One Hungry Evening in Nihon …..

It’s just around 6:30 pm. We both were waiting for the meeting to end. It seems like it will be going on and on. IT related meetings usually have close to 20 guys over one tele-conference and there will be two guys who really have some problem. They keep on talking and no one else will be bothered about the conversation until one asks,
“R u guys with us?” that will be answered with a chorus ‘YES’
This meeting was one such crap. But this time it was the booking system which helped us. Some one had booked the conference room from 6:30 and we had to come out of the call once our slot was over (This is a usual thing that happens in all corporate offices). We sincerely thanked them in our mind

I don’t know what happened today but rite after our lunch, we both felt hungry. Oh the “we” I’m mentioning is me and my project mate. He is quite senior to me, but he added only years to his experience, still have all craziness and Great Spirit for eany thing crazy. It was 6:45 by the time we came out of office. We decided to take a walk around to look for something to eat. First we went to “Coredo food Mart”. (FYI:- My project mate is a pure vegetarian who eats egg and he never stopps if he starts with chappathi and kurma). We roamed around looking at various shelves in the food mart and asked for 'Meat-less' sandwitches, but couldn’t find any. I was happy with anything but I couldn’t stand the smell of some special sauce they use. We came out empty handed (Empty stomached)and went to the next shop. It was MasonKasor this time. The aroma of sweet bread and cheese had attracted me so many times, but there also we ran out of luck. All we could find was empty basins becoz the shop was about to close. We went around eating the sample bread pieces adding fuel to our burning appetite.

Finally decided to check our luck outside, started to walk back. My project mate asked me to sit down in the restaurant MasonKasor (I will address him as MB, he had some looks of Mahesh Babu, Telugu hero ….I know its time to check my eye power). I suggested we should leave and look for MC Donald. But he was adamant and made me sit there. Then he asked for an English speaking person in the restaurant. After a short while, a pretty gal came out from the bakery asking “How may I help you?” We were startled with her accent free English. She was dressed up like a cute doll with nice brown hair and silky hair. The maid uniform of Mayson Kaysor made her beautiful. MB asked about what she has in the restaurant and about meat free sandwich. She gave us some options and asked about what kind of bread (Hard or soft); what kind of vegetables to put (As far as I know, vegetables means cabbage for Japanese ppl).

Any way we waited for another 10 minutes and MB started to give fundas about his knowledge about the English speaking ladies, about his intelligent guess on vegetable sanwich etc... The gal was taking two piece of bread and going into the bakery, I enquired her about the cost of sandwich, and she replied it is 800 Yen. We waited for some more time and it was getting late. Then the gal came with a bunch of cabbage, two piece of tomato and some other green leaves (Whose name I couldn’t figure out) over it. She had two sandwiches with her. We had only one in mind as I was not interested in taking the sandwich. She had a bill of 1600 yen attached to the basket she gave us. MB stared at the sandwich in disbelief.
I checked the bread, it was really hard and it looked totally out of place. The bread was old, I took it in my hand and decided, I’m not goanna eat it, even if I’m starving. When I looked towards MB, he also had the same thoughts in mind. Time was running out and we had to rush back for our next meeting at 7:30.
We called the English speaking gal and asked her to pack the vegetables and the bread (I mean the sandwich). The came the next bombshell, from that shop, they cannot parcel anything. Everything has to be ate there itself. Listening to that that, I took the jug of water in front of me and drank to reduce the acidity in my stomach and to cool my head. MB was helplessly looking at me, with a question what next.
On the way both of us didn’t talk anything, we stood up, started walking away leaving our 1600 yen sandwich on the table with a hungry stomach, to the next never ending meeting. We entered the lift and pressed floor button three and looked at each other and burst out laughing. Both of us started laughing and when we entered the floor, both of us were grinning ear to ear leaving our team mates wondering what these guys have done. We only know the fun of leaving a 1600 sandwich over the desk , walking away with a hungry stomach.

