tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65947716404859483952024-03-14T20:49:22.551+05:30ConfessionsThis is where my thoughts and ideas take complete form. I record them here in black and white, and sometimes in black and yellow!! Read through the posts and enjoy!! Post your valuable comments!!Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-59001510345313075802009-05-24T20:38:00.000+05:302009-05-24T20:39:39.548+05:30The Lost Soul Part VIII<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I couldn’t sleep that night. I couldn’t eat. Her pretty face kept flashing across my eyes. I was disturbed by her very presence. Bharath happens to be one of my friends at college. He was my classmate. He too had joined for the I.T. course. Priya and Bharath were good friends. They were close. Closer than I had expected. She believed Bharath a lot. That was something I didn’t like.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I thought Bharath could make me get closer to her. I befriended him. I later found out that he had something else in mind. He was a traitor.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Each day with Priya passed like a minute. I decided to propose to her. Something, I hadn’t tried before.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">It was the judgement day. I was ready to propose to her. Butterflies were already flying in my stomach. I waited for the class to get over. I was impatient to the core. After the class got over, I called her aside.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">My heart started pounding fast. I though I would have a heart attack. I went closer to her. I went ahead.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Priya, I need to tell you something. I.. I.. I like you a lot”, I said trying to muster courage.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">She smiled. I felt happy. “Yeah, me too”, she said.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">‘Did I hear her wrong? This isn’t a dream. Is it?’ I thought to myself.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Actually, I meant, er.. er.. I.. I’m.. in love with you”, I said.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">She was shocked for a moment. And then she spoke again. “We’ve been friends for hardly a week and you propose already?”<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“I felt so. Did not want to prolong this”, I retorted.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Hmm. I need some time to think. Mind if I tell my decision a week later?”, she asked.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“No problem at all. Take your own time!!”, I said. Better be a good decision, I thought and smiled to myself.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“It would be a good decision. Don’t worry.”, she said as if she had read my mind and smiled at me. ‘What a girl!!’, I thought.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; ">To be continued...</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-12450998267962640122009-02-20T10:10:00.002+05:302009-02-20T10:14:04.655+05:30The Lost Soul Part VII<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Jevon was drunk as usual. He had difficulty crossing the road and was seen hurling abuses at people. Aware of his inebriated condition, others decided not to say anything and went ahead with their work.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> He had to cross a railway track to get to his house. He walked in a zig-zag path. A distant sound of a horn was heard. </span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ravi</span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> looked at the direction of the sound. Nothing in sight. He decided to move further. He tried to cross the rail track. He was half way through.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> He heard people shouting from a distance to move away. He turned his head around to look at them. But, it was too late. He was cut into two by a steel portion of a speeding train engine. Two halves of his body lay on the either side of the track. He was dead.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> Others at the scene rushed to inform the police except two. They decided to catch the person driving the train engine, to hand them over to the police. The train engine slowed down. The two ran at their fastest pace.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> In no time, they reached the train engine. They peeped inside to look at the driver. They had the shock of their lives. No one was driving the engine.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">To be continued...</span></span></p>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-25887497878667859532009-01-14T17:55:00.002+05:302009-01-14T17:57:23.978+05:30The Lost Soul Part VI<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">A dull weekday. Adhrit drove on his 150 cc bike to the amusement park. He bought a ticket from the ticket booth. He scanned through the rides. He decided to try the old roller coaster. People seldom used the roller coaster, since they felt it was too dangerous. Even then many youths had tried the ride, to display their fearlessness.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> Adhrit showed his coupon to a person near the ride. No one else in sight near the ride. He was happy that he could enjoy the ride all alone and get the thrill of it. The guy examining the tickets appeared to be absent minded. He kept his pen behind his right ear and appeared to be searching far and wide for it.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Adhrit helped him by locating his pen. The guy thanked Adhrit.