A word with YOU!

It is indeed a matter of great pride that I am an invisible presence in this gathering. Written on the occasion of the reunion party some of a batch )
My dear children,
Right now I am sure you are at a juncture in life where your thoughts and actions will decide the course of your life, not that it was never like that before, indeed at every juncture thoughts did matter, and actions did bear a consequence. Well, what I mean is, certain crucial decisions regarding your life will be taken very shortly and those decisions will play a decisive factor in your life. So first of all let me wish you all with maturity and sensibility to take right decisions (very much a relative term!!!) in life!
For me you are not only my students but a collective source of motivation. I believe, it was a blessing that was endowed upon me to be the teacher of a batch which was unanimous in its willingness to improve. It was not that we (i.e Bama ma’am, Renu ma’am or I) inspired you, it was, as I believe it, you simply absorbed our thoughts and got inspired. You brought to surface all what we wanted to impart, as sincere learners, you tapped the latent spirit in us and we were at our best with you all. Thus your batch stands unchallenged as the best batch that I have ever taught, not only what was there in the course, but the lessons of life as well. If I ever write my autobiography as a teacher your batch takes the prominent position as one of the most significant factors that moulded me as teacher. Perhaps it was then that my prejudice towards this profession was completely wiped out. Thanks my dear children, as today I am in love with my profession!
I would be one of the happiest persons to be able to hear about your progress and prosperity. When I use these words I don’t mean only financial and professional growth, but your happiness and contentment in life. My prayers would be for your peace, prosperity and progress. But most importantly my prayers to God will be to keep your inherent goodness and penchant for being the best, intact even in the face of adversity. I wish you have the boldness to face any eventuality with courage, wisdom and with ability to prioritise. Let your EQ be at par with your IQ so that you can deal with any challenges in your life.
I hope and pray the best for all of you!
May your sense, sensibility and sensitivity profess empathy and compassion to extend your hands of support towards less privileged and welfare of humanity!
May you be always under the kind, generous care of the God I believe in!
May life always show you the best pictures!
May your hands be so deft that the blurred, tasteless colours of life attain soberness and beauty!
All the best for a brilliant and bright future ahead!
With lots and lots of love,
Yours Sreekala Ma’am.

A month with Vasudevan!