Life in Nihon

"Nihon no Seikatsu"




I had a lot of misconception about Japan before coming here. It is not a shocking difference but the images were more or less wrong. The life here in Japan is definitely different. Everything around seems to be so organized that I found myself totally out of place as a disorganized individual.
Life starts everyday with my alarm making the nuisance. I don’t know but all the alarm tones are really irritating noises when u r in the climax of a dream … then it’s a tug of war between thoughts getting out of my rajayi and the urge to go back to the sweet dream. The morning dampness and the chill of the air conditioner adds fuel to the thought of going back to the dream. Finally the face of my onsite coordinator flashes in my mind if we reach late to office, which will win the tug of war and I’ll be out of my bed. First thing, to put morning raga song on my lap top to make morning cheerful (Please note: Morning means 9:00 am for me). Once all set, it’s time to wait for my turn for the restroom. We four are staying in a monthly mansion which is meant for two guys. So people have to adjust. By the time our famous cook ( Mr HOD, or Mr T) will give me hot strong red label Tea.
Sipping my tea, I’ll be busy with my pending mails in all my mail accounts, also with scraps in my orkut. Internet and lap top is getting to be an integral part of my routine. Refreshing up, it’s time to get into suit-boot-coat. Here even the cab driver will be in a three piece suit. So people like me working in a client place, I have to be in full formal attire. It really bugs me to tuck-in itself, so u know how it is to wear a full formal suit and accessories like tie and formal shoes…. But client is god here and no chance for a memorandum to change it. But we got lucky to get our working timing as 11 to 8. Most of the time breakfast is just an apple or a piece of bread. Apples we get here is very big and one will be enough. Next is a five minutes walk to our railway station ( Nakano). Usually it’s a run as we are always late.
Climate here is very much like what we have in India. No dust, less windy. Here we have tremors!!! The streets are very quiet and people seldom talks to each other. If some one comes straight opposite to you, even if u gave them way or they are giving way, they will nod, not a big wish but a small node to acknowledge kindness. I really liked it. On the way to railway station there is a two storied cycle stand. Yes it’s not a mistake two storied CYCLE stand. So many people here use cycles. It’s really nice to watch people with their kids on the carrier, food on the front carrier and a pet dog running around the cycle ….it’s a usual scene here which I love to watch.
Entering to the railway station is another intrigue part. Getting the rite train is another puzzle to solve. Altogether Tokyo has 9 public lines and 3 private lines. Each goes on its own way and they have a map which looks like a closely woven knit. Fortunately my friends had sorted out which line, which platform and time to go. There are automatic ticket machines and the checking machine is also automatic. We have to just put in the ticket; it will come out with a hole. When u put the same ticket at the exit at the destination, the counter takes it. If the ticket is not enough, it makes a noise and the gates will close on you. Then you can go to a fare adjustment system and put in the additional charge required. We got monthly pass now, so it’s just push in and collect. No fair adjustment
Inside the train people usually sleep or listen to music on their ipods or iaudio or iriver, many things which play music, video games, TV and lot many things which I have only seen, couldn’t understand. One thing they are never gonna talk anything. I used to count the station as the 10th station was mine to get down. The escalators here are all crowded. Here they usually walk even in the escalator, because all are in a hurry. The rule is like this, those in the left line can stand and the right lane for busy people to walk forward.
My starting station is ‘Nakano’ and destination is ‘Nihonbashi’. ‘Bashi’ in Japanese means bridge and we have a big bridge rite next to our office. I’m happy that the place names are easy when compared to other station like’ Takadanobaba’ and ‘Oteimachi’.

When inside the train I have a feeling like being in the matrix movie. On a busy Monday morning inside the train all u can see people like Smith in the movie matrix. I mean Japanese smith sleeping wearing black coat. The trains have announcement in English and Japanese. On all stations, just before the station we will get an announcement which station is next. The train in these subway movies pretty fast that one can feel the air pumped into our ear drums when it gains speed.
From Nihonbashi railway station I have a walk of three minutes to my client place. On the way there is a bakery named ‘Maison Kaiser’. Everyday we get a mesmerizing aroma of butter baked sweet bread. But as we will be hurrying through, we will never get a chance to get a taste of the bread. After getting this aroma I started to believe their can be aromas which can mesmerize u for!
In my client place every day we wish to two guys in the gate, one security and one security officer. They stand in the same pose even when we go out for lunch, even when we leave to home. I wonder whether these people get bored standing and smiling at everyone coming into office. All they say is ‘Ohayo Gozaimasu’ and ‘Osthukara samadesu’. First one is good morning and second one is a wish saying ‘it’s hard for u, u better go home’.
In the client office, there is nothing worth writing up here. It’s all technical. That’s what we say when we don’t want to say what actually happens there. On my way back, I usually sleep or read some novel. I probably get seats by our 3rd station and by the time we reach our station one among us will have a good sleep day. I started swimming after coming here. U must be thinking what happened to me to go for swimming at 8:30 after a tiring day in office. But it really helps to keep me fit and keep me refreshing.
It’s two minutes walk to ‘Sunplaza’ gym. On the way there is a silent street where there will be guys practicing skate board. They do so many things which we cannot even dream about doing on a skate board. Then there might be fellows in the near by park playing his saxophone or trumpet or just playing jazz. They just sit alone and practice music (sometimes it is worst than me, which gave me idea to try out my weapon also there). It’s a nice feeling to listen to the non rhythm music and walk alone thinking about nothing. I feel so empty in my mind and now a day I began to enjoy that emptiness. Whole through the 1 km swimming, I’ll be having a free mind. The night will be the same damp one when I walk back at 10:30 pm local time. Like smooth background music, walking through the empty street with hungry stomach.
Once back, my supper will be prepared. We will finish it off and cleaning the vessels will be my job. We divide work among us like that and because of my swimming schedule I seldom cook. So I wash vessels. Then the next one is to check the download status of some movie in my torrent, open it and watch it until sleep take over. Weekends are more or less sleeping washing, watching movies. Exploring Japan is in top priority which will have lot more entries here…..

