Thursday, November 7, 2013

A walk to remember


This story was written for the Platinum Day of Love contest

 
You cannot kill time without injuring eternity”, I tweeted. This was my 6th tweet about time in the last 50 minutes. I was staring at the beach with a blank face. The waves came in search of something but returned without a trace. In a way, I am like those waves, sitting here doing nothing. I don’t like the beach or the waves. I feel irritated when I sit in the sand. But, I have no choice. I am waiting for her and she loves this particular spot in Bessie beach. “Same place, near the memorial. Bye”, her words echoed in my mind.

“What is so very special about Bessie?” I have asked her many times. “The water is the same, the sand is the same and the people are the same. Isn’t it? “She would smile innocently, roll her eyes and then nod in disagreement. “It’s a feel da”, she used to reply and giggle. Anything which is not tangible isn’t worthy according to me. But, I wouldn’t tell this and upset her.

It was close to 6.00 but the sun was not going to bow down for now. Chennai’s high temperature during its summer is not a secret but the hot air around the beach was beyond words. The heat and humidity was sapping and I was getting irritated to the core. I should be sitting in my air-conditioned cubicle in Siruseri now. Driving all the way from OMR to Besant Nagar was an arduous task in itself but sitting alone in the beach was even more annoying. Damn these IT companies, why don’t these guys follow the same holiday calendar. I have to work today and she is having a nice time with her family. Things were better when both of us were in the same office. Damn her orthodox family, I am not even supposed to call her, when she is at home.

“Oh! Sorry son. I am extremely sorry” a meek female voice disturbed me. Her voice was apologetic and only then did I realize that she had stepped on my legs. She was an elderly woman, probably in her 70s. She was wearing a red gown with a pink stockings and a brown shoe. She had short hair and curious eyes. The glossy handbag hanging on her left hand proclaimed her status. She was stout but looked weak because of her age. Her eyes were constantly looking out for something near the water. The way in which she spoke in Tamil to the kid who came running to her, made me realize that she was an Anglo-Indian.

“Did you see that son”, she asked the dark kid who came running to her.
“I did not see anything”, the boy replied and ran away without waiting for her reply. She tried to call him but the guy almost disappeared from the vicinity and joined his friends who were playing in the beach.

The old lady was murmuring something with a somber face. She must have missed something in the beach. Her sorrowful face was disheartening and I decided to help her.

“Hello Aunty. Are you looking for something?” I offered to help.

She held on to my hands and without even looking at me, she told “I think I missed it there, Can you walk me to that place?”

“Sure Aunty”. I held her hand and we started to walk.

I was holding her right arm with my left. I took small steps to help her walk comfortably. We quietly walked a couple of steps when she broke the silence.

“This place hasn’t changed much. The beach is youthful as ever, isn’t it, Son”, she said with a childlike enthusiasm. She continued without waiting for my reply, “I still remember the first time, we came to this beach. It was a full-moon day and the waves were really wild. Its wildness reminded me of his wildness on that day. He was just like this beach, sometimes wild, sometimes gentle but constantly seeking for something. Those were wonderful days”, her eyes were moist now.

I waited for her to complete. “You seem to be a resident of the city for quite some time Aunty” I replied.

“I was born here, a couple of days after our Independence.” there was a sense of pride in her voice. “He was unlucky he couldn’t enjoy the city as much as I did”, her tone changed immediately.

“You know, I first saw him near Taj Mahal. I still remember his round face, right next to the tomb. It was like a scene straight out of a romantic movie. I took my eyes off him only when my Dad called me”. She paused with a squeaky laugh. I waited for her to continue. I thought that the discussion was getting interesting. I love stories, specially the love stories of the past and this old lady seems to have one up her sleeve. Moreover, we had to walk for another 10 minutes in the old lady’s pace.

“It was just like a fairytale, son. It was a genuine coup de foudre or love at first sight as they call it here. His broad smile and hefty physique will make any one look at him again. His big eyes and the thin moustache compliment his huge build. But, I looked at him after hearing his jarring voice. He was fighting with a local seller who was trying to cheat an American. I smiled at him and he suddenly blushed. I still remember his face turning pink as he rushed away from our group.” The lady was animated and was talking without a pause. I continued to hold her hand and walked along. She was relentlessly talking about him but never stopped looking down. “I was looking for him from that moment, but never saw him in Agra again. I even had a couple of romantic dreams that night”, she blushed.

