Our Car's Day Out.... Vrooooooooom!!!!

After a week of mental anxiety, i was more than happy to welcome the weekend. I had been pestereing my dad to give me a clue of the adventure he had promised, but he kept me waiting until saturday evening. My joy knew no bounds when i finally had his word and i began racking my brain, planning for the event and pooling in people for the challenge. I slept pretty early on saturday night expecting an enthralling tomorrow.

The day dawned bright and pleasant. The team that finally got fixed for the day was my dad, my mom, two of my cousins and myself - all of us dressed in blue. Our anticipation of what was to come grew exponentially as we neared our destination - Le Royal Meridien!!! There were banners that said " Wheels Of Fortune" and a number of volunteers from the Maruti car company were lined up welcoming the participants.On guy came up to our car and numbered it "82", gave us forms to complete and wished us luck. Totally there were around 130 cars in the contest. Slowly one-by-one, cars were being flagged off and we fixed our seat belts and got ready for our turn.

Ok, i guess i have not told you guys what this was all about. So here it goes : This was a contest exclusively for Maruti car owners. The goal of the game was essentially to figure out the clues which would give you certain prominent places in Chennai. We had to plan our shortest route from one place to another and determine our next destination accordingly. This was not a game of speed, but was to test how smartly we drive within the city speed limits, take the shortest route possible(max. 60 km totally) and get back to the starting point within 3.5 hours. Simple rules. Smart thinking. Some planning. Prior knowlege of the entire city. That's all was asked of you.

We were given breakfast and a clue paper at the time of flag off. My dad drove the car, i took the seat next to him, everyone in the backseat leaned forward enthusiastically as i read the clue sheet aloud and instantly we began guessing the places - Anna Nagar Tower, Abirami Mega Mall, Light House, Planet Yumm along Besant Nagar Beach, Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium and finally Birla Planetarium. The order of clues given were mixed up and we were expected to route the places in the order that best saves distance . However, the clue for Anna nagar tower read : Often termed " City inside a city, named after ex-chief minister of Tamil Nadu and a well known tower." Before i completed the last couple of words, everyone began to shout out MGR Film City. So my dad went to Birla Planetarium first. Next we went to MGR Film City only to find that there was no checkpoint there. Later, we realised the correct place was Anna Nagar Tower and knew we were already wrong. Anyway, we were going 6,5,4,3,2,1 instead of 1,2,3,4,5,6. At last, we arrived at the starting point in exaclty 2 hours making 50km totally. Not bad, but definitely not good enough for the first place.

With disappointment, we returned home. We were told that the top 80 would be notified by a call before 5pm for dinner at Le Royal Meridien and prize distribution. Hoping against hope, i was eagerly waiting for the call. At 4.15pm, the phone rang and i jumped to it. My dad picked it up and spoke in his usual monotonous tone that he does while speaking to his customers. I was pinchin him and asking if it was them and he gave me a thumbs up signal. I literally jumped up and gave a hi5 to my mom and immediately called my cousins and informed them to be ready by 6. We left, asking our grandma to recite "Rama Japam" so that we win. ;)

A big hall was set up with a number of games. One guy was DJing and we had quite a lot of fun. Finally it was time for results and the chief guest was Gautham Menon (Director of Tamil movies Minnale, Kakkha Kakkha, Vetaiyadu Vilaiyadu). The only two people who had any hopes of getting at least a consolation prize we the smaller of my cousins and myself!!! Each time, the DJ mentioned that the next prize was for a Wagon R(dats the car we own), a chill ran thru my spine and the the two of us looked at each other. The list of 7 consolation prizes was announced and our name still didnt appear. I lost the little hope that i had. Finally the DJ said that the first prize - a Samsung AC, was for a Wagon R. My heart beat faster. Unfortunately it was not us. However, my mom was so happy that a Wagon R bagged the first place. Later, we had dinner and left the place.

I came back home, thanking my dad for the wonderful Sunday he gave me, though i was disappointed at not having won a prize. On the contary, my mom was satisfied with the crockery set, hair dryer, etc. that they gifted all participants and my dad was happy about the gift voucher for 5 litres of petrol !!! It was quite an experience and a wonderful day out for me and our car. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire day. Now, i am just going to improve my driving skills and try to bag the prize under Ladies category next summer. That would be fun!!! :)

An Update before Doomsday....

