Stock taking for 2011

Its been a long time since I came here though I've been reading on others' posts. So, touching base here and trying to do a snapshot of what is going through my mind:

• I'm going to India (yay!! And yeah, a second time this year :) so, double yay!!)
• I'm also going to tick off another country off my travel list this year (despite my poor traveling this year (no new places except a national park(glacier) and a city (chicago) so far, even though I traveled every single month), I finally get to finish with a bang!)
• I'm planning a surprise - keeping fingers crossed that everything goes fine :) I'll update once things are complete.
• One of my friends, M is off to his wedding. I'm so happy for him and wish I can attend his wedding. Another of my friends is engaged as well, a couple more married/engaged, this seems to be a season of marriages among close friends group.
• Finally saw the finesse of balancing - Respecttttttt!!! I hope I can get to that state soon.
• One of my friends lost his dad :( And another lost her mom :( :( This makes me feel that our parents are not invincible :( :( :( #PainsOfGrowingUp
• Another couple of friends had/are having kids. Phew! So, I finally am getting into the akka to aunty transition (seri, seri, 25ku aprom akka sollanumnu expect panrathu konjam too much thaan!)  #PainsOfGrowingUp
• Purged three years worth of blog posts on google reader, as much mail as I can throw out in official and personal mail folders and as many tasks I can finish before I leave to India. Feels cathartic! I wish there was a way to take a snapshot of my mailbox and other stuff now and just diff the differences a year later so I can cleanup just one year's worth of trash.
• Plan to get off the grid once I go home - one month of Internetless, emailless, fbless life - I'm sure it would be a big challenge given that I'm on the net every minute of my waking time, either through the phone or my ipad or one of my three computers. Would it be bliss or hell? I frankly don't know. Its a lot more easier to be out of net in India than here. Ok... maybe, I'll restrict it to half an hour a week. Lets see!
• The above challenge is one other reason why I purged most stuff - I want to let everything pile on a clean plate instead of another older pile. I'm making sense, no? 
• Since I'm going netless, this is also going to double up as a resolution lookout post. Here is what I set out to do. " This year would be more a capture-and-go year. So, no resolutions to keep, no to-do lists, no must-finish stuff and definitely no must-experience stuff! For my resolution minded friends, I do have two but they are a secret and do not carry the pressure of resolutions - I've worded them 'nice to do stuff' - they really are nice to do but I can comfortably live without doing them. Also, I have a few things that 'can be done' but again, I can live with not doing them. It would definitely be a big change from my planned life. I plan to leave all the planning to others and if any planning HAS to be done by me, I'm going to do it fly-by-the-pants style. Should be interesting to see how that pans out! " It has definitely been an interesting year - I made a ton of new friends, learned more about balance, learned that I can live with some people and without some others, slowed down on traveling but enjoyed all what I can do, experienced new stuff but really didn't plan out for it, watched only movies that I was interested in (no more lists of movies to watch or books to read - it took some time to slow down but boy am I glad I slowed down!), did a couple of all nighters having fun, learned a few new things, did a fly-by-the-pants style trip to LA and more and more. Most important of all, I learned to let go of some things and learned that emotional roller coasters are definitely bad, for everyone involved. 
• That said, the next year has a couple of resolutions from me (yeah, I love the 'do as you go' style but that is not me all the time) - the main one would be to mix my resolutions with the 'do as you go' style. And this year, there are two types of resolutions - one for the whole year and another that changes periodically. As always, they are not to be shared until done. Watch out for 2012 posts to see how the next year shapes up.
• In terms of this blog, this year barely scrapped through being the bottom in terms of numbers. However, as part of no-obligations year, I think this is good enough and I'll aim for 40 posts a year and call it good enough every year from now on. So, no worries on that one.
• I attempted the veggie challenge a couple of times for a period of a month every time and it was a success. Thinking if I should try it for longer periods next year.
• Some minor ones: Loved some of the movies that came out this year; didn't understand how 'why this kolaveri di?' became a world sensation; none of the songs that came out this year stick out; same as none of the books.
• Time is a strange one - on one hand, this has been the most interesting year of my life, on another, this is the most cathartic, on another, this is a bubble year where nothing touched/stuck. I really don't know.
• Life at Neverland has changed SO MUCH, that I barely recognize it from a year back. Even though I was a participant in it, a bird's eye view is stunning.Oh well, guess that is life!

With all that dumped off my mind, I'm off for this year!

Have fun with your families and friends and see you in the new year!

Luv,

Alpine

Ad times!

Here are two ads that caught my attention recently. Both are super good - totally capturing the spirit in their own way! 

The Global Debt Clock

Here is an interesting link on the global debt clock. I've been checking this one for the past few days and the rising debt has been definitely concerning, if not downright scary!! 

The story of a reed

There was once a reed
A small, wispish one
That grew one summer
In the light and breeze of love and life
Fed by friendship and fun
It grew day and night without a worry.

Then came a harsh winter
That chilled the reed to the bone
Its growth stalled
And it quivered against the winds
But it still continued to grow
In the hope of the next summer

Next summer came
But it was a cool one
And the light was dimmed
Starving the reed of its life
The breezes stopped
And the reed didn't know why

The reed held on
Despite cool summers and cold winters
With minimal light and breeze
Despite the surrounding weeds
That competed for whatever light was left
For now,
It was no longer just that reed
But a couple of weeds as well

Then came a point
Where the reed's life energy is no more enough
To keep it going
Despite the lack of light and breeze
It drew from within its depths
But it still wasn't enough.

The death knell sounded
In the form of a slip and trip
Now the reed lays broken
Despite the folklore that reeds never break.
Amen!

Some say the reed was never there to start
Some say the reed was already gone
Some say the reed is still present
But I, the creator says
The reed was there and it is gone now
But I wish the reed was alive
For it was fun with the reed,
And the reed is no more.

There might come another reed
With the same soil and same seed
It might even grow to a shoot
And maybe even a giant tree
But it is still another reed
And never this particular one.

I sadly mourn this one
And pine for it at times
But realize that whatever I plan,
There is a Creator above me that plans as well.

Here lies a reed,
A fun one that added value to life.
May it rest in peace,
While we live with its remains in this world.

I shudder to look at the empty space it created
In the soil and the forest
But not sure if anyone else will miss it
For this was a teeny, tiny reed.

As Nature's laws go,
This empty space will be reclaimed
And put to use for something else
Not sure what will reclaim it
Nor what it will become in future
But somewhere in this space,
Lies a reed's life story.

Advaitam

One of the best short films I've seen in Telugu. I can totally envision this friendship - I've seen an instance of it in real life. Different people, different settings but the same friendship. Hope you like it as well!

Snapshot of a week

Ok... this is a snap shot of two weeks (let me pen it down before I forget them all):

• Trip to Glacier was good. The scenery was amazing. And I ran into R there. Small world! :)
• Saw triple fireworks for July 4th. That was a total new. Every July 4th is way different from the previous ones. This time, we were in neverland.
• Attended a tamil drama in which two of my friends were acting. We got to sit at the first row (probably the first time I've ever done it) but that experience was fun. Also, the sets were amazing - they had put in a lot of effort into getting it right. Even the small details were handled right - as they say, the devil is in the details and they had nailed the devil right, for most parts.
• Attended a dosa fest at a friend's place - man, first time I ate fish dosai :D
• Had a horrible dream from which I woke up in cold sweat :( Even thinking of it now, I can't stop shivering. I've never had a dream where I cried so much. I wouldn't go into the details, but suffice it to say that I wish I had not dreamed it at all.
• Met a school friend in a grocery shop and we spent an hour catching up :)
• One of my cousins is moving to Canada soon - am both happy for them and sad that I'd missing them.
• Porkodi and me did some egg shell dancing together! :D  
• Rest was all work, usual chaat with friends, lunch time and on and on.
• These two weeks were a lot quieter but I managed to waste a LOT OF time yapping with people. As a result, my work has suffered a bit. 
• And I'm no closer to getting anything done :( All coz of my yapping around. 
• My movie watching and music has taken a nose dive as well. I managed to finish a couple of books though (which is way less than what is average). Yapping again!! :(
• I missed watching Harry Potter at midnight this time :( 

I'm super tired of a few things/people. K says that they are as they are but that my image of them has gotten sharper and that is causing issues. I think I understand what K says but don't think that is the only thing to be blamed. I think their images have changed as well. We are good so far but I think we'll head butt soon - I hope to God that it doesn't happen. It is a bother and I don't want to cause much churn. Longer loops might help but that is problem avoidance and not problem solving. But I'm at a point where I can't solve the problem (they should change it) and the problem avoidance is all that I can do - so I do it gladly. But that takes a lot of effort and I'm so not used to putting in this much of effort into this sort of thing. And this is causing me to stress a lot :( I'm trying to push the stress on to work but I end up yapping to clear it out. Hmmm... so far not a very happy two weeks. Lets hope atleast the next week is more fun-filled and in general, happy.

History of English in ten minutes

Came across this youtube series detailing the history of English in ten minutes. I wish someone did the same for Tamil as well :)

Too much parenting?

I recently read an article about parenting and its effects; sorry, too much of too good parenting and its after effects. One of the best articles I've read on this issue, it kind of pushed me to take a serious look at the differences in parenting when I was a kid (sigh! yeah, there was a 'was' in that sentence) and now (colleagues, friends, my landlady, etc who are parents). Living with a five year old every day gives you a clear view of where the parent stands vs where the kid stands. I should say that some of my cousins and my landlady actually do a good job of it (I don't think I can resist the kids' cuteness when they ask for some more chocolate milk or some more TV/internet time - I've started saying 'lets check with your mom!' when put in a sticky situation).

