044. നിനയ്ക്കാതെ, നിനക്കായി.... (Malayalam)

07 October 2018


ഏതാനും ദിവസങ്ങൾക്കു മുമ്പ് ഞാൻ എഴുതി :

എൻ്റെ പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട രാജേഷ്,

നീ മടങ്ങി വരുകയാണ്.   തീർച്ചയായും നമ്മൾ വീണ്ടും ശംഖുമുഖം കടപ്പുറത്തു പോകും.  പഴയത് പോലെ ഒരു സായംകാലം നമ്മൾ തമാശകളിലൂടെ ചെലവഴിയ്‌ക്കും.  അതിനു ശേഷം കിഴക്കേകോട്ടയിലെ ആ ചെറിയ ഹോട്ടലിൽ പോയി പഴംപൊരിയും ചായയും കുടിയ്‌ക്കും.  ഞാൻ അടുത്ത അവധിയിൽ വരുന്നത് വരെ  കാത്തിരിയ്ക്കുക.    

ശേഷം നേരിൽ.

സസ്നേഹം,
രഞ്ജിത് 


മൊബൈൽ ഫോണുകളോ ഇൻറ്റർനെറ്റോ ഇല്ലാതിരുന്ന നമ്മുടെ കലാലയ കാലയളവിൽ നാം ഒരുപാട് സംസാരിച്ചിരുന്നു.   ആത്മാർത്ഥമായി.  മുഖത്തോട് മുഖം നോക്കി.

വെറുതെയിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ സൈക്കിളും എടുത്തു അടുത്ത് എവിടേയ്ക്കെങ്കിലും ഒരു സവാരി പതിവായിരുന്നു.  എന്നാലും പലപ്പോഴും അത്  ചെന്ന് അവസാനിക്കുന്നത്, എൻ്റെ ഉറ്റ സുഹൃത്തായ രാജേഷിൻ്റെ  വീട്ടിലായിരിയ്ക്കും.    ഞാൻ ഓർക്കുന്നു, അന്നത്തെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ഭ്രമം പുതിയതായി ഇറങ്ങിയ സിനിമകളിലെ പാട്ടുകൾ കാസെറ്റിൽ റെക്കോർഡ് ചെയ്തു വയ്ക്കുക എന്നതായിരുന്നു.   ആ കാലഘട്ടത്തിലെ എല്ലാ മലയാളം / തമിഴ് ചിത്രങ്ങളിലെ പാട്ടുകളും രാജേഷ് റെക്കോർഡ് ചെയ്തു വച്ചിരുന്നു.   തികഞ്ഞ ഒരു കമലഹാസൻ ഫാൻ എന്ന നിലയിൽ കമലഹാസൻ അഭിനയിച്ച മിക്ക സിനിമകളിലേയും പാട്ടുകളുടെ ഒരു സമാഹാരം രാജേഷ് സൂക്ഷിച്ചിരുന്നു.   "ശിങ്കാരവേലൻ" എന്ന കമലഹാസൻ ചിത്രത്തിലെ പാട്ടുകൾ ഞാൻ ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട് തുടങ്ങിയത് അവിടെ വച്ച് തന്നെയാണ്.


മാസത്തിൽ ഒരിയ്ക്കലോ,  ഏറി വന്നാൽ രണ്ട് മാസങ്ങളിൽ ഒരിയ്ക്കലോ നമ്മൾ ശംഖുമുഖം കടപ്പുറത്ത് പോകുന്നത് പതിവായിരുന്നു. കോളേജ് ജീവിതത്തിന് തൊട്ടു പിറകിൽ ഞാൻ ജോലി സംബന്ധമായി ഡൽഹിയിലും, രാജേഷ് ബാങ്ക് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥാനായി തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തിന് പുറത്തും പോയതോട്‌ കൂടി ആ പതിവ് അവസാനിയ്ക്കുകയായിരുന്നു.

