Story of a “Muri” Beedi

Long before Westerners introduced Cigars or cigarette in India, rather southern Asia a small piece of tobacco roll ruled here called Beedi. If you still can’t relate, I need to remind you the song “Beedi jalaile” in which many of our heart throb (definitely not mine... and by the way this comment is not because that I am scared of my wife) was dancing in the movie Omkara. Yes, Now you should have got our hero who will be described whole of this episode.

Okie..But what’s this “Muri”. All my Malayalee readers would have understood that but for others I am taking you to the most of the prestigious and non-prestigious boy’s hostel, room stays. Before that why did I choose to narrate this story to you? I was in hotel Zuri for a meeting last week. I love food of Zuri, a lot of varieties. Eating a lot of chicken, I was almost about to quit eating chicken. Many of you know my obsession towards chicken and may be to maintain the food chain God didn’t like me to take that decision because he might have thought what he will do with these excess produced chicken if I stop eating those. But the issue is not about chicken, it is about after lunch a small chit chat with my colleagues which opened up Yaadein of hostel memories. I know this time it is not my yaadein it’s my colleague “Sadak ettan’s” yaadein. He didn’t know that I am using his name and fame to promote my blog.

Sadakettan (Ettan – brother, I think he may be a year or little more elder than me but I like calling him ettan) is one of the star performer of my company. I always see him thinking deep about the design and code. But while talking in common man’s terminology (in short when he comes out of software world) he is as funny and jovial as any one I have seen.

Back to our discussion, since it is after lunch we saw our regular smokers running out to take a puff and we saw the enthusiasm in them to keep them awake in the post lunch session. While joking on them Sadakettan told us his hostel incident which is true for many of us who stayed in hostel or rooms.
In the beginning of the month all of his friends use to get money from their parents for that month’s expense. Those who are smokers start with high end cigarette. They often stock packets for coming weeks to go promising that they won’t exceed that month quota. But as usual they will be over by almost First week of that month. Second week they lower their standard and share their brotherhood by sharing a same cigarette and even broken cigarette. Lord kubera might not have blessed all who can afford one more week of cigarette journey. Those who still can afford will have atleast ten to fifteen friends around them, a bike and they live in their world. But even common man need to live, there comes the saviour, king of poor.. Beedi. I don’t know the cost but I know for around 2-3 Rs people get a packet of 10.

Among all these friends there are few still considering themselves not that cheap. Even if you are penniless you cannot go behind beedi’s . Instead third week of the month they start searching for burnt cigarette pieces and they will manage it for another week. I heard there are extreme cases that they even search in Bus stop shelters for broken pieces who are chain smokers by nature and don’t have money. Whether it is true or false is not my issue, but what is common is all of them will come to the same platform of “Muri” or broken or burnt beedi’s almost at the end of fourth week.

I remember one of my college senior saying taking the last puff of his muri Beedi, “its easy for the parents to set rule and restrict money.. They don’t have to bother how we live here…”

Me, Street Circus and Village Library

I always reminded you about my small village Kollemcode. But i never told you about another village where I was born and spend my 15 years of childhood. Its called Kirathoor, well dont ask me what does that mean, I am not sure what it means.

And they say if you dont know a variable then lets consider it as X, so Kirathoor is another X for you. What matters is, what is this boring (I know, but you know its in my blood so cant stop) topic about.

There is a library in our village, which was actually closed for years. Being brilliant from my childhood ( U know) its my regular routine to visit the library and read all the news papers there. It was managed by all youngsters who followed communist ideologies. There was a television in that library and all these people gather there to discuss the growing demands of our village to issues which is happening in their neighborhood and how to solve those and by the way the real fact is its just discussions. Every celebration they hire projector and a screen and play movies. I remain awake the whole night to watch the entire sets of movies. But some times their budget remain restricted and they hire a TV and a VCR and play movies in it. Dad normally didn't allow me to watch movies if they play it on TV. But I have seen movies there whole night, normally up to three movies in one go. Highlight is I buttered an uncle there and took couple of books from there and I never returned them.

