Monday, January 7, 2008

Basanthi ::::::::::::::::::: A Real Story::PAST 2

As they gathered the food with happiness lit up on their faces,An ora kann paarvai(a glance from the corner of the eye )from her said it all !!In a flash they all left . I could hear their joyous singing as they walked away but something was closing in my heart!!

A tap on my shoulder, I realised my friends,were waiting to shut the door and go back to hostel.Everywhere it was congrats for me :Chinna Pannai What a function you conducted,Never has the hostel seen one like this..But nothing registered.That glance from her was going thru my mind again&again..

Wondering if an oppurtunity to meet her again would come I passed the days!One day my a classmate of mine, active in social service league, said he needed help in conducting an evening coaching class for students from 6pm to 9 pm.This was generally for children of hostel cooks,attendants and likewise.Almost 300 students from class 1 to 10!!Reluctantly I accepted and was alloted class 9 and the subject was History and Geography and I was supposed to be good in Maths.Dimly lit classroom had about 20 students and as I started taking the class I saw a movement outside the room.I went out and to my utter disbelief there she was standing ,listening and taking notes on a piece of paper.

I blurted :what are you doing here

She replied :listening to what you are teaching,I love history and geography..I am planning to write privately and complete school.

I could see the glow in her eyes or was it determination.She refused to come in and sit,perhaps knowing she might not be accepted in.The paper she was writing must have been picked up as a rag ..

From that day for the next 8 weeks I was a regular teacher always selecting History and geography as my subject!!and she was my pupil outside the class !!But by the moment I completed my class she would have vanished..

My annual Exams ended and for once I was reluctant to return home for the two months holidays seemed to be years.I wanted to tell her bye but she was nowhere to be seen.Even if I saw her on the street I wondered if I would be able to talk to her..The social pressure was obvious..I wanted to tell her Good Luck for her results,but i didnt know if she had written the exams too!!

The appointed day,bag baggage and all I sat in the train compartment and there she was walking down the platform, with all colourful malas and beads for sale.As she came near me, the train started moving .When our eyes met, that anxious & bewildered look in her eyes said a thousand words which perhaps would stay with me for the next 2 months or longer.

My entry in the village is always colourful,and this time too it was the same.My only sister Malarkodi,father and mother ensured that I was choked with pampering.My sister noticed the change in me and was pulling my leg as often as she could.I was restless.That ,oratthu paarvai from the corner of her eyes was too bewitching!!.I was desperate to see her.But How ? Rushed to the university,Railway station and every other place where I thought she might be,but nowhere to be seen.

A major festival,all of us including my Father visited the templetown.Crowds everywhere and suddenly she appeared just a few feet away selling Beads to the pilgrims.I was excited trying to catch her eye and when the eyes met,I thought it became misty for both of us.I realised Malarkodi had also caught the scene !!The jostling crowd seperated us and she was gone.

I realised couple of things,I was in love with her.Something also told me that I must make her succesful in Acadamics too...Why that feel.God only knows and Perhaps time would answer..Was I mad ?Was it possible? I have to make it possible..but then how?how will the family take it?especially my Father..Can I face the pressure from the society?A million questions crossed..but then I realised She would also face the same questions?I felt small,that I didnt think of her problems..Again was she interested in me ?Was it crush,infatuation or mere stupidity..another set of zillion questions..I decided I want to make it happen,come what may!!

Evening returned back to our native place.After dinner,as was the custom Father was sitting on his easy chair and I was massaging his legs.Malarkodi was sitting across and mother standing behind father.He opened the topic.The zamindar of Namalaipatti,who were many times richer than us ,wanted Malarkodi to become his daughter in law ..and at the same time wanted to know if I would marry his only girl Thenmozhi. I reacted as if I was hit by a thunderbolt,and Malarkodi did not fail to see my reaction..
Fathers booming voice continued..Enna sollareenga Selvaraju Thambi..(What do you feel about it Selvaraju )

The only thought which flashed in my mind was to buy time somehow.

