FRIENDSHIP DIARIES,PART 2,THE END

                                                             A  COLLEGE CANTEEN

The next day was fateful because we  experienced laziness after a day's sleep.Waking up was a struggle like Sisyphus rolling the stone up the steep hill.I was the first to wake up.It was 6.30 am.After a big yawn,I looked around the room. My shelf was filled with books and coins lying higgledy piggledy.With books and objects in a neat pile,Vivek's shelf showed neatness and order.I ventured out of the room.The cold air was being cut,as if by a needle dipped in honey,by the Ayyappa devotional songs by K.J.Yesudas,the legendary singer. The nearby temple played the same set of songs every morning for the  three years of our stay in the room.

Vivek woke up at 7 am.He removed the blanket from his body and got up with a yawn that was wide enough for three hornets to enter his mouth simultaneously.He was moving in the direction of the bathroom while I was outside,inhaling the fresh air.If there was anything that created a discordant note in the harmony of this serene musicality of the atmosphere,it was the barking of the dog of our neighbour.By the size of the dog,the sound it produced felt  uncanny.

''Buddy,you could have called me when you woke up.'',Viek said.

  I turned around and looked in his direction.''Sorry buddy,I only thought of not disrupting your sleep'',I replied.

He nodded, went inside,took a book of poems and began to read.Once entering the room,I took William Shakespeare's ''Hamlet.'After reading the 'To be or not to be soliloquy,I dropped the book on the table.

'Buddy,he is very philosophical.'

Who?

Hamlet.

He nodded his head and went back to reading.Nothing passed between us that morning till the fateful minute.That was when Vivek came of the bathroom in a towel that he tied around his waist after drying himself up.''Arun,your bathing is not ordinary.It is the grand bath of a Maharajah ('Neeraattu' in Malayalam).''

  I took a lot of  time to bathe.That was why Vivek made this coment.When we were out of the house,there were only fifteen minutes for us to reach the class before the deadline.After locking the door,Vivek threw the key at me.I kept it safely in the biggest folder of y bag.Breakfast was out of the question.Yet when we neared the N.S.S.Canteen,I asked hi -''Vivek,what about eating?.'' 

''Let's eat '' ,he said.Theory can be learnt any time,breakfast can only be eaten in the morning.So we started.As I was not interested in Dosa,which Vivek pronounced as 'Dosha',I ordered paratha.Sambar was free.

''Buddy,paratha is not good for your health,'' he warned.I knew this,but couldn't help it.We continued to eat,nodding the head at times.It was like terrorists having their breakfast in ''Baba Kalyani.''That was when Vinayak entered the room.

Vinayak was the Mahesh Babu material of our college.A six feet tall young man in T-Shirt and jeans slowly moved towards us.His neatly polished boots glittered in the sunlight that was entering the room through the side windows.He gave us one of his smile that made one of the beautiful girls in the campus to fall in love with him.

                   The end of Part 2.

FRIENDSHIP DIARIES 2,CONTINUATION.

                                                        CHANGANACHERRY TOWN

The landlord and landlady gave us one week time to decide on matters.Though I tried very hard to convince my mother,she was not ready to budge.It still felt like an uphill task till Vivek decided to intervene on Saturday when I phoned him.

''Buddy,I am coming there tomorrow.''

He reached home the next day in the afternoon.My mother gave him hot tea.Her hot tea felt lava hot to me.So I blew too hard into the cup.To my utter surprise,Vivek finished the beverage in three gulps.Now,let me take you to his exact sentences.

''Aunty,you know how hard it is for him to wake up at 4 am. and pedal all the way to Piravom in that bicycle.By allowing him to stay in that room,you are doing him a great service.''

My mother budged,at last.Sister and my mother have to stay in this home while I am away.Now,I can visit them only on weekends.Father will be away because of his work as a driver in K.S.F.D.C.,Thiruvananthapuram.He will be home only on some weekends.

