Jingle all the way

Chapter 1

We were seated in the canteen - I and Sid.

I am Jiva - shortly 'Jiv' and 'Sid' in his fullness is S.I.Dinesh.

Sid was silent. It was unusual of him. I couldn't assume that he was focusing on eating, because he couldn't have developed a good habit like that in two days.

"You are unusually silent Sid....for the past two days"

"I am alright Jiv, may be I am tired because of the late night calls". He tried to smile.

"Oh...I see, the courting phase..huh? So, you guys getting to know each other?"

"I guess so".

I noticed the lack of interest in his answer.

"Sid...you look like you are haunted...you can tell me if you have a problem."

He looked up halfway through that sentence. He looked terrified.

"Is everything alright with Nisha?"

"Yeah...she's cool".

He was just looking at the food...now fiddling it with the spoon. "Jiv...shall we discuss after office hours?".

"Sure man...no problem".

Chapter 2

We were walking towards the parking area. I tried looked at his face. It appeared to me as if he was rehearsing his monologue. After a few more steps, I stopped near my bike. He continued walking towards his bike. I called out.

"Sid...do you want to talk now?"

"Sure..Jiv"

I folded my hands and looked at him as if to say that I was ready.

"Jiv..what I am going to tell you may sound crazy, funny..or whatever GRE word you want to use."

"..."

"Ok....I moved into a new house 2 months back - after my engagement". He looked at my eyes for the first time during that conversation. He had a 'you know about it' expression.

"Yes...". He had invited me a lot of times...but I never visited. "So, is he angry with me?" - I asked myself.

"For the past one month, every night around 12, I have been hearing the jingling sound...of anklets..."

I realized why he hesitated so much to talk to me. He must have thought that I would make fun of him.

"Something strange happened the last two nights....I generally switch off the TV before going to bed...in fact well before that. The TV somehow gets switched on during the night."

He shook his head and continued..."Look...it may sound very foolish. I have tried to think this out rationally...but I am scared...I am scared"

I was still looking at him. I was trying to make out if he was making up this story to hide something else.

"So...this is what is happening", he concluded.

Sid is someone who talks with common sense. We together have made fun of people who told us such stories. So, I decided to see it for myself.

"Ok...we go to my room now. Let me pick up some items and then we go to your room. I am staying there tonight. Alright?"

He seemed to get back a bit of his usual radiance.

"Thanks Jiv!!"

Chapter 3

After dinner, we reached his house. It was an independent one. There were a few more houses around. Only a few of them seemed occupied. The very next house was vacant.

"Most houses seem vacant.."

"Yeah...the area is just coming up"

"You think Nisha could manage alone here"

"These should be occupied in a month..that's what I hear. Let us get in"

We got in. Instinctively, I dropped myself in the couch in the hall.

"It will be good if at least the next house is occupied", I said with a yawn.

"It was occupied. There was fire accident one month back...electrical leakage. So, they have temporarily moved out"...he dropped himself in the couch opposite to me. As he sat, he said, "or may be permanently...I am not sure". He sounded discouraged.

I looked around the hall. I gazed at the TV and said..."that must be the haunted TV".

He nodded.

"Jiv...it's almost 10. Nisha is probably waiting for me online. Late already. I will use that bed room. You can take the other one. Blanket, pillow everything is inside. You can feel at home".

"Sid...what time do you sleep?"

"Around 12"...and with that he went inside.

I went closer to the TV. It was placed on a TV rack. There were some news papers in the space under it and a stand to hold mobile phone. I put my phone in it and switched on the charger.

I switched on the TV and sat back on the couch. The room had a nice jasmine aroma. I started scanning the book rack from where I was. There were a few ghost stories. I smiled to myself and thought he may have been reading too much of them. I got up and picked a non-fiction to read . Switched off the TV and came back to the couch.

Chapter 4

I woke up suddenly....and looked at the wall clock. It was 11.30pm. I had slept off on the couch itself. The night was so silent that I could hear the clock's arm moving second by second. There was no sound from the room where Sid was. I thought he must have slept. After a few sleepless nights, my presence should have given him some assurance, after all.

I thought of switching on the TV and the decided against it, lest, I might prevent the 'miracle' from happening. I tried to concentrate on the book again.

Around 11.55, I began to notice the jingling sound. It was feeble first..then I began to hear it better...and better. Seemed like someone wearing anklets was walking closer to the house. There was another sound accompanying it, which I could not clearly make out.

My heart started pounding. I looked at the TV expectantly...it remained silent.

I decided to open the door and reached it with quick steps. The sound stopped for a moment or two. I couldn't open the door though. Sid must have locked it. I was able to hear the jingling sound again. I ran to the window and tried to peek out. The sound started fading now. It seemed to be moving away from the next house which according to Sid had had a fire accident and no one lived now. I stopped hearing the sound in a few seconds.

I came back to the couch leaving the window open. I sat there expecting the sound to re-occur.