Father : Enna selvaraju thambi,Badhil kaanom (Why no reply selvaraju )

Me : Thangachi ku 18 vayasu kuda aagale,naanum mel padippu padikkalaamunu ninaikkiren.Aana, Mudivu,eppovum pole neenga solrapadi than (Sister is not even 18 and I was thinking of studying more.However decision is yours )

Father : ille thambi,Neenga solvadhileyum Gyaayam irukkudhu.Unga mudivule enakku abaara nambikkai undu,Nalla yosicchhu than solluveenga.Sari ,avanga kitte solli paakkaren
(What you say is also right And I always believe your decisions are correct.I will convey our views to them )

God was kind,that day and The zamindar of Namalaipatti also accepted our views.But heart of heart I knew I didnt have much time.I didnt want Malarkodi to suffer because of my delay and decision.Prayed hard for a solution.

Two months passed away like two years.Returned back to the temple town station and the Hostel.That was going to be my Fifth and Final year.Everyday I was walking up and down the station platform to get a glimpse of her .The uniqueness of the station was that it was flanked one side by the temple town and the other side the University.Hence it was a sort of an observation point to catch a glimpse of people criss crossing between the two places.


Finally,One day I saw her walking towards a lonely spot in between the innumerable labs of our Engineering college.Instantly I realised she wanted me to follow her,which I did .Trying to walk as naturally as I could, I didnt realise, that I was actually running towards her.There she stood between the Internal combustion Lab and Steam lab,waiting for me. I was anxious as I closed in on her and didnt know what she wanted to convey.



part 2 of 3

TC
CU

56 comments:

Joy said...

enna sir edu, sun tv serial mathiri mudichiteengaleyy...oru movie parkiramathiri irukku...that too romance...lol..

good story.

take care.

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Joy
Welcome..Trying to fit in a real life story of three decades in three episodes..Hmm let me see how much I can squeeze into it!!

TC
CU

rayshma said...

waiting for part 3 now :)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@rayshma
Past 3..oh my..give me a breather

TC
CU

ceedy said...

hehehe

that was really a good wait....

i like the passion you created in the last para
There she stood between the Internal combustion Lab and Steam lab,waiting for me......

Is it metaphorical - your heartbeats and passion rising to see her, hear her....

now you know what i will say - when is the next part coming.....but i think you can wait......BTW y did you drop her name Basanthi - no reference in the story - was it bloogie pressure or did salim-javed call you, or ramesh sippy ask for royaltea :)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@C e e d y
//your heartbeats and passion rising to see her, hear her....//

Not mine,my friend.. C P !!(Sevarajus !!)

//did salim-javed call you, or ramesh sippy ask for royaltea //

Our good friend Ziah must had a chat with them already..they are already silent on this issue..

What an irony,if I refer to Basanthi,theres an uproar..if I dont refer also there is every indication of an uproar..Thats life I guess !!lol
Thanks for the review
TC
CU

ceedy said...

I know its CP's but right now you are writing the series - so i guess you are playing the part and are completely immersed into the characeter....so dats y.....

well basanthi hai ya nahi hai - she is immortal :)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@ c e e d y
Hmm..So Basanthi seems to be a natural winner and has occupied the cenre stage..What happens to our own CP..?
TC
CU

Sandhya said...

story is going more interesting..

now we are waiting for Basanthi to speak up.... in d next episode..

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Sandhya
Welcome Sandhya..Hmm got the message..Too much of a monologue from CP right !(still he doesnt get the attention from u all!!poor guy )
She will hopefully !!
TC
CU

Sandhya said...

yesterday Meenakshi Sundram came in my offie as i told u that he is our client.

The moment he came in, i cant stop my laughing. Ur blog was continouly taking rounds in my mind....

Poor Sundram!!! was curious to know the reason...

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Sandhya
LOL..hope my blog is not creating problems for fellow bloggers..lol
TC
CU

ceedy said...

Hehhe

Read Sandhyas comment alone LOL...

