How not to get sleep?????????????
It is pretty easy. May be I can give you a lot of ideas with all the sleeping problems I have. I found one of the best last night.
Try talking to some one dearest to you, after a long hiatus. I spoke to a friend(once upon a time probably the closest) after almost 2 years. Even though I spoke just for just 30 mins on phone, I wasn't able to sleep the whole night. I really don't know the reason. I was just thinking about the great time we spent together and I was just lost in those thoughts.
Those were the best days of my life.
Showing posts with label Random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
My day at the bank
I am not sure about the other Indians in US, but most of the students here do not carry much cash in the wallets. There are very few places where you would need cash like laundry, cab drivers, road side shops(very few though). I cannot think of any other place where they wont accept credit or debit cards. I was planning to shift my house over the weekend so I had to rent a cab for shifting my stuffs. So I wanted some cash for paying the cab driver.
On Friday afternoon at around 3 pm I went to an ATM and picked up a $20 bill. Normally cab drivers do give the exact change back but there have been instances where they run out of change(at least that's what they tell us). So I wanted to make sure that I get change from the bank for the $20 bill.
Banks here in the US is not as crowded as we used to see in India so I entered one of the nearest banks and it was almost deserted. It was a bank pretty close to the university and I normally frequent that bank. There was a girl at the teller counter who was damn beautiful and I always wanted to talk to her for quite a long time. As no one was there at her counter I went and stood there in the line waiting for her to call me.
When she called me in after 10 secs my heart was pounding and I really don't know that reason. I have never felt like that before. :-)
She welcomed me and asked how she can help me out.
I was in such a state that I blurted out, "I need some change for 20 ducks". I mixed 20 bucks and 20 dollars and blurted it as 20 ducks.
She was laughing like hell and told me that we do not give changes here for ducks. Then I came back to reality and showed her my $20 bill and told that I wanted change for this. She gave me the change and asked me whether I was a student here in the university.
Then she was talking to me about general stuffs like my school, which I am from, etc. etc. The conversation lasted for almost 10 mins as she had too many questions about India. I was happily answering all the questions and she was very happy that I was talking to her. She even inquired me if the foreigners are exploited so badly as it is shown in the movie Slumdog Millionaire.
At last I don't feel bad for the mistake I made initially, though I feel embarrassed now. May be you will also agree to that.
It was my day at the bank
On Friday afternoon at around 3 pm I went to an ATM and picked up a $20 bill. Normally cab drivers do give the exact change back but there have been instances where they run out of change(at least that's what they tell us). So I wanted to make sure that I get change from the bank for the $20 bill.
Banks here in the US is not as crowded as we used to see in India so I entered one of the nearest banks and it was almost deserted. It was a bank pretty close to the university and I normally frequent that bank. There was a girl at the teller counter who was damn beautiful and I always wanted to talk to her for quite a long time. As no one was there at her counter I went and stood there in the line waiting for her to call me.
When she called me in after 10 secs my heart was pounding and I really don't know that reason. I have never felt like that before. :-)
She welcomed me and asked how she can help me out.
I was in such a state that I blurted out, "I need some change for 20 ducks". I mixed 20 bucks and 20 dollars and blurted it as 20 ducks.
She was laughing like hell and told me that we do not give changes here for ducks. Then I came back to reality and showed her my $20 bill and told that I wanted change for this. She gave me the change and asked me whether I was a student here in the university.
Then she was talking to me about general stuffs like my school, which I am from, etc. etc. The conversation lasted for almost 10 mins as she had too many questions about India. I was happily answering all the questions and she was very happy that I was talking to her. She even inquired me if the foreigners are exploited so badly as it is shown in the movie Slumdog Millionaire.
At last I don't feel bad for the mistake I made initially, though I feel embarrassed now. May be you will also agree to that.
It was my day at the bank
This one is for my Mom
I was talking to my parents yesterday on my phone. The usual Saturday evening talk, which happens to be the only time we talk for the week. I was telling my father that I am vacating from the current place and I will be moving to a new one. This is how the conversation went.
FYI: My parents always put their mobile on speaker phone when they talk to me.
Me: Appa, I am shifting my house to a better place this weekend.
Appa: How come it is a better place?
Me: It is a bigger house and the rent is also pretty less
Appa: How can that happen? Are you moving away from the University?
Me: Hmmmm, yes I am moving away. But not very much. Just an extra 5 mins walk.
Appa: Why do you need to do that? Are you moving with the same set of people with whom you are staying now?
Me: No, I am going to stay with a new person. All the other people are going to stay in the same apartment
Appa: Oh, Ok.
I was able to hear my Amma tell something in the background (probably she was little far away from the phone)
Amma: Ask him whether he is going to stay with a guy or a girl????????????
Appa: Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha
Me: @#!$%^%#@%&**%^$##%#$#^&*&^
I didnt expect this from my Mom though. May be she got suspicious with my replies. It took me 5 mins to clarify that I am going to stay only with a guy.
FYI: My parents always put their mobile on speaker phone when they talk to me.
Me: Appa, I am shifting my house to a better place this weekend.
Appa: How come it is a better place?
Me: It is a bigger house and the rent is also pretty less
Appa: How can that happen? Are you moving away from the University?
Me: Hmmmm, yes I am moving away. But not very much. Just an extra 5 mins walk.
Appa: Why do you need to do that? Are you moving with the same set of people with whom you are staying now?
Me: No, I am going to stay with a new person. All the other people are going to stay in the same apartment
Appa: Oh, Ok.
I was able to hear my Amma tell something in the background (probably she was little far away from the phone)
Amma: Ask him whether he is going to stay with a guy or a girl????????????
Appa: Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha
Me: @#!$%^%#@%&**%^$##%#$#^&*&^
I didnt expect this from my Mom though. May be she got suspicious with my replies. It took me 5 mins to clarify that I am going to stay only with a guy.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The many firsts of India's 60th R-Day
India's 60th Republic Day was the nation's first such celebration without a Prime Minister. Defence Minister A K Antony took over the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's duties on Monday.
There were 11 Ashok Chakra awardees. The number was the highest ever.
Among them were Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar and Tukaram Omble -- the policemen who lost their lives on the first night of the Mumbai attacks exactly two months ago.
A woman President taking salute as the commander in chief of the armed forces.
A woman officer leading the Air Force contingent -- a sign of resurgent India marching on.
There were 11 Ashok Chakra awardees. The number was the highest ever.
Among them were Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar and Tukaram Omble -- the policemen who lost their lives on the first night of the Mumbai attacks exactly two months ago.
A woman President taking salute as the commander in chief of the armed forces.
A woman officer leading the Air Force contingent -- a sign of resurgent India marching on.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Love - A Beautiful feeling
I got this forwardd mail from one of my friend.
Dearest Appa, 27th Jan'1965
Hope this letter finds you, Amma, Raji and Seenu in good health. The weather here in New York City is icy cold. But Avar sollraar- I have missed this winter's biting cold. I still wish I had seen the snow… But then, I still wish I had not left Trichy at all. I do miss Trichy, Appa. You, Amma, Raji, Seenu, pakkatthaathu Rama, Vikatan, Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koil, filter coffee, Holy Cross College, the Physics Department and of course Sakthi. I know you wish I hadn't brought his name in this letter.But not to worry Appa, I understand that you got me married to Visu because you thought it was best for your daughter. I still remember Amma wiping her silent tears with her madisaar thalappu and you shouting at me the day I told you about Sakthi. Later, when the initial shock wore off you patiently listed umpteen reasons why I should not marry Sakthi. I agree Appa, that 20 is too young to decide, that Raji and Seenu would have been affected greatly by my 'mistake', the Agrahaaram would have scoffed at you… a meat eater was not a good match for someone who had never even tasted onion and garlic. The reasons were innumerous. I knew you'd still have objected and offered other reasons even if he had become a Dhigambara monk. Visu on the other hand, wore a poonal, he is the son of Neelakanta Sastri, an Engineer and he researched about computers which is what made you jump for this alliance. Am not complaining Appa, Visu is a nice man.
Tell Amma that I could not try her kozhakkattai recipe this Pongal because coconuts were too expensive and Avar nenacchar that it was ridiculous. Anyway, we went out on Sankaranthi day and dined out. He thought it would be a good idea to invite the Chatterjees also. But I didn't speak Bengali and Mrs.Chatterjee spoke English in an accent that comes with living years in America. Hence I made myself busy with the menu card. They ordered various species of fish,shrimp and a lot more of items I had never seen in my life. I ordered orange juice and a sandwich. The other diners thought it was queer coming to a seafood restaurant and settling for a sandwich. That day, I learnt that Avar prefer pannradhu beef, pork, bacon and seafood. Do you know, Appa… Sakthi gave up meat because of me? I didn't ask, he just did. But then, Sakthi is not Neelakanta Sastri's son and that made it imposible for Subramania Iyer's daughter Kalyani to marry him.