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> There was only one car attached to the steel tracks. At a time, it could accommodate only two people. He took the seat at the left and lowered the shoulder harness. It locked with a click.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> Next he raised the lapbar and it locked with a click. Everything was in place. The guy who was in charge of the ride, switched it on. The car moved at a slow pace. The rattling of the steel wheels with the steel tracks could be heard. Tiny sparks were seen as a result of friction.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> A big loop was coming up. The car would gain momentum when it went down a steep hill of the steel track. When the car was half way through, something happened. The car had stopped mid-way.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> Adhrit looked confused. He signaled to the guy operating the ride.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> “Must be a power cut”, he shouted and continued to someone at the opposite end of the ride. “Switch on the generator!!”</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> The guy at the opposite end swore at the person operating the ride. He seemed to have remembered something suddenly. He shuddered. He trembled in fear as he voiced something to himself. “The generator works by itself during a power cut”.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> He had uttered the last three words. He heard a screeching sound. The car moved forward in full speed. It stopped. It moved again and stopped, as If someone was playing with the car.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Adhrit's heart was pounding with fear. The car moved forward. 3 feet. The lapbar snapped. The shoulder harness broke into 4 pieces and flew in the air. He held on tight to the car. It moved again. It halted again, now as if someone had applied brake all of a sudden.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> He was thrown 20 feet into the air. He landed in between the tracks. He was dangling in between the steel tracks. He held on as tight as possible to the steel tracks, as people watched everything in a state of horror.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> He heard a screeching sound. He lifted his head in the direction of the sound. Too late. Snap. A protruding steel portion of the car severed his head. Blood flew in the air. Along with his head. His headless body fell from a height of fifty feet, as people below watched in horror.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">To be continued...</span></span></p>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-19986097336192503982009-01-13T12:15:00.001+05:302009-01-13T12:18:49.861+05:30The Lost Soul Part V<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">A train journey to my native. Cool breeze. Darkness everywhere, but not in my heart. The train stopped for a while at a station. No one near me. The Silence was eerie. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I heard footsteps inside the compartment. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">‘Must </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">be the TTE’, I thought.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I searched for my ticket and as the shadow came closer, I turned back to show my ticket. It was a girl. She was pretty. She had black hair, that resembled the darkness outside. Her eyes were brilliant, tucked away behind designer eye-glasses.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">She had very white skin and her face shone like a star. I thought I would be better off as a dermatologist. I smiled to myself. She said something. I couldn’t decipher what she said.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Huh??”, I asked.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen a girl before?”, she asked.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“I’m sorry. I have seen girls before. You’re the second prettiest girl I’ve seen in my life”, I said with a toothy grin.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">She smiled. “Who’s the first?”, she asked.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“We’ve hardly spoken and you expect me to say everything personal?”, I retorted.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">She nodded her head. I guess she agreed to what I told her. The train’s loud horn interrupted. She closed her eyes and made an expression, as if she was totally disgusted with the sound of the horn.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I smiled at her. She started the conversation. “Hi. I’m Dhyana and am in my pre-final year of engineering”, she said.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Inaam. The same.”, I said.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Doesn’t the name Dhyana have to something with music?”, I asked curiously.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Yeah. It means ‘melodious music’”, she replied.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">She started the conversation again. “You are too reserved aren’t you?”, she asked.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Yeah, sort of. Reserved me and reserved ticket!!”, I said.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">She gave me a cold stare when deciphered sounded like, ‘One more joke like that and you’re dead’.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">And I decided not to crack any more jokes. We discussed everything under the sun. And even things we couldn’t comprehend. Time passed very quickly.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“So, tell me about your experiences with love”, she asked.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I was little hesitant initially, but later gave in. “Her name is Priya. I haven’t seen a girl like her. Not even in you.”, I said.