Every second in a minute is a step toward the next minute, every minute in an hour brings forth the message to look forward and every hour culminates into day worth cherishing with rich experiences. It was the month of February, when Lathu called up and confirmed that Amma is coming here and Vasukkuttan (her son) would also accompany her. The Initial response was a mixed one. I was not sure what would happen if he decides to stay back, he was a very hyperactive child who was supposed to be very stubborn and obstinate. I didn’t know if I could manage such a wiz kid (of future) who could not be taken for granted ,neither can he be brought to an amicable settlement in case of an eventuality. This was the appraisal I had received about him during the long telephonic tête-à-tête I used have with lathutti, my sister. We are both similar in our views regarding our ignorance towards the virtues of our own children. We are pretty quick when it comes to criticizing them. so i had no idea if i should take words seriously. But then, I was indeed apprehensive when the declaration in the mid march confirmed my fears and Vasukkuttan declared that he wanted my permission to stay back. How could I have withheld my permission to such an innocent yet unwarranted request? Lathutti tried telling him that he would find it difficult since she was not around. But he retorted as if his mother had no mind of her own,‘your sister is there, she is also like my mom. Why don’t you understand? Thus began the preparation for his Korba trip.
And finally on the 3rd of April the sweet bomb shell arrives with Amma. We were thrilled to have them here. Achu made arrangements to take him for swimming in nucleus club. As soon as he enters he makes sure his swimming costumes are ready. He proposes to go immediately, but we somehow convince him evening is the best time. After exchanging cordialities with achu, the bombshell prepares to explode having differences of opinions on the channels on TV . First encounter with the ‘so called’ gentle Achu who relents on seeing the frown on my face. But later those expressions had no apparent effect on Achu and the altercations continued, gradually paving way to taking more serious turns with achu sometimes helpless at his acrobatic competence. But then achu too sometimes had an upper hand when he used his muscle power rendering vasu helpless.
The height of his ideosycrasies was yet to come- he is very much self possessed when it come to verbal attacks which he considers as his monopoly. that was a holiday and achu and vasu as usual were not ready to let us have our siesta,and their arguments turned into violent battle. if a kick fell on achu's tummy, a slap stamped well on the cheek of vasu. to add spice there was shower of what each one meant spitefully to other was also heard. in his spite achu said why don't u get lost from here. now the hero's ego was hurt like anything. he could not stand that comment from achu, he rushes towards the allotted corner for his wardrobe which is actually a gunny bag throws it on to his shoulder walks out of the house, within a fraction he returns and goes to the shoe stand in the balcony picks up the sandals
( not the Chappals that i had gifted him, and which were his favourites) and once again barges out with the bag.i warm him that dogs might be there on the way. but he says he shall bark at them and scare them away. then he goes to the gate hesitates for a while and proceeds. by then achu had begun to cry pleading me to call him back. he promised me that he shall never again fight with vasu. on seeing his plight i told him to go down and bring him back. when he went down the hero was lingering near the gate expecting us to coax him for a change of mind. on achu's pleas the hero budged and obliged us saying, 'i returned only because achu pleaded and whaled. otherwise i would have gone.' (neither the scorching summer heat nor the prowling and prancing dogs could have changed his mind, only achu's lament could do the wonders)
While the saga of fights continued I too had some taste of his quick-wittedness and sharp repartee . I would try emotional black mailing him to get some of my whims to be fulfilled. He would very adamantly refuse to accommodate my interests. When I would threaten him that some of his fancies would not be met with, he would say in his cool demeanour ‘its ok, I have no problem! I don’t want any favours from you!’
( to be precise in Malayalam he would say, oh enikku oru kuzhappomilla, perassi enikku tharanda.) mostly it’s the swimming session that I would put in jeopardy, assuming that refusing to let him go for swimming session would soften him, but in vain. Well, there were certain tiny incidents which have been very memorable. My elder son unni doesn’t prefer eating rice at all. So Chappathies were cooked exclusively for him. Our little hero couldn’t really take a special treatment being extended to someone other than himself. So he declared ‘ I shall also eat chappathies only’. Now my cook had already left and I was too lethargic to prepare chappathies. But would the VIP relent? Not at all! He simply walked away from the dining table and refused to budge. I had to ultimately get up and cook chappathies. That day he ate two Chappathies. So the next day I asked my cook to prepare two extra chappathies for my sweet bitter hero. He just finished off two in no time and asked for another serving. Since I had no fresh chapathies I gave him one which was made a few hours back. He put it in his mouth and declared, this chappthy doesn’t taste well. I want another one which tastes as good as the previous ones. Imagine how well his taste buds recognise the taste! I wanted some favour from him as to keep a serbat glass for wash . he picked it up without a word of denial and as he was proceeding towards the kitchen, he kicked appu ( his elder brother) for which I admonished him. He put back the glass firmly on the table and said, now you only go and keep the glass for washing, I am no servant of yours. When Unni became a bit bossy over his brother and cousins, the protagonist declared, ‘just because you are elder doesn’t mean you can make us dance on our toes. Better mind your own business and leave me alone.’
On the 3rd of May arrived my sister along with her elder son, to be more precise the simpleton brother of the bombshell! Now Achu had some relief from the acrobatic experiences. Achu is on the fatter side, but the hero calls him fatty, hero is on the thinner side, but no one should dare to call him skinny. If you do dare then he knows how to swing his legs in 180 degrees and his limps would reach your face unexpectedly and it would be minutes before you would realize what really happened.
Now that the altercations have shifted to more familiar circumstances, he was a little more relaxed. He really got a more challenging opponent. His brother had no real worry about his comforts and he was less relenting and very informal. We as elders had a rest time when he was asleep or when he was away for swimming. But honestly speaking I am going to miss my little bombshell when he ultimately leaves.
This little bomb shell also produces many sweet moments too. He says ‘perassi (means big mom as translated in colloquial Malayalam) you are so like my mother. You even smell like her. One day I return from school and vasu runs towards me to embrace me with his warmth. He doesn’t take any stuff for himself alone but for his brother as well as cousins. He is very loving when it comes to sharing things, very sharps in his observations, very keen on learning anything other than his regular studies in school. He is so particular about brushing his teeth at night , in the morning. He doesn’t get up from his bed in the morning without saying his prayers, the only problem is that in case he forgets to do so, the one who wakes him up is at fault and so comes under his physical attacks.
If only our education system had been more children friendly in approach he would have emerged a genius for which our country could take pride.

AN ODE TO MY ANGER
Oh, Anger, you arrive unhindered
When I least want it
You proclaim your arrival
Vociferously pouncing upon me
As I try holding you back
My fluttering will power
Gives in at your menacing impudence
And I start exhuming my times of yore
Bringing to surface
Pieces of my sunken past
They lay afloat in my conscious pond
Until you stop unkindly surging them up.
You have incarnated at times as my tears
As humanity bows down with changing values
Thus pronouncing my helplessness,
But then, strange enough
You pressurize me to look beyond
And find ways to act upon
With clear perception and transparency
Oh, anger you are my strength
At times though but _
When pleading eyes search
In me for traces of compassion,
Your refusal to depart from my being
Leaves me frustrated
Oh, anger I implore you
To be a visitor at the right time
And other times I solicit your comrades
Love, gentleness, and good humour
for me to be servile in their empathetic presence