I don't think I had much choices when growing up - we had a rule of eating what was made that day (even though it was just idlis (we had it EVERY DAY for breakfast) or dosai) and not asking for something that my mom hadn't made. The only allowance was Maggi day, when my mom would relent to our constant badgering and make Maggi (she had this yummy way of making it with veggies and stuff - but I think my sis and I would have eaten it even if it was just Maggi - we were (and still are) that crazed about it) for dinner one night out of two weeks. Even that, my dad would frown upon saying its not healthy. My mom was serious about healthy stuff and Maggi would take a back seat for the next two weeks. We had to cajole her for hours to get it out again!

The same rule applied to Rasna (does anyone remember that ad where they showed a Rasna girl with 'I love you, Rasna'? She was every kid's dream), TV time (homework first and then TV - oliyum oliyum (a song telecast show) on friday nights + movie on sunday were big deal when I was in 4th or 5th; 6th-college - I had to finish the long list of chores/practices to do before TV and novels), story books (only if we did really well in class - a story book for every A grade. I'm sure most of us would've had mini libraries of cherished books that we exchanged with each other simply because we couldn't buy them at will - I have friends who became friends just so we can exchange books :P), play time (two hours max), movies/excursions/trips (one or two a year??), etc, etc. And pocket money was practically non-existent at home. We could get however much we needed but we had to justify our purchases (the hardest was explaining to my mom that I wanted to eat at the canteen every day just for the heck of it - my mom frowned upon it unless it was some special day, like the last day of school or something). We would get one or two rupees once or twice every few weeks and that day was treat day amongst friends. We'd share one samosa or two pepsis between five friends and yet the part samosa was all the more delicious than the ten samosas that I buy now. 

But I still think my childhood was amazing simply because we knew what the rules were and knew what the limits were. Most importantly, it was because we knew our parents won't change the limits. We could cry and cry but once my mom made some dinner, there was no changing it just because I didn't want to eat it. I could either not eat it (allowed for one day) or eat it but request what I wanted 'nicely' for another day (even then, it was at the discretion of my parents to really decide if it was good enough to eat). I still remember hating wheat upma but being forced to eat simply because it was healthy. I think that made me appreciate all kinds of foods and stop being a picky eater. I still have some pet peeves of preferring noodles over rice, chicken over veggies, etc. But those were habits that I picked up in grad school and not when I was growing up. Even now, if push comes to a shove, I can eat anything (eg: bland food) and still not complain much.

Now, I see most kids just getting all they want (or are my expectations too high?). Aakash sleeps every night after watching two hours of TV and gets a new toy every two weeks. He also gets to go to McDonalds (yeah, chicken nuggets are his favorite) every few days (otherwise he won't eat his dinner properly) and has a slew of Happy meal toys which he plays with for maybe half an hour and then throws them out. For his bday, the gifts he gets are in the range of $100 to $500 and he doesn't play with most of them anyways. His latest craze is Justin Bieber (can you imagine a five year old liking a pop star?? ) and thinks Superman is for 'kids' (don't ask me what he is!!). He has an iTouch already and demands that new games be downloaded every few days. He is the one who plays most games on my mobile (I stick to bubble burst most times) and thinks most games are boring. If things are boring even now, I don't know what will happen later in life. There is only so much entertainment and fun that the world can possibly provide.

I only picked Aakash as an example because I see him day in and day out and have known him since he was three and a half years old. Almost every kid that I know is super smart and don't minding showing that they are (which is good some times but then puts us adults in a weird position where you cannot count them as adults (which they are not) but cannot treat them as kids (which they are)). So, you tend to treat them as younger friends whom you can appreciate and play with but really cannot tell them if they are doing something wrong - some days, I've itched to tell a kid that what he is doing is wrong or is not the right thing to do but have held my tongue simply because his parents let him do it. If they are fine with it, then I cannot possibly say anything against it right? But I remember when I was growing up, everyone had a free rein in telling me what was right and what was wrong. Not just my parents, but my aunts, uncles, grand parents, my parents' friends, neighborhood uncles and aunties, my mom's colleagues, sometimes even the maids and driver that worked for us would tell me something is right and something is wrong. Atleast with the maids and my driver, my parents would consider if the advice was really right but with everyone else, my parents decided that since they were adults, they knew better than the kid (ie me). And the adults around us didn't hesitate in correcting me or my siblings if we did some mischief.

Further, us older kids were expected to be 'role models' for the younger ones - whether my own sister or my younger cousins or even the young kid in the colony who played with us. If they were caught doing something wrong, then we had to take some rap as well for not 'keeping an eye' on them and making sure they didn't do anything wrong. Mischief was fine whereas other things (like petty fights, jealousies, etc) were frowned upon. We had to resolve them amongst ourselves. I don't remember much incidences where my parents stepped in in the kids' fights. I even remember resolving fights and issues amongst playmates simply because I couldn't go home and tell my mom that I didn't want to play any more with kid X whose parent Y was opposite our house. And we didn't have much choice because we couldn't do much without our playmates anyways.

Also, it is getting harder to wow kids nowadays. I had to rack my brain to gift something to Aakash for his bday that would wow him and still be useful and fun. He already had a number of toys, his other gifts were an iTouch, soccer shoes, motorbike, some high end toys, etc. Finally I had to settle for a group activity kit which he could do with his cousins and a new Wii game of his favorite Super Marios (that wowed him for exactly one week. Sigh!). Gone are the days where parents used to throw a simple bday party with cake and rasna and we were done. For Aakash's bday, my landlady booked a party room in Chucky Cheese, ordered pizza and drinks for all, had a special Super Mario cake and gave party gifts to every kid that came in. Its all well and good to do it sometime but gets harder to beat expectations every year. Aakash's fourth bday was similar with Sponge Bob cake - this year, he made it clear he didn't want anything less than a Super Marios or Bieber cake. Excuse me?? A cake is a cake, even a simple one should've given the same fun since we are all going to eat it anyways. And he forgot about that cake after a few days.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for wowing kids and giving them the best experiences parents can give. But life is not just a string of happy moments. You cannot eat just sweets for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There should be a balance in everything and failures and rejections are part of the deal. So, get your kids exposed to a wide variety of experiences, both good and bad, and let them grow up as mature adults and not some protected ones in a bubble.If not, they would become adults without a deep sense of commitment to anything, not even to having fun. Life, then, would become a meaningless set of events - that is the worst thing a parent can give his or her child. 

PS: I do know that all this is theory and that since I'm not a parent, I can't really talk about the choices parents make when bringing up their kids. I'm all for the choices that parents make, since after all, its their kid. But, all I ask is, keep a balance and show your kids what real life is like. Once they know that failures are not a big deal and that success is never elusive, they'll learn to love and enjoy life more. Treat them with an iron hand in a velvet glove and your kid might thank you years later even if he screams for icecream every night now. For, you cannot protect them forever and its best that they fail in your arms than fail where you cannot hold them.

Snapshot of a week - update

And, oh... forgot to add the following things:

• Went to a Seattle Sounders game with M. Lot of firsts for that one - had a good time with M and other friends, my first live football game (it actually ended before I got bored - that is a plus!), 100th game for Sounders and good goals (two of them were super funny!), ride back to home in a bus late at night.
• Installed a basketball hoop at office to play. Oh yeah, my company is that cool!
• Organized two lunches and both went well. The company is getting more and more interesting.
• Saw a bunch of movies - loved 180 though there is something missing, Ip Man series - loved it for the company I went with, some more tamil ones. Got to start serious movie watching soon. But we are in summer and I don't want to spend time watching movies... and what little indoor time I get, kindle takes my attention.
• Finally, finally got my book moved to publishing (as in, real publishing - at the printers with the feel of ink on it). I can feel the printing happening on each word as I look at the script. Now I understand how writers all over feel. Though I'm one of the authors, I can't wait to see my chapter and book in print.

Looks like this week has been good, overall... lets see what the next week brings - I've already got a trip, a few movies, a lunch, a few chat sessions and a few talks lined up. But this hope, this is what makes life fun - As Anne says, 'half the fun in something is in expecting it'. And, I'm going to expect things fully!

Snapshot of a week

Here is another snapshot of a week post:

• Amazing how meeting some people changes our lives or provides such a shock that we change our views a lot. Here are three people I met this week: one - a cancer patient - I'm stuck by her resolve to enjoy every minute of life and her love for life itself, two - someone in management - it was nice to see the differences in viewpoints between hard core technical people and people in management and three - someone whose actions I'm trying to figure out - I had thought I had seen all types of people possible (either real life or movies or books) but it was an eyeopener and a lesson in humility thrown in somewhere. 
• Caught up with a couple of friends from my grad school after a long time - a conference call is so good when you are down!
• Met a few of my undergrad friends for dinner - I don't think any of us would've predicted we'd end up where we are eight years ago (no, not even five years ago when this blog was started!)
• Throw in a few chat sessions at M with friends. I'm loving every minute of them :) Definitely one of the highlights in daily life :P
• Crazy Saturday night - I think I'd become a UNO expert pretty soon - I managed to do the same mistake more than once at the same point. The second time was a deja vu! Despite J's efforts to educate me in games, its pretty dismal. Then G finished my game for me.
• Sidenote: I won all the games in cards that night!! So, there!
• Sunday afternoon - unexpected lunch and movie party... but I'm getting back to intern days. Spontaneous is the word!
• Sunday evening - met some of my friends for snacks. It was good meeting everyone (other than for bdays and anniversaries). I do miss the Kinect dinners we used to do - now everyone is busy and have more commitments to keep up. People can't 'just' relax and waste time anymore :( And I'm scared of growing older for this same reason - at one point, life would become a list of commitments to fulfill and the fun part would get lost. Even if I keep my life fun, I can't expect everyone else to do the same - and what is the point in doing things if you can't do them with friends? I'm not sure I know the solution to this one but I hope we all know it before it's too late!
• K is coming to Neverland after like an infinity!! That one news made my whole week :) I'm already planning a whole slew of things to do - a trip to Canada and Portland are in the cards! Lets see!
• Was totally down for a day or so (think Tuesday). I need to get a handle on my temper. It's usually fine but I flew off the handle for sometime and don't feel happy about it at all.
• Had a really nice chat with KG's parents - they know me from when I was a baby (literally!) and hearing from them was super good. That is also a reminder that my parents and their friends are not growing any younger.
• Got to be part of my dad's bday party! Thanks to technology and P :) I was feeling super bad that I couldn't be there (hence the bad temper) and the next day, got to do this!! 
• Finally used my kindle to download a couple of books - Saturday afternoons are best spent lounging on a camp chair in the sun with a juice in one hand and a kindle with your favorite books in another. Lets see how long this bliss exists.
• Heard that one of my cousins was moving to Canada soon! I'll so miss them!
• Realized that a lot of my friends have stopped/reduced facebooking because they are all busy with work :O. I'm still among the remaining few that likes and comments and wishes and what not. As a result, my name pops up more times in more feeds (atleast, according to J, I produce more noise on facebook :P) and that has its own set of issues. OK, this also proves I'm pretty jobless!
• Did a few late nights due to work - but life is pretty interesting.

