T for....

"Parthaya Prathibhodhithaam Bhagawathaam Narayanena Swayam
Vyaasena Grathithaam Puraana Muninaam Madhye Mahabharatham!

In the midst of the Mahabharatha war, Lord Krishna advised a perplexed Arjuna. This advice took the form of the Bhagawad Gita.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
G for Gorgeous
E for Elegant
E for Energetic
T for Talented
H for Happy
A for Amicable

That's me - Geetha, all the way from Palkad for you!"

It was the Women's Hostel Cultural fest. And I was a contestant for the 'Hostel Beauty Queen' competition.

And I was rehearsing my introductory line (Read punch line).

Seetha and Chubi watched on, as I did. The hostel had 3 floors and we were grouped into teams - floor wise. We stayed in the 3rd floor. And I was the only one competing from our floor.

I knew if I had to win the contest, I had to depend on my gift of gab, than on vital statistics. Moreover the girl who competed against us was our common enemy. Someone who was tall and considered beautiful, who studied well and was the pet of the staffs as well. That made things worse. Because, all those were areas where, we lost out.

The first round of the Beauty contest started at 7 pm. The hall was packed with girls. Waiting to hoot, laugh and mock.

And there I stood, draped in a Kerala Set Saree with my Mushroom cut hair style and loads of makeup (that was a visual I bet many still remember).

Our enemy's name was announced. And she graced the stage with such perfection - calculated steps, trained moves and perfect smile. Applause followed.

My name was announced.

I stepped on and I thought I heard someone hoot. Good that I chose not to wear my glasses. At least my short-sight blurred my vision and I dint have to see the expressions on the faces glaring at me from in front, waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

"Parthaya Prathibhodhithaam .................. Mahabharatham!
(Phew! that went off well)

In the midst............... Bhagawad Gita.
(I completed that too correctly)

Ladies and Gentlemen,
G for Gorgeous
E for Elegant
E for Energetic
T for ????

Err....

T for ????"

I forgot!

God! This is embarrassing.

I was looking for Seetha and Chubi to help. And thanks to my short-sight I couldn't sort them from the hundreds of smiles I heard.

"T for ????"

Every feeble attempt was captured by the mike and blared across the hall, thanks to the speakers. Our enemy stood there enjoying the whole episode. Giggles kept spreading.

I was breaking my head trying to come up with an adjective with T. Now, what was that.

Terrify?

Terrible?

Terrific!
(Phew! Something is better than nothing!)

"T for Terrific
H for......."

How I managed to fumble the rest of the introduction is still a mystery. Thanks to my savior angel.

By the time I was done, the whole hall erupted into a laughter.

And I became famous instantly.

It is over 4 years now since that night. Yet, Seetha and Chubi still tease me with 'T for....".

(That I managed to reach the final 5 from the 25 contestants and stood a good chance of winning, had the competition not been called off due to strike, is another story).

I miss those days!

I really do!

Good Samaritan

This is a hilarious yet sad story.

Happened this February, when Sunny and Taruna had come visiting from Amritsar. And I had taken them to the beach.

Before I go into the story, let me introduce the main characters.

Character 1: Me. (You know me, obviosuly!)

Character 2: Sunny alias Ashish. Sunny, is like a younger brother to me. We met through Orkut about 3 years ago, and instantly hit off. He always came to me when he was happiest or while at his lowest self. I wonder how my words of inspiration often helped him out (because when I am depressed, none of my self-motivation techniques help!).

Character 3: Taruna. Sunny's newly wedded wife. That made me her 'Bhabi'.

Character 4: I still dont know his name! I haven't seen his face. Except for his hair, shirt and shoes.

Now to continue the story...

Sunny and Taruna, were visiting us, in Chennai. It was their first visit ever to South India. Sunny was from Amritsar and Taruna from Delhi. That should explain their love for the sea.

So there we stood at the Marina beach in Chennai at 9 pm, watching the Bay of Bengal. Sunny and Taruna had never been to a beach before.They had only read about the sea from school. They ran into the water. Their exciement was justified.

I sat at a distance, watching the young couple play in the water. Hoping they knew swimming. (You dont need the sea to learn that!)

"Didi..."

It was a scream.

I ran wondering who was drowning and whom to pull out. Both of them stood there frozen.

"Kya hua?" (What happened?), I asked.

"Didi, paani mein aadmi..." (A man in the water), that was Sunny.

"Kya?" (What?), me again.

"Didi, paani mein aadmi..." , he repeated.

"Kahan?" (Where?)

"Wahan dekho, paani mein aadmi... woh kya kar raha hain?" (Look there. A man in the water. What is he doing?)

I was searching for some fisherman fishing away. Nothing was visible in the dark. I wondered if it was a ghost.

That's when Sunny pointed into the water a few feet away and showed me something floating.