Next week,we reached that home in Changanacherry.It was a Monday.There were two double storey houses in the vicinity, and I only noticed it that day. The landlord waxed eloquently about his plan to take two more people in that room.We felt numb when he gave us this grand plan.If it happens,it will be very much like a second wagon tragedy.The room was not spacious enough for two more people.

When the landlord was gone,Vivek took a blank sheet of  paper.

''Buddy,we have work to do before leaving for college.''

He started to scribble something in that paper.I inched closer to have a look.Paste,broom,mat e.t.c.

In the evening,we went to the Margin Free Market.The neat objects in the shop gave me a spine chilling dread for the first time.

That evening,we were quiet a sight for the people of that town.With pillows,mats,one bucket,a cup,a broom and many other objects that would make life in a room comfortable,we walked to our new  humble abode.Vivek had a confident look on his face while I sported a confused one.All this swift shopping spree was not present even in my wildest dreams.Back in the room,he said,''Buddy,we have to split the pay.Let us check it.''

He paid for most of the objects.I was clueless.It felt very much  like magician Samraj goggling his eyes and screming,''Vanishing Beauty Illusion.''

''And the jug costed?.'' 

I looked at the bill and said ,'25'.

After one hour of calculations and deliberations,we both stopped.Then,we started to talk freely about various things.After sometime,we switched of the light  and lay down.Then,we cracked jokes,talked about Superstar Mohanlal and commented about his latest films.Amidst laughter I asked him,''Can I keep the bill?.'' the laughter ended for some time.Howver,he let me keep it.We resumed talking and laughter.It continued till midnight.The word ''bill'' was not powerful enough to intervene in that friendship,which was a tryst we both were unknowingly making with destiny.

                                                      

A TRYST WITH DESTINY,FRIENDSHIP DIARIES,PART 2

                                                    VANCHINADU   EXPRESS
         

This part starts in a cold morning.The jeep of Avarachan, the person who brings me to Mulanthuruthy Railway Station everyday,slowly entered the parking lot.Unlike the day before,the station was cloaked in mist,powerful enough to bring a shiver down the spine of even the most courageous person on earth.I remembered Stephen King's novel ''The Mist'',in which an entire city gets covered in mist all of a sudden.To make the situation worse,there are alien creatures in the form of giant gadflies lurking in the terrible whiteness.By god's grace,we know that nothing like that will happen in Kerala.Aliens have a special liking towards Americans.

The train (Vanchinadu Express) chugged into the railway station,howling its ear splitting whistle.Een in that darkness,I could see the mist,which was neatly parted by the first coach.Literally,it was as spooky a day can be.I could not stop  chatting with Avarachan even while entering the first compartment.Vivek was sitting,as usual,in that long blue coloured wooden seat.Seeing his surprised face,I asked him what the matter was.

''Didn't you know that today is a holiday?.Man,that S.F.I. and A.B.V.P. clash.''

Truth gradually dawned on me.The day before,some hot headed party hungry morons showered abuses at some other blockheads of the opposition party.I seriously doubted whether that fiasco would create anything worthy for anyone.All they managed to get was one day off. It would give them time to devise their obsessive and grand plans for social welfare.

Vivek was on his way to Changanacherry to see the room,in which he was planning to stay as a paying guest.As there was no urgent business for me to finish,I decided to assist him.

''Buddy,are you sure about this.''

I was as sure as James Bond saying ''007 reporting for duty.''

I visited the landlord with him.He was a portly man with a white dhoti tied around his pot belly.

''If you had notified us early,the room would  have still been available.Now,we can only assist you to another room in a house nearby.It is down the curve.''

A retired school teacher and her husband lived in that house.The room behind their house was an annexe,which was specially built for the purpose of taking paying guests.From the look on their face,anybody could easily understand the good nature of  the couple.The husband,though,was a little talkative.

If I had not seen that room,my story would have been different.Call it destiny or any other name.

