oh okay .. i ve posted my first entry for the hub contest thingyQuote:
Originally Posted by ksen
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oh okay .. i ve posted my first entry for the hub contest thingyQuote:
Originally Posted by ksen
:2thumbsup: :clap:
chevy : nice incisive humour :) and the casual style of writing makes it more interesting :thumbsup:
whew, took me quite a while to read all the pages - after so many days !
Gautham's words seem to hint at something ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by chevy
13
Perhaps it was the most memorable day in life ever since I had come to Chennai. I spent an hour at JavaGreen Café with the Royal Leader of Chivalry . We walked up the entire North Usman Road and then the full length of Habibullah Road and again back to North Usman Road. At the end of my street, I turned around to say bye but he walked on.
“Excuse me? It’s my grandmother’s house all right? She won’t say anything. Come”
I tagged behind him as if I was going to someone else’s house. He simply marched into the kitchen saying, “ Hi!!Patti!!! Where are you?”
Patti was surprised and totally forgot to ask me why I was late. Before she could get suspicious I told her I was held up at college with some work and so, me and my friend left the college pretty late.
“And I came to hang out with my friends around here, thought I’ll say hi to you just then she was coming in too….” , Gautham continued, “ Do you always come home this late? I thought your college gets over at one thirty or was it two thirty? I forgot….”
Ah! We managed to put a great show. Gautham gallantly walked up to his old room which is now mine. We sat there and chatted for more than an hour. He went on as amiably as a friend for more than a decade would. I barely felt that I knew him for less than a four months. I tried to imagine that he asked me out and that really made me laugh. In fact, I wondered what he thought about my sudden invitation to JavaGreen Café. Of course, it was meant to be a friendly rendezvous and a getaway from Patti’s eye for me. I just wondered what he thought. I imagine a lot to amuse myself these days. Date with Gautham!!! Nastiest imagination, indeed!!
Gautham had done his under-graduation in Chennai too. During his college days he stayed with Patti here. Now he’s got his job and he’s got accommodation. He had to cook pots of lies to convince Patti that he must live in the accommodation provided. In fact it’s just that he wanted to live alone and enjoy his life to it’s core.
Later in the evening, after Gautham left, Patti came to tell me some more memoirs of hers. Good old times, as they call it. I think, (I doubt, at least) Patti has decided to put up with me, at least she’ll have some one to talk to. She recalled the days when Gautham stayed here, in the very same room where I am now. I felt as if she meant to say it still belongs to him.
Ever since Patti tried to hush me into the house and keep me away from the sight of the rest of the family before Diwali I had developed slight dislike and hatred towards her. I wrote mails about the same incident to Mom and Dad who are now planning to migrate back to Ohio, my place of birth. I flinch each time I think Dad and Mom are no longer in Kinshasa. I’ll never get back to the place where I grew up, the place where my most cherished memories took place, the place where all my childhood friends are and will always be, the place where Sean is………
[to be continued]
wow your character seems so undecided..it doesn't seem like a plot at all but like it's happening...very nice :)
chevy complete da story fast........i wanna no wats gonna happen
That's reality isn' t it ? You take a firm decision or form an opinion about someone but soon you realize you are wrong and you are forced to change your views.Quote:
Originally Posted by Querida
I will. :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Wibha
:D
Eagerly waiting..!! :D
Good Going.
chevy :thumbsup:
14
From: yfearwenimhere@webmail.com
To: gregarious@webmail.com
Sub: Re: where the hell are you?
Hey babe! Sorry couldn’t mail ya as I was really busy. Do you realize it’s been almost three years since we thought of each other? You left after finishing the lower level of The Ecole Secondaire right ? I stayed on for a few months before going mad without your company ;). Just kidding! We shifted back to Pennsylvania soon after you left ( I don’t think your parents must have told you). I heard your parents shifted out too? They are in Ohio? Are you there too? (I never thought you’d leave Kinshasa forever ‘cause you love the place so much). Anyhow, you left to some boarding school in India didn’t you? What are you doing now? I bet you must have realized India is a great place. Any place is better than Kinshasa with all that violence !!!!! Puh-lease!! And are you still there or in Ohio?