This was the time my hairstylist krishnan uncle (I dont know they call him kathi krishnan kutty) came up with a novel idea, Street Circus (Cycle Yanja). It was a great discussion between kids and they cooked up various stories about the events that were going to happen. Finally the day arrived, I went with my Dad to see the show. The place was decorated with colorful lights and it was festival atmosphere there. It was a free show and his only income was from the small donations we give after each event. He introduced a guy and he performs good number of stunts. To attract people daily he changed events often. Once he wrapped that guys face with a cloth and buried him in the ground upside down. I was scared to see the act and after some time he was taken out. Another event was that the guy was made to lye down above the white tubelights and another lady was asked to balance on his hands. I could see the tubes breaking up and hurting his back. It never made any difference to that guy. He performed several tricks with fire and cycle too.

Next event was to auction the products which villagers sponsor to krishnan uncle. People raise 50 paise, 1 Rupee, Five rupees as auction increments and finally someone will get it. After a weeks show circus came to an end. We kids were kept waiting for the next season. I asked Krishan uncle if he is going to stage another show soon, but he said he was in loss. I was sad, some days later I saw that guy pushing a vegetable cart. From my mom I heard he married a girl there and became a vegetable vendor. That was the rise and dusk of our local hero.

What happened to our library, it was acquired by the government and renovated. But still it just had newspapers there. No books and now I dont even know if it really exists.

Thats all for now, now go to work.. Happy reading!!

My everlasting memories in Philips

Me Dhanesh Nair Boltoy II – Yaadein

I never learned anything from experiences. I knew it was important to learn Marathi and Kannada but never took a step to do that, another incident in this series.
I was going to Pune from Chinchwad. I got into a bus which was very crowded. I was standing near the door was enjoying the nature (No comments please). The conductor came to me and I paid for the ticket. After some stops the crowd got increased. I heard conductor saying”Poode Sarka”.
I didn’t bother. What is saying man? I just kept enjoying the nature further. Again I heard him saying” Ey, Poode Sarka”. Sound seems stiffer and is he telling me? I looked back at him. Oh ya. He is telling that to me. What the hell Boss. I stood there without any reaction. People were laughing at me and some were giving me a cold look.
Then he came to me and with action he said “Poode Sarka”. From the action I understood that he was asking me to move forward. That’s it? You should have told upfront. I moved forward. I looked around and everyone were laughing to core. So you guys got another word too, right?

Me dhanesh nair boltoy I - Yaadein

It was a funny incident happened while I started my life in Pune. I was staying with my cousin and was desperately searching for jobs. One evening I was planning to iron my shirt and trouser as I had an interview next day. There was no power so I thought of taking it shop to get my dress ironed.
I took the dress and went to the shop. I saw an old lady there who was ironing the dresses. Thanks to Doordarshan(That was the only channel I was used to since my tenth standard and because of that I had a better understanding on Hindi) I started talking to her.

“Ithar Shirt Press kartein hey kya?” (Do you iron shirts here).

Mala maith nahi(I don’t know)? She replied.

Holy Gosh, what is she saying. I repeated the question. This time she made it clear, “Mala Hindi maith nahi”. I got a clue then. Oh I See, She doesn’t know Hindi. I don’t know Marathi, any ways it is not always necessary to know the language to communicate. With the help of action I somehow managed to tell her that I need to iron this shirt and trouser. God! She understood. She nodded her head. I told her that it is really urgent and I will wait. I assume she understood that also. Fact is that most people in Pune understand Hindi.
Now I need to know the cost, “Dress press karne keliye kithna hey”? (Whats the cost to iron the dress)
She replied “Saha”
God Saha, They charge this much for pressing a shirt and a pant? Fact is that I thought saha as a big number. I decided not to bring any more shirts to any shops for ironing. She completed ironing the dress. I gave her 10 Rs note.

“Aur chahiye”? I asked

“Nahi”. She returned 1 Rs to me. Man, it’s too costly, 9 Rs to iron one shirt and a pant.
I returned home. While talking to my cousin, I told him about the incident. I told him that she charged “Saha” for ironing and she returned One rupees. Is it not costly? He started laughing. It is just four rupees for ironing a shirt and a trouser. More over Saha means Six not 9.