“The next day, we were at Jama Masjid and I turned around when I heard a familiar voice. It was him, smiling and chatting with the vendors. He gained some courage by then and approached our group. When he was near our group, I trembled and began to sweat. I don’t know why, but I was scared when he came near us. My heartbeats started to race when he was around. He walked up to my Dad and asked if he could help and started to explain the mosque’s history. His English was pretty good and he kept us engaged for the next 20 minutes. He gracefully denied the money which my Dad paid and winked at me, when he left. You can imagine how scared an 18 year girl would become when a man winks at her. But, I was not scared. I felt something nice and kept grinning. Ann was asking me the reason, but I couldn’t tell it out. I felt shy for no reason. “

Her voice was brimming with happiness when she spoke. I was engrossed in the story by now. “He casually asked about our hotel to Dad and came there in the evening. I was shocked to see him chatting with the Gol gappa seller outside our hotel. He was happy on seeing me and waved at me from the road. He gestured to come out of the hotel and I followed his advice like a toy operated with battery. He was waiting in the road and started to walk as soon as I neared him. I followed him like a sheep following its shepherd. I knew that I was behaving crazily but I was enjoying it. He walked to the next street and stopped. He turned back and smiled at me. I was in awe and did not smile. He had a charismatic face and his smile complimented it. He looked at my face and asked for my name. That is when I realized that we don’t even know each other’s names but were feeling as if we both were one. He spoke in length about his family and his life style. I was like a snake dancing to the tunes of the snake charmer and listened to every word of his. Suddenly, he excused himself and ran to the other side of the road, where a teenager was trying to carry a wooden gada* with much pain. He spoke something to him and came back and asked me to leave. “I will see you soon, Miss “he said and left without waiting for my response. I replied in a meek voice that I will leave Delhi tomorrow but he was on the other side of the road by then. He looked at me and winked when I looked back. I was back in the hotel and Ann was pestering me with questions again but I did not budge.

I was dejected to leave Delhi and my new love. The next few days were terrible and I realized how difficult the pain of love is. I was hoping and praying for a miracle. By then, I had started to pester my father for our next Delhi trip. He thought I was crazy and I felt he was right. Ann was the one who pulled me out of my somber mood and took me to the beach. I still remember that day like today. It was the Good Friday evening. We were lazing around after the mass and she wanted to go the beach. Father and Mother were not interested and I had no other option but to accompany my little sister. The miracle happened when we were right in front of the Schmidt Memorial, right over there”. She pointed towards the ruined memorial in the beach.  “I heard a hoarse voice telling Ann to move away. I was dumbstruck when I saw him smiling at me. Ann was perplexed by what she was seeing. She had seen him in Delhi but never got to know what happened beside the hotel. He introduced himself to Ann and said that he wanted to talk with me. Ann was mature enough and walked towards the sea when we sat near the monument. I fought with him for leaving me and running away in Delhi. He laughed loudly enough to gain attraction from the lovers who were seated beside us. He said that the teenager was the son of the person who helps him with his exercises and gets him the wooden gadas. He was going all philosophical about being grateful and so on. I was not interested in anything that he spoke but was just interested in looking at him. He kept me engaged in the conversation, though he was the only one speaking. Ann was growing restless and was looking at her watch now and then. I got the sign and asked him if we can leave. He was unhappy but said Ok and asked me to come the next day as well. I left with Ann as he walked us to the road and left us.

I told Ann that we have to come tomorrow as well. She did not have a problem with the Saturday but said that if I call her on Easter day, she would inform Father about this. “

“Ah!! Here it is. Thank you Jesus”, she exclaimed. I was confused to see the old lady happy. There was a glitter in her eyes. I looked near the beach and found nothing. She left my hand and walked towards the sea when a horse just passed near the water. She went and picked a scarf which was full of mud and water and smiled at it. “How will I miss you dear”, she spoke to the scarf. The color of the scarf was barely visible. It was full of mud and the horse had just stepped on it. She just brushed aside the sand and blew on it. She held it close to her chest and looked at it with a smile. She kissed it again and kept it near her cheeks. She was smiling continuously for the next two minutes. It was red color scarf which would easily date back a couple of decades. I waited patiently for her to complete and asked if we can leave. She nodded in agreement and continued her story.

“We went to the beach the next day and he was waiting for us. He winked at me from a distance and waved at us. His exuberance was catching up with me and I waved back. Ann was surprised to see her otherwise gloomy sister suddenly change colors. She made fun of me but I was engrossed with him and walked as quickly as possible and reached him. Ann exchanged pleasantries and walked towards the sea when we sat in the same place. I told him that I will not be able to come on Sunday. He looked at me and said that he would miss me. His exuberant face had traces of sadness and I tried to cheer him up by telling that we can meet on Monday. He looked at me and said that he had to leave to Pakistan and was not sure when he will be back. He looked into my eyes and told he will meet me in the beach on the Monday after his return. I started to cry and he was disturbed. He took the red scarf which was around his neck and asked me to wipe off the tears. He told me to be happy because he was going to help the nation. Though he looked a tad sad outside I knew that he was also happy to serve India. You must have read about the 1965 war, isn’t it son. He was part of the 3 JAT; her voice was brimming with pride when she told that. They captured Batapore town but he never returned after the war. She wiped the tears rolling down her cheek. I followed up with the Army but did not get any response. Even his friends in the regiment did not see him since Batapore. When 200 prisoners were released in 1971, I thought he will be back but he did not come. In 1999, we heard that some Indians are still in the Pakistan jail, but we could not find out anything about him. I believe he will be back some day and we will start new life.  I will be waiting for him, she told with a smile. I sincerely pray that he comes back soon. I know that he will be old and unhealthy after all these years in prison, but I know that his smile would never fade off.  I want to see that smile. I want to hear him laugh.” She was going on and on, but I froze and was not able to react after hearing her story.