I am right now holidaying in South Africa. Jo-berg has totally, wholly and completely changed my view of Africa. It’s amazing. I’ll mail you soon about the places I’ve visited. It’s great!
Take care,
Sean :)
Ps: Sorry Lalita, I forget your pet name, lily ? Lully ?
15
From: angeloflumbashi@webmail.com
To: gregarious@webmail.com
Sub: Re: long time!!
Hey lalli!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you know how much I miss you? I haven’t been able to check e-mails for a long time. That’s the reason for the late reply.
Kinshasa is changing a lot. You must have heard about the elections and all.
Remember Jordan? The white guy who attended TESOL and then left to United Kingdom for higher studies? He left when we were still in Ecole Primaire. He came back here for some official purpose. I ran into him just a few days back while getting ready to visit Fatema’s baby. You remember Fatema? You will I am sure. She is now married. She married a few months back. I am happy my parents aren’t using the M-word! ( yeah , you must have guessed it .. "m"arriage!!)
God! I want to finish my education. I got my Diplome d'Etat. What are you doing?
Please….. keep in touch.
Load of love,
Miss ya ....
Your best friend from Congo....
Insharah
:) :)
:)
16
From: gregarious@webmail.com
To: yfearwenimhere@webmail.com
Sub: Glad you mailed!
Hi Sean!
I never expected to receive email from you. Nevertheless, I am really glad you took the effort. You left shortly after I did? I had returned for a short break and my folks told me that you had gone on a Safari ? Anyhow , how is Pennsylvania treating you? You don’t have to crib about Kinshasa or the Congolese way of life or administrative system anymore. Of course , I’ve heard South Africa is awesome and you’ve got to be crazy if you didn’t like it there. I am in Chennai now. If you don’t know where that is , Google search it and learn more. I am stuck in this totally depressing college with a totally disorganized administrative system. Education is something Indians value more than anything else. You went mad without my company??? You know what? I read that line a dozen times between tearful eyes!! I am happy you could at least think of me for a few days. It’s been three years since we thought of each other?? Perhaps three years since you thought of me. I missed you and your chivalry and I still do. I don’t really know how to express this indescribable feeling but I often hear myself saying , “ I wish sean was here” .
Thanks a lot for mailing!! You’ve really made my day.
Miss ya
Lalli( thanks for not remembering my nick)
:P
Yean?? Kattikudatha?? :huh: :roll: :PQuote:
Originally Posted by sipi
Unless ur a guy of course... :oops:........in tat case marry a gal who'll know wat to do w/ wat she knows...... :wink: :P
Uh, I thot it was Pothy's who made tat?? :?Quote:
Originally Posted by chevy
http://www.chennaionline.com/fashion...5/08pothys.asp
The max. no. of colours one was RMKV's tho....popularised by Jothika ("intha colour" :P :) )
Wow, sounds cooooool!! :D I'd luv to buy one like this (no Not for myself of course! :roll: :P )Quote:
Recently the Kumaran Silks’ “Ulley Velliye” (meaning inside outside.)sari was one exception where the innovation did not come from Rmkv. The feature of this sari is that changes colors. When in sunlight it is one color and when indoors it is in another. Seriously, thanks to Rmkv and we’ve now got sari with “features”.
Neways chevy.....jus finished reading ur story fully until so far (had first read upto page 2-3).....didnt realize the time here! Truly captivating! :thumbsup: :D
Eager to read the cont..... :D
Oh!
where's the rest of the story or is the abrupt end. & they lived happily ever after, sean & lalli...........
