Hey! Been sometime eh? Well, this time around, its not so much about updates. :)
Life. In all its glory, life is simply so overwhelming. Don’t you think so? Of the wondrous people it brings to us, of the miraculous events that shape our lives. Mine is no different. Am sorry, that was random rambling :)
Blogger's dilema. I’ve been trying to coax many of my blogger friends to write- all of us suffer from what I choose to call a collective writers’ block! :P Hehe. And I decided, the best would be for me to write something myself so I wont feel so out place when I ask them :) And I’ll share with you some random trivia- This is the third time I’m attempting to write a blog post in the last week! You can now imagine how much I wanted to come back! :)
Of late, I have had the luxury to ponder upon a lot of random things. I spent some time pondering about how listening helps heal invisible wounds. There are some wounds in the world that medicine can heal. But there many more that medicine cannot that probably time can.
They say time is a good healer. That is true but time is known to take her sweet course. I have discovered in my short life of 24 odd years that there is a magical healing quality in listening. Yes, you read it right. Listening.
When you are down and beaten or when you hurt in conscience or heart, no medicine makes any difference. But a patient ear can work miracles in such times. Pills can give you energy and heal cuts and burns. But when you are guilty or sad or hurting and want to talk to a living soul about how you feel, what can modern medicine do? 
A friend in need is a friend indeed! But needs are not always monetary or tangible things. Friends need not even be solution providers. A friend is he who listens and offers a shoulder to lean on for support. If you have a listener friend, you are indeed blessed! :) And I’ve been really lucky in that department. Thank you- to all concerned :)
Remembering and gratitude. Its one of those days again… I’m in my usual corner, next to the window. It’s a sunny afternoon, in the otherwise cold November. I am listening to some songs… those of the birds and the bees…
As is now a tradition, I walk down the proverbial memory lane. The events that shaped my life, the years that have held a special place in my heart, the movies that made a difference to me, the books that contributed in making me, the places I have been to, the birthdays I have celebrated- all of them, I walk past without stopping by to look at. I finally reach that unnamed territory that invades everybody’s mind and space at times when they least expect it. This abyss of space tells me my saddest times, happiest times, the most exciting times, the most cherished moments… It holds every emotion I have displayed in my young (long!) life of 24 odd years.
I learn, standing here all alone in this deserted place, that I have always been with plenty of people when I am happy. It brings a smile to me now. I also see that during my saddest of times, I was never alone. Hold on a minute… who is that who’s lending me her shoulder to cry on? I’m astonished as she turns around and smiles at me. I recognise her. She’s the first friend I made in the fourth grade. Oh my dear God, please let me remember her name…! I stare at her without smiling back as I see myself weak and hurt, clinging on to this caring soul… and I still cant remember her name or anything about her!
I felt ashamed and stricken to stand there and stare back at a friend who’s been there for me when I was in need but I dint remember the help or the events preceding it. I should have simply died then. The worst thing in the world, according to me, is to not remember a friend’s help in need. I made to run away when something caught my mind again. I was running across the road and an elderly woman pulled me to a side suddenly. I was going to be hit by a truck. That woman actually saved my life… Did I even thank her? I don’t remember. I come back to now.
Of bottling and re-living. I’ve allowed myself some wishful thinking. I wish there were bottles that can hold liquid memory, much like Albus Dumbledore’s Pensieve. 
I could choose to go back to any of them as and when the fancy strikes me. I can even choose to share some of them with others and be sure my memory is not failing me or making impulsive and biased changes to the original scene. For now I know, everytime I narrate the same incident to different people, it sounds slightly different from the last time… even to me! I want a pensieve. Period. Ah, wishful thinking!
This time around, it has really been random musings, eh? Well, thank you for reading anyway :) A couple of my blogger friends have been real inspirers! Thank you ! :)
Until next time then.. take care and try building a pensieve for me :) Cheers!
