What can Anna Hazare do?

“Say No to” A loud voice from the group of people shouted and it was followed by a louder chorus “CORRUPTION”. 

This was getting louder and louder as everyone on the road near the Total mall in madiwala, Bangalore turned to see what was happening. It was the 5^th day of Anna’s Fast and People were growing in anger as they were violently trying to be Non-violent. The youngsters turned up in large numbers with a common T-shirt saying “Say No to Corruption”.

There were college students, Old men, Small children and also family ladies in the group. Many guys in the road watching this started to join the group and it was growing bigger and bigger. The government will surely notice this as a big issue was the thought in Mahesh’s mind. He was a great admirer of Anna Hazare but he doesn’t know why he admires him. [I think that there are many Indian youngsters who want to do something for the country but ends up in supporting Anna Hazare or people of that kind believing them]

Mahesh was in the group shouting at the peak of his voice. When he turned to check his friends he saw a familiar eye in the group a few meters behind him. Then he checked the person to whom the eyes belonged. He stood there motionless seeing jaanu in the group. It was almost 3 years since both met each other. Jaanu’s eyes also met with Mahesh. Both heard a similar dialogue in the back of their minds.

“By the terms of law in Indian government, I hear by declare that your divorce is accepted” Judge hit hard the table with his tool which shook both of them.

Almost three years after that day, both met each other. They have taken different paths in their life. Mahesh was working as a chief cameraman in TV 9 and Jaanu was working as a nurse in a home which takes care of the old people. Mahesh wanted to talk something with her but hesitated and it was the same case with her also. Mahesh somehow managed his ego and was about to go near her when suddenly he was pulled by his friend to the front rows of the group.

Mahesh moved with his eyes fixed on Jaanu. “Anna Hazare ki, Anna Hazare ki” The same loud voice was shouting and the others followed with the chorus “jae, jae”.

Janaki (Called as jaanu by her closer ones) was thinking about the days with Mahesh. She didn’t get out of the shock from seeing him again. She was thinking whether he is still in love with her. Mahesh had similar thoughts. Janaki thinking of this missed to see her dress catching fire by her own firewood in her hand. Suddenly she saw that and shouted as loud as she can. Mahesh realized that it was her voice. There was a sense of Panic in the crowd while Mahesh madly came running to her and helped her out of the fire by hugging her and going rounds of revolving in the road.

Jaanu has fainted because of the shock. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Mahesh holding her on him and also saw his eyes wet. She was feeble in her voice when she asked “Do you still love me.?”

He nodded his head like a small child and burst out crying.  Jaanu kissed him on his cheek and told “I saw you because of Anna Hazare…….. Should thank him mahesh”

“Jaanu….. I need to tell something to you which I have never told you in the way it has to be told” Mahesh was so emotional with his last words

“I Love you and Life is nothing for me without you” Mahesh told with great soul in it and hugged her.

Sheela ki Jawani

April 2020

Mohan was looking into his office files in his bed room and he heard a song from his daughter kalyani’s room. The song was the greatest hit of its time.

“Sheela ki jawani” was the song and mohan entered the room asking “Dear, How do you get to know about these old songs”

“Dad, I always like good songs……don’t care whether they are new or old.” Kalyani spoke and that song helped mohan sail back 11 years to his college 2^nd year.

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July 2009

Three guys were walking in the college ground as slowly as they can. Three guys had very similar looks with very minor difference in their heights and color texture. The Moon was brightly up lighting up one side of their dark faces. The first button of all their shirts was unbuttoned and that means……. Ya, I get your mind and of course they are from the mechanical department. All three were silent for the last few minutes.

“Mama, why did we take mechanical Engineering da?” Mohan was the first to talk.

“Our second year classes are going to begin from tomorrow and why do you think of this now?” Arun spoke and turned to Praveen

“Maybe we took this course just because all the heroes in the tamil movies are Mechanical Engineers.”Praveen told and others started laughing.

“I want to tell one thing and I want your full concentration…….” Praveen told and others made gestures to show that they were listening.

“I spoke with one of my friend in GCE,salem and he told that there is a transfer from their college to ours.” Praveen stopped to check whether they were listening and continued again.

“The name of the girl getting transferred is Kalyani and she is into mechanical department” Praveen told kicking a small stone in a fashion of kicking a football.

“A girl to our department….. I think last time we had a girl in our department was in 2005” Arun spoke with more energy now.

“Ya. Since then for the last three years, it was only boys.” Mohan also spoke with more energy.

“Any other details” Arun asked Praveen.

“No da. We were in a chat and he told that there is transfer & the name is kalyani” Praveen told the others.

“Why don’t you ask him other details …” Mohan was disappointed with only these details.

“I liked the curiosity inside me after hearing to that and I want that to continue at least till tomorrow da…… so I acted as though I showed less interest in that matter.” Praveen spoke with shyness now.

“Ya. True……..This is a great feeling” Mohan told as they reached the auditorium entrance and decided to go to bed.

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The next morning mohan was sitting in his bed laughing to himself…….His roommates came to him (Arun and Praveen) and asked “Machi, Whats the matter da.”

“Machi, I had a dream da. ‘Sheela ka jawani’ song da……….. I was akshay and the new ‘kalyani ’was Katrina da” Mohan told with still a smile in his face.

“How was she looking da?” Arun asked him while Praveen hit him hard on his head saying “It is just a dream and he has not seen her like all of us da….. Get up guys……it is getting late”

“Ya ……enough of the wait and lets go & face the reality” Mohan told and jumped from his bed.

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Classes started and it was almost two periods over and no one turned up to the class. The three were sitting in the same bench and looked at each other for every five minutes. The wait was getting longer.

By 11:30, when the classes were going on, a fat, dark boy who looked like the tamil comedian ‘senthil’ in his 20’s came in. The professor collected some paper from him and referred it. Then he spoke which was a great shock to all of us

“You have a new classmate and he is from GCE, salem. He is a student of transfer for his merit and his name is KALYANARAMAN”

All three gave a look of shock at each other and in few seconds all started laughing. In few minutes, Arun and Praveen laughed at mohan saying “your Katrina is so beautiful da……..”

Mohan felt really disappointed in one way and at the same time shyness for all that he had in his dream and what happen at the room. All those feelings together gave him a loud laugh which made all his classmates look at him including the ‘KALYANI’ [sorry ‘KALYANARAMAN’]

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“Papa, why are you laughing?” his 7 year old daughter asked him. He hugged her and told “I also like this song very much and happy about you listening to old songs too”

Arun spoke from behind him “We know the reason for your liking towards this song…….”

Mohan turned and found his college day friends Arun and Praveen standing behind him. He hugged them all and now Praveen spoke “We also know the reason behind your daughter’s name”

“Papa, what is the reason?” She asked with an innocent voice when all gave a weird look at each other and started to laugh…….. Thinking of the KALYANARAMAN – KALYANI - & - Sheela ki jawani………

My First Love Letter

All the characters subjected to this letter are imaginative and any coincidence to real life is very unfortunate and Highly Dangerous [ for me :P ]
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Bangalore,

16/08/2011,

My dear Hema,

This is my first love letter, not only first to you - but first in my life. I am weak in my English as well as expressing my love directly to you seeing your eyes. So, I have decided to write a letter. But, now I am feeling this is harder than that.

I don’t know the meaning of love, but “I am in love with you” - This is how people tell after ‘Varanam Ayiram’ movie. I am not a good poet as every lover is expected to be, but I can express my feelings about you.............. “I feel like listening to an ilayaraja melody when you talk with me. I feel both summer and winter with a cool drizzle at the same time when you are near me. I feel my mom’s love for me in your eyes, when i see you. Totally,...... I feel heaven with you in my Life.”

I am a great fan of Simbhu [T.R.R.Silambarasan] and so, I don’t care about you being three years elder than me. I know that you are not my caste, but I promise you that I will never ask your caste or religion. I know you are superior to me in Education and as well as Salary but I don’t give a damn about that. I know you are taller than me - That is not my fault and If that is the reason for not accepting my proposal, it is so silly.

whenever I see you, this song plays in the interior of my heart

“Aval Apadi ondrum azhagilai, aanal adhu oru kurai ilai.......”

I can convince my parents and I think we can convince your parents as well. I don’t know actually how long this letter should be and so, I am stopping here with a question mark - literally

?

Now the ball is in your court...........I will wait for your reply and not REACTION   ;)

Yours Lovingly,

Balu

P.S :

If you don’t like me or my letter [or both], Please consider the matter dropped and return the letter to me. I request you not to take any action on me using your position of being the PROJECT LEAD........ to me...... :P

Neyveli - Mustache Guy - Old Lady

Please don’t look for logic. As I am not able to write in Tamil, I am writing this in English.

:::: 2009 Summer Holidays :::::::

This is Neyveli. If you have not heard of neyveli, I can give you a clear picture. This place which can be called as ‘Thar Desert’ of Tamilnadu has few hotels which give something very similar to food, few buses which have a look more or less like a bus and few theatres which are neither touring talkies nor decent film screens. The temperature will always be greater than 42 degree. The Unlucky students of Electrical branch come for IPT (In-plant training) to this Desert. [Only for the Certificates…  :P]

You cannot survive there without the Fresh Juices and coconut water. Two boys were standing near a coconut water shop (also called as ‘coconut juice’). One looked like a future MLA with heavily build body and doubtful expressions in his face. Other one looked like a soft guy with a thicker mustache which gave him a look of an elderly person. Those two were among the group of Electrical students who came for the In-plant training to neyveli.

The people in the shop looked like aged people. They were two and looked like couples fighting for the daily survival. The old man was sitting at one end of that small shop and the old lady gave the coconut juice to those boys. Meanwhile, the guy with the thicker mustache had a phone call.

“Ya amma. Had my dinner. Hmm…… so…..ok…and ……ya…..just drinking now……brought bananas as well” He was busily involved in the call. MLA (Let us call him that way…….) was inquiring about the hotels nearby. The old lady was looking at the mustache guy when he was talking over the phone.

“amma. Had your dinner? ... Hmm……take care….. I will be back in 10 days…everything is ok. Convey my love to appa…… mm……ok……will call you tomorrow…eat all three times a day…..don’t skip food because of work……ya ………bye……. Love you Ma...”

The old lady was laughing sarcastically. The Mustache guy was disturbed and asked her “Why are you laughing?”

She gave a dirty look at him and started to talk “In this age, every son loves his mom and family, but not after the marriage.”

“I am not like that.” He told very strongly. “I don’t believe anyone after the ignorance shown by my son after marriage.” She gave a stronger answer.

MLA was touching the shoulders of the mustache guy and asked him “Shall we go...”. “One minute.” He told him and turned towards the old lady.

“Here is the money for the coconut.” He gave her a 50 rupees note. When she was returning the balance amount he spoke again “Ok. You need not believe my words. Since how many years you are doing this business.”

“This is our family business and we are in this business for the last 4 generations.” She explained with pride.

“Ok. Let’s have a bet. Will you be in this business at least for another 15 years?” Now he was sharp in his words.

“Sure.” She was doubtful about the boy’s reaction. “Today my age is 19. I will comeback after 15 years. Probably I think that I would be married by that time. I will come back here with my mother and family after 15 years. What do you say……. Are you ready for the bet?” The boy asked.

Her expression totally changed now. She gave a smile and then didn’t talk for next few minutes. Then she went down towards the coconut and took one. She gave it to him and told “have it.”

“I…. I don’t understand……. I have paid for what we had and this one….. no…… ” He was fumbling with words while MLA from behind told “Have it. This is a token of love from her.”

She was looking at him [It was not looking, but staring]  and finally when they were about to leave she asked “What is your name?”

He turned towards her and asked “What is your son’s name?”

She hesitated but told after a while “Dhanapal”

“Mm……..Call me Dhanapal, amma. I will come here for another 10 days. Consider me as your son. Bye. Good night. Take care of your health and also that of appa’s…..”

She stood there motionless for another few minutes....

Angamuthu Solutions

Hi friends,

I would like to talk to you……… from my heart. I have been a regular follower of many blogs and I always wanted to own one. But the time has come only now….. I thank everyone who is supporting me in this journey of scribbling… (You can say that rite) whatever comes to my mind. I have seen many bloggers write about their interview experience but I would like to write about my experience with a company as a Placement Representative [Substitute].

Our PR had a personal commitment and wanted to be in his hometown deliberately. So, He asked me to take care of the Interview Procedure as I had the experience of being a PR in my 3rd year of college. The name of the company is Angamuthu Solutions (Fake name….. Sorry I cannot give the name.) And the number of persons cleared the first round were totally 80+ from our college and 9 in our class.

The second round was scheduled to start by 12:00 and students were expected to be there by 11:45.

Our College’s computer science department was the venue and it was the decent building of our college which itself looked like a dirty bungalow which can be used for the climax scenes of Rajinikanth movies. There were 25+ chairs outside to wait and 100+ students waiting for the interview. By 11:45, the department looked like the crowd outside the hostel mess (when chips are included in the menu). The universal dress code followed by the GCTians for the interview is a light blue full hand shirt with a thick blue tie. 75% of the boys were in the same dress code.

“Everyone have two copies of resume with you. Rite” I asked them

“ya” “yes” “hmm” I heard their replies

Few seconds later, we heard them call names…. “Sebastian” “Sathya” “Shanmuganathan” from our class. I was wondering how they can interview these many people at a time. They had 15+ people for interviewing and they have taken over the lab. The lab had opaque wall on 3 sides and a transparent glass covering on one side. We were able to see the happenings from outside and the lab looked exactly like a fish market.

PRs of all departments were sitting together and we had a lot of fun that day. We were discussing about our own experience in interviews. 5 minutes after the call, sathya came out with a smiling face.

I directly walked towards her and asked “Are you shortlisted for the next round?”

“No. I don’t think so.”Sathya told me. “What did they ask you?” I asked her. Just for the sake of helping others. “They asked me about the pointers in C. I replied that I don’t know” Sathya was telling while I interrupted and asked “What was their reaction..?”

“They said ‘aiaiyoo, .................you can leave ma’” She told with a sad note.

I came back to take my place while two others from my department came out. They were Sebastian and shanmuganathan.

Sebastian came with the smile saying “Hmm…….Done..........Awesome”

I asked with anxiety “Are you shortlisted?”

Sebastian replied “Two of them who interviewed me were girls and more importantly........................” he gave a pause as a good orator always does and then told with a magical voice “they were beautiful”

I was at the peak of my anger but controlled it and asked with a smile “Ok, What is the result”

“They gave me some program and asked me for a particular output. I told them that I don’t know. But they forced me to try. I finally did it and they have rejected me.” Sebastian said while he was removing his tie.

“Was it wrong – your answer?” I asked with a worry.

“It cannot be da. I wrote a program with only a printf statement containing the output they asked me.” Sebastian said with a smile.

“You will never change da.” I told turning to shanmu. He was a special guy in our class holding the record of most number of interviews attended. “What is the case with you?”

“Bad da. Only one of the two girls was ok. The other one horrible da. ” Shanmu told and all of us started laughing.

“I am not shortlisted and I am happy for that. I don’t like the company.” Shamnu said and left the place.

