My Trip to Bangalore

Day 1 (12-Jan-2013)

I reached Bangalore early this morning. I was going to stay with my mother’s friend. Her husband Ajith uncle drove us to their place. The place where they are staying is... well, it’s a cross between an apartment and a villa. Apartments are constructed in large plots, aren’t they? Here they have constructed villas instead of apartments in those large plots. When I say villas, I don’t mean a five or six. I mean fifty or sixty villas.  My mother says that the official names for such places are “Housing Colonies”, but I didn’t like that term much. The name of this place is ‘Asset Gardenia’ or something.  Anyway, back to the trip.

Their villa number was 47. He drove us into the garage. We got out, and rang the door bell. We were greeted by Jelli aunty, my mother’s friend. My first thought was that she looked very much like my father’s sister. I stepped into the house, and immediately knew that they are very posh. I already knew that they have two cars, which explains why one car was parked just outside the garage. To continue with the list, they’ve got bean bags, a modular kitchen etc. And there stood Chimmu, (his name is Chinmay, his pet name is Chimmu) wrapped in a blanket, smiling all over his face.

“Pleasure in meeting you again, Manikutta” he said (my pet name is Manikuttan)

“Yeah, me too” I replied

I took out a Nerf blaster and a paperback novel and handed it to Chimmu.

“Here, this is for you.”

“Oh, Thanks awfully”, he said joyfully

He took the gifts, plopped the book on the sofa, and loaded bullets into the blaster and started shooting everyone with it. The next few moments were spent exploring the house, followed by exclamations.

“Hey, look at the number of Hot Wheels automobiles this fellow’s got!”

“Oh, What an awesome view!”

I knew that I had to brace myself for Nerf shots. Jelli aunty offered us a room with a bathroom and a dressing room and a very comfortable sofa cum bed along with good ventilation. We cleaned up, and were immediately down for breakfast. We had parathas with pickle. And we ourselves got to spread butter on the parathas, unlike in my house where mother does all the cooking and we just eat.

After eating, I did more exploring. Exploring this house is a long process as this house has three floors. I tried out his Hot-Wheel race set. Even if it was a childish toy, I have to admit, it was fabulous. The vehicles are launched by pulling a lever, and the vehicles have to undergo tricks and traps during the race, and owner of the vehicle that emerges is the winner. Chimmu had invited me to the trampoline to jump, but I refused. I knew all his friends would be of his age, which is 7 years, which is why I would not like to be grouped up with them. He protested, but I convinced him, and he went away. And obviously, he took his beloved Nerf blaster along with him.

I read the Life of Pi novel when I felt bored playing with that Hot-Wheels game. My father announced that we are going to pick up his niece from her place and bring her here. And off we went to Flat No: E-7, Samhita Blossom Apartments. Her name is Faseela, but I call her Fasithatha. She greeted us happily and served us cutlets and puddings. She handed Chimmu and me Diary Milks. On the way back, Fasithatha was updating us about her life in Bangalore. She got married and decided to work here. Now she’s got a job in Ericsson. Her husband Dilshan (I call him Dilshukkakka) is in the States right now.

Ajith uncle stopped outside a meat shop and bought some chicken for lunch. Time flew so fast that in a moment we were having lunch, complementing Jelli aunty’s chicken curry. Time must have really sprouted wings, because it flew so fast that Jelli aunty, Fasithatha, my mother and I were having our evening walk around the plot. We didn’t have enough stamina, so we could just circle around one-fourth of the plot. When we were back to the start-point, we saw a Scorpio lying outside our villa. My mother guessed that may be her friend, Sreejith uncle, who also stays in Bangalore, might have visited. We stepped in, and saw Sreejith uncle, with his wife, Nisha aunty, and their son, Sharath, also of my age. When he saw me, he immediately asked me to trampoline. I readily agreed. And of course, Chimmu tagged along with us.

We were having the time of our lives jumping when an Ertiga stopped right in front of our villa. I quickly got down and ran to the house. And there stood another of my mother’s friends: Bindu aunty, her husband Pius uncle and their daughters, Roselyn, of my age, Rhea, 4 years old and Richa, 2 years old. Everyone was chattering to each other happily, including Richa and Rhea. After sometime, we were taken to a hotel, “Herbs ‘n’ Spices” where we enjoyed a splendid dinner. It was such a tiring day that the moment I reached back to the house and crashed on the bed, I fell asleep.