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">She looked a bit puzzled and asked me to continue. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“It was love at first sight. I’d love to have her by my side forever.”, I said and continued. “Haven’t shown even an indication of my love. I don’t know, how I’m gonna go about.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Do you have her photo or something?”, she asked.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Yeah, I do.”, I said feeling very proud.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I took a photo of her, while she was half asleep in class. And did not have the courage to show it to her and tucked it away in the farthest corners of my mobile phone.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Her? Hmm. No wonder you fell in love with her. She looks like an angel”, she smiled as she gave me back my mobile phone .</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">My station was closing in fast. So was hers. Both of us got ready with our luggage. As the train docked the station, she turned to me.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“It was nice meeting you. Hope you succeed in your pursuits and good luck. Let me know alright?”, she said as she gave me her contact information.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Thanks”, I said and continued to walk towards the exit. Priya’s face kept flashing across my eyes. Every girl I looked at look like Priya. No wonder. Beauty exists in everyone and Priya was the serene form of beauty.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">To be continued...</span></span></p>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-20381102761304803782009-01-08T09:39:00.005+05:302009-01-08T09:52:55.426+05:30The Lost Soul Part IV<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">A year had passed and I made lot of friends in college. Bharath, the guy with innocent looks was always with me. He was fearless. He would always end up fighting with some members of the college management.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I avoided talking to too many girls, except for a select few. Christina, a very good friend of mine, was always there to lend me a helping hand, whenever I broke down. She was always there to lift my sagging spirits.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">She would be always on the run to make me happy and I confided almost everything to her. She would listen to everything I say, patiently and reminded me about my absent mindedness often.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Sadhana was another great friend, whom I trusted a lot. She would always crack jokes and we shared almost the same thoughts all the time. She was one person, who took to life from a different perspective.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Uday was close. He was brilliant in studies, and had a great sense of logic. He had an extremely good sense of humour and would have me in splits all the time. Bharath would be seen hanging out with his friends Adhrit, Zayan and Jevon all the time, prying for fresh trouble.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> A month passed like a minute. College was paradise. It changed me a lot. The way I looked at life.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">**********</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I couldn’t sleep the entire night. Something was wrong somewhere. I tried hard to get some sleep, but couldn’t. I switched on my computer and started checking mail. Something was disturbing me internally. I couldn’t concentrate. Three hours passed in what looked like eternity. It was morning.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I had a severe headache, owing to sleeplessness. I got ready for college. I boarded my bus. There was commotion inside a hostel near my college. Policemen were seen at the hostel premises. Something was wrong.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Bharath and I got down to know what was happening. We had the shock of our lives.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Someone had just been murdered. It was a girl. Her throat was slit wide open. She lay in a pool of blood.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Sniffer dogs had already started their work. Bharath and I stood still. Two dogs came near and started barking loud at me. But, only for a few seconds. The dogs started wailing and choked up. The dogs spit blood. In no time, the two sniffer dogs were dead.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I looked at Bharath. Something was not in place. We decided to move from there. I had a last look at the corpse of the girl who lay in a pool of blood. I left the hostel. Adjacent to the hostel was the regional University office. The office staff thronged the place to know what was going on.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Some people cursed those who had murdered her. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">To be continued...</span></span></p><p></p>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-41933493552530727722009-01-05T22:20:00.005+05:302009-01-08T09:51:31.965+05:30The Lost Soul Part III<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">An angel on earth, I thought. She was very fair-skinned, with shining black hair, like the ones that appear in the shampoo commercials, except for the fact, that she was not an actress. She let loose her hair. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">She was wearing a sky-blue salwar-kameez and as she moved past me, her snow-white shawl brushed against my face. Ecstasy experienced. Something happened, that I did not expect. She came and sat next to me. The whole world came down. I smiled to myself.