Apparently, this is all I can think of about the last seven days of my life. I'm wondering if I should reduce facebook time and instead do a snapshot of week every week (and note things down as and when they happen). Atleast it would be a fun read a few years later ( not to mention that my facebook would be a lot cleaner).

As always, all comments welcome :)

சுதந்திர கலை

கருத்தென்பார்

சுதந்திரம் என்பார்

கருத்து சுதந்திரம் என்று சொல்லிடுவார்

பெண்ணியம் என்பார்

விடுதலை என்பார்

பெண் விடுதலை என்றும் பேசிடுவார்

ஆனால்

சொல்லத்துடிக்கும்

ஓராயிரம் கருத்துக்களை

சொல்லாமல் சொல்லும் கலையும் வேண்டுமென்பார்

இதில் எதை பின்பற்ற?

எதுவே சரியென ஏற்க?

சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி,

நான் மானிடத்தில் கரைந்து விடு முன்! 

The other side

Bharani woke up with a start.

He heard a thud and got up to investigate. It was dark in the room and he started moving, out of habit, to the light switch. But he hit himself at the corner of the dresser and almost fell. Scowling in pain, he came to bed and sat for a few minutes. He felt too sleepy and went back to sleep. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When he got up, it was all bright and sunny. He got up with a lazy yawn and remembered all that happened last night. Wow! what a party... he had tried weed for the first time in life and had been at a high all through the party. He vaguely remembered coming home and getting into bed. He got up, reminded of food by his rumbling stomach.

Wait a second! There is something different about the room today. Everything seems to be misplaced, or placed on the wrong side. His side table which was usually on his left was on his right side and his bathroom door was on the right. "Am I still on a high? Wow! the weed IS powerful. I haven't seen anything like it.", thought Bharani. He went to look at his face on the mirror and saw a strange bruise on the right side of his head. He didn't remember getting it. 

He saw in the reflection his mom coming into the room with a hot cup of his favorite filter coffee. He loved closing his eyes and feeling his mom's fingers on his head, caressing his hair. So, he waited with closed eyes. However, he never felt her fingers. He waited a few more minutes and then opened his eyes... 

He looked at his reflection in the mirror where his mom was caressing his hair and he was enjoying it. He turned to look back but couldn't find his mom. Gingerly, he raised his right hand and the Bharani in the mirror raised his left hand. He was on the other side.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Strange, Bharani is eating with the spoon in his left hand. He always uses his right hand for eating. When did he change it?, thought Mrs.Uma, Bharani's mom. Also, why is the mirror in his room dinged at one end? Should change it soon. Looking at cracked mirrors is not good.

A dream fulfilled!

Something dreamed,
Something dared,
Something attempted,
Something after.

Something wished,
Something wanted,
Something tried,
Something thought.

Finally,
Read through,
Done with,
Checked off the list.

Still,
Remembered,
Loved,
Cherished.

PS: I finally finished ALL the works of LM Montgomery (atleast all of her fiction). Though I love Anne, I've grown to love the Story girl, John, Matilla and thousand other characters and families (the Andrews, the Blythes and so on) as well. Now, all that needs to be done is to visit Avonlea and PE Island and see if the magic world exists. But, I might not because I love the image I have in mind and don't want it set right or wrong. Ah! the power of imagination :)

PPS: Yet another thing off my forever bucket list. Now, I really don't care how many other books I read or not read anymore. I've read the best of English (Anne) and the best of Tamil (Ponniyin Selvan). Blissed!

Group effect!

Here is a very cute video about traveling with others. Enjoy!

PS: I'm still trying to finish that storyline... but writer's block attack! So, waities for some time! And wishing Porkodiyakka a very happy dappy bday :)

Story alert!

Thinking of doing a சிறு தொடர்கதை or a தொடர் சிறுகதை (I think the first is more apt) from next week. It would be one a day - do let me know how it is. Here is a teaser: 

• இது ஒரு சாப்பாடு பற்றிய கதை
• எல்லா கதைகளும் 10 நிமிடத்தில் நடப்பவை (yes, the 10 minutes effect :D ) 
• இந்த கதையில் வரும் அனைவரும் கற்பனை.
• போன கதை fulla T based names, இந்த கதையில் U based (ஏன் தான் பசங்களுக்கு U ல start ஆற பேரே வெக்க மாட்டேன்ட்றீங்க?)
• எப்போ நீ பெரிய தொடர்கதை எழுத போறன்னு கேட்கற மக்களுக்கு, அதுக்கு இன்னும் திறமை வரலீங்கோவ்!

Btw, romba expect panni padichu aprom en ipdi nu thunk ellam pannikaatheenga. Ippovae warn panniten! :P

The other side of Metro

Here is a link from a bus driver whose experiences are all over the page and hilarious to say the least. Having taken the bus throughout my grad school (who can forget running to catch the last 2 AM bus from the lab (if I miss it, then its either sleeping in the lab or walking at the dead of the night) or the early morning 7 am bus (for my work or classes) and relying on the kindness of bus drivers to wait an extra minute as you cross the road to the bus stop?) and the first few months of my Neverland life (I got so used to traveling on bus that at one point, I knew all the buses through my route and their timetables (down to the last minute)........ and then I bought a car), I'm definitely grateful for all the buses and the bus drivers who are among the most punctual and patient ones I've seen. Even now, going to S in a bus is fun and definitely beats the car drive at some level, though I don't get to do it anymore. Here's to the Metro!

10 Minutes

How 10 minutes can change a person's life. Have a look:

ADMK to victory

மக்களே! மக்களுக்கு மக்களே!

ADMK வெற்றி வாகை சூடி இப்போ தமிழ்நாட்டுல ஆட்சி செய்ய போறாங்க. இனியாவது எல்லா வகையான அராஜகமும் குறையும்னு எதிர்பார்ப்போம் (நிக்கனும்னு ஆசை படறது எல்லாம் too too much!) 

இனி சிலரோட reactions:

அப்பாடா! ஆட்சிய புடிச்சாச்சு! அடுத்து சுவிஸ் பாங்க்ல புது அக்கௌன்ட் போடணும்! அந்த கருணாநிதிய... மகனே! இருடி... வக்கறேன் ஆப்பு!

அச்சோ! இப்படியே கடைசி வரைக்கும் இருக்கலாம்னு நினைச்சேனே! எல்லாம் போச்சே!! retirement பிளான் கூட இல்லையே!

அப்பா! நான் டெல்லி போக மாட்டேன்!! எல்லாரும் கனிமொழின்னு கூப்பிடாம களிமொழினு கூப்பிட்டு டார்ச்சர் பண்ணுவாங்க! 

அய்யா! இந்த அய்யாவ நம்பாம அம்மாவை நம்பி இருக்கலாமோ! கொஞ்சம் ஓவரா தான் போய்டுச்சு பேச்சு! இனி நான் என்ன பண்ணுவேன் ஏது பண்ணுவேன்! கேப்டன் வேற வந்து நொங்கு எடுப்பாரே!! ஆத்தா!! 

இதுல பய புள்ளைக option வேற தரானுங்க! velanguvaanungala? 

வேண்டாம்! வலிக்குது அழுதுடுவேன்!

யப்பா! எவ்வளவு டார்ச்சர் தந்தாங்க! இப்பவும் நம்ம ஒரு வோட்டு போட்டா, லட்சம் வோட்டு போட்ட மாதிரி! யாருகிட்ட! நம்ம கிட்டயேவா!! கிங் மேகர்னா சும்மாவா?

அய்யா போய் அம்மா வந்தாச்சு! இவங்களாவது ஏதாவது நமக்கு நல்லது பண்ணுவாங்களான்னு பாப்போம்! 

PS: all the above is sondha karpanai, but the images suttufied from all over the web. Indha images thandhavangalukku nandri hai!

Happy Mother's day

Dearest Amma,
Where do I begin? What do I say? However I say it and how many ever times I say it, I know it'll be inadequate. Love you loads, amma!
Happy Mother's day! Hope you have all the fun in the world :)
Luv,
Alpine

PS: Happy mother's day to all moms around the world! You guys are doing an awesome job! Keep it up :)

கிரிக்கெட் கொண்டாட்டம்!

அன்பார்ந்த பெரியோர்களே, தாய்மார்களே, பொது மக்களே (எல்லாம் தேர்தல் effectட்டு தான்!)