We had few experiences of this kind and finally when it was about 19:00 that I felt something was flying inside my stomach. Then understood that it was hunger and I have not taken anything for the last 7 hrs. I went for a tea and came back by 19:30 while Maadasaamy of ECE department came out.

“Machi, they were asking many questions about the pointers and gave programs as well” He was explaining to his PR. He looked outside while he was talking and told “Machan, I went inside when sun was brightly up and now when I come outside it is extremely dark. Hell with these interviews.”

Venkatraman came running by 20:00 and I thought he was gonna tell the result. But he ran away from me directly towards the restroom. After few minutes he came out and told “Interview is a test of patience da. They will not send you outside until you say ‘I give up’”

“Hold on. You can make it.” I told him and started thinking about the day. I was waiting for people to tell “I am selected” from this morning. But I heard only disappointing news and saw only sad faces. Every member of our class came out and I felt like India lost another wicket in a match against Pakistan.

Finally by 20:25 we were left with two wickets (i.e) two from our class. By 20:40, Vignesh came out for the first time since he entered. “Whats up machi. Are you through?”

Vignesh lifted his tired eyes towards me and told “Almost, one more round to go. The HR round. What about the others?” I understood from the question that he was under tremendous pressure that he was not even able to notice people around him. “Only venky and you are left for the HR interview.”

After a quick tea, both of them were now ready for the final battle with the HRs (Who are creatures looking exactly like humans......  sorry if some HR is reading). The Battle began and two of our soldiers came out with a smile after the war. I was happy for them.

20 odd students were waiting for the result and 2 from our class. My watch showed 21:40....... 22:20........22:40. “its better you go. We will take care of this and tell you the result” Vignesh told me while venky nodded. I kicked my bike with all the anger I had on the company people.

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23:35 my phone was vibrating “Machan, two of our batsmen scored a century  J ” was the message that I received from Vignesh.

Life@145

Krish was in front of his computer with a plate of Good-day biscuits and a cup of tea. He heard his mother saying “Krish, Take bath at-least today. It is going to be almost 3 days since you took bath”

Krish scratching his head gave a weird reply “Amma, it was only 2 days back that i took a bath”

Mom replied from kitchen “Do whatever you feel like doing. But take care you don't smell bad.”

Krish felt cold suddenly. He was not like this when he was in his college and now............. What basically changed? What is happening to him? Why is he like this? Who is he?

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Here we go,

People used to call him Krish but his name is Krishnamoorthy. He is expected to join TCS by the 25th of august. He completed his course by the end of april [Thanks to the state election]. Since april, his only job everyday is to check the facebook account and update his status at-least once a day. He was waiting for august 25th, not because he can join the company and do service to TCS. He was waiting for the day to get along with his friends and begin his 2nd innings of college there.

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He was online in his facebook account and suddenly felt like checking his account in orkut. Just to check the testimonials written by his friends. While reading the testimonial written by cheena, he clicked on cheena’s name.

Cheena’s profile loaded. He clicked on the photos → ooty tour. He was smiling even without his knowledge when he saw the photos loading. He clicked on the first picture and it loaded [ first a dim shade and it became sharper as it was a digital camera high quality photo ]. He saw himself wearing a t-shirt which looked like that of a painter. [ To be more specific..... T-shirt was brown in colour with horizontal stripes. Excluding this it was designed like paint was randomly sprayed on it ].

Krish was smiling while his mind flashed back to his second year hostel room. 145

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Time : 02:30
Place  : 145, GCT Hostels - 2nd year
Date : hmm......[Don’t remember]...... :)
Event : 04:30 - Ooty Industrial visit for EEE and EIE

“Dai cheena, how about this t-shirt” Krish was shouting at the peak of his voice. He was asking this for the 36th time (i.e) he changed his t-shirt 36 times.

Cheena gave a smile and told “machan, weight da...”