I dont know about problems - its making my creative juices flow....

was just thinking about it and tot, you are trying to make a movie w/o a song sequence - two movies w/o one wowo!!!!! :)

now isnt this a perfect location - cp (running) towards basanthi - in the lab - in the process tilts over a beaker - chemical reaction - clouds - when the clous disspear - bam a dream sequence - they are in switzerland :) (oh BTW i dunnu the budget of the movie )

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@c e e d y
For budget purposes ,lets sell the rights for the song sequences alone to Mr Sippy..how about that ?
TC
CU

Sudha said...

Hey nan stotry ezhudina eppadi erukkum nu pakkaraiya.See
Basanthi will tell to him that i am that zamindar's daughter hiding in kurathi's make up as i have to study.So hero will become happy an d story ends .How is it? (nee story ezhudarada niruttama irundha podum...inda endinga parthu :D

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Sudhakar
Simply amakkalam your story line is..I thought twists and turns were only my prerogative..now I realise there are more friends to compete..lol
TC
CU

Preethi said...

Oh my.. now I cant even comment on this... am waiting for part 3.. no breather.. post that right away .. btw I made an attempt at short story writing (needless to say inspired by you).. please read!!

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@ Preethi
Welcome Preethi..Me and inspiration..wow..lovely to hear..will rush in there !
TC
CU

Vidya said...

Man, your Basanthi sure is addictive. And you do have a way of writing that is gripping. I loved reading it. Guess the very name Basanthi can do such things in a person's mind.

And am sure to drop by more frequently.

I was just curious how to found me. Thanks for letting me know. Am yet to read your other posts though :)

Interesting read CU!

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@ Vidya
Hi..Thanks for your nice words..It makes me wonder,if Basanthi is not Basanthi,and somebody else then ,how would the story move forward..lol.
Please do keep passing by
TC
CU

Aarthi said...

Thanks for not delaying the part 2 and again I'm awaiting the romantic bit..make it soon...:)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Aarthi
Thanks Aarthi for your words..Hopefully immediately after Pongal,I hope..Keep passing by..About the romance part,I donno, Next part being the last one (I dont want to drag on like the tamizh TV Serials.lol)I have to compress about 30 years in that one episode and reach the current..hmm lemme see..how successful I am in meeting the expectations..lol
TC
CU

Preetilata【ツ】 said...

OMG! what a story teller u r!
i cnt really wt for d 3rd part..post it soon. dont let malarkodi n ur readers suffer cos of ur delay... :)

n abt d awrds..copy them from my blog n upload in ur blog..that's it :)

bhalo theko
:) :) :)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@preetilata
Thanks for passing by..As i said earlier let me take a breather ..lol
I have already pasted the awards in my blog..thank you for the same
Delhi kemon aache..shunlaam temperature khoob kharab ekhon
abaar esho !
TC
CU

Sairekha said...

Now you've actually brought us to a nail biting suspense... eppidi poi mudiyumo? :) And knowing you, its surely going to be unexpected!:)

*** "Our good friend Ziah must had a chat with them already..they are already silent on this issue.."***

Hehehehe... that was sweet!:)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Ziah
Hi..one thing I fear in life is expectations ! I hope I will be able to justice..
As I said earlier condensing 30 plus years in one episode is going to be challenge
TC
CU

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

happy pongal to you!

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Shalini Gowrisankar
Hi Shalini..Thank you and wish you the same
TC
CU

Preethi said...

Vanakkam. As usual, so beautiful and so full of emotions. It is always the unsaid that is more compelling. Waiting for part 3.
BTW, I loved ur tamil dialogues there. Beautiful lang. Missing Chennai immensely!

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Preethi
Vanakkam and Pongal Vaazhthukkal.

Turning nostalgic..Was it due to Tamizh or romance reminding you of something ...lol

TC
CU

ceedy said...

mr. sippy is ready to accept the offer :)....just had a chat wid him :P...

well this time I am not going to bug you for the third part.....as you rightfully told me that you were waiting for Basanthi to reac h18 :).....

happy pongal....even tho i am a gujju....i enjoy all festivities :)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@c e e d y
Welcome c e e d y ..18 to 50 all in a rush rush in next and final episode..
A festival is a festival is a festival..fun time..
Gujju or otherwise India just enjoys the festivals and Indians wherever cannot resist it and the nostalgia associated wih it..Enjoy man wherever you are..