The room was spacious enough.There was space for two beds and a table.The back wall contained three shelves of equal size.My heart began to long for living in that room.It would save me much time and effort in the morning.The things I would miss most will be the home made food and the comfort of my bed.Yet,my mind was made up.It will only be a matter of time before I convince my mother.

                                                                                                          To be continued

      

FRIENDSHIP DIARIES, PART 1

                                   
                                        N.S.S. HINDU COLLEGE, CHANGANACHERRY

 My story of friendship starts from the college you see up there.You may think- Why not a photo of friendship?.This time,the story is the king.

The year was 2006.It was a sunny day.As usual,I was in the library,munching and crunching my morning food.Do not mistake it for my breakfast.I meant the books.The books in the library always made me feel that I was eating them.After having my fill of books,I returned to the class.

In that dusty classroom,on a wooden chair, sat Vivek.P.,the person who would change my way of  looking at the world forever.He was of medium height and dark complexioned.''He is a new admission'' -said Premjith,one of my classmates.

''Vivek is the name'' - he told while extending  his hand, sizing me up.I,with a strange hair cut and a black jacketed criticism book,was not exactly Mahesh Babu material.I might have given him the creeps.

''You are from'' - kind of an ice breaker from me.From his look,it was more of a rock breaker.

''Ernakulam'' - He said in a rough tone.

 Even though it was not a grand first time meeting,I felt rejoiced by the prospect of  one more person to the fold.Besides,I got one more person to share the unfriendly wooden chair of Vanchinadu Express during  my morning trip.It was the starting of a blooming friendship.

How we started to stay as paying guests in a room in Chaganacherry and our process of growing up in that period in the next part.

                                                     See you in the next part.Wait for the real adventure.

 

PATRIARCHY SMASHER - A SHORT STORY BY ARUN SALIM

       
   

  ''Women are marginalised in our society.Look at the way they are portrayed in advertisements.''

The voice of Radha teacher resonated all over the class,but not effective enough to block the drowsiness that was  gradually engulfing me.A feminism class was in progress.The teacher was striving hard to drive some points home.

One hand  shot up.

''Teacher,I have a question.''

''Shoot.''Teacher likes a grand question.You may expect such a nice gesture from this teacher,but the exact opposite happened.

She looked at him with wide,penetrating eyes,as if he is a Taliban terrorist.

Kiran,the smart ass who asked this question,did not wait for the consent of the teacher.In fact,it was so unlike him.

''Models came forward to act in such advertisements.If it is done with their own consent,what is the point in saying it is negative portrayal.They came forward to do such roles.Nobody pointed a gun at them and told them to wear those dresses. Recently, a national award winning actress claimed that she is not offered any glamour roles  due to the national award glow.Another actress said in an interview that her thighs made her what she is.She was  proud while saying it.''

 He had such powerful idea bombs in his brain.He dropped those at will every now and then.Teaching feminism to Kiran was like entering Taliban territory with a Hindu name and no gun.

''They are forced by the patriarchal society to do so.If they wear descent dresses,our society will not notice.They also use too much make up to get noticed in society.''

''Teacher,is that why you apply this much make up.'' Another bombshell.I started to hate hate him.

When the bell rang,the teacher was near to tears.

''I will complaint this to the principal''.She stormed out of the class.

MY VILLAGE

                               
                                                       A  BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE

                              If  memories are reasons for our construction of  identity,it is impossible for me to stop remembering about my village.Onakkoor is a scenic village,in which I lived a major part of my student days.In cities, people have to rely on tubs or showers in the bathroom to take a bath.My village has a temple pond with sparkling water,which shines in the morning light as stars do in the night sky.The main attraction of this temple pond is the neat division of it for men and women.There are neat concrete structures,which separate the portions of the pond for men and women.Small boards are fixed on these structures,which clearly state that one portion of the pond is restricted to another gender.I have not seen such a division of temple pond in any other place.