വർഷങ്ങൾക്കിപ്പുറം, ഒരു അവധികാലത്ത് - 2015 ഓണക്കാലത്ത് നമ്മൾ വീണ്ടും ശംഖുമുഖത്ത് പോയി. കൂട്ടിനായി നമ്മുടെ മക്കളും - രാജേഷിന്റെ ഭവ്യയും, എൻ്റെ ഗോവിന്ദും ഗായത്രിയും. 

ഓണാഘോഷങ്ങൾ നടക്കുന്നതിനാൽ പതിവിലേറെ തിരക്കുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. വഴിയോര വാണിഭക്കാരുടെ സാനിധ്യവും,  മാതാപിതാക്കളുടെ കൈപിടിച്ചു നടക്കുന്ന കൊച്ചു കുട്ടികളുടെ കാഴ്ചയും എന്നെ ഗൃഹാതുരനാക്കി.

അന്നും നമ്മൾ പഴയ നാളുകളെ കുറിച്ച് സംസാരിച്ചതായി ഞാൻ വ്യക്തതയോടെ ഓർക്കുന്നു.  കുട്ടികളോടൊത്ത് നീ കടലിൽ ഇറങ്ങിയപ്പോൾ ഞാൻ മാറി നിന്ന് മറക്കാനാകാത്ത ചില ചിത്രങ്ങൾ പകർത്തുകയായിരുന്നു.

കുമിളകൾ ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്ന കളിപ്പാട്ടം, മക്കൾക്കെന്ന വ്യാജേന നമ്മൾ ഓരോന്ന് വാങ്ങി, അവർക്ക് കൊടുക്കാതെ കളിച്ചതും എന്ത് രസമായിരുന്നു!!

ഒടുവിൽ പിരിയുന്നതിന്  മുൻപായി,  തട്ടുകടയിൽ കയറിയതും..... എല്ലാം, എല്ലാം, നല്ല ഓർമ്മകൾ മാത്രം.....

എൻ്റെ രാജേഷ്.....

ഇന്ന്......... വർക്കലയിലെ സമുദ്രത്തിൽ നീ അലിഞ്ഞു ചേർന്നിരിക്കുന്നു..... ഇനി ഒരിയ്ക്കലും കാണാനാകാത്ത വിധം...... 

നീ അടങ്ങുന്ന ആ സമുദ്രജലം ഒഴുകി ഒഴുകി,  ഒരിയ്ക്കൽ ശംഖുമുഖത്തു വരും എന്ന് ഞാൻ വിശ്വസിയ്ക്കുന്നു.........

അന്ന് നാം വീണ്ടും കണ്ടുമുട്ടും....   

ഞാൻ നിന്നെ തിരിച്ചറിയും.....

നിന്നെ ഞാൻ സ്പർശിക്കും ..... 

തീർച്ച..........

043. A dyeing cause!

A dyeing cause!  - a participant in a Writing Challenge conducted by Bahrain Writers' Circle was reviewed favorably by Mr. Joey Fitzpatrick, a retired writer from the newpaper, The Herald in Halifax, Canada. 

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“Nobody else is awake”, that was the thought which crossed my mind when I was lying on the bed, awaiting the Goddess of Sleep to bless me. 

“Am I the only one awake in the midst of darkness at this point in time?”

“Why am I bereft of the much-needed five-letter word, ‘sleep’?”

A chain of questions radiated out of my head coercing me to find out the corresponding answers.  But, I was clueless.

Felt glad to know that the night lamp was also awake, perhaps beseeching the Goddess’ blessings – just like me!  

The time was almost two in the morning.   I felt jealous of my wife, as she was fast asleep.   I switched on the fluorescent lamp, with a deliberate intention to disturb her sleep.  After a grumble, inaudible albeit, she turned away from the light and resumed her slumber.

I have nothing to do with insomnia or any medical condition that indicate sleep deprivation.   What had taken the sleep out of me was a recent comment made by a parent during a function at my son’s school.  That off-the-cuff comment of his, which might have been a casual pleasantry for him was strong enough to steal my sleep.

He was just coming out of the classroom with his son after meeting the teacher.  On seeing me and my son awaiting our turn, he asked my son, “How are you?  Your Dad couldn’t come?”