An overdue updation... and be my guest- be entertained! :)
Ah! Finally here I am. Yeah yeah, save your breath. I know long overdue.. :P And of course, much and I mean- MUCH- has happened since my last post…! And compared to the content of my last post, I’m a very happy person today! For one thing I got transferred to Trivandrum by 10th May and I resumed work- more office bound though. And after 2 more MONTHS of a stupid brace
And then well, I reported back to work and things fell in place… or well, not so much in place… :P I’ll just say that it was nice, to look at the world without a brace, without people around me wondering why I alone was wearing a bullet proof vest! And all the explaining I had to give me colleagues and customers! :D I was called the miracle! For reasons I’d rather not elaborate again. :P
Hmmm I seem to provide amusing anecdotes for my friends. I shall share a couple of them with you. But ah, you’re my friend too… :P So I should be telling you too… Ah, now you know I’m back to my mad self…! :P
My laptop was stuffed with viruses and worms and other insects… and I finally got it revamped. Now everything is alright, right? Well, I thought so. But wonderous things were in store. G stopped working. You read right. The key between F and H stopped working. Altogether. You don’t believe me? The following is part of a conversation with a friend
me: pata hai... i just ot my system formatted
but the funniest thin was discovered!
the letter between f and h on the keyboard doesnt work! :P
fren: u mean g
me: but the system is otherwise superfast now :)
yeah :) brainy u are!! :) was tryin to type
i'm so stupid.. i was actually fiddlin with that key! :P
was such a pain to access my _mail account. .cos teh key wont work!
fren: :D
GGGGGG
u can copy paste now
me: chupbe... :)
thanks... such a help.. when i'm already in! :)
fren: :D :D
me: i searched for search enine.. pata nahi.. some how oole opened..
wahan se copy kiya..
fren: :D
i cant stop laughing
me: now i've finally added mail to my favorites.. so i'm ok now :D
fren: lauGhinG
me: oh imp only u are! chor
btw.. i'm oin trichy toniht with ma..
me: oh Good
Conversation with another friend:
me: btw i dun rememebr if itold u.. the letter between f and h doesnt work on my lappie..
me: so i've copied that letter from somewhere else and i do ctrl v when i need it :P
Fren: :) hehe! i like tat! letter btwn f & h :)
me: :D
Fren: u mean G right :)
me: :D how else do i say? :)
exactly!!! so smart u are! :)
Fren: i was looking at my keyboard to check which is the letter! :P
me:
:D
Fren: hehe!
me: “u cant use this letter no,” she says and she'll use caps also! :D
chor ppl i tell u!
me: hmmm i think the excitement abt the bi et toether is reat! :P
fren: :)
hehe!
its funny to not see ur G's btw!! :D
"bi et toether" it seems!!
:D
me: yeah, rite! :P
fren: cauvery, it is biG Get together, ok? :D
Conversation with yet another friend:
Me: wat doin?
fren: assignment
me: :D
wokayi woke up late this mornin.. yet aain!
the damned letter between f and h not workin.. :P
fren
:P :D
fren: thank god its not s
or a or t that’s not working
you cant thank God :D
GGGGG
Okay, you have about a half minute to stop laughing. Thank you! These are only snippets of the things I’ve been subject to! :P You can imagine the rest if let us say… I chat with about 8-10 friends a day :P
And then, well… amidst the many things that happened in quick succession, I was contemplating a change in my job. And then there was the bharatmatrimony progress on the other hand. And now, I’m glad things are working out well… Most of you would know, am sure. Those still unaware, check FB .
Oh and this one- it happened today. I’d given a tailor here- in tvm, a simple job, about 3 weeks ago. Stitch me a salwar. And my conversation went thus: *idiot refers to the tailor. Imp is a friend who heard my rambling first! :P
Me: bill no so and so.. is that ready?
idoit:illa madam. no ready
i: bill says delivery date is 13th
Imp: illa madam :D
me: idiot: 10 days pending madam
old work there
no ready
Imp: thats means u get after 10 adys madam
:) :D
me: i: wat do u mean not ready?! U said 13th. When can u give it?
idiot: 22nd madam
i: no way. have u even started work on it?
idiot: enda madam?
i: have u cut it atleast or is it lying untouched?
idiot: cut cheidilla
i: no issues. dont cut. keep it the way it is. i'm cancelling my order
idiot: enda madam?
