Damsel Sans Face...

He became weird. He stood on the bed and was oscillating like a pendulum.In fact his 'to and fro' was with much more precision. With every two oscillations , he nod his head twice.The first nod was like saying yes (that is to say the movement of the head was vertical). The second nod was horizontal.His eyes expressed uncertainty.His mouth was three quarters open but he was not yawning.His face was dull.He was constantly rubbing his right palm across his face and felt the stubble. Often he would catch hold of a single 'long grown' strand (among the short ones) from the stubble and tried to either pluck it or rotate it.
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The vision of his uncertain eyes focused outside his window to the corridor of a posh apartment at an angle of 45 degrees North and at a distance of about 30 meters . He waited for the divine silhouette of a girl. She came to the corridor every evening after changing her school uniform with a cup of some energy drink (probably boost).He could see the girl but the sun would hit the corridor in an angle at which the glare would make it impossible for him to concentrate on her face. Boys do not remember faces of pretty girls was his logic or simply put his own consolation. Her hair was visible. Her dress was visible.(She wore a skirt and a shirt.He had seen her in a pink skirt and a green skirt on alternate days.The shirt was always striped and so he could not make out whether she wore the same shirt everyday).However her face was not visible.He could only see the outline of her face.
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Today was overcast.So he thought he might be able to see her face at last. And as usual she had come today at the same time sharp (today was green skirt). He started looking at her. He sensed their eyes met.He gave an impression as though he was not focusing on her.He remained still. Within minutes (probably sensing trouble) ,she turned and started to walk back from the corridor. She paused for a moment and pushed back the right plait which had fallen in front of her shoulder with a swift movement of her head. The plait zoomed and fell at the back of her shoulders and she resumed her walk clutching both her plaits (how he liked double plaited girls!). Our guy was immersed in the Shhhtyle !!
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He smiled and fell on his bed. He tried to recollect the face of the girl. However he could not. He knew his logic was in fact true. Sun glare or no Sun glare.. Boys do not remember faces of pretty girls easily...
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P.S.1 - With this very small post , I now begin a new series of posts(labels) in the name "Groundnut Bulletin". Much More to come.... :) Hope all of you get to like it..

Water Danced but Mudra Blushed...

Sitting at opposite sides of a corner side wooden table on a noisy , lousy discotheque bar is probably not a beautiful setup for romance.However there were two souls who where absolutely not bothered about their surroundings. There they were immersed in love unaware of the commotion around them but aware of the commotion within them.

However something was wrong. He was drunk and was speaking about cricket.She was hearing and not listening. She realised he was going somewhere off track. She wanted him to talk something relevant. Something about them.Something about how they fell in love.(Eventhough they have re run this part everytime they have met). So... When he gave a pause. She entered..

"Why did u fall for me??..Why ?" .. she asked him.
"Well... Natraj smacked his lips and continued "for the same reason , you fell for me"came the reply.

And as it always happens..Mudra blushed.

Mudra liked him. She liked his frankness. She liked his sense of humour. She liked him for his looks.She liked his shyness. Natraj liked her. He liked her because she was intelligent.

It was in this very beach side bar on the ECR that they both met for the first time. Natraj had come in with his colleagues then. Natraj was neither new to alcohol nor night life. However when his colleagues asked him to accompany them to this only bar in Chennai where girls dance , he was apprehensive.Apprehensive not about whether he must visit the bar but rather about the way he must project himself before those girls. He was a loser in girl matters. He knew it himself. Should he project himself as a playboy ?. Should he be pretend to be good?.Is it manners to tip the girl after a dance?.What would the girls think of him?

However when he entered the bar and saw the dance floor ,all his doubts melted.He saw Mudra . He instantly knew this was the girl he wanted to dance with.To his surprise , he quite easily approached her.She looked at him with grace and accepted with a nod of head.Then they danced under the cold shower with loud jarring music which both of them could not understand.

After some unsuccessful attempts.. his mouth finally released sound when he spoke.
"I am a shy person. This is new to me.."
"Dont worry.. This is my first day too on this job... I am as nervous as you are.." replied Mudra instantaneously.
He remained silent.. The dance was getting mechanical.. There was no chemistry in it. The confident Mudra spoke to break the ice..
"So... you say you are shy with girls... and how come you are here..?" asked Mudra. Natraj guffawed and then spoke by shaking his head horizantally. "I only said I am shy.. I never said I am not a man ". He ceased shaking his head all of a sudden and looked into her eyes... and said.. "do u know..? no man is innocent.. everyone is a pervert."