I will keep you posted on what happens here. I don't think I can make it to Seenu's Upanayanam. Tell Amma not to get me a pattu podavai for the poonal, I don't use them here. I wore it once and felt like a clown here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
===================================================================
Dearest Appa, 20th Oct'1968
We are fine here. Gautam is speaking his first words and I swear they sounded like 'Dosai'. But Visu claims it's just gibberish. From your previous letter, I gather that pakkathatthu Rama is married and settled in Jamshedpur. Nice to know that. Please find out her address from Saarada maami and write it to me. I want to keep in touch with her. I hope Raji is happy with her husband in Madras. I spoke to her last month, great to know that she has a phone. Do tell Seenu to study well and prepare for his school final exams. Raji also told me that Sakthi is married now. I wish him good luck, but I could not convey the message to him. Raji refused to be the messenger and I know you have severed ties with Sakthi's father, your long term friend Sankaravel, thanks to me. I hear his wife is his cousin… He must have succumbed to his mother's wishes.
How did Avani Avittam go? Visu's mother gave me a bunch of new poonals for Avani Avittam but Visu was in Boston that day. He wouldn't have used it anyway, I haven't seen him wear one in the last three years. Gautam is now playing with the spool of thread- mere thread it is, what else can I call it? Gautam will not even know what it signifies, I guess. Visu is making sure Gautam grows up listening to English only. He says it will make his life easier. But I do read out passages from Ponniyin Selvan and Bharathiyaar's poetry when I am alone with him. It's more of reading to myself, I guess. I actually got that poetry book as a present from Sakthi, it still has his scrawling signature in the first page.
By the way, Visu saw that book and asked me about Sakthi, I told him. Hold your breath Appa, he didn't throw me out of the house. He is a good man, no question. He said it is okay and that he doesn't mind. And then he told me of his American girlfriend whom he was once in love with, when he first reached America- Amy, a fellow Researcher who was in a brief relationship with Visu when she was in New York. They lived together for 3 months and decided against marriage, somehow. Amy once dropped home when she was in New York. Nice lady, she was.
Ask Amma to send me Sambar Podi for this whole year. My friend Sudha is coming to Madras next week. Ask Seenu to catch the Rockfort Express and give it to her. I will collect it from her here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
===================================================================
Dearest Appa, 3rd June'1974
We have arrived here safely. After two months in India, I find it hard to adjust back to normal life here. Gautam and Ranjana demand vadai,paayasam and vaazhai ilai here. Visu's relieved to be back in America. I left a set of my books there. If it's not in Trichy it must be in Visu's parents' place. If you find them, safeguard them until my next trip. They mean a lot to me since they were gifts from Sakthi. By the way, Appa, I found out Sakthi's present address in Madras from Rama and Saarada maami. I wrote to him. I am extremely proud to know that Dr.Sakthivel is a cardiologist much in demand there in Madras. He was thrilled to hear from me after so long. You know what he has named his daughters? Kalyani and Raagamaalika.
He called me. You know what, he's still a practising vegetarian, Appa. He didn't revert back just because he lost me… He asked me if I still sang and whether Gautam and Ranjana could sing. I could see a proud father in him, when he claimed his daughters could sing upto Ra ra Venu Gopala. That's when I remembered that I was once a good singer. I wonder why I stopped singing, wonder why I never exposed the kids to Music and Dance. But then, I realize that I had buried all that deep inside me when I left Trichy; after bidding farewell to my best Rasika, actually. Sakthi. After the call, I tried singing 'Kurai Onrum Illai'. I could not rquite reach Charanam, because of the lack of practice and more importantly because of the tears that filmed my eyes and the constriction in my throat. I sang to Visu and the kids one of these days. Though Gautam was impressed, father and daughter could not just wait for me to finish!
By the way, next time some friend comes to India, send me a Sruthi Box. I would like to start singing again.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
===================================================================
Dearest Appa, 14th Aug 1978
Just back after our tour to California. Find our photos, picture postcards attached herewith. After you are done with showing all family members,relatives, friends and neighbours, pass them to Visu's parents. It was a welcome break for the four of us. But I missed my paattu class students all along and was happy to resume the classes again last evening. Did I mention in my previous letter, before we left on the tour - I finally got my driving license here. I sent a few photos to Sakthi too. He has sent me quite a few records and cassettes. I loved it! I'm reminded of AIR, almost! I'm circulating them among my friends too. And of course, playing them for my students too. They are picking up beautifully. Funny news is, I, a Tamilian, is teaching Telugu and Sanskrit kritis to a cross section of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada,Telugu, Marathi, Bengali students in an English speaking nation.
The music sessions have resulted in a reborn Kalyani, Appa. Thanks to Sakthi, really. I would have never taken it up had it not been for his reminder. I am now thinking of what life would have been like if I had indeed married him. I would have of course lost you and Amma. But right now, with this life in America, Visu and these monthly letters to you, Rama, Raji and Seenu what have i gained? I don't find an answer, Appa. Neither do I think I ever will. Again, as I have always reiterated, Visu is a good man, no complaints there. He is every bit the son in law you wanted. Researcher, American Post Graduate Degree holder, a dutiful husband and father,earning a comfortable income. I know it is too much to ask for anything else. That is a fantasy I left midway in my life… Once upon a time in Trichy with someone else.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
===================================================================
Dearest Appa, 14th Apr'1984
Met Dr.Sakthivel after 19 years… He had come to New York for business purposes and paid me a visit. Visu and the kids welcomed him home with great pleasure. And they liked him too. In fact, they did most of the talking initially. And of course, he got me a whole load of books, cassettes, Mysore Paak and lots more.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
===================================================================
Dearest Appa, 20th Jan' 1990
I just went through all these letters lying in my closet draw for years together. These are letters I started writing to you and then decided not to post. For obvious reasons. I could not mention Sakthi to you even though I was itching to. Not because I was afraid to invite your wrath. I just did not have the heart to hurt you, I know these letters would have hurt you. Because deep inside, I know you were disturbed- you knew Sakthi was a good man, you knew he was a man of substance, yet you didn't want to go further. Society, I know. Family… I know… And all these letters would have only wounded you more. Today, 2 years after your death, and 6 months after Dr. Sakthivel's untimely death in a road accident, I somehow felt like re-reading all these letters. To me, all these unstamped, unposted letters mean a life that could have been.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Friday, October 17, 2008
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness"
Random thought!!!
I was thinking whether the corporation or the municipality or any other governing body is responsible for keeping a city clean or is it the duty of the people who live in it.
Couple of weeks ago, on the way to my part time workplace, I saw a cute and lovely pigeon lying dead on the road (Warren Ave. to be exact). It was not a new sight for me as I have seen so many crows, rats, worst case dogs lying dead on Indian roads. Of course, I felt very sorry for the pigeon.
Back in India, I would say the corporation workers would clean the place and throw the poor dead fellow into the trash bin or at times burn it say within 2 or 3 days.
But, it was little surprising for me to note that the local Tucson governing body didn't even try to clean the place for almost 10 days and the dead pigeon was left in the same place uncared. The irony is that the Warren Ave. is just in front of the University Medical center. I did tell the authorities there about the poor fellow, but even they did not care for it. The neglected the fast that some diseases could have spread from the dead and rotten pigeon. At last my plea was answered yesterday and the place was clean again.
We have always seen on TV, movies and read in many news articles about the clean environment in the US. Is it the US government authorities who keep their city clean or the people who live in them?
I strongly feel that it is the people here who are majorly responsible for the cleanliness of the place they reside in. So Indians, stop complaining about the negligence of the corporation or the municipality for keeping your surroundings clean. It is we, people who are responsible for keeping the place clean and saving the environment.
It all starts with our house. If we all pledge to keep our home and it's surroundings clean, the locality will be clean and eventually our city will be clean. Let us make a clean and green India.
We should always remember that our corporation is definitely trying it's best to help us live in a hygienic place.
As we all know"Cleanliness is next to Godliness".
I was thinking whether the corporation or the municipality or any other governing body is responsible for keeping a city clean or is it the duty of the people who live in it.
Couple of weeks ago, on the way to my part time workplace, I saw a cute and lovely pigeon lying dead on the road (Warren Ave. to be exact). It was not a new sight for me as I have seen so many crows, rats, worst case dogs lying dead on Indian roads. Of course, I felt very sorry for the pigeon.
Back in India, I would say the corporation workers would clean the place and throw the poor dead fellow into the trash bin or at times burn it say within 2 or 3 days.
But, it was little surprising for me to note that the local Tucson governing body didn't even try to clean the place for almost 10 days and the dead pigeon was left in the same place uncared. The irony is that the Warren Ave. is just in front of the University Medical center. I did tell the authorities there about the poor fellow, but even they did not care for it. The neglected the fast that some diseases could have spread from the dead and rotten pigeon. At last my plea was answered yesterday and the place was clean again.
We have always seen on TV, movies and read in many news articles about the clean environment in the US. Is it the US government authorities who keep their city clean or the people who live in them?
I strongly feel that it is the people here who are majorly responsible for the cleanliness of the place they reside in. So Indians, stop complaining about the negligence of the corporation or the municipality for keeping your surroundings clean. It is we, people who are responsible for keeping the place clean and saving the environment.
It all starts with our house. If we all pledge to keep our home and it's surroundings clean, the locality will be clean and eventually our city will be clean. Let us make a clean and green India.
We should always remember that our corporation is definitely trying it's best to help us live in a hygienic place.
As we all know"Cleanliness is next to Godliness".
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
First blog from US of A
First blog from US of A.. actually U of A.. [:)]
This is to announce to the world that I have no plans to come online in any of the chat windows until I improve my status... Thanks to my Godfather...He came to my rescue when I was struggling to manage time.. Only after talking to him I realized that I am wasting a lot of time in chat and also in social networking sites like orkut, facebook, etc.