Imp: :D
:D
me: i: cancel order. will collect it tomorrow. no money. no stiching.
idiot: ok madam. pls wait
idiot: madam i call u back in half hour. ur no is so and so?
me: yes.
in 8 mins he calls back
idiot: madam tomorrow we make ready
Imp: haha
:D
me: i: how come wat u said wud take 10 days will be ready overnight?
idiot: madam tomorrow night 8 pm
i:
idiot: 8.15-8.30 pm!
Imp: :D
me: i:
Imp: cooollll
lovely
hilarious
me: i know..
and u know wat's coming on my blog next! :D u got the exclusive premier! :P
Imp: :D
So there! I’ve entertained you all for a bit… and I’ve also updated on the latest with my life Now I’ve quit my job, living the moment and waiting to tie the knot And then the job hunt will bein and life will flin surprises at me once aain. (aah.. the G is still fuzzy…! That was beGin, flinG and aGain! )
So long and thanks for stopping by… Have a wonderful life! Cheers to life itself! and the miraculous things that amuse us everyday!
It Happened To Me
Does the title of the post remind you of a regular feature in the Tinkle Digest we used to read as kids? "It Happened To Me" were little real life stories that happened to people- funny anecdotes and laughable memories of childhood... :) Er... sorry, all this is beside the point.
I am here to share with you a story...
I had gone(or come?!) to Chennai-pattinam on the 27th of February for a friend's wedding reception. The next morning was bright and sunny, the air crisp and chilly. I wore a new kurta- faded blue-grey with a bright blue neckline... you should have gathered by now that I was... happy! :) I was visiting my 'leetle' sis at IIT. Once there, I was munching away to glory at their tifanys :) On the way to her room, we saw this group of hostelites, clad in night suits, sopping wet in hues ranging from magenta to purple to green and yellow. I dont know how, but my kurta was spared... probably for another colour! :) It was 'holi' and there was bhaang and music and masti :) This is a perfect day... Nothing could go wrong :)
At about 12.30, Kichu(my leetle sis) and I left for Kasturbai Nagar station so I could join some of my friends at City centre for lunch and later head to the beach before we all parted ways and went back to work, after a happy and lazy weekend. We got the ticket and were waiting in an almost deserted platform. (Does this scene remind anybody of The Woman on Platform No 8? :)) As the local train crawled(or should i say whizzed?!) into the station, I got onto the train- safe. No falling, no dangling, no clinging on the edge. :) For a brief moment then, I searched for Kichu's face on the platform, a strange feeling of being alone in a new city creeping up my mind. I notice Kichu finds my wallet on a bench there and looks at me for a fleeting second.
What happens to rationality just when you need it, I dont know. Dont ask me :) Realising I have no money with me, I hurry to the edge of the train, thinking fast... I can just get off and take the next train. So I take a step, just one. Just as my foot touches the solid floor of the platform, I feel it melting and slipping away into nothingness. I realise the train had begun to move a nano second ago. As the realisation dawned on me, I saw nothing. Not the people on the platform, not the train's inside, not the train's outside. Nothing.
That one step shattered my proverbial perfect day. My perfect weekend away from work. In about 4 seconds from then, I feel like I'm being thrown about in random directions and it comes to a halt finally- oh, not the train, you know- the feeling of being thrown about :) I remember not losing consciousness except for the first four seconds of oblivion. So here I was, crouched in a narrow space that I feel is some sort of passage way, crammed, hurting and very uncomfortable. I dont move at all. I'm still as a rock. Without moving an inch, without craning my neck, I look to my left... I see the dusty compartment edges of a train and the grimy wheels rattling on the tracks, creating a whirring noise in my ears. On my right, I dont see what I expect to see- legs of people of the platform. Instead I see only the small wall that connects the platform and the ground where the tracks run. My first reaction- Thank you, God. I'm alive.