For the past few days i have just been wondering what to blog about... Much has been happening... Mom hosted lunch at home for a family friend and after a really really long time, i went to the beach with my cousins... enjoyed the waves and the sand... rolled in the grass playing catch-catch... and yes...its exam results time... There is tension in the air and much more at home too...last year, this very time, i was expecting my 12th results... in total chaos....wondering which college i would be in... and now i am awaiting my university results, coming out this saturday and i am as anxious as ever...

I am hardly able to think about anything to blog about since my mind is preoccupied with what i am to expect of my results... if i grieve about all this to my mom, she gives me this punch dialogue that she recently heard in this movie "Sandai Kozhi" - " Andha Saraswathiye kaila veena yai vechundu silenta irukka, nee yen ivalo tension aara!!!"... Haiyooo super blade... I got even more tensed and switched on the computer... i was browsing through some pictures when i found these... i had a passion for working in Corel Draw and i drew these way back when i was in class 8... ( and for the few who are wondering what Corel Draw is... its a drawing software... it has some really wonderful tools which gets your imagination go wild and your mind pictures come to life)... ;)

i have shared a few of the pics i love...





I shall take leave of you now... My dad says he has something really adventurous for me next weekend... :) i shall be back soon next week and keep you guys posted of the adventure... till then i am simply having my fingers crossed for my results... byeeee and hugzzzz....

Me.... only me.... and none but me....

I am back to blogsville after a wonderful trip down to the countryside with my entire maternal side family... It was a much needed reunion for all of us... We had booked a tempo traveller and visited a few temples... On our way, we also hopped to our native place, a town named Pudukkotai near Trichy...in the midst of my city-born cousins, i was the only one born in this small town ... i still remember how inferior and embarrased i used to feel to mention this as my birth place... When all my friends used to say Chennai, Delhi, Bombay or someother big city, i had to say "Pudukkotai"... When i was in my primary class, i used to tell my friends that i was born in "New Fort", a city in England... some of them even believed me!!!


Now, i no longer have such a feeling... i felt so nice to get back to the place, where i was born and brought up for a couple of years... When i joined school, we shifted to Chennai, but still i used to go to my grandparents house every vacation... After a few years they sold the house and came to Chennai too... Two days ago, when we went to the house, it was the same old place, every brick was right there in place, no changes except for the people in the house... the neighbours were all the same... we asked permission from the residents in there and were admiring the place that was once ours... my grandma and grandpa were in tears as they entered their old mansion... my mother, and her siblings were telling us (their kids) as to where they used to study, which wall they used to scribble about one another, which tree in the backyard they have once climbed... so on and so forth... my cousins and me were simply smiling and inqusitively questioning them...


After a few mins of excited words and emotional exchanges, we began our journey back home... i took the window seat and was watching the beautiful landscape of the countryside... with both sides of the narrow road laden with trees and flowers of every kind... on one side my mother was chatting with her brother and sister...on the other, my cousins were playing UNO cards... each one shouting and fighting occasionally with their brothers and sisters... and suddenly a strange thought occured to me...really strange... i have never thought of it before... it is now 18 years.. and such a thought has never ever stuck me so painfully... i began to wonder...


WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE WITHOUT ANY SIBLINGS??? WHY AM I SINGLE??? WHY DONT I HAVE AN ELDER BROTHER??? WHY NOT A CUTE LIL YOUNGER SIS??? ....

My parents have been really dear to me... they have never been controlling or conditional parents... they have punished me for any wrong i do... they have tirelessly advised me... at the same time... they have given me what i wanted at the time they thought was right... They have dedicated all the time in the world for me...Even to this date, they take me to my cousins place at least once in a week... in fact, till now i have spent only one b'day with my friends... otherwise, its always been a family party or a family get-together... This is probably one of the reasons, i have never felt a need for a sibling...


Most of my cousins are much younger to me... Only a couple who really match my age, but still i have my own reservations in telling them things that are closest to my heart... However, i have always treated them and loved them as if they were my own bro or sis... Somehow, from that evening my heart suddenly had this desperate feeling of not having my own sister or brother...


An elder brother with whom i could share everything that i had in my heart... who would drop me in class in his "super bike"... i would sit proudly behind him thinking "My brother is the fastest and best bike rider in this world"... with whom i would roll on the bed, pinch hard on his tummy, fight until i lost all the energy in me... then shamelessly wait until he comes up to me and sweetly kisses me for which i would bite him hard... a brother who would hug me when i leave for my in-laws place one day... someone, who always would give me a hand to climb up.. who's shoulder is ever there to cry, who is always protective and who's love is undying....