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I tried hard not to look at her. But, my resolution did not help. By the way, a not so good resolution for the New Year. I was dying to know more about her. It was something I hadn’t experienced before. I smiled to myself. It was love at first sight.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I wanted to impress her. And yes, a fact always circled my head. Boys always mess up in front of good-looking girls. And I was not an exception and neither was she. I was lost in an array of deep thoughts.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“What is your name?”, asked Ms. Vidya.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Priya”, she replied with a smile. She turned to me. My heart was pounding. She extended her hand. My joy knew no bounds.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Priya.”, she said with a smile.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Inaam.”, I replied with a smile.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Her hand was cold and I liked it. Must have been sleeping inside the refrigerator. I smiled to myself and patted myself for my so-called joke.I wanted to die at that instant. But, later I changed my thoughts. I decided to live for her. I felt ecstasy deep within my heart.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The entire one-hour duration of the class passed like a minute. While I was getting ready to leave, she smiled at me and said, “Bye. See you tomorrow!”<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I thought, ‘When would tomorrow come? Why did they have 24 hours in a day?’<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">**********</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> It was the lunch hour. 50 minutes of quality time with Priya. No wait. The best moments of life. I was searching for a title for this auspicious moment. Priya by my side always meant that every second was auspicious. While I was lost in my day-dreams, someone came and sat by my side.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> That person’s face was blurred and out-of-focus.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Silly me!!”, I said smiling and slapped my forehead.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> My spectacles were hanging below my nose. I adjusted them and had a closer look at the person sitting next to me.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> I gasped for breath. It was Priya. My heart was pounding as usual. She was at her usual best. Her cheeks were red. Like an apple.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> She opened her lunch box and started eating. I opened mine and started eating like a glutton. She stopped as if something hard to swallow, went down her throat. She saw me at the corner of her eyes. I stopped eating like an hungry monster and ate my lunch as if I were the most disciplined on earth.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> She smiled at me.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> ‘Aah! My trick is working out’, I thought.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> I made an expression, which made her think I was hungrier. She took the lid of her lunch box and emptied some contents into it. And offered it to me.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “For Moi??” I asked with the innocence of a 2 year old, with no milk flowing across my face.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Yes. For you.”, she smiled.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Do you have a spoon? I don’t eat without a spoon”, I asked.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “And how did you eat your lunch?”, she retorted.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Hmm. That was breakfast that I ate for lunch. This is lunch which I have for lunch”, I said, feeling proud of the fact that I had confused her.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> She gave me a cold stare. I understood that she couldn’t comprehend what I said.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Here, use it. But, I’ve already used it for having lunch”, she warned.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “That’s okay. They've had the opportunity to kiss your lips! Something I didn’t get”, I said with a smile across my face.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> She moved closer. The gap between our faces reduced inch-by-inch.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> I was close to her shining red lips.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> Someone poured cold water on my face. “Mooooom!!”, I dragged.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Wake up. Its almost </span></span><st1:metricconverter productid="10 in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">10 in</span></span></st1:metricconverter><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> the morning. And you’re not done sleeping yet??”, she asked.</span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> Aaargh!! It was only a dream. Sheeeeesh. ‘Wouldn’t it happen in reality?’, I thought to myself. ‘Let me catch up on my dream again’, I thought and lay down on my bed.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> Something landed on me. My mom was standing at the door to my room. I thought it was some cute, huggable pillow. I was wrong. It was a broomstick.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">To be continued...</span></span></p>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-43598786298602182132009-01-04T09:13:00.000+05:302009-01-04T19:02:49.972+05:30The Lost Soul Part II<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I felt bad. Really bad. But I was glad no one heard what he said. I came back to my place.