I tried to recall what happened. The sound was surely close to jingling of anklets. It sounded as if someone walked along the road outside. Could have been a human. Why did the sound stop when I opened the window? Why 11.55pm?

I switched on the TV, just to make sure it worked fine. I kind of expected it to show a scene from some ghost movie....but no, it didn't. I switched off the TV and laid down in the couch itself. My brain started running a slide show of all the horror movies I had watched. I got up, closed the window and came back to the couch. I tried hard to stop thinking of the ghost stories I had heard.

Chapter 5

When I woke up in the morning, it was 7.10. I looked at the TV...it was quiet. In place of my phone, Sid's phone was in the charger. He must have already woken up. I tried to decide whether to tell him about what happened the previous night.

"Good morning Jiv"

"Very good morning Sid. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, after a long time. You seem to have slept off in the couch. Did you sleep well?"

"I did. So any paranormal activity lat night?"

"No Jiv...did you hear anything?"

I had already decided the response.

"No Sid...I didn't hear anything. I guess the TV didnt wake up abruptly either."

"But Jiv, it really happened the last 2 nights. You won't believe me now."

"Let's see...I give you one more night".

He raised both his thumbs. He must have felt glad to have company.

Chapter 6

We reached his house a little early that evening. I stopped at the neighboring house.

"Sid...you keep moving..I will be there in a minute".

Sid who had already reached his gate by the time, stood there looking at me. There was no sign of anyone having been there. I started walking towards Sid's house.

"No one is trying to repair it?"

"Yeah..they do...on week ends", Sid said as he opened the door.

After refreshing, Sid started preparing dinner. I was in the hall, browsing in Sid's laptop. Sid's house had a modular kitchen overlooking the hall. So, we were able to talk even as he was busy in the kitchen.

"Sid, the sound that you said you heard, which direction was it from?"

He pointed to the direction in which I had heard it.

"You hear it from inside?"

"No, I usually sleep in the hall...it was only yesterday that I slept in the bed room."

"So...you chat with Nisha till around 12 and when you are about to sleep you hear the sound. Any idea what time the TV gets switched on?"

"Not sure, the day before yesterday, I was woken up by the sound from the TV at around 1.30"

"So, somewhere between 12 and 1.30?"

"Yes..."

Yahoo messenger suddenly popped up.

"Nisha_666: Hi Siddu da"

"Dude...your fiancee is pinging"

I carried the laptop and gave it to him.

He gave it a few feather touches and gave the laptop back to me.

"I have logged off"

"Sid...her ID is Nisha_666?"

"Yes Jiv...she was born on 6th June 1986." His face became terrified as he said that. May be he hadn't paid much attention to the "666" until I asked him about it. He came to the hall and stood near me.

"Jiv...I am confused now. Things have been going weird only after our engagement. The fire accident in the next house...the jingling sound, the TV getting on..everything"

"Sid...calm down. Sit!". He sat down...but did not appear to have calmed down.

"Sid...your engagement was 2 months back. The accident happened just 1 month back..right?"

"Yes, more or less"

"Ok...and the TV thing is happening only for the last two days?"

"Yes..." he looked at the TV rack saying that. "The mobile stand...I received it 3 days back. It was gifted by Nisha. Jiv, I am confused".

"Ok...Ok...wait...don't get crazy. Let me think".

"Have you switched off the stove? Do that first." That gave me a few seconds to steady myself.

"Ok...I want you to do as I say."

"..."

"See, nothing happened last night. So, don't panic. I am sorry..I shouldn't have asked you about Nisha. It was a mistake. Let us think rationally."

"No...you are right. May be nothing happened last night because she knew you were here".

"What the hell are you talking..ok...ok...give me a minute. Easy."

"Don't tell her that I am staying back tonight. But behave normal. Just go ahead with your chat tonight....and try to extend it till after 12"

It took some effort to calm him down. I prepared the dinner and had to eat it myself. He didn't take anything. He was trying to divert his mind by watching TV.

I spent some time browsing. Around 10, he went in to chat. I asked him to leave his cell phone with me.

I took the keys from him. Latched the hall door without locking it. I put his phone on charge in the mobile stand gifted by Nisha. I kept it back under the TV and switched off the TV. Left the window open.

Chapter 7

I could not concentrate on the book. I just sat there and waited for the two arms of the clock to come together. There was no sound till 12.05.

Then, I heard the sound approaching. I peeped out of the window. The sound was nearing the window. I could not control my anxiety and ran to the door and went out.

I saw a old man pedaling his cycle towards Sid's house. His cycle keys were making the jingling sound. I quickly checked if he had legs...and laughed at myself for being such a fool. The old man and I exchanged looks. He seemed to smile at me. He crossed Sid's gate and stopped at the neighboring house. As he switched on the light near the gate, he asked me if I am the one who lived in the house. I nodded. Without me asking anything, he explained that every night he switched on the light at the neighboring house on his way back to his house. He was the watchman of this house. He had found a job elsewhere now. His son switched it off in the morning. He wished me and started pedaling again, his keys making the jingling sound.

It was a big relief for me. I thought everything was solved at last. I started walking towards the door. The jingling sound was fading. I came in. Locked the door behind me. Sid came out of the bed room. He was puzzled to see the big grin on my face. As I was about to explain what just happened, suddenly, the TV switched on itself. The grin was gone off my face. As we were both looking at the TV in shock, there was a text message in Sid's phone. I grabbed the phone. The message was from Nisha. It read "Sweet dreams :)".

Sid was spellbound. But, that message made things clear to me.

"Sid, after your chat every night, you put your phone on charge in that mobile stand?"

Sid who was still terrified, just nodded his head.

"And..in the morning when you wake up, you see Nisha's text message?"

"Yes...what does it mean?"

"It means...your house is haunted, BY FEAR".

"Some TV sets get switched on by the radiation signals received by mobile phones if they are kept close to the TV. Ever since you told me this problem, I have been searching google to find reasons as to why a TV set would get switched on automatically. Only today evening I came across a discussion thread where someone has reported this problem. The TV gets automatically switched on a couple of moment before any text message is received."

I demonstrated it to convince him. "See..." I said with a big grin.

He appeared relieved. "What about the jingling?"

"That's easier. But obviously, I could not find the answer for that through google. It's your neighbor's watchman". I explained that part of the story to him.

He hugged me. He seemed excited. It did not appear that he was going to sleep anymore. I was tired though. I slept off in the couch.

Chapter 8

Nisha received a text message from Sid - "Game over. Well Played!!"

The End

Post script: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1066071

சிலை வழி மேவும் உளி ஒலி தேடி - I

"களங்களும் அதிர
களிறுகள் பிளிற..
சோழம் அழைத்துப் போவாயோ.."

ஆயிரத்தில் ஒருவன் திரையிசைப்பாடலின் வரிகள் இவை. பாலா மீண்டும் மீண்டும் கேட்கும் பாடல் இது. பாடலின் தாக்கத்தில் முடிவு செய்திருக்க வேண்டும். நவம்பர் மாதத்தில் அவர் எங்களைப் பெரம்பலூருக்கு அழைத்தார். அங்கிருந்து கங்கைகொண்ட சோழபுரம் அழைத்துப் போவதாகக் கூறினார்.

தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி அவர்கள் எழுதிய "தமிழர் நாகரிகமும் பண்பாடும்" என்ற புத்தகத்தின் பக்கங்கள் கண் முன் விரிந்தன. புத்தகப் பக்கத்தில் படிப்பதை விட, அப்பெட்டகங்களின் பக்கத்திலேயே படிக்கலாம் என்ற ஆவல் எழுந்தது. அத்திட்டத்தை அப்படியே தாரசுரம், தஞ்சை என நீட்டித்தான் சுரேஷ்.

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பெரம்பலூரிலிருந்து காலை 6.30க்கு கிளம்பி, அரியலூர், ஜெயங்கொண்டம் வழியே கங்கை கொண்ட சோழபுரம்; அங்கிருந்து அணைக்கரை வழியே கும்பகோணம் தாராசுரம்; அங்கிருந்து தஞ்சை பெரிய கோயில்; மாலை 6.30க்கு தஞ்சையில் இருந்து ஈரோட்டிற்குப் புகை வண்டி - இதுவே எங்கள் திட்டம். பன்னிரண்டு மணி நேரத்தில், பல நூற்றாண்டுப் பயணம். இது வழிபாட்டுப் பயணம் அல்ல, பண்பாட்டுப் பயணம் என்பதைத் தீர்மானித்துக்கொண்டோம்.

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தொடரும் முன் ஒரு மைக்ரோ-மினி வரலாறு: முதன்முதலில் கற்கள் கொண்டு கோயில்களைக் கட்டுவித்தவர்கள் பல்லவர்கள். மாமல்லபுரம் தொடக்க நிலை. இதற்கு முன் சுதைமண்ணிலும் மரத்திலும் கோயில்கள் இருந்ததை அறிகிறோம். மாமல்லபுரம் கடற்கரைக் கோயிலின் பரிணாம வளர்ச்சியே இடைக்காலச் சோழர்களும், பிற்காலச் சோழர்களும் கட்டுவித்தவை. இவற்றின் விமான வடிவு பௌத்த மதத்தின் தாக்கத்தில் ஏற்பட்டவை என்று கூறுகின்றனர்.

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கங்கை கொண்ட சோழபுரம்

ஜெயங்கொண்டத்தில் இருந்து அணைக்கரை செல்லும் சாலையில் 40 நிமிட பேருந்துப் பயணத்தின் பின், சாலை மருங்கில் ஓங்கி நின்று, நம்மை நிமிர்ந்து பார்க்க வைக்கிறது கங்கை கொண்ட சோழபுரம் கோயில். ராஜேந்திர சோழன் தந்தையை விட எட்டடி பாய நினைத்து, ஏதோ காரணத்தால் தன் முயற்சியைக் குறைத்துக் கொண்டது போன்று தோன்றும் விமான வடிவம். சூரியனை மேல் நோக்கிச் சென்று தொடுவதை விட, கிழக்கு நோக்கிச் சென்று தொட நினைத்து, கிழக்காசியாவைக் கைப்பற்றச் சென்று விட்டான் போலும்.

தஞ்சை கோபுரத்தின் புறத்தோற்றத்தில் நேர்கோடுகள் அமைய, இங்கு வளைகோடுகள் அமைகின்றன.

விமானத்தின் ஒரு மூலையில்:

யாளிகளும் அவற்றைச் செலுத்துவோரும்:

மதில் சுவரில் நந்திகள் - சோழர் கட்டிடக்கலையின் அடையாளம்:

பெரிய உருவம் கொண்ட வாயில் காப்பாளர்கள் - சோழர் கட்டிடக்கலையின் அடையாளம்:

இக்கோயிலின் மேல் நம்மவர் வைத்திருக்கும் மதிப்பு:

வெற்றிலைக் கறைகள்

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தஞ்சையைப் போன்றே இங்கும் பிரகதீசுவரரே மூலவர். கோயிலின் உள்ளே புகைப்படம் எடுக்க அனுமதி இல்லை. இங்குள்ள நவக்கிரக மேடையைச் சுற்றி வர முடியாது. இதன் அமைப்பு மற்ற கோயில்களை விட மாறுபட்டுள்ளது. சூரிய தேவன் எழு குதிரைகள் கொண்ட ரதத்தைச் செலுத்தும் வகையில் அமைக்கப்பெற்றுள்ளார். இருட்டின் காரணமாகப் பிற கோள்களின் அமைப்பைச் சரியாக ஆராய முடியவில்லை.

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நாங்கள் சென்றிருந்த போது சில அயல் நாட்டவரும், புது மணத் தம்பதிகளும், ஐயப்ப பக்தர்களும் வந்திருந்தனர்.

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வெளியேறும் போது பிச்சைக்காரர்கள் கோயில் வாசலில் கையேந்தி நின்றனர். பாடலை முணுமுணுக்கத் தொடங்கினார் பாலா....

"சிலை வழி மேவும் உளி ஒலி தேடி
திருகி விழுந்தன செவிகள்..

ஊன் பொதி சோற்றின் தேன் சுவை கருதி
ஒட்டி உலர்ந்தது நாவும்..

புலிக்கொடி பொறித்த
சோழ மாந்தர்கள்
எலிக்கறி பொரிப்பதுவோ…

காற்றைக் குடிக்கும் தாவரமாகி
காலம் கழிப்பதுவோ…"

(தாராசுரம் நோக்கிப் பயணம் தொடரும்...)

Retirement - only from employment

The oldest memory I have about my dad is him walking, carrying me on his shoulders while I was half asleep - I must have been 4 or 5 years old then. The next best I remember is the day he brought home our first TV - I must have been 7 years then. After that, of course I remember many incidents like - my dad drawing a plant in my science album (and my science teacher writing back a comment - "album work is meant for children and not parents"), helping me prepare for fancy dress competition, writing essays and speeches for me, teaching me tenses and sentence formation in English grammar, teaching me algebra, numerous images of him washing my clothes, taking me to the doctor. Most recently, organizing my sister's marriage, taking me to the bus station to send me off from Erode every time I visited home.

He retired from BSNL on July 31 after 39 years and 8 months of service - most of which, I remember him to have been a 'Section Supervisor'. He was also an active member of National Federation of Telecom Employees union and was its district head for some time. The union (NFTE) had arranged for a farewell function last week. About 1100 guests attended it - yes, it was just a retirement party!!! Most of his time in these 40 years would have been spent working for the welfare of his colleagues ranging from - assistance to get a transfer - to - winning employment for a deceased colleague's son/daughter. Yet, as cited by many of his managers, he never left any of his office work pending.

Even though dad was pre-occupied with his duties in the union and office, he managed his personal life as well stupendously. He wasn't there with me and my sister to play carrom board or to sit and watch a movie at home..but, he was there with us for the essential moments and phases of childhood. He helped us with our studies and extra-curricular activities, made sure he was on page with our progress and helped us take some key decisions in life. This post is about some of the characters of my dad that impressed me the most. He is not the type that sits and gives long lectures. He has been living a life of character and I have been inspired by just watching him.

1. Simplicity:

For a man who has served in a Central Government job for almost 40 years, I would say my dad led a life of austerity. He doesn't wear an expensive watch or foot wear. His maximum indulgence has been the two-floor house - no portion of it rented out. He now owns his second TVS 50 (after the first one started giving maintenance problems).