                     நடக்கவிருக்கும் இந்தியா பாகிஸ்தான் கிரிக்கெட் போட்டியை முன்னிட்டு, இந்த வாரம் வரவிருக்கும் பதிவுகள் வர மாட்டா. அடுத்த வாரம்...... அது அப்போ பார்த்துப்போம்!

இப்படிக்கு,

ஆல்பைன்

PS: எல்லாரும் double duty போட்டு, இந்தியா ஜெயிக்க அவங்க அவங்க இஷ்ட தெய்வத்தை வேண்டிக்கோங்க! வர்ர்ர்ட்ட்டா!!!!

Dravidian women - paintings

Came across this amazing oil painting work online... too good! I was blown away by the life in each of the paintings and the level of detail in each one! It was like watching a photograph taken by a renowned artist with a good SLR! I'd suggest you see every painting there - though the water colors, drawing and acrylic were not that impressive. And the face of the women portrayed, I could relate to each of it - I could see a friend, a relative, a co-passenger in the bus, in the train, a college mate and so on. The effect of lights and the props to bring the scene liveliness is totally cool! Usually people stick to inanimate objects or simple life subjects when they do oil paintings. Trying to capture a person's emotion, that too women, on oil painting is not small task and the artist has excelled in it. Each painting speaks! And I have no higher praise than that! :)

Kanasu

Death penalty - a yes or a no?

Every time I listen to the news, I hear that some heinous crime has been committed by a repeat offender. The latest to hit Neverland was the one where a female correctional officer was sexually assaulted and killed by a convicted inmate. He was a repeat offender and the police had proof of his involvement in all the previous cases.In one of them, he burnt the girl and had his DNA on her charred body. But still.... the judge decided to give this guy 20 years of prison, in which he was a 'good' inmate and so was allowed to visit his wife (who is a professor whom he met at a church after committing those crimes - how the hell did that woman agree to marry him? What is the use of education if you can't figure who is morally right and wrong? Some professor she is, huh!) every 45 days. And yet, he decided to force himself on a correctional officer who was unarmed and killed her. And....... the judges are still thinking if he should be moved to a higher security prison or not.

I'm all for giving someone a second chance. But that is only for smaller offences and that too only for first time offenders. Crimes like murder, sexual assault, child molestation, etc. needs that these guys be given the death penalty. Atleast, repeat offenders should definitely get the death penalty. The advantages are many fold: First, others who commit such crimes would know the seriousness of this issue. As of now, people talk A LOT about all this but when they know that the punishments are not severe enough for you to die, people don't worry much about it. The American society is partly to blame; people don't really worry about what happens twenty years later. They are more worried about saving their a$$e$ right now. If I can live today, I'll gladly take it. Who cares about the next 20 years? 

Second, we can reduce the HUGE overload on the prison system. Are you the person who says that people should be shown compassion and so the financial strains of the prison system should not make the poor prisoners unhappy? They are prisons, for God's sake. Not some spa or vacation property where people go and relax after the strenous job of committing crimes. Especially, repeat offenders for these crimes should not be shown any compassion whatsoever. They don't belong to the race of humans in the first place. For, a human can never treat another human in such a demeaning fashion.

Third is an indirect effect. Once people know that the punishments are serious, lesser people would do the crimes -> lesser people would be affected -> lesser police needed to capture these people -> lesser money needed to spend on upkeep of the police and judiciary system -> more money to spend on needed things like education, social development, etc -> more educated people (and lets hope saner people with some sense in their heads) -> lesser people doing crimes. And the chain continues! Ideally this would lead to a society with zero percent crime rate.

Now comes the question! Why do we still not have death penalty for these crimes and criminals? I searched through a lot of articles and websites, but couldn't find much. If anyone can explain to me, this forum is all yours!

Spent!

I came across an interesting game called Spent. It captures the daily struggles that most poor people face in the world. Though it is geared towards American economy, it applies to poor people in India and most other places. Do try it out - it is a good eye opener with regards to your priorities in life. It definitely was for me!

Thulasi

PS: Supposed to be a woman's day special post - but got delayed because I was enthued to put the other one first. Belated women's day wishes, everyone!
[Alert!! Story Alert!!]

"God!!! Thulasi, you are driving me crazy. I don't want to go and meet amma. I don't want you to go as well. Do you get it? Stop pestering me now. I need to get this ppt done before my meeting today.", saying so, I left for office. I'm Thyagu, a manager in a major corporation. I'm aiming for a promotion and have to give 'n' number of presentations as a result of it. Amongst all this, my wife Thulasi has been pestering me that we need to visit my in-laws that day. The day started bad; we were out of milk and my daughter needed some one to drop her at school since she can't take her dinosaur project in the auto. I didn't have time to eat anything else and ended up eating dry cereal with water. And threw half of it in the trash!!  

I felt bad as the day progressed and tried pinging my wife over work (one of the advantages of working in the same company). But she was away and I assumed she was running around attending all the meetings. After all, she is a manager with a team of 8 too! Meetings are the death of corporate life! We should have a few 'no meeting' days to get back our sanity. Back to topic, Thulasi is a very level-headed person and is very patient. And I, I'm the exact opposite. Suffice it to say, I have my highs and lows. And today is turning out a low day and I'm putting in every ounce of effort to end it at a high.

My meeting was scheduled for 10 am but got postponed to 3 pm to accommodate schedule conflicts. And, my GM was attending it. To quote his words, he was planning to 'drop in'. Knowing him, I'm sure he'll stay for most of the meeting. To top it all, my manager pinged to say that the one hour meeting got reduced to a 10 minute session since the partner director had a flight to catch. Everyone is in a hurry!! God!! Let this meeting go smooth and I walk to Tirupathi. A voice in my mind started wondering if I would walk from Bangalore (my current city) or walk from the foothills of Tirupathi or walk from Chennai (my native place). Shouldn't I pray clearly so that God doesn't think otherwise? Indha analysis ippo thevaya? Devuda!!

I left her a voice message asking her to call me and that I was done with my presentation prep. But she didn't call back; which was strange because we were in the habit of wishing each other before a big presentation or meeting. And we've not broken it in the past six years. But I was way past worrying about all this and started sending in applications to all the Gods I knew to do double duty and help me present and present well. I'm sure that the pitch I was going to do was going to save the company millions; only that it required some huge initial investments. And, my team was banking on me to pitch it right to the top management. So, I needed all the help I can get to convince my superiors.

Phew!! My meeting is over. I have given it my best shot and I thought I saw a hint of a smile on my GM's face. So, it is most likely a winner. I saw a voicemail from Thulasi and was so eager to hear it. It was short: "I'm going to be with amma. I'll come home late. Pick up Tharini from school and get something for dinner too. Don't worry about me. I'll call later". I was livid, to say the least!! First, she forgot to wish me for my presentation. Second, she didn't even ask how it went. Third, and most important of all, she has gone to her parents' place even when I told her not to. All the happiness of the meeting results drained away and I felt like hitting something. But then I had to pick up my daughter, get some dinner, read stories to her and put her to sleep. I was tired and angry, a potent combination for anyone. I tried calling my wife but it went to her voicemail. That added to the ire and I was getting irritated by the minute. 

Irritation turned to panic as time went by. As the clock ticked 9, I swallowed my pride and called her house. But her mom said she hadn't heard from Thulasi in the last few days. That was when I had the sinking-stomach feeling. I called my best friend Sundar. His wife Sumathi is my wife's friend. They came home immediately and Sumathi wanted to know what exactly Thulasi had said. Rewind back to morning:

I was super irritated with the dry cereal and lack of morning coffee and the fact that I had to drop my daughter off at her school since she asked with a hopeful look.  

Thulasi: "Amma called. She asked if we can come home today"

Me: "Thulasi, you know we both have a busy day at office. Tell her we can't make it and that we'll come on weekend."

Thulasi: "She wouldn't call without reason right?"

Me: "God!!! Thulasi, you are driving me crazy. I don't want to go and meet amma. I don't want you to go as well. Do you get it? Stop pestering me now. I need to get this ppt done before my meeting today."

As I told Sumathi, it hit me!! How could I be this crazy? Thulasi calls my mom as amma as well. I just assumed that she spoke about her mom. God!! I called up appa in Chennai just to hear my dad say "Thulasi was great today. Without her, we'd have suffered so much. She came this afternoon and took your mom to the doctor. Your mom is a lot better now. I dropped her at the airport an hour back. She should reach home soon!". I spoke to my parents for a few more minutes, assured them things would be fine and that we'd all come again some time soon and not to worry about anything. I felt I had been an idiot for assuming things and thinking bad about her. I suddenly wanted to see Thulasi, hug her tight and apologize to her. I looked up to see Thulasi in the doorway. She looked so beautiful. My Thulasi, as pure as the herb of her name!

Leave letter to Dmgr

[Dedicated to Porkodi - who has been working day in and day out to make a biiiiiiigggggg ஆணி குவியல்]

Dmgr - அட அதுதாங்க நம்ம மேனேஜர் - அவர் அப்போப்போ damageum பண்றதால, செல்ல பேர், காரண பேர் எல்லாம் சேர்த்து வந்த பேர் dmgr.

Idea copied from some photo posted by someone on facebook - but slight change!

அவங்க டீச்சர்க்கு எழுதி இருந்தாங்க, நாம நம்ம Dmgrக்கு எழுதலாம். அவங்கவங்க கஷ்டம் அவங்கவங்களுக்கு!!

From,

நான் தான்,

உன் team தான்,

இதே company தான்யா,

அண்ணே! இதே ஊரு தாணே!

To,

உனக்கு தான்,

இந்த team தான்,

அதே மன்னார் அண்ட் கோ தான்

அட, அதே ஊரு தான்! சொல்றோம்ல!