Many of the things I have written here must be silly and usual things for u, but I felt it’s a little different for me or different from what I expected in Nihon

Trip to Nihon

Trip to Nihon


I traveled to Japan for an onsite assignment.

Our journey started around 10:30 with a lot of pain and excitement in our heart. Our relatives and friends were waiting thinking that they might get one more chance to have glimpse of us. But we were busy packing and repacking our baggage to get the exact weight in each bag in the baggage counter. Our baggage constraints were like 20 + 7 maximum and the weighing machine left us in desperation when I read 37+10 for my pm and 36 + 10 for me. We had to pay a sum of 14K to get our baggage checked in. This kept us away from our friends, one guy ‘thadi’ who traveled almost 12 km leaving his daily meeting and my pm’s friend who traveled almost 20 km to just see of my pm with a bouquet were in a bad shape. My pm had 6 kg of pickles which kept him busy repacking everything to the big baggage as we cannot carry pickles in cabin bag. It was new information to me that we can make bombs with pickles and chilly powder.

We ran into more problems when the immigration officer at Hyderabad asked us to put 300 rs in the passport. I was able to make two three phone calls from my project manager’s cell as he couldn’t return it to his wife. We were very sad to imagine the face of our friends and relatives eagerly waiting for us to go back and say …just bye. My pm was in a sad mood saying about the kiddish fight he had with his 8 months old kid Nikhil and his wife ‘ Kana’ on the way to airport in the cab.
After that it was boring & congested. The economy class seats in Singapore airline are just ok as I required more leg space. I think it was designed keeping only Japanese ppl in mind. Except the intermittent call from pretty airhostess for drinks, food etc. I had a good sleep until we reached Singapore. Singapore airport is a huge place and the shops looked amazing. But with a lot sleep left in our eyes in Indian timings 4’O clock in the morning, we were busy looking for a nice seat to sleep. But the search for F59 to catch the next flight kept us awake. It must have been funny for other ppl as two guys dressed up in full suit, with drowsy eyes, looking for a place to sleep. The Singapore airlines kept as busy as they changed our terminal from E42 to F 59 which caused us another 400 m walk in the elevator. Ppl were busy walking over the elevator but we just stood and waited for the elevator to take us. We had four hour stop over and we roamed around the airport. The immigration from Singapore was simple and no bribing required there!
Except the non veg breakfast they provided which was prawn solicitous with ham and vegetables (I couldn’t understand what it was) I had to change to a veg meals and everything seemed in place. I saw ‘Taxi 9211’ on the flight. I was amazed to find Hindi movies in Singapore airlines.
From Tokyo airport ‘ Narita’ we had taken Limousine bus to Shinjuka station in which we again slept happily. The tall building and the cozy bus kept us awake for sometime but then the sleep took over. Since the veg meals were not enough for us, we got hold of 1 bread for each from Narita. We both found out that bread taste ultimate when we are really hungry. From shinjuka station which was a busy looking place just like what we can see in English movie, we got a call taxi to my friend’s place ‘Crystal Village’. According to my friend Daya, the map he had given was enough to get us to this place. But for our cab driver the map was ‘ Mujukashi’ means difficult. He had to ask two three ppl to get to the rite place.
Once at my tomodachin’s place (friend’s place, hope u ppl don’t mind adding these Nihon go words in between :) ) we had Tai rice+ sambhar + curd and pappad which was heaven after eating those international meals from Singapore airline. Three cheers to my friend Thiru ( HOD) who planned everything the rice, two calling cards and all. We were so tired that we hardly spoke. Just called up home and slept. All through the journey the new shoes kept biting me and left with two bruises. One lesson I learned is to keep my shoes old enough to keep away from shoe byte on a foreign assignment.
It was a memorable trip with long walks in Singapore airport, Tokyo airport and in the tube stations. I Will write up soon about the pretty Nihon gals and the hefty client ppl around me.

Is life Fading away ?????????

I don't know whether it is a question or a statment!!!
When life takes new roads, it always seems like its a great road, but when the sidewalks turn to dry land and the road seems endless...we will start thinking where are we headed.
The same thing is happeining with me. I had always been in familiar grounds and now a days i'm putting my nose into some unfamiliar grounds, some unfamiliar roles....
My image is getting changed from a reliable resposible fellow to a thrown in flesh. Many around me seems I have an increased doss of irritation for people around me!
The worst part is i'm unsuccesful in regaining my old image back. Life always moves ahead and there is no second chance to change what you did.
BUt if sumone ask if I regreat on what i did, i do not regreat even a single time, becoz I do things which felt rite for me! Even now it seems rite, but it seems its rite only for me, not rite for anone around :(

I'm Tagged !!!!!

I am tagged

Was tagged by Jeykumar (Injey)

1.Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4?

Ans: Figure below with any assumptions made (Guide to MCSE :(, not the best book to read ;))

2.Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.& catch air?

Ans: Caught air. ( from my hr's cubicle )

3.What is the last thing you watched on TV?A

ns: Saw the song 'Alla key bande:- Kailash kher' in the morning ( Nice song)

4. Without looking, guess what time it is ?

Ans: 2:31 PM

5.Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?

Ans: 2:35 PM ( My watch is 4 mts fast ) :D

6.With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?

Ans: Yes, mumuring of AC, keyboaord slap sound from my cubi mate and telephone rings in office.

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?

Ans: Today morning , coming to office..its still a thursday!!!

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?

Ans: Orkut community and my scrap book which took me here.

9. What are you wearing?

Ans: Black pans and a light tinted rose shirt.

10. When did you last laugh?

Ans: Yesturday, submitted my rent recipet with courtfee stamp instead of revenue stamp.

11. What is on the walls of the room you are in?

Ans: A poster about for "catch them young" and
"share and collabrate , Its ur space"!.

12. Seen anything weird lately?

Ans: Yes my face, ;) I'm on a spree of lengthning my hair ..its really weared at morning when I look at the mirror.

13. What do you think of this quiz?

Ans: Was sleeping in front of my system until now, now slowly refreshing myself.

14. What is the last film you saw?

Ans: In Theatre :> FANA ( A boring and scrap movie)
At home :> I know what you did last summer (HBO).

15. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?

Ans: List is very long.....Defenitly a Boush red two seater

16. Tell me something about you that I don’t know?

Ans: Something jey don't know about me !!!!!!!!! I'hve intiated my new visa and might be travelling in another month

17. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?

Ans: I'm never guilt and I always change the world ecoz i'm here for that :).

18. Do u like to Dance?

Ans: Danced 'Bangada' in our SI day out (If u can call what i did as dance)

19. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?

Ans: U know it ;)( Its a river name in north india.... :0)

20. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?

Ans: My wife decides the boys name :)

21. Would you ever consider living abroad?

Ans: Sure, i'll live abroad in the near future.

22. What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?

Ans: He knows, i shouldn't say anything !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want to tag these folks





1.Dilip
2.Rivas
3.Vinayak

Reciprocal or Recursive ?????