We reached the road by then and I asked her if I should get her an Auto. She had her call taxi waiting and signaled the driver to come. She clasped my hand and said, “Thank you son. God bless you” and got into the car. She rolled down the window and waved good bye.

I was looking at the cab as it became smaller and smaller and finally disappeared among the plethora of vehicles. I was mesmerized by the conversation that I had with the old lady and was unaware of my phone ringing. It was my girlfriend. She was apologetic and repeated Sorry four or five times and told that she was near the beach. I asked her whereabouts and walked towards her. She was in her yellow color salwar kameez, the color that I detest the most. Her hair was all awry after driving in the maniac traffic. She looked tired from head to toe. She looked at me, smiled and continued to say Sorry. “That’s fine. No problem dear. Few minutes or hours don’t matter when I wait for a sweet-heart like you”, I replied. She stopped talking and looked deep into my eyes. There was a glitter in her eyes and they turned moist. She clutched my fingers tightly and rested her head on my shoulder. We continued to walk towards her favorite spot in the beach.

We sat in the sand and I was fondling her fingers. I suddenly realized that I haven’t written anything for the Platinum Day of Love contest. Never mind I told myself, I have learnt a bigger lesson today and would send this for the contest. If I win, I will gift the platinum jewelry to the old lady whose love started 48 years ago and will never end.
 

*Wooden Gada – Exercise equipment. Karla Kattai / Clubs

This story was written for the Platinum Day of Love contest

Friday, October 25, 2013

‘Vampire’ Venkatakrishnan

 I can't dance
Hmm... Well, I could always make you.
I'm not scared of you.
Well you really shouldn't have said that........

“Stella, do you mind talking with us. If you are going to watch this stupid movie for the 356th time, you could have very well stayed in your hostel”, Roshni was yelling on top of her voice.
Stella was unperturbed and turned towards Roshni with a giggle and replied, “Ok Dear, I will switch it off. I will see it in my hostel. I am all yours”.
“Don’t you ever get bored of this movie?  Is this the first part“, Durga joined the conversation.
“Vampires are so cute dear. Just look at Edward’s eyes, his skin and his complexion. He is probably the smartest person alive”, Stella replied with a smile.
“He is cute alright, but in the movie he is a Vampire”, Roshni retorted.
“That’s the whole point dear. He is cute because he is a Vampire. Vampires are so very adorable”, Stella.
“Yuck, they are blood sucking monsters”, Roshni.
“But the Cullens don’t have human blood and moreover they are cute”, Stella persisted.
“Ok dear, cool down. But are these vampires for real?” Durga has always been the doubting Thomas in the bunch.
“I wish they are. They are so very cute and charming”, Stella.
“Go and marry a vampire”, Roshni got into her sarcastic best.
“I wish I could”
“Jesus Christ!!! Are you serious Stella?”
“I am damn serious. Marrying a Vampire is my goal, for the time being, I can date one”, Stella replied with a chuckle.
“You are sick. Cut the crap, when are you vacating the hostel and joining us”
“I believe the hostel is more comfortable dear. When I have plans to vacate, I will surely let you know” Stella was noncommittal as always.
“It is your wish madam. I believe it will be fun, if you stay with me and Durga” Roshni was not impressed.
“That’s Ok dear. It is getting late, I will leave now”
“Have dinner and leave Snowy”
“Thanks. But, I have yesterday’s leftover. I need to finish them”

Stella left the house and took the lonely walk back to her hostel. It was a 5 minute walk and all along the way, she was thinking of Bella and Edward from Twilight.