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“What did he say?”, asked Uday.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Nothing. He just asked me about my native place. Some personal details. That’s all”, I said, trying to avoid looking at his face.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The entire day was occupied. I got some relief during the lunch hour and had a 10-minute recess that added to my joy. The entire day passed. But it was long enough. I boarded my college bus. A plump guy sat next to me. I couldn’t see his face, as my vision was getting worse everyday.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Hi. I’m Sia Sharma”, he said extending his hand for mine.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Hello. I’m Inaam.”, I replied. Why do these guys add their surnames? Can’t they just say their first names? Sheesh. What a world. I avoided talking to him and managed to catch up on some sleep, after a tiring day. I was beginning to like college. Strange for a student to say, after attending the first day of college.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I reached my stop and walked home. I narrated the experiences I had to my mom. She listened carefully, trying not to miss out on any details. I had my dinner and went to sleep, thinking what was in store for me the next day.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">College was fun. I went for a movie in the second semester of college with some of my classmates. A year passed. Second year in college. I joined an I.T. training centre to learn the nuances of programming. It was my first day at the centre.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As usual, I was early. My staff, Ms.Divya had already arrived and we were done with the introduction stuff and other formalities. Some more students joined the class and it was almost full.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I was sitting in the first row and the chairs next to me were not occupied.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Shall we start the class?”, asked Ms.Divya.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Yes ma’am”. We all replied in chorus, impatient for the class to start.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Excuse me ma’am. May I come in?”, said a sweet voice at the door to the training room.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Yeah, do come in. The class is about to start”, she smiled.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I turned back to look at her. She walked fast. But, everything appeared to be in slow motion.She adjusted her free flowing hair behind her ears. Her pretty red lips glittered in the semi-dark room. My jaw dropped. The prettiest girl on earth. I scribbled something at the back of my notebook.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span></span></span></i></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“The prettiest girl on earth,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Came to take away my heart,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My days had always been dull,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">You’re my heaven and I’m dying to get out from hell .”</span></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">To be continued...</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-82714734503957751882009-01-03T20:06:00.001+05:302009-01-08T09:50:39.688+05:30The Lost Soul Part I<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Disclaimer: This is entirely a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are entirely fictious.Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">___________________________________________________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">She lay on the floor, bathed in a pool of blood. She lay motionless. Her throat was slit wide open. She was dead. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">*********</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It was my first day in college. New faces and hard to decipher languages, all around me. I was nervous. A guy who seemed to be in his twenties, walked up to me. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Hi!I’m Uday. Uday Sahu.”, he said.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Inaam.”, I replied.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> He started the conversation again. “Why did you choose this college and boy, you don’t talk much do you?”. He smiled as if he had cracked some good joke.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “I’m kinda reserved. I don’t talk much unless it is necessary. And the reason for choosing this college, I did not score very good marks in the core subjects at school.”, I retorted.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Inaam, that sounds quite strange for a name. Does it have any peculiar meaning?”, asked Uday.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “It means “an act of kindness”.”, I said proudly.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> He tried hard to stop looking at my face. But, he couldn’t do so. I waited without any patience for sometime. Someone just entered the class. The entire class stood up. It was our staff. Without any further delay, I stood up and the entire class wished the staff in unison.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Good morning students. Hope you’re all settled. I’m Karan, I’ll be handling physics for you and physics is quite an easy subject. The first lesson deals with…”.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Sir”, I interrupted.