After a break of two years, I had time to spend in Trivandrum, my home town. The place looked a little different with the under pass way, the road widening and the new canal coming up in the MG road. I found it really irritating that u start sweating even if u r not doing anything. Bad effects of being in places with low humidity! I got out of the auto, with a smile paying 20 bugs to an auto driver thinking I would have to pay at least 35 if it was in Bangalore
At home it was a grand welcome as it was my sister’s marriage. I had a glance around my relatives gathering, everyone asking the probable third candidate ( there are still ppl left in my family elder to me to be married).I noticed my nephew who was so tiny when I saw him last time. He was playing with his pop’s mobile.
One thing that amazed me was the generation gap we have. I’m not saying about the generation gap where my pop cannot understand me, buying a cargoes for 1300 where according to him, a sack could have been better with so many pockets. I’m talking about what ppl get at this age and what we got at this age. My nephew’s playing with his dads mobile. He is 2 now and he mocks his father by saying ok, rite in his awful English to the mobile (he hardly speaks anything else other than actions). He even tried to get a snap of my face using that mobile. He knows which button to press and u have to press some thing before talking into the phone and have to press again after talking thru it. At the age of two I haven’t seen a Television. My nephew 23 years younger to me is playing with a camera mobile at the age of 2

I was having a hot tea after the intial grand reception. I overheard a conversation with two of my nephews. One studying in 8th and other in 6th. U guess the topic of conversation! “Quake 4 and it’s minimum requirements”. This fellow is in 6th standard and he speaks about the process requirement and the dual processor utility which gives more gaming options than our usual one. I don’t know the correct requirement for a game until I find out the CD case and search for it at the back. This guy is almost 8 years younger to me. Now I realize that my dad who is almost 34 years elder to me cannot digest many of my thoughts and cannot understand my deeds and ideas. But I’m just 10 years elder to a guy in 10th standard cannot understand his wavelength and his deeds. Believe me when we are at the age of my pop, it is goanna be more difficult than what our parents are facing. This generation gap is a stuff which is reciprocal or recursive! I have to find out which one suit better…..

Summer Weekend in Hyderabad

Things were on a high as I sprang up on Saturday ( apr 1st) after the usual Friday beer party. I slept for two hours as the partying continued until 4 am and I woke up sharp at six. I had some detailed plans for the weekend. Had to wash a bundle of clothes, had to get my bike back after servicing, some beatification on my face as some function is happening next week at home...like that the list goes on. But god had other plans. As we went into the day, things were very bad. I felt the atmosphere is very dry even inside my house. I felt a burning sensation over my skin which was the sweat evaporating rite from the sweat glands. Even after such a bad climate, I stuck on to my plans.
One of the worst things I do, what ever happens switching plans is not my way :(

First the plan was to take 'Dadaa' to hospital and then to go to service centre to get my bike, but the plans changed as we all spend time (doing nothing) browsing thru TV channels and topics of conversations. Finally I and thadi went in search of a bakery as we got hungry. It was already 11:30. The search for bakery took us almost to Somaji guda ( 12 km from where we stay). We ended up in one of the expensive restaurantt where we had to pay 80 bugs for two orange juice and one plate Vada. Still I can't digest how a vada will cost 10 rupees.


We came back after buying some coconut sweets for our fellow roomies. By the time we came back to our flat, it was really hot outside. The sun was steaming down on us. But I kept on with my plans. We went to the SC bank first which was almost 16 km from our flat. After a small confusion we found the bank. There they took 30 minutes to issue dada with a check. After that we went back and on the way back we took a short cut to the service centre which was a very long cut. I had to drive almost 10 km to get back to the service centre from there. In a sense I had circled the Hussein Sager Lake as the short cut we took us to the other side of the lake. Just a reminder, the atmosphere temperature is almost 42 Celsius by that time. I dropped dada at the hospital and went ahead to the service centre. when I reached the service centre by 2'O clock, A closed door with a print out pasted on the door saying 'The service centre will remain closed as today is our stock clearance day, inconvenience regretted' welcomed me. Suddenly one guy opened a small door on the gate and asked why I am there on a holiday.
The hot sun and the shortcut had the best of me, I started asking him for my bike and I wanted to give the bike I was riding for service. The security ( the guy who opened the door) closed it without saying anything and yelled from the back of the gate, "Read out whatever is pasted there"
Then one more guy appeared behind the gate and he came out asking in sarcastic way
( he was the supervisor)

S: Can't you read it , this was there Friday
Me: I Never saw this and the person who took my Bike for service had tols me to comeSaturdayrday
S: can't you see what is written there, should we hang it on our neck for you ppl to see ?