So, if anyone wants to contact me the only electronic way is to mail me...
P.S: I didn't go online for the past 5 days...
This is to announce to the world that I have no plans to come online in any of the chat windows until I improve my status... Thanks to my Godfather...He came to my rescue when I was struggling to manage time.. Only after talking to him I realized that I am wasting a lot of time in chat and also in social networking sites like orkut, facebook, etc.
So, if anyone wants to contact me the only electronic way is to mail me...
P.S: I didn't go online for the past 5 days...
Friday, March 14, 2008
இப்படி இருந்தால் நிச்சயம் நீங்கள் தமிழன்தான்..!
1. எந்தப் பொருள் வாங்கினாலும், ரொம்ப நாளைக்கு அதைச் சுத்தி இருக்கற ஜவ்வு பேப்பரைக் கிழிக்கவே மாட்டீங்க..!
2. உங்க சமையலில் உப்பு, புளி, மிளகாய் சேராமல் எந்த உணவும் இருக்காது..!
3. உங்களுக்கு வந்த அன்பளிப்புப் பொருட்களில், பால் குக்கரும், அஜந்தா சுவர்க் கடிகாரமும் நிச்சயம் இடம் பிடிச்சிருக்கும்..! ரொம்பப் பேரு தங்களுக்கு வந்ததை அடுத்தவங்க தலையில் [அன்பளிப்பாதான்] கட்டிவிட திட்டம் போட்டுகிட்டு இருப்பாங்க..!
4. வெளிநாட்டுக்குப் போயிட்டு வந்தீங்கன்னா, ஒரு மெகா சைஸ் சூட்கேஸோடதான் ஊருக்குத் திரும்புவீங்க..!
5. எந்த நிகழ்ச்சிக்குப் போனாலும் 1 மணி நேரம் தாமதமாப் போவீங்க. அதுதான் சரியா இருக்கும்ன்னு மனசார நம்புவீங்க..!
6. மளிகைப் பொருட்களின் பாலிதீன் உறைகளை பத்திரமா எடுத்து வைப்பீங்க. பின்னாடி உதவும்ங்கற தொலைநோக்குப் பார்வையோடு..!
7. உங்களுக்கு வரும் கடிதங்களில் எல்லா ஸ்டாம்பிலும் சீல் விழுந்திருக்கான்னு பார்ப்பீங்க. தப்பித்தவறி சீல் விழாம இருந்தா, அந்த ஸ்டாம்பை கவனமா பிரிச்சு எடுத்து எங்கேயாவது வச்சுட்டு, அப்புறம் சுத்தமா மறந்துடுவீங்க.
8. சினிமா தியேட்டரோ, விரைவுப் பேருந்தோ.. இருக்கையின் இருபக்க கை வைக்கும் இடத்துக்கும் சொந்தம் கொண்டாடுவீங்க..!
9. ரெட்டைப் பிள்ளைகள் இருந்தா, ஒரே மாதிரி ட்ரெஸ் தச்சுக் கொடுப்பீங்க. ரைமிங்கா பேர் வைப்பீங்க.. [ரமேஷ், மகேஷ். அமிர்தா,சுகிர்தா..]
10. ஏ.சி. திரையரங்குன்னா முட்டை போண்டா எடுத்துட்டுப் போய் நாறடிப்பீங்க.. ஏ.சி. கோச்சுன்னா, கருவாட்டுக் குழம்பை கீழே ஊற்றி கப்படிக்க வைப்பீங்க.!
11. விமானமோ, ரயிலோ, பஸ்ஸோ... ஒரு கும்பல் வந்து ஏத்திவிடணும்ன்னு எதிர்பார்ப்பீங்க..!
12. புதுசா கார் வாங்கினா, அதுக்கு மணப்பெண் அலங்காரம் பண்ணிதான் எடுத்துட்டு வருவீங்க..! கொஞ்ச நாளைக்கு சீட் பேப்பரைக் கிழிக்கவே மாட்டீங்க.. நம்பர் எழுதறீங்களோ இல்லையோ.. கொலைகார முனி துணைன்னு ஸ்டிக்கர் ஒட்ட மறக்கவே மாட்டீங்க..!
13. செல் போனோ, டி.வி.ரிமோட்டோ.. லாமினேஷன் செஞ்சாதான் உங்களுக்கு நிம்மதி..!
14. அடுத்த பிள்ளைகளைப் பாரு.. எவ்வளவு சாமர்த்தியமா இருக்காங்கன்னு.. என்று உங்க பெற்றோர் சொல்லாம இருக்கவே மாட்டாங்க.. அடுத்த பெற்றோரைப் பாருங்க.. எவ்வளவு ஜாலியா செலவழிக்கறாங்கன்னு நீங்க நெனைப்பீங்க.. ஆனா சொல்ல மாட்டீங்க..!
15. உங்க வீட்டு ஃபிரிட்ஜ்ல, சின்னச் சின்னக் கிண்ணங்களில், 3 மாசமா தயாரிச்ச குழம்பு, கறி வகையறா இருக்கும்..!
16. உங்க சமையலறை அலமாரியில் காப்பித்தூளுக்கு இலவசமா வந்த பெட் ஜாடி குறைஞ்சது ரெண்டு மூணு இருக்கும்..!
17. அதிகமா உபயோகிக்கப்படாத பொருள் உங்ககிட்ட அவசியம் நாலைஞ்சு இருக்கும். [உ-ம். பிரஷர் குக்கர், காப்பி மேக்கர், வாக்குவம் கிளீனர், பிரெட் டோஸ்ட்டர், மைக்ரோ வேவ் அவன், கேஸ் அடுப்புல க்ரில் இப்படி..]
18. பொங்கல், தீபாவளின்னா வீட்டுல சந்தோஷமா விழுந்து கெடக்க மாட்டீங்க.. தண்ணியைப் போட்டுட்டு, தகராறுபண்ணி, போலீஸ்-ஸ்டேஷன்ல குத்தவச்சுருப்பீங்க..!
19. கல்யாணத்துக்கு ஊர் பூரா பத்திரிகை வச்சு கலெக்ஷன் பார்ப்பீங்க..
2. உங்க சமையலில் உப்பு, புளி, மிளகாய் சேராமல் எந்த உணவும் இருக்காது..!
3. உங்களுக்கு வந்த அன்பளிப்புப் பொருட்களில், பால் குக்கரும், அஜந்தா சுவர்க் கடிகாரமும் நிச்சயம் இடம் பிடிச்சிருக்கும்..! ரொம்பப் பேரு தங்களுக்கு வந்ததை அடுத்தவங்க தலையில் [அன்பளிப்பாதான்] கட்டிவிட திட்டம் போட்டுகிட்டு இருப்பாங்க..!
4. வெளிநாட்டுக்குப் போயிட்டு வந்தீங்கன்னா, ஒரு மெகா சைஸ் சூட்கேஸோடதான் ஊருக்குத் திரும்புவீங்க..!
5. எந்த நிகழ்ச்சிக்குப் போனாலும் 1 மணி நேரம் தாமதமாப் போவீங்க. அதுதான் சரியா இருக்கும்ன்னு மனசார நம்புவீங்க..!
6. மளிகைப் பொருட்களின் பாலிதீன் உறைகளை பத்திரமா எடுத்து வைப்பீங்க. பின்னாடி உதவும்ங்கற தொலைநோக்குப் பார்வையோடு..!
7. உங்களுக்கு வரும் கடிதங்களில் எல்லா ஸ்டாம்பிலும் சீல் விழுந்திருக்கான்னு பார்ப்பீங்க. தப்பித்தவறி சீல் விழாம இருந்தா, அந்த ஸ்டாம்பை கவனமா பிரிச்சு எடுத்து எங்கேயாவது வச்சுட்டு, அப்புறம் சுத்தமா மறந்துடுவீங்க.
8. சினிமா தியேட்டரோ, விரைவுப் பேருந்தோ.. இருக்கையின் இருபக்க கை வைக்கும் இடத்துக்கும் சொந்தம் கொண்டாடுவீங்க..!
9. ரெட்டைப் பிள்ளைகள் இருந்தா, ஒரே மாதிரி ட்ரெஸ் தச்சுக் கொடுப்பீங்க. ரைமிங்கா பேர் வைப்பீங்க.. [ரமேஷ், மகேஷ். அமிர்தா,சுகிர்தா..]
10. ஏ.சி. திரையரங்குன்னா முட்டை போண்டா எடுத்துட்டுப் போய் நாறடிப்பீங்க.. ஏ.சி. கோச்சுன்னா, கருவாட்டுக் குழம்பை கீழே ஊற்றி கப்படிக்க வைப்பீங்க.!
11. விமானமோ, ரயிலோ, பஸ்ஸோ... ஒரு கும்பல் வந்து ஏத்திவிடணும்ன்னு எதிர்பார்ப்பீங்க..!
12. புதுசா கார் வாங்கினா, அதுக்கு மணப்பெண் அலங்காரம் பண்ணிதான் எடுத்துட்டு வருவீங்க..! கொஞ்ச நாளைக்கு சீட் பேப்பரைக் கிழிக்கவே மாட்டீங்க.. நம்பர் எழுதறீங்களோ இல்லையோ.. கொலைகார முனி துணைன்னு ஸ்டிக்கர் ஒட்ட மறக்கவே மாட்டீங்க..!