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Yes! I haven’t started the class and you got doubts already?”, he asked with a sheepish grin.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Not that Sir. Can’t we just start the class tomorrow? It’s the first day and we hardly introduced ourselves.” I said with a feeling of discontent.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Hmm. That looks like a good idea. Yeah, we’ll start the class tomorrow. In the mean time, I’d like to know your names. Please come forward and introduce yourselves.”</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> I was happy that my suggestion worked. I was the first person to go forward and introduce myself. I was about to sit down at my place, when Mr. Karan, called me close. I thought he’d ask something personal</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “Yes, Sir.”, I asked with curiosity.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> “ You’re in the first year of college. Don’t act too smart. Your fate is in my hands.Got it? Now scram.”, he replied with an expression, that meant for sure he wasn’t happy with my suggestion.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">To be continued...</span></span></p>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-56014828276115792242008-12-07T18:19:00.000+05:302009-01-03T20:16:43.133+05:30Vaaranam Aayiram-Movie Review<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Gautham Vasudeva Menon</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> has been making films with class and he has proved his mettle again. This time, it is with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Vaaranam Aayiram</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. Seldom do we see movies like these, that portray the emotions between family relations. Mozhi directed by Radha Mohan was no exception, but that was of an entirely different genre. Attempting such a bold theme, needs lot of guts. Gautham has worked wonders with Veetayadu Vilayadu, depicting a fast-paced thriller, based on a cop. I must say he has experimented with an entirely different concept in Vaaranam Aayiram- the relationship between a father and a son.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The movie starts with the older Suriya(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Krishnan</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">) going for a haircut. The make-up team could have worked a little better on his beard. It totally did not go with his old age. He returns from the hair-saloon, only to die five minutes later, Choking up blood all around the house. Brilliantly portrayed by Suriya. Film-goers who expected an action movie with clues from the title, would have been felt deceived by the initial scenes. That is where the director's story-line stands out.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Simran plays Krishnan's(Old Surya) wife in the film, as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Malini</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. Make-up was very bad. She informs the younger Suriya(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Surya</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">) about his father's demise. Surya was then on a Army mission. The first-person narration starts from there, travelling through various stages of Surya's life and his bonding with his father. Krishnan narrates his love experiences with Malini to his son and daughter. Must mention the director's dialogues throughout the movie. Very crisp and to the point.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Surya's school life progresses to college life. An interesting train journey. This is where he meets the love of his life, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Meghna(</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Sameera Reddy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">). </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">He takes out his guitar and starts singing a song. He proposes to her. She tries to elude him, with the usual dialogues and this is when the song, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Nenjukkul Peidhidum"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> song starts. Brilliant composition by Harris Jayaraj. And astounding camera work by cinematographer,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Rathnavelu.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The train reaches Chennai and she leaves with her dad. Twists and turns and Krishnan ends up in hospital, as a result of a mild heart attack. Duty-bound, Surya starts working and accomplishes his dad's dream of building a house. He sings at a few competitions and manages to rake in money. He manages to find Meghna's house, only to be turned down by her, that she would leaving for the U.S. a week later.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Surya reaches home and tells everything to his dad. Krishnan acknowledges his son's love and asks him to go the U.S.. He leaves for the U.S. and finds Meghna. Meghna reciprocates his love. Ill-fate strikes. Meghna dies in a bomb blast at the building she was staying. But ill-fate eludes Surya. He survives. He breaks down uncontrollably. That scene was more of a tear-jerker with an outstanding performance from Surya.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">He reaches home, only to become a drug-addicta few days later, unable to forget the his days with Meghna. Surya's performance as a drug-addict could even fetch him an award. The song,"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ava Enna Enna Thedi Vantha Anjala"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, showcases his grief, with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Karthik's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> mesmerising voice. His mother sends him to Kashmir. He rescues a child from a group of terrorists and manages to turn over a new leaf. He returns to Chennai and decides to join the armed forces. Follows an intensive workout routine. This is where Surya with the six-pack comes in.