Me: Thats it, i know where to go and what to do! You promised me to give my vehicle on saturday and i came here riding 35 km on another bike and you are not at all listening to me.
I'll make sure that u r no more the autherised service centr in Hyderabad, u don't know what i can do to you.... $%^&*(&*()@#$%@#$%#$%

I took my helmet and was about to start the vehicle, the floor supervisor came and asked me to wait for another 10 mts.I came out riding my bike and gave the other bike for service there.
The ride back home took 30 minutes and i was really tired.
I went into the kitchen , drank one litre water, went in search for my bed.....all i remeber about that saturday is that my friends were having another beer party , but I was not in a state to stand up and walk back to hall.

I was in bed until sunday 3:30 .... drank some more water inbetween.
By sunday evening I gathered courage and water in my body to move around and cook and eat ....


Thats what happens when u r out in sun ( in hyderabad) for four hours ...


Hyderabad summer is an unforgettable memory!!!!

Behind the Dance “Brazil”

Mr. Rahul KV and the glamorous Rajesh (both r my seniors in SUN College) came to our class for collecting names for the cultural activities for this years college day. I was excited about doing a group dance. I had already pulled in Ribin and Leno into this. Both guys are stiff like me and can’t even jump up and down properly. They were filled with energy for a good show on stage or I’ll put it this way, they were the only folks ready to dance with me. So all where set up and we decided on the upbeat song ‘Brazil’ from Venga boys. My cousin (Ranjit) had already danced for this song and it was well received. So I thought I can learn steps from him and teach all these guys. We planed to have a practice on Sunday after our math class.

Usually I go by Auto rickshaw to tution class, but that day I took my cousin’s (Arun) Passion. He was not at home and I found out that he will be way for another week. After the boring class about equations, I and Ribin started to my home. I had to go to my music teacher and tell him some lie so that I can make time for our practice. I had that in mind and was little over the usual speed. Ribin was struggling at times to catch up with me on his scooter.

Then I took the disastrous curve in front of the SP fort hospital in Trivandrum. I saw one auto rickshaw ready to take the straight road in the ‘T’ junction. I was about to pass him and auto took a sharp right turn to bump into me. All I heard was loud thud and I was on four legs in the canal on the corner of the road. Auto rickshaw was sidewise one man standing inside the vehicle. I saw one wheel (must be the spare one) rolling down the road and Ribin stopping next to me. I started to scold him for his signal less relentless turn.
The crowd gathered around, my bike (my cousin’s bike) was not n good shape. The crash guard saved my right leg; also the first impact was on my shoulder and the rest on the vehicle. So the vehicle took most of the damage from the thud. My legs where trembling and Ribin took care of the situation, noting down the auto rickshaw number. I learned that the driver was drunk and he didn’t see me.

One man in crowd asked whether I need to go to a hospital. I was totally out of my mind thinking what I’m goanna say to my pop. I took my bike and started it, its in working condition, Checked my legs and no problem with those. My right hand had a pain which hit the ground while I fell into the dry canal and some bruises all over, but altogether it was ok. I said “no” for hospital. Then the auto guy was about to leave and I started asking for compensation and all. The folks around me asked how much I need and the worst answer ever made by me came out saying 50 bugs.

I still don’t understand why I told 50 RS. The guy was happy to give it at once. One guy confronted Ribin, who was keen in taking down the number. They had a fist fight becoz I already settled everything and that Ribin was still noting down the number. Every one left except a few asking question like, ‘y did I left him’ when everything was in favor for me. Many had a say that I should have made it a police case. All I could manage to think was to get all this done with out the knowledge of my dad.

Ribin was with me until the next junction and then he left to his home. He repeatedly asked me whether he should accompany me. I was thinking that if ribin Accompanies to my home and I face my dad with usual escaping lies, Ribin can be a weak point where my dad will nail me out. So I convinced him about leaving me all alone after having an accident. When I reached home, my mom and sis was waiting for me at the door. One more fellow dance member was there at home waiting in my room for Dance Practice. Seeing my face mom figured out something went wrong. I showed the bruises on my hand and the ill shaped petrol tank and crash guard of my cousin’s bike.

My younger cousin (Ranjit) was also there who was supposed to teach me steps for “Brazil” He took me to the hospital (SP hospital) straight opposite to the accident spot and the bill came around 750. I had a thin hairline crack on my right hand, got a TT injection and a lot of tablets for the bruises. As I’m an expert in hiding wounds and bruises from my father since child hood, it didn’t give much of a problem.
Leno who was waiting for the dance step came along me to the hospital and went home.
I made out some lie to stay in my room for next two day listening to the song
Braziiiiil ….

