Got a mail from Partho today. He had sent it to a bunch of us reminding of another Gandhi Jayanti in what seems a long long time away.
It was a Saturday last year and our mid term exams were on the coming Monday. A month had gone by in a wink in Chennai and people were finding out their books. There were some funny subjects which I don't even recollect plus a test on Japanese.
I had got bugged cooped up in the ashram the whole day labouring over some stupid concept on Software Life Cycle. By evening I had managed to convince Nirmal and Lungi to take a break and go out for dinner at the only decent eatery some distance away from our ashram. Nirmal had stubbed his foot playing football the day before and was in considerable pain and so we had to stop at the doctor's on the way.
Jaiwin and co. (Chinmay, Partho, Mukesh) too were going to the same place in Jaiwin's car and since it was some distance to the the main road and to any transport Nirmal went off with them and I and Lungi legged it to the main road and thence onto a passing rick.
I had always wanted to wear a "mundu" - the white lungi thing, and had coaxed Lungi to lend me one. Now this is a tricky piece of garment and very prone to come off. It stays precariously tucked in at two ends, a master of its own fancy. To take no chances I had my shorts underneath.
Walking in a mundu is no mean feat. There is the constant fear of it coming off plus your pace is severely restricted. On counsel from Lungi I folded it midway like any true-to-his rasam South Indian. Much better that.
At the doctor's got quite a few enquiring glances, my unease showing on my face. After a few minutes wait and some medicines and rest advised to Nirmal we headed off to the eatery.
The food was good and the conversation merry but what was lacking was some booze. Being a dry day and the proprietor being conscientious refused to accede even upon our repeated winks and nudges.
There was some talk in jest of going off to Pondycherry where there would be booze aplenty. A bit sadly we left the place and headed back to our sordid rooms and those horrid books.
We were halfway there when we saw Jaiwin's car manoeuver a turn and stop in front of our rick. Said they had decided to go to Pondy and asked us to hop in.
It was 11:30 in the night, his car was low on gas and we had to go some distance into the city to fill it up before heading the other way. The car was a bit crammed for there were seven of us in it. But what the heck. By this time the mundu was serving as a wrap against the cold night breeze. It was drizzling and the cold spray on us was refreshing. The ECR is such a pleasure to drive on and we were hitting good speed.
On the way we stopped at places to stretch our limbs, take a fag and off we would go.
We reached Pondy at around 2AM and found most booze shops closed. A passing autowallah said he knew of a place which might be open, but this was not our day.
Still with spirits high we parked by the main road next to the promenade. Jaiwin was running a fever so he stayed back in the car with Nirmal (who jokingly reminded that the doc had advised him rest so what best but Pondy - though the ride in the cramped car had only made the pain worse).
We walked the promenade, went out to the sea, sat beneath the solitary statue of the Father of the Nation. The sea was glistening silver from the moonlight and from the lights at the pier. Lungi and I went exploring the French quarters, past the Aurobindo Ashram, where a sweeper was already cleaning the road of fallen leaves. Past two Japanese tourists who stopped us and asked us the time (a bit unexpected that. At 3AM in the morning). Past 'The Rendezvous' and the 'Sat Sang' where Shravu and I had been only a week back. Past immaculate houses and empty roads where dogs stood guard.
We came back to see Partho and gang had gone skinny dipping in the sea and were now in a bit of a pickle as a European couple had found it very amusing and stood looking. We sat and watched the fun and chatted up with another group of merry revellers (they from Bangalore, and cleverly had carried their own booze).
Pondycherry rises early. It was not yet light and people were out walking the street, whole families. It was almost 4:30 when we decided we should head back home and to some sleep.
On the way I dozed off and so did all except for Jaiwin at the wheels and Nirmal who was awake from his hurt toe.
Was woken up by the patter of the rain on the window. It was 6:30 in the morning and we were still some distance from Chennai. ECR was near empty and glistening in the rain. We stopped at one of the numerous beaches along the road, trudged to the sea where fishermen were bringing the night's catch in. It was raining a bit harder now so after some time we were off on our way.
By the time we reached the ashram it was almost 7:30. My body demanded sleep. Took a quick bath and fell out flat on my bed to wake up at 1 in the aftrenoon. Was famished by then so dragged myself to lunch and then back to bed
.
By the time I was rested it was late in the afternoon and I had loads of subjects to wade through and only so much time. Fate catching up?
But then given a chance I would still not trade those hours of fun for a few more hours with those horrid blue books. For what I will always have are these memories.
