I
Monday mornings are always boring and lunch time appeared to be a distant dream. I start with gmail and orkut on Monday to make sure that no one has send me any request or e-mail just like every other week. My orkut home page carried an unusual friend request from a girl who I have no idea of with an intro message“Dai, add pannu da”….i thought she was being polite…I have never seen her in my life and I am pretty sure that my memory is not that bad :) . Apparently, she should have mistaken me for some other person. I replied back saying “wrong person”. The reply I got was “you never change Karthik. You are the same. Why don’t u accept u know me?” Something is happening…I took a look at her profile and had no clue what so ever…no clue……the next scrap was infuriating “dai…..romba pannadha…ippo add panriya illaya”……I can see anger seething thru my veins….My self-respect has been brought into question…. I had to stop this and in order to do so, I explained my life journey (where I studied and all those stuff – enna kodumai da) and she looked liked being convinced…….There was a tap on my shoulder….”Dude what are you doing?” Its my mentor standing behind…I was searching for a reason when he was peeking into my laptop …. He saved me by saying “Don’t worry dude, I start my week the same way” :) I wanted to ask “Do you get anonymous friend requests saying that they studied with you every week?” , but I had promised not to be sarcastic for that week :D .
II
Friday night dinners are always at random restaurant. There were six people sitting at the table and one loner watching them. It was a youth gang with some exceptions :)(mainly youth, but some old people too) They were making fun of each other and they were loud …… everybody could hear them……There was a conversation going on and everyone was asked about what catches their eye when they see a girl for the first time…Many people played safe saying that it would be her face……When this guy Zahul (name disguised, its on the wall thou) was about to answer, one of those witty from the group asked if it’s “Ass”….oh my god, they went berserk….those people where laughing shit crazy……the whole restaurant was watching them…..after laughing themselves out, the topic came back to zahul and everyone was looking at him (everyone in the restaurant) for an answer…….he said “Probably I look at Ass”…..the place broke down…did he just say that? Did he say what I heard…..i started laughing too…Zahul looked bamboozled….after a minute when he was enquired why he said so (still people watching)…he stood up and shouted “I said Hair style”…People laughed for that too…My god…..what a lie I thought…..
Its up to you guyz to decide who I am in this story and whether zahul said “hair style”
III
Why does it always have to be three…..three idiots, three musketeers, three mistakes of my life……probably, it looks good on the title…..lets make it three then…… I was sitting there in my relative’s house having pita chips. Their 4 year old kid was sitting right opposite and had his healthy evening snack – Butter milk pancake that has pieces of banana arranged in the form of a face (phew…so much work for a snack). His mom came to him and asked “son, tell them what they are eating” and the kid instantaneously replied “Junk!!!!! You should eat fruits”. I had to remain silent. Once his mom went out, he came asking “can I have some of those chips?” . The sarcastic devil inside me replied “you said that these are junk!! Why do you want them?” . I made the situation worse by displaying a quirky smile after that statement. The next second, the kid started crying. He was so offended that he started crying loudly (so that his mom can hear…clever fellow) and threw the banana pancake on the floor. I thought I am finished. What have I done? I have made him cry… I hate to apologize, but I had literally no option that day.....I said “dai….i take back my word…nee romba nallavan….please have this”….He would not stop..what else should I say…let me try this dialogue ”if you don’t cry, I will get you a chocolate”…he took the hersheys out from his pocket and kept it on the table. He was pretty intent on getting me some bad looks that day. Mom came running in and I vanished from that place. Lesson learnt: never be sarcastic to a kid (Tough way to learn a lesson uh?)