I had to be one among the audience that year as my accident prevented me from entering the stage. But next year we went up with the same team and danced for the same song 
I made sure that I drive bike very safely or always travel by “Natraj transport”. Song Brazil gives me nostalgic moments about the college days and a much feared memory about a freaky accident.

My Pet Precious

adopt your own virtual pet!

Poly Times

On the way to Kottayam with my dad, I saw the Nattakom polytechnic for the first time. It was a great campus with road climbing up the hill towards the principal’s room. The building was painted with usual yellow and brick color as all the government buildings. I was too scared in the first day. A pool of strangers all elder to me. I never made out who is senior and who my classmate is? From the first day onwards going for lunch and the morning and evening walk thru the corridor to the bus stop was a horror. Any time u might end up in front of the bunch of seniors.
I was caught up by the seniors on the third day. They made me sing national anthem in front of my class under an open umbrella. But the scene was very funny and they didn’t scare me. I was staying with my father for the first six months and then alone in the same quarter room as he got transferred back home.
Then loneliness had an effect on me. For the first time in life I had to walk through a cemetery in night to reach my quarter. I stayed in the third floor of the civil station directly under the water tank. Some times u can see water drops dripping from the ceiling at night. The scariest part was a peculiar sound which was repeated every night around 2 O’clock. Many days it left me parying at midnight hearing the noice.One day I had the courage to get out of my room in the deserted civil station and look for the source of sound. It left me laughing hard to find out an overflow tap and its lid causing the noise. The tank overflowed in the same fashion at the same time everyday making the noise :)
There was a time in my life when I was afraid of drunken people and now I'm living as one among them. I didn't feel much difference other than these guys when boozed talks a lot and they hardly think when they got the 'Kick'. Every weekend I travelled back home and the four hour train journey from kottayam to Trivandrum was another experience. I had friends from different railway stations as we see each other every week. I was taken aback from one incident in Trivandrum railways station when I was waiting for my Train 'Venad' on one cold monday early morning around 4:30. One guy approached me and he requested me some thing unnatural. I realised that the folks called' Homosexual" existed in Kerala also. I was horrified and I ran from that place without thinking again or looking back.

I shifted to the famous ‘Geethayalam’ after first year at polytechnic ( Poly)."Geethalayam" is my house name. There I had my distance cousin and six other room mates. The days at “geethalayam” are really memorable. From there onwards I started to see a new world. The class ended up more boring as they were deep inside chemistry searching for new names for carbon structures. One of the funniest moments was when my class mate suggested the name ‘SABU’ when our teacher was struggling to find the name of a big stereo specific olygomer.
From geethalayam, my first visit to bar, to adult movie, to toddy shop, to the famous Karibinakala( A famous toddy shop were the food is so tasty even family used to visit this place, on the MC road bank between Kottayam and Changnashery) shaap all happened. I have never tasted hot drinks but I tried “madhura kallu” from one of the toddy shop. It was really good. But things were going worst. I had my first supplementary ( Back paper)when my first year results came. It was mathematics. My tution teacher who taught me until 10th would never believe as her best student some how managed to get 32 out of hundred in mathematics.
I have hardly seen movies at theatre when I was at home in Trivandrum. There will be one or two in a year when my mom or dad finds some movie very interesting. But once I got into geethalayam, it was all a different world. Ended up in at least two movies every week. There the language and the cast didn’t matter. Also I started to learn cooking. Managed to end up on curry which was supposed to be a solid dish :). Thanks for the guidance from my roommates.
It was a horrible experience when one of my roomie vomited after having a mix of vine+ Hard drinks+ toddy. But my room mates were all cool saying “it’s a part of the game’.
But the trips from the toddy shop to home after the usual meals were not funny for me. All the other guys are boozed up and I’m the only one left out. So these guys never feel ashamed to do anything they wish and I end up in getting bashed up. Some of the things happened r way beyond writing it here.
There were peculiar characters and names in our college as it would be in everyone’s college. One was Augestus alias Jiju. He is 5’9”, strong built and a pair of sharp eyes. He was of 23 but he looked atleast 26. He always smokes and the big drinker( Pambu according our dictionary) in our room. He can drink six bottle of toddy and still go with a steady head and drive his bike home. Then next one was Shankaran who will skip his dinner through out a week to see the Friday release film .
There were some other fellows from which I learned money doesn’t come that easily to everyone. There were people who have to go for rubber taping to get his bus fare everyday. They were always very serious with their studies but the whole geethalayam gang never took anything serious.
We were always late to the classes, always bunked Friday afternoon lab hours. Some how or the other manged to bribe the attendance clerk to keep minimum attendance . Our house owner had a good looking grant daughter who was centre of attraction at Geethalayam.
Every alternate day ended in booz parties, learning and assingments happened only on year ends.It was heaven. We were never tensed about where we are headed or what will happen to our career. But in exams some how all managed to get a pass mark. In practicals it will be the backbenchers who always scored. There were only six girls in the class of total strengh of 44. So a friendship with them seemed too far away. Second year went with out much events. Third year started of with our ragging episode where we manged to rag even the passout guys :(