It was a Saturday last year and our mid term exams were on the coming Monday. A month had gone by in a wink in Chennai and people were finding out their books. There were some funny subjects which I don't even recollect plus a test on Japanese.
I had got bugged cooped up in the ashram the whole day labouring over some stupid concept on Software Life Cycle. By evening I had managed to convince Nirmal and Lungi to take a break and go out for dinner at the only decent eatery some distance away from our ashram. Nirmal had stubbed his foot playing football the day before and was in considerable pain and so we had to stop at the doctor's on the way.
Jaiwin and co. (Chinmay, Partho, Mukesh) too were going to the same place in Jaiwin's car and since it was some distance to the the main road and to any transport Nirmal went off with them and I and Lungi legged it to the main road and thence onto a passing rick.
I had always wanted to wear a "mundu" - the white lungi thing, and had coaxed Lungi to lend me one. Now this is a tricky piece of garment and very prone to come off. It stays precariously tucked in at two ends, a master of its own fancy. To take no chances I had my shorts underneath.
Walking in a mundu is no mean feat. There is the constant fear of it coming off plus your pace is severely restricted. On counsel from Lungi I folded it midway like any true-to-his rasam South Indian. Much better that.
At the doctor's got quite a few enquiring glances, my unease showing on my face. After a few minutes wait and some medicines and rest advised to Nirmal we headed off to the eatery.
The food was good and the conversation merry but what was lacking was some booze. Being a dry day and the proprietor being conscientious refused to accede even upon our repeated winks and nudges.
There was some talk in jest of going off to Pondycherry where there would be booze aplenty. A bit sadly we left the place and headed back to our sordid rooms and those horrid books.
We were halfway there when we saw Jaiwin's car manoeuver a turn and stop in front of our rick. Said they had decided to go to Pondy and asked us to hop in.
It was 11:30 in the night, his car was low on gas and we had to go some distance into the city to fill it up before heading the other way. The car was a bit crammed for there were seven of us in it. But what the heck. By this time the mundu was serving as a wrap against the cold night breeze. It was drizzling and the cold spray on us was refreshing. The ECR is such a pleasure to drive on and we were hitting good speed.
On the way we stopped at places to stretch our limbs, take a fag and off we would go.
We reached Pondy at around 2AM and found most booze shops closed. A passing autowallah said he knew of a place which might be open, but this was not our day.
Still with spirits high we parked by the main road next to the promenade. Jaiwin was running a fever so he stayed back in the car with Nirmal (who jokingly reminded that the doc had advised him rest so what best but Pondy - though the ride in the cramped car had only made the pain worse).
We walked the promenade, went out to the sea, sat beneath the solitary statue of the Father of the Nation. The sea was glistening silver from the moonlight and from the lights at the pier. Lungi and I went exploring the French quarters, past the Aurobindo Ashram, where a sweeper was already cleaning the road of fallen leaves. Past two Japanese tourists who stopped us and asked us the time (a bit unexpected that. At 3AM in the morning). Past 'The Rendezvous' and the 'Sat Sang' where Shravu and I had been only a week back. Past immaculate houses and empty roads where dogs stood guard.
We came back to see Partho and gang had gone skinny dipping in the sea and were now in a bit of a pickle as a European couple had found it very amusing and stood looking. We sat and watched the fun and chatted up with another group of merry revellers (they from Bangalore, and cleverly had carried their own booze).
Pondycherry rises early. It was not yet light and people were out walking the street, whole families. It was almost 4:30 when we decided we should head back home and to some sleep.
On the way I dozed off and so did all except for Jaiwin at the wheels and Nirmal who was awake from his hurt toe.
Was woken up by the patter of the rain on the window. It was 6:30 in the morning and we were still some distance from Chennai. ECR was near empty and glistening in the rain. We stopped at one of the numerous beaches along the road, trudged to the sea where fishermen were bringing the night's catch in. It was raining a bit harder now so after some time we were off on our way.
By the time we reached the ashram it was almost 7:30. My body demanded sleep. Took a quick bath and fell out flat on my bed to wake up at 1 in the aftrenoon. Was famished by then so dragged myself to lunch and then back to bed
. By the time I was rested it was late in the afternoon and I had loads of subjects to wade through and only so much time. Fate catching up?
But then given a chance I would still not trade those hours of fun for a few more hours with those horrid blue books. For what I will always have are these memories.
1 comment:
Nice to have memories of a trip arranged at the heat of the moment. Brings back memories of bike rides to digha ... someday i'll share them too.
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