A trip to Ooty was much unexpected. When Madhavan announced the trip we were exuberant. but i had to accept that deep down i could feel my self sulking . Unni is my soul mate! A trip with out him was going to be an incomplete one .Madhavan put aside my apprehension and we proceeded as planned. The lushness of the Ooty extended a refreshing welcome. We were both rejuvenated and exhilarated by the hillocks reaching to sky as if to feel its vastness. The hotel staff encouraged us to enjoy the flower show which was to culminate on the next day. The flower show was a unique experience with variety of flowers arranged with its exquisiteness well highlighted. It seemed as if the heaven had descended them on earth to feast our eyes with their colourful blend well displayed. A variety of models were adorned with the lustre of flowers. The scene was so enchanting that eyes and heart refused to part with it. Sight seemed a blessing here. Nevertheless we left the place with the lingering memories of the flower show in our hearts.

A trip to Ooty was much unexpected. When Madhavan announced the trip we were exuberant. but i had to accept that deep down i could feel my self sulking . Unni is my soul mate! A trip with out him was going to be an incomplete one .Madhavan put aside my apprehension and we proceeded as planned. The lushness of the Ooty extended a refreshing welcome. We were both rejuvenated and exhilarated by the hillocks reaching to sky as if to feel its vastness. The hotel staff encouraged us to enjoy the flower show which was to culminate on the next day. The flower show was a unique experience with variety of flowers arranged with its exquisiteness well highlighted. It seemed as if the heaven had descended them on earth to feast our eyes with their colourful blend well displayed. A variety of models were adorned with the lustre of flowers. The scene was so enchanting that eyes and heart refused to part with it. Sight seemed a blessing here. Nevertheless we left the place with the lingering memories of the flower show in our hearts.

the next day initiated with the pine forest where Achu had a taste of the sloppy forest as he confidently strode into the valley collapsing in a pit. Fortunately he was saved with a tiny bruise on his left temple. He regained his lost enthusiasm with a horse ride his father offered to him. the top view from the mountain which is covered with carpet grass was a splendid scene the nature had showcased. This interlude form the monotonous car journey was indeed a welcome change. We watched the scene below from the Mountain View. One could look below and simply stare stupefied marvelling at the creator's deft hands that painted with natures bounties flawlessly.

Wherever we walked nature seemed to have bestowed the place with beauty and abundance.

the charm of the trip was that after a long gap i was with Madhavan . i simply wished the days to prolong forever amidst the ravishing lushness of ooty, being in the warm presence of the blessings that God so lovingly endowed me with.

To my Alter Ego!

Sitting in the balcony of my home
Feeling the wetness of the sleets in my palm 

Pondering over the dampness in heart 

I shunned the seeming thoughts

With a reclusive sense of void!
Trying to put up a nonchalant demur
I gazed at the vastness of the land

And shifted to the expanse of the sky

My roving eyes fixed at where they met.

In my demeanor I appeared composed

As a becalmed ocean, 

But resonating the thought of the sky,
Complimenting my mood,
 How I did emulate the sky

When we were together,
Conveying through the unspoken words,

Catching the similar strings of thoughts

Then the invisible presence of you
Walked in presenting yourself

Replenishing my forlorn self
With reverberating musings

As you serenaded in my memory

Feeling the incantation of the recollection

I was lifted up in the air with elation 

My moorings with u were short-lived

They remain conspicuous in my heart

Relating to the days of your proximity

Leaving me absorbed in contemplation!

My heart full of enchanting memories,

They are indeed the sweetest reminiscence

Recounting to rejuvenate my numb self,
The wet flooring beneath cooling my mind and 

Beaming with aspiration I peered towards the horizon

To behold the Golden hue adorning the clear sky!
How I do emulate the sky!

APJ- The dream Man of the century (in memory of a rare meeting 23.11.2008 at DPSMUN)

Like a new dawn of realization
dawning on us
You stand there as rising sun .
permeating the hue of ur character
you are the strength in simplicity
reverberating from each strand of ur being
the rejuvenation of the spirit of action
even my old bones revive an energy
and i stand there in awe
as you walk past
as if you r a nonentity
u kindle my numbing spirits.
Shimmering energy revitalized in your undaunted persona
elevating our spirits to scale heights
arousing in us the sense of sincerity
we stand there committed to our dream
the dream to excel!
the dream to be the cause of excellence
not only to dear and near ones
but to be to the humanity!
we thrive on the pearls of wisdom u throw
the subtle impact of your serene persona
we emulate the  love u exude

with the aura of utmost sensitivity
you speak so much of children that
the child in me is awaken
enthusing me to do what i can
with whatever i have
you are the source of inspiration to many
tapping the right spot in the soul
instilling us to elevate ourselves
to be the genuine denizens of our era!