Name : Distance from You to Me

            2 Years back, I had been working with Happiest Minds. It was a Wednesday evening, I was leaving to native for four days vocation. My office was located near Electronics City, it would take almost an hour to reach Satellite bus station (the place where should I board bus to native). I was aware about the traffic in long weekends and planned an hour buffer for my journey, my bus would leave by 8.15 and I left my office by 6.00 pm.

  

              356 C – bus which take you to Majestic from Electronics city. I boarded the bus by 6.15 pm, bus was empty as it was started from Electronics city. Electronics city is located south end of Bangalore some of the companies like Infosys, Wipro, HP and even my company also located here. Since the bus was empty, I occupied a windows seat – the seat was in front and it would face the opposite  seat – I have seen these type of seating system only in Volvo buses (obviously in trains too, I mean bus category). Don’t ask me “why did I select the seat” - I like it that’s all.

  

              Bus was moving slowly and started filling its stomach with techies, seat in front of me filled with two girls and nearby filled by an old man. I was gluing into my mobile, it was Facebook where I was doing scrolling process and even I was updating my status time to time. Time went off my bus was moving in such a way a bicycle riders could overtake it. I don’t want to blame the driver because the road was fully packed – Bangalore is always like this in weekends, if that is long weekend then?? you would feel to walk rather than sitting in bus. I was checking my watch and reached location and keep estimating my arrival time at Bus stand. I had enough buffer time so I didn’t bother about the traffic of Bangalore at all.

              After sometimes I lost momentum of moving, I looked out of the bus, it was stopped – may be in a signal or at bus stop, I had waited few more minutes. After 15 minutes I felt the same and looked out - same place, same advertisement, I felt something wrong. I checked for a person to ask about it, the only person present near to me was the girl who boarded from Electronics city. I enquired about the situation and realize that bus was not stopped it was struck in traffic.

                It was 7.15 pm: I have exactly an hour to catch my bus, but there was no guarantee that the bus would reach at Majestic on expected time. At last I had decided to get down from the bus and catch an auto to Majestic. I didn’t have any idea where Majestic would be, I asked a lady she was also searching for an auto. I don’t know from where the girl came into our Group, now me that Lady and the girl - who was sitting in front of me in bus were together to get an auto. The lady was basically from Karnataka that help us to bargain with Auto driver and zeroed to 100 rupees to Majestic.

                The lady had to reach Kalasi Palayam so we took a route via Kalasi palayam to Majestic. We three started journey from Shanthi Nagar, I had a chat with the lady she was working as HR and she advise me to take care of the girl. The lady had collected her number and told her call if she needs any help, by the time we reached Kalasi palayam and the lady left by paying the auto fare.

                The auto started from Kalasi palayam to Majestic we both were in the auto in the two corners of the seat. The auto driver can simply put two more people in the gap. She was afraid and I was shy to begin a talk. In the conversation between the Lady and this girl I had understand that she was basically from Punjab and had been working for Infosys and she was coming to Majestic to pick her Friend - She was thin fair and short too. is wheat of Punjab the reason of the beauty? all Punjabi girls are like this ? like that so many questions went through my mind.

                I wish to start but I couldn’t (I don’t want to bore you by saying the first “hi” and last “bye” dialog again, but it is true - I have experienced so many times ;)). It was almost 8.00 I had only 15 minutes to catch my bus Still I wish not to reach Majestic - I didn’t want to end this journey at all because a girl in my concept near at hand. I didn’t talk, I didn’t looked at her still I could feel that presence. I know I would regret if I didn’t speak.

                Happiness never last long – we reached Majestic within few minutes. We paid the auto fair and get down from the auto. Before moving to catch my next bus I lead my hands towards her and said my name. She smiled at me [an ever beautiful smile I have seen? - still I don't know may be "Yes"] and she lead her hand towards me. We shake our hand she was supposed to say her name suddenly a girl came and hug her from back and pull her towards bus. She couldn’t speak anything, all of  sudden they enter into a bus and doors closed automatically.While dragging towards the bus her eyes were stuck at me. Bus started from Majestic to Electronics city (same 356-C) I waved my hands by saying bye and she waved back too. I didn’t understand the reality till she disappeared from my eyes - I couldn't meet her, I couldn't call her and most painful thing was I didn't know her name yes if I try then also I couldn't find her. That day I missed my bus to native but I missed her much more than anything in the world, I regretted for the time I wasted with silence. 