"Women are too" - said the inner voice of Mudra.
She gave a grin. She was not surprised by the replies from Natraj. After all she knew men speak truth when they are intoxicated.Here was Natraj half enthralled by wine and half enthralled by Mudra. She drew him across a table and looked at his eyes.
"Can you take me from here" asked the confident voice of Mudra.

From 6 am the next morning both of them had become more than just friends. Mudra left the job. A job that lasted only a single night.

That was an year ago...

Now after several of several meetings.. Here they were back to the original bar to celebrate their anniversary very late on a saturday night. Infact it was early hours of sunday morning.

The private conversation in the public place now entered into the next level.
"What is your sun sign?"asked Natraj all of a sudden.
"Virgo... and you?"
"Pisces...."
He smirked.Mudra knew something was coming...
"Can I tell you something.. We both wont get on well with each other at all.. We are not made for each other atleast astrologically..."
"oh.. how come may I ask sir.."
"Yes... we aren't.. Your sign is an earth sign. Mine Water."
"So what ?"
"You are earth and I am water ..and.. All we would be doing together is nothing but making mud.!"

Mudra roared with laugher.

"You know.. This is what I like about you.Your jokes.. even though they are dry , they make me laugh..".

Natraj giggled.

"Remember.. I joked about water.. Is water dry..???"

They both laughed out loud.She gave him the quick peck.In the 12 months in which they were in a relationship, this was the first time.It was special.

"What do men like?.." quizzed mudra.
"Men like women.. thats science.. Men like sports.. thats adventure....Hmmm.. In short..Men like balls.."

And as it always happens.. Mudra Blushed..

"Why is it you always speak well when you are intoxicated." enquried mudra.
"I like being watered....Infact as we speak I need it.."

Natraj called out the waiter.

"H I J K L M N O please..."
The waiter stood still..
" I dont understand sir.." said the helpless waiter.
Natraj smiled and said.." I asked for water.. H to O.. H20..please.. ".
The waiter gave back a smile and obliged..
"Now H20 cube please.."
"What is that sir?"
"I meant ICE".
Mudra was watching this conversation.She felt angry and humorous at the same time.
The sun had come out.

"Hmmm.. lets play a little word game" said Natraj.
"Ok..."
" Fine... I will ask you a question..and you must reply in a single word but in additon to the answer it must mean something else.."
"deal"
"So lets begin.. Can Vijay dance ?"
"What ??"
"Can Vijay dance?"
"Obviously he can. Thats the only thing he's capable of"
"I said one word answer"
"I dont know. I dont understand the game of yours"
"hey its simple.. Its Vijay Cant.. So it becomes Vijaykanth.."
"Aiyo..."

and as it always happens... Mudra blushed.

"Now..Easy one.. Can Rajini dance?"
"Rajini Cant....hussss... Rajinikanth.. I feel like slapping you.."
"wait .. wait.. final one.. Can water dance?"
"Water dance ah?.. There's nobody by name waterkanth.... is it not?"
"But there is something called Water Can.."

He laughed loud.He showed the bisleri bottle the waiter had just delivered.

"Bisleri bottle.. Water Can.."... He laughed again.
"We will stop this game.. Its spoiling my intelligence.."
"Ya.. I love you because of that... Lets not spoil that.. we will stop the game..."

and as it always happens Mudra Blushed.

It was at this juncture that they heard the sound of water rushing in .. They felt the thorns pricking their feet...They heard the people scream...They heard the rushing water break open the gates...They felt the rush...They sensed the panic...

