Lyrics Two

“....un pechu un paarvai

nagarthidum pagalai iravai,

pirinthaalum inainthaalum

uyir kootin sari paathi unadhey,

un inbam un thumbam enadhey

en mudhalodu mudivaanaai...”

Loaded the luggage in the boot and I occupied the front seat. At first I dint notice the rear seats but when I turned,

“Surprise!” shouted Ria.

“But.. you.. Ahmed said..” I was surprised to see her.

“I just wanted to give you a surprise. You are the one who love’s surprises.”

Time passed swiftly. It must have been an hour by now. Ahmed was driving steadily at a good speed. She slept off after few minutes and I was just admiring her in sleep. I would just stay there looking at her for a lifetime. But as I looked at her everything in my sight started to become brighter and brighter and a sudden screech took me away from her.

I opened my eyes and sat up straight to look at a line of traffic behind our car and a truck standing right in front of our car. Both Ahmed and our driver were out of the vehicle blasting at the truck driver.

I wasn’t able to sleep again. A few minutes later we made a stop.

“Looks like you have been missing her badly.” asked Ahmed as he had the first sip of coffee.

It took me by surprise. “Oh what? Ya ya. It has been a long time since I have seen her.”

“You were blabbering something in your sleep. Thought so, it must be her. Don’t worry, just couple of hours more.”

He was always like this. It has been more than 6years, he hasn’t changed. Always with that edge of care over me.

6 yrs, 6months and 29days ago

“All the best. If you need anything call me. Your mom is too much worried about you being here for the vacation. At least go home for the weekend, alright.” Ahmed did his part in place of my mom.

“It’s as if you have become my mom man. Just start. I’ll be fine and I spoke with my dad, he’ll take care of mom.”

“See ya.” Off went Ahmed.

Karthi was waiting for me at the parking lot along with Ravi. I was surprised to see Ravi there, I didn’t know that he too has joined the vacation classes.

“Dude, we are damn late the very first day. GREAT! What an impression to make!” said Karthi in a very frustrated tone.

“Relax man. It’s just the first day. Let us see how many of them show up for the class.”

As I parked my vehicle in the parking lot and turned, Karthi was almost running. Then I noticed a Scooty PEP. I laughed at myself “As if every scooty is her’s.”

We were at the entrance of the computer lab panting. A few heads were dumped into the monitor and at the far end of the lab was our classroom, with a meager strength of around 15 including us the session started. I was just looking around the lab and the guys who were working. Then I turned to Karthi and said, “Machi, I think I have gone mad. Even the girls here look like her da.”

He was busy taking notes but Ravi heard me and looked around the perimeter.

“You are not mad dude. It is her.”

It was really her. I was flying high but also was wondering why was she down here during vacation. So, sent out some quick texts and got some information.

“So she is down her doing some project. Good” that’s nice to hear. My job is quite easy now. I don’t need to go hunting for her house.

We had lab sessions in the afternoon. I came back soon after lunch because I had to find a seat which gives me a nice view of her. Karthi was shocked to see me there so early. It was more than an hour since our session has started still no sign of her.

“Has she left for the day?” I was asking myself.

“Maybe” Karthi responded as he tried to crack down his first C program.

Ravi was in half sleep while rest of the batch was trying to do something. Since it was the first day, lab session didn’t last for more than an hour. It was just 3PM, Ravi pestered me for a movie and I had to give in. We had a show at 4PM in Satyam but I couldn’t concentrate on the movie. All that was running in my mind was “Is she working only in the morning, how to approach her, how should I start a conversation” and so on.

_

Today we were on time or rather I got ready quickly to just see her. But no one was working in the lab today. The very sight of deserted computers disappointed me.

“What could have happened to her? Will she come again? I better start to hunt for her home.”

There was no sign of her till noon. So, I left hoping not to return for the day.

_

“Dude, where are you?”

I was in deep sleep, for it took me few seconds to recognize it was Karthi.

“Where the hell will I be and what time is it?”

“Its dinner time, Ravi has left long ago and so can you come to pick me up?”

