All Lines In This Route....

Taking cue from Soo , I thought I'll touch upon another interesting aspect of weddings. To be specific, the "journey between engagement and wedding". Apologies, if that sounded like the punch line of a Suraj Barjatya movie :-S

New age weddings have this "forced" social drama, that typically starts post engagement - Phone calls ! You dont follow this 'ritual', and you will be tagged unexcited and disinterested in the whole proceedings...

I know a friend. He is more of an average human being till his marriage was fixed. Even a few days into the engagement, he was pretty much norma. That is when he got a call from his fiance in a low shy complaining tone "Why dont you call me?". The last I heard about this pair is that their calls end at 3AM in the night. I have no clue, what time it starts !

People who commute to office/home on foot are highly benefited. They have the so-called "privacy" while being on the phone. Of course, the unfamiliar passer-by who doesnt know the word "bluetooth" may wonder if this fellow has lost his senses talking all by himself..

Now, the most interesting question...
What do they talk for so long ?!!!!!

These are the typical topics:
How was the day ? What color do you like ? blah blah blah...

After initial days of blah blah, they run of topics, and this is what happens:
So.... ? What else... ? You say something....

The most commonly dragged-into subject for conversations would be friends. And the fun-aspects take the centre-stage. The speaker makes sure that he/she is depicted as the hero in the story and the rest of the crowd has that clown attire.

Then movies, news, cricket(?), preparations, invitations....

Phew! I envy the Mobile Companies.. They sure are reaping the harvest of the season.
Particularly if the pair talks across the state border....

Tail:
1. Did you know ? The call drops all by itself when the ticker hits 60mins !
(That was news to me :D )
2. Ever heard of a 27second call ? :-P
3. Think of a doc-engr pair. The parties will have a lot of "variety" topics to talk. The words, ASIC, router, backbone doesnt make any sense to the doc. The words pathology, duty hardly makes any sense to the engr :-S
4. How do friends react ? If you dont call him/her, they say "What an idiot you are". If your phone is busy, they say "Give some rest to that mobile". Friends....!!! sigh... :P

Long Vacation

Yet another house-visit. And a come-back piece would have grown sidewise by a foot or two. Coz I'm going for a 11 day vacation! Buhahahahaa

Its gonna be eat, sleep, TV time again.
Of course, there will be a hanging star to give me company in sitting idle.
And to give me company on the dining table would be kg's of creamy yummy colorful cakes.
Christmas cakes. Alas...those cakes would be giving me company, as long as they last :-D

Back on Jan2.
Till then, have a safe fun filled holidays.
Wish you all a Very Happy New Year 2008 !

Signing off this year, with a self-designed Christmas Card (s/w courtesy: mspaint) :-P

Happy Diwali !

May your life be as lit up as the image above.
Let this Diwali be a special one. Have a nice vacation, every one.

I'm off to native today (Wednesday) evening.
Back on Tuesday morning.
5 days @home :-)

Diwali: Be An Angel

Festivals are about bringing joy to oneself and to the people around you. And this diwali would count among the most enjoyable celebrations I ever had. We spent half a day with cute little kids. Kids who do not crib. Kids who never complain. Kids who are happy, always.

Early at 9 in the morning, we, a team of 15, started off to "Annai Sandhya" - an orphanage close to Hosur. With us, we had a lot of goodies - school bags, water bottles, pencils, pencil boxes and other basic amenities - to be distributed among the kids. I thought, it would just be a give-and-come deal. But the half day spent there wasnt enough, in the end!

Annai Sandhya is the noble idea of Mr Alwin Thyagarajan and his wife Mrs Jayashree. They started this social venture as early as in 1993. "Annai Sandhya" is a registered NGO. But gets no help of any kind - financial or otherwise - from the Govt. The day-to-day activities of the orphanage run, courtesy of well-wishers and helping hands.

Kishore has been associated with Annai Sandhya since a long period of time. It is through him that we came to know about the NGO. And soon a mailer floated at our BU level. The BU-ites took it in good spirit, and contributed freely, with their time and money. Thanks to them and to
the volunteers, we collected a good amount. Bags and other goodies were bought over the weekend. And a charged up team of 15 reached Annai Sandhya, with hand-full of gifts and chocolates to the eagerly-waiting young lads.

We reached the place at 9.45. The image of an orphanage that I had in my mind was totally brought down when I saw the building. Soon I realised that the luxury of single room with attached rest-room is for the priveleged class. What we found there was a small house-converted-orphanage. A kitchen, a hall, a bed room. Thats all! The kids were nicely dressed up and seated in the hall.

We were greeted with a fresh "Good Morning Uncleeee" "Good Morning Auntyyyy" , sung in chorus :-)

It was a while, since I had heard this style of Good Morning, after the good old school days. The kids mingled very freely with us. Kishore uncle was very much familiar to them. They made friends with new 'uncles' and 'aunty's. Language was no bar, because it was a conversation between hearts.

The kids chanted their prayer song for us. After that, quickly, a cassette player was arranged, and two kids danced for their guests. A well choreographed performance ! Graceful and cheerful show...

Two hours went in quick time. All kids got their favorite color water bottles from Sruthi aunty and Swetha aunty. Nandha uncle cut and distributed the cakes. Nehal aunty gave gifts and chocolates to everyone. Everyone posed with full face smiles for a group photo.

When we came out, we realised, they were not to be tagged 'orphans'. They have their appa (Mr Thyagarajan) and amma (Mrs Jayashree). They have strong bonded friendship with each other. They enjoy playing inside the confined space of their small room, and jump up and down when friendly uncles come to visit them.

While parting, Prabhu held my hand with both his hands, and asked "Uncle, when will you come next time?". That was true innocent love. I couldnt but say "I'll come. I'll come for sure."

Tail:
1. It was my first visit to an orphanage. Offering anonymous financial support is good. But being there and spending time with them is better!
2. The kids get free education from a nearby Govt School. They say its not of any considerable standard. But something is better than nothing!
3. The kids who danced for us were elegant and smart! They gave a professional feel to the performance.
4. The youngest of the lot is 3 yr old and is the pet to all. His name is Sankara, but has a nick name 'Lalu Prasad' for his resemblence with a minister of the same name :-)
5. In case you feel like giving any aid, I can volunteer to co-ordinate.. Posting a comment here is all is required to initiate this..
6. The BU initiative was held in the name 'Be An Angel'. Hence the blog title! The mail that floated for 'Be An Angel' read something like this. "Every child has the right to be fed, to be educated, to be healthy... And you can make it happen! Be an angel to a child, this Diwali and light the diya of happiness in his life.."
7. A couple of pics..

The dancers


Innocent smiles :-)