A Visit

Sunday, 5 March, 2006, 3:30 pm

Sunny afternoon, college dipped in a queer silence.

We walked down the long road - back again to visit our kingdom overthrown by the dark hands of time.  The dry wind had a familiar feel as it fondled us.

Each step ahead was taking us back - back towards those glorious days – memories of those grand old days rushing into our brains. The deep silence was ripped by our clatter - the long corridors echoing us as it did when we first stepped-in a decade ago.

A walk-around through our class rooms lying untouched since the time we left - Wondering on the chalk marks, blurred names, decomposing banners of our golden days - all sleeping like the ruins of our great empire.

A chat again under the mango tree, a stroll down to our first class room, now home to bats and rats - our royal lab with its roofing still leaking as we had seen it for the first time - the library, the store room, the great stage, the trees, the leaves, the stones, the sand, the dust - all still close to heart.

We wished if time could stand still - but it pushed us back to our life's undefined track and as we walked back, our mind was playing an 'old movie reel' for us.

(A visit to KKTM Govt. College - Ajith, Abhilash, Ramesh, Radhakrishnan, Shamser and Divakar)

Satabdi Experience

15th Feb 2006, 4:25 pm

Mysore-Chennai Satabdi Express took off from Bangalore Central on its way to Chennai and along with it, flagged off my first journey in an A/C Compartment of Indian Railways - courtesy TCS.

Sitting by the window seat of first row in the chair-compartment, I looked out through the paned glass. The evening sun appeared like a glowing globe sprinting along with us. Inside, the conditioned air was cool and soothing and I took a deep breath to fill it in my lungs. As the train sped on, my thoughts went back to my last travel to Chennai. It was a couple of months back in the general compartment of Bangalore-Chennai Exp. stretching on the floor with fellow passengers and their luggage. The ticket cost me Rs.100, but now the ticket in my hand read Rs.575. Two contrasts of the world. No wonder why this world is after money.

My thoughts were disturbed by a pantry person came up with a food tray. I didn't know this journey provides these additional delicacies. I gleefully accepted the pleasant surprise - a cup of coca-cola, a bottle of mineral water and the daily newspaper to kill the time. I cleared the tray and was about to have a nap, when another person came, this time with snacks - Bread, Gulab-Jamoon, a cup of Hot Soup and few Toffees.

I cleared up the snacks tray and the snacks cleared up my sleep. I glanced through the daily, but it was as if I am not supposed to do anything but just eat on. There stood the person again. Now with crisp Samosa, bread & butter and a hot coffee.

Sipping the coffee I looked out. Sun had disappeared. It was already dark and few lights were glowing at a distance. I was so busy eating that I hardly noticed the time. The train had no stops in between and I had no idea where I am. I relaxed on the seat for some time till it was time, to say dinner. In this train it was as if they are looking for a chance to make us eat something! Yes, dinner was knocking at me - Rumali Roti, Jeera rice, Dal curry with Curd.

It was more like a journey of delicacies really making me exhausted. But it was not over - there came the cup of vanilla ice-cream for a cool end for a long journey. Time read 10 pm and train came to a halt. I heard the announcement - “Chennai Central welcomes you ".

A July Afternoon

An electrifying afternoon.

Clouds thickening in the horizon.

Wind giving a cool touch all over.

Spirits reignited - Just energizing the whole.

In a stormy wind

It was a stormy wind. It was just like I'm flying through the unknown paths in the sky

Thoughts seemed to be frozen by its mere power.

It was as if I'm about to see God,

like there is nothing called World,

like there is nothing called Me,

Just a feeling.