Day 2 (13-Jan-2013)

The moment I woke up this morning and glanced at the clock, I immediately freaked out. It was 10’O clock in the morning! What in the name of God were my parents thinking? I quickly brushed my teeth and combed my hair and stormed downstairs, ready to reason with my mother. Just then, I got a nicely –placed Nerf shot on my chest. So all my stored up anger got wasted on this puny punk: Chimmu. And he didn’t even wait to listen. He just ran away, laughing, leaving me steamed.

I could see Jelli aunty and my mother cooking breakfast. They were chatting about their college days. My father was reading a news paper. Ajith mama was fiddling with the buttons on their music system, and out blared the rock and roll music. (Another thing first: Unlike most Malayalees, they mostly speak English in their house, have their cupboards stacked up with CDs mostly of other languages and Chimmu always listens to English music). I exchanged a couple of ‘Good Morning’s with them.

Soon, we were having breakfast. It was puttu and pazham. After breakfast, I was planning what to do next, when my mother called out,

“Manikutta, there are ‘Tell Me Why’ magazines lying on the sofa. Please read them. I bet you will find them interesting”.

I took out a book which said “TELL ME WHY! FAMOUS MONUMENTS 100+ facts about the famous monuments of the world” on the cover. I started reading it, and I have to say that it was a pretty good way to spend time. Okay, other than getting a few Nerf shots my head, it was a nice idea. In fact, I was so absorbed in the book that I didn’t even hear a call from my father.  After what seemed like a few minutes, my father yelled into my ear “Didn’t you listen to me? We are all going to travel in the metro. ALL OF US ARE READY AND YOU JUST SIT AND CALMLY READ BOOKS?!”

I jumped up, startled. Well, if you could jump while lying down, I did. I looked around and realized that I was the only one who was not dressed up for the trip. I quickly bounded up the stairs and into my room. I snatched the dress which my mother had folded and kept on the bed and dressed in a hurry. I had a problem with the buttons, due to which one collar ended up sticking up higher than the other one. I promised myself that I would straighten them up during the car ride to the metro station.

Soon we were ordering tickets in the metro station. A ticket to MG Road, which is around 10 kms, costs only 15 rupees! I also learned that by car, we would need 45 minutes to reach MG Road, while the metro takes 12 minutes only! We place the tickets in the slot surface, the doors open, and we walk on to the platform. There was a yellow line running from the starting to the end of the platform. A notice board on the line said “DON’T STEP OVER THIS LINE”.  Another notice board near the tracks said “HIGH VOLTAGE”. I understood that if I step over the line, I may fall on to the tracks, which may be crackling with electricity, due to which I would become roast meat.

The metro rolled in, its doors gliding noiselessly. I stepped in, and caught my breath. No wonder people called it a technological marvel. It was really fabulous! I studied the interiors. The walls are made from something that is light in weight. There were embedded TVs in the walls, which showed tourism videos of Karnataka. The windows showed us good views of what were going on in the city. Then I realized that the metro was moving! I hadn’t felt a vibration or something like that! We travelled through 5-6 stations (don’t expect me to remember their names, by the way) before reaching the MG Road station.

Since it was lunch time, we decided to have lunch. Ajith mama reserved a table in a Malabar restaurant. We caught two auto rickshaws (six people can’t fit in one auto) and headed towards the hotel. On the way, the drivers took a wrong turn, and went a long way, before realizing their mistake. Because of that, we had to walk along the rest of the way. I was panting by the time we reached the hotel. My parents were happy that they had this brisk walk, but believe me, walking a 600 metres is not my idea of fun.

The restaurant was named “Ente Keralam”, which means, “My Kerala”. I went over to our reserved table and slumped down on to a chair, and I had to wait for a few moments before I controlled my breathing. Then I had a tasty lunch of Malabar parathas with Chicken curry and jackfruit ice cream as desert (first of its kind I ever tasted).

We then caught two autos and made it all the way to Lal Bagh, before a problem arose.  See, my parents, Chimmu and I were in the first rickshaw and the driver put us down near the second gate. Jelli aunty’s auto put Ajith mama and Jelli aunty near the first gate.  When they reached there, they didn’t see us over there, so probably thought that we went in with 4 tickets. So they bought 2 tickets for themselves and went in. Little did they know that we were waiting for them near the second gate with 6 tickets in hand! Well, that way, 2 tickets went wasted. After sometime, we grew impatient. My father dialed Jelli aunty’s number and called her. She answered.