"Lagtha hain kuch doll hain..." I was trying to console myself saying it was a doll.

"Nahi Didi. Shirt pehna hain. Sar pe baal hain. Dekho dekho, shoes bhi hain!" (No! He has a shirt on him. There is hair on his head. He is also wearing a shoe)

I dint know what to say.

"Woh paani mein thair raha hain kya? Lekin mukh tho paaani mein hain..." (Is he trying to swim, with his face in the water?) Sunny kept on talking.

A tide swept over and the body floated along with it.

That's when I froze. It was a dead boy. Or rather the deadbody of a boy. And it was floating towards us.

I pulled them both out of the water and asked them to stay together. Then I ran to get help.

Two gentlemen (a foreigner and an Indian), dressed like business men where engrossed in a deep conversation, when I barged in. They seemed angry.

"Sir, there's a deadbody floating in the water, quite close... We need to get help..."

"So, why you telling us. Please go and inform the police."

Hmmm... Not worth a fight. Better try someone else.

Balloon vendors!

May not be educated and well dressed. But have heard that such people have a heart.

"Anna, anga thanniyil oru ponam. Vanthu paarunga! Please!" (There's a deadbody in the water there. Please come and help!)

"Madam. Tension aagathingey! Ukkarunga... Thanni kudeengey..." (Madam, relax. Sit down. Have some water.)

Such diplomats! Impressed. Now to get to the crux of the issue.

"Anna... antha ponam..." (What about the deadbody?)

"Daily ethana ponam paakarom. Thanni adichu mabulla vanthu sethuduvaanga. Ithu ingey sahajam. Neengey tension aagaathingey!" (We are used to this everyday. Someone or the other gets drowned, often inebriated. You dont get worried about all this...)

"But Sir, athu poi edukkanom, illa?" (But we need to get the body out...!)

"Aiyo. Namma thoda mudiyaathu. Police thaan varanum..." (No, we cant do that. That is the cops' affair)

So much for diplomacy.

Now, where do I find a policeman?

Meanwhile, Sunny and Taruna were on the beach trying to guard the deadbody, or rather walking along with it, as it floated. What a romantic way to spend one's honeymoon!

I thought I saw a Khaki on the road. It was quite a distance from the road to the beach. I was gasping for breath as I had to run to cover the stretch.

I forgot my Tamil and started screaming in English.

"Sir, there's a deadbody in the water and you really need to help. We have to pull it out...."

"Madam, Tamil theriyuma?" (Do you know Tamil?)

"Yes Sir. I mean, theriyum. (Yes Sir, I do.)

"Ok.... Ippo sollunga..." (Ok, tell me now.)

I repeated the story again.

His first question startled me.

"Madam, body water'le irukka illa land'ile irukka?" (Is the body in the water or on land?)

"Sir, its in the water!"

"Oh! Then, sorry Madam. Not my department."

"Whaaaaat?"

"Madam, body ippo thanniyilley thaaney? Athu karaykku vantha namma paathukalaam" (As the body is still in the sea, I cant help it. Let it come to the shore. Will do something!)

"Sir, athu ponam Sir! Athu thaana nadantha varum? Namma poi pudicha thaan varum!" (Sir, will a deadbody walk up to the shore? We have to go get it...)

"No Madam. Not my department."

Crazy people. I lost it.

My heart leapt out to the guy who floated in the sea.

A boy...

Without a name.

Without a face.

Half immerged in water.

Waiting to be pulled out.

Or to be washed ashore.

I wept silent prayers for his family, who were either asleep or were wide awake waiting for him to get home safe.

I called Sunny and Taruna and hired an auto and headed home.

So much for trying to be a good samaritan. I failed miserably.

May God forgive me and may his soul rest in peace.

Another night

Its past midnight
On a warm July,
As I await
Sleep to usher by.

I hate it when
I stay awake
But then again,
Its my mistake.

I'm thinking of you
A thought that lures
It cant be true
Do I still love you?

I toss and turn
Its truth or dare.
A desire still burns
Veracity blares.

Holding back sobs
Unable to cope,
I fervently grope
My desires, my hopes.

Your boyish charms,
That mystic smile,
Your nature - calm.
What a warm delight!

What were thou?
A chip from my dream?
Where are you now?
May I try redeem?

A passing cloud?
An infactuation found?
A love that bound?
Another bond on the shroud?

Life knocks me back
As the dawn unwraps.
I rest, for I should hack,
As tomorrow awaits - with a new set of traps!

Geethu's 28 secrets

1) I am a narcissist, I luv myself. I can spend hours together watching my snaps or myself in the mirror!! hahaha

2) I cherish a dream of owning an elephant, a chimpanzee and a golden retriever.

3) My mom is my best friend, there's literally nothing in my life which I haven't shared with her.

4) I luv chocolates, chocolate cakes, and chocolate icecreams.