                                    ****************************

“Girls, I have breaking news. Guess who is back in town”, Roshni was talking on the top of her voice.
Stella joined them with her Mayo sandwich and was detached from the other girls as usual. The other girls were trying to guess the person but failed.
“Let me give a clue. He is 6 foot 2 inches tall, fair and handsome”, Roshni looked at the other girls and continued. “He was the winner of Mr. Indian Technologies for 3 consecutive years and is back in India after 2 years”
“You girls are dumb. Krish is back in town. He waved at me near the elevator” Roshni could not stop her enthusiasm and was all smiles.
Krish, originally named Mylapore Venkatakrishnan Seshadri was the smartest person in the company. He was a model and took great care of his looks. He was the dream-boy for most of the girls in the company. He was a Casanova and the darling of the masses. He was back from London and the girls who joined the company before 2 years were going gaga over his return.
There was commotion near their table when Krish walked up to meet Roshni.  Two girls were giggling and were signaling to Roshni to introduce them. Durga was ogling at Krish and the other girls were talking to him. Stella returned after placing her plates and saw Krish’s back from a distance. She had an unassuming look and walked towards the table. Roshni, who was smiling from ear to ear, looked at Stella and gestured to come quickly.
“Krish, this is our new friend, we call her Snow White but she prefers Stella”, she giggled.
“Hi Stella, Krish”, he said with a coarse voice and shook her hands. He looked deep into her eyes and smiled. Stella smiled back and looked away. Over the next 5 minutes, Stella looked at Krish secretly every now and then, but never uttered a word.
God, he is so damn cute, she thought but never told it out.
Krish was having a great time with the girls and the girls enjoyed every bit of the conversation.
“Girls, I am really running out of time. I want to go to the claims desk. Can someone help me?”
“I will take you Mr.Handsome”, Roshni replied and got up from her desk.
“I had a wonderful time girls, See you sometime later, Bye”, Krish left the table but turned back abruptly. He looked at Stella into her eyes, smiled and wore his Ray-Ban and left the place.
Stella was feeling nice, something about Krish was impressive. He was smart, witty and sparkly. She had never seen a guy like Krish and was looking forward to befriend him.

                                    ****************************
As days passed on, Krish got friendly with the girls and started to accompany them after having his breakfast at his desk. He would spend the time listening to all the gossips. Stella would look at him but would always limit her conversations. The girls would tease Stella and her love for Vampires but Krish would silently listen. Stella firmly believed there was a secret chemistry building between her and Krish. But, she would always ignore Krish and talk with the other girls. Krish was doing the same thing. He would not talk with Stella but the girls sitting beside her. He would secretly look at Stella and see if she was laughing for his jokes.

It was a Friday evening, when it all began.  Roshni was walking between Krish and Stella as they were planning to leave the office. Roshni was in her light blue jean with a red t-shirt. Stella was wearing a black Anarkali with prints all over it. Krish was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. Stella was happy to see that both of them were in black. Stella got a call and continued to walk outside the office when she realized Roshni and Krish were not with her. She turned back and saw, Krish having an animated discussion with her. Stella was 100 meters away from them, when the unthinkable happened. A black color VW Polo was speeding towards Stella and was just a couple of meters away. She yelled at the top of her voice and closed her ears with her hands when someone pulled her by the waist. It took her a couple of minutes to get back to her senses and realize what had happened. Krish was behind her, holding her left hand with his left and had his right hand around her stomach. He had pulled her in the nick of time to save her life. He smiled and asked her to relax.

“We’ll get back to the Office and leave in 10 minutes”, he looked at her with a quizzical expression.

Stella was dumbstruck to react and listened to him and walked back to the office. What she could not understand was how Krish could cover 100 or 150 meters within seconds. He has miraculously appeared out of nowhere to save her life. She did not want to ask him and make a fool of herself but that question started to trouble her every now and then.

                                    ****************************

The company organized for a grand dinner at the Residency after a record breaking quarter. The senior officials were boozing and having fun. The younger lot was trying to reduce the company profits by having as much food as possible. Krish was sitting with the girls when he realized that Stella was missing. He looked around and found her near the lobby. He excused himself from the other girls and walked towards her.
“Hello Snow White”, he called into her ears.
“Hey… Why are you here? I thought you will be having the chicken legs and mutton kheema, but you are here? “
“I am fasting today. I will not have lunch and dinner on Fridays. What about you?”
“I am not well Krish; I get sick when I see so much food”
“We are pretty much similar”, he smiled at her and winked.
He gets a call from the VP and takes leave. Stella was surprised to see someone so religious. He must be a man of conviction to avoid food at such a big gathering she told herself.
Roshni came running towards Stella along with Durga. She was panting and took a couple of seconds to become normal and looked at Stella.
“Stella have you ever seen Krish have food?”
Stella was stunned by the question. Krish has always told them that he would have his breakfast at his desk and never had it with them. He goes home for lunch and today when they are out for dinner, he skips it. Stella was shocked but did not respond.
She was thinking about the Car incident and Krish’s eating habit or the lack of it. Something was missing here and she decided to solve this mystery.

                                    ****************************

Like all IT projects, Stella’s project was running out of time and money and she had to slog for long hours to complete her task. Her manager, a strict taskmaster was very particular about working long hours.
Stella was tired and bored to the core. The other members in the team were busy with their work while Stella had completed her initial task and was waiting for her teammates. She looked at her watch, 03:12.