(ps. wonderfully written, the style, the flow, the content, the twist............... you get the drift)
no ... that's not the endin.. i ll be postin it a lil later... and thank u killua.... welcome to the hubQuote:
Originally Posted by killua
Thanks Chevy, (for the welcome & for consenting to finish the story).
The Lalli character seems quite "masoom" (more than just innocent, positive connotation), yet at the same time there's an innate chicanery present.[/quote]
Chevy,
The crowd is cheering, not just the after effect of the w.c win but in anticipation of the next chtp. of "this is chennai afterall"
...
...
..
within a month..for SURE.. :) , exams around the corner now... :(
Quote:
Originally Posted by chevy
All the best for the exams :D
[Better to be on the wishing end for this one.
There are times when i wake up from exam nightmares, sweating profusely and everything, & then feel extremely relieved that I was only dreaming, after that "babies didn't sleep better".]
Quote:
Originally Posted by chevy
All the best for the exams :D
[Better to be on the wishing end for this one.
There are times when i wake up from exam nightmares, sweating profusely and everything, & then feel extremely relieved that I was only dreaming, after that "babies didn't sleep better".]
Well RMKV set the first record, pothy's set the record after that and in between the records i wrote my story. Haha .Quote:
Originally Posted by Lambretta
17
The CPT exam was written, passed and forgotten. So was the big gang of friends at the CA institute. As time passed I became more anxious about the “passing clouds” in my life. Especially in my CA class. People sat together during lectures and when the sessions got over, they moved on in life. However, even if we ran into each other at the CA Insti, we’d talk like we’ve been together like always. Perhaps this is why the saying, “true friends can make is that they can grow separately without growing apart”.
Nevertheless, I had a large number of acquaintances.
I had to pursue articleship part-time in the afternoons, as I was a day-scholar for the B.com course. This gave me lesser time for myself. I attended college in the mornings, worked in the afternoon, and attended coaching classes for CA in the evenings. Colleagues, who were also, articled assistants like me, came from varied backgrounds and we established stronger bonds than the CA class friends.
College life, proved to be more appealing as days passed. Particularly because Ms. Shailaja was no longer in the college. I discovered two people who came within my wavelength, and finally settled in with a small gang. We were perhaps the coolest and most broadminded trio in the class.
I spent the entire first year of my college hoping to re-establish friendship with Sean. His unresponsiveness towards my offer, made me disappointed and I thought and worried about it all the time. Gautham got a job and went away for training and then his posts were forever changing that I lost count of how many times he’s moved and even don’t remember where he is currently. Jay anna got irritated with the “Sean Story” and debarred any conversation relating to it, in future.
“He is the truest “passing cloud”. How could you get so concerned over a friendship that lasted barely weeks? “, He argued.
“What do you mean few weeks? We are still friends. We just lost touch.” I argued back.
I spent timeless moments recalling and worrying the same to my best friends in college, Divya and Vidya. Divya had told me write to him expressing openly that I missed him. Vidya gave no comments but promised that either I would get with him or get over him, either of which are favorable to me. Though it seemed to me that I never exactly liked Sean or regarded him high, but I still wished him back in life.
Being a CA student, such inane thoughts were highly unnecessary, but I tended to worry more and think as often as nearly every minute of my life. It altered my way of judgment, abridged my speed, flawed my humor, changed my style of writing, choice of reading and almost everything.
I know it’s not love. Not crush. Not friendship. But there is something troubling my mind. Life had changed so much within months. Everyone has reached their shore and set on new journeys whilst I am still stranded in my boat in the middle of the river.
:PQuote:
Originally Posted by chevy
lots of reflections...
18
Patti’s attitude towards me became more gracious as months passed. More so, because the house was quite empty for most of the time, because of my hectic schedule. When I returned home for dinner, she insisted I had it with her. Thatha kept to himself and had clue about what went on in the house. I took his route and cared for nothing at home. My parents called me more often and kept reminding me that my focus was to be my CA, the toughest professional course in the country and it would be their pride if I qualified at the first shot and a big shame if I didn’t. Considering my relatives’ opinions about my mother, her marriage to a non-Indian, me and our family as a whole, what was to become my future was the base that would decide whether I was raised well or not.
