also look:) n tell u "Foundation" in no time....

Knows more abt gals...than v did ...he attributes all his knowledge to growing up with sisters :)

Can crack technical jokes...n when he ends up laughing at his own joke...thats when u find it funny too :)

Some1 who rarely forgets B'days ...I find it difficult to believe that guys can remember B'days...but he is 1 solid exception....

Have troubled him all the time...but then he has higher immunity levels than any guy I have ever met....

RJ

Bubbly....Fun...Witty....n practical.....thats how I wud put her together.....catch her give Shila competition 4 d perfect smiley pose...when some1 makes d mistake of taking their photos..:) or give u straight in the face....U asked 4 it...answers...that will keep u thinking that .....oh.....dont even dream abt beating around the bush...when u interact with this gal....

Managing workkk...fun....chat.....working flexi-hrs...n still managing to finish stuff...well in time....koyi isse seeke...

N d next time...U hear some1 call u a Moron....after meeting u 4 15 mins...U know RJ's arnd...:)

SVPK

Used to love expanding Abbreviations in coll....but dont ask me this 1...4 1...Forget abt d expansion...m not even sure abt the abbreviation...but m sure SVPK...knows who I am ref to...:)

Bindaaaas........Coooool-headed.......Comittment focused.....n simple......U get d feeling that madam is all serious ...serious types....but then...she is d silent entertainer....n can keep u laughing at just abt anything....

Moses:

Where do I start?....Moses is like the man who is looked upon as the flag bearer of all social service activities in office.....Wats best abt him...is that...he rarely makes a noise abt what he does....as he does it with a genuine need to help those in need!!

He has taught me a lot in the years that I have interacted with him about initiatives that can atleast change 1 person's life for the better....

Be it MoC or IGIA Refugee School or Spastics or Samarthanam or any blood bank or any school or home for d underprevileged or d orphans or d old or d destitutes...he has made social service a part of his life...n he is not 1 who pursued it for a couple of years...he has been pursuing it for decades...n is an inspiration to an entire generation of ppal like me :)

Sarbani

Creativity....Fun....Affection....Energy....Enthusiasm.....Unlimited......Welcome to d world of Bubbles Learning Centre for Autism and its founder!!

An autistic child's mother complains to Sarbani telling her that my son cried on the road...as d ice cream guy was taking time to serve us.....n whoa....U have the son...going.....I will never do it Sarbani Aunty....I promise..I wont cry on the road....Sarbani keeps a straight face....n tells him..So u will cry in other places...n then the son...starts his promises all over again....

Interact with Sarbani...just once...n I bet u ...U will get back home thinking u have met a wonderful person :)

Sups

Prep for internal tests in Engg: 0%....Both of us used to land in coll at 8am for the 9am inrternals....go over all d possible short cut notes available....n clear our tests :)

Be it d bike rides or d dance...or d plain solid need in coll to do something different n to have fun..they were met largely by Sups :)

Catch her giggle at the silliest of stuff.....or again get tensed for d silliest of stuff....n u will know fun :)

Vani:

D only reason y I spoke decent Kannada in coll....or started loving Akki Rotis....

Another last min internal tests study partner.....Sups, Vani n me formed a gang of ppal....even when v used to study in d last min...all of us kept cribbing half d time y v didnt read stuff earlier...coz in crowded BMTC buses, where in u cud hardly stand....U had us....holding fat textbooks...n mugging stuff:)

Adorable, simple n extremely friendly.....thats Vani:)

MJ:

1st it was CJ...then it was DJ...then it was RJ...n now it is MJ....

Email trapper....is known to set traps by sending out purely innocent mails...n then starting a mail chain....n getting u to write all sorts of stuff in it....:).....Used to have a blast in office with all those mail chains...esp d 1s after the Wayanad trip potas were out :)

He used to sit right behind me for over 2 years....n 1st I thought he was an introvert....but...Sir..is d 1st person....to ensure that ppal get to go on trips ...on treats....or just abt anything that is fun...

Xperiments a lot with his moustaches...thadis.....beards...etc...so everytime u c some1 with a new look....it cud just be MJ....:)

DP

Wat can I write abt a guy...who is sooo much fun.....n can never be found serious......

He is charged with d crime of having dropped my wonderful phone on hardened concrete surfaces just to prove that my phone wud still work....My phone did...but his endurance has caused him to repeat his crime against my phone...twice...

It was great fun...when DP, MJ, Maj, DK n Sow used to sit in the very same bay as mine in office.....now all of them have moved to other locations...except me.....

V used to argue quite a lot....draw each others faces on the white boards....play football.....n s...work also:)

Maj

D most unselfish guy I have ever met...always tries to make time to help others...was d official tutor...to almost all d freshers in office.....

But has a fun side to him...that surfaces only on extremely rare occasions......n when it does....U will laugh till u cry....

Was d unofficial person to have d gals in office give me bumps on my B'day n is 1 who is always ready to treat ppal...even when u r tired hunting for reasons...as to y he shud treat:)

Jay

V call him blood....simply coz if there were ever to be a request for any blood group....Jay wud have all the required n mostly...all the information...

imagine starting a group in coll...that worked towards sensitizing ppal to causes pertaining to blood donation, blood banks, serving out in Tsunami refugee camps....trekking all the way to the Himalayas...n representing a whole bunchaa ppal...in and around Karnataka....to distribute blankets to the qauke affected areas in Kashmir....

Commitment.....an easy going nature...n an extremely down to earth person...n a striking example of the saying"A friend in need....is a friend indeed"

Rac

Heheheh......I think d 1st word that Rac wud have uttered wud have easily been "BORED"....coz there r very few occasions when he isnt.....

Mr.Bored is huge fun...though I had hardly a clue.....when v were teammates.....It was I guess after the Chennai trip...that I got to know that there was this funny side to him....

U can chat with this guy for like ages.....abt just abt anything in the univserse..Is my guru in office...for all the non-technical stuff :)

Music crazy....Movie crazy....ya...v share a few things in common...alright...but it stops right there :)