The question posed by the stranger did vex me, especially when my son and I bear a striking resemblance to each other.   But I could make out where he was coming from, as I saw him looking at my more-salt, less-pepper hair while talking to my son.  He must’ve thought that my son was accompanied by his grandfather!

Bringing myself to the present, I looked at the mirror.  

“True, my head has become very rich – from black metal to silver”.   I was tempted, but stood confused – whether to dye or not!   

It was not going to be an easy game at all for me to get into the habit of  dyeing,  as I had been a strong anti-dyeing advocate.   Many a time, I had efficaciously argued on the matter with my wife and other people who either supported or sported dyeing.  For the sake of a debate, I used to give lectures on the drastic side effects of dyeing based on true and untrue scientific reasons and also embellishing it with made-up stories about people in faraway countries who lost their hair and complexion due to excessive dyeing. 

I sat down at the corner of the bed, contemplating.  

Then, I decided.   I decided to swim against the tide – but on a safer route.   I didn’t wish to be paraded by those who were put paid to my arguments whenever they see me with glossy black/brown hair.

I prepared my own answers to defend any potential questions, as to why I changed my stand and started dyeing my hair.  As I had been voicing against applying “artificial colours”, I felt that nobody would dare blame me for violating my argument points, if I do a henna treatment on my hair.

Having decided to proceed, without making much noise,  I rummaged in the cupboard in our dressing room.  Thankfully, I could get hold of a packet of powdered henna, with the label ‘100% Natural Henna”.  

Yes, it said “natural”.

I read the instructions on the pack many times to ensure that I wasn’t doing any mess-up with my hair.  I felt quite agnostic at the list of ingredients mentioned in their biological names, but nothing stopped me. .  

“Soak the powder for 5 to 6 hours, apply the paste on your hair and then leave it on for 3 to 4 hours”.

The time was almost three. 

“Oh!   If I go by the instructions word-by-word, the process will not be completed even by lunch time the next day”, I thought.    

I slipped in to the bathroom, cut opened the packet and made the henna paste with utmost secrecy.  But, I realized to my dismay that I had partially tanned the wash basin and the floor by spilling the henna paste!  I dreaded the consequences that were bound to happen the next morning, when the now-sleeping-beauty gets up.   I sprang into action to clean the bathroom at half past three – something I had never done in all these donkey’s years!!   What a plight at night!

I waited patiently in the bathroom, for the paste to set in.  I envisioned my potential appearance, and how everybody will be complimenting me for the new look.   After waiting restlessly for an hour, I applied the paste using my bare hands, in the same manner as how we apply hair oil, because I couldn’t get a pair of gloves.   Don’t ask me how my palm looked like afterwards!

But I had to pay for my inexperience and lack of adroitness, when I realized that I had applied henna on the bathroom floor too!   I jumped into action again – cleaning the bathroom, the second time in a span of two hours!! 

After the cumbersome cleaning exercise, I found it prudent not to bail out to the bedroom, as I had no fascination to do any more cleaning.  Having lost my patience,   I washed the paste off my head without adhering to the instructions on the henna packet.  With increased anxiety,  I  looked at the bathroom mirror.

“Awesome! No white strands!”     

Coming out to the bedroom quite excitedly, I looked into the mirror again after switching on all the lights. 

“Oh! My God!”, I literally screamed, and that awakened my wife out of her sleep with a jolt, screaming likewise, as a reflex. 

 “What is this??  What have you done with your hair??”

My hair  had turned completely brown as if it was varnished.   I didn’t know what to do.  So, I didn’t argue either.   I knew that I will be a laughing stock in the office if I go in this peacock design! 

Feeling abashed, I asked my wife to suggest an immediate remedy.   With a smirk on her face, she suggested that the only quick and effective choice left was to use a black dye to cover up the brown shade.

“No way!   The harmful effects of the chemicals in the dye…..”.   But, my wife stopped my discourse by handing over a sachet of black dye, which obviously contained artificial colours and chemicals.  Hesitantly, I applied the dye, waited for another hour, washed it off and came out of the bathroom – just to find my wife sleeping calmly as if nothing had happened.