Dear Dmgr,

                   ஆணி பிடுங்கி பிடுங்கி எனக்கு ஒரே tired ஆயிடுச்சு... So, இனி எவ்வளவு ஆணி இருந்தாலும், அதெல்லாத்தையும் நீயே பிளான் போட்டு புடுங்கிகோ! நான் இன்னிக்கு லீவுங்கோவ்வ்வ்வ்!!!

PS: எதையும் பிளான் பண்ணி தான் பண்ணனும். அண்ணனோட பேர damage பண்ணிடகூடாது. அண்டர்ஸ்டார்ண்டு??

ரெம்ப தேங்க்ஸ்,

நான்தானுங்க

Paarthathum Kettathum

Daily, morning carla pogumpothu ethavathu ketkarathu, vela paarkarapo ketkarathu/paarkarathu, facebookla makkal post panra videos pakarathu ellam en hobbies (periiiyyyyaaa hobby nellam sollapadaathu!). Adhula silathu apdiyae manasula gondhu pottu ottikum. Inniku paathathu/ketathula silathu idho:

• Oru payyan classla oru edathula utkaara maatendraanu avan teacher tape pottu avana chairla ottitaangalaam. Adhuvum poster ottara kutti tapela. Adhula andha payyanukku psychological stress vandhuduchaam - idhellam ennanga idhu? I remember getting hit on the hands with a ruler for all the classroom mischief during 3-5 grades. Ivanga ennadanaa, oru kutti tapela suthinathukku psychological disorder nu solranga. Haiyyo! Haiyyo!
• AC on panrathukku, switch, remote mattum illama SMS moolamaa kooda activate pannalaam... idhu US la illenga... saatshath namma Chennaila thaan! Remotela panna mudiyaathathu SMS enna panna mudiyum? Maybe officelerndhe SMS anuppi veedu porathukkula, AC on aagi veedae cool aaganum nu vachurukaangalo?
• Maalaiyil Yaaro song, even after so long, is good.
• Adhe pola, Janani Janani songum... even though its on the slower side, it is amazing.
• Sathi Leelavathi dialogues (adhuvum, "ennayae pudikala break pudikala enna?" Lol! :D) arumaiyya!!
• Vijaykanth + ADMK should be a good enough kootani against DMK. And they have around 59% of political clout. This election should be interesting!
• BJP standing alone in all constituencies in Tamil Nadu is bad, very bad for them politically. Pesama avanga ADMKvoda seralaam... Innum konjamaavathu deposit varum.
• Vijay as Vandhiyathevan in Maniratnam's Ponniyin Selvan - not sure how it'll go. But if he spoils that part, he'd get into my least favorite actors in the blink of an eye!
• Tax time in US - seekiram tax kattanum yaa! Oore atha pathi thaan pesuthu!
• Facebook among the most hated tech companies - Idhukku like button ellam illaya?
• Correctional officers being victims - looks like a new trend in Neverland :(
• Somalia pirates earn around $10000 a year, which is like 17 times the average salary there. And all this for a bit more, if not the same, level of risk. Avangalukku risk edukarathu rusk saapdara maathiriyo?
• Cricket, cricket, engengu kaaninum cricket, yaarudan pesinum cricket, edhil ketinum cricket! Ellam world cupin maayam.
• As a side benefit of WC, sema super ads!! And I get to see most of them! I loved the Pepsi ad collection for world cup.
• Naalaiya Iyakunar short films ellam nachunu iruku - saw Vinai, Sattenna maaruthu vaanilai. 
• Some more TED talks! 

Ithana media interaction iruku, adhuvum less than 8 hoursla... idhula paathi time vela vera panrom! I'm sure everyone has a similar level of media interaction in day to day life! No wonder we are called the 'information overloaded' generation (idhuvum innaiku padichathu thaan!).

Snapshot of a week

Snapshots are fun in that they help us capture life as it is right now. And they help us remember how life was when we look at it a few years later. Here's a snapshot of my last week:

• Had to finish some work at office and wrap up a long week.
• Got ready for a much needed holiday with family and friends. That included going shopping for a dress, packing stuff, making sure all the loose ends are tied, parking my car correctly, cleaning up my room and home before I leave (so that I don't have to do it when I'm back all tired out) and a million other things to do before you go on a trip.
• Had a snow scare due to which I had to move my trip a bit (and plan all the logistics like getting dropped off/picked up at the airport along with the move).
• Had a crazy long flight where I met a tattoo artist who was an interesting companion and she yapped away to glory. All I had to do was nod and the conversation was in full sway.
• Got to spend some quality alone time with each of my nieces. They are at the stage where playing with both at the same time is not enough anymore and I have to make sure to spend time with each without getting the other all worked up and feeling 'I'm missing on things'.
• Was surprised how much B had grown in the last few months. She is fast slipping out of the toddler mode and into the first grade mode. Though, there are still some cute moments... and I intend to make the most of them :)
• Got to check off two more things in my list of '101 things to do in US'. Sadly, nowadays, the list is getting filled slower and slower. But the good thing is, I'm past 75 in that list now. Hopefully, I'll hit 101 soon.
• Did a long drive with some great company. It was fun since my last long drive was months earlier.
• Got a good insight into the Telangana issue. Though a split might be good for this case, I shudder to think of the aftereffects of this in each state across India. Some that I can think of: Gujarat, Kashmir, NE states, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra. As an Indian, I'm really concerned and worried about all the infighting going on. Hopefully, things get resolved such that India doesn't get affected as a whole.
• Realized that the 'Mannipaaya' song of Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaya has awesome lyrics in Telugu. And, I loved that song itself. 'Vinntunnava' is a constant on my player now. Note to self: Start appreciating the music itself and not judge based on the lyrics of a song.
• Had a blast of a weekend after a long long time, a slice of grad school life after almost two years. Now, I know what exactly I miss from grad school. Though professional life is fun and I'm fine with it now, grad school experience was too good.
• Talking to K has become more and more fun - I'm constantly amazed by the breadth and depth of stuff we talk to each other about.
• Felt bad for MG, one of my favorite couples. I thought they were perfect together (despite some obvious differences)... but then things were not to be.
• Was pretty riled up on Monday due to a bad disagreement. The sleepless nights and long talks didn't help matters much and I was a goner by the time I hit bed yesterday. 
• Missed a few b'days when I was gone. Oopsie! (B's favorite term :))
• Got some sunshine, the most precious commodity at Neverland. Even when inside, I was boning up to the window to get the maximum sunshine possible. It felt good to have the heat beat at your skin after months of cold. However, I also realized that I can never be super happy with that much heat since my skin was totally disagreeable to it. And so, Neverland sticks to cooler weather :)

Till Thursday, see you guys!

Past - Present - Future

Phew! After a long time, I'm back to writing in English. It feels so damn good :) Also, this is a tag post done by a few of my friends on blogosphere. Here's my take on the ghosts haunting the past, bunnies lining the present and fairies flying in the future.

20 years ago
1) Started school - a wonderland where I could play all day with new friends and I got to be a big girl without Mommy and Daddy around!
2) Totally in love with my kid sister (who was a teeny tiny 2 year old then) who used to imitate everything I did. Even things like eating and tying shoe laces. I now see the same thing with my nieces.
3) Proud owner of a 'Made in Germany' sharpener that my dad brought from one of his trips. That was 'the' thing to have in my class that year! I still have that sharpener, tucked somewhere in my home in India.

10 years ago
1) I was in 11th grade and was dreading the 12th public exams already. Not to mention the tuition classes that came with it.
2) Had some of the best times with friends at classes, tuitions and test hours!
3) Had to let life decide things for me.

5 years ago
1) I was preparing hard for placements and MS. Because I wasn't sure what to do in life! I wanted to be home but still come to US... I know, a hard wish to satisfy. So, I had to be ready for both.
2) I had my first accident on my Spirit due to my impatience - that too, right before my parents' eyes! My mom still talks of the shock I gave her that day. My helmet took the brunt of that crash and I escaped with minor hits. I still went to college that day - I had exams! And that was the cause of my impatience.
3) I earned my first salary of 2k :) (ok, that was more a prize money, but we won almost all competitions we entered and got a good collection of money)

3 years ago
1) I took one of the hardest decisions of my life - work at a company I loved or go to US without any funding in sight to study more (I got funding after I came. But at the point of deciding, I had no clue how life would turn out - I was choosing between the known path and the unknown path). And I chose the latter after a hfriend knocked some sense into me.
2) US, my lab and research happened!
3) A whole load of traveling happened!! Got to go to NYC every season! And loved it :)

2 years ago
1) A dream internship. Guess that was the best summer I've seen!
2) Life happened and I learned a lot! Miss my friends at grad school!
3) Got a great job, one that I'm working at right now.

1 year ago
1) Graduated with masters. Alpine Path, MS!
2) Moved Neverland from one coast to another.
3) My car! And more traveling (visited a country other than the ones I've lived - that took so long to cross off my check list!).

So far this year
1) Papers, books, exams, trainings - should I start that bandwagon again?
2) Fell in love with my new phone!
3) Realized that a year of forced movie watching has had some effects after all! I catch myself watching movies/shows whenever I'm bored rather than doing something else. My latest watch is Psych :)

Yesterday
1) Office the whole day and it just whizzed past. Didn't have time even to eat lunch.
2) Did a crap telephone call to my mom and seriously considered changing a lot of things in life.
3) Made the paruppu usili to perfection! Finally!! Finally! :)

Today I
1) Planned a surprise bday party for one of my colleagues.... and it was a success! :)
2) Spent a whole lot of time trying to get something, anything at all, done.
3) Realized that all the 'change ideas' I spoke last night would not work... or rather, I am actually happy with the way things are.