5) One thing I am terrified of and have nightmares about is - Spiders. I cant stand them.

6) I wish to adopt a girl, a physically challenged child some day.

7) I luv dancing - on stage, at parties, or in front of the TV. How I wish I had learnt dancing and become a choreographer.

8) I can sing pretty well.

9) I always had an inferiority complex that I am not good-looking, especially because my brother and sister are known to be head-turners. I guess Point (i) is an psychological aftermath of this ! :D

10) I am scared of relationships. I dont think I can get committed to anyone easily.

11) I am pretty fast with computers. I learn fast and love speed.

12) I somehow like Sadam Hussein, Hitler, Veerappan and Osama though I dont approve of everything they do / did!

13) I love wearing a Saree.

14) Though I try put up a serious image in public, I am very emotional and cry easily. (For e.g., 95% of the movies I watch make me cry) ;)

15) I am allergic to Panadol / Crocin / Brufen / Paracetamol.

16) I make friends fast. 80% of my best friends are boys.

17) Recently I figured out that majority of my good friends' are either Geminis or their names start with "S" (my mom & Sis too). Second on the list would be friends named with "R".

18) I had my first crush when I was in LKG and his name was "Vikram" and we broke up because he wanted to see me wear a nose ring and poked me hard with a sharpened pencil!

19) I luv shoes and bracelets and hand bags and shopping. Admit, I often end up buying unnecessary stuff.

20) I luv celebrating birthdays and gifting things. I used to end up crying every year on my mom's birthday because she never found my gifts useful, and I often got scoldings.

21) I want to learn salsa, to play the flute, some form of martial arts and to ride a bike before I die.

22) One place I want to visit is the Congo jungles. I want to spend the night lost in a forest, with wild animals around, petrified that tomorrow may never come. That would be fun.

23) I wouldn't think twice to give up my choice or tell a lie, if that would make my dear ones happy.

24) I once made a new year resolution of becoming a vegetarian. I was a Veggie for more than 3 years, before I gave up.

25) Ever since my 8th standard, I gave up writing with blue ink. I write only with black and feel paralysed when I have to use a blue pen.

26) I have more than 10 pet names - Geethu / G / Gee / Geethol / Umpatti / Tinku / Dingo / Loosu / Paatti / Kosu / Kakkara / Kaappiri / Bobby are among a few.

27) I wanted to become a teacher as a kid - so much was my obssession for chalks and blackboards!

28) I dont want to die rich. I want to die happy.

Happy Today!

From the one who was my very own sky,
To the one, who won - waiting years to be mine,
To the one who smiled, and sang and reigned -
True to the core, to these men I had been!

Yet none in my life today, none to be seen
Sometimes I feel that those days were just dreams.
I seem to have grown by bounds and leaps,
For today I hardly have memories to keep!

I no longer seek joy, in a voice that's hoarse,
Nor long for hugs, behind closed doors,
Nor tease thirsty eyes, that ask for more,
Or fall for tall claims, which later leave me torn!

A gesture, a thought, a smile or a note -
I no longer seek from the prospective lot.
My memories bring to life every fight that was fought
So any blush that appears, I ensure is wept out.

With friends to hang out and keep me gay,
With a beautiful niece who seeks company to play,
With a job that keeps my thoughts at bay -
I am happy this way, I am happy today!

9 Months !

Its 9 months since I first blogged.
I never felt I would last this long.

This is my 51st Blog post.
I never knew I would complete half a century.

962 hits so far.
I never thought people would be interested to know what's happening in my life.

32 followers.
I never imagined that people would like what I've written.

Friends, have proved me wrong.

In this space, I have shared
Emotions I failed to express when I should have...
Experiences that taught me what's right and wrong...
Miseries that forced me to endure longer...
Love that made me stronger...
Friends who with each passing day, grow fonder...
My family which keeps me bonded!

Writing this blog has helped me relieve - my happiness, my anger, my sorrows, my love, my losses and much more!

And right now, I am happy.

Friends, Life is simple, despite its complexities. I hope all of us stop existing and start living!

I hope I get your support, as always!

The Reason Why

There is a reason why you are not mine,
There is no reason for me to whine...
I have lost my rhythm and rhyme,
I can only hope to revive and shine!

Alas! I will never be your future
But my dear, you shall always be my past.
The reason is - I still hold strong,
Though I know - You have moved on.

Dont know the reason why love sucks
The reason why all men look shmucks
The reason why I wouldn't risk my luck
Nor leave my heart for others to pluck!

I once had a dream to walk down the aisle
I should be over that thought, in a while
For - there is a plot behind all those smiles
A vengeful lot behind all that style!

A reason to find fault, is all we search
A treason behind it, is what will emerge!
For reasons - you will find no lack, no dearth
And eventually realise the pain was not worth!