She wanted to talk with someone to come out of this boredom. She had not met Roshni, Durga and Krish for the past 3 days. The long hours was taking a toll on her morale. She remembered something Krish had told her long back. “Your best friend is the one, who will pick your call at 2 am”. Let me try this on these girls. She called the girls and they did not pick her call. After a lot of hesitation, she decided to call Krish. She wanted to call him but was feeling uncomfortable for some strange reason. But, she decided to take the plunge and dialed his number. Even before the first ring was completed, he picked the call. Stella was surprised, happy and puzzled at one go. He gave a pep talk and shared some funny incidents which spurred her up. She was feeling blessed to find a friend like Krish but again these night calls increased her doubts. He works for 12 hours in the morning and is wide awake in the night. The night calls became a regular activity and Stella was looking forward for the night shift to call him. She was all by herself when she spoke with him. He was knowledgeable friend who was there for her always. She felt that she had found her perfect match. He was obviously not human and he isn’t accepting it.
Stella’s mind was full of questions. Her suspicion started to grow right from the Car incident. Over the past 6 months, she has never seen Krish eat or drink. He never sleeps and is always available. Her knowledge about Vampires tells that he is one. But, she doesn’t have the audacity to ask it straight on his face. But again, what is the need to ask, when she knows the answer?

                                    ****************************

Stella wants to tell it out but is scared of the outcome. She knows that he is also in love, but neither of them is ready to confess. Stella was confused as ever when her mobile rang. It was Krish.
“Hi Krish”
“Hey Snowy... I have good news and a bad news. Which one should I tell first?”
“You decide…” Stella knew what was coming.
“Ok. I will start with the bad news. I am travelling to the US in a week and will come back only after a year”
“That isn’t a bad thing. You always loved US. What is the good news?
“You sound very gloomy girl. The good news is that we are going out tonight. We are going to a wonderful place, which you will love. We are going alone and it is going to be legendary” he laughed like Barney.
“Hmmm. But, why are we going out suddenly?”
“There are certain things that I should tell you. I have been waiting for the right place and time.”
Stella was both happy and sad. She was happy because he has got the courage to tell it out and sad because he is going to leave her soon.

She called up the parlor and booked an appointment. She bunked office and picked her best outfit. She decided to wear black. The car incident was the one which incited this relationship and so, she wanted to wear the same color. She took her Avirate Black Pleated Fit & Flare Dress which fit her perfectly. It was slightly above her knees. She removed all her rings and wore a single black bracelet. She took her Steve Madden black wallet in her right hand. Her fair complexion and the black dress made her look absolutely stunning. She stood in front of the mirror and made every possible adjustment to make her look gorgeous.

At 7.00, black colored VW Polo, stopped in front of her hostel and Krish got out of the Car. He was wearing a black Armani suit and was looking equally impressive. She got into the car after exchanging pleasantries. The black color VW Polo was making her uncomfortable. He drove to Fisherman’s Cove and opened the door for her. He took her left hand in his right and directed her to the beach. She was stunned by the initial sight. There was a private table set near the beach and a bunch of musicians were playing the violin. They greeted her with a smile and were playing her favorite number. She was overwhelmed by the setup and leaned on his shoulder. He smiled at her and helped her with the chair. They sat very close to each other and she looked into his eyes. Those deep black eyes were full of love. He is the person of her dreams. He is now sitting right next to her and looking at her face with love.

He looked into her eyes and lifted her chin with his right hand. He took his face close to hers. She closed her eyes and moved towards him. He paused for a bit and said,
“I want to tell you something“
She whispered quietly, “Do you really want to tell it right now?” with her eyes still shut.
“Yes Honey that would make me feel nice”, he continued.
“Can we send the Orchestra then”, her eyes were still closed.
He gestured at them to leave and continued.

“I fell in love with you, when I saw you in the food court for the first time. You were stunningly beautiful but pretty hard to approach. I spent some time to learn about your likes and dislikes and Roshni told about your obsession towards twilight and vampires. I decided to take advantage of it and planned everything meticulously. The Car which was about to hit you was my friends car and I had purchased 2 black hooded sweatshirts in advance. I made a friend wear that and talk with Roshni when I moved near you and asked another friend to scare you with the Car. The party in Residency, the late night calls was all pre-planned. I just wanted to make you fall in love with me and stooped to such levels. I am not a Vampire but a mere mortal. I faked everything to make you love me, but my love is true. Forgive me, my dear. His tone was apologetic and his eyes were moist as he finished his confession.