Oh God! I understood the importance of learning Marathi then. My friends to make fun of me whenever they see a ironing shop. So guys, lesson learned "Saha = Six"

It reached till my cheeks - Yaadein

My attitude was most discussed among people I know. Many don’t like me because of my bad temper. Thought of jotting down a funny incident happened in my college days.

After my twelfth standard, I was waiting for my result. My mom and Dad were discussing about the dress which they got to wear when the media people reach my home when i get rank (Not really, they were expecting very high marks for me). Well the fact is, I was praying God to get me a pass mark on all subject. Mean while my poor Dad took me to a entrance training center, which I really enjoyed being there. Well I became a back bencher first time in my life, reading magazines and sports book. We use to get the questions and answers early and fill in the exams with in seconds. And the result is, we the back benchers were the toppers in the class. Entrance results were announced; I got very less mark in the entrance. My Dad lost all hope making me a doctor by then. As I always do, I promised my Dad that I will repeat twelfth again and get better marks next time.

The much awaited twelfth result came; wow I got nice marks in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Well, I was sure that I will get a free seat in engineering. We went to Chennai for counseling, Information Technology was at it heights and the seats were getting emptied in minutes. When my turn came, all seats in information technology were over. God, how can I become a mechanical engineer? Well I am dreaming to be the next Gates (The fact now I realized is those who were in mechanical engineering has a better working environment and a stable job) decided to pursue a Govt. Payment seat. With the souring high fee structure, my Dad took me to the college and joined Bachelors of Engineering in Info Tech, most interestingly in the very famous(At least people in that college knows about) Jayamatha Engineering School (College). We all need to wear uniforms, with lot of dreams I joined in the first year. And now, shivering with the rumors of high end ragging I started attending classes. First year was over soon, we moved into the second year. Who can stop me now? I became senior there.

All these were the trailer, now the main story. I went back after a day’s class and was sitting idle waiting for my seniors (We were staying in a house and all three who stayed with me were my seniors) to come. I saw a person walking through my corridor to the next house. He looked at me, how dare he is? I am the most brave, daring guy in this world. I stared him back. He gave me rude gaze. Who cares buddy; I gave him rudest gawk back. He asked me something and I replied him very rudely. He was repeating that I am gonna pay for this. Cool man, Dhanesh has seen much of these. He went back. I was happy, Wow I scared a guy. The fact is, if he had given me a slap I might have reached heaven. Next day, I went to my home town for some reason , I was all thinking about the act of bravery. And in the following day morning, as usual I reached my college; all my seniors were waiting for me in the door steps. Dude, what did u do yesterday; a flock of local people have come to our room in search of you. God, I almost got fainted. I told them that I stared at a guy yesterday. They said I was lucky to have gone home yesterday. I prayed God that day should never end. I thought of goin my home town again. I cursed my attitude. I could have kept mum. What to do now? I went back to the room. Every step in the corridor made my heart beat leap.

After some time, a gang of people came in. One said, “Machan, ivanthanda” (Bro, its him). I stood up, my legs were shivering. I told him, bro I thought you were my college junior. I never knew that you belong to that locality. If I knew it I might never have talked to you even.Well, that guy was happy. I told him that he look like an engineer while the fact is he didn’t even complete his studies. He said fine, now we are all friends. They also asked as to call them, in case we met with any trouble.

Well the last scene, they asked for some money for boozing. We all said we didn’t had any. Finally one of my senior gave him some money and they all went back. I still owe him back the share of that amount. Thank God, I just missed a slap which reached near my cheeks. Now you might be thinking that God was not fair doing that, Come on Guys, After all I wrote all these things to bore you, now wish something else!!!!

Memoirs, Mails and Friends – Yaadein III

I got my mail id when I was in 11th standard. I still remember that I went with my friend Antony to create an email account to a net café. I started using mails frequently when I reached my college. It was during 2000 and the funda of unlimited storage or 8 gb storage was not in place. I remember that by 2004*, rediffmail have increased the capacity of the storage to 1GB. Then on, I have never deleted my mails till now, if I feel it’s worthy to be retained. I have a strange character of deleting all mails and other contacts of those people whom I have an argument with, so that I can resist myself contacting them for any reason.