At the studies forefront, my grades slipped, for what was once regarded as class-topping, now became average. However, I made up for that, with increased and successful participation in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. I cheered up my vicinity with my neck-bleeding lame jokes or comical memoirs.
By the time, our first year came to a royal finale, I had mould into the community and was finally accept as one among them without being seen as multiethnic eccentric specimen of the Homo sapiens. The end of year tour , competitions and cultural programmes added to bringing our class together as we all yelled and cheered our participating friends and booed our competitors.
College life had just plunged into a full swing. I looked forward to those five hours of college as it was my least stressing part of the day. Articleship and CA coaching classes were on a more solemn tenor.
My parents had settled comfortably in the States and my cousins, grandparents and new friends were my new life. I knew I have never been more socially and financially assured than the present, yet I was emotionally low all the time for reasons inexplicable.
19
I spent the summer vacation with my parents and taught at a school for children with special needs. I needed community service experience for my college as well as an added advantage for applying to premier universities for my post graduation in management. I attended dinners and parties to make myself cognizant to my parent’s new acquaintances. The co-volunteers at the school were an assortment of students like me who worked for the community service certificate, social workers, housewives who were too bored to sit at home and a few retired and aged members. If I had a story about my life, they had theirs too. The most enriching part was the narratives of their experiences in life.
The vacation passed slowly and pleasantly and importantly without me stressing my mind about Sean. Though I had called him twice before my vacation both of which he had cut down quickly saying he was busy, I assured myself that he’d become congenial once his “busy” phase was over.
I found it amusing that he could be more “busy” than I was. Pursuing two heavy courses simultaneously coupled with work, I was engaged throughout the day. I had reached a stage where I don’t think any other student could be busier than a CA student, and I was doing B.com and CA.
“Busy” was a word I had never entertained in my life. Neither did my parents. When do you say you are busy? When you are in midst of some work? Supposing your near and dear one is critical and in emergency, would you still say I am busy and not attend to them? You would immediately rush to them isn’t it? Why so? Aren’t you busy? Well, you aren’t because they are important to you. So technically when you are needed by someone and you respond saying you are busy I take it that I am not important to you.
Somehow a ray of hope allowed me to tolerate the word from him. I returned to Chennai and life got hectic as usual.
:P
Dear chevy
yours is good product. Been wanting to tell this for sometime but could find time only now. :wink: keep up the good work! :D
Thank you BTR !!! and welcome to the hub. I guess this is your first post ?!Quote:
Originally Posted by btr
Dear Chevy,
Been waiting to see/read more of the stranger Sean. :D . well i guess u r busy...but u dont like 'busy' to be used :lol: ?well well, let us hear from you. :roll:
Thanks Chevy for the warm welcome. :) I should have acknowledged it earlier. But ... :? i kinda slipped....well let us have mails from Sean through you soon. :wink:
20
Second year of college began on a more frustrating note. I was finding it difficult to cope with the hectic schedule and in midst of my constant worry over “why Sean didn’t respond”, I was highly temperamental and that strained my social and domestic relations. Physically, I was forever on the move, attending classes or work, but mentally I was permanently stuck to one thought. Why would anyone ignore me? I reconsidered our days spent together, recalled our conversations and wondered if it were those petty arguments that he kept in mind?
I wrote a glum apology to him for which he never responded. Sheepishly I wondered if he is possibly not alive! I mean why does he not respond? What’s wrong? What ever went wrong? I waited for weeks for a reply. Tried his number that permanently ended in some answer machine and I was charged for all them. I hated myself each time I rang him ‘cause I paid for nothing and it was hard on my meager student income from the Articleship.
I resent the apology for which he replied shortly saying it’s all right and all’s well.