2. No forced Gyan:

Only recently I learnt from my mom that, my dad could not pursue a degree because his father could not afford the expense of educating 6 children at the same time. At the age of schooling he had to walk several miles to school. When he was doing his PUC, he had spent many days without even single meals a day. But, he has never told us these stories in the pretext of providing inspiration. After having grown up, the only advice I remember hearing from my dad is "Women are sensitive....you should be extra-nice to them. Even a phone call means a lot to them".

3. Hardwork:

His day typically starts at 5 am and doesn't typically return home until 8 or 9 in the night - even on Sundays. He takes a 1 hour break in the afternoon. It is very very rare to see him in front of the TV except during news hour...and even the rare occasions would have been on festive days to watch debates . He doesn't encourage useless gossips.

4. Care for friends and relations:

This has been his hallmark character. He has always kept good friends around him and others are good at least when they are around him. He treats all relations equally and has never lost an opportunity to help his friends or relations. Some of his friends impress by their hard-work, while some with their intelligence, some with their unconditional love and all of them by their sincerity. There was never a chance for negativity around our home. If there was something that wasn't good for children, that stayed outside of home (cable TV for instance :) ).

5. Diplomacy:

It is amazing to see how he handles issues with a open mind and acts as a proper diplomat, without having read Dale Carnegie or Zen principles. I have seen him playing the role of a diplomat or negotiator between groups or individuals on many occasions and I have seen his suggestions being accepted with respect.

6. Aptitude:

For someone educated in a village school, my dad impresses with his grammatically and politically correct English. His Thamizh isn't any lesser. He can read through Government acts, legal notices, pay commission guide books and explain them - even on matters outside of his departmental knowledge. During his retirement function some of the speakers said he could have been a very successful lawyer.

7. Planning and organization:

Meticulous planner - very punctual. He always keeps a dictionary with him. Carries a bag whenever he goes out. Even for 1 or 2 hour journeys, carries a towel and water bottle with him. Always carries some white papers and pen. Makes a margin and marks page numbers before starting to write anything. Keeps a dictionary by the side when he reads something.

8. Gender equality:

Helps mom in the kitchen. There is not even a hint of chauvinism in his speech or acts. At the same time, he hasn't taken any feminist measures like adding mom's initials to our names.

Of course, mom has complemented him very well. Without her, he couldn't have been the man he is. If Rajamanickam is behind "Bhupesh Rajamanickam", Usha Rani is a part of "Bhupesh Rajamanickam" (All alphabets in her name fit into my name..almost in the same order except for 1 'a').

Life after retirement is very tricky especially for those who have been very active. Hopefully, dad will find things to keep himself active. The retirement will hopefully give him enough time to cherish his meals, follow his passions and live an unconstrained life. Through this post I wish him good luck.

வணக்கம் வெண்பா

வெண்பா எழுதிப்பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்பது நீண்ட நாள் ஆவல். இந்த வாரம் வரிந்து கட்டிக்கொண்டு விதிகளை மனப்பாடம் செய்து எழுதியும் விட்டேன். கற்பனைக்கு வினைக்கெட (மெனக்கட) வேண்டாம் என்று, சில மேற்கத்தியப் பாடல் வரிகளை மொழிபெயர்த்துள்ளேன். இவற்றின் ஆங்கில மூலத்தைப் பாடியவர்கள்:

MJ - Michael Jackson; CD - Celine Dion; 'N - 'NSync; BA - Bryan Adams;

BD - Bob Dylon; MLTR -MLTR; BZ - Boy Zone

இக்கலைஞர்கள் என்னை மன்னிப்பார்களாக! இனி உங்கள் பாடு...

1.

I'm starting with the man in the mirror

I am asking him to change his ways

-MJ

முன்நிற்கும் பிம்பத்தின் மெய்யோன் திருந்திடப்

பின்நிற்கும் நன்நெறியில் பார்

(பார் - உலகம்)

2.

I know that I can't describe

What I'm feeling inside

..

I guess I live with the fear

This could all disappear

If I try to put it in words

-CD

நன்மொழி வேண்டிமுன் கெஞ்சினம் சொல்லின்பின்

கைத்தவறு மென்றஞ் சினம்

3.

I could build you a bridge that spans the oceanwide

But the greatest gift I give you would be to stand by your side

-CD

அருங்கடல் நீண்டளக்கும் பாலந் தரலின்

பெரும்பரி சென்துணையு னக்கு

(பெரும்பரிசு, என் துணை)

4.

Here I am - This is me

There is nowhere else on earth I'd rather be

-BA

இவ்விடம் வந்தேன் இவணாவேன் உன்நிழல்

நீங்கி இனிப்போவா னேன்

5.

When you speak the angels all sing

This is the kind of magic you bring

-MJ

அன்பேஉன் மாயநாவைச் சற்றசை - கேட்டு

மகிழலாம் தேவதை இசை

6.