We know that we couldn’t find a person by knowing her home town and Company name but still I am searching for her.

               

               

               

Expect the UnExpected : Story of My Marriage

           Do you believe in God? Do you believe in fate?, for all the above questions my answer was a giant "NO" till the time I went though ever great surprise of my life, I was forced to believe in something which I never did. It may be God’s grace or something else that played around me to fulfill my wish. I don’t know what exactly it was….

I had been working with Airtel: it wasn’t because of my digree, my tongue was my qualification for the job. Life was moving as luxurious as it can without money - a mobile connection paid by the company [the purpose behind the connection was if you aren’t paying the bill you would never feel to cut the call while yelling to subordinates]. Yes subordinates, don’t you think a person working last 3 years couldn’t be Team Lead? Yes I was, so all my responsibilities were to lead the people and manage the collection.

            It was a usual Monday morning, I had to go office little bit early as it was month end and there was enough pressure from top,since the bill collection hadn’t reached up to the mark. I rushed to bus stop by skipping my breakfast; I heard enough shout from Mom for not to have breakfast. I was trying to go to gulf (where you will get money from date trees, not really but we, Kerala people believe so) I wish to get visa as earlier so that I could escape from this pressure (We are always like this we never satisfied with what we have – money was my concern). I reached the bus stop and was shouting a junior, who was in half sleep – I don’t like to shout but I wanted to reach my target and it was the only possible way.

            There was no bus for about five minutes, I turned back to find a seat then I saw a girl with curly hair occupied one corner of a long seat. I didn’t go and sit I just smiled at her but reply was a frown look (nobody going to smile at me if they had heard my conversat). Since we were in same bus stop we had boarded in same bus and got down at same stop. It was interesting to follow her but that ended at Women’s ITI gate.

            Day 2: I woke up early in the Morning, the main point I wish to tell is that I had my breakfast – I managed to finish all the things on time and reached bus stop in time. She wasn’t there, I had waited for few more minutes, she came on time and we had alighted same bus. It had been a complete week I was continuing the same routine; but, I didn’t know anything about her. Monday morning – the day I decided to speak with her; I prepared hundred no no THOUSAND times in front of the mirror. The funniest thing was that it was just an intro not a proposal at all. That wasn’t difficult as I thought, I passed in the “first ‘Hi’ conversation test” we had a nice conversation. I have read somewhere “First ‘Hi’ and Last ‘Bye’ ” are difficult to say (I had told both to someone in my life -while saying ‘first Hi’ she was a stranger and while saying ‘Last bye’ She was my life. I will tell you that story later).

             Time went off; life is something that which never let you taste the happiness for long time. The news had broken my heart, yes I had to leave my native within 2 weeks. I had prepared myself but the reality was beyond my expectation I miss my mom, brother, sister and even I miss her too as she was also a part of my life. I knew that I had a feeling for her but we weren’t close enough to share that and I couldn’t contact her further (7 years back you couldn’t see a girl with mobile moreover she was a student). I didn’t have other choice so I left the relation in the boundaries of friendship and flew to gulf.

It had been 6 months I was struggling to settle in gulf - Job hunting, language all over pain of loneliness even there were enough friends to support. I have decided to give up so many times but I didn’t or I couldn’t there was enough debt in my name ('Never give up' that the only word my uncle had told me). As a result of all my hard work I managed to get a job in a good company. I accepted the reality of Gulf and start building a life there. Cultural programs, charity and connections within a year I came to be a part of Gulf. I didn’t know how that 5 years went once I started loving the country which made my entire family happy in terms of money.