Today I accidentally logged into my old mail box which I still use for official purposes, our great Rediffmail. I was going through the mails and found the old mails which my friends sent to me. The oldest one I have in my mailbox was the one sent by Suthan after my exams. This was the one

hi kutta
how are encrypted & encrypted .
encrypted is fine . she asks u.
i told u r busy.
da give me a link 4 dloading phone dialer.
give ur yahoo id

poda patty.
see u.
byeeeeeeeee

I was very friendly with Malayalee NRI’s guys during my first and second year. I always felt that they keep a distance with me for several reasons. I think they had a feeling that I am not one among them. I still have a few of them as my close friends. Third year onwards I started hanging out with guys from my place and it was really different. We all enjoyed last two years. During our final years we need to do our academic project. I had committed to a few of my friends that I will join them for the project. They were really nice guys. We were a team of five including me, Anoop, Alex, Dubin and Thomas. Project itself was an adventure for us, which I would probably tell u some time later in another Yadeein.

After the exams everything was over. No more friends, no outing, no fun time. I missed all my friends in my college very badly. They were all helpful in several phases of my life. We decided to go to Bangalore in search of a Job. My Dad didn’t allow me to join them instead he insisted me to go to Pune. It was really a tough time then. No friends and others whom I considered important in my life and only ways of contacts was phone and mail.

I got a job the very first day I reached Pune. They offered me 1500 Rs as starting salary. I was upset and was thinking as if it was nothing and hence rejected the offer. My friends came to know about it and next few were the consolation mails especially few from Sreejith, Suthan, Pandian, Sithara. I often get upset about my state. I was into some unwanted instances of my life during that period. I was pressurized and next few mails were about it. Again comfort mails from Seena, Sithara , Sreejith, Rajesh and others. They were asking me face the situation bold and things will surely change once I attain the mental strength.

Next few mails were from Kiran, Pandian, Sreejith, Arun, Ramesh, Jegan, Kiran after I got placed in Wipro. Every one wanted to know about Wipro and how I got placed there. All were happy that I got placed soon. I was one among the first to get placed in a company and then many felt that the new job will help me avoid tension..

Now, when I recall those phases of my life, the tension that I underwent sans job, support of loved ones and at that very mode of life you guys turned out to be my only support. I often think about you guys. Few of you whom I normally contact are not in touch any more. I hope you are enjoying your life where ever you are. In course of time, I got several other friends were I turned to be their best comedian, fundoo, swamy , boon and curse but when I see those mails which you have send me, it reminds me about our friendship, about our fun we had.

I am never content about any of my achievements. I always feel that I have achieved nothing and never learned to appreciate myself for my achievements. When compared to the state I was in 2004 I am in a much better position.. I felt the current situation is worse for me, but the reminiscence of those days’s loneliness makes me realize that I have gone through worse situations in my life. Now I stay with my Grandmother and never worried about my food, I work in a MNC, I am not bothered about those hi-fi people who roam around in Tech Parks, and have a beautiful girl waiting to be mine. I thank God for all these. At least for a day, he made me think that I am doing better.

I thank you guys who were with me in tougher situations which are not mentioned in this post, I feel so great to have you guys as my friends.

Bicycle Ride - Yaadein

It was during my fifth standard I started riding bicycle. I got some friends who taught me bicycle riding. There were vendors who give bicycle for rent and they charged Rs. 2 per hour. My friends used to join me because in the way of teaching me, they can also ride bicycle free of cost. So it was on mutual understanding. I go behind my mom asking for four rupees so that I can get cycle for two hours. After disturbing her a lot, she would give me money.