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">He reciprocates the love of his sister's friend Priya(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Divya Spandhana)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and marries her. The news of his father's demise reaches him. He leaves for Chennai to perform the last rites, shot exclusively on the shores of Rameshwaram. It looks more like some island. The film ends with a stellar performance from the cast. Harris Jayaraj's music has to be applauded. The director's inclination towards music has worked wonders with all the songs, picturised in picturesque locations.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Final Verdict: A good family film to watch, if you love your dad. 4 Stars out of 5. And yet, the end of another post!! Watch out this space for more!!</span></div>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-56490971581936214662008-11-21T16:16:00.000+05:302008-11-24T12:51:12.552+05:30The All new Google Mail<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DpcIfG3OlRTx43ic-eTgtJz3En39iAvTTEYFARI9IYgz1_I-hrs6qzoZoWRNj1U8umzPz2Yr15Vu5tf6dZXb2KvF0ilr43crGof7MpVwv0UxC8EJzxAEDfCvCxT03RAsevdhNiiBXA/s1600-h/gmail.bmp"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I wanted to check my mail this morning, and I opened up my new browser, "Flock", I downloaded last night. I typed in gmail's web address and waited for a few minutes. I couldn't believe my eyes. Instead of the usual, plain, boring layout and white background, there was a picture as the background. And it was so good to look at. I thought again. I had read somewhere on the web about "phishing sites", for those of you who don't know, phishing sites are those which are set up by hackers, exactly similar to the original ones, to obtain valuable personal information, from unsuspecting users.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I tried all alternatives. I opened Gmail through Google search. And then, through Yahoo search. But, the result was the same, flashy, good-looking website. Bad, there isn't the sign-in seal like feature in Google, which is there in Yahoo, to detect fake sites. I wish Google could add such a feature to enhance security. I looked again at the address bar. The protocol has Secure-HTTP. I thought again and I signed in. What surprised me was, that I was able to change even the layout of my inbox and other stuff. A variety of themes were avilable to choose from and it all looked so cool.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DpcIfG3OlRTx43ic-eTgtJz3En39iAvTTEYFARI9IYgz1_I-hrs6qzoZoWRNj1U8umzPz2Yr15Vu5tf6dZXb2KvF0ilr43crGof7MpVwv0UxC8EJzxAEDfCvCxT03RAsevdhNiiBXA/s320/gmail.bmp" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271085684919361410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 236px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Looks like Google is all set to enter the trendy and stylish market. Here's one fan wishing all the very best for Google!! And yet again, the end of another post. Check back soon!!! </span></span><br /></div>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-734401736979660322008-11-21T07:56:00.000+05:302008-11-24T12:50:28.647+05:30Aut Sore Singh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9ob-2mpF_d-u16-35JFdrN5_v5ruHj81HBZWAfcsrQ70zjsVuBKoArGU7PUarfFM60U9sUy5AvYPWVGvnSRlg-dSQhkIbAXTvMtChxvMhCK5N1sNjJgdRGqrX3-dxE9AT2u-JhqZUw/s1600-h/kamal-hasan-in-dashavataram-as-avtar-singh-10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9ob-2mpF_d-u16-35JFdrN5_v5ruHj81HBZWAfcsrQ70zjsVuBKoArGU7PUarfFM60U9sUy5AvYPWVGvnSRlg-dSQhkIbAXTvMtChxvMhCK5N1sNjJgdRGqrX3-dxE9AT2u-JhqZUw/s320/kamal-hasan-in-dashavataram-as-avtar-singh-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271091107081149234" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">It is defined as a long, results-oriented relationship with an external service provider for activities traditionally performed within the company. This is not one of Kamal Haasan's roles in Dasavatharam. This is about Outsourcing, which is in crisis after the recent American Presidential elections. Barack Obama made it to the top-spot by winning over a wide margin. Speculations are that, once he gains power and also entry into the White House, his first measure would be to stop outsourcing.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The result?? Millions of people of Indian origin, employed in the U.S. are at the risk of losing their jobs. This would not have been the issue of discussion, if John McCain was elected to power. Obama feels that Americans have been denied jobs in their homeland and so, is in the verge of driving Indians out of America. But mind you, Indians can survive wherever they are. They are respected for their knowledge and practical application of analytical techniques worldwide. Why, even Bill Gates was asked how he would respond to an economic crisis, where Indians would be asked to leave thier jobs in the U.S. He replied promptly."I would gladly shift the Microsoft base to India". This is because over 36% of employees in Microsoft are Indians, and people of Indian origin.