13. செல் போனோ, டி.வி.ரிமோட்டோ.. லாமினேஷன் செஞ்சாதான் உங்களுக்கு நிம்மதி..!
14. அடுத்த பிள்ளைகளைப் பாரு.. எவ்வளவு சாமர்த்தியமா இருக்காங்கன்னு.. என்று உங்க பெற்றோர் சொல்லாம இருக்கவே மாட்டாங்க.. அடுத்த பெற்றோரைப் பாருங்க.. எவ்வளவு ஜாலியா செலவழிக்கறாங்கன்னு நீங்க நெனைப்பீங்க.. ஆனா சொல்ல மாட்டீங்க..!
15. உங்க வீட்டு ஃபிரிட்ஜ்ல, சின்னச் சின்னக் கிண்ணங்களில், 3 மாசமா தயாரிச்ச குழம்பு, கறி வகையறா இருக்கும்..!
16. உங்க சமையலறை அலமாரியில் காப்பித்தூளுக்கு இலவசமா வந்த பெட் ஜாடி குறைஞ்சது ரெண்டு மூணு இருக்கும்..!
17. அதிகமா உபயோகிக்கப்படாத பொருள் உங்ககிட்ட அவசியம் நாலைஞ்சு இருக்கும். [உ-ம். பிரஷர் குக்கர், காப்பி மேக்கர், வாக்குவம் கிளீனர், பிரெட் டோஸ்ட்டர், மைக்ரோ வேவ் அவன், கேஸ் அடுப்புல க்ரில் இப்படி..]
18. பொங்கல், தீபாவளின்னா வீட்டுல சந்தோஷமா விழுந்து கெடக்க மாட்டீங்க.. தண்ணியைப் போட்டுட்டு, தகராறுபண்ணி, போலீஸ்-ஸ்டேஷன்ல குத்தவச்சுருப்பீங்க..!
19. கல்யாணத்துக்கு ஊர் பூரா பத்திரிகை வச்சு கலெக்ஷன் பார்ப்பீங்க..
Friday, March 7, 2008
Happy Women’s Day
Super mom, career woman, loving sister, wonderful wife, great girl-friend, dutiful daughter…the list is endless. Every day you don many personas and execute them flawlessly.
Wishing you ALL a Happy Women’s Day.
I would like to share a real conversation (over the communicator) happened in my office between a Developer and his Onsite coordinator.
Please note that this Developer has his marriage fixed in the month of April. :-) :-) :-)
On-site Coordinator:
This is a high critical project. So please make sure that it is documented well.
Developer:
Yes, I understand.
On-site Coordinator:
Or else you will be sent to china for honeymoon :-) :-) :-)
Not that it is bad, I am afraid your wife might not be thrilled by it
Developer:
Let me ask her if she likes to go to china, who knows she might be interested
On-site Coordinator:
You are absolutely right! Women are mysterious creatures - they are googlies in men’s lives - you can never predict them
Developer:
:-) :-) :-)
On-site Coordinator:
Enough fun for the night for me, Send me the document ASAP, Signing off. Bye
Once again, Wishing you ALL a Happy Women’s Day. :-) :-) :-)
Wishing you ALL a Happy Women’s Day.
I would like to share a real conversation (over the communicator) happened in my office between a Developer and his Onsite coordinator.
Please note that this Developer has his marriage fixed in the month of April. :-) :-) :-)
On-site Coordinator:
This is a high critical project. So please make sure that it is documented well.
Developer:
Yes, I understand.
On-site Coordinator:
Or else you will be sent to china for honeymoon :-) :-) :-)
Not that it is bad, I am afraid your wife might not be thrilled by it
Developer:
Let me ask her if she likes to go to china, who knows she might be interested
On-site Coordinator:
You are absolutely right! Women are mysterious creatures - they are googlies in men’s lives - you can never predict them
Developer:
:-) :-) :-)
On-site Coordinator:
Enough fun for the night for me, Send me the document ASAP, Signing off. Bye
Once again, Wishing you ALL a Happy Women’s Day. :-) :-) :-)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Where do I find my Inspiration????
This is one of the links forwarded by my friend about finding inspiration for writing.
http://writetodone.com/2008/03/03/31-ways-to-find-inspiration-for-your-writing/
Where do I find my Inspiration????
http://writetodone.com/2008/03/03/31-ways-to-find-inspiration-for-your-writing/
Where do I find my Inspiration????
Friday, February 22, 2008
Greatness of Tamil (தமிழ்) language
I was amazed to see this list of Tamil words.
Read as ‘Number’ – ‘Tamil Equivalent’ – ‘English Equivalent’
1 = ONDRU -one
10 = PATTHU -ten
100 = NOORU -hundred
1000 = AAYIRAM -thousand
10000 = PATTAYIRAM -ten thousand
100000 = NOORAYIRAM -hundred thousand
1000000 = PATTU NOORAYIRAM - one million
10000000 = KODI -ten million
100000000 = ARPUTHAM -hundred million
1000000000 = NIGARPUTAM - one billion
10000000000 = KUMBAM -ten billion
100000000000 = KANAM -hundred billion
1000000000000 = KARPAM -one trillion
10000000000000 = NIKARPAM -ten trillion
100000000000000 = PATHUMAM -hundred trillion
1000000000000000 = SANGGAM -one zillion
10000000000000000 = VELLAM -ten zillion
100000000000000000 = ANNIYAM -hundred zillion
1000000000000000000 = ARTTAM -????????
10000000000000000000 = PARARTTAM -- ????????
100000000000000000000 = POORIYAM -- ????????
1000000000000000000000 = MUKKODI -- ????????
10000000000000000000000 = MAHAYUGAM -??????
This list easily proves that Tamil is one of the oldest and greatest languages in the World.
வாழ்க தமிழ் ; வளர்க தமிழ்
Read as ‘Number’ – ‘Tamil Equivalent’ – ‘English Equivalent’
1 = ONDRU -one
10 = PATTHU -ten
100 = NOORU -hundred
1000 = AAYIRAM -thousand
10000 = PATTAYIRAM -ten thousand
100000 = NOORAYIRAM -hundred thousand
1000000 = PATTU NOORAYIRAM - one million
10000000 = KODI -ten million
100000000 = ARPUTHAM -hundred million
1000000000 = NIGARPUTAM - one billion
10000000000 = KUMBAM -ten billion
100000000000 = KANAM -hundred billion
1000000000000 = KARPAM -one trillion
10000000000000 = NIKARPAM -ten trillion
100000000000000 = PATHUMAM -hundred trillion
1000000000000000 = SANGGAM -one zillion
10000000000000000 = VELLAM -ten zillion
100000000000000000 = ANNIYAM -hundred zillion
1000000000000000000 = ARTTAM -????????
10000000000000000000 = PARARTTAM -- ????????
100000000000000000000 = POORIYAM -- ????????
1000000000000000000000 = MUKKODI -- ????????
10000000000000000000000 = MAHAYUGAM -??????
This list easily proves that Tamil is one of the oldest and greatest languages in the World.
வாழ்க தமிழ் ; வளர்க தமிழ்
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
AutoWala's advice
"Auto! Auto!” Praveen was calling out at a passing by autorickshaw.
It was a Saturday evening. His roommates both from TamilNadu have gone home for a long weekend. Yeah, Monday and Tuesday were declared holidays for Pongal. He is from Pune and he did not plan his trip home. So he had to spend 4 days alone at home. Praveen is working as a Software Engineer for a MNC for the past 2 years.
"Tidel Park. How much?"
"Forty Five rupees, sir"
"Forty"
"Okay, sir"
In five minutes, they were at Teynampet signal caught up in a traffic jam.
"This signal always like this sir!. "Your cell phone ringing, sir".
"Hello Amit!" ... "Long time man. Where are you?" ... "Oh man! I read the reviews. They say the movie is good. Got some work at office?" ...
"No, nothing serious. But have to go and do it today" ... "Sorry, I wont be able to join you guys for the movie today. Another time, okay?" ...
"Aish Kar. Chal, bye!"
"You work for computer company?" asked the Auto Wala.
"Yes! How do you know that?"
"Neatly dressing, smart, having cellphone, going to Tidel Park. I am running auto for 15 years sir. I know people by seeing only."
Praveen is dulled at people outlining software engineers the way they do. "It is never easy as said. It is not the apparent money and ostensible looks that make up a software engineer," he thought. "There is more to it project, deadlines, quality, pressure, bonus, stress, onsite, and the list is long."
"Computer companies are good sir, giving job to youth. You all work very hard. I drop people from Tidel Park at midnight."
Praveen was maintaining his silence.
"Now people work like you very early. When I was youth I have many friends. We see many films. Ten, fifteen film one month. Saturday, Sunday we play cricket in Marina beach. Bet match sir for 50 rupees, 100 rupees. We win, then we will go to film or drink. I am big fan of Rajni. I see all films upto Sivaji. Now I see Ajith films also. He acting very good. That time was really enjoying sir. You dont like film-a sir?"
"No, I like watching movies. I am planning to go to ‘Om Shanti Om' tomorrow"
"Where running sir?"
