Chen-I

I used to hate this place because of its notorious uncleanliness and pollution. But still, I was destined to come here. And when I reached, my mind was brooding and nagging like anything. Nothing here, made me happy. Everyday when I woke up lone inside this spaceless, gloomy room, I started making plans to get out of the frustrating situation.

                     The only consoling aspect on those days in my Chennai life was my dear niece and nephew who live in Besant Nagar. I used to hastily finish my daily routines and run to them!

                     But later, even without my knowledge, at some point of time, I started enjoying my jobless life here! Once in a blue moon I may or may not have class. Nothing much is here, for me to do; and that’s why I termed my life ‘Jobless’!

At times, I feel proud that I enjoy the same situation, on which the whole world including India is worried about: Unemployment!

                     You might have heard a filmy dialogue: ‘Enmity sometimes, is followed by unbreakable love!’ Similarly, I begin to feel the bond between myself and Chennai.

Anyway friends…here I am going to illustrate ‘My Selected Anecdotes on Chennai.’

THE FIRST BANG

                       May be because of a pre-set mind state, my thoughts were getting disturbed, whenever I saw the ‘kms to Chennai’ getting decreased, on the boards outside the bus in which I was traveling. Finally, when I reached in front of the world famous Koyambedu Market, my heart beat fast, “Oh! My God! Its reality! I am at Chennai!” I chanted, “I hate Chennai… I hate Chennai…”

                       Then I called up my sister and got instructed by her to pick a rick. I picked one and told the ‘Ricky’, “Besant Nagar.” He, without much expression on his face, replied, “350!” which was literally an electrifying reply for me! Helpless I accepted his demand and got into the 3-wheeled yellow Boeing-Boeing…!

I thought, “Ok! Chennai…thank you for the debut bang on my head!”

                        After a stinky and shaky journey through the city, we reached a very beautiful place. A very peaceful, clean road with, a calm, silent sea on its side.

The Ricky told: “Thambi, we have reached Besant Nagar.”

I told him: “Annei, not here…I have to go near the Blue Cross Church at Besant Avenue…which is somewhere here nearby.”

Ricky: “Ok Thambi…60Rs extra!” and he again started his yellow pet. Suddenly, I got out and said: “No, no…! It’s ok Annaa! I can walk…!”

Because, I was not financially stable enough, to bear the second bang of Chennai! So I gave him the said 350Rs. He happily or infact cruelly, put it in his pocket and drove away. Looking and sighing, over the way my money was going smoothly along the beach side, I thought “O Lord! Even my bank account has only got 500 bugs in it. Look at that guy…early morning itself he got 350Rs in hand! Great earner Baba! Let me please bow in front of you!”

Enjoying the smooth and cool touch of the ‘Bay of Bengali’ breeze, I walked slowly to my sister’s quarters.

TARAMANI TESTIMONY

                        My hostel is in Taramani. When I reached here for the first time, no surprises above my expectations were waiting for me; almost, the same unclean premises. Some works were going on there, on the pretext of road-widening. Large pits were on the roadsides filled with garbage; the drainage man-holes were suffering from ‘haemorrhage’ it seemed!

                        My room in the hostel was bad-lit, but comfortable for one person. Still, I believe strongly, that the gloomy room played a major role in filling my mind with negatives at the beginning.

                        But gradually, I got adapted to the situations there. Whenever I unnecessarily, got worried, either I would go to my sister’s place or for a walk.

WOKE UP AND WALKED!

                          One day, I woke up at 4:30am. Since there was nothing else to do there at that time, I set for a walk.

When I started walking, I saw a calm and peaceful place underneath the blanket of fog, with some plants, trees and a small pool there. I cursed the fog, as I couldn’t enjoy the proper beauty of that place.

                             Later when I returned, that place was crowded with people who were in a hurry to attend to the ‘call of nature’! Those plants and trees played a role as their cover, and the pool…you know no?!

Alas! There was no fog at that time!!

 A FISHY WISH

Another anecdote…during Pongal.

I was returning from my sister’s school quarters. On the way, I saw the security man

there; I smiled at him and walked. He suddenly called me and said, “Sir… Happy Pongal Sir…”

I felt so happy that the good old man atleast remembered to give me a wish. But even happier, that he called me ‘Sir’!

I replied (with a pride-filled smile): “Oh! Thanks Annei… Happy Pongal to you too!”

I resumed walking…within minutes, he came with his cycle beside me and told (Scratching his head): “Haaappy Pongal Sir...!”

I (confused) told him: “Ok Annaa! Happy Pongal!”

Again, when I kept my next step forward, he stopped me and said: “Sir…I have given you Pongal wishes no? So can you give me a 10Rs for tea?!”

Very perplexing question!

I thought, “He is right…he gave me wishes…moreover he called me ‘Sir’! I should give him something.”

I took out my wallet and looked in it…

There, two ‘5Rs-four-headed Lions’ were roaring at me indicating the financial insecurity! But what to do?!! I was born a Malayali! And we won’t leave our ego, even if we starve!

So I asked him: “Annei…Take the 10Rs wish back! And just give me a 5Rs wish!”

This time he was confused. I gave him the 5Rs and went on as a proud ‘Sir’!

THE YELLOW MYSTERY

                      Yellow faces I see here, were always a mystery to me… I used to think, why most of the ladies have got yellowish faces?! Pigment problem or something?

                        Later, I came to know about the ritual or a myth or a belief…in Tamilnadu. Applying turmeric cream enhances the beauty and fairness of their faces.

I have seen some old ladies who have got real yellow faces!! I was shocked to see such yellow faces at the beginning, but then I realized, they might have been enhancing their fairness and beauty for last few decades!

Yes… dear friends! Now I really enjoy this life!

Now, the newcomers to my hostel, when they brood and nag about Chennai… I tell them: “Guys… Chennai may be your enemy today…but tomorrow… a friend, a lover, an employer or anything it can be! So wait until you experience the exhilaration in the exuberant love and care that it would give you soon!”

(Hoo…!! That was a ‘hard-nut-to-crack’ sentence…right?!)

Chen-I love you…!!!!!!!