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Imposing a ban on outsourcing, would mean a lot of things. The economic crisis, which India is facing today, would become even worse. Referred to as the "Global Meltdown", it has a taken a toll of thigs. I've never heard of such a crisis in recent years. Not only the economic crisis, but also the power shortage, seems to take a dig on economy. Why is the globe facing a meltdown? global warming perhaps?? Why don't they order a giant freezer and place the economy inside it, so that it does not melt? Instead, the economy can be sent to the North Pole!!. And once it recovers, can be brought back.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The students who have paid hefty sums to study engineering are at risk of not being employed. The campus placements for this year, compared to previous years have come down drastically. Though this has been the news, I.T. companies hold press conferences stating that they would recruit thousands in the next Fiscal year. And the reason they cite is that they would need the recruited students, to function as employees in their organizations, once the market recovers. Hope the market recovers soon. And yet another day, and yet another blog. Watch out this space for more!!</span></span></span></div>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-7080678213829437172008-11-20T18:29:00.001+05:302008-11-24T12:50:34.862+05:30Man and Mouse Game<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Midnight 12 A.M. Deep sleep. Dreams with a couple of Kollywood and Hollywood actresses. Suddenly, I wake up hearing some sound. No, not A.R. Rahman's songs or Sivamani's beats. Someone hitting hard on some piece of metal. I console myself and consider it to be a part of my dreams. I cover my head with the bedspread. I try to sleep again. 5 minutes later, I hear the noise again.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I look at the clock. Five minutes past midnight. Creepy time to be awake. Haunting memories of old horror movies fill my mind. I'm scared. There comes the noise again. I switch on the lights, assuming the LIGHT would ward off evil spirits.The noise stops. I heave a sigh of relief and switch off the lights. But lo, the noise starts again. Now, its real scary. I decide to call folks at home. With detective instincts, I try to find out the source of the sound. With the easiest of exams(pun intended), two days later, I need to catch up on some sleep. I try real hard, and trace the source to my study table. It was a metal table which had enough space, and two drawers. It was like someone hitting on the door, of one of the drawers of the table. I take my mobile phone to get some light. I cast light on the table. The sound stops.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I go back to sleep again. I try very hard to disbelieve the fact, that it is some ghost or even worse, a kollywood actress without makeup. The noise continues all night. I tell my folks at home about it, the next morning. No sleep. My eyes were all red. Red as in "Ajith" in the movie "Red". I sleep for hours. But, there's no sound. Again, night time. Well and good. No sound. I'm happy and back to my usual dream mode. Midnight again. The same sound continues. This time, I decide to crack the mystery. Without sleep, I think of all alternatives. The sound continues. But, no ideas.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The next morning, I ask dad to check my table. Though, I'm fearless, I asked him to do it for safety purposes. My safety, obviously. My dad opens the door of the table's lower drawer. I had kept, important papers(newspapers), photographs of my favourite actors and actresses and most importantly, some of my books. They were all in pieces. As if, they had been passed through some shredder. I open my mouth wide in disbelief. Definitely, the work of a "Kolli Vaai Pisasu". My dad opens the table's drawer loacated at the top. He closes it and opens it again. He does so for four to five times. Thats when something jumped out from inside the table, stucking its head outside the table drawer. I was not wearing glasses then. With difficulty, I find my glasses and stare at the creature.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I take two steps backwards. I turn back. I run helter-skelter. "Eeeeeeeek!!!! Mouse!! Moushe!!". My dad decides to stop the menace. He ties its neck with a piece of string and throws it on the road. It runs its way to safety. My dad congratulates me for my fearlessness. The mouse had bit the wire of my old computer mouse into two pieces. Pretty hungry mouse. Good thing, it did not bite me elsewhere when I was asleep.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Thus, with the traits of Alfred Hitchcock, I wind up this thriller-terror-horror story of mine. I'm sure it'll be a box office hit. I'm looking for the cast though. I'd like to play the fearless youngster who's afraid of mice in the film, all by myself. No dialogues. Only action. And yet, another post blabbing about some mouse-nonsense and the interesting anecdotes from the meeting of mouse and man. er.. Boy.. er.. Youngster.. Er.. Youth. Whatever.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594771640485948395.post-84930732400581915232008-11-20T14:46:00.000+05:302008-11-24T12:50:41.740+05:30My First Post<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Words can travel far and wide and so can ideas and creativity. I blog what comes to my mind at the instant and no second thoughts. I don't mind if it is controversial or care if it gets me a Nobel Prize. I dream a lot. No, not when I'm asleep. Always, when I'm awake. It makes me ponder at things around me. And every instant, I come up with something new. Sometimes, it turns out to be hilarious. Sometimes, it turns out to be serious. But, they're all my genuine thoughts. I hope the picture continues. All set and I'm done with my first blog. Check back soon, for my next full fledged post.!!</span>Mani Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112893067493995647noreply@blogger.com7