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Water had indeed danced... Tsunami had occurred.
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Natraj woke up a day later in a makeshift hospital.Mudra had succumbed. He saw her being taken away by the waves. He could not understand why he was alive...
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He was still strong with remorse..
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He started to walk home.....
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As he walked there seemed to be a darkness at the end of the east coast road. He extended his hands, pointing it to the dot of black hole. Being used to the balance of his life, the road ahead was too rocky for him. Then, like death, he had memories flowing around his head. The vision of the ghosts he saw in his childhood dreams. The anxiousness when his dad came home. The beauty of the morning sun. The ridiculous thing called education. The awesome winter rains. The parent teacher meetings. The mom`s kisses, the sister`s hugs. The friend fights. The first crush, the first rush of blood because of lust. The futureless present, the past less future. The recognition of beauty. The realization of music. The happiness on balancing a cycle, The first college, the first love, the first moment of satisfaction, the first moment of complete dissatisfaction, the first job, the first salary, the first roommate, the tears, the pain, the unrealized love, the unforgettable moments, the beauty of a child`s smile, the innocence of a child`s tear, the love from the family, the days in no man’s land, the days of exploiting labour, the crooked way to where he was. He remembered everything. He did not cry. He knew he had just has seen the worst . He stood up and walked towards the darkness. His mind was still fresh with yesterday's bad humour.He mind was saying."Take it EASY YAAR on ECR....".He felt like slapping himself. Extending both his arms, hoping to grab someone or something along the way. He walked to the ends of the endless road ..... and then the inevitable .. a flash.. the innocent face of blushing Mudra cut across his mind...

He fell down.. and started crying. Warm tears started flowing...It seemed it could never cease. The cry became louder and louder as he came to terms of the fact that there was no Mudra to blush at him and console him...

Mudra blushed but water had danced.

The Catch in Transit

My favorite word in English for sometime now is a word called 'Transition' certainly ignoring the fact that this word is mostly used by astrologers who always seem to say... "Hmmm.. Sani is causing lot of problems... in 7 and a half years it will transit..then it will be better..". (Sani or Myself ?) After seven and a half years , all one will be is only BETTER.? WTF?........ and thats precisely the point I want to convey...

BEING BETTER IS NOT TRANSITION.Its something more.. Its being BEST..and more importantly consistently being the best.

For me no one is dumb.(There are people who 'THINK' they are super intellectual creation and all others are dumb. Haven't we seen them give "Why on earth where u born ?" kind of look to others.. A false sense of superiority.. Just cant understand from where does that haughtiness (spelling correct a?) crops up . Those who pounce upon every chance they get to ridicule others. The best thing I can do is only laugh at them ...For me everybody has the potential.Its just about putting aside the fears and moving on.. In other words everyone is capable .. Yes.. capable of 'making the cut'. (unless of course they don't want to!)

AND

Aren't they real life examples of people making the cut.. Well certainly i would classify them as :

a) Who have Made the Cut..
b) Who are in the process of Making the Cut..
c) Who might probably Make the cut...(whom i sincerely hope they do)

So...Lets see some of them. How where they..? How are they ? How will they be ?..

Will begin with the opener himself.

From BOY --- > to ---> MAN....
What better example to quote than Gautam Gambhir.Sometimes it can be just one innings of a cricketer that can change everything.That innings came to him in Napier in early
2009.

March 2009 in Napier is a time in life of Gautam Gambhir that neither he or I can easily forget.A match-saving 643-minute marathon, for just 137 runs.!!!!!!No man has batted longer in the second innings in 10 years. It is the fifth-longest effort in second innings in all Test cricket. He had to bat two and a half days to save the test match. He was scoring at 1 run an hour.Sachin batting with him during that marathon session supposedly said "Sometimes what you are doing for the team is much more important than your personal goals. I think this innings will take you to another level. Don't think about your individual score, just think about the team. Maybe this innings will be the best you have played for India, and this could be the best anybody can play".. There was it. Sachin hugged him after the game which Gautam Gambhir himself admits as the greatest moment in his career... VVS laxman still rates that innings as the best he has seen. Sometimes saving is much more important than winning.Look at the scorecard of that match.

Murali Vijay might score centuries in his absence. Pujara may score.His form may dip as has recently. Runs might dry up from his bat for some more matches. Whatever it might be.... I cannot imagine an Indian cricket team without Gambhir in all three forms of the game. Thats the kind of impact he has made. Steve Waugh was once asked about the reason for the Aussie juggernaut under his captaincy. He replied 'When Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden go out to the middle ,we are so confident of them.Ricky does not even pad up until 1 hour before the lunch. If the beginning is right , most often than not the result will also be right.For us the beginning is perfect and hence the result'.

& that answers why India is World No 1 in test cricket.
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THE SHINING LOTUS...
B J P. What a change we are seeing.!
Was not the Allahabad High court decision their victory ?. The verdict said what they have been saying for all along.However they maintained a 'dignified Silence'. No celebrations. No crackers. No sweet distribution.