                  There are stone steps behind this temple pond,which will lead us to Onakkoor Devi Temple.Whenever  a person prays here with an open mind,his prayers will be rewarded.I have personally experienced  this. Most of the people living around the temple are frequenters of  this place.The festival of this temple injects the whole village with energy and enthusiasm.There are people,who know how many circumambulations  a person has to  do around the sanctum sanctorum during this season..

                  One thing has to be said.Despite the amenity for a fresh bath each day,I was not a regular of the pond.Reasons galore for this act of mine.There were people among the regulars,who talk too much of unnecessary nonsense.After a point,they irritate anyone with common sense with their pointless talk.Not that they are ill intentioned,but cannot help it. Everything comes with a prize in this village.

                   From childhood itself, I longed for books.During the Lower Primary days,my father bought me children's publications like 'Balarama'  and 'Poompatta.'It wouldn't have attracted me to reading if my mother wouldn't have a way of reading the stories of these publications to me.The stories taught me that good will always emerge victorious over evil.To every word I write,I am grateful to my angel mother.She taught  beautiful kirtanas,which were recited at twilight.Even after all these years, my mother remembers all those kirtanas.

                 The advent of cable television is an another great thing that changed the attitudes of people.Before that ,people thronged in front of  Doordarshan Malayalam to watch a Malayalam film,which had hit the screen at 4 pm. every Sunday.The telecasting of ''Oru C.B.I. Dayarikkurippu''  was a celebration.There was inexplicable  excitement in watching many good films those days.It was not possible to get people their fill of regional entertainment.In 1997,cable television brought in a change.Asianet was the only channel on offer.The day the operators started telecasting,people were glued to the television screens till midnight.

               The first pay channel we got was National Geographic.After a point,we started to get HBO.It was a moment of eye opener to me.Till the advent of HBO,I had seen only two English films -'Jurassic Park' and 'Anaconda.'I understood what Hollywood movies are through this channel.I watched 'Godzilla' like a boy,who was hit by a new visual experience which he never believed to have existed.            
                                                               


                   

MY TRIP TO MOOKABIKA TEMPLE

                                                                   Mangalore  City

                        My mother,sister and I entered the S1 coach of Malabar Express at 6 pm.The train was scheduled to leave from Thiruvananthapuram by 6.30 pm.We planned to go to Mangalore by train and travel  all the way from there to Kollur Mookambika Temple by bus.The soft and blue seats of the train looked very appealing.When we entered the train,there was pin drop silence.The train started to whistle at 6.30 pm.sharp.

                      The long metal coaches meandered and straightened its way past many stations and reached Ullal,a border between Karnataka and Kerala.I did not feel that I was entering an another state,but a place,which writes its language with more curves and loops than it is bound to be.It was almost 10am.when we reached Mangalore.

                         There were so many private buses outside the station.We entered an orange coloured bus with a board,which showed its destination as Kollur.The soft cushioned seats of the bus felt very relaxing.When the bus raced along the city,I noticed billboards of' 'Kalyan Jewellers',a clear indication of the extension of gold business by some keralites.One billboard had Amithab Bachan and Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar.With a very dark face,Puneeth seemed like an unlikely hero.I wondered how he became a superstar.I asked my father.He told me this - ''His father Raj Kumar was a superstar.That gave him an opening.When Puneet's  and Shivaraj's (his brother and another superstar) films are released,a mafia blocks the release of all the other films.That made the people to watch whatever hell is offered to them.''Sounded very  logical to me.

                              We reached  Kollur by  2 pm.We prayed to our fill.A boy led us to the room we stayed.It was very cosy and comfortable.The curries with the food were filled with coriander leaves,but tasted good to me.There were so many cows roaming in the temple premises.We took some snaps in the mobile phone.

                            On our return trip,when the bus reached Udupi, three children entered  with begging bowls.They looked expectantly for  loaves of bread,which we had in our hands.We gave it all to them.