Tomorrow I
1) Plan to cut my to-do list length to a respectable size. Now, its the size of the Autobahn!
2) Meet a few friends for dinner and plan a surprise bday party. Looks like its the year of parties!
3) Get things ready for the next holiday; its fast approaching!

In the next year, I hopefully will
1) Do more traveling. Got a few things to do/see. California, anyone?
2) Check off a few more things on my '101 things to do in US' list. Probably, sky diving!

Forever,
1) Have fun, all through!

Take this tag just for the kicks of it :)

சுமதி வந்திருக்கிறாள் - ரகசியமாய் ரகசியமாய்

சுமதி வந்திருக்கிறாள்....

என் மனைவி சுமதி. ஆசைமிகு மனைவி சுமதி. எங்கள் தலை தீபாவளிக்காக அவள் பிறந்தகம் வந்திருக்கிறோம். அவளது புத்தகங்களை பார்க்கும்போது எனக்கு எங்கள் இரண்டாம் சந்திப்பு ஞாபகம் வருகிறது. அதில் சுமதி, தன் கனவான அமெரிக்க படிப்பு பற்றியும், அதை தான் செய்ய முடியாத நிலை பற்றியும் கூறினாள். அதற்கான காரணங்கள் பற்றியும் கூறினாள். அப்பொழுது எனக்கு அவளை மிகவும் பிடித்துப்போனது. எப்படியாவது அவளை அமெரிக்காவில் படிக்க வைப்பது என்று முடிவு செய்தேன்.

என் பெயர் சுந்தர். நான் ஒரு MNCஇல் வேலை பார்க்கிறேன். இன்னும் சில மாதங்களில் என் வேலைக்காக அமெரிக்கா செல்ல போகிறோம். ஆம், சுமதியும் கூட தான்! அவளுக்கு அங்கு படிக்க ஏற்பாடும் செய்து விட்டோம். இந்த தீபாவளி திருநாளன்று இவர்கள் தெருவே கூடி கொண்டாடுவது மிகவும் ஆச்சர்யமாகவும் சந்தோஷமாகவும் இருக்கிறது. இன்னும் சில வருடங்களுக்கு இதையெல்லாம் மிஸ் செய்ய போகிறோம்! சோ, இப்பொழுதே இதையெல்லாம் என்ஜாய் செய்து கொள்கிறோம். ஆனால், ஒரு ரகசியம் சொல்கிறேன். நாங்கள் அங்கும் ஒரு குட்டி தீபாவளி இதே தெரு மக்களுடன் கொண்டாட போகிறோம்! எப்படி தெரியுமா? சுரேஷுடன் தான்! சுரேஷ் சுமதியின் அருமை நண்பன். அவனுக்காக தன் படிப்பை விட்ட சுமதி, அவன் படிக்க போகும் அதே கல்லூரியில் படிக்க போகிறாள். இருவரும் ஒரே கல்லூரி என்ற விஷயம் என்னை தவிர யாருக்கும் தெரியாது, இந்த நிமிடம் வரை. ஆம்! சுமதிக்கு கூட! இன்று இரவு எங்கள் தலை தீபாவளி விருந்துக்கு எல்லாரையும் அத்தை அழைத்திருக்கிறார்கள். அப்பொழுதுதான் சுமதி, தன் பெற்றோரிடம் நாங்கள் அமெரிக்கா செல்ல போவதையும் தான் படிக்க போவதையும் சொல்ல போகிறாள். அப்போது, சாரதா auntyயும் சுரேஷும் இருக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்து விட்டேன். அவர்கள் சுமதியின் படிப்பை பற்றி கவலைபடுவதாக தெரிகிறது. அதை பார்த்து அத்தையும் கவலை படுகிறார்கள். ஒரே கல்லில் இரண்டு மாங்காய்! எல்லார் கவலையும் தீரும்; தீபாவளியும் இனிய தீபாவளியாக நிறைவு பெறும். சுரேஷும் சுமதியும் மறுபடியும் ஒரே இடத்தில், ஒன்றாக படிக்க போவதை அறியும்போது எல்லாரும் எவ்வளவு சந்தோஷபடுவார்கள் என்று நினைக்கும்போதே எனக்கு இன்னும் சந்தோஷமாகவும் ஆர்வமாகவும் இருக்கிறது. இதுவே நான் என் மனைவிக்கு தரும் தலை தீபாவளி பரிசு :) இன்று இரவு விருந்து அமர்களமான, யாரும் மறக்க முடியாத விருந்தாக அமைய போகிறது! சோ, அது வரை, இந்த ரகசியத்தை நீங்கள் யாரிடமும் சொல்லிவிட மாட்டீர்கள் தானே?

சுமதி வந்திருக்கிறாள் - என்னவென்று சொல்வதம்மா..

சுமதி வந்திருக்கிறாள்...

என் தோழியின் பெண் சுமதி. எனக்கும் பெண் போல தான். எனக்கு இப்படி ஒரு மகள்/மருமகள் கிடைக்க வேண்டும் என எல்லோரும் நினைக்கும் ஒரு பெண். என் மகனின் உயிர் தோழி... சில காலம் முன்பு வரை. இந்த தீபாவளியை என்னுடன் கொண்டாடாமல், என் மகன் எங்கோ சுற்றி சுற்றி திரிய காரணமான பெண். அவன் எத்தனைக்கு விலகி போகின்றானோ, அத்தனைக்கு அவனை பற்றி எதுவும் கேட்காத பெண்.

என் பெயர் சாரதா. வீட்டையும், வேலையையும் பார்க்கும் பல்லாயிரகணக்கான தாய்மார்களுள் ஒருத்தி. சுரேஷ் அப்பா இறந்த பிறகு, வீடு, வேலை, இவற்றோடு சுரேஷையும் வளர்க்க நான் பட்ட கஷ்டங்கள் கொஞ்ச நஞ்சமில்லை. இதற்கெல்லாம் உதவியாய் இருந்தது சுமதியின் பெற்றோரும் மற்ற தெரு மக்களும் தான். இங்கு எல்லோரும் எல்லாருக்கும் உதவி கொள்வோம். எனக்கு வாழ்வில் ஒரே ஆசை, சுரேஷ் நன்றாக இருக்க வேண்டும் என்று. அதற்கு அவன் அமெரிக்கா செல்ல வேண்டும், நிறைய கற்க வேண்டும், பெரிய பதவி வகிக்க வேண்டும். இதற்கு ஆயிரம் பேர் உதவி இருந்தாலும், மிகவும் உதவியது சுமதி தான். சுரேஷ் படிக்க உதவினாள்; சுரேஷுக்கு அமெரிக்க கனவை தன் கனவென்று சொல்லி அவனையும் கனவு காண செய்தாள். இப்பொழுது, அவன் நல்ல வேலையில் இருக்கிறான். அமெரிக்கா செல்லவும் போகிறான். இதெல்லாம், சுமதி சுரேஷுக்கு செய்த உதவிகள். ஆனால், இப்பொழுது இருவரும் பேசிகொள்வதே இல்லை. ஒருவரை பற்றி ஒருவர் கேட்பதும் இல்லை. அதற்கு காரணம், சுமதி சுரேஷுக்கு செய்த பெரிய, யாருக்கும் தெரியாத, எனக்கு மட்டும் புரிந்த உதவி. சுமதியும் சுரேஷும் அமெரிக்கா செல்ல போன வருடம் தயார் ஆனார்கள். ஆனால், சுரேஷ் எனக்காக அமெரிக்கா செல்வதை நிறுத்தி விட்டான்.உன்ன யாருமா பார்த்துபாங்கன்னு பையன் கேட்கறது எத்தனை பேருக்கு கிட்டும் சொர்க்கம்? அது எனக்கு கிடைத்தது. நான் எவ்வளவோ சொல்லியும் அவன் கேட்கவில்லை. சுமதி என்னையும் சுரேஷையும் புரிந்து கொண்டு, சுரேஷிடம் தனக்கு கல்யாணம் நிச்சயமானதால் தான் படிக்க முடியாதென்றும், தன் கனவான அமெரிக்க படிப்பை தனக்காக அவன் நடத்த வேண்டும் என்றும், அதுவே அவளுக்கு அவன் தரும் கல்யாண பரிசென்றும், அவன் வரும் வரை என்னை அவள் பார்த்து கொள்வதாகவும் சொல்லிவிட்டாள். சுரேஷ் குதித்தான், கெஞ்சினான், அவளை படிக்க போகுமாறு. ஆனால், சுமதி ஒத்துக்கொள்ளவில்லை. அதில் இருவரும் சண்டை போட்டு பிரிந்தனர். இப்பொழுது பேசிக்கொள்வதே இல்லை. என்னிடம், அவள் பெற்றோர் கல்யாணத்திற்கு அவளை force செய்ததாக சுரேஷிடம் சொல்ல சொல்லிவிட்டாள். அப்பொழுது தான் அவன் கோபம் எல்லாம் அமெரிக்கா செல்வதில் திரும்பும் - அவனும் செல்வான், என் கனவும் நிறைவேறும் என்று. இதோ கனவு நிறைவேறும் நாள் நெருங்குகிறது. ஆனால், இந்த தீபாவளி திருநாளில் என்னால் சந்தோஷமாக இருக்க முடியவில்லை.  எனக்காக சுமதி தன் படிப்பை தியாகம் செய்ததாகவே தோன்றுகின்றது. அவள் சந்தோஷமாக கணவன், குடும்பம் என இருந்தாலும் படிப்பை விட்டுதந்தாள் என்றே மனம் பாடாய் படுகிறது. சுரேஷுகாக சுமதி வாழ்வை கெடுத்தேனோ என்று தினமும் வருந்துகிறேன். கடவுளே! எனக்கு என்ன பண்ணுவதுனே தெரியலயே.