I looked at the mirror and felt good!   “Yes, I am looking much younger.  Why was I against this magic all these years?”

Feeling quite exhilarated, I couldn’t help singing aloud.  Luckily, nobody else was awake!

042. The Tirthas of Rameswaram

(This note is written based on the inspiration from the bedtime stories that I heard from my parents in my childhood, followed by my visit to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi in October 2016 and later from the available resources that I had read up due to my curiosity on the historical / mythological importance of the captioned subject).

Namaste[1]  from India!

Vanakkam[2]  from Tamil Nadu!

Namaskaram[3]  from Ramanathapuram District!

Nice to meet you here, at  Rameswaram  -   9.2876° N, 79.3129° E

Blessings from the Ramanathaswamy Temple!    

For the sake of non-Indian readers,  I would like to pen down a little  on the backdrop before diving in to the rubric.  

You are with me at Rameswaram, a temple town which is spread across an area of nearly 60 sqm,  or,  in geographical terms,  we are at the tip of the Indian peninsula, in a conch-shaped island, roughly 40 kilometres away from Sri Lanka’s Mannar Island.    The history of Rameswaram revolves around the Ramanathaswamy Temple, which is situated close to the sea on the eastern side of the island.   It is worthwhile to experience being at the beach of Rameswaram, one with no waves at all, for its waves rise only up to a level of 3 centimetres!  From a religious perspective, Rameswaram is considered by the Hindus as one of the four divine pilgrimage sites others being  Badrinath, Puri and Dwaraka.

The word “Rameswara” literally means Eswara (Lord) of Sri Rama, who is Lord Siva, the presiding deity of the Ramanathswamy Temple.  According to the Hindu mythology, Sri Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya  is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu[4],  and is believed to have worshipped Lord Siva at  Rameswaram.  The history of Ramanathaswamy Temple dates back to the period of Ramayana - an ancient Indian epic (and, one of the largest ancient epics in world literature)  which narrates the life of Sri Rama and his struggle to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king  Ravana.   The temple is believed to have been built by Lord Rama,  which was later expanded by the Pandya kings who were ruling the Ramanathapuram region up to the 15^th century.

According to Hindu traditional beliefs, it is customary for one  to set out on a pilgrimage to seek and attain God.   It is deemed a bliss to have a  bath in the River Ganges (Ganga),  seek blessings of Lord Kashi Viswanath (Varanasi, India), wash away the sins at  Agni Tirtha (Rameswaram) and conclude the pilgrimage by seeking the blessings of Rameswar (Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram) to complete one’s life cycle.    Therefore, Rameswaram possesses a superlative importance according to Hindu customs and beliefs.   For one’s spiritual attainment,   Hindu believers traverse to Rameswaram,  from Jammu & Kashmir (North of  India), Kanyakumari (South of India), Kolkatta (East of India) and Mumbai (West of India) on a regular basis, which is equally considered, in modern terms,  as an initiative towards national integrity.

To know more about the Tirthas (holy water bodies) of Rameswaram, it is important to understand how the Tirthas are associated with Ramayana.   Sri Rama, an epitome of love and virtue had to undergo a 14 year long exile to the forest just before his coronation as King of Ayodhya.   His wife, Sita and brother Lakshmana volunteered to accompany him to the forest.   The exile which had been peaceful, got turbulent after Sita was abducted by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.   Grief stricken Rama, along with Lakshmana,  wandered through the forests in search of Sita.   The search remained unfruitful till they met Sugriva, the exiled monkey-king of  Kishkindha.    Sugriva and his Minister, Hanuman, vowed to assist Rama in tracing and rescuing Sita.   Hanuman, with his monkey army travelled southwards and landed on the Gandhamadhana Parvatha[5] situated along the south-eastern coast of India.   It is this place that is marked in Ramayana as the present Rameswaram.  