“You are at college!! You suck man. I will be there in 5”

“I will be at the parking”

I was there in about 10minutes but he was not there. There was no other go, I had to wait.

“Rahul?” the sheer sound of my name terrified me. I started to examine the surrounding thinking who would that be, it definitely wasn’t Karthi because it was a sweet female voice.

“Rahul, Is that you?”

“Divi?”

“Ya”

“What are doing here at this time? Is there a problem Divi?”

“Ya. My friend’s vehicle broke down. I saw you coming in, thought you could help us out?”

“Sure.”

We had to walk out of the campus and few meters down the road. It was completely dark and all I could make out was a dark figure struggling with her scooter.

“Ria, this is Rahul”

Did she really say Ria or I heard it so? I tried to make out her face from the lights of the ongoing traffic. It was really her.

“Hey Divi, you haven’t mentioned about her anytime?”

“Because she joined here this semester only. She has moved in from Pune and now can you help us out here?”

After few minutes of struggle and some manipulation stuff, I finally got it running.

“Thank You” that’s all she spoke. It was enough for me to keep going. I bid adieu to them and was jumping with happiness, inside me. But that’s when I realized “KARTHI!!!”

Now

“Dey. Call for you.”

“Me? Who’s it?”

“Figure it yourself.”

“Hello”

“Duuuude!! How are you man?” the style of his ‘Doode’ self explains who it is, its Karthi.

“Machan, its just been 24hrs since we had a chat man.”

“But that’s online man. It never even close to how we speak in person.”

“Dey nadu raathiri mokka podatha da. Didn’t you sleep? Its 3 in the morning man. Isn’t Priya bothered about it?”

“She is in Chennai.”

“Where are you?”

“Waiting for you” •

Lyrics One

“..Near, far, wherever you are

I believe that the heart does go on..”

I was a bit nervous today. I was trying to focus on, what I should say, as entered the cafeteria. The cafeteria was completely deserted today but it dint mind me. All I wanted now was her; I was searching for her amidst the empty tables and chairs. There she was, sitting near the window against the brightly coloured wall. She was in a spotless bright white salwar, admiring whatever was outside, with her loose hair making waves in the air. Slowly I moved past all the empty tables. She caught me at the corner of her eye while she brushed aside a strand of hair from her face. I smiled and she smiled back in acknowledgment. As the distance between us was going down, the pressure inside me started to rise.

“I love you” that’s it. When did I say that!?

She stood up in, a bit kind of, shock. I was waiting for some reply from her. A few silent anxious seconds passed when my world started to collapse, literally. The building, tables and chairs, vending machines, everything started to shake and vibrate. Then I heard a distant voice calling out “Sir? Sir?”

It’s when everything shattered, as I opened my eyes to find out my cute airhostess was standing beside me.

“Sir, can you please wear your seat belt. We will be on ground in about 15 to 20 minutes. Thank You”

I was still hazy, probably because of the shots of vodka I had before I went off to sleep. I had to wait for almost 3hours in Dubai for my connecting flight to Coimbatore. The jetlag, shots and sleep all made my mind go dizzy.

6 yrs and 7months ago

It was the last exam of the 6th semester. As usual I came out an hour before and waiting for others in the parking lot, our usual gathering spot. I was sitting relaxed on my bike with my legs stretching to the scooter next to me. I can’t get to see any of them for at least another 15minutes, but to my luck found one of my hostel mates, Ravi. We were talking about how the exams went and he started to give updates about which girl went out with whom stuffs.

“Excuse me” not the sweetest voice I have ever heard but once I turned the head, there she was. She was hesitant to speak anything further. No, it’s actually me, I couldn’t hear what she was saying. All I could see were her glossy lips moving up and down, her eyes wandering around and her loose hair flowing. That’s when my friend brought me back to the present.

“Dae.. Take your legs off her vehicle dude. What are you doing?” trying to make a statement of impression on her. She hurriedly took her scooter and off she went in a flash.

_

“Yaaru da athu?”

“Ethu?”