When I 'm all alone with the stars above

You are the one I love

-MLTR

விண்மீன் துணைத்தும் தனித்தேன் உனையே

நினைந்தேநான் காதலித் தேன்

7.

Love me for a reason

Let the reason be love

-BZ

காரணங் கொண்டெனைக் காதல் புரிகஅக்

காரணமுங் காதலே கொள்க

8.

That he not busy being born

Is busy dying

-BD

பிறத்தல் அவசரத்தில் இன்னும் சிலரும்

இறத்தல் வழியில் பிறரும்

9.

Steal a little and they throw you in jail

Steal a lot and they make you king

-BD

சிறுபொருள் கள்வன் சிறையில் அரும்பொருள்

கள்வன் அரியணை யில்

10.

When I look into your eyes

I know that it's true

God must have spent...

A little more time

On you...

-'N

நன்முகத்தாள் மெய்யுரைக் கண்காட்டும் வானுரை

நான்முகத்தான் மெய்வருத் தல்

(தளை எங்கேனும் தட்டியிருப்பின் என் தலை தட்டுக!!)

Writer's block

Much traffic has flown through the lanes of 100 feet road since I last posted. Week after week I have been thinking about putting something up, at least to keep it going, but, too much reading of the newspaper has created a state of mind where choosing a topic to write about, has become a very boring task. Clearly, "Ignorance is bliss". At last I decided to write one even if it turned out to be less attractive.

When I quit the job, I did so with an apprehension - that I might end up becoming even more lazier and that I might end up accomplishing nothing much. However, having another friend to prepare with for the exams meant I had someone to keep nudging me. And that meant, a lot of reading - on a wide range of topics - from Indian monsoon to Western political thought; from rare earth minerals to comets; from SAARC to World Bank.

Apparently, the earth gives rise to more news than babies - what with all the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, Lybia and co.; the twin disasters in Japan; the hegimony by the US of America; the drama by beloved Anna Hazare and his civil society friends; the rather meek killing of Osama; the court trial of the joker Headley; Tamilnadu and WB elections; and ofcourse the world famous 2G. There wasn't a day when CNN-IBN did not have a sensational news or an exclusive interview.

That reminds me of an important discovery to share. One is better-off listening to the 15 minute DD news (the one for the hearing impaired will do) than listening to the 'expert' opinions on NDTV or CNN-IBN. For best results, sell the TV.

It has been fun to spend a lot of time in wikipedia and Govt of India websites. It has been even more fun to explain to family and friends about what I have been reading with more than adequate usage of jargons like carbon credit, inclusive growth, wholesale price index, etc.

The good thing is that I get to wake up every morning knowing that there is no onsite call to attend or any audit to prepare for or any training to help the team with. Perhaps, the best feeling is that I don't have to rate my own team as good or mediocre performers.

Busy for Nothing

Dot 1
It was a saturday in 2000. Early days of college life. As a member of the "Leo club", I was helping with a blood donation camp organized within my college campus. Many of the readers of this blog being my college friends or co-workers, you probably know very well that I tend to be over-serious and hyper-responsible on such occasions, whether the occasion demands it or not - mostly not. This friend of mine, a girl, had been trying to get me out of the scene of action to say something (may be something like, "you stink"). I said, I will be there, but was continuously engaging someone or was just creating a "I am busy" atmosphere. Finally when I walked up to her and said, "sorry madam, I got busy"....for the first time she called me "Busy for nothing". That she continued to address me "Mr.Busy for Nothing", till the end of college, even in the slam book and that some of my other friends too started calling me so, is history. (That she also used to call me 'Badmash' (Rascal) is something I am making public now).

That phrase has become so much a part of me that, when someone asks me "Are you busy"...I often say, "yes, for nothing".

Somewhere in 2009, on one of the many lazy evenings, I started thinking a little deeper about the phrase. Ever since I joined college, I have always been busy with my own agenda. I haven't spent as much time with friends or family as others would have done. At least, till end of college, the 'busy'ness had been useful to others or myself. But, after taking up a job, all I have been focussing on is getting things done at work - more and more. For the most part, I have remained totally tuned out with respect to other aspects of life like - knowing the world, knowing people, travelling, thinking about investments, thinking about smarter career moves, getting license, filing tax, or even changing the address in my passport. But, that evening, it just ended with saying to myself, "How correct she was!! Oh boy, she is an oracle".

Dot 2
Again in 2009, I happened to watch the bollywood movie "Rock On" on Netflix. For those of you who do not know, it is a movie about how 4 college friends start a music band and then life takes them in different directions - 3 of them being successful in their line of work. Some incidents bring them together after few years and they resume the band. I liked the movie very much and still is in my list of favorites. That movie made me feel guilty about a few choices I made in life and many things I failed to even take a step towards.