More on the epic is out of our current scope, but I wish to highlight that Ramayana continues to narrate very exhilarating turn of events including how Hanuman, as Lord Rama’s messenger,  flew across the sea to Lanka and his success in finding her whereabouts, followed by Lord Rama and his army’s  mission to rescue Sita from Ravana, the details of the Rama-Ravana war,  coronation of Lord Rama and so on and so forth. 

The Tirthas of Rameswaram are the 64  holy wells (some sources say 53, though)  and water bodies in and around Rameswaram.   According to the  Puranas[6],  24 of them are highly significant,  and having a holy dip in these Tirthas is  considered  a vital aspect of the pilgrimage to Rameswaram and is equivalent to undertaking a penance.   22 of them  are located within the Ramanathaswamy Temple.  It is believed that the number 22 depicts the 22 arrows in the quiver of Lord Rama.    The other two of the 24 Tirthas are Agni Tirtha, which is the serene shallow water close to the Ramanathaswamy Temple and Sethu Tirtha, located at Dhanushkodi[7], which is nearly 20 kilometres away from Rameswaram.  A bath at Dhanushkodi is considered sacred because of  the meeting of two mighty water bodies -  Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.    

The name “Dhanushkodi”, is derived from the Sanskrit word, “Dhanus”  which means low and Tamil word, “kodi”   which  means tip (of the bow).     It is from here that Sri Rama constructed the causeway to reach Lanka, and hence the causeway is also known as Rama Sethu[8].    Rama Sethu is the bridge made of  floating stones built by the monkey army to reach Lanka for rescuing  Sita.    There are images of Rama Sethu and floating stones available in the realm of the internet.  

Another prominent Tirtha of Rameswaram, the  Villundi Tirtha,  is a well,   which provides non-salty, drinkable water despite its location amidst sea waters,  around 30 metres away from the main land.  According to mythology, it is said that Lord Rama, while victoriously bringing Sita back from Lanka,  shot an arrow in to the sea, when she sought water to quench her thirst.   The spent arrow fell at this particular point at Thankachi Madom,  creating a spring fountain to satiate many thirsty throats, and was later known by the name,  Villundi Tirtha.

Benefits and beliefs that are associated with the 22 Tirthas located within the Ramanathaswamy Temple are aplenty.   Taking a dip in the sacred waters of these Tirthas, is  believed to bless the devotees with each of their  unique  powers.

Sree Mahalakshmi Tirtha is the first Tirtha among the 22 inside the temple.  A dip in it blesses the devotees with adequate wealth and happiness and frees them from the earthly sins.

Savithri Tirtha,  Gayathri Tirtha & Saraswathi Tirtha, are wells,  taken after the  names of rivers of India,   favour the devotees to get rid of all kinds of curses cast upon them.

Sethumadhava Tirtha, is a holy tank which looks beautiful as it is suffused with lily flowers and purifies the hearts of all those bathe in its holy water.

Those who take a dip in Gandhamadana Tirtha,  will be blessed with good fortune and elimination of poverty.

Kavacha Tirtha, the seventh well within the contours of the Ramanathaswamy  Temple assures the devotee redemption from hell, after his life.

Gavaya Tirtha, is another holy water body in the form of a well which blesses those who have a bath with its water, to get shelter under the Kalpavriksha[9]  and fulfil the aspirations.

As an extension to the benefits of the holy dip in the Kavacha Tirtha,  the Nala Tirtha assures a place in heaven  after life on earth.

In resonance with the Nala Tirtha, the waters of Neela Tirtha help attain bliss equivalent to having performed various penances.

Sanku Tirtha,  is in a way, more beneficial for you and me living in the modern times, the holy waters of which wash away the sins of having been ungrateful.

Chakra Tirtha, the well connected to the Chakras[10] of our physical state,  blesses the devotee with good health and longevity.

There are many Tirthas capable enough to liberate the devotees who bathe in their waters from their sins.    Such include the thirteenth Tirtha,  the Brahmahathi Vimochana Tirtha and the twentieth Tirtha, the Satyamithra Tirtha.