“The girl man, one whom I saw in the parking lot”

Everybody on the dining table was puzzled. So Ravi jumped in and came for the rescue. So, he started to describe about her, her scooter and things. The brain storming session started with everyone giving in their suggestions, opinions and clues and finally the verdict was out.

Name : Ria(Hmmm...Nice Name)

Dept : 2nd year IT(Damn!!How the hell I haven’t noticed her)

Stay : Day Scholar(Damn!! Damn!!)

Edu : 9 pointer(Damn!! Damn!! Damn!!)

Status : Single( :-D :-D :-D)

The sad part now is, it’s semester holidays from now on. Everyone was supposed to leave by tomorrow morning. Just then it struck me and I ran to the next room and barged in.

“Machi.. You said you were going to join some courses during the vacation right?”

Karthi was almost asleep. He was like “WTF! Why the hell is he worried about?” because am the sort of a guy who absconds once they utter the word vacation.

“Ya, why?”

“How about we both go together? We can go roam around in my bike and weekends will be lot of fun.”

“Dude, stop kidding. Pack your bags and leave; I need to get some sleep.”

“Do you at least know what course they are teaching this vacation?”

“Who cares. Are you going to join with or what?”

“Hello!! It’s you who’s going to join me.”

“Whatever. So, you and me, a month at college again. Wonderful!!” I left his room and was quite happily going to my room.

“Rahul, Ahmed wanted to see you. He’s on the roof top.”

“Ok da”

_

“Are you serious about this girl?”

“Still going at 1packet a day?”

“I asked you first.”

“Don’t know man. She took me by surprise. You know everything, I have never been into girls or anything. She seems special.”

“You dint even know her name when you saw her first. You saw her for about, what, a minute.”

“Hmmmm.. I don’t have an answer for that now but sure I will tell you one day.”

“It’s melodramatic man.”

I stood there without answers.

He put off the cigarette stub and said “After a month or year, you still feel the same then ‘Go for it’.” My heart has already said it.

Now

With the rows of light showing the way flight aligned itself to the runway. We touched down in a few minutes.

“Home, finally!” but still have another 3 to 4hours of travel remaining.

I had to get my luggage, finish of the usual security check and was out. Ahmed was waiting for me in the freezing cold. It’s close to midnight, mid December and in a coastal city like Cochin, ya, it ought to be cold.

“Welcome back home. You look almost the same.”

“Oh but you don’t seem to look as you were on your fb page?”

“It happens.”

“Hasn’t she come? She told she’ll be here to receive me.”

“She desperately wanted to be here but some blah blah blah from both of your families so she has decided not to come. Feel sorry for her.”

“Oh, then I better call her.”

“Let us first hit the road. We’ll do everything on the way” •

As its Happening

Here comes the 2nd Installation....If u are new here then u should read "As it Happened" 1st before starting this.....

Contd.....

As the journey was getting into everyone like getting settled in a new home, our Family Man opened a book and started studying. All I could make out from the text was some lengthy square roots and q,z,r,y,a and blah blah blah. Somehow I managed to see the cover of the book, ”Structural Analysis”. OMG. Either he must be going for an examination or an interview or updating his knowledge. Whatever it was, with hairs graying around, it was something to be appreciated or I felt so. Mr.Curious, hope you know why I kept him that name. Just looking around what everybody was doing and was now and then peeping into structural analysis.

Son took off to the other luggage space for a nap while father was already into sleep mode. So Mr.Curious shifted to Son’s place, took some spiral bound book of his and started studying. Pal tried to sleep but couldn’t. College guy had a nap and woke up. As we crossed Thiruppur and approaching Erode rain started to get heavy and I had to close my window. I was wondering what to do. Appo thaan. Why not a blog? But how to write. I searched through my mobile to find anything to type apart from message like notes or something. Found an app for memo. So am using it and typing now. Maybe will use a word editor later.

I forgot to mention about the Passerby. He got in at Thiruppur. He placed himself between the College Guy and Mr.Curious. He heard a few songs in the loud speaker maybe he forgot his headphones or does he have one or maybe lost in the course of the day. Karuna and Big mouth had few small talks. Family man closed his book as we reached Erode.