As I sit there crouched, I decide not to panic. Its pretty amazing now, when I think of that moment. What kept me calm, what kept me alive, what made me sit like a rock, what helped me make my decision not to panic. I sense immense pain. A sort that I've never experienced. Its piercing and hurtful and my breath comes in gasps. Yet- no movement. I wait for a few seconds for the train to go by. It feels like eternity. Once the train has gone, I decide its time to assess the damage and I realise simultaneously that Kichu, who came to see me off, might not have seen me stepping off the platform and might leave the station.
I bend down to find both my legs carefully folded under me- thankfully, not at odd angles. So I was sure my legs were ok. Maybe a fracture or two, but largely ok. My head felt like 10 kilos of iron. I was horrified to find a stream of blood steadily flowing from my head, down by face, partially blinding my right eye vision and staining my brand new kurta! My chest hurt, I could not breathe. I thought I yelled Kichu's name. What I dint realise was that it probably only was a whisper. Random hands came to me from the platform above me. I knew there was hope.
I realise I'm being lifted. A dark man with a beard, looked like those workmen you see on a platform- came sprinting to where i lay. I saw him cry out loud for help. 4 more hands. Some great effort. I rise into the air. They struggle and stagger a bit... the bright sunlight blinds me for a second, then i see many worried faces floating just above me... among the strange unknown faces, I see my angel peek in and I knew then, I was not dying... not just yet. Kichu's face in that one second, communicated a million things in one go. That face is forever etched in my heart.
As I passed in and out of consciousness, I could sense a pair of tiny hands hold me, jerk me awake and constantly reassure me of her presence and that things were going to be ok. In a situation like that(I wouldnt wish it upon my worst enemy) with blood pouring down your face and not being able to breathe, and images of ur family and friends looming large in your head, not to mention the freaking thought that this might be the last you are seeing the world, those tiny hands were the hands of an angel in no disguise- their owner was my kid sister.
At a time when you have someone you love in a near afatal accident, in a city where your parents arent there, and u are just a college kid, to call for an ambulance and not risk waiting for it and rush your loved one to the hospital in a state of panic- that calls for remarkable courage. At the cost of sounding cliched, I think I'd not be here today if not for Kichu. :'-) I remember telling her not to tell our parents. I was saying something like- I am stupid, I'm so sorry, I'm stupid. And stupid I was. :P
Once at the hospital, I was immediately examined with all sorts of scans and tests to ensure the head injury isnt serious and hasnt resulted in internal bleeding. I was blessed- with another life! :) I was shaken, not broken... er, except they found a fracture in my spine. :P I was on a lot of sedative, i think. While shifting me from one lab to another, i see a multitude of faces, all a little worried, a little encouraging, smiling and patting my head... college friends, office colleagues, Kichu's friends, it was wonderful to know so many people cared. I could not do anything... except cry.
Around 6.30 that evening, I open my eyes- they take a little while to get adjusted to the light in the room- mostly white. As I recollect the events of the day, a sense of fear creeps into my heart. I close my eyes for a second. And there I am, being thrown about and the nothingness feeling, then the crouching in the passage way. I open my eyes. Am slightly panting and sweating. I turn to my right and who should be there? Appa(Dad). Strangely, he did not look mad at me. Not even cross. He smiled. And in his usual assured self style, came to my bed. I thought he had cried. And then, I cried.
In two days time, Amma had flown down to Chennai too. And I was to be there for 6 weeks. In bed. No sitting up, no getting up, no walking, no raising head, no using pillow. I was bed-ridden.
The next post will tell you how beautiful life has been since then. Those six weeks flew by and yet have made a significant change in my life and those around me.
This post, however, is meant to tell myself more than you, that life is beautiful, and irreplaceable. That I'm thankful for a sister who is a savior, who puts others before her interests, who is responsible in adverse conditions, who is rock hard and determined not to give up, who is the strongest pillar of my life. Without her, I dont think I'd be able to live. On nights when I have another fall from the train in my dream, I can sense those angel hands holding mine and telling me things will be ok.
