http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7782422.stm

My mind went back to my college days. Particularly to one incident that happened six years back.

I was in the third year of my engineering. I had mastered the tricks of engineering  education. Sleep all through the semester , take photocopies of some cheap book from a local author 3-4 days before the exams , skim through them the previous day of the exam and write some stories in the paper. This policy didn’t fetch me great marks but it sure saved me from disappointments. I had lost interest in the system when I had got a paltry 50 – odd in one of my most favourite subjects while my friend had scored 80s in that subject after writing the story of the movie “Lagaan” during the exam.

But exams bothered me only occasionally . I lost sleep due another topic related to my college. Geetha.
We both had chosen the same engineering stream so we were in the same class. Since she had joined school earlier and me missing one of my school final exams due to typhoid, she was younger than me.I never talked to her much except during the times I had to talk to her during practicals. She was a fairly popular personality in the college. She was very good in singing and used to win prizes in almost all college culturals. I usually go to all those culturals under the false context of taking part in some competition but end up losing all of them . I never minded that. My aim had always been to applaud her singing , congratulate on her winning and exult at her  success as she accepts the prize in the podium with all modesty.

How much did I have to tell my self to snap out of her thoughts!!! But I couldn’t . I tried to reason with my heart . I put forward points in front of my heart and used to list girls who were more beautiful, more smarter and more friendlier towards me and demanded explanation for this crazy fascination I had towards Geetha.
My heart would smile back at my mind and would say “You will never understand, don’t give me your equations, this is not maths!!!!”

I was going through this torture for a good part of three years. Torture!! What an understatement!!!

I had thought that it should be made mandatory, that all secret agents should have gone through love. Anybody who had gone through love can take any other torture this world has to offer.

I would have given anything to know whether I was in her heart. I was getting sick of imagining favorable interpretations for her simple activities. I felt the sensation of being applied “Oldspice”(after shave lotion)
after getting shaved , when she talked to me. I didn’t know whether to enjoy the chillness of her words or the
exhilarating pain of my love.

I used to wait for that “golden glance”of hers everyday and used to rejoice all day by playing the glance again and again in my mind. Everyday was confusion as to whether she was an angel or the most beautiful witch born to torment me*

I went through thousand more thoughts like this.
I was really longing to express my love. BUT HOW????

The opportunity presented itself when we went to industrial visit to Ooty.
Industrial visit????
Well…. It was just a fancy name we had given for our excursion.

After a brief visit to “Hindustan Photo films” to justify the “industriousness ” of our visit we went to various other places of attraction including the “Botanical garden”. I had made up my mind to confess my love during this trip and was waiting for the right time. The chance presented itself during our visit to the botanical garden

There were 7 of us in our gang of close friends, three guys and four girls including myself and Geetha who stuck together as we visited the various places. As we were roaming about in the garden, Geetha suddenly stopped.
‘I cant walk one more step from here on!!! You guys look around and come back.I will wait here”
“hey come on!!!! We wont go all the distance , we will just see a few more places,also we cant leave you alone here”, one of our friends exclaimed as he looked around into the darkness that was setting in.
I knew this was my chance. “Why don’t you guys carry on?? Even Iam fairly tired. I shall stay back
with Geetha and we will wait for you guys”.

Everyone seemed to like the idea. Soon we were left alone and we sat on the lush green grass. After the initial chat about the trip I slowly gathered boldness.

“Geetha”
“Ya  ”, she was resting her head on her folded hands and was gently closing her eyes.

“I want to tell you something”, I felt some non-existant block getting stuck in my throat.
She raised her head and looked at me.

I cleared my throat . “I wanted to tell you this for a long time. Whatever it is please don’t be angry on me”
She smiled gently.
“Hey Kishore ,your buildup is scary, you are talking as if…..” she stopped suddenly.

“As if…..” , I enquired softly.

“As if.. as if you are gonna propose to me or something!!!! “, she let out an uneasy laugh.
I didn’t answer her. She had guessed it!!!!

“You are right Geetha”, I replied
“Right about what??”, she was at her irritating best. Why do these girls want everything to be spelled out perfectly.

“You are right Geetha….. I …. Iam………” I couldn’t raise my tongue. “I want to marry you Geetha, I want to make you part of my life”

I felt as if a huge 1000 ton container was removed from my heart. I was waiting for her reply.

She didn’t answer for a while. I would have happy with that , had I known the words she uttered next.
“Whats wrong with  you Kishore,have you gone mad or something???” I felt as if my eyes would pop out of my head as I tried to control my tears!!!

“I mean!! I thought you were a smart and decent guy!!! I……” She never spoke for a while.