I needed water now but was really hesitant to get out. Meanwhile Passerby and Big Mouth got some packed biriyani for dinner. Finally I got down to get myself a water bottle. I was hesitant because of two things, one, my seat and two, my bag placed on my seat. So I was out and in, in a flash.

How do you guys feel about having snacks or a meal or anything on the train? I mean like only you’ll be having and the rest will be watching. I don’t buy anything in train because this reason unless I have some few other guys with me. I guess Passerby must be that kinda guy, he had his dinner standing at the doorway. Finished it off and then came back to his seat. Whereas our Big mouth, as usual, finished it off at his place and washed his hands through the window. Done.

The train was unexpectedly fast, we reached Salem in 2 and a half hours. As the train approached the platform, Passerby, College Guy and Mr.Curious got ready to get down. As they got down, a Bunch of four guys got in with their bags and stuff. They seem to look like construction workers, had some tools in a bag and a bosch case. They squeezed themselves into that space of two. All were slim and sleek so they dint have a problem.

It was almost close to 11pm now. I was having my headphones on so all I could make out was their lip movements. Only after a few minutes I realized that all seem to watch me now and then. With the kinda of atmosphere in the train, just imagine a guy with head phones on, typing in a mobile with querty keypad for almost 2hours, who would not watch.

Since it was a special train we had a few stops in the middle of nowhere, to give way to superfast trains, with each stop lasting for almost 20 to 30mins. During this time I almost came close to the current time in my blog. Hope you can get what I say. Now we are in Samalpatti, a place somewhere between Salem and Jolarpet.

Son has woke up from his deep sleep and is looking at his seat which is occupied by the Bunch but he manages to find a seat in the next cubicle. Everyone got settled into some position. One of the guys from the Bunch is going up to the luggage space left by the Son. Another guy is just spreading the sheet near me on the pathway and he is down too. Few silent moments pass by. Am just looking here and there. Pal finding it hard to sleep I guess, is just moving often. Big Mouth already in his dreams. I think he heard me, just woke up to lower his window and back to sleep. Family Man also sleeping peacefully. Father woke up once in Salem and Erode, that’s it. With his plumpy head with double chin down, sleeping wonderfully and finally our Sleepy Head, except for a few movements now and then, he is settled in his position. That leaves only me, still observing everyone.

I have never travelled in general compartment during night, so was not feeling sleepy. Had few naps. A lot of things go on in my mind when I look at them. They don’t have the slightest bit of clue about what I am upto. Just wake up guys, am writing about you.

“What is it you are typing?” “What phone it is?” “What is it in your hand, is it a phone?” that’s true. Literally. Hope you can make out the difference between these questions and I wonder how many of these know that am gonna publish about them for the world to read. So, this blog, why did I write? I myself donno. I just wanted to note down the whole experience of travelling in a general compartment in night. இதுக்கு மேல நான் மொக்க போட விரும்பல.

The only guys awake are me and another guy from the Bunch. Its 1am. Hope the train reaches Chennai by 4am, that’s what they said to me. Donno what to infer from this blog. Ungalukku entha maathiri intha blog irukkunu feel pannareengalo appadiyae vechukonga. Lemme try to grab some sleep because I just have a day in Chennai, I don’t wanna sleep it off. With Kadhal Anukkal in my ears now, in this drizzling cold night.

As it Happened..

Yesterday

Me and Ganapathy were in the station, more than an hour before the expected departure of the train. We were waiting for my friend Bala. “wru da” and the reply came “on de way மச்சி..ll call 1ce am der” It wasn’t a big deal because still an hr or so for the train but still I said “k..cme soon”.

It was a late monsoon this season, weather lords started their party as they did for the past couple of weeks. The down pour started and I started to worry whether he can make it on time.  Finally, after almost an hour my phone rang. As expected, it was him.

“Dae..எந்த platform?”

Our very own CBE Junction P2

“Platform 2 da.. Straight ah nadanthu va.. Naanga kadaisila irukkom..”. As he walked along the edge of the platform our train arrived. With the crowd running to grab a seat in the general compartment, we pushed ourselves into it and finally met him. Bala, my colleague, is a short and fair guy and as usual his springy hair in disarray. We settled at a corner of a platform.