[அடுத்த பகுதி.... இறுதி பகுதி]

சுமதி வந்திருக்கிறாள் - மாங்கல்யம் தந்துனானே...

சுமதி வந்திருக்கிறாள்...

என் பெண் சுமதி. பாடம் சொல்லி தருவது, மற்றவருக்கு உதவுவது என எல்லாருக்கும் எல்லாமுமாய் இருக்க ஆசைபடுபவள். சிறு வயதில், படிப்பு, ஆட்டம் என்று இருந்தவள் இப்பொழுது, கணவன் கைபிடித்து ஒரு பொறுப்பான குடும்ப தலைவியாய் வலம் வருகிறாள். பார்க்கவே மகிழ்ச்சியாக இருக்கிறது. சுமதியின் கல்யாணம் ஒரு கனவு போல தோன்றுகிறது. சுமதி, ஒரு நாள் வந்து, நான் கல்யாணம் செய்துகொள்கிறேன், மாப்பிள்ளை பாருங்கள் என்றாள். சுந்தரும் மிக நல்ல பையன். மனைவியை அவ்வளவு அன்பாக பார்த்துகொள்கிறான்.  எல்லாம் அவள் ஆசைப்படி தான் செய்தோம்! ஒரே மகளின் திருமணமும் நன்றாக முடிந்து ஒரு வருடம் ஆக போகிறது. அவளும் சந்தோஷமாக இருக்கிறாள்.

என் பெயர் சுந்தரவடிவு. தமிழ்நாட்டில் இருக்கும் பல லக்ஷம் குடும்ப தலைவிகளில் ஒருத்தி. என்னை சுற்றி சொந்தங்களும், நண்பர்களும் என நிறைந்த வாழ்க்கை.  இப்போது கூட, எங்கள் தெருவே சேர்ந்து தான் சுமதிக்கு தலை தீபாவளி சீர் கொண்டாட்டங்கள் செய்கிறோம்! எல்லோரும் சேர்ந்து செய்யும்போது சந்தோஷம் பல மடங்காகிறது. தெரு குழந்தைகள் பட்டாசு வெடிக்க போடும் ரகளையில் எனக்கு சுமதியும் சுரேஷும் அடித்துகொள்வது ஞாபகத்துக்கு வருகிறது. அவர்கள் இணைபிரியா நண்பர்கள். ஒருத்தரை விட்டு ஒருத்தர் இருக்க மாட்டார்கள். ஆனால், ஏதோ நடந்திருக்கிறது. சுமதி வந்த நாளிலிருந்தே சுரேஷை காணோம்! கண்ணிலேயே படவில்லை. சுமதியும் தான் அவனை பற்றி ஒரு வார்த்தை கேட்கவில்லை. ஊரில் காய்கறி விற்கும் பாட்டியிலிருந்து பேப்பர் போடும் சண்முகம் வரை விசாரிப்பவள், சுரேஷை பத்தி கேட்காதது ஏதோ செய்தது. தாய் அறியா சூல் இல்லை தான். ஆனாலும், மனதை அரிக்கிறது. சுரேஷ் அம்மா சாரதாவை கேட்டால் அவளும் எதுவும் சொல்லவில்லை. ஆனால் ஏனோ முகம் வாடி தெரிகிறாள். என்னவென்று கேட்டால், தலைவலி, கால் வலி என்று சொல்கிறாள். சுரேஷ் அமெரிக்கா செல்லும் கவலையாய் இருக்குமோ? என்னவென்று தெரியலையே, முருகா! எல்லாரையும் இந்த தீபாவளி அன்னைக்கு சந்தோஷ படுத்து!

சுமதி வந்திருக்கிறாள் - கனா கண்டேனடி, தோழி!

சுமதி வந்திருக்கிறாள்...

எங்கள் தெரு சுமதி. என் ஆருயிர் தோழி சுமதி. சிறு வயதிலிருந்தே, ஒன்றாக படித்து, ஒன்றாக வளர்ந்து, ஒன்றாக விளையாடியவர்கள். என் முதல் வெற்றி, முதல் தோல்வி, முதல் அடி, முதல் சண்டை, முதல் காதல், எல்லாவற்றுக்கும் கூட இருந்தவள் சுமதி. அவள் அம்மா போல, எல்லாருக்கும் உதவுவாள். காலேஜில் தன் சிநேகிதிக்கு பீஸ் கட்ட தன் வளையலை தந்து விட்டு வீட்டில் அடி வாங்கியவள். இவ்வளவு நல்லவளுக்கு இப்படி ஒரு நிலைமை! நினைத்தாலே நெஞ்சு கொதிக்கிறது.

என் பெயர் சுரேஷ். படித்து விட்டு ஒரு IT கம்பெனியில் வேலை செய்யும் இருபத்தைந்து வயது இளைஞன். அடுத்த சில வாரங்களில், அமெரிக்கா செல்ல போகிறவன். இந்த தீபாவளி, சுமதிக்கு தலை தீபாவளி. எங்கள் தெருவே சேர்ந்து கொண்டாடுகிறது. ஆனால், என்னால் தான் முடியவில்லை. எப்படி, எப்படி ஒத்து கொண்டாள் சுமதி? எவ்வளவு கனவுகள் கண்டிருப்போம் சேர்ந்து? எல்லாம் மண்ணாக போனதே? சுமதி அம்மா சுந்தரவடிவுக்கும் என் அம்மாவுக்கும் கூட எல்லாம் தெரியும். இருந்தும், சுமதியை force செய்து, கல்யாணம் செய்து வைத்து... ச்சே! எனக்கு சுந்தரை பார்த்தால் தான் பற்றி கொண்டு வரும். அவன் எல்லாம் ஒரு மனிதனா? எப்படி சுமதியின் கனவுகளை கொன்று விட்டு வாழ்கிறான்? ஆனால், அவனை சொல்லியும் குற்றமில்லை. நல்ல பெண், நன்றாக படித்திருக்கிறாள், பார்க்கவும் நன்றாக இருக்கிறாள். யார் தான் கட்டி கொள்ள மாட்டார்கள்? சுமதியின் அம்மாவுக்கே அவள் கனவில் அக்கறை இல்லாதபோது, எவனோ ஒருவன் எப்படி அக்கறை காட்டுவான்? எப்படி தான் சுந்தரவடிவு ஆன்ட்டிக்கு சிரிக்க முடிகிறதோ! பண்ணுவதெல்லாம் பண்ணி விட்டு, சிரிப்பை பார்!! அதெல்லாம் பார்க்க முடியாமல் தான் அம்மா எவ்வளவோ சொல்லியும் இந்தியாவில் கடைசி தீபாவளி என்று தெரிந்தும் கிளம்பி விட்டேன்! எங்கள் கனவெல்லாம் சுந்தரவடிவு ஆன்டியால் வேஸ்ட்ஆ போச்சு. இப்போ அவங்க என்ன பண்ணிட்டு இருப்பாங்க? நல்லா மாபிள்ளையை தலையில் தூக்கி வச்சுட்டு இருப்பாங்க. ச்சே!

சுமதி வந்திருக்கிறாள் - ஒரு ஊரில் அழகே உருவாய்...

சுமதி வந்திருக்கிறாள்...

எங்கள் பக்கத்துவீட்டு சுமதி. எனக்கு கணக்கு பாடம் சொல்லி கொடுத்த சுமதி.... சொல்ல போனால், சுமதி அக்கா! ஆனால் அக்கா என்று சொல்ல கூடாதுன்னு ஆர்டர். சோ, சுமதி தான் எங்க எல்லாருக்கும்.

என் பெயர் வாணி. சுமதியிடம் கணக்கு படித்து நூறு மார்க் வாங்க முயற்சித்த பதிமூன்று வயது பெண். ஆனால், அதுக்கு ஹெல்ப் பண்ணாம சுமதி கல்யாணம் பண்ணிட்டா. இப்போ, தலை தீபாவளிக்கு சுமதியும் சுந்தர் அண்ணாவும் வந்து இருக்காங்க. அவங்க தலை தீபாவளி கொண்டாட்டத்துக்கு எங்க தெருவே சேர்ந்துகிச்சு. எங்க தெருல எல்லாமே அப்படி தான். நாள் கிழமை, நல்லது கெட்டதுன்னு எல்லாமே சேர்ந்து தான் பண்ணுவோம். அப்படி ஒரு ஒற்றுமை எல்லாருக்கும். சுமதியோட அம்மா சுந்தரவடிவு தான் எல்லாருக்கும் பெரியவங்க. எல்லாரும் அவங்க கிட்ட கேட்டு தான் decisions எடுப்பாங்க. பட்டாசு, பக்ஷணம் எல்லாம் ரெடி. என் friends பிரியா, தனா, அருண் எல்லாரும் கூட வந்தாச்சு. ஆனா, சுரேஷ் அண்ணா எங்க? தீபாவளினா பட்டாசு, ராக்கெட் எல்லாம் ரெடி பண்ணுவதிலிருந்து எங்களுக்கு turns தருவது வரைக்கும் சுரேஷ் அண்ணா தான் பண்ணுவாங்க. ஆனா, இன்னிக்கு அண்ணா வேலைக்கு  போய்ட்டாங்கன்னு சாரதா ஆன்டி (சுரேஷ் அண்ணாவோட அம்மா) சொன்னாங்க. ச்சே! சுரேஷ் அண்ணா இல்லாம தீபாவளி தீபாவளியவே இல்லை! அருண் அப்பாவும் சுரேஷ் அண்ணா கம்பெனில தான் வேலை பண்றாங்க. அவர், கம்பெனி லீவ்னு சொன்னார்! சோ, சுரேஷ் அண்ணா எங்க?