Our weekends where filled with trips to different toddy shops, beaches, wild life sanctories and all. The aim was only one things, to get boozed and enjoy. We tried things like gymkhana which ended after two weeks, dance preparation which lasted for two weeks before arts day. Our roommate 'Kalyan Kumar' was humiliated in the arts day as our vice principal pulled the curtain the momentum Kalyan started singing. I never had the courage to be on stage. My Kttappan ( original name cannot be disclosed) manged to begin and countinue 6 lovers from different year across the branches. He is talented guy to have six lovers and to tackle everyone in the same campus without any intervention with each other. The best part waht he maintained the same tempo until the final day in three years.
There was lines building up as our superjunior batch had a lot of good looking gals. But luck never struck me or I was rather not on the look out. Our class mate Sunitha got engaged and the reason for booz uprty that day was heart break of my friend and room mate Pamman ( original name cannot be dislosed).
In the third year we had our arts day and our class rep was suspened on that day for getting into "uncultural activites" on stage. He was half drunk and he showed too much on the stage. The same guy was again suspened as he wrote a story for our story writing competetion where our organic xhemistry miss was the heroine and Augestus the hero.

After the third year results I havn't met anyone other than my cosuin. Those were the golden days where no limits for fun ....

My First Flight!!!

I was on a south Indian trip last weekend...I was covering Hyderabad to Bngalore, then to Kottayam. From there to my home a t trivandrum. From there to Hyderabad via Chennai. ( In two days)
All this was to attend my Roomie's marriage and visit home after a four month break. My friend(room mate alias Thadi) bo0ked tickets from Trivandrum to chennai and I booked it from chennai to hyd.Thadi told me that the flight is @ 3:30I reached airport by 2:30,then gave my e ticket to get the boarding pass.
The counter gal said I have a problem, as the flight left at 03 30 :) It was 24hr clock,it left in the morning so I was stranded in TVM with no flight to reach chennai for my connection flight at 7. Then I saw my frind Ibnu, The guy in HP, bnglre, my kalikoottukaran. His father is the Customer relation officier in TVM airodrome.Got help from his father, raised an emergency ticket to chennai, got hold of one economy class at rate of 6.5k ....Was seated next to film star Devan (villan in malayalam).
The air hostess was good looking, but I was not in a mood to enjoy her company. One thing she wall tall, I mean almost 5'9" or 5' 10"( Kollamayirunnu ..;), came to me and said ,
"This kind of stuff happens ( Ticket no show) and don't feel bad ..cheer up".
she can say all that, I lost 2.5 k on the first ticket and spend another 6.5 k on the emergency ticket. How can i cheer up :) ?
Then the next episode in chennai...My cousin had gifted me a key chain 'A sword like thing with a bell at the end'. It was made of metal and had a very sweet sound from the bell.It was in my baggage and went for baggage check in. The equipment started with a loud beep in Chennai and the crowd gathered around questions were fired around..
"whose Bag is this?????"
"Why do u carry a sword in ur bag and all :)"

I took out the "weapon" and explained it to him...whts it!I took out all the keys and gave her my Key chain... She looked aorund and called a senior officer and he came to me asking my details.
After seeing my Infy id, he said, "keep ur keychains inside the bag and don't take it out on the fligh and carry on ".
Then he showed me one big board placed next to the security counter which read
" Take out coins, razor, belts and keychain befoe giving ur baggage for security check" :D
I had a big embarrasing smile on my face and the officier told me to clear the place :)

"Njan vishalamayi oru chammi ya chiri chirichu, angoru pokolan paranju :D"

So the first flight was eventfl and I have learnt a costly lesson that the Flight timings are alwys in 24 hrs clock and one has to take keychains out of the baggage before giving it for security checks :D. One costly lesson.