My father asked “Where are you now?”

Jelli aunty replied “Near the glass house”

“Glass house? Which glass house?”

“You should have read the map more carefully”

“Map! Glass House! I do not understand what you are saying”

“The glass house in Lal Bagh. Didn't you see it in the map?”

“By the way, are you in Lal Bagh?”

“Yes, obviously”

“Why didn't you wait for us? We are standing outside Gate No: 2, waiting for you with 6 tickets.”

“Hey, we thought that you all would go through the first gate. And when we reached there, we didn't find you there. We thought that you went in. So we too went in”

“Oh! Well, forget it. Glass house… Isn’t it? Here we come!”

He put down the phone and told us the whole story. We sprinted into the entrance, studied the map, and hurried to the glass house. When we reached there, it was almost dusk, so we did nothing much. We just took an evening walk straight into the exit gate.

There was a girl who was standing near the exit gate and selling balloons. Chimmu bought one.  But holding balloons by hand is a tiring thing. So half the way back to the metro station, he said “Hey Manikutta! Here, accept this gift from me. I specially brought it for you!” and handed me the burden. Jelli aunty probably knew it wasn’t good for my hands, so she whisked it out from Chimmu’s hand.

“I will hold it” she offered

“Thanks” I muttered.

We caught two autos to the metro station. On the way, we decided to buy some presents for Roselyn and her sisters as we were visiting them. Jelli aunty informed us that there is a mall next to the metro station, where we could buy the gifts. It started becoming dark by the time we reached the mall. We decided to buy books for Roselyn and Rhea. We browsed through the books section and selected a ‘Diary of the Wimpy Kid’ novel for Rose, while ‘the little Bob learns a lesson’ and ‘Kitty forgives a person’ kind of story books for Rhea. We settled for a doll-cum-bag for Richa. We paid for the items and went into the metro station.

Jelli aunty sighed with relief as she disposed the balloons because the security guard did not allow it inside the station. We bought six tickets and waited for the metro in the platform. When the metro arrived, I pushed myself through the crowd and boarded it. During the ride, I dug into the cover and brought out Rhea’s books and started reading them.

We alighted at our destination and got into the car. We paid the parking charges and drove our way out of the station and headed towards Bindu aunty’s house.

(By the way, Bindu aunty and her family are our family friends. She studied Pre-Degree with my mother in the same class. During Engineering, though they were in different classes, they were in the same college hostel. She used to work with my mother in the Oracle office in Hyderabad, but got transferred to the Bangalore branch. As for Roselyn, we knew each other from childhood. I remember seeing Rhea before, but Richa had totally been new to me yesterday.)

On the way, we got glimpses of stylish apartments in Bangalore, but none of them was our destination. Finally, I saw gorgeous apartments in a large compound. Written on the gates in big bold letters was i LIFE. Yes, that was our destination. We got out and headed towards C-104. On the way, we passed two swimming pools, and wondered what more were there.

I rang the door bell and heard a babyish squeal of delight, “It’s them!” before the door flew open. And standing there was Roselyn, smiling at us.

“Welcome, welcome” she greeted us

“Please come in”

I was wondering how they could've understood it was us, but after going inside the house I realized that there was a camera outside, which showed our images in a tablet-sized TV inside. The next few hours were a blur. I had dinner, played games and enjoyed all the fun. When it was time to go, I noticed that Chimmu had passed out hugging a huge stuffed dog which Rhea plays with. The last time I checked him, he was playing ‘Whack-a-mole’ with it. Jelli aunty picked up Chimmu and started off towards the car. We too wished them a good night and started off. I do not know what happened next, because I passed out in the car. 

Sports Selection Day at St.Xavier’s School

                       

It was an exciting day for some students of St.Xavier’s high school. It was the selections for the sports team of the school houses.

“I still don’t understand the point of waking up early and going to school for these selections” grumbled Aniket, getting up from his bed and yawning.

“Well, it’s better to be active rather than sitting in front of the telly like a big fat pig on the couch” said Amit, ducking the pillow that Aniket had chucked at him on hearing his remark.

“Yes, quite true” said Arvind, nodding.

Arvind and Amit had woken up early for the sports, while Aniket had been snoring comfortably in his bed, unaware that his brothers were practicing.

There were three choices: basketball, cricket and athletics. Each one of the brothers decided to sign up for one different event. Amit decided to go for athletics, Arvind for cricket and Aniket for basketball.

“I don’t understand how he’s going to play basketball” Amit said in an undertone to Arvind, gesturing towards Aniket. “Never thought his belly would allow that”

Arvind merely shrugged and continued his breakfast. Soon, they were at the bus stop. Arvind was comparing his cricket equipment with other students. Amit was bending his knees and checking his shoe laces. Aniket was having an argument asking if Doraemon was the best cartoon with his friend. The bus arrived on time and they boarded it.

Soon it entered the St.Xavier’s compound with its three vast grounds ready to be played upon.  They assembled near the stage in the main ground. One of the staff members spoke into the microphone. “The athletes can move to the D-block ground and the basketballers can move to the basket ball court, while the cricketers will stay here.”

The three brothers wished each other good luck and went off to their respective grounds. Amit reached the ground, where the children had assembled in lines. A man who was wearing a black track suit stood next to a woman who had a clipboard ready in her hand. As the students reached them, he said, “Good Morning students. I am your instructor and coach, Animesh. You can call me Animesh Sir. And she is Supriya ma’am. As you’re aware, you are here for the selections of the Inter-House Athletics Tournament. The 6^th grade students are classified as sub-juniors, the 7^th and 8^th as juniors and the 9^th and 10^th as seniors.  The sub-juniors can participate in 4 events: 100 m sprints, 200 m, long jump and the 100 x 4 relay. The juniors and seniors, along with all these events, have an opportunity to participate in the Shot Put. From each group, a House takes only two representatives for each event.  Let’s first have the selection for the 200 m. We’ll begin with the sub-juniors. Students of the Gladiators House, will you please come over here!”

A couple of students got up and walked up to the starting line.

“So, on the count of three. One... two… WHEE !”

The athletes began racing each other. Among the great group forcing themselves forward, Amit could make out a solitary figure sprinting faster than the others. Sure enough, he came first. When the next race started, he started getting nervous; he had decided to participate in all the events. He pulled himself and tried doing some warm-up exercises.

After a moment, he heard the call of “Vikings, it’s your turn now!”

He got up and went near the starting line.

“One, - “

Amit crouched down in the starting position.

“Two, - “

Amit closed his eyes and waited with bated breath for the whistle’s shrill sound.

“WHEE!”

Amit sprang up, and with all the force he could muster, he charged down the track like a raging bull, still with his eyes closed.

When he guessed that he was nearing the finishing line, he opened his eyes.  A sudden break of joy erupted in his heart. He felt that every athlete he was competing at that moment was behind him. But when he looked in the front, he realized that he wouldn't be the one to come first. A boy had already crossed the finishing line, and was looking triumphant. He began to increase his speed. He had to scrape a second place, if he had to get selected; only two students get selected from each house. In some time, he had crossed the finishing line, bagging a second. He found himself grinning while he recited his name and other information to Supriya ma’am.  

He quickly hurried to the boy who came first and asked “Hey, what’s your name?”

“Hmmm... Prateek and what’s yours?”

“Amit”

“Try running faster next time”, was Prateek’s comment before turning back and strutting across the ground.

“Humph! What a vain guy.” Amit muttered.

The next event was the 100 m sprints. When the call for the Vikings came, he got up and saw out of the corner of his eyes that Prateek was also getting up. He cursed under his breath and went and stood near the starting line. Even as the race started, Amit saw Prateek cutting closer towards the finishing line. Amit ran in tremendous speed and managed, yet another second position. But when he made his way towards Animesh Sir and Supriya Ma’am, he heard Animesh Sir scolding Prateek.

“…sticking your foot out of the starting line, what did you think? Thought it would go unnoticed, eh? You are disqualified!”

“You!” he barked at Amit “Give your name to her.”, jerking his thumb towards Supriya ma’am.

“And you” he pointed a finger at boy whom Amit immediately recognized as Varun, his classmate, “You came third, didn’t you? You too submit your name; you are selected.”