Soorya Tirtha & Chandra Tirtha, named after the Sun and the Moon respectively are  believed to bless the devotees with knowledge and insight about their past, present and future.

Ganga Tirtha, Yamuna Tirtha & Gaya Tirtha – the first two named after the prominent rivers of India provide water to grant the power of knowledge and attain wisdom.

Siva Tirtha, a well in the name of Lord Siva blesses the devotees by  obliterating their sins, if any, obtained by talking ill of Lord Vishnu or Lord Siva.

Sarva Tirtha, the twenty first  Tirtha within the confines of the temple is believed to bless the devotees who bathe in its waters with “all” ( Sarva means all or entire) the benefits of all the 22 Tirthas in temple and in all fourteen worlds[11].

Kodi Tirtha, as the name Kodi[12] suggests, is the most sacred of all the Tirthas and has tremendous powers.  It is believed to be the holy well where Lord Krishna[13]  was absolved of the sins he had inherited by killing Kamsa.  

It is here, in the holy waters of this sublime temple town, that my father’s last rites were performed.  The beautiful memories of Rameswaram, Dhanushkodi and the serene, shallow waters around, leave me in a trance and will always remain so dear to me.

---

[1] A respectful greeting in Hindi language

[2] Vanakkam (in Tamil language) means greeting with respect.

[3] Same as Namaste

[4] A Hindu God

[5] A hillock situated 3 kilometres to the north of the temple

[6] Mythological texts

[7] An abandoned town at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The town was destroyed during the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone and remains uninhabited in the aftermath.

[8] Also known as Adam’s Bridge

[9] A wish fulfilling sacred tree mentioned in Hindu mythology

[10] Cycles

[11] According to Hindu holy texts, there are fourteen worlds that are extant.

[12] Crore (10 million)

[13] A Hindu God - another incarnation of Lord Vishnu

041. Silent thoughts.....

He peeped at me, perhaps for the last time.
No, not at me, but at the empty chair.
No, not an empty chair, but a silenced chair.

The chair was silenced.
No, not the chair, for I was silenced.
He peeped at me before I was silenced.

I was silenced, could be because I was unimportant.
No, it could be because of my nationality.
No, it could be because I was not fair, I mean, I was unfair.

I was silenced, perhaps I was sipping my tea aloud.
Or, I was silenced because of my position.
No, could be because I was a real noise!

Its time to change.
No, not to change my importance, for I am helpless,
No, not to change my nationality, for I am proud of it
And, no, not my fairness, nor my tea,

Not my noise anymore,  for I am already silent.

Its time to change.
Its time to change myself and start peeping back.
Its time to ignore when you are silenced.
And, its  time to talk when you are silenced.
But, they are all thoughts!
My silent thoughts!

Silent thoughts, for I cannot peep back! Alas!
I can only smile back!
I can only smile at, with benign gratitude.

I realize that I can neither peep at, nor smile at!
For, my chair remains vacant.

Where am I?
My thoughts too are silent!

040. Motherly, yours

Abridged version published by DAILY TRIBUNE (WEEKENDER) - BAHRAIN on 15 March 2018 in connection with Mothers' Day

March 21 - Mothers’ Day.    Mother is the greatest of all gifts,  life has to offer!

Amma, my mother, the protagonist here is akin to a superwoman possessing stupendous energy levels to multitask round-the-clock for efficaciously managing home and the people living there!   Managing me and my tantrums demanded an exemplary calibre, so to say.    Before introducing her, it would be worth taking you through those memory lanes!   

It was my first day in school after getting promoted to Grade 8.  As if watching a suspense thriller, I was skimming through the lists of students (allotted to different Divisions),  that were ceremoniously pasted on the doors of the designated class rooms.   After a frantic search for my name starting from the list of  Division A,  I found myself allotted to Division G.   Typically, the next search was to find out my prospective classmates,  as the school used to shuffle the students and reallocate their Divisions every year, for reasons oblivious to me.  The next in the search pattern was an enquiry as to who the class teacher would be, and whether or not he’d be lenient towards children who do not complete the homework on time.  