Hope to meet you all with some serious writing next time :)
Disclaimer : "for all those involved in the story above, the writing is purely fictitious and is no way related to any real life incident or living people...for all others......the disclaimer is only for them :)”
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
IT'S MY LIFE
Chapter 1:
It’s that same old sound I hear every time I wake up in my room in Atlanta, but there is a difference this time, I am on it. Yeah, I am driving the truck, the fire truck. I am not in U.S. It’s my home town. Where am I going? I have no idea. Following me, I find that I am on my way to my school. There is a bomb threat to my school. I am patrolling the area and making sure that everyone is safe. You should know how people react when they hear a bomb threat. Kids are no different. There was chaos throughout and I was trying to calm the crowd. All of a sudden, my left ear goes dumb. I heard a huge sound and it’s all there. What the politicians said, what the police claimed (that the city is safe) have been proved to be false and people’s worst fears have come true. There is a bomb blast in my school. I lost my nerve and started to run towards the building. I can see a kid limping, can I reach her, Will I be able to save her……. Lose control………..What…why am I hearing a song from rang de basanti while running……..Oh shit, that’s my alarm. Its 7’0 clock, wake up dude, time to run………
Chapter 2:
“What’s your future plan?” was the question asked by my friend who is working with me…..Well let me think……”I will work for two or three years and then go back to India” – this is what I told him. I got a reply I expected….”You people always say this…..Once you smell money, you will never go back”…… Why we always try to stereotype someone else? …..Why do we don’t allow people to be different. No clue…… I was about to say “ It’s hard to say this dude, but, I see you as a aimless creature brought up with the only sense of chasing money”…..
Chapter 3:
It’s all about conversations…Now the conversation is “Why a lot of Indians are settling in U.S”
Hari: “Indians are not smart. Americans are smart. There is a myth existing in this world that Indians and Chinese are smarter people as they are taking up jobs in U.S, but I would say otherwise because Indians are not smart enough to see opportunities in India”
Karthik: “Indians are not patriotic. Indians don’t have the courage. We don’t really feel that we should do something for our country. We don’t really realize the difference between the amount earned in dollars and amount earned in rupees. Rupee is always cheaper to us. We don’t hold the pride in saying that we are Indians. We always chase money and we always end up losing our culture, heritage, mother tongue and probably everything. We are shapeless”
I am not taking a side here…its upto you
Chapter 4:
I am running…This time, it’s definitely not in my dreams. I am jogging around north park at around 6 30 PM with Sony headphones plugged into my ears. It’s this song…this one song that makes me feel nostalgic….Makes me feel of the days where I would just act as if I was sleeping so that my mom will wake make up…It makes me think about the dinner that would have all the items that I love even though I have never said that I want them. I am thinking of that moment when my mom cried that I was hurt badly in the bike accident. I can never see or probably think that there will be another person in this world who will love me the way you do…..never…Missing you mom…and to everyone…Dare to stereotype........
Signing of…………….meet you soon…..
It’s that same old sound I hear every time I wake up in my room in Atlanta, but there is a difference this time, I am on it. Yeah, I am driving the truck, the fire truck. I am not in U.S. It’s my home town. Where am I going? I have no idea. Following me, I find that I am on my way to my school. There is a bomb threat to my school. I am patrolling the area and making sure that everyone is safe. You should know how people react when they hear a bomb threat. Kids are no different. There was chaos throughout and I was trying to calm the crowd. All of a sudden, my left ear goes dumb. I heard a huge sound and it’s all there. What the politicians said, what the police claimed (that the city is safe) have been proved to be false and people’s worst fears have come true. There is a bomb blast in my school. I lost my nerve and started to run towards the building. I can see a kid limping, can I reach her, Will I be able to save her……. Lose control………..What…why am I hearing a song from rang de basanti while running……..Oh shit, that’s my alarm. Its 7’0 clock, wake up dude, time to run………
Chapter 2:
“What’s your future plan?” was the question asked by my friend who is working with me…..Well let me think……”I will work for two or three years and then go back to India” – this is what I told him. I got a reply I expected….”You people always say this…..Once you smell money, you will never go back”…… Why we always try to stereotype someone else? …..Why do we don’t allow people to be different. No clue…… I was about to say “ It’s hard to say this dude, but, I see you as a aimless creature brought up with the only sense of chasing money”…..