“Dey.. where’s your bag?” started Bala.

Good that he started it. “Bala....dont panic...am not going with you today.”

“What are you saying dude!!!!????? Why?”

“Have some stuff here which I need to take care of. I tried to give a hint at work today but you couldn’t make it out from it.”

“Hmmmm....” It was a big sigh from him. “Serious ah வரலைய?”

“Am serious dude.”

I was relaxed in a way because I thought he would panic and say “Then am too not going.” But he dint, good, at least he is going.

“And don’t worry. I’ll call them and convince about my absence. Ok?”

“Whatever.. நீயே சமாளிச்சுக்கோ..”

The train started finally and he left without me. Ganapathy was just a spectator for this talk show. Then we reached home around 11, dripping wet due to the non-stop rain.

Today Afternoon

After finishing off the works which made me to stay back yesterday, was kinda relaxing in my home. Vikas’ words were lingering in my mind, “ஏன் டா வரல!!?? You could have come.”

“Lost in your thoughts again??” Ganapathy put is as a question as he entered.

“நான் இன்னைக்கு கெளம்பட்டுமா?”

“எங்க கெளம்பட்டுமா?”

“Chennai da”

this big shoe is Me

“Your wish. Did you ask your mom?”

“பேசிக்கலாம்...”

I know, its just a day. Vikas said he had booked tickets for HP7 morning show. So, probably half a day would go by in the movie. Then maybe lunch with my few other friends and head back to Coimbatore.  Looks fine but the only thing is, I cant spend much time with anyone. Even Vikas knows it. Whatever “Am going”, the decision was made. Got the tickets, packed my stuff, informed my mom and called Ahmed too.

So it was Ahmed and Ganapathy who came to send me off. We had dinner on the way and reached station around 7.45pm, a couple of hours before, because we needed to get a seat for me in the general compartment. Once we were in, it’s the usual frustration “tan ton toin....பயணிகளின் கணிவான கவனர்திற்கு..” It was an announcement about a special train to Chennai which was about to arrive in another few minutes. Station was not crowded as it usually would be. We could see the train approaching in the vicinity. Ahmed managed to run along with the train and got me a seat as it was being brought to a halt, the single seat by the window. Three of us were laughing about how we ran and got the train while the rest of the seats got filled. The train started within 5mins, so I bid adieu to them and started to stare into the darkness outside. Made a few calls to my pals at Chennai and my mom. Few refused to believe that I was en route Chennai. So, I had to call them late when the train’s “thadak thadak” was prominent.

Once I was done with my calls, the person sitting opposite to me asked “நீங்க Chennai ah போறீங்க?” “Ya..”

And that’s when I started to look at my compartment rather my cubicle kinda thing. Hope you know that, how it is in the Indian trains, that 8 seats. Since it was a general compartment there were around 10 including me. The one sitting opposite to me must be in his late 50’s, I’ll call him father, you’ll know why later. So we both were on the single seats facing each other. Next to him on the three seater was a guy, looks suggest he must be a college guy and next him was the son, ya you are right, father’s son, in his early 30’s probably. Next by the window was an old man, wearing a yellow shawl like Karuna. He had a pal, another old man, he was sitting next to me on the three seater. So as I mentioned them, lets call them Karuna and Pal. Next to Pal were Mr.Curious, Family Man and the Big Mouth. That makes only 9 right. Ya and we have the Sleepyhead on the luggage space, he went to sleep few minutes after the train left Coimbatore junction, still no reaction from him, sleeping peacefully.

Wherever we go, either a train or temple or wedding or even a flight for that matter, there will be a conversation starter. Its not a topic here, I mean a person. That is Big Mouth. He started to talk abt something to Karuna, who were sitting opposite to each other near the window. Even though Karuna was hesitant to engage in a conversation at the very moment but then started to unwind... 

It was a little bigger than I thought so am posting it in two parts... Watch our for the next one soon...