LIKEs - A Short Story

It was a cloudy Saturday afternoon.

In the balcony were seated Gautam and Sharath. Both have known each other since sixth grade. Their friendship grew, stumbled and by the time both finished schooling, it has attained the "best buddies" status.

Both are in college, studying third year commerce. They had couple of classes on Saturday morning and after that they reach Sharath's home. Sharath's parents were busy at work, so both the lads had the third floor second portion home to themselves. Now coming to the discussion which they were having on the balcony.


Gautam seemed troubled, finally sitting straight speaks out his mind, "Why anyone's face on FaceBook always as to be handsome or charming. I hardly remember seeing a pic that is ugly or someone in it crying. Until unless it is some kind of charity or fund raising stuff."

Sharath interrupting Gautam, "Macha, are you against FB?"

Gautam blinking as though searching for words regains the conversation, "My concern is not that, but the situation it has lead me into."

Sharath scratching his head with his finger, "I don't understand you dude."

Gautam resumes, "Is posting some body's birthday photo on FB a crime?"

Sharath nodding his head little bit as though he observed an important clue, continues,"I am not sure, where you are trying to lead this discussion. But, I am guessing it has something to do with Gomathi and her birthday."

Gautam giving Sharath a serious look: "Grrr...What you want me to do, give you an award or call you the Mentalist for guessing it right?"

Sharath composedly replies, "Calm down Gautam. Tell me exactly what has happened between you and Gomathi?"

Gautam responds, "Remember last week, on her invite we went to her home for the birthday celebrations?"

Sharath pauses with " I do.", then instantly pointing his index finger towards Gautam,"Did you do anything stupid there?"

Gautam face turns red and speaks in a loud tone, "Why on earth, friends instead of supporting their buddies, always go and vouch for the opposition?"

Sharath remarks, "Don't beat