He paused for a bit and looked at her face. Her eyes were still closed and he moved towards her. She opened her eyes, looked deep into his eyes and smiled gently. She took a deep breath and put her left hand around his shoulder and moved closer. She took her right hand and gently closed his eyes and lifted his chin. She moved closer and placed herself on his lap. Her face turned pale. Her eyes turned red and her teeth were protruding. She put her right hand on his hair and pulled it down. She placed her teeth on his neck and tasted his blood and said, “You are not a mere mortal anymore”.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The moral of the story is ………………

This entry is for the http://www.myhealthyspeak.co.in/ contest

“Dude, you look tired man. It is just 11.00 and you already look jaded”, Rahul quipped. Rahul was famous with his colleagues because of his friendly banter. He had many fans for his looks as well.
“I worked out in the gym today man” , replied Sanjay. Sanjay was a perfect Software Engineer. He was coy and lazy, loved watching movies and hated anything taxing.
“Ahh..Thats the reason for today’s drizzle. By the way, 10 minutes in the treadmill doesn’t fall under workout. It is called warm-up”, Rahul shot back.
“Chalo, Lets go for a smoke”, Rahul pushed Sanjay from his chair.
“This is the second break in 3 hours man. Certainly not something that we expect of a Casanova”, Sanjay frowned and left his cubicle.

-----------------------------

Rahul coughed instantly when he placed the third cigarette in his lips.

“It is high time that you quit smoking Rahul. It is more of an addiction than relaxation, I believe”, Sanjay.
“Stop your boring lectures, Mr. Saint. Let us talk about something interesting”, Rahul replied.
 Sanjay nodded in disagreement and started to tell something but Rahul stopped him and started to talk about the team-building activity in Ooty.

Super Computers Pvt Ltd, was taking its employees for a two day activity in the Sterling resorts, Ooty. All the employees were super excited with the trip which was scheduled in a couple of days.

----------------------------- 

“Living in Ooty is bliss, Isn’t it” Sanjay was talking to Rahul as he looked out of the window. Rahul was brushing his teeth and Sanjay was just out of bed.
“Hmmm” , Rahul replied in mono-syllables with his mouth full of foam. Sanjay started to brush and instantly held his jaw. Aah he shouted in pain.
Rahul gargled and rushed near Sanjay.

“What happened man”, Rahul was worried.

“I have some pain, whenever I brush”, Sanjay replied and looked at Rahul’s teeth.

“Rahul, you are bleeding from your gums man”, Sanjay.

“That happens every now and then, if I gargle again, it goes away”, Rahul went to gargle again.

“Rahul, I am planning to visit a dentist as soon as we reach Chennai. Why don’t you come with me?”, Sanjay was concerned.
“Dude, Behave like a grown-up man. If you run to the dentist every now and then, you will have to pay your whole salary to the dentist”, Rahul joked.
“No Rahul, I believe both of us have some problem with our teeth, so it is better to get it checked. Don’t you know, Prevention is better than cure”, Sanjay replied.
“Abhey… Just leave it there man. I brush twice a day and am a body-builder too. My body is strong and so is my tooth. Bleeding is just part of growing up. If you are concerned about your teeth, you get it checked and pay the dentist, I am not going to come with you”, Rahul replied in a rude tone.

“Chill Dude, I was just trying to help you. Anyway, it is getting late, I will get ready in a jiffy”, Sanjay disappeared into the washroom.

They spent the next couple of days in the resort and had a great time.

-----------------------------

Sanjay visits a Dentist in Chennai and finds out that these were symptoms of Gingivitis [A mild gum disease]. He goes for regular treatment and also urges Rahul to join him. Rahul shunned the thought of meeting a Dentist despite Sanjay’s persistence. In a few weeks, Sanjay was cured of his Gingivitis.

“Dude, I need not rush to the dentist from today”, Sanjay was excited when he broke the news to Rahul.
“Congratulation School Boy, for making the dentist rich by a few grand” Rahul replied in a sarcastic tone.
Even if something goes wrong, I can get it corrected like Sanjay, Rahul told himself without realizing what was supposed to unfold in the future.

-----------------------------


Sanjay goes to Mumbai for a couple of months and comes back to the office. He is shocked to see Rahul. Rahul was talking with a colleague, but Sanjay was able to see that his teeth looked longer and his gums were shrunk.

After exchanging pleasantries, Sanjay felt a bit uncomfortable. He started to tell it out to Rahul.

“Rahul, I am sorry to tell this, but the bad breath from your mouth is disturbing”

“Hmmm. Yes Sanjay, I started to brush thrice a day and am using a mouthwash but this isn’t leaving me man”, Rahul told in a sad tone.

“I guess there is pus in your gums and your teeth looks bigger now” Sanjay was emptying all his thoughts.

“Yes man, I have to do something about this. I have a fashion-show selection next week. Once I am done with that, I want to meet your dentist”

“Finally, you have decided to do something. Congrats”, Sanjay replied and started to speak about Cricket as their manager came near Rahul’s desk.

-----------------------------

Sanjay approaches a visibly distressed Rahul.

“What happened man, How was the FS prelims?”