But, I was baffled when I scanned the list for the second time.  In the list was the one name I dreaded the most, “Saurabh” - my rival, my contender, my competitor, or all these rolled into one.  And, ruefully I realized that his presence was bound to make my Grade 8, a wretched one!   I had a gut feeling that Saurabh who also happened to be my neighbour was poised to obliterate my happiness.

It was just a little while ago that I had stepped into the school keeping my head high under the notion that I had become a “big” man.  The misconception started when the combination of school uniforms was changed from shirt-shorts to shirt-trousers for high school students.   But, all my excitement drained out when I found out  myself sharing the class with Saurabh!  

The label of  a “high school boy” turned out to be a liability for me.   Because, all of a sudden,  an unsolicited “bunch” of well wishers  including my relatives and neighbours popped up from nowhere expressing their  utmost concern and curiosity about my studies, trying to goad the importance of high school in one’s life! 

Due to the pressure infused by the people around,  Amma pressed the panic button by binding me with tuitions and beefing up the frequency of such classes per week.   Tension and frustration within myself knew no bounds as I shuttled between tuition class and school, before and after school hours while Saurabh remained nonchalant without any tuitions to attend.   

Saurabh, a relatively brilliant student, progressively posed to be tough competition in class and soon and I ended up relating my plight to the historical running race between the hare and the tortoise.     We remained good friends and had many similarities but there remained a consistent disparity when it came to our marks!  He stayed superior as all his marks were “remarkably marked”!  

On many occasions, I used to ponder why Amma didn’t join the police force.  Though Amma seemed to be unassuming, I felt that she had all the necessary competence required for a super cop.   Knowing my proficiency in swerving away from class tests, for instance, she started strategically cross checking the facts with Saurabh in my absence.  Subsequently, I had to encounter her rapid shoots that used to culminate in my embarrassment, as my facial expressions defied me whenever I tried to hide the truth.

I was under tremendous pressure immediately after the results of the first term examination were announced because I could not reach anywhere near Saurabh in the marks we both obtained.  I felt so awkward that I decided to study harder for the second term examination and wrote the examinations with a boosted confidence.    

Till date I don’t know why, but Saurabh too had also thought on similar lines!

After a short break, the school reopened for the final term.    The evaluated mark sheets were ritually distributed by the teachers for a quick verification before entering the marks in the Progress Report.   Unlike previous terms, I was relatively relaxed while receiving my answer sheets, especially that of  Mathematics and  English,  the subjects I believed I  had written pretty well.    

On contrary to my beliefs, my ego suffered a colossal dent when the full set of answer sheets were distributed.   There was a humongous difference in marks obtained by Saurabh and myself for all the subjects, let alone Mathematics & English!

Anticipating the impending mark-comparison activity upon reaching home, I had no other option but to indulge in some foul play to save my face.  I conspired with myself to report my marks with a realistic inflation thereby giving an impression that the difference between the marks of Saurabh and mine was not that exorbitant.  I had my own apprehensions to execute the conspiracy, as the first person waiting to attack me on the firing line would be Amma.

The most “afflicted” was the marks we got for Biology as I could get only 25 while Saurabh scored 45.   As I walked back home from school, I worked on the inflation strategy.  When I left the school gate,   I upgraded my mark to 30.   But, 30 was not convincing for me, as there still existed a huge difference between mine and Saurabh’s.    I had the slowest walk of my life to delay the probable encounter.  By the time I reached my doorstep, I had inflated my marks so realistically that I reported my Biology mark as 40 out of 50.    With a sigh of relief, Amma patted my back for trying my best in securing good marks.

Escaping Amma’s gunfire by passing the first trial wilily, I repeated the inflation theory for all the subjects, but with a realistic buffer.    Amma was thrilled as her son has scored 80% and the son was happy that the ordeal was over.

After about two weeks,  I, having blissfully forgotten the augmented marks,  presented the Progress Report for her to sign.   After a quick glance, she returned it to me, sans her signature.   Without uttering a word, she got off her chair and walked to the kitchen.    I followed her.  She opened her kitchen shelf and took out her note book which she used to jotting down recipes and kitchen-related accounts.