Incidentally Gujju connection seems to be offing here too.Mr Awesome Modi was here in chennai yesterday and had his fair share of Pongal goodies!!lol
TC
CU

Gayatri Bhadran said...

okie, now its gets more and more interesting.

waiting anxiously for the juicy bits. *evul laff* =P

aMus said...

my...my.. you packed a whole lot in this story...so Cp is also a dutiful son, a loving brother and trying to be a social outcast...all the masala of there...and you say its real lif etoo...i do hope we hear the wedding bells in part 3...

and you've stopped it just liek in teh serial...the only thing missing is the music...

happy pongal...
i c all my indian blogger friends online 2day...enjoying their holidays!!!

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Gayatri
welcome..soon will be the concluding part..after all its a college days love story..you know how they end...
TC
CU

Keshi said...

CU u ended this post with so much passion now I cant wait for the next part!

Keshi.

Compassion Unlimitted said...

Hi suma
//so Cp is also a dutiful son, a loving brother and trying to be a social outcast...all the masala of there//
wait and read the final part one more masala gets added which you girls will definitely love,perhaps much to the chagrin of menfolk..

Long Holidays here,everywhere its TV TV Tv..the only relief out here for me is the BLOG..Last couple of days have been busy,especially with March approaching (the Peak Business season here )Honestly this is an oppurtunity for me catching up with all friends blogs like yours and is such a fantastic feeling..
Talking to blog friends,thats a great idea and wonderful way of networking with likeminded ,Suma..have a great time
and of course you may land up with a blog on that too..great idea
TC
CU

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Keshi
hey keshi..i thought you were on a sabbatical..nice you landed up here..
preety soon keshi
TC
CU

Prats said...

Pongal nalvaarthEgaL

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Prats
Thanks a lot Prats for your wishes..
Pongal Nal Vaazhthukkal to you and your family too

TC
CU

Preethi said...

Wish you and your family a very happy pongal

anits said...

interesting story...waiting for part 3...

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Preethi
Thank you and Wish You the same Preethi

TC
CU

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@anits
Welcome anits..It should be ready by weekend I guess..Thanks for passing by
TC
CU

UL said...

and the suspence builds, huh? thanks CU, I didnt understand exactly all the tamil conversations but I figured what was going on...look forward to part 3, also I caught your response to my earlier comment - if you follow my link now, you should be able to access my blog...earlier I had it hidden. That's why you couldnt view it.

UL said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Compassion Unlimitted said...

@UL
Thanks a lot for your words..I am sorry about the Tamizh words..But I thought I had ensured translation everywhere.Thanks for pointing it out.will go thru it again.I am able to reach your site now
TC
CU

Lakshmi said...

A real story..that makes it far more interesting ..I like the tension thats built in ..seasons greetings for you as well

Ponnarasi Kothandaraman said...

Real good story..How did i miss few of ur posts :(
This one is really good! Adutha part epo? :>

Happy Pongal! :)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@backpakker
welcome.long time here...tensions ..lol..thanks for the nice words..
TC
CU

Compassion Unlimitted said...

Ponnarasi Kothandaraman

vaanga..enga romba naala kaanom indha pakkam..aduttha post vandhutte irukku ,indha vaarame
tc
cu

ceedy said...

Are basanthi had some dates free till you write the third part - so took he and made the movie....btw she is not even in the scene but is asking for royalty to use her name.....:)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@c e e d y
LOL..so i dont think I should wait or delay any longer..the next part must be out by this weekend,even if its a draft..LOL
TC
CU

Keshi said...

Hi CU :)

Keshi.

Preethi said...

he heee. good one. Definitely Tamil.

Compassion Unlimitted said...

@Preethi
welcome..Very much..lol
TC
CU