"Sathyam"
"You go alone? No friends? Friends are important sir. No enjoyment without friends sir."
"My friends are going now. I have some work to finish today. So I am going tomorrow."
"Work will be there everytime sir. Youth will go sir. If you dont mistake, I say something sir?"
Though looking uninterested, he had an urge to let him go. He nodded his head, "Mmm."
"You have more money but no time to spend money. You work more and get more money. Then time is very, very less to spend money. Then why do you need money sir? See sir, it is enough if you earn as much as you can spend. My father tell it to me. I follow it sir."
Praveen was deep in thought rewinding through his senior school days with Amit. Amit was his chum in class. They had been reading together from class VII. The last movie they saw together was 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun' during their final year at school. Both being Salman fans, they watched almost all of his movies together. Now that they both work at Chennai, they call up rarely and chitchat for sometime.
The auto came to a stop. "Tidel Park, sir" "If I talk something wrong, sorry sir."
"Thats okay. Can you take me to Sathyam theatre? Fifty rupees?"
"Okay sir. Going to film sir?"
"Yes. With my friends."
Calling Amit..Connecting.."Hello Praveen!"
"Hey Amit! I am joining you guys for the movie. Can you guys get a ticket for me? I am on my way to Sathyam."
"Good that you called me. I bought a ticket for you too before I called you up. Now I was trying to sell it out."
"Thanks man! Keep it for me."
"Come soon. See you!"
It was a Saturday evening. His roommates both from TamilNadu have gone home for a long weekend. Yeah, Monday and Tuesday were declared holidays for Pongal. He is from Pune and he did not plan his trip home. So he had to spend 4 days alone at home. Praveen is working as a Software Engineer for a MNC for the past 2 years.
"Tidel Park. How much?"
"Forty Five rupees, sir"
"Forty"
"Okay, sir"
In five minutes, they were at Teynampet signal caught up in a traffic jam.
"This signal always like this sir!. "Your cell phone ringing, sir".
"Hello Amit!" ... "Long time man. Where are you?" ... "Oh man! I read the reviews. They say the movie is good. Got some work at office?" ...
"No, nothing serious. But have to go and do it today" ... "Sorry, I wont be able to join you guys for the movie today. Another time, okay?" ...
"Aish Kar. Chal, bye!"
"You work for computer company?" asked the Auto Wala.
"Yes! How do you know that?"
"Neatly dressing, smart, having cellphone, going to Tidel Park. I am running auto for 15 years sir. I know people by seeing only."
Praveen is dulled at people outlining software engineers the way they do. "It is never easy as said. It is not the apparent money and ostensible looks that make up a software engineer," he thought. "There is more to it project, deadlines, quality, pressure, bonus, stress, onsite, and the list is long."
"Computer companies are good sir, giving job to youth. You all work very hard. I drop people from Tidel Park at midnight."
Praveen was maintaining his silence.
"Now people work like you very early. When I was youth I have many friends. We see many films. Ten, fifteen film one month. Saturday, Sunday we play cricket in Marina beach. Bet match sir for 50 rupees, 100 rupees. We win, then we will go to film or drink. I am big fan of Rajni. I see all films upto Sivaji. Now I see Ajith films also. He acting very good. That time was really enjoying sir. You dont like film-a sir?"
"No, I like watching movies. I am planning to go to ‘Om Shanti Om' tomorrow"
"Where running sir?"
"Sathyam"
"You go alone? No friends? Friends are important sir. No enjoyment without friends sir."
"My friends are going now. I have some work to finish today. So I am going tomorrow."
"Work will be there everytime sir. Youth will go sir. If you dont mistake, I say something sir?"
Though looking uninterested, he had an urge to let him go. He nodded his head, "Mmm."
"You have more money but no time to spend money. You work more and get more money. Then time is very, very less to spend money. Then why do you need money sir? See sir, it is enough if you earn as much as you can spend. My father tell it to me. I follow it sir."
Praveen was deep in thought rewinding through his senior school days with Amit. Amit was his chum in class. They had been reading together from class VII. The last movie they saw together was 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun' during their final year at school. Both being Salman fans, they watched almost all of his movies together. Now that they both work at Chennai, they call up rarely and chitchat for sometime.
The auto came to a stop. "Tidel Park, sir" "If I talk something wrong, sorry sir."
"Thats okay. Can you take me to Sathyam theatre? Fifty rupees?"
"Okay sir. Going to film sir?"
"Yes. With my friends."
Calling Amit..Connecting.."Hello Praveen!"
"Hey Amit! I am joining you guys for the movie. Can you guys get a ticket for me? I am on my way to Sathyam."
"Good that you called me. I bought a ticket for you too before I called you up. Now I was trying to sell it out."
"Thanks man! Keep it for me."
"Come soon. See you!"
Monday, December 17, 2007
True Love - A sister's story
I was born in a secluded village on a mountain. Day by day, my parents plowed the yellow dry soil with their backs towards the sky. I have a brother who is 3 years younger than me. I wanted to buy a handkerchief, which all girls around me seemed to have. So, one day I stole 50 cents from my father's drawer. Father had discovered about the stolen money right away. He made me and my younger brother kneel against the wall as he held a bamboo stick in his hand.'Who stole the money?' he asked.I was stunned, too afraid to talk. Neither of us admitted to the fault, so he said, 'Fine, if nobody wants to admit, you two should be beaten!' He lifted up the bamboo stick.Suddenly, my younger brother gripped father's hand and said, Dad, I was the one who did it!'The long stick smacked my brother's back repeatedly. Father was so angry that he kept on whipping my brother until he lost his breath. After that, he sat down on our stone bed and scolded my brother, 'You have learned to steal from your own house now. What other embarrassing things will you be possibly doing in the future? You should be beaten to death, you shameless thief!' That night, my mother and I hugged my brother. His body was full of wounds from the beating but he never shed a single tear.In the middle of the night, all of sudden, I cried out loudly. My brother covered my mouth with his little hand and said, Sis, now don't cry anymore. Everything has happened.' I still hate myself for not having enough courage to admit what I did. Years went by, but the incident still seemed like it just happened yesterday.I will never forget my brother's expression when he protected me. That year, my brother was 8 years old and I was 11 years old.
When my brother was in his last year of secondary school, he was accepted in an upper secondary school in the central. At the same time, I was accepted into a university in the province. That night, father squatted in the yard, smoking, packet by packet. I could hear him ask my mother, 'Both of our children, they have good results? Very good results?'Mother wiped off her tears and sighed,' What is the use? How can we possibly finance both of them?' At that time, my brother walked out, he stood in front of father and said, 'Dad, I don't want to continue my study anymore, I have read enough books.'Father swung his hand and slapped my brother on his face. 'Why do you have a spirit so damn weak? Even if it means I have to beg for money on the streets, I will send you two to school until you have both finished your studies!'And then, he started to knock on every house in the village to borrow money. I stuck out my hand as gently as I can to my brother's swollen face, and told him, 'A boy has to continue his study; if not; he will not be able to overcome thispoverty we are experiencing.' I, on the other hand, had decided not to further my study at the university. Nobody knew that on the next day, before dawn, my brother left the house with a few pieces of worn-out clothes and a few dry beans. He sneaked to my side of the bed and left a note on my pillow; 'Sis, getting into a university is not easy. I will go find a job and I will send money to you.' I held the note while sitting on my bed, and cried until I lost my voice.That year, my brother was 17 years old; I was 20 years old.
With the money father borrowed from the whole village, and the money my brother earned from carrying cement on his back at a construction site, finally, I managed to get to the third year of my study in the university. One day, while I was studying in my room, my roommate came in and told me, 'There's a villager waiting for you outside!'Why would there be a villager looking for me? I walked out, and I saw my brother from afar. His whole body was covered with dirt, dust, cement and sand. I asked him, 'Why did you not tell my roommate that you are my brother?' He replied with a smile,' Look at my appearance. What will they think if they would know that I am your brother? Won't they laugh at you?'I felt so touched, and tears filled my eyes. I swept away dirt and dust from my brother's body. And told him with a lump in my throat, "I don't care what people would say! You are my brother no matter what your appearance is?' >From his pocket, he took out a butterfly hair clip. He put it on my hair and said, 'I saw all the girls in town are wearing it. So, I think you should also have one.'I could not hold back myself anymore. I pulled my brother into my arms and cried. That year, my brother was 20 years old; I was 23 years old.
I noticed that the broken window was repaired the first time I brought my boyfriend home. The house was scrubbed cleaned.After my boyfriend left, I danced like a little girl in front of my mother, 'Mom, you didn't have to spend so much time cleaning the house!' But she told me with a smile, "It was your brother who went home early to clean the house. Didn't you see the wound on his hand? He hurt his hand while he was replacing the window.'I went into my brother's bedroom. Looking at his thin face, I felt like hundreds of needles pricked in my heart. I applied some ointment on his wound and put a bandage on it, 'Does it hurt?" I asked him.'No, it doesn't hurt. You know, when at the construction site, stones keep falling on my feet ...Even that could not stop me from working.' In the middle of the sentence, he stopped. I turned my back on him and tears rolled down my face. That year, my brother was 23 years old; I was 26 years old.