Chapter 3:
It’s all about conversations…Now the conversation is “Why a lot of Indians are settling in U.S”
Hari: “Indians are not smart. Americans are smart. There is a myth existing in this world that Indians and Chinese are smarter people as they are taking up jobs in U.S, but I would say otherwise because Indians are not smart enough to see opportunities in India”
Karthik: “Indians are not patriotic. Indians don’t have the courage. We don’t really feel that we should do something for our country. We don’t really realize the difference between the amount earned in dollars and amount earned in rupees. Rupee is always cheaper to us. We don’t hold the pride in saying that we are Indians. We always chase money and we always end up losing our culture, heritage, mother tongue and probably everything. We are shapeless”
I am not taking a side here…its upto you
Chapter 4:
I am running…This time, it’s definitely not in my dreams. I am jogging around north park at around 6 30 PM with Sony headphones plugged into my ears. It’s this song…this one song that makes me feel nostalgic….Makes me feel of the days where I would just act as if I was sleeping so that my mom will wake make up…It makes me think about the dinner that would have all the items that I love even though I have never said that I want them. I am thinking of that moment when my mom cried that I was hurt badly in the bike accident. I can never see or probably think that there will be another person in this world who will love me the way you do…..never…Missing you mom…and to everyone…Dare to stereotype........
Signing of…………….meet you soon…..
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A tale to remember ……………………………………….
Starring : Aravind, Janesh, Karthik, Krishnan, Preethi, Sathya, Sriram and Vishnu.
Screenplay : Karthik
The spring semester has started and first week is done. Courses have been finalized and assignments have started to flow in. This is not the best time to register one of my best trips, but I want to pen it down before I forget it.
Let me start of by giving full credits to Sathya who used his credit card to rent a car based upon the driving of four people:- me, Janesh, Vishnu and of course him. We started at 10 30 in the morning on a day that was supposed to be foggy. Two cars were rented – Grand Marquis and Suzuki Reno. One resembled Contessa classic the other was a Tata Indica.
“Hit the pedal Guyz!!!!!” was the call from everyone……..No one has driven before in U.S and the fear of getting busted in the middle of the road with knees down has been haunting everyone. Still, the adrenaline rush helped us move head. The route to Panama city includes three states – Georgia, Alabama and Florida. One hour into the trip and a warning came from a senior who left before “Guyz, I just got a ticket in Alabama for over speeding!!!!!!!”. When the phone line was dead, we heard a siren somewhere when I thought someone was getting a ticket somewhere. Sathya who was sitting next to me said “machan, namma than da”. My hands started shivering. I had no idea wat to do. We pulled our vehicle to end of the lane on the highway and removed our hands from the steering. Surprise Surprise, the highway patrol just crossed us and went ahead. That was an embarrassing moment. “Veeranuku ithellam chagajam” nu sollitu e continued our journey towards the Emerald Island.
After 7 and half hours, after 4 pit stops, after some shivering moments, we finally reached the place, Splash resorts.
“Refresh yourself guyz, wwe are going out on a drive” was the call from Professor sathya.
It was not a good day to start with. We went to Club La Vela, to find out that there is literally nothing there. On the way return, It was my turn to drive Grand Marquis. Vishnu and Janesh were hitting 100mph and since the crowd was afraid, they demanded one of the safest drivers(karthik ) to get the car from them. We were driving happily on the panama city front beach road. “Vada mappilai Vala pala thopla” song was rocking in the car. I didn’t want to hear it, but, once again, I heard the siren, the alarm that frightened me off on the highway. I was driving the car at 55mph (very slow compared to 100mph) and the Florida police were right behind me. I thought that they were chasing someone in front of me, but looked up on the road to find out that there was literally no one before.
I parked the car before a Chinese restaurant and those guyz parked their’s right behind me. Its confirmed, it’s me this time. I am done. Vishnu was calm, just like me, Preethi was shivering and Krishnan’s face was a bit whitened. I stepped out of the car and spoke to him.
Office : Sir, you were riding at 55mph on a road with speed limit 35 mph
Karthik :I apologize officer
Offier : No son, it’s a crime to over speed here. Do you have a license?
Karthik : Yes sir, I do. Here’s my Indian License.
Officer : I am sorry. Does that mean that you don’t have a proper U.S license?
Karthik : Yes (The politeness was gone as I was afraid)
Officer : I am sorry. You look young to me. I think it’s a crime for you to drive here in U.S and you are arrested under the law.
Karthik : What?
Officer : Hands on your back!!!!!!!
Oh my god What have I done, I have ruined everything. I have ruined my life, I have ruined my studies, my parents will come to know of this and I am going to be ashamed. My heart beat was hitting the high scale but my face remained calm. I was handcuffed. My head started rolling and I fainted.