“So you don’t love me????”, I couldn’t believe I was asking this . The message was clear but I wanted the exact words from her mouth.

“Of course not!! Did I ever behave as if I was in love with you???” I felt as if my heart was beaten up by thousand goons.

“So you never felt love towards me?? Not even once?? Not even one instance????”, I knew it was pathetic but I couldn’t help asking her this.

“Oh kishore!!!!  Iam so sorry to say this. See I have a lot of respect and admiration towards you but love!!???
That is different . You cant coerce love from someone. It should happen by itself. And I don’t feel that towards you but……..” She stopped as she saw our friends coming back.

We never talked about this after wards and I tried to avoid her as much as possible. Since I was an introvert by nature , nobody suspected anything.

I didnt feel any grudge or remorse towards her and thought I would never see her for the rest of my life.

Apparently I was wrong

This thought is in line with the lyrics of the song “En kaadhale” from the tamil film “Duet”.
” Nee thozhiya , illai edhiriya ena dhinamum poraattama”

“Yeah sure , ma …..” , I stopped chewing and looked at her.
“what for ????? “

For a minute she was trying to guess, as to whether I was joking.

“Oh yes!!!! …, so its today!!?? ” , I remembered suddenly.
“Why didn’t you remind me??”

“Do I have to remind you everyday that we are going to see a girl for
your
marriage?? What kind of a guy are you??”,she got up as she said it.

I had been postponing it for a long time ,but the time had come when my
parents had to start looking for a girl for me. After extorting a half
hearted approval from me my mom had shown me a photo a week back as I
was getting ready for office.
“Have a look at the photo”, my mom said as I was tying my knot.

I had a brief glance at the photo as I came to the dinner table. The
girl in the photo looked kinda familiar.

“So what do you think”, my mom was relentless.

“you mean , the photo??? Shoddy graphics!!! The guy wont last a day in
our company’s quality control” , I laughed aloud.
“Be serious Kishore!!!! We can go the girl’s place if you say yes.”

I looked at the expectations and curiosity in her face.
“Ok  ma , we can go to her place , you are happy now???? But one
condition!! It will be just me ,dad and you, OK??”
I hated the idea of choosing my life partner in between a circus with
all and sundry.

After that day I totally forgot about the incident and my mom also
didn’t talk about it. She might have told me about it in the
evenings(late
nights rather) , when I come back from office everyday but I
would be too tired to listen to her during those times.

I was a little excited as I drove my way to office. But there was
something deep in my heart which prevented the happiness from being
complete. May be it’s the thought of being on the verge of losing
the freedom of being a bachelor.
I got lost into fantasies of married life.

I slowly open my eyes as I wake up to the morning. I see her watching me
with coffee in her hands. She had taken hair bath and had neatly rolled
up her hair with a towel .
“What are you looking at”, I ask her with a smile in my face.
“You look the best early in the morning”, she whispers in my ears with a
giggle.
“So do you “, I try to pull her to my side as she falsely tries to get
away
from me all the while balancing the coffee in her hand.

I stamp the brakes as an idiot swerves unannounced in front of me from
left.

These guys should be shot,hanged twice after being cut into two halves.
I lose my temper as my heart starts beating faster.

I had no realization of the morning passing by as I was deeply involved
in a proposal preparation. I took lunch well past the lunchtime.

After the lunch as I sent the mail to onsite my mind was filled with
thoughts of the evening. Suddenly I wanted to see that photo.

I cursed myself for not having the photo with myself. I could hardly
remember the face.
I knew it was impossible to judge a person just by looking at the photo.
I had had experiences in the past when the person turned out to be quite
different to the impression I had formed on seeing the photo. I had a
strong belief that all photos were touched up to show the person in the
photo in the best light possible. Reality is what counts.

In reality , the most beautiful people we know need not have the best
facial or physical features. It all depends on the thousands of other
things ,half of which cannot be explained. Other half being the person’s
thoughts, actions, manners, speech etc etc.

The major work for the day had been finished and there were other small
stuff, which had to be taken care of. Otherwise there was nothing else
which was urgent enough.
There was a call from home reminding me of our program in the evening.
I quickly wrapped up my work and reached home getting past the
colleagues
who looked at me quizzically for leaving early. I hadn’t told them about
my evening plans.

The girl’s house was fairly away from the city. As I was driving with my
parents ,I suddenly remembered.
“Amma!!! Whats the girl’s name??? “
“Very good!!! Atleast now you remembered “, my parents laughed aloud.

I blushed.
“Her name is Geetha”

Geetha……….
Hmmm interesting name.