Remember...? The Central Government gave full page advertisements in all the dailies (both english and vernacular) 2 weeks before the verdict appealing for Calm.. But Hey..! Was the common man bothered about the verdict?.He has his own problems. (Sadly the likes Barkha Dutt , Rajdeep Sardesai and Arnab Goswami were more bothered about the verdict than BJP or for that matter Ravi Shankar Prasad (who was the lawyer in the case).)This is where I felt the congress failed miserably trying to project itself as a secular party.! I feel at least BJP has an Ideology called Hindutva. (which sometimes they use and sometimes they don't.). What have you got?.Pity they cant even say successful commonwealth games.

Speaking of Commonwealth Games. My God.!What commotion. Even without television during those days , I could get a pulse of the Indian Media.!(Who always seem to share a similarity with the British Press). Just imagining 'Headlines today' reporting Commonwealth games , Obama Visit , Indian cricket team's victory against Australia , 'Spectrum' Raja (better word than 'Pokiri' Raja which is very blunt) gave me sleepless nights.

I want to quote here my favorite goof up of CWG Games.This supposedly happened 4 days before the event when the Pragati Maidan was opened as the 'Official Media Centre'.As per the rules, only 2 people from the same news network are allowed access. Fair enough. Now comes the comedy. There was this British journalist who had come to register and get access to the media centre. During registration , he was asked from which News organisation is he from and he replied " No news network.. I am a freelancer". Now the shocking reply . "Sorry Sir.. There are already 2 People who have registered from freelancer and you cant be granted access".!!!. Seriously laugh out loud. !

The congress projecting themselves as the 'do gooder' for the minority community is failing miserably.P Chidambaram tried his luck by using 'Saffron Terror' word. Again all that BJP did was remain silent. The congress rather needs to focus on development rather than focus on they being mighty 'secular'party. Narendra Modi , and today Nitish Kumar have fought anti incumbency and have sweeped elections. The reason for their victory is development and nothing else.(Sadly only Karunanidhi in this country can win back to back elections without an iota of development.Tirumangalam by polls for example.Absolute lack of respect to democracy.DMK can be rechristened as - Delhi Money For Karunanidhi or even Democracy's Money for Karunanidhi).

But I am not for stalling of parliament sessions.That shows that BJP is still has not completely changed. Paulo Coehlo tweeted that 'Election is about choosing the person you hate the least'.

And I certainly seem to hate BJP the least..
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RAJINIKANTH
Pleasant surprise watching Endhiran. What performance !. What a talented actor who sadly has wasted 2 decades swirling cigarettes. The first thing is there is no intro song.!Rajini fears when a apple is kept on his head.! Rajini vs Kalabhavan Mani.. Rajini uses brain than brawns. ! Wow what a change.! Certainly did not expect it from the superstar. Even Rajini wants a change. Great news.! He certainly seems to be in a transition mode.


And there are other people who have made it big.Think of Surya..From being absolutely hopeless to becoming the favorite actor of Ram Gopal Varma.(Sincerly hoping Rakhtha Charitram does not become RGV ki Doosra AAG )However Personally I dont like Surya's films. Rohan Boppana - The US open Finalist. But more importantly the person responsible for the Indian Davis Cup team to be part of the World Group. .Sadly he has been in the transition stage for so long and we have failed to recognize the abundance of talent he possesses.
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And there are some who will never change. Headlines Today , Vijay (I felt Sura was much better than Tiruppachi.), Karunanidhi , Jayalalitha , Shankar and Nudity. (Why Shankar has this affinity towards nudity. Right from Kaadhalan - Prabhu Deva goes nude in Police station. Jeans - He goes a step further by showing only the skeleton. Mudhalvan - Arjun runs nude and jumps into coovum. Boys -Siddarth runs nude in Mount Road , and now to Endhiran - a girl rescued sans clothes from a fire.) Simbhu - The Playboy forever. Dont say with VTV , he has changed. I thought so when he did 'Thotti Jaya'(His best movie till date) and was fooled completely .. and there are many more...
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So why talk about transition suddenly ?. Well its because yours truly badly needs a transition. The question is whether he is 'blessed' with it?.. Or may be (as some say) has he already reached the 'Saturation Point'?..

Waiting for the answer.