Krish smiled at the others in the room and they also gave him a smile back to tell the t-shirt is good. Others in the room were devanand and anumanth squares. [ anumanth & anumanth are dear friends sharing the same name, initial , YOB, MOB but different DOB ]

Devanand (shortly called as deva) spoke for the first time “you look like a painter da”

“See deva, this will become fashion after our tour” Krish told

“Iyerae, hmm...... you are not ajithkumar da..... to make something fashion by wearing it” one of the anumanths told as the other one nodded.

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Suddenly when krish touched the tea, the hotness of the tea brought him back to the real world. How beautiful life was when he was in 145. Scrolling through the photos, he was thinking of the roommates anumanth and devanand. Anumanth was caring and more adjudtable while devanand is a lovable guy but he wants the room & surrounding to be clean always. The other anumanth and cheena were not his roommates but they were day-scholars spending most of the day in their room.

Krish’s eye was struck on one of his group photo and his thinking now changed from 145 to sunitha....... His mind flashed again to their beautiful days in college.

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Time : 16:30
Place  : pykara falls, Ooty
Date : The same day

“so........... what do you say” sunitha asked keeping her eyes away from him.

“See, Let us wait till the final year. We will have job in our hands. If we talk about this that time, the reception will be slightly better than now” Krish told.

“You think so” sunitha asked like a child.
“For sure.....” Krish told and he opened his mouth again......

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“Krish, You will never listen. Take bath or at-least think of it” Mom told from behind him

“Amma, I am going to a matinee show today. Before that I will take bath” Krish told

“Movie.......... hmm.................ok” Mom said and left the place.

The mention of the matinee show took him to his 3rd year of college.

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Time : 12:20
Place  : KR bakes, Venkitapuram
Date : Probably someday in September

Krish was sitting opposite sunitha asking her “So, what shall we order?”

“Anything you take” sunitha told with a shyness in her voice.

Krish was about to order while his phone started vibrating. The name showed it was devanand. He didn’t pick it. He placed the order and few minutes later the phone vibrated again and this time it was cheena. Then in few minutes he had a total of 21 missed calls from deva, cheena and anumanth squares.

“Why don’t you pick it” Sunitha was asking and suddenly she turned cold. Krish was worried about the change. Sunitha told “A call from deva ….............to my mobile”

“Don’t Pick” Krish told but she replied “I am not like you”. She attended the phone and in tension she also turned the speaker on.

A childish voice asked “Hello, give the phone to krish”

Krish replied “Ya, I am here da.”

Deva continued “ Dai dacalti, Where are you? We are planning for a matinee show and can you join”

Krish fumbled with words “I.I am busy da.... you …...You carry on”

“rite da.....bye” Deva told while krish and sunitha heard smiles from other end of the call.

“You are an idiot” Sunitha told and Krish was still shivering while she continued “But a sweet idiot”

Krish smiled, a broader one this time.

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“What happen to you krish, you are laughing to yourself” Mom asked standing near him

Krish suddenly realised and told “Old Memories amma”

She tapped his back and went away from the room. Krish was about to get up from the chair while he heard his phone ringing. He picked it up and told “Hello” while he heard a lot of noise from the other side.

“Iyerae , This is cheena and we are on a conference da. You, Me, Deva and Anumanth square..... ” cheena said.

“yup. Whats up da.” Krish asked.

“Did you get the news. Sunitha is getting married next month.....” Anumanth said.

“What the hell are you telling....... She must have......said …..said …....i can’t understand.... when.....where....... who told you.... Hold on....   ” Krish was blabbering while he heard few smiles from otherside.

“Are you kidding.... Idiots....... !@##$%^*()&^$” Krish blast into laughter after shouting at them for few seconds.

“Krish........ She will get married one day. If you are not the bridegroom that day..... You will be killed four times.......  ” Devanand told

Krish heard a chorous “Yes........ You will......”.

Krish had a thought in his mind “I am lucky to have them as my friends. They have made me happy. They have found the talent in me. They understood my problems. They have consoled me and today they are concerned about future also....... THANK YOU MY LORD......for giving me such wonderful friends.”