Dot 3
After returning to India,one of the first things I did was to reload my i-pod with some latest songs. Thankfully, the friend who did it for me had "Rock On" in his collection. After shifting to Coimbatore, I happened to travel a lot between
Coimbatore-Erode-Chennai. For the first 2 months, my ipod was a great company during these travels. I played the songs from "Rock On", in a loop. Especially, the lyrics of "Sindbad the sailor", haunted me. Sometimes I felt very inspired, sometimes I felt sad and many times I felt a lot uneasy about the cliche choices I had made.

On one of these many travels, I wanted to listen to something other than "Rock On" and "Vinnaith Thaandi Varuvaya" and scrolled through the list of songs, when I stumbled upon podcasting of a collection of books. I started listening to "The Natural Mind - Waking up" by Alan Macmillan. I did not finish listening to the complete audio of the book...but, the few chapters that I listened to were very thought provoking. They made me think that I am a very insignificant being considering the timelessness and vastness of the universe and there hasn't been anything purposeful done by me to claim the special right to exist here.

Dot 4
I stopped being blind and deaf towards the everyday pain that people undergo to meet their basic needs. I stopped being critical of the beggars and less-intellects. I stopped thinking that my standard of living was because I had some special survival skills.

The hunger, the crowds, the fight to get a seat in the buses, the lack of courtesy to another human being are not new to me. I have grown up amidst this way of life. But, because I was developing empathy towards the less fortunate, I started viewing life through a different prism.

Dot 5
One of the significant personal improvements after returning to India has been the availability of time to read books. I have brought down the number of fictions I read and increased the count of non-fictions. Some of these books - "Go kiss the world", "7 habits of highly effective people", "A fist full of rice", "Thiruppumunai", "Mystics Musings", "The google story" - rekindled questions which have always been in my mind, but have been ignored in the pursuit of happiness as defined by the south-Indian society - score marks, go to a good college, get a job, focus on career, go abroad, buy a house, buy a car, marry a girl (a beautiful one), have kids, put them in the best of schools. The translated book "Thiruppumunai" - original version in English titled "Making breakthrough innovations happen" inspired me greatly. Also my interactions with my friends Suren and Anitha who are working with a non-profit organization made me question my aspirations in life. I started feeling uncomfortable to remain in the 'safe zone'.

Dot 6
Attaining the age of marriage meant attending the marriage of many school and college friends. During these gatherings, I got to meet some old friends most of whom had chosen the usual text book way of south-Indian life. However, I also got to meet few friends who had dared to think differently. These guys inspired me.

During a chat with my close friend Suresh who is preparing for Civil Service Examination, he explained me what and how he was preparing. The preparation and process was so interesting and immediatley I recognized that, that was exactly what I have been wanting to do. I seemed to have found something to hold on to. Something that would give me the satisfaction of treading the road not taken. After the chat, I was searching for something in google and stumble upon a page that quoted from "The Alchemist" - "When you really want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you achieve it".

After a month, I submitted my resignation. From April 12th, I will be a student again. I will be busy, hopefully, not for nothing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Post-Script
Here is a speech by Steve Jobs about connecting the dots. Hopefully I will connect my dots - if not - I will find other dots.

Picture courtesy: http://bjovanovic.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/solutions-and-possibilities/

அவசரம்

(picture courtesty - please read the link at end)

சிறுநீர் கழிக்கும் முன்
கண்ணில் பட்டது -
கழிவு நீர்ப்பாதையில் சிக்கிய பூச்சி

ஒன்றுக்குப் போகும் அவசரம் எனக்கு
உயிரே போகும் அவசரம் பூச்சிக்கு

http://headinjurytheater.blogspot.com/2006/06/urinal-fun-in-amsterdam.html

அழகு

உலகப் பானைக்கு
அவள்
ஒற்றைச் சோறு

Love, Life and LPG

(Based on a true incident)

R: Hi, just leaving the institute. Off to home now.

V: I have started from office too. First day...how was it?

R: It was great! We had an orientation session today. At the end of it, the director asked for a volunteer to deliver vote of thanks. I went on stage and gave a 3 min vot with just a minute's prep. 2 years in a corporate job has changed me a lot. From a nervous newbie to a confident gal.

V: Good 'Job'!!

R: Ha..ha..! There you go Mr.'pun'dit.

V: Wow...'pun'dit!! See you are becoming one too :)

R: :) How nervous I used to be during our training days!

V: Yup...I was nerdy and you were nervy.

R: What's up with your orkut status? "Who will cry when you die"?

V: Thats the name of the book I am reading now. Robin Sharma.

R: Philosophy again.

V: So, howz your groom search going? Or rather your dad's?

R: hmm..got few proposals. Tough decision, you know.

V: Is it? As tough as the decision to quit the job and pursue IAS..?

