The Smile

First of all, I haven't been a hosteler. The last time that I was away from family was during the NCC camp, which was in 9th standard.

 

However, whenever family conversations come up, as they have so many times, most during the 12th standard holidays, "Be prepared to live in a hostel!" was a common sentence, which would inevitably be followed by long speeches, on how bad, a hostel can turn out to be. My usual retorting rant would be, "Ah! No problem at all.. Plus, you wouldn't be nagging me at all times Ma :D ". I'm pretty much sure this would've happened to every single college-student out there.

During sometimes when I was very very jobless(this happened a lot during 12th holidays), my thoughts would drift to "Life as a hosteler". And, I tell you, imaginations can be very hilarious.

But then, I am not a hosteler. I'm a day-scholar(read poor soul) who commutes from Tambaram to CEG, everyday. Travel was, ohmygod, a bad bad nightmare(I know, nightmares are already bad :D ). Getting used to it took almost a semester. Nowadays, though, it is actually enjoyable. For example, like the green chudhidhar. LOL :D

But coming back, as I said, I've never lived the life of a hosteler. Hell, I thought, I'd never miss anyone if I were a hosteler. But yesterday, perspectives changed. My friend Karthikeyan's parents had come from his hometown. You should've seen the smile on his face when he saw them. Wah, priceless.

That was joy, coming at the bottom of the heart. I realized that "Everyone can talk the talk, but only a few, walk the walk" like how uncle says in Jackie Chan adventures.

P.S.: Home, sweet home. Nothing can substitute it :)

The Glance

They say that time changes everything..

It hasn't been too long.. We didn't have much in common; the endless arguments, the "Hmph!" and the turn of the heads after a petty quarrel are still there, there in my head.. Sweet :)

How much time we were together I can't even measure. As friends. Whenever you spoke at length and shared your feelings, all I could do was, give an assuring smile and say, "Everything'll be fine :) dont worry.."

Then, the time together grew shorter, but I still cherished what was left of it.. After a couple of years, it was as though I didn't even know you, the one standing in front of me. You'd grown silent, retracted, and spoke only when spoken to. It was completely unlike you, but I believed you'd do just fine. I guess you are, even now.

I saw you on the road today, you glanced. I recognized you, but you didn't. You probably, don't even know how I look like. It did goad a little, and I think its my mistake..

Though I know a lot of people by that name, do know, that whenever I hear that name, the first person that comes into my mind, is you..

I do miss you, and I am still your friend, atleast on Facebook.

Time does change everything.

I wonder how you'd have felt if you had recognized me :)

Special day

Today is the 11th of November. Its 11.11.11. Some people say that its special. But then, whatever may come in the year column of the date, 11.11 is always special and its because its someone's b'day.

That someone is Ramasubramaniyam (aka) Ramu (aka) Koushik (aka) Palla (aka) "Jai Sairam" and lots more :P

I couldn't have ever have asked for a better person in life. Its been roughly around 10 years that we've known each other and I'm utmost proud to say that he's my best friend. A cool, composed,  fun-loving, enthusiastic, humble and great character.

Whenever I'm depressed or sad, and I feel like sharing, I wouldn't find a better place to pour it all in. We think, decide and act the same almost always !!

To Ramu, here goes -  "Happy birthday, my dearest, best, special friend :-)".. You're a part of me and I wish, on this day, that you n I are together like this forever and that our lives put together makes friendship, that much special :) will always be there for you :)

HAPPY B'DAY :) ROCK ON :) 

Handwriting

I stepped in, as usual and looked into my watch. The time was 6:05 a.m. Perfect! :) Time to begin today's job. I observed as the many curious eyes peered at me,as usual. Motioning them to sit down after the "Good morning!" chorus, I turned around, to erase the board. Began at the top left corner, as usual. Everything went as usual that day, except for one thing. My thoughts drifted unconsciously as I found myself staring at a handwriting, which I hadn't seen in quite a while. I was looking at the abbreviation 'PMI' which stood for 'Process of Mathematical Induction'. Memories of homeworks, Probability, Integral Calculus everything seemed to rush into my head then. He'd call me "Ramasamy".. That was the name of the guy in the attendance roll just before me(and he was always absent), and a simple error on a fine day, rechristened me. :-P His way of teaching was enjoyable and checking your watch wasn't something that you'd be doing there. I still remember the problem in which P(A) n P(B) represented the probability of the wife and husband getting a particular job and, the probability of the wife not getting the job was P'(A)[read 'P bar of A'] and the husband's being P'(B), he said "Vela kedakkalana? Vera enna? Bar'ukku poga vendiyadhu thaan(sogathula)!" implying the usage of the complement. I was in 11th and he took maths for me. He was "Prabhu sir". I found that I'd erased the board and was brought back to reality. Funny, how much your thoughts can drift while erasing a board :-) I had two more of the best teachers - Arul sir n Thyagu sir. But Prabhu sir is special, cuz he was the first teacher that I looked upto n thought "Pha! Sir na ivuru thaan!" I may meet many great professors in the future but you'll always be special cuz you were the first.

Dedicated to Prabhu sir - my 11th std Arul Institute Maths professor.

\*unleash your thoughts*/

Remembrance

Year 1998 - I was 5 years old and I lived in a town called Polur. I had been denied admission into UKG at a school in Nasik, (don't laugh, it happened  :-P ) on grounds that I was younger than the age limit for admissions. My family decided that I should stay with my grandparents and continue my education( kindergarden, haha!!). It was then that I began to adore my grandpa. He was a great and vibrant personality. There was this swift efficiency about him, that I liked the most. A partner at tv(he'd watch cartoons with me at 60, mind you! :-D), chess and carrom. He'd daily drop me at school and pick me up back from it. I had great love, respect and admiration for my grandpa as most of the townsfolk had. My grandpa was a well-known man in his time, at one point of time being the District Educational Officer(DEO) and practically knew most of the townsfolk.

Year 2000 - Two years passed, and my parents moved to Tambaram and I came back to living with them. After that, my grandparents would visit me frequently, my grandpa more often than both my grandparents because my grandpa did a lot of travelling.

In the following years, I'd always enjoy the days when grandpa visited me. We'd talk for a lot of time. He was a strict disciplinarian though he never bet or scolded me. That stare was enough to make me understand what he meant.

He had this peculiar habit of not telling of his visits for most of the times, intending to surprise me. I seldom was; because the white Ambassador car would stand with pride, pride commensurate of its owner, my grandpa.

Year 2011 March-  As I was returning from college, I saw a white Ambassador that stood silently at the entrance of my apartment, the same exact place. My heart leaped with joy. "Grandpa is here!! :-)". But alas!

Year 2008 August-  Grandpa slipped and fell down and hurt his head. He came down with a stroke with a hand and leg paralysed. It was unbelievable and shocking to see a man of such pride and confidence lay bed-ridden. He endured 8 long months, through my 11th std. He breathed his last during the last week of April 2009.

That one second of joy made me realize just how much I miss him. I miss you thatha.. Love you loads! :'(

Dedicated to my grandfather - H. Mahadeva Iyer. Proud to be your grandson.