Unable to comprehend what could possibly be the reason, I spilled the beans to Gautham. Though he was comparatively more empathetic than Jay anna, he too, observed that I worried over nothing.
“I am shocked that you didn’t care so much when you accidentally pierced your hand with the butter knife, you didn’t care when you were not allowed to go and freak out with your friends in Bangalore, you didn’t worry when air tickets weren’t available, someone who told me, “I prefer not to drink or commit into a relationship ‘cause I don’t like it when anything or anyone takes control over me” is now actually worried that someone is ignoring you? Come on, Lalli”
It was appalling to hear that I went against my own policy and I awkwardly passed excuses to shroud the same. I lost count of the number of people I began spilling my worry to, and forgot what I had said and what I wanted to. I ended up often repeating what I had said and other mundane mistakes I couldn’t forgive myself on. I promised myself I would become silent and reserved , at least that wouldn’t make me go around blabber my disturbing issue everywhere. But being silent went against the well-established cheerful, talkative and entertaining Lalli-image.
Despite my outgoing persona, I usually kept my personal matters to myself and got over them easily. Heeding to the “pour your heart out” advice was really a big mistake. ‘Cause pouring my heart out was just never ending. No body understood, nothing was helpful and once it was disclosed, it was always the topic of discussion and I was just tied down talking the same issue, and once it became apparent that the other person thought I was crazy over nothing, I just felt so helpless and “poured it out” again to another.
I knew I was increasingly opening my mouth and proving my stupidity and I hated that it spoilt my trademark image of a combination of extremes – nerdy, fun-loving, amusing, informatively-boring, gregarious et al.
Now I was just …… I don’t know what I’ve become and where this is heading.
Soon, I began to entertain doubts on my own sanity.
:P
21
The monsoon had come again. Vidya, Divya and me spent our break time outside, sitting below any shade that sheltered our Tiffin boxes from the rain yet allowed us to lunch under the comforting weather.
Our peppy girly talks to brainstorming discussions fused with the sound of falling water and the sweet smell of wet ground, made it an invaluable experience each day.
Thirteen of April and it was a Friday. We decided to evoke all the evil spirits on this so called very unlucky, dangerous day. Whilst many stayed in to play safe on a thirteenth that was Friday, we went out for a girly night out to Kaveri’s. The only restaurant that won’t kick us out even if we sat there for four or more hours at a stretch anytime. Even during peak hours, it’s a spacious outlet, so no one is standing at your collar waiting for you to swipe your plate clean.
When we went in and self served our dinner it was nearly nine P.M. Fast moving crowd, and that gave us more variety to bird watch. Despite being a self-service outlet, the maître d'hôtel came up to ask what next? We seemed like we’d settle there forever.
“We better get a drink or something, lest they actually tell us to leave” , Vidya said.
Standing at the counter, I noticed a dark, tall but shorter than me, guy at the other counter staring at me. I couldn’t ignore him pointing his finger towards my direction and whispering to his gang of buddies.
I badly wanted to communicate and confirm what I’d noticed to Divya and couldn’t being mobbed in the crowd. As we stood at the delivery counter, we bird-watched an athletic built, tall, striking, well dressed, but sadly, married guy playing with this children , and voila! He spoke Tamil! Not bad, there are good looking Tamil guys after all.
So there is hope for us, observed Divya. And we giggled at the existence of men other than those whose build, in our secretive opinions, were Actor Dhanush, premarriage and Actor Vijaykanth postmarriage.
Suddenly Divya slowed in speech and wasn’t looking at me. She then became silent and looked past me.
As I turned around to see what caught her attention, she quickly turned my face back to facing her.
“Why is that guy going on staring at you?”
Dear Chevy,
wow! :notworthy: That was cool.I liked the way you expressed the helpless situation faced at the hotels"waiting to wipe our plates clean". :roll: thanks for prompt continuation, but the waiting is too long :fatigue: ....for the entry of Sean! i know i have to wait. :argh: