My Brothers

One upon a time……
I can lose to anyone but not him, in fact them. Be it a game of chess, a game of cricket or tennis played with bare hands and rubber ball. I gave my best to ensure that I stayed on top and loath to give them an inch. I often fought to win, entered into brawl to gain the edge, conspired with my team mates to outwit. My god, my hate knew no boundaries when I lost to them, my brothers.

My brothers continued to haunt my days of growing up. They were invariable preferred by the arbitraries, my parents. Oh gosh but for them I would have thrashed my adversaries, the conniving two. Some how, they, my two younger brothers, got along well and they always seems to find a common cause against me? These emotions formed the part of my early memories of my brothers.

Some time in between….
Later on, we grew in time and mind. We started appreciating our individualities. I was more of an authoritarian who would never have no for an answer but always been the perpetual pampered boy of the family. However, my brothers now were more of friends than anything else. We shared the same bed, played the same games and saw the same programs in T.V. My younger ones were grooming up to be individuals in their own right. One was very studious, (eldest of my two younger brothers), patient, fierce competitor and loaded with a persona (intellect, not otherwise) to charm anyone who cares to listen.
The youngest one, I never g0t to know him when he was growing. He seemed to be a keen observer of our activities, very discrete about his preferences but doing quite well in whatever he chose to do. I could never fathom how he could manage to come up with good grades in spite of his abysmally low studying hours. However, he was the darling of the family. We would unite any against any common foe, neighbors were in awe of our unity but the truth is we had learned to tolerate our differences. To a very large extent our rivalry had come down.

Just a few years back…….

My younger brother, the studious guy and I got along very well. His friends were mine as well and my friends were his. We studied the same books, took part in same competition and attended the same Sunday club. Our youngest sibling was still a mystery to me, however he had matured into a young lad who was old enough to play cricket with us. He was mature enough to leave us alone when we had friends at home. To a large extent our difference had come down. Colleges, universities followed and we were geared up to take the life head on and make a mark.

I was the first one to leave the house, as I prepared to leave, I didn’t know what I was bequeathing to tides of time. However I bid adieu.




June 04, 2008

I am married and blessed with a daughter; my brothers have grown up into fulsome men in their own right. Studious one had turned into a potential scientist and is just a few months away from completing his doctorate from the Seoul University. The youngest one has become one of youngest people to adorn the office of assistant manager in a big banking conglomerate.

Our feelings for each other have evolved to one of camaraderie, friendship and to one that of soul mates. There is no secret amongst us, my life long enigma about my youngest one dawned on me. He was simply much better than both of us and has emerged as one with far more interpersonal skills and business acumen than both of us put together.

As I look back, our relationship cycle has taken a full circle. I have only fond memories left to chew. I only wish we relive all those moments once again. I have no regret about our relationship, I have spent the maximum share of my life with them, the best of my moments with them. I just wish and pray, my future generations would get such a lovely relationship to rejoice. When we see each other after a long gap, we just pick up from where we left, starting from cricket bats to our taunts.

Future….

No grand plan, no ambition to build an empire ( we would eventually do it), no billion dollar milestone to achieve and I am sure and this holds good for all three of us, no exotic place to visit in our to do list. However, we would want to spend the twilight years of life in embrace of our home town, Coimbatore. Sharing the same roof, the same drawing room and the same food, making sure we enjoy the second child hood blissfully without missing out on any fun of our first childhood.

All our work, money, passion is spend realizing this dream. If at all we want to bequeath anything, that would be, the harmony that we experience today amongst us to the our successors.

Blood is definitely thicker than water; friendship you forge with your brothers is unique and just can’t be matched by any other relationship in your world. You will have to experience it to believe it.

My Friends

Date: May 10th 2000
Venue: Coffee shop in race course road, Coimbatore
Tears welled up, emotions ran high, words stuttered and voices choked, this was how may 10th 2000 turned out to be for veg roll gang. It was the last day of our final semester exams (except for poor me! I still had one more exam to go). We wanted to slowdown the clock, if possible stop it, eventually to give it away once again to the vagaries of time and had to part saying goodbye ( I guess for the nth time, until the dusk chased us away). At the time we just had hopes of keeping in touch, though we knew we would stand connected through our ever green memories

In between……… (2001. 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005….till 2006 December)
Venue: The virtual coffee shop

Marriages, studies, job and other paraphernalia got in between, all of us made earnest effort in our lives be it setting up home or climbing the professional ladder and in between we kept in touch through phone calls, emails and the old fashioned way of writing letters (believe me people did that too) reliving those memories and cementing a stronger foundation. Needless to say other priorities of life (husbands & wifeJ, jobsL, in laws, exams) took priority nevertheless those emails, calls and letter kept flowing in at least once a year. This is how we stand as individuals in our own right six years later

Amudha – still struggling to hear, got a kid makes an amazing mom. Graduated from being an amateur cook to a professional, hosting parties (see her thanks giving day pics).Wonderful wife (she claims, yet to be confirmed) and let me state this, but it’s for you to believe, she is doing a course and has a A grade in it – interior designing

Brendha – As ravishing as she used to be and still could make a few heads turn her way, makes an effective home maker. Drives around Chennai city in her maruti zen and exhibits her lecturing skills to the hapless commuters.

Mercy – Lives in the silicon valley of India, strolls around the city in a vehicle???? ( I am yet to see the vehicle) has loaned her charm to the power of infinity to her daughter, has a husband with Greek god looks.

Rasika - From kaddu Ramakrishna puram to Houston, the transformation has been dramatic to say the least, Manages home & work with aplomb. Runs marathons (100 mts 200 mts), eats American food and DRIVES!!!!!Not sure about the vehicle, should be driving the only bullock cart in America.

Thennai – she is a strict lecturer, who can even lecture to students in the college bus. Got married recently (few weeks back) and her husband is all set to leave the country (thanks to her teaching skills)

Prabhu – New Manager in a MNC, believe me it is true!! Drives around bangaluru in his bike, looks like the hindi movie bhai loag . Still flirts…..oops his ultimate boss might read this. Married, not married…..speculate

Jana - As usual, Mr. Nice Guy


Date: Undecided but sometime in 2007
Venue: yet to be finalized

We all are set to meet as a gang again or in groups, as the two NRIs of our gang are all set to visit to India. This time when its time to say good bye , voice wouldn’t choke, there would be no tears because the times has taught us that we can defeat it in its own game and keep our flame of friendship alive and burning in full vigor. The frequency of visits would drop, mails might not flow as frequently as it used to be but we are not bothered because we have transcended from being friends to one big family, the Veg – Roll family. We fight, we bicker, might disagree with each other but then that’s family for you………………As we welcome the new year, let me welcome the two new members of our veg – roll gang

SARVESH & TANIA…………………………………………….

If you are puzzled about the non inclusion of the spouses, do understand by default ( they might not approve the word, never mind) they become part of this family

How it happened……….

How it happened……….

It was one of those days when I just couldn’t do anything wrong. I had just landed with an opportunity to do attend a workshop and I was taking the office cab to my sister place. As she stays close to the venue I thought it would be better if I stayed over night.

The cab was already waiting and the transport in charge directed me to get into that waiting cab. As I clawed my way into the cab, there were already two people inside. I paid no attention to them and was fully geared for the evening fun with my sister and her family. After a few minutes I realized that driver hadn’t come yet and other two in the cab were getting restless. That’s when I first looked at her, in the dark I could see nothing but silhouette and I could sense I was in the company of a beautiful girl and I wasn’t anyway interested whatsoever. The other companion of mine was a male and had no uniqueness about him, one of hundred faces we meet every day. As the driver took time, the girl stepped down from the car that’s when I noticed her in full moonlight. She had a long flowing hair, carved out eye brows and was impeccable dressed. I was impressed;

Driver arrived and the car moved, I immersed myself in music and other two were chatting with each other. We passed through a by-pass road and I suddenly got into the conversation, it was about where each other were getting down. As I was new to Chennai I was asking the guy (I figured his name is Vijay) about certain places the conversation meandered into where I am from and what I do. This is was just between Vijay and myself. The other passenger in the car remained a stranger. We passed through a film shooting contingent and that’s the first time I spoke to her and saw her face. I was mighty impressed but again, I have come through so many such pretty faces and those meant nothing except spicing up my journey. So the interest factor remained subdued.

Vijay got down. That left me and the girl in the car barring the driver. We still had close to 10 km to cover and the traffic was moving at snail’s pace. I decided to know about the girl as she reminded me of somebody I knew, ha! she reminded of my colleagues who works out of London. I confronted her with the same question, I know that was poor opening but then I was just being honest. She nodded in the negative. I still can’t remember what happened next but we were already in a conversation. As the conversation grew, my interest was growing proportionately. Not that she was a great conversationalist but she was great to look at and her expressions were just too captivating. I couldn’t resist, so I asked where you from. I just couldn’t believe the answer; she was from my home town – Coimbatore! My interest skyrocketed. I pounded her with questions on her schooling, where she lived and what she studied. She answered without any reservations and showed interest on knowing where I come from in Coimbatore.

I just didn’t want the car to stop and for once I loved the traffic jam and wished the traffic intensifies. The Almighty had his own designs and I reached the designated place full 10 minutes before I anticipated. Then it struck I haven’t asked her name, I quickly without sounding flirtatious asked her name and she said “Akila”. It stuck.

I just couldn’t come over the feeling I felt towards her, it was too deep to call it infatuation; it was too real to call it unfinished agenda of the previous birth. It was too quick to call it love. It was too overwhelming to call it flash in the pan emotion. I just couldn’t put a word to it but I knew it meant something profound. I didn’t share it with my sister, which I usually do about girls. May be this was different. I wanted to tell her, I waited for everybody to sleep, that’s just my niece and brother in law, then slowly told my sister that I met a ravishing girl in the car and I just didn’t want the car to stop. Her usual reply is “not again” but then as if sensing my feeling she asked did you enquire about her family (caste). I wished I had, but then laughed off her suggestion saying that would be too unprofessional.

As I slipped into sleep with that overwhelming and spontaneous feeling, her face got etched in my memory. I don’t know whether I am still sleeping or just living a dream, I am getting married to her in the near future and that for me matters. Don’t you think this is one hell of coincidence to share?

Love at first sight a love for life…….

Love at first sight a love for life…….

Never thought this could happen to me, I was awe stuck at her pristine beauty I glimpsed at her only for a few seconds and her picture perfect face was ingrained in my memory for a life time. Conversations around me reduced to mere movement of lips as her beauty deafened everything else. Amidst all the volcanic commotions (emotions) in me, she maintained her composure and oblivious of my presence. Her stoicism only heightened my heartbeat

I was mesmerized enough to drop my jaws in admiration and adulations. At the first sight of her I knew this was the one person with whom I would be happy to surrender my liberties to argue, to disagree, to get angry and even to voice a different opinion. Ergo! Love at first sight dawned on me, I was helpless. My rational and radical self just seemed to have vanished. In other instance of such surrender I would have felt ashamed of myself however this time I felt as if I was destined and willing to be her hostage of love. With a snap of her finger, I knew I could do anything, dangerous? I knew it and I would still want to do it

Is it poetic justice or is it laws of evolution I would care less to decipher the feeling that ran through me, a vowed rationalist till a minute ago. My reasoning abilities numbed, my intellect is craving for my attention, my innerself groping in the dark to define this meek surrender of me. Yet, I knew this is the best thing to happen in my life. This bundle of joy, my first Child in her first few movements on this earth proved the eternal cliché of love at first sight to be true. She came, she posed and she conquered

I felt my feets were grounded when the labor room nurse took the child back into the labor room for further examinations

Everything else came to life again, I could hear my parents, friends and relative congratulate me and I knew my love at first sight has become a love for life, and has induced a new meaning into my life. I welcomed this bundle of joy with a choked voice and gulp in my throat.

Welcome my first child, my first love and my love for life………