After I got married, I lived in the city. Many times my husband invited my parents to come and live with us, but they didn't want. They said, once they left the village, they wouldn't know what to do.My brother agreed with them. He said, 'Sis, you just take care of your parents-in-law. I will take care of Mom and Dad here.' My husband became the director of his factory. We asked my brother to accept the offer of being themanager in the maintenance department. But my brother rejected the offer. He insisted on workingas a repairman instead for a start. One day, my brother was on the top of a ladder repairing a cable, when he got electrocuted, and wassent to the hospital.My husband and I visited him at the hospital. Looking at the plaster cast on his leg, I grumbled, 'Why did you reject the offer of being a manager? Managers won't do something dangerous like that. Now look at you - you are suffering a serious injury. Why didn't you just listen to us?' With a serious expression on his face, he defended his decision, 'Think of brother-in-law. He just became the director, and I being uneducated, and would become a manager, what kind of rumors would fly around?' My husband's eyes filled up with tears, and then I said,'But you lack in education only because of me!''Why do you talk about the past?' he said and then he held my hand.That year, he was 26 years old and I was 29 years old.
My brother was 30 years old when he married a farmer girl from the village. During the wedding reception, the master of ceremonies asked him, 'Who is the one person you respect and love the most?'Without even taking a time to think, he answered,' My sister.' He continued by telling a story I could not even remember.'When I was in primary school, the school was in a different village. Everyday, my sister and I would walk for 2 hours to school and back home. One day, I lost the other pair of my gloves. My sister gave me one of hers. She wore only one glove and she had to walk far. When we got home, her hands were trembling because of the cold weather that she could not even hold her chopsticks. From that day on, I swore that as long as I live, I would take care of my sister and will always be good to her.' Applause filled up the room.
All guests turned their attention to me.I found it hard to speak, 'In my whole life, the one I would like to thank most is my brother, 'And in this happy occasion, in front of the crowd, tears were rolling down my face again.
Love and care for the one you love every single day of your life. You may think what you did is just a small deed, but to that someone, it may mean a lot.
When my brother was in his last year of secondary school, he was accepted in an upper secondary school in the central. At the same time, I was accepted into a university in the province. That night, father squatted in the yard, smoking, packet by packet. I could hear him ask my mother, 'Both of our children, they have good results? Very good results?'Mother wiped off her tears and sighed,' What is the use? How can we possibly finance both of them?' At that time, my brother walked out, he stood in front of father and said, 'Dad, I don't want to continue my study anymore, I have read enough books.'Father swung his hand and slapped my brother on his face. 'Why do you have a spirit so damn weak? Even if it means I have to beg for money on the streets, I will send you two to school until you have both finished your studies!'And then, he started to knock on every house in the village to borrow money. I stuck out my hand as gently as I can to my brother's swollen face, and told him, 'A boy has to continue his study; if not; he will not be able to overcome thispoverty we are experiencing.' I, on the other hand, had decided not to further my study at the university. Nobody knew that on the next day, before dawn, my brother left the house with a few pieces of worn-out clothes and a few dry beans. He sneaked to my side of the bed and left a note on my pillow; 'Sis, getting into a university is not easy. I will go find a job and I will send money to you.' I held the note while sitting on my bed, and cried until I lost my voice.That year, my brother was 17 years old; I was 20 years old.
With the money father borrowed from the whole village, and the money my brother earned from carrying cement on his back at a construction site, finally, I managed to get to the third year of my study in the university. One day, while I was studying in my room, my roommate came in and told me, 'There's a villager waiting for you outside!'Why would there be a villager looking for me? I walked out, and I saw my brother from afar. His whole body was covered with dirt, dust, cement and sand. I asked him, 'Why did you not tell my roommate that you are my brother?' He replied with a smile,' Look at my appearance. What will they think if they would know that I am your brother? Won't they laugh at you?'I felt so touched, and tears filled my eyes. I swept away dirt and dust from my brother's body. And told him with a lump in my throat, "I don't care what people would say! You are my brother no matter what your appearance is?' >From his pocket, he took out a butterfly hair clip. He put it on my hair and said, 'I saw all the girls in town are wearing it. So, I think you should also have one.'I could not hold back myself anymore. I pulled my brother into my arms and cried. That year, my brother was 20 years old; I was 23 years old.
I noticed that the broken window was repaired the first time I brought my boyfriend home. The house was scrubbed cleaned.After my boyfriend left, I danced like a little girl in front of my mother, 'Mom, you didn't have to spend so much time cleaning the house!' But she told me with a smile, "It was your brother who went home early to clean the house. Didn't you see the wound on his hand? He hurt his hand while he was replacing the window.'I went into my brother's bedroom. Looking at his thin face, I felt like hundreds of needles pricked in my heart. I applied some ointment on his wound and put a bandage on it, 'Does it hurt?" I asked him.'No, it doesn't hurt. You know, when at the construction site, stones keep falling on my feet ...Even that could not stop me from working.' In the middle of the sentence, he stopped. I turned my back on him and tears rolled down my face. That year, my brother was 23 years old; I was 26 years old.
After I got married, I lived in the city. Many times my husband invited my parents to come and live with us, but they didn't want. They said, once they left the village, they wouldn't know what to do.My brother agreed with them. He said, 'Sis, you just take care of your parents-in-law. I will take care of Mom and Dad here.' My husband became the director of his factory. We asked my brother to accept the offer of being themanager in the maintenance department. But my brother rejected the offer. He insisted on workingas a repairman instead for a start. One day, my brother was on the top of a ladder repairing a cable, when he got electrocuted, and wassent to the hospital.My husband and I visited him at the hospital. Looking at the plaster cast on his leg, I grumbled, 'Why did you reject the offer of being a manager? Managers won't do something dangerous like that. Now look at you - you are suffering a serious injury. Why didn't you just listen to us?' With a serious expression on his face, he defended his decision, 'Think of brother-in-law. He just became the director, and I being uneducated, and would become a manager, what kind of rumors would fly around?' My husband's eyes filled up with tears, and then I said,'But you lack in education only because of me!''Why do you talk about the past?' he said and then he held my hand.That year, he was 26 years old and I was 29 years old.
My brother was 30 years old when he married a farmer girl from the village. During the wedding reception, the master of ceremonies asked him, 'Who is the one person you respect and love the most?'Without even taking a time to think, he answered,' My sister.' He continued by telling a story I could not even remember.'When I was in primary school, the school was in a different village. Everyday, my sister and I would walk for 2 hours to school and back home. One day, I lost the other pair of my gloves. My sister gave me one of hers. She wore only one glove and she had to walk far. When we got home, her hands were trembling because of the cold weather that she could not even hold her chopsticks. From that day on, I swore that as long as I live, I would take care of my sister and will always be good to her.' Applause filled up the room.
All guests turned their attention to me.I found it hard to speak, 'In my whole life, the one I would like to thank most is my brother, 'And in this happy occasion, in front of the crowd, tears were rolling down my face again.
Love and care for the one you love every single day of your life. You may think what you did is just a small deed, but to that someone, it may mean a lot.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The inimitable TamBrams
Disclaimer :
This is a fwd which i got almost an year back.
Proud to be a TamBram :)
====================================================================
TAMBRAM Thouroughbred"YOU graduated in Literature, right?" asked my young cousin. "No, in Economics." I hastily clarified. "Economics Honours," I added for good measure.
The question coming from anyone else would have been innocuous, but from my cousin who was a third year engineering student, it was almost offending. As a card carrying member ofthe Tamilian Brahmin community,or TamBrams, as the endearment goes, I knew that in his world - and that included his parents, relatives, colony friends, project group, dormmates, someone whograduated in Literature obviously did so because he or she had a learning disability.
The poor thing was a freak who couldn't get admission into an engineering college or even a pitiful, but definitely more acceptable, science course. Or worse, such a specimen was a wasted wanton whose desire to do B.A. was an irresponsible, rebellious act, almost akin to joining aNeo-Nazi like cult group and living on the edge of civilized society. In any such conversation with a bonafide TamBram, I find myself fervently hoping, that despite falling under the horrifying category of B.A Economics, with its connotations of statistics and analysis of numbers and trends, would redeem m a little in their maths-science obsessed eyes.
For a middle class Tam Bram family (and that means the whole lot of them for all TamBrams qualify as middle class if you take outlook and behaviour as parameters), mathematics andscience are not merely subjects in the school curriculum. They are a religion. And the dharmaof every Tam Bram student is to master them and pave his way to the heavenly portal of an IIT. Or at least, to the ordinary portal of a local engineering college, which the family will eventually reconcile to, in the absence of the 'real thing'.
The first time I seriously understood this was when I was in primary School and on one sunny day was gleefully reading out my final exam results to Grandpa who was sitting on the porch and frowning in attention.
"English: 90 percent, Hindi: 85 percent, Social Studies: 87percent.." I prattled on. "How much inmaths?" interrupted Grandpa. "Maths: 97 percent," I said grinning widely. "What happened to the remaining marks?" was his unexpected reaction. After which he asked me to fetch thequestion paper, spent the next two hours going through each problem and figured out where I could have lost the precious three marks. "Nothing less than a centum in Maths next time." he said finally.
'Centum' is a word unique to the TamBram world, that a child grows up listening to. It is a figure that even if sometimes elusive, is never lost sight of throughout the academic career.
Centum, Maths, Science, Brilliant Tutorials, Engineering, IIT, B.Tech, Computer Science, USA,Financial Aid, I-20, Student Visa, M.S, San Jose, California, Oracle, Microsoft, Intel.