                That day came up - parole of 60 days a accumulated leave of my last 4 years. I was on 28 and the main Agenda of this visit was my Marriage. Yaa Marriage, ohh I missed to tell you that, the word Marriage remind me about HER, I really thank to Zuckerberg: he had helped me to be in touch with her, yes it was facebook. My friend had told me to create a facebook account so that we could keep in touch with people they are far from us. I believed that it was something which was only famous in Gulf countries until she had sent a friend request – the time I realized the same revolution had happened in my home town as well. Last 1 year she was with me to chat (I really don’t want lag the story so leaving it for your imagination, keep in mind she was my friend not even half girlfriend). I had told her about my marriage arrangements happening at home and she had also shared that her proposals were also going on.

                3 hours the time came up for what I was waiting for since last five years,yes I had reached. Almost all the family members were there to host – this is what I love the most in my family, we are staying apart but we are together. It was an exciting day, I was back at the smell, wind and even I could hear all the people around me are speaking my mother tongue. The assignment for tomorrow was much more interesting. I was going to meet a girl that my relatives were already short listed.

                Next day morning: I didn’t sleep well, the happiness and also I was thinking about today; lots of cinema sequences went through my mind – first time I was going to meet a girl she might be part of my life – Yes Life partner. I went to the address in the early morning (don’t misunderstand that I was too eager to get married, she was going for job and she won’t be available after 8.00 am). Her house wasn’t so far from mine, me and my brother reached there by 7.45 am, she might be getting ready; not just to go to office but to meet me too as she was already informed about my arrival.

               You may be imagining a girl with tea, trust me in real life there is no tea business – they had offered but I declined politely. I had started conversation with her father, in the middle of conversation my brother poked me and informed arrival of the Girl. I turned back and saw her from toe to head, once I met her eye I felt an electric power went through my body. ohh it was she, the girl whom I missed as much as my family. Within next 20 days I owned my best half.

                It has been 2 years that she is with me. Still I couldn’t imagine what had happened in my life. I never believed that Life can be wonderful than dream but it can. What could I tell you from this experience is that never give up and never lose your hope at any case, Future would gift you something special for all your hard work and commitment.

Thank You For Nothing

               It was 5:30 pm of a Sunday evening; I and my father were waiting for Trivandrum express there was 15 more minutes to board the train. We already reserved the tickets because it would be a complete night journey. I was leaving to Trivandrum for my engineering. Tomorrow would be first allotment and classes will start from next week, I planned to stay back to hostel after allotment to save the cost of traveling. We boarded the train and kept our luggage beneath our seat. I occupied a window seat even that didn’t reserve by us.

               It was almost 7 pm I looked around me; it was Calicut railway station; this was my first journey towards south so that the entire place seems to be new for me. I started reading my favorite love story. The train supposed to start from the station one old man followed by a beautiful girl had come and occupied the seat in front of me. Train started, they took next 15 minute to arrange themselves. That old man and my father initiated their conversation with news of the day. Meanwhile my father introduced me to them, I glanced with a smile and gloom back to my book. I couldn’t speak to them because I was living with Ravin and Khushi (Characters of “I too had a love story”). I really didn’t want to distract from my story.

That question woke me up from the fantasy world “Is it a real story?” I didn’t want to interrupt my reading even by pretty girl like her and really I didn’t want to let her down too, so I answered Yes it was.  She took my reply as a sign for conversation because she was really bored by sitting simply; she couldn’t join our parent’s conversation since that was out of her scope. She leaned towards me and shared something basics about her and asked about me as well. I irritated because she was disturbing my reading. But I realized her situation and joined with her.

While hearing her stories I felt like watching a movie. Her gestures, the way of talk more over the expressions, you couldn’t think of saying anything to her if you were in the listener side[you couldn't care about what she speaks, you can only enjoy the show ;)]. I closed my book and lean towards her [it was quite interesting than reading books]. Her way talk gave me enough confidence to talk with her candidly. Time went off  we wish to sleep but we wish to talk too. I didn’t believe that communication is the pillars of a relation but she taught me yes it is. When time passes I realize that we were becoming close to each other.