Or at least, a younger sister... who would be the fighter cock of the house... who would cry for anything and everythin in this world... with whom i would boss around... scold her for not completing the homework before i return from college... teach her all that i know and make sure she is the best in her class... dress her up like a princess and proudly hold her hand as we walk to any party... a sister who's every problem would be solved by me... who's every wish would be granted... who would be loved more than anyone else in this world...


I only wish i had someone like that... i only wish... But not to regret... i am still proud to be the "Only One, Kanli Kann" for my parents... i hope not to let them down in anything i do... i only wish i could make them as proud as ever... and happy that they had only one... who's trouble and mischief was enough to last another lifetime!!!!

A Journey into those Golden Days

Wat to say?? How to say?? I hate to repeat... But i love to confess - With just 2 weeks since my holidays began, i am thoroughly enjoying it and i still have a long vacation to enjoy and get myself charged up for a whole new year... Yipeeeeeeeee... I guess i will go bananas by the end of these holidays...


Yesterday was my best friend's bday... poor thing.. she had college and later her parents had different plans of visiting a local temple... so i couldnt spend much time with her... I gave her a gift and we were chatting for sometime... Our conversation slowly drifted from the present to our school days and the fun that we used to have together...though we have been to the same tution classes and live in the same street... Both of us have never been class mates in school... and the irony in the whole story is that she remembers all that used to happen in my class, much better than i do... i used to tell her my class jokes and happenings... she remembers them all... with such accuracy... her memory is simply mindblowing!!!


School days are incomplete without a mention of my teachers... I have had all sorts of teachers - teachers who were extremely friendly... with whom we could share anything and everything in the world... teachers who came to class.. dictated notes and slept in the remaining period... teachers who had me in their good books... and those who had me in their bad books as well... those who used to finsh off their portions well in advance and give away their periods for us to play games... i simply loved all my teachers... this reminds me of my tuition teacher... she was a wonderful person... very strict and demanding nonetheless... We were a group of 10 who used to walk to her class as soon as school gets over... We used to buckle under pressure when we had to disclose our marks, for she was satisfied with nothing less than a 100... Those are unforgettable days i simply would love to revisit...


Moving on... I simply had a blast during my school days... Though i was branded as a "sincere and systematic" girl in my class... i had fun in my own way... I didnt have the guts to cut classes and roam around school... but i had enough in me for a short nap in the first bench during physics classes... I cant forget the games periods... Among girls, i guess i was the only enthusiast in games...i used to play either cricket(i know that sounds strange) or basketball... and i had this sole mate who used to sincerely throw the ball, watch me as i flick the ball all around the ground and pick the ball myself... all my other class mates used to have a stroll in the ground or simply sit down to complete their homework...


I was chatting with one of my classmates last night and he reminded me of this one.... When we were in our 9th class, the guys in my class and a few girls decided to play cricket in one friend's place... Each one of us were from one corner of chennai, we could not occupy any ground in our locality since they were dominated by the locals there... so we decided to play in the street itself... We had a mixed team of both boys and girls... equally matched... The game went on really interesting... i didnt manage to do so well with the bat, but atleast gathered a few runs for my side, considering the fact that my class guys were experimenting all sorts of spins against us, girls.... later, our team had to bowl... with no other choice, the guys had to give the girls a chance to bowl as well... when my turn came, i did the come-on-see-my-spin kinda thing and managed to get one guy out... thats the last i can remember of guys teasing me for my cricket... The guy who fell for my ball had a tough day...I guess our team won the match that day...


Lots more to add to my list - chemistry lab pranks with chemicals, our own computation of values in the physics lab, lunch break drama's and music concerts, corridor fashion parade, exam time hulla baloo, farewell party.... sooooo many to add... i guess i will write a whole new blog on each... those days were simply amazing... I sometimes curse my brain to have forgotten certain incidents... But the beauty is that i have my friends who can remember things that i dont... and our conversations and reminiscences bring such episodes to life once again... I cant wait to meet them in these holidays and have another game of cricket in the scorching sun, sweating ourselves, with parched throats and in total form once again!!!!