A flash went by and I found my hands still on the steering wheel. Contrary to my dreams, the officer accepted my Indian license, but still went on to annoy me for my passport which I had left in the hotel. After some 50 apologies, they warned me upright and I was on my Grand marquis again, but this time riding it at 30mph.
I think I have introduced only a few characters to you.
To be continued when I find time ………………………………
Next blog – How Sathya got busted, How Janesh tried to kill the jet ski trainer, How our snorkeling turned out to be waste of money and why we canoed for 3 and half hours!!!!!!!!!!
Screenplay : Karthik
The spring semester has started and first week is done. Courses have been finalized and assignments have started to flow in. This is not the best time to register one of my best trips, but I want to pen it down before I forget it.
Let me start of by giving full credits to Sathya who used his credit card to rent a car based upon the driving of four people:- me, Janesh, Vishnu and of course him. We started at 10 30 in the morning on a day that was supposed to be foggy. Two cars were rented – Grand Marquis and Suzuki Reno. One resembled Contessa classic the other was a Tata Indica.
“Hit the pedal Guyz!!!!!” was the call from everyone……..No one has driven before in U.S and the fear of getting busted in the middle of the road with knees down has been haunting everyone. Still, the adrenaline rush helped us move head. The route to Panama city includes three states – Georgia, Alabama and Florida. One hour into the trip and a warning came from a senior who left before “Guyz, I just got a ticket in Alabama for over speeding!!!!!!!”. When the phone line was dead, we heard a siren somewhere when I thought someone was getting a ticket somewhere. Sathya who was sitting next to me said “machan, namma than da”. My hands started shivering. I had no idea wat to do. We pulled our vehicle to end of the lane on the highway and removed our hands from the steering. Surprise Surprise, the highway patrol just crossed us and went ahead. That was an embarrassing moment. “Veeranuku ithellam chagajam” nu sollitu e continued our journey towards the Emerald Island.
After 7 and half hours, after 4 pit stops, after some shivering moments, we finally reached the place, Splash resorts.
“Refresh yourself guyz, wwe are going out on a drive” was the call from Professor sathya.
It was not a good day to start with. We went to Club La Vela, to find out that there is literally nothing there. On the way return, It was my turn to drive Grand Marquis. Vishnu and Janesh were hitting 100mph and since the crowd was afraid, they demanded one of the safest drivers(karthik ) to get the car from them. We were driving happily on the panama city front beach road. “Vada mappilai Vala pala thopla” song was rocking in the car. I didn’t want to hear it, but, once again, I heard the siren, the alarm that frightened me off on the highway. I was driving the car at 55mph (very slow compared to 100mph) and the Florida police were right behind me. I thought that they were chasing someone in front of me, but looked up on the road to find out that there was literally no one before.
I parked the car before a Chinese restaurant and those guyz parked their’s right behind me. Its confirmed, it’s me this time. I am done. Vishnu was calm, just like me, Preethi was shivering and Krishnan’s face was a bit whitened. I stepped out of the car and spoke to him.
Office : Sir, you were riding at 55mph on a road with speed limit 35 mph
Karthik :I apologize officer
Offier : No son, it’s a crime to over speed here. Do you have a license?
Karthik : Yes sir, I do. Here’s my Indian License.
Officer : I am sorry. Does that mean that you don’t have a proper U.S license?
Karthik : Yes (The politeness was gone as I was afraid)
Officer : I am sorry. You look young to me. I think it’s a crime for you to drive here in U.S and you are arrested under the law.
Karthik : What?
Officer : Hands on your back!!!!!!!
Oh my god What have I done, I have ruined everything. I have ruined my life, I have ruined my studies, my parents will come to know of this and I am going to be ashamed. My heart beat was hitting the high scale but my face remained calm. I was handcuffed. My head started rolling and I fainted.
A flash went by and I found my hands still on the steering wheel. Contrary to my dreams, the officer accepted my Indian license, but still went on to annoy me for my passport which I had left in the hotel. After some 50 apologies, they warned me upright and I was on my Grand marquis again, but this time riding it at 30mph.
I think I have introduced only a few characters to you.
To be continued when I find time ………………………………
Next blog – How Sathya got busted, How Janesh tried to kill the jet ski trainer, How our snorkeling turned out to be waste of money and why we canoed for 3 and half hours!!!!!!!!!!
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