These words and names are like carefully arranged furniture in the mental landscape of a TamBram boy - and increasingly girl - below the age of 25. Care is taken not to clutter it with anything related to useless stuff like literature, history or art. Show me a TamBram boy who wants to be a fashion designer, VJ, historian or air force pilot and I'll show you something wrong in his blood line. For all such are heathen, a blemish on the fair face of the community.
Till about 15 years ago, the only heathens were girls who did not sing. Formidable maamis from the neighbourhood would drop in for a casual afternoon gossip session with grandmom and onspying any hapless young girls in the vicinity, would pounce on them with the dreaded entreaty, "Oru paatu paadein." (Sing a song). A simple three word sentence, you would think, but in maamiland it is a deceptively camouflaged barometer of the girl's cultural grooming and readiness for TamBram society (read marriage market) and her mother's efforts in making her a fine Tamilian lady.
A TamBram girl's singing talents always have to be on standby, as they could be called upon by anyone no matter what the time of day, nature of the occasion or profile of the audience, bysimply uttering the three powerful words, "Oru Paatu Paadein." And woe betide the girl who in shameful ignorance, takes the words at face value. When the words were uttered by a visiting neighbour, I readily accepted and joyously broke into a popular Hindi film ditty. I had finished the second paragraph when I stopped to check audience response. My mother had a strained, embarrassed smile on her face, grandmom was scowling hard, an aunt hurriedly excusedherself and went inside and the venerable neighbour looked so disturbed, I thought she was on the verge of a heart attack. "Well..that was nice, but don't you sing any varnams or keerthanais?" she finally asked, after an awkward silence. My mother hurriedly explained how in the culturally bereft North we were unable to locate a Carnatic music teacher nearby...but hopefully by thissummer she would manage to do something about it.
That's when I realized that the only music that was expected to pour out of your mellifluous throat were classical Carnatic songs. If you didn't know any, you simply shut up and ducked out of sight of visiting maamis.
And if like me, you are a non-engineer-non-Carnatic-trained loser of a TamBram, you should be drowning yourself in a drum full of idli batter for having wasted this life time. And all the best forthe next one...
This is a fwd which i got almost an year back.
Proud to be a TamBram :)
====================================================================
TAMBRAM Thouroughbred"YOU graduated in Literature, right?" asked my young cousin. "No, in Economics." I hastily clarified. "Economics Honours," I added for good measure.
The question coming from anyone else would have been innocuous, but from my cousin who was a third year engineering student, it was almost offending. As a card carrying member ofthe Tamilian Brahmin community,or TamBrams, as the endearment goes, I knew that in his world - and that included his parents, relatives, colony friends, project group, dormmates, someone whograduated in Literature obviously did so because he or she had a learning disability.
The poor thing was a freak who couldn't get admission into an engineering college or even a pitiful, but definitely more acceptable, science course. Or worse, such a specimen was a wasted wanton whose desire to do B.A. was an irresponsible, rebellious act, almost akin to joining aNeo-Nazi like cult group and living on the edge of civilized society. In any such conversation with a bonafide TamBram, I find myself fervently hoping, that despite falling under the horrifying category of B.A Economics, with its connotations of statistics and analysis of numbers and trends, would redeem m a little in their maths-science obsessed eyes.
For a middle class Tam Bram family (and that means the whole lot of them for all TamBrams qualify as middle class if you take outlook and behaviour as parameters), mathematics andscience are not merely subjects in the school curriculum. They are a religion. And the dharmaof every Tam Bram student is to master them and pave his way to the heavenly portal of an IIT. Or at least, to the ordinary portal of a local engineering college, which the family will eventually reconcile to, in the absence of the 'real thing'.
The first time I seriously understood this was when I was in primary School and on one sunny day was gleefully reading out my final exam results to Grandpa who was sitting on the porch and frowning in attention.
"English: 90 percent, Hindi: 85 percent, Social Studies: 87percent.." I prattled on. "How much inmaths?" interrupted Grandpa. "Maths: 97 percent," I said grinning widely. "What happened to the remaining marks?" was his unexpected reaction. After which he asked me to fetch thequestion paper, spent the next two hours going through each problem and figured out where I could have lost the precious three marks. "Nothing less than a centum in Maths next time." he said finally.
'Centum' is a word unique to the TamBram world, that a child grows up listening to. It is a figure that even if sometimes elusive, is never lost sight of throughout the academic career.
Centum, Maths, Science, Brilliant Tutorials, Engineering, IIT, B.Tech, Computer Science, USA,Financial Aid, I-20, Student Visa, M.S, San Jose, California, Oracle, Microsoft, Intel.
These words and names are like carefully arranged furniture in the mental landscape of a TamBram boy - and increasingly girl - below the age of 25. Care is taken not to clutter it with anything related to useless stuff like literature, history or art. Show me a TamBram boy who wants to be a fashion designer, VJ, historian or air force pilot and I'll show you something wrong in his blood line. For all such are heathen, a blemish on the fair face of the community.
Till about 15 years ago, the only heathens were girls who did not sing. Formidable maamis from the neighbourhood would drop in for a casual afternoon gossip session with grandmom and onspying any hapless young girls in the vicinity, would pounce on them with the dreaded entreaty, "Oru paatu paadein." (Sing a song). A simple three word sentence, you would think, but in maamiland it is a deceptively camouflaged barometer of the girl's cultural grooming and readiness for TamBram society (read marriage market) and her mother's efforts in making her a fine Tamilian lady.
A TamBram girl's singing talents always have to be on standby, as they could be called upon by anyone no matter what the time of day, nature of the occasion or profile of the audience, bysimply uttering the three powerful words, "Oru Paatu Paadein." And woe betide the girl who in shameful ignorance, takes the words at face value. When the words were uttered by a visiting neighbour, I readily accepted and joyously broke into a popular Hindi film ditty. I had finished the second paragraph when I stopped to check audience response. My mother had a strained, embarrassed smile on her face, grandmom was scowling hard, an aunt hurriedly excusedherself and went inside and the venerable neighbour looked so disturbed, I thought she was on the verge of a heart attack. "Well..that was nice, but don't you sing any varnams or keerthanais?" she finally asked, after an awkward silence. My mother hurriedly explained how in the culturally bereft North we were unable to locate a Carnatic music teacher nearby...but hopefully by thissummer she would manage to do something about it.
That's when I realized that the only music that was expected to pour out of your mellifluous throat were classical Carnatic songs. If you didn't know any, you simply shut up and ducked out of sight of visiting maamis.
And if like me, you are a non-engineer-non-Carnatic-trained loser of a TamBram, you should be drowning yourself in a drum full of idli batter for having wasted this life time. And all the best forthe next one...
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
My cycle's story!!!
It hardly takes 30 min to walk from my house to my office, but it will be little difficult to spend that much amount of time and of course energy early in the morning. I used to walk for some 15 min to the Jayadeva bus stop, wait there for 5 min, get into a crowded bus and come to office with a lot of difficulty. Even this took me almost half an hour and it depended a lot on the famous Bangalore traffic. So I decided to get myself a vehicle. I didn’t have any option other than to go for a bicycle. Yes, I don’t know how to ride a bike. Many people used to ask me one question when they saw me coming to office in my cycle or whenever they hear me talking about it. And the question was “Why did you buy a bicycle rather than getting a bike?” Here is the answer. : )
Starting from my childhood days I didn’t have any attraction towards bikes. I started going to school in a cycle when I was in my 5th standard. We were in trichy that time and my father got two BSA SLR cycles, one for me and the other for my brother. Once we got transferred to Madras after that, my school was almost 12 to 15 Km from my house. So I started going to school in PTC bus. We have a Bajaj scooter at home which my father uses. I didn’t even bother to learn it as it doesn’t look good and of course that was an age where always wanted to prove point to people around you that you are the best and you do all the best things in life. I switched back to my cycle during my last 2 years of schooling in Pondicherry. I didn’t get an opportunity to learn bike driving during that time too as I was totally engrossed with my studies.
In college I didn’t have close friends who can lend me their bikes so that I can learn. I did learn how to drive un-geared vehicles. Once I drove from Mount road LIC building till my college in Chromepet after my friend who owns the bike met with a minor accident. It should have been a 20 Km drive. So I don’t have any fear when it comes to driving on busy roads.
Even after my college days, I didn’t get any enthusiasm for driving bikes. But I contemplated over getting a second hand bike from my uncle and start learning it from him. But a friend of mine gave me a very good suggestion that it is better to get a 4 wheeler license along with a 2 wheeler rather than getting only a 2 wheeler license. Considering this factor I dropped the idea of getting the bike from my uncle.
I had another reason for getting a cycle. I was not doing my exercises properly and I my physical fitness was going from bad to worse. My mom suggested that cycling will be a good exercise and I can reduce my tummy. Another reason was that most of my team mates in office were making fun of me that I used to ask them lifts to my house.
So one good day I decided to buy a new cycle. Now I need to find a good place to buy it. I searched in newspapers, enquired people in office and also had a post in my office bulletin board. First I went to a cycle shop near the jayadeva signal but found it to be too costly as it was a retail shop. Then I decided to go to K.R. market which should be 10 km from my house. I wanted someone to bargain for me so I took one of my college senior who works in my office. We both went in his vehicle and tried out in 2 or 3 shops there. At last we found a shop named ‘Madras cycle importing Co.’ and thought that the shop owner is a Tamilian and we can easily bargain there. Unfortunately he wasn’t a Tamilian and we somehow managed to bargain for 300 bugs and I got a new Hero Exodus bicycle.