We reached the place. There was some close relative of the girl who was
waiting for us in the road to make sure we don’t miss the place.
I thought the people were overly courteous. I liked the girl’s dad. He
looked cool with a gentle smile in his face.

Her parents were carefully listing the girl’s credentials without making
it sound as “over qualifications” !!
Mostly there were descriptions about the girl being so obedient,homely
etc etc and how she will make a perfect family girl! So sad how much a
girl’s parents have to do while trying to get their daughter married.
I thought Soon it was time for the girl to arrive.
“Geetha , could you please bring some coffee for us??”, the girl’s dad
exclaimed towards the kitchen.

Geetha….. hmmm interesting name.I felt again…

I could hear the sound of her anklets getting bigger. The sound was so
rhythmic.
I got impatient.

Then she entered the room.
She was wearing mild make up and was wearing a traditional silk saree.
There were some extra gold ornaments adorned and there was slightly
excessive lip stick. Inspite of all these “extra fittings” , she looked
fairly simple which I liked.

But more than everything ,there was only thought in my mind!!!!

Oh my God………… This is Geetha………. My Geetha

காந்தி…தேசப்பிதா… சரி..
அதாவது தேசத்தின் பிதா…. அதாவது தந்தை…. அப்படீனா குடும்பத்தலைவர்
பதவி. சரி தானுங்கோ… எல்லார் வீட்டிலேயும் குடும்பத் தலைவர் எப்படி
இருப்பாங்களோ அப்படி தான இவரும் இருபாரு. சொல்லுவார்… ஆனா செய்ய
மட்டாரு.
இதோ இவரை பற்றி நான் பேச்த் துவங்கும் முன் : அவரோட சொந்த விஷயங்கள அவரோட
குடும்பத்தை பத்தி எப்படி நடத்தினார் இதெல்லாம் பத்தி நிறைய சொல்லப்
போறேன். அப்பா அம்மாவை எவ்வளவு மதித்தார் எல்லாமே…நிறைய பேர் சன்டைக்கு
வரலாம்! “அது அவரோட சொந்த விஷயம் அத பத்தி நம்ப பேச கூடாது” அப்படீனு.
அதுக்கு என்னுடைய பதில் : ஊருக்கு உபதேசம் பன்ன வந்தார்னா… அவர் எப்படி
இருக்கார்.. உண்மையிலேயே அவர் சொல்லறத கேட்டா நாம நல்லா இருப்போமா!!!
அதனால் தான்… அவரை பத்தின சொந்த விஷயங்களும் இங்கே )ஏன்னா
திருமணத்தின் பொழுது சத்தியம் செய்து தனது இல்லத்தாலை காக்கும் பொறுப்பை
ஏற்று சத்தியம் செய்கிறார். அதையே அவரால் காக்க முடியா விட்டால் எந்த ஊர்
சத்தியவான் அவர்?

ஒருவரை குத்தம் சொல்லரத்துக்கு முன்னாடி அவரை பத்தி ஒரு நல்ல அறிமுகம் தரேன் :

அக்டோபர் 2,1869 போர்பந்தரில் பிறந்தார். கடைகுட்டி. தந்தை 3 காதிவர்
ச்டேட்சில் பிரதம மந்திரியாக தொடர்ச்சியாக இருந்தவர்.இவர் தனது
நேர்மையும் நானயத்திர்காகவும் பெயர் போனவர். காந்தி பிறந்த வீட்டை இன்று
‘ kirthi mandir’ என்று அழைக்கப் படுகிறது.

நம்ம காந்தி கூறிய கருத்துக்கள் ஆயிரம். ஆனால் அவை எல்லாம் நினைவில்
வருவது வருடத்தில் ஒரு முறை தான் – அதானுங்க அவர் பிறந்த நாள். அவர்
சமாதியில் உள்ள மலர்கள் புதிதாக தோன்றுவது போல் அன்று ஒரு நாள் மட்டும்
தான் இவரின் வார்த்தைகள் அனைத்து வருடங்களும் புதுமையாகத் தோன்றும்.