R: Both are lifetime decisions...in a way you inspired me by quitting first! huh...yellow woods all along. how i wish i were robert frost :(

R: That reminds me...the poem you sent this morning was out of the world romatic! But...you arent telling who the girl is.
(Come on...at least now, tell me that it is me).
(why isnt there any response. Is he thinking about opening up...come on..come on)


V: (...good chance to say, it is her. but, i am not ready for marriage yet. i am running a non-profit organization. how will i convince her dad. what have i got to offer an IAS aspirant?)

There is no girl.

R: That's hard to believe. how can it be so romantic with no girl?

V: Hey..wasnt ur vot good? did you really mean to thank the insignificant heads there? but didnt you do well? it is just the intent to deliver and not inspiration that matters.

R: But my vot was full of brains and no heart

V: ..Whereas my poem was full of heart and no brains? ma'm thats an insult...but i forgive you dear

V: *dear friend

R: (idiot...who asked for the correction)
Whatever...but you will tell me one day dear

R: *dear friend

V: :) Ok, you will be the first to know when a kind lady falls in love with this useless fellow :)

R: Useless fellow....anyways, I am home. Got some household chores to do..catch u later.

Roshni..washed her face and went into the kitchen. Her mind was fully occupied with thoughts of Vidhyarthi. She poured milk into a vessel and kept it on the stove and lit the burner. She heard a heavy thunder. It sent a chill through her spine. Though brave and confident, the sound of thunder always disturbed her. She had been told that it was bad omen. She suddenly
remembered the clothes left to dry in the terrace. She ran upstairs...it had started drizzling. Thunder again. She started chanting ("may the skies fall on my head...no fear...fear nothing"). She gathered the clothes and rushed down.

She went back into the kitchen. The milk had spilled over the burner, putting out the flame. She smelled LPG. Her brain read out pages from her science book...'LPG has no smell naturally. The smell is added to identify a leakage'. She stood still for few moments. She stumbled a hundred things before reaching the regulator and turning it off.

She started shaking. What should I do now? "Call Vidhyarthi". "No..call police...". "fire service". "Open the windows". "run idiot". She looked around....fan was on..light was on...! "Dont touch the switches".

She started moving towards the door.

"I could have picked the call when mom called in the morning", "What's the point in waiting for Vidhyarthi to open his heart. Why didnt I tell him", "I should have quit a year back and should have completed the exam by now", "I could have told Roshan how much I love him, and how proud I am to be his sister". "My life could have been more meaningful".

With a thousand thoughts oozing out of her brain cells and a thousand sweatlets oozing out of her skin cells, she came out under the drizzling sky. She looked around and went to the grocery store.

"Bhaiyya...kitchen...gas..leakage..."

From her broken language and unusually pale face, the grocery store guy understood that there was a gas leakage.

He went in precariously. Opened up all the windows. Closed the regulator cap. Came out and dialled the gas agency.

By now, others had gathered and started comforting her. It took her half-an-hour to come out of the shock. She dialled Vidhyarthi as soon as she came to her senses. He didnt pick up the call.
She messaged him..."Vidhu, please pick up the call...I have something important to tell you".

Post Script:
http://indiahometips.com/gas-leak-emergency-tips.html

கடவுச்சொல் ஏழு

1.
எண்ணென்ப ஏனை எழுத்தென்ப
பொருளிலாச் சொற்றொடரென்ப
இம்மூன்றும் கடவுச்சொல் விதி
--
2.
மறக்காதே
எவர்க்கும் கொடுக்காதே
எங்கேனும் குறிக்காதே
குறித்தாலும் தொலைக்காதே;
ஒருவரின் ரகசியம்
கடவுச் சொல்
வேறெவரும் அறிவது
நன்மை இல்
--
3.
தன்மொழியோ
பொன்மொழியோ
அனைத்துக்கும் முன்மொழியோ
மிக விரும்பும் செம்மொழியோ -
எத்தகு அகராதியிலும் -
இதுவென்றும் அதுவென்றும்
எவர்க்கும் விளங்காச் சொல்
கடவுச் சொல்
--
4.
கவிதைக்கும் கனவுக்கும்
காதலிக்கும் கடவுளுக்கும்
நாய்க்கும் நட்புக்கும்
அறிவுக்கும் அண்மைக்கும்
சோகத்துக்கும் சோம்பலுக்கும்
உரித்தாகும் கடவுச் சொல்
உருவாகும் நிமிடத்தில்
--
5.
சிறிதென்று கொள்க
சில திங்களென்று கொள்க;
சினேகிதர்கள் ஊடல் போலும்
கடவுச்சொல் வாழ்நாள்
--
6.
கணினிக்கோ
பிற கருவிக்கோ

சேமிப்புத் தொகைக்கோ
பிற சேவைக்கணக்குக்கோ

எவற்றின் கடவுச்சொல் மீதும்
காமுறுவர் கயவர்
--
7.
சிதம்பர ரகசியமே
சிற்றம்பலம்
பேணாக் கடவுச்சொல்லோ
பேரம்பலம்