I woke up from my sleep when my father called me, I couldn’t recall when I drifted off.  My father shouted me to get out from the train since we already reached our destination. I took my book and kept inside my bag and alighted from the train quickly. I was in dopy mood even my drowsy eyes were searching for her. I was unable to accept the reality; did she leave me? or was it a dream?. I asked my father about her and realize that she left before I woke up. I started looking around the station to avoid eye contact with my father, That helped me to hide my feelings from him. I washed my face and we came out from the railway station. 

After refreshment from a nearest lodge we both headed towards my college. I was not in a mood to talk; my father felt it was because of the homesickness. I didn’t fall in love with her but still I felt missing, if I would have asked her number, I might be the happiest man in the world. I didn’t feel to spend time in the new atmosphere, I wish to take a deep sleep to came out from the mood. Finally all the formalities done by 3’O clock in the evening and we came to my college hostel. I was too tired with homesickness, new college and top of that the mistake I made. I sent back my father, i accompanied him till the station; even in the evening the railway station remind me about her. While saying bye to my father my eyes were searching for her :(.

Since the allotment didn’t complete I was alone in my room. It was 6’O clock; I came back to my room and tried to sleep, but I couldn’t. I walked through the balcony, I couldn’t help myself to come out of the mood. I felt really alone in the world, I called my mother and spoke for a while. At the end of the call I start missing something. At the end I decided to resume my reading till I fall in sleep. I opened the last page I read and suddenly I saw a piece of paper which lying in between the pages.

 I took that piece paper and it said me that

“Thank You My dear Friend, if you really miss this friend Reach me on 9567****** ;)”  

മുത്തപ്പൻ

ഇന്നലെ വൈകുന്നേരം മാമന്റെ വീട്ടില് മുത്തപ്പനായിരുന്നു , ചെണ്ടയുടെ മേളവും മുത്തപ്പന്റെ ആട്ടവും എന്നെ പഴയ ഒരു ഓർമയിലേക്ക് കൂട്ടി കൊണ്ട് പോയി.

അന്നും ഒരു മുത്തപ്പൻ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു എന്റെ അടുത്ത വീട്ടിൽ ഇത്തിരി ഭയത്തോടെ ആണ് അന്ന് ഞാൻ മുത്തപ്പനെ കാണാൻ പോയത് - മുത്തപ്പൻ എന്ന് പറയുമ്പോ കയ്യിൽ വാളും ശൂലവും ആയി നിൽക്കുന്ന ഒരാൾ - കണ്ടാൽ ആർക്കാ പേടി ആവാത്തെ അല്ലെ.

വെള്ളാട്ടം കാണുന്നതിനിടയിൽ എന്റെ അടുത്ത് നിന്ന ചേട്ടനോട് ഞാൻ തെല്ലു മടിയോടെ ഞാൻ ചോദിച്ചു "നിങ്ങൾക്ക് മുത്തപ്പനെ പേടി ഉണ്ടോ ?"

അവൻ ഒരു പുഞ്ചിരിയോടെ പറഞ്ഞു "ഇല്ല , വാള് കയ്യിൽ എടുക്കുമ്പോ മാത്രം ഇത്തിരി, നിനക്കോ ? "

"എനിക്കും " - ഉള്ളിൽ ഇത്തിരി അഭിമാനം തോന്നി എന്നേക്കാൾ മൂത്ത ചേട്ടനും മുത്തപ്പനെ പേടി ആണല്ലോ !!

വർഷങ്ങൾ ഒത്തിരി കഴിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു , ഇപ്പോളും ആ ചെണ്ടയുടെ താളവും മുത്തപ്പന്റെ ആട്ടവും എവിടെയോ ഉള്ളിൽ ഇത്തിരി ഭയം വിതക്കുന്ന പോലെ ഒരു തോന്നൽ ...