Varun could not hide his joy when he told his name to Supriya ma’am.

Prateek watched Amit resentfully while he submitted his name.

“The next selection is supposed to be the Relay”, Varun said excitedly.

“Yeah, but where’s the track?” asked Amit.

At that precise moment, Animesh Sir announced, “Err… students, I am extremely sorry, but we won’t be able to conduct the Relay selections because we don’t have enough time. Whoever got selected in 100 m or 200 m, you are free to give your names for Relay to Supriya ma’am. Consider yourself selected.”

There was a huge commotion when about half of the students present got up.

“Ho! Ho! What did you think, we were senseless? Supriya, read the names of those who got selected!” Animesh Sir exclaimed.

When the roll call started, many students shot furtive glances at Animesh sir, and when they noticed that he wasn’t looking at them, they hurried back where rest of the students were lined up. After submitting his name, Amit got back to the rest of the students.

“So, we have finished three selections. Now we will have the Long Jump. Whoever is volunteering for the Long Jump may please assemble at the end of the ground where the Long Jump pit is located.”

A minute later, Amit was joining the line that was assembled in front of the Long Jump pit. The selections started. Amit watched as some students ran and took a massive jump, while some, unable to perform properly, got out looking sad, and in some cases angry. As his chance drew nearer and nearer, Amit started feeling nervous. Was he really sure that he could perform this... this... this ridiculous event? Meanwhile, when he looked up, he realized that his chance was only three students away… Amit blinked. The boy who had just performed was getting out of the pit looking embarrassed, while some of the students were roaring with laughter, but stopping when Animesh Sir started yelling down at them, “How dare you laugh at him?”

Was his mind really advising him to get out of the line before he had to perform it? He looked up as next participant, a girl, hurtled towards the pit, took a marvelous leap, and started looking pleased, made her way towards Supriya ma’am.

If she could, why can’t I?  Amit thought.

But you are not built long-legged like her, said a nagging voice in his mind.

He decided to pay heed to his mind, and without another glance, he hurried to the place where the spectators sat.  Fortunately for him, everyone’s eyes were on the performing student. He sighed with relief as he sat down.

Soon, Animesh sir was announcing the selection of one of the most awaited events: “Now we will have the Shot Put selections. But as I had said, only juniors or seniors can take part in this event. The sub-juniors are free to do whatever they want, but in perfect discipline. Supriya ma’am, if you could please bring the shots...”

Amit turned around and marched off towards some seats arranged at the other side of the ground. When he sat down, he looked up and saw a massive figure of a boy bobbing towards him. Amit recognized him immediately.

He looked up into Aniket’s face and asked him, “So, Anne got selected?”

Aniket suddenly got angry, “You know I hate that! You...You…Y-“

“Sorry Anne, but Father crafted my name in such a way that no one can make fun of it. So, tell me, got selected?”

“Next time you call me that, I’ll kill you.”And looking at Amit’s impatient face, he said, “Yes, I got selected. Manish sir, the basket ball instructor and coach, got impressed by a couple of points I scored. And what about you?”

“What! You got selected! Impos…” spluttered Amit, before stopping at the looks on his brother’s face.

“Hey! Amit! Aniket!”

They turned around and saw Arvind hurrying towards them, weighed down by his cricket kit bag.

“Ah, Arrow, what’s your news?” asked Amit.

“Oh!” he stopped, looking crestfallen.

“I didn’t perform well -“

“Hey! Don’t feel bad. It’s only a game-“

“- at batting” continued Arvind, apparently not hearing what his brother had said. “But I was wonderful at bowling, so luck was at my side!” he said, his face brightening up at once.

“Arvind is so misleading at times” murmured Aniket to Amit.

“Students, please assemble near the main stage” rang a voice from the loud speaker nearby.

“Race to the main stage, guys”, said Arvind.

After about half an hour, Amit and his brothers alighted from the bus at their stop. They had received information that their respective sports would take place on the 10^th, 11^th and 12^th ofJuly, when the Inter-House Sports Meet will take place.

A huge commotion had broken out when they heard this. “We know, we know, it is 3 months away, but you’ll need practice, that’s why!” the staff had called out.

They were very tired, and were delighted when their mother greeted them with chicken sandwiches. They spent a lot of time in the afternoon sleeping, having weird and funny dreams of basketball, cricket and athletics.