A lil garden at home

I have always loved nature, the flowers, lush green meadows, the blue lakes with shimmering waters, and the glossamer waterfalls. Last evening, my mom and me were watering the plants in our little garden. I managed to click a few snaps of the bright flowers in the garden and have shared them. They are so refreshing. A cool breeze bringing along with it the aroma of blossoming flowers is simply irresitable. Isn's it???

What a day it was!!!

Ha... the start of vacations has been really wonderful... i have been having nothing but fun... i came back last tuesday...and guess what i did first after gettin back home...i was admiring the sweet lil garden that my mom has set up... though there were no flowers at the dead night, i felt as if the plants were giving me a welcoming smile... :) Later i rushed to my room, just to find it as neat as ever.. jus like how i had left it.. my star - Dravid's poster, my paintings and the smell of old books brought back reminiscences of my school days... My mom had prepared potato roast and onion sambar, my favourite... The next day too passed off by calling up friends and attending a family function...

On Thursday, i had the best freak out ever... My cousins badly wanted a break from their routine school life and they found my arrival the right opportunity to hang out together.... My aunt, three of my cousins and myself went out to abirami megamall... First, we got tickets for the "Snow Land" and prepared ourselves with the jacket, gum boots and gloves... When we entered the place... wow... the temperature inside was extremely low.. and we began playing with the snow and the sledge... After a long time, i found a slide that i could get on!!! I was so excited that i went up and down the slide so many times, throwing snow balls at my cousins.... Its not often that one gets to go on a slide in the 18th year of life... So, i gave it the full go...


Next, the most interesting, crazy, scary and funniest part came its way... We went into a newly introduced theme game called "Scary House"... Though i dont believe much in ghosts or demons, i am at times scared of the dark... i managed to gather some courage, basically because i was the eldest among my cousins ;)...Slowly when our turn came, we walked one behind the other into the dark empty room... the youngest of my cousins was pushed forward leading our group... i was holding on tight to his shirt... others followed hugging the one in front and expecting the worst...


POP!!!.. came a guy in scary black robes and long hair hanging loosely over his shoulders... thats all i could see of him in the dark.. the place was really gross with humans hanging upside down as if they were dead, long black ribbons and tree roots hanging from the ceiling... We were shouting our throats out just for the fun of it... We were finding our way through in the dark, when suddenly a man (or better, a ghost) rushed towards us... to increase the fear, he began hitting down a broken cot on the floor... that was one instant i really felt my heart in my throat... i could barely hear myself shouting... and my cousins and i sprintered out of the immediate exit that came our way (*fortunately*)...

All the four of us were panting and sweating terribly when we realised that my aunt was missing... The two guys, my cousins went to the ticket counter shouting out loud, " yenga mummy ulla matinta.. oh no... please help!!!"... i stood outside staring at the exit door to see if there was any sign of my aunt getting out... after a few minutes of anxiety, she casually walked out... A wave of relief passed us...we were then questioning my aunt as to why she was late and this is what she said, "Anga ennaku kanne theriya... neenga ellarum fasta vera odipoitale.. ennala odamudiyala... adhunala angaye irundha oruthiya kai pudichu konduvida sonnen!!!" (Meaning, "You guys ran fast, i could neither see anythin nor could i run like u people. So i asked one of the ladies there to help me find my way") We all burst out laughing... The very thought that my aunt having asked the help of a ghost in the house set all of us in splits...


Also, the guy who had pounced on us at the end had just settled down after scaring us and was gettin ready to scare the next set of people, when my aunt walked into that room... though taken aback by her entry, he has tried to pounce on her...but my aunt has casually commented, "irrunga sir... nan poidren!!!" (meaning, "hold on sir, let me go!!" Oh my God... i cant remember laughing so hardly for anythin else in my life... jus imagine how the guy in black would have felt when he heard such a comment... Poor Fellow!!!

The day passed off with the narration of this incident to all at home and everyone were in peals of laughter... It has been really long that i had laughed out so loud, from the bottom of my heart forgetting every single worry of mine... Laughter does cure afterall... i realised it that day... and yes.. not to forget... i was feeling so young... enjoying like a kid.. throwing snow balls and runnin around... It was indeed refreshing... my much needed break... I am really enjoying it... Hope all you guys have a great summer... I just remembered this cute quote... "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter" ... lol :) Keep smiling and laughing...