മരണ കിണര്‍

ഞാനും ഇന്ന് അങ്ങനെ മരണ കിണറിലെ പ്രകടനം കണ്ടു , ശ്വാസം നിലച്ച് പോയ പ്രകടനം. ശരിക്കും ഒരു നിമിഷം ആലോചിച്ചു പോയി ജീവിക്കാന്‍ വേണ്ടി അല്ലെ അവരും ജീവന്‍ പണയം വച്ച് ഈ കളി കളിക്കുന്നതെന്ന്.

പ്രകടനം കണ്ടു ഞങ്ങള്‍ താഴെ എത്തിയപ്പോള്‍ അവിടെ നിന്നും മൈലാഞ്ചി വില്‍ക്കുന്ന ആളെ ചൂണ്ടി കാണിച്ചു എന്‍റെ മാമന്‍റെ മകന്‍ എന്നോട് ചോദിച്ചു ഇയാള്‍ അല്ലെ സമിത്തേട്ടാ നേരത്തെ ബൈക്ക് ഓടിച്ചത് ?

അതെ അവിടെയും സുറുമ എഴുതിയ കണ്ണുകളും ആയി അതെ ചെറുപ്പക്കാരന്‍ എന്നെ ഇത്തിരി മുമ്പ് വിസ്മയിപ്പിച്ച ആ രൂപം ഇപ്പോള്‍ എന്റെ മുന്നില്‍ വെറും ഒരു മൈലാഞ്ചി വില്പനക്കാരന്റെ രൂപത്തില്‍.

അവന്‍ കാത്തിരിക്കുകയാണ്‌ മരണ കിണറില്‍ നിന്നും വിളിക്കായി അല്ലെങ്കില്‍ മൈലാഞ്ചിക്കായി മുന്നിലേക്ക് നീളുന്ന ഒരു കൈക്കായി.

സിലബസിലില്ലാത്ത പാഠം

 അന്നൊക്കെ ഹിന്ദി പീരീഡ്‌ എങ്ങനെ എങ്കിലും കഴിഞ്ഞു പോകണേ എന്നായിരുന്നു പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥന. അല്ലേല്‍ ഹിന്ദി ടീച്ചര്‍ വന്നു കഥ എഴുതാന്‍ പറയും അതും നമ്മള്‍ക് അറിയാത്ത ഹിന്ദിയില്‍, ആകെ അറിയുന്നത് 4 വാക്ക് അത് വച്ച് കഥ എഴുത്ത് നടക്കുമോ ?? - [ അല്ലേലും ഈ ഹിന്ദി എനിക്ക് കണ്ണെടുത്താല്‍ കണ്ടൂടാ , കഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട് എഴുതുന്നതും പോര അതിന്റെ മുകളില്‍ വരയും ഇടണം ]
          ദിവസങ്ങള്‍ കടന്നു പോയി , ഇത് നമ്മള്‍ക്ക് നടക്കില്ല എന്ന് മനസ്സില്‍ പറഞ്ഞു ഞാന്‍ പുസ്തകം അടച്ചുവച്ച് ഇരിപ്പായി. എങ്ങനെ എങ്കിലും ഹിന്ദി ടീച്ചറുടെ കണ്ണു വെട്ടിച്ചു ഒരു വര്‍ഷം അതായിരുന്നു 7അം ക്ലാസ്സ്‌. അങ്ങനെ ദിവസം കടന്നു പോവുമ്പോഴാണ് എന്റെ ചേച്ചി ഒരിക്കല്‍ ഹിന്ദി പുസ്തകം കാണാന്‍ ഇടയായത്.
          അവള്‍ എന്നോട് ചോദിച്ചു “എന്താ ഈ പേജ് ഒക്കെ ഒഴിച്ച് വിട്ടിരിക്കുന്നത് ?” 4 വാക്ക് കൊണ്ട് കഥയെഴുതാനുള്ള വിഷമം ഞാന്‍ അവളോട് പങ്കുവെച്ചു. അവള്‍ എന്നോട് ചോദിച്ചു “നിനക്ക് മലയാളത്തില്‍ കഥ എഴുതാന്‍ പറ്റുമോ ?”. “അതെളുപ്പമല്ലേ ഇത് ഹിന്ദിയാ ചേച്ചീ” ഞാന്‍ ഉരുളക്ക് ഉപ്പേരി പോലെ ഉത്തരം കൊടുത്തു.
           അവള്‍ എന്നോട് മലയാളത്തില്‍ കഥ എഴുതാന്‍ ആവശ്യപെട്ടു, അവള്‍ പറയേണ്ട താമസം കഥ റെഡി. “ഇനിയോ ?” “ഇനി നീ ഇത് ഹിന്ദിയില്‍ ആക്കിയാല്‍ മതി”. അതൊക്കെ നടക്കുമോ? അറിയാത്ത വാക്ക് എന്നോടോ ടീച്ചറോടോ ചോദിച്ചാല്‍ മതി എന്ന അവളുടെ ഉറപ്പിന്റെ പുറത്ത് ഞാന്‍ ഒരു ശ്രെമം നടത്തി. ടീച്ചറും നല്ല സപ്പോര്‍ട്ട് ആയിരുന്നു. അങ്ങനെ എന്റെ പുസ്തകത്തിലെ ഒഴിഞ്ഞ പേജ് എല്ലാം നിറഞ്ഞു. ഈ കഥ എഴുത്ത് അത്രേം രസമുള്ള ഏര്‍പാടാണെന്ന് ഞാന്‍ അപ്പോള മനസിലാക്കിയത്.
          