அவருக்கு சத்தியத்தின் மீது வந்த ஆர்வத்தின் காரணம் – harichchandran.
அந்த கதைய சொல்லும் போது எங்க அக்கா பையன் அருமையான கேள்வி கேட்டான் :
“சித்தி, அப்பா உண்மை மட்டும் தான் பேசுவாரா என்று” நானும் ஆமாம். உண்மை
பேசினா தான் நல்லா இருக்கலாம் அப்படீனேன். அதற்கு உடனே அவன் பதில் “அப்போ
எங்க அப்பா என்னையும் அம்மாவையும் வித்துடுவாரா?” என்று…!!! என்ன பதில்
சொல்லறது. so Moral of the story : தனது கொள்கையை கடைபிடிக்க வேண்டும்.
அதற்காக் அடுத்தவங்க எல்லோரும் கஷ்டபடனும். கருத்த நம்ம தலைவரும் சரியா
தான் புரிஞ்சு கிட்டு இருக்காரு அவர் மேல தப்பே இல்ல.
‘உம்’ என்றால் சிறைவாசம் ‘ஏன்’ என்றால் வனவாசம். பாரத தேசமே துடித்துக்
கொண்டு இருந்தது ஆங்கிலேயரின் ஆட்சிக் காலத்தில். அப்பொழுது எழுந்த
ஒருவர் தான் மகாகவி பாரதி.அட நம்ம பாரதி தாங்க. யாரங்க அவர் அடிச்சாரு?
யாரங்க துன்புருத்தினார்??? அவர ஏன் நாம யாருமே “அகிம்சாவாதி” அப்படீனு
சொல்லறது இல்ல???
அட ஆமாங்க… மறந்தே போயிட்டேனே… நம்ம திருவள்ளுவர் சார் சொன்னா மாதிரி
தான்…. ஹிம்சை என்பது அடி தடி மட்டும் இல்ல நாம பயன் படுத்தும் சொல்
மற்றும் செயலும் கூட அப்படீனு. அதனால் தான்.

தொடரும்

உங்களின் விமர்சனங்கள் அனைத்தும் வரவேர்க்கப் படுகின்றது

Everyday on seeing them he used to hide somewhere and try to escape. Whenever he says from tommorrow he will go to school, his athai scolds him.. so the new version to postpone is “I will sleep for sometime and then will go to school”.

The thing is he is now almost 30yrs old and still the same story continues when he got to go to office everyday

Azhagu kutty chellam – Shankar Mahadevan
This song is filled with all sorts of Konjals… the words that we here everyday at any house where there is a kid. Konjal words very very carefully taken and put together to bring together a beautiful lyrics of a kiddo song.

Endha Kuthiraiyil – Shreya Ghoshal and Rahul Nambiar
‘Prananatha’ in tamil makes this the song of the year Reminds me of a song from ’7G rainbow colony’ though. The tempo of this song is different and the fast beat suits the lyrics. The picturisation blends with the voice of Shreya.

Kathal periyatha – Sudha Raghunathan
After a gap sudha is back. The way Yuvan has combined ‘Krishna Krishna’ piece with this song is amazing. Hats off for this The belnding of – Sudha’s voice in this song, ‘Krishna Krishna’ piece and the cinematography of this song is brilliant.

Oh Indha Kadhal – Yuvan and Adnan Sami
Yuvan cld. have pronounced tamil in a better way. The music takes us back to Mohan’s songs

Haathon mein ek jaam hai, honthon pe ek ghazal – 2
Baaki khayal-o-khwab hai, Baaki khayal-o-khwab hai, sach bolta hoon main
Phir haath mein sharaab hai, sach bolta hoon main – 2

Aur aahista kijiye baatein, dhadakane koi sun raha hoga – 2
Labj girane na paaye honton se, waqt ke haath inako chun lenge
Kaan rakhate hain ye darodiva, raaj ki saari baat sun lenge
Aur aahista kijiye baatein

Aise bolo ki dil ka afasaana, dil sune aur nigaah doharaaye – 2
Apane chaaro taraf ki ye duniya
Saans ka shor bhi na sun paaye, na sun paaye
Aur aahista kijiye baatein, dhadakane koi sun raha hoga
Labj girane na paaye hoton se, waqt ke haath inako chun lenge
Kaan rakhate hain ye darodiva, raaj ki saari baat sun lenge
Aur aahista kijiye batein…

Aayiye band karale darwaaje, raat sapane chura na le jaaye – 2
Koi jhonka hawa ka aawara, dil ki baaton ko uda na le jaye, na le jaye
Aur aahista kijiye baatein, dhadakane koi sun raha hoga
Labj girane na paaye hoton se, waqt ke haath inako chun lenge
Kaan rakhate hain ye darodiva, raaj ki saari baat sun lenge
Aur aahista kijiye baatein

Aaj itane karib aa jaao , duriyon ka kahi nishaan na rahe – 2
Aise ek dusare me gum ho jayen, faasala koi darmiya na rah jaye, na rah jaye
Aur aahista kijiye baatein, dhadakane koi sun raha hoga
Labj girane na paaye hoton se, waqt ke haath inako chun lenge
Kaan rakhate hain ye darodiva, raaj ki saari baat sun lenge
Aur aahista kijiye baatein