One day, I decided to get bicycle and none of my friends where available to teach me. I was pretty sure that I can ride bicycle by my own. I asked my mom for money. She was scared that I was alone and didn’t give me money. I was depressed and started convincing her that I have learned better and can ride it by my own. She didn’t even bothered hear that and it made me feel angry. I started arguing with her. She tried explaining me that I am alone and it would be risky to learn cycle alone. I was not in a mood to digest it and continued creating trouble in and around. Finally she gave me four rupees. I was happy; I called my sister who was at 2nd standard by then and took the cycle for rent. Then I realized that I don’t even know to hop into the cycle or neither do I know to start riding it. But I was not in a position to admit my defeat. Two three kids were near by and I asked them to hold the cycle and then got into it. It was a steep road and I started cycling with top three shirt buttons unbuttoned (Actually I didn’t noticed that). I didn’t know to apply break properly and the cycle gained momentum as the road went steep. I saw a person coming with a cow from opposite direction. I didn’t know what to do, my mind went blank and I hit the cow and the person and fall down.

It was near the junction and all youngsters standing there started making fun of me. The person with the cow was very nice, he was making me cool and told me that I am lucky that it didn’t hurt me. My sister came running towards me; I picked up my cycle and started walking with it. People behind was laughing and I didn’t had a mental strength to look at them. Even after these things happened, I rode the cycle for some twenty minutes and gave it back to vendor.

I came back to home and by the time the incident came to Mom and Dad also. I had a tough time after. After that incident, I never took a bicycle with out some friends company until I learned to ride it properly.

So guys: Moral of the story, Never ride your cycle with shirt unbuttoned … sorry
:) “Never ignore your elders”.

Me and K-Bajaj 4S Champion:- Yaadein - I

This is not supposed to read by my future wife (Never know when she is gone to come..Or will there be one [lol]). Till then i will keep this in my blog.

I was doing my schooling in Sree Vidyadhiraja School and I had a crush on my school met. That was a so funny incident. One of my friends (Name not included- Considered X) was in love with her. But she never minded him. We went to an art festival held in Trivandrum, Kerala. We got him in hands and started making fun of him. Mr. X got irritated (obviously-it would be the same case even if it is me) and made a bet with in private to propose her if i dare to. I said I would in a week time.

Actually i am much interested in studies at that time (Nobody knowz about it lol) and never after. I am a kind of Geek*(not completely coz i have a lot of hobbies-but spend much of my times in books and home). I am School People Leader (SPL) of my school and takes part in all art competition and win a lot of prizes but never in sports (But you wont believe I was too slim tat time and i got first in a running competition once-- Read yaadein). Since i am all these i have a very high reputation in my school (no boasting this time). Anyways, coming back to the story; this guy X challenged me in front of my friends. I cant bear that anymore. I said.. okie .Yes. I accepted the challenge. Then started keeping behind her for some days and one fine day I got help from my junior and proposed her.. She never said yes or no. But I considered it Yes :).. I had a cycle at tat time (I hate that uncle who came with me and suggested my father to take Hercules cycle coz no body owns such a stupid cycle. But i started loving my cycle and he was my better companion then).I use to take him in my journey to meet her. We both see in the road, will have a stupid smile and move ahead (tats what love for me means hehehe)..

Now back to my title of the story, my dad had a Bajaj 4s Champion. I learned that just to impress the Gal. I take that bike in my later journeys to meet her J. I will take it with full fledge speed, take it to her and finally it will be stopped just when i reach near her. Then I will start kicking it :( . Always this happens but never i stopped taking my bike and neither did it helped me to stop becoming a fool in front of her. From the day onwards I started hating Bajaj. When I got my job my friends suggested me to take Pulsar. But I didnt take it.. I said i will better go for Passion Plus than goin for a Pulsar..

Now you might be thinking about the Gal now :) .. My teachers kept advising me to stop this as they were expecting a Rank from me in state level Xth exam. I never mixed my studies with these fantasies. Since I was the brilliant of the group (Brilliant means I got first rank in all exams.. tats it: don’t think much :)). No body says something serious to me. Later on.. After Xth i broke up with tat gal.. Now i dont even know where she is and what is she doin :) but still keeps this pleasant memories in me :)

Yaadein -यादें

I am starting a new series of memorable events happened in my life, in my school, in my college, in parties, in picnic, in office :) .. Then ofcourse you are the hero of your life and same way I am the hero of my life. So I will have to talk about me..(so kindly bear with me). I will try to make this as funny as possible coz I know you wont read this if u feel boring..