          അങ്ങനെ കുട്ടിക്കാലത്ത് ഞാന്‍ ഒരു പാഠം പഠിച്ചു , സിലബസിലില്ലാത്ത പാഠം – ശ്രെമിച്ചാല്‍ നടക്കാത്തതായി ഒന്നും ഇല്ല , ഒന്നെല്ലെങ്കില്‍ മറ്റൊരു വഴി അത് എവിടെയെങ്കിലും ആയി ഉണ്ടാവും

അധിനിവേശം

ശരിക്കും ഒരു തിരക്കും ഉണ്ടായിട്ടല്ല , അറിയാത്ത നാട്ടില്‍ അറിയാത്ത കന്നഡയും ഇത്തിരി അറിയുന്ന ഹിന്ദിയും വച്ച് ആ ബാര്‍ബറെ മുടി മുറിക്കാന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു മനസിലാക്കാനുള്ള ഒരേ ഒരു വിഷമം കൊണ്ടാ ഞാന്‍ ഇല്ലാത്ത ലീവിന് നാട്ടില്‍ വന്നപ്പോ മുടി മുറിക്കാന്നു കരുതിയെ ... എനിട്ടോ ????

രാവിലെ തന്നെ സ്ഥിരം ബാര്‍ബര്‍ ഷോപിലേക്ക് പുറപ്പെട്ടു , ആ പോകുന്ന വഴിക്കാ പുതിയ ഒരു ബോര്‍ഡ് എന്റെ കണ്ണില്‍ പെട്ടത് , നമ്മുടെ സ്വന്തം ലാലേട്ടന്റെ ഫോട്ടോ വച്ച ഒരു ബോര്‍ഡ്‌ - അതെ അത് തന്നെ ബാര്‍ബര്‍ ഷോപ്പ് . ഇനി ഇപ്പൊ ടൌണ്‍ വരെ പോവാന്‍ ഒന്നും വയ്യ . രണ്ടു വട്ടം ചിന്തിക്കാതെ ഞാന്‍ അവിടെ കയറി , തീരെ തിരക്കും ഇല്ല , കോളടിച്ചല്ലോ സമയവും ലാഭം തന്നെ.

വേഗം പോയി തിരിയുന്ന കസേരയില്‍ സ്ഥാനം പിടിച്ചു, കഴുത്തിനു ചുറ്റും തുണി കെട്ടുന്നതിനിടയില്‍ ആ പയ്യന്‍ ചോദിച്ചു "കൈസ കട്ട് കരേഗ ബായ് .."