She extended the book to me opening the penultimate page and asked,  "How much did you score for Biology?"  Looking at the Progress Card,  I said - "25”.  

She reconfirmed - "Not 40, is it?!"

She repeated the same questions, for all subjects.  I was caught red handed by the mother cop. I learned that mothers are not to be underestimated! 

TODAY, as I write this,  Saurabh is living in Texas and we are still friends.  Me, thanks to my mother’s love & affection, I enjoy where I am, what I am, who I am.

Happy Mothers’ Day!

038. Valentine's D(i)a(r)y !

PUBLISHED IN DAILY TRIBUNE - WEEKENDER (BAHRAIN) ON  08 FEBRUARY 2018

February 13:

The day was almost insignificant being a holiday – I spent most of the time eating, drinking and having periodic naps.

But, it wasn’t so, factually speaking!  For, the “day” started at night when I was about to retire to bed, with a reminder from my wife of the Valentine’s Day, which threw me into a conundrum.

Valentine’s Day or St. Valentine had never been there in either of our priorities until last year.  To show off my knowledge on global matters, especially to impress my wife during those initial days post wedding, I set off to introduce St Valentine, Lupercalia and narrate the history behind the exchange of candy, flowers and gifts representing romantic love and the ilk.  Unfortunately, my discourse on Valentine’s Day shot off at a tangent and culminated in a debate as to whether the romantic love or whatsoever is meant to be expressed only on this particular day.  I did my best to win the squabble, but had to concede defeat due to lack of evidence! 

I am yet to get over those haunting memories on how that Valentine’s Day turned out to be an elephantine one!    I had to take a day off and do many undesired chores including driving around beauty parlours,  boutiques, crowded downtown market, and the much-hated task of being an onlooker and pushing the shopping trolley at the hypermarket giving unabashed  yawns.  The day somehow ended with an unromantic candle-light dinner (as the tired me continued yawning), and the holistic drain on my wallet added to my discomfort.  I wished that Valentine’s Day was banned.

Today, I was feeling relieved until I was about to cover myself with the quilt, presuming that the date was forgotten.  But, having hinted  it, I got up from the bed to write this note with the intention of escaping from the burning topic as she has started listing out some to-do-things including visits to some newly opened shops.

Although I have polished my skills by now on how to evade these attacks, what makes me feel angst is the way I was caught off-guard.  I have set an important client meeting tomorrow evening which might be prolonged till midnight.

February 14:

Thankfully, my wife did not remember the importance of this date in the morning.  I too had completely forgotten about it until we all parted after the client meeting by 11 pm. 

11 pm!?  I reconfirmed the time on my phone. In the midst of our meet-and-eat, time remained insignificant.   But, what really was significant, was the absence of any missed calls or messages from my wife.  

A lull before the storm!  I visualized her anger for not celebrating Valentine’s Day despite her reminder.  I thought that even if I drive home at supersonic speed, I wouldn’t reach home before midnight!   I trembled, like a child who takes home his progress report from school with lots of marks and scores (not in the obvious meaning, though).  With quivering hands, I looked at her WhatsApp status, which showed her as “online”.  Then, why wasn’t she calling me up to check?  I wished I could receive her call at once and get the tirade on phone rather than have a face-to-face encounter!  

It was too late to buy anything – not even a box of chocolates. Shame on me,  I should have at least ordered a dinner for her.  I could feel a full blown band beating within me as I approached my home.  All my courage had vanished by then.  I wished for salvation!

I opened the gate and parked the car.   It was absolute darkness as no lights were turned on inside the house.  That gave me a breather, as I assumed that she would be fast asleep.  

With regained strength, I unlocked the main door, anticipating a verbal assault.

“HAPPY VALENTINES DAY…….”, she shouted from behind the door without switching on the lights.   I shuddered.

I could see only the dining table spread with lots of dishes, as it was lit with fresh candles on a candelabra. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!