Story of my life

Hi friends,

        How are you? I'm happy to see you, my dear friends. I have an exciting story to tell. All of you readers remind me of myself and my siblings. I have a lot of brothers and sisters. And innumerable cousins! A lot of people like me and my siblings. Alpine was kind enough to let me tell my story in her blog. Now, without much ado, let me begin.

        A long time back, I was born in a small village... actually in a dim but noisy universe. My creator decided to use my parents F and W to make me. My sea sick aunts S and C and wishy washy uncle O helped in my birth. Unlike humans, I was not made in an enclosed space that you call the embryo, rather I was made in a huuuuggggeeee expansive thing. Its so big that I would need atleast a few hundred turns to go through it all (one of my cousins tried it and he was never the same after... all these adventures, I tell you!)

       My aunts and uncle had a huge part to play in my life. My aunts and their friends made my life spicy by sharing their stories with my siblings and me. They made sure that our lives were interesting. Even to this day, people say I carry some of their characteristics. It has been definitely a good addition. For my cousins, some of whom didn't have aunts like mine, have been shunned by the society. A cruel society! But I'm infinitely thankful to my aunts for adding color to my life. Then, I was given a shape and distinction from my siblings. I had a pretty, pretty shape - a lot of people call it round but I would digress... I prefer curly though still round. Makes sense, no?

      My uncle decided that I should be worldly wise and took it upon himself to teach me lessons of fire. Though some of my brothers did badly and were the black sheep of the family, most of us did them proud and turned out the golden guys and fair maidens as they had expected. But my uncle paid a price for all this transformation - he became older and older sooner and sooner. When I ask my younger cousins about my uncle, they reply that he is no more - and that makes me sad! :(

       Then came the preparations for the big journey! How excited we were - we were brought up with the sole goal of taking this big journey to places unknown and beyond! We didn't know anyone who had come back to tell stories of these places but legend has it that it was infinitely better than our birth place. Don't we all go in search of the unknown adventures? So, I started my journey as well. My siblings were coming with me but we were not sure if we would get to travel together. We went to a big gathering of crowds and were told to just join any of the groups taking the journey. In the melee, I got separated from my brothers. Though I was scared, I put on a brave front since this was the first step to traveling to the delightful places. 

       There were big white caravans going on the journey and in order to make sure all of us had space, we had to pack ourselves tightly. I remember doing that trip sandwiched between two fat guys! There was another thin guy sitting in the same way just above me. The caravans were sealed to protect us during the long journey. Boy!What a journey it was... we experienced highs and lows, speed and slowness, etc and etc. The driver went on and on, without stopping anywhere for days to end. Inside the caravan, we had all become friends. Most of them had a story like me, but there were some who had more interesting lives. As days went by and the journey continued without breaks, it started taking a toll on some of my co-passengers. Some of them died and some became maimed. One guy was sitting strong one day and was in a thousand pieces the next!! The horrors! Only the thought of exciting places kept me alive through that horrible journey.

       Finally, we reached a bigger meeting place and were asked to form groups based on our physical fitness. I didn't have much issues with the journey (as did most others). We were then asked to take smaller caravans and we took the airplane to reach a suspension heaven. That was bliss for the first few days after the hectic journey but became boring after that since we did nothing but wait. One by one, the smaller caravans left the suspension heaven. One glorious day, our caravan and another left the heaven (now become a hell, due to all the waiting that I did there) to a truly astonishing place. It was nice... I don't have words to describe all the sights. All I can say was all the legends of the places failed to do justice to it. Even though I was still inside the caravan, I had a window seat and could see everything. So, I was made the describer of the caravan. That is an important role - much like the President that people have. Everyone in the caravan listens when I speak. 

       Then we moved to another of the astonishing places and I had the time of my life explaining it all... I even had sore throat telling about it all. We then reached a dark place, a lot like the suspension heaven but it was also a big caravan - more a caravan of caravans. However, it was more exquisite and not at all like the simple big white caravan I had started my journey in. All of a sudden I had a queasy indescribable feeling - much like the ones you get just before you throw up. As sudden as it had come, things became all right again. After innumerable days and some more occurances of this queasiness, I was finally happy to see another astonishing place. I felt I had reached home. Now, we were given a pep talk about life itself by one of the others - and I braved myself for the zenith of what was to come. 

        My caravan disbanded and I got picked as one among the first. I'm going to enter a small cave where I'm sure to get destroyed. But the journey has been wonderful and my life exciting. I thank all for listening to my story. Do not feel bad for my end, this is what I was born to do. To do and die. And I'm dying after visiting these magnificent places. As I do the last journey alone, my life flashes by me, my family, my siblings, my friends, all the wonderful places I saw.... hey! wait! I didn't introduce myself properly, did I? I am Murukku, the king of all snacks. I'm pleased to meet you. However, it's time for you to leave. Now, let me enjoy the thrill of my last journey.... 

இனிய பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

இந்த ப்ளாக்ல பண்ண ஒரு ரொம்ப நல்ல காரியம், comment moderation தான்! எவ்வ்வ்வ்ளோ spam... already 55 comments spam heading ல இருக்கு... இது ஒரு டைப் போகி தான்.. virtual போகி.
இன்னைக்கு, எல்லா மெயில் IDs, மற்ற பல virtual தளங்களையும் சுத்தம் பண்ணி, சுத்தம் சோறு போடும்னு follow பண்ணுவோம்.
அனைவருக்கும், இனிய பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!
முடிஞ்சவங்க, கரும்பு தின்னு, பொங்கல் வச்சு, ஜல்லிக்கட்டு பாத்து, கொண்டாடுங்க!
முடியாதவங்க, சன் டிவி, விஜய் டிவி ஸ்பெஷல் ப்ரோக்ராம்ஸ் பாத்து கொண்டாடுங்க!
அதுவும் முடியாதவங்க, ஆன்லைன்ல அதை எல்லாம் பாத்து என்ஜாய் பண்ணுங்க!

Aankhon Mein...

Random Youtube browsings can lead to stumbling on old forgotten songs and some of those songs are so connected to certain times in life that you go back to it pronto! Here's such a song:

This song was a craze among my friends during school (7th or 8th). I remember us dancing to this song and all others (Falguni Pathak anyone?) at a friend's place and collapsing into laughter (bringing aunty to see what the hell we were upto). Then, love was something funny that we saw only in movies and M&B books. And, we were more interested in the short stories that each of these album songs portrayed than the songs themselves. Album songs were new to our group then and totally different from the movie songs or the english singles. Now, as I think back, every one in our group has moved to different places, are in different jobs and doing different things. But those memories are still so fresh and good... Here's to school life and all the friends and the happy memories made there!

PS: Shahid still looks kind of cute... not the handsome hunk way, but more the guy-next-door way. This song to Jab we met is a good transition. Lets see how it turns out all the way!

Paapom!!

[This is a parallel to the last post on Pattu and Kittu]

Pattu and Kittu were friends in Cheppur. They did most things together. Here is a leaf out of their life book.
[A few years back]
Kittu: Pattu, namma naalaikku hike porom.
Pattu: Oh ok! Apdiye night dinner poitu varalaama?
Kittu: Paapom! Tiredaa illana polaam.
Pattu: Seri ok!

[A week later]
Pattu: Kittu, namma movie polaama?
Kittu: Ok!
Pattu: I'll call X,Y as well. Avangalukkum ticket kedaikumla?
Kittu: Paapom! First nammakku ticket irukaanu ketkaren. Irundha avangalukkum ketpom.

[A year later]
Kittu: Pattu! Padam porom
Pattu: Oh ok! Enna movie?
Kittu: Iron Man
Pattu: Oh... next week, Avatar polama? Nee free thaane?
Kittu: Paapom!
Pattu: En paapom solra? Seri polaamnu decide panna, innaiku padam porachave andha ticketum vaangalaamla? One trip save aagumla?

Kittu: Paapomna paapomnu thaane solla mudiyum?

Pattu: Adhukaaga adhe vaarthaiyaa?

[A week after that]
Pattu: Kittu! Concert polama?
Kittu: Paapom! 
Pattu: Vera vaarthaiyae unakku theriyaatha? Ini paapomnu sonnanaa paaru!
Ippo sollu, concert polaama?
Kittu: Lets see!
Pattu: Ayyoda! Sujathaku sithappa payyanu nenaippu. Paapom sollathana, lets seeyaam. Kashtam!
Kittu: Sonnalum sollatiyum naan Sujathakku chithappa payyan thaan. Yes! En periappa ponnu peru Sujatha. He he!
Pattu: Kadavulae! Naan sonnathu writer Sujatha. Un P.P Sujatha illa.
Kittu: Ava P.P Sujatha illa, K.A Sujatha.
Pattu: Kadavulae!!! En ipdi ellam?
Kittu: Seri vidu. Unakku en paapom pidikala? Adhu oru word thaana.
Pattu: Enna periya word? Eppo paaru paapom paapom nu. Onnum decide panna mudiyaama! Cha!
Kittu: Ivlo verupaa adhu mela? Enakku thonrathu, unakku vaazhkai fulla paapom thaan vara porathu, varapo ellam ennai thaan nenaika pora nu.
Pattu: Chanceae illa. Eppovum indha Pattuku andha nelamai varaathu (Oru Neelambari look)

[A few years later]
Pattu: Namma innaiku padam polaam
Pattu's hubby: Paapom 
Pattu: Enna paapom, paakalanu? 
Pattu's hubby: Acho! vela mudinja polaamnu mean pannenma.
Pattu: Adhilla! En ellarum idhe word solreenga [and thunks herself]

[A few years after that]
Pattu: Namma innaiku park pogalaam
Pintu (Pattu's kid): Paapom ma!
Pattu: !!!

[In the end, we see Pattu singing "Andha naal nyabagam vandhadhe nenjile... "]