Then came the toughest part of the whole game. I have not been on cycle for almost 6 years and I had to ride back the cycle to my house which was 10 to 12 km from there. Somehow I managed to do it 45 min thanks to my iPod. : )
I called up my parents to inform about my new vehicle. My mom was very happy that I have at least listened to her words and got myself a cycle. I had a wonderful sleep after that for two reasons. One due to tiredness and the two, my father told me something which I can’t forget for my life. He said “Even I started my career with a bicycle”.
Starting from my childhood days I didn’t have any attraction towards bikes. I started going to school in a cycle when I was in my 5th standard. We were in trichy that time and my father got two BSA SLR cycles, one for me and the other for my brother. Once we got transferred to Madras after that, my school was almost 12 to 15 Km from my house. So I started going to school in PTC bus. We have a Bajaj scooter at home which my father uses. I didn’t even bother to learn it as it doesn’t look good and of course that was an age where always wanted to prove point to people around you that you are the best and you do all the best things in life. I switched back to my cycle during my last 2 years of schooling in Pondicherry. I didn’t get an opportunity to learn bike driving during that time too as I was totally engrossed with my studies.
In college I didn’t have close friends who can lend me their bikes so that I can learn. I did learn how to drive un-geared vehicles. Once I drove from Mount road LIC building till my college in Chromepet after my friend who owns the bike met with a minor accident. It should have been a 20 Km drive. So I don’t have any fear when it comes to driving on busy roads.
Even after my college days, I didn’t get any enthusiasm for driving bikes. But I contemplated over getting a second hand bike from my uncle and start learning it from him. But a friend of mine gave me a very good suggestion that it is better to get a 4 wheeler license along with a 2 wheeler rather than getting only a 2 wheeler license. Considering this factor I dropped the idea of getting the bike from my uncle.
I had another reason for getting a cycle. I was not doing my exercises properly and I my physical fitness was going from bad to worse. My mom suggested that cycling will be a good exercise and I can reduce my tummy. Another reason was that most of my team mates in office were making fun of me that I used to ask them lifts to my house.
So one good day I decided to buy a new cycle. Now I need to find a good place to buy it. I searched in newspapers, enquired people in office and also had a post in my office bulletin board. First I went to a cycle shop near the jayadeva signal but found it to be too costly as it was a retail shop. Then I decided to go to K.R. market which should be 10 km from my house. I wanted someone to bargain for me so I took one of my college senior who works in my office. We both went in his vehicle and tried out in 2 or 3 shops there. At last we found a shop named ‘Madras cycle importing Co.’ and thought that the shop owner is a Tamilian and we can easily bargain there. Unfortunately he wasn’t a Tamilian and we somehow managed to bargain for 300 bugs and I got a new Hero Exodus bicycle.
Then came the toughest part of the whole game. I have not been on cycle for almost 6 years and I had to ride back the cycle to my house which was 10 to 12 km from there. Somehow I managed to do it 45 min thanks to my iPod. : )
I called up my parents to inform about my new vehicle. My mom was very happy that I have at least listened to her words and got myself a cycle. I had a wonderful sleep after that for two reasons. One due to tiredness and the two, my father told me something which I can’t forget for my life. He said “Even I started my career with a bicycle”.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
My first Blog
I welcome myself to the blog world... i just wonder why it took so many days to start blogging even though i have heard my friends talking a lot about it. I am planning to write everything that comes to my mind. Truth and nothing other than that. I am a little bad when it comes to writing so in my blogging process i wish to improve it.
My first story is about something which i love a lot and very dear to my heart. "Carrom"
I started playing carrom from a very small age when we were in Thanjavur. I was then a small kid say 3 or 4 year old. I used to go to my neighbours place and disturb then while playing. I used to come back home and tell my father that even I want to play that game. I was so excited and interested in playing carrom and i got used to it very soon. I will go crazy if i lose a game. Mostly my father and my brother used to be in the receiving end of my coins and striker missiles. We 4 of us, i.e my Appa, Amma and Sriram used to play doubles and i always chose my Amma to be my partner. She is little bad in playing carrom and I always wanted to prove a point to my carrom Guru "my Appa" and my dear bro. Most of the times we used to win with some help from my father and at times my bro used to furious. Hope he agrees with me regarding this.
I used to play carrom very seriously and i cant accept defeat. I always feel that i can beat anyone in this world, even Maria irudhayam on my day. I had a wonderful carrom partner in my college days. Seeni is some one who understands my game a lot and we always formed a very good doubles pair. We won 2 doubles championships together and i had won another with Vikram in my second year. I won the singles championships 4 times in my 4 years stay in MIT.
After my college days i played carrom very few times. I also tried out snooker, 9 ball pool when i was in the Infy mysore campus. But nothing made me happy and i dunno the reason. Carrom was so dear to me. For the past one week i have got back my happiness. Yes, i started playing carrom again. Honeywell has a yearly festival named HTS Utsav for which they conduct various competitions and carrom is one among them. So they have few carrom boards for practice and I am started playing from the first day. I was the person to inaugurate it. :)
Yesterday after a very long time i played tough carrom. It is a very tricky game when it comes to doubles. There are lots of decisions one need to make especially if ur opponents are good and a single mistake cud be fatal. I was playing with a beginner and we were against 2 champions from2 different colleges. So it was only me who had to take up the whole responsibilty. Carrom is one game i tell u where if both the players are good then it becomes little disadvantageous to the team. It is always better that one take the hold of the game and the other person plays for his partner. This was how I used to win a lot of games when i was in college. Seeni used to play for me and it was that understanding that helped us winning.
Even though we gave a tough fight coming back from 19 – 0 we eventually lost it 29 - 21. The game went on till 11 in the night and i just wonder how i was able to play till that time. Ennala pasi thaanga mudiyathu. But this was very analogous to wht Thiruvalluvar had said
"Sevikku unavu illa tha pothu sirithu
vayirukku eeya padum"
I was totally involved in the game and i was very happy that i played well yesterday night. I reached home by 12 30 walking from my Honeywell office with my greatest companion "My iPod". Woke up to my Mom's call at 8 in the morning. It is ayudha Pooja today and she was shouting at me and asked me to go to Thatha’s place for Puja.
I came back to the real world from the wonderful world of carrom.
My first story is about something which i love a lot and very dear to my heart. "Carrom"
I started playing carrom from a very small age when we were in Thanjavur. I was then a small kid say 3 or 4 year old. I used to go to my neighbours place and disturb then while playing. I used to come back home and tell my father that even I want to play that game. I was so excited and interested in playing carrom and i got used to it very soon. I will go crazy if i lose a game. Mostly my father and my brother used to be in the receiving end of my coins and striker missiles. We 4 of us, i.e my Appa, Amma and Sriram used to play doubles and i always chose my Amma to be my partner. She is little bad in playing carrom and I always wanted to prove a point to my carrom Guru "my Appa" and my dear bro. Most of the times we used to win with some help from my father and at times my bro used to furious. Hope he agrees with me regarding this.
I used to play carrom very seriously and i cant accept defeat. I always feel that i can beat anyone in this world, even Maria irudhayam on my day. I had a wonderful carrom partner in my college days. Seeni is some one who understands my game a lot and we always formed a very good doubles pair. We won 2 doubles championships together and i had won another with Vikram in my second year. I won the singles championships 4 times in my 4 years stay in MIT.
After my college days i played carrom very few times. I also tried out snooker, 9 ball pool when i was in the Infy mysore campus. But nothing made me happy and i dunno the reason. Carrom was so dear to me. For the past one week i have got back my happiness. Yes, i started playing carrom again. Honeywell has a yearly festival named HTS Utsav for which they conduct various competitions and carrom is one among them. So they have few carrom boards for practice and I am started playing from the first day. I was the person to inaugurate it. :)
Yesterday after a very long time i played tough carrom. It is a very tricky game when it comes to doubles. There are lots of decisions one need to make especially if ur opponents are good and a single mistake cud be fatal. I was playing with a beginner and we were against 2 champions from2 different colleges. So it was only me who had to take up the whole responsibilty. Carrom is one game i tell u where if both the players are good then it becomes little disadvantageous to the team. It is always better that one take the hold of the game and the other person plays for his partner. This was how I used to win a lot of games when i was in college. Seeni used to play for me and it was that understanding that helped us winning.
Even though we gave a tough fight coming back from 19 – 0 we eventually lost it 29 - 21. The game went on till 11 in the night and i just wonder how i was able to play till that time. Ennala pasi thaanga mudiyathu. But this was very analogous to wht Thiruvalluvar had said
"Sevikku unavu illa tha pothu sirithu
vayirukku eeya padum"
I was totally involved in the game and i was very happy that i played well yesterday night. I reached home by 12 30 walking from my Honeywell office with my greatest companion "My iPod". Woke up to my Mom's call at 8 in the morning. It is ayudha Pooja today and she was shouting at me and asked me to go to Thatha’s place for Puja.
I came back to the real world from the wonderful world of carrom.
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