“This bad breath wouldn’t go away from me, I guess. This is killing me man. I was rejected because of that” Rahul was irked.
                                                                                                                                                                                  “Forget it man, we will see the dentist and do something about it. How about tomorrow?”

“Why tomorrow, why not today?”, replied Rahul.

“Ok buddy, I will check with the Dentist”, Sanjay picked his mobile and walked away.

-----------------------------


The Dentist finds out that Rahul has Periodontitis [A gum disease that spreads below the gums to damage the tissues and bone that support the teeth]. He was late by a couple of months. Rahul lost a couple of tooth, which were badly damaged. Rahul was stunned to hear the direct link between the heart diseases and the bacteria that cause gum disease.

Rahul feels really bad for ignoring the warning signs and thanked Sanjay for helping him. Rahul is now a happy man and wants to publicize the importance of warning signs. He is writing a story about this and participating in this contest. Wish him good luck!!!  Thanks for reading.. :-P


Reference :



Saturday, May 25, 2013

Tea for two and a piece of cake by Preeti Shenoy [Book review]


I picked up this book only to make myself eligible for free-shipping. I resist myself from books written by women (Indian) mainly to avoid soap operas. The last fiction that I read from a lady author was “Dollar Bahu” which reinstated my belief. So, this book lied in my library for a couple of months. After reading the book, I did curse myself for being judgmental, but my premonition was almost right.

Tea for two and a cup of cake is a breezy practical story. It explores the life of a plump middle aged woman and the people who influence her life. Nisha is lovable character whose characteristics make you love her instantly. You cannot stop yourself from loving her and being on her side during adversities. She is just one of us, who goes through the emotions in life and decides instantly. Her life has a big void because of her childhood and those thoughts come again and again to taunt her. Her first date is so vividly explained that you find yourself in the Magellan party along with her and Samir. The international trip and intense romance elevates the story and takes it to the much awaited wedding. The way in which Nisha collects herself after the break-up and carries herself in the society is laudable. Nisha’s characterization is neat, bold and refreshing. It gives a sneak-peak into the upper-middle class society. The high-end parties, the get-togethers and the food are explained elaborately.

However, I found Nisha very vulnerable and wanting. I assume that her bad childhood serves as a catalyst that makes her fall on every possible occasion. The author has tried to portray Nisha as someone who does not want to depend on others, but her proximity to Akash and her expectations from Chetana clearly rebukes her claim. Also, the way in which Chetana’s character ended, left a bad taste. The author tries to reemphasize that Nisha was right and drags the other characters.

The 2 characters that I loved the most are Mrs.B and Samir Sharma. Mrs. B had a very brief role but was likable from the start. Her cakes added flavor to the story. Mrs. B is the kind of neighbor, which everyone would love to have. Samir Sharma, Nisha’s husband was high-society personified. Right from the beginning [the phone call] his character travels in a single plane. He is a go-getter who does not wish to sacrifice his needs for others. He can be lenient with his preferences but only to a certain extent. He runs behind success and gets it. He is the typical business man who wins in business but fails in life. His email is one of the best chapters in the book. He explains his thoughts in an uncomplicated, uncluttered way. He blames Nisha for everything but makes sure that he does his part. His character, though it is shown in grey (or black) is certainly adorable.

The picturesque locations of Pondicherry and ECR add more fun towards the end. The new characters were just add-ons who come just to give a happy-ending. The story ends in an all is well position, where the author makes Nisha and the readers happy.

As a book, this is wonderful. The writing is precise and picturesque. The vocabulary used is rich but not daunting. It is breezy and easy-going unlike many other novels which leave a lump in the throat. It is a story to be read in an hour or two, if you have to kill time. You don’t get anything interesting out of this book but for some predictable twists and interesting choice of words.
Just another feel-good novel


Friday, June 15, 2012

Tea-20 by Vinod Kumar S [Book review]


Getting into an unknown city and getting impressed by its beauty is a pleasant experience. But, walking into a city, after doing a lot of research about it and seeing a lot of pictures of the city and yet getting lost at its pretty sight is even more enjoyable. Reading Tea-20 was such an experience. Having read some of Vinod’s short stories I already knew what to expect from Tea-20. But, what impressed me the most was the way in which those little roses were packaged as a bouquet and presented in front of me.
Almost half the stories in the book talk about good practices and ideal philosophies. Some of these stories can be directly put into the moral instruction school books and some of these stories are so good that they can form a part of the Chicken soup series. One story talks about a young girl’s action which melts a frosted heart and another story talks about another young girl, who teaches the people around her the real value of the money. There are a couple of stories which gives advices to the urban youth. The conversation between a beggar and the protagonist on the New Year’s Eve is an eye opener.
But, my favorite story is the one in which the protagonist learns the most important lesson about life from his dog. I have read it 5 times till now and would not mind reading it again and again.
Right from the first story, I was expecting to read about Sachin and voila there was a full story about the Master. Knowing the author personally, I feel that if the book didn’t have a story on Sachin it would have been an aberration. JJ
There are a couple of stories which are entirely deceptive. I found them to be childish. The story about beauty and the beast did not have any impact on me. There was a thriller towards the end of the book which was a good read, but was certainly a misfit in this wonderful light hearted collection.
I enjoyed the stories related to the IT industry. They provided an insider view and I was able feel the author’s emotions. The fight between an auto driver and the IT employee was cinematic but nevertheless amusing. I loved the funny story “Nowhere to run”. But, the pick among the lot was the story in which the guy goes to see his bride. It was a complete laughter riot and I enjoyed every bit of it.
The biggest selling point of the book is the simplicity of the language used. You need not run to the dictionary once in a while to understand certain words. It is just a collection of pragmatic examples from the author’s daily life. After completing the book, I was able to understand the author’s writing style. He thinks of a message and weaves a story around it and takes it to his audience. We love stories and so we enjoy the story and accept the message along with it. It is more like giving a small dose of medicine along with sugar. The Author has achieved this with silken grace. Hats off!!!
Is this book so very good that there are no negatives about it? Absolutely not, the simple text used in the book makes people take the author too lightly. The message may not reach a bigger set of audience because of the quality of the prose. The grammatical mistakes which pop up here and there did divert my attention from the book. I would blame the publisher/editor for not reviewing the text clearly.
But, having said this, the message shared in the book is very noble and should reach more people. The feel good stories are ever green and make you feel better when you feel down and out. It is aptly named Tea-20 and is certainly the perfect companion for your tea time, if you don’t have a wife or a girlfriend. If you do have a GF, gift it to her too…

Monday, May 28, 2012

Kyra’s vacation

Here comes another contest blog.
This fictious entry is written for the Lakme sun expert contest held by Indiblogger.


I am very happy today. I need not work for the next 2 weeks. I have not received such a long vacation since I joined St. Stephens. This time, I am planning to spend my vacation with Kyra. I need to get permission from her mom before I plan for something. She is a mommy’s girl and would not like to go against her wish.

When I was in Anna University, I used to spend a lot of time with Kyra. But , as I had to move to Delhi, I do not get to spend much time with her. I call her and see her on the webcam pretty often but I have never taken her out. In fact, I never had the time to take her out. I have all the time in the world now and I want to make Kyra happy. I still remember her sad face, when I told her that I have to move to Delhi. She cried and shouted, “I hate you”, but then my career was my first love.

Kyra loves the beaches. She loves to play beach volleyball and also loves to swim. She also loves to hang out with her friends. So, I need to plan something which will make her and her friends happy. Something to do with the outdoors. She isn’t the kind of girl who loves shopping and board games. But, she is always worried about getting sun burns. The same is the case with her friends. These beauty conscious girls are scared to go out in the sun because of this. But, then I need not worry about it now. I know about Lakme sun expert. It would save her from those sun burns. It comes with SPF 50 which will safe guard her against the scorching Chennai heat. The cucumber and lemon grass sunscreen which comes with SPF 24 can help her with the limited time that we roam around. I have heard some of the girls in St. Stephens talking about the texture and fragrance of this sunscreen and I bet that it must be good. The girls who spoke good things about the sunscreen aren’t the girls who accept things blindly. They are geeks and hence it must be absolutely true. I will get this for Kyra and she would be happy. The Lakme sun expert comes in an yellow bottle and yellow is Kyra’s favorite color. Now I know the perfect gift for Kyra for this summer.



I need to plan for the outdoor activities now. I can take her to the Elliots beach and she can play in the water with her friends. I would also drive her in my Santro to Mahaballipuram and see those wonderful sculptures. In the blazing Chennai heat, the sun screen can be her only savior. I would get loads of cool drinks which will prevent her from getting dehydrated. I would also take her to Pondichery, the city with wonderful French architecture. I need to make sure that she brings her friends along with her. She can play beach volleyball with them. She can have a lot of fun with her friends and stay in the sun for a longer period now. I also need to book a resort with a pool. She can stay in the pool all day long. If I can, I will make sure that Kyra who is crazy about beaches stays in the beach the whole day. But oops, I have a problem. I need to convince Kyra’s mother and let her accept my plans. She is a very strict teacher and may not encourage her daughter staying the sun the whole day. I hope that I can make her understand the power of sun experts in this modern world. I have to do this and make her accept that playing in the beach the whole day isn’t such a bad thing.

I hope I can do this, after all the husband is the best person to convince his wife and I will try to get this done for my teenage daughter Kyra.

This fictious entry is written for the Lakme sun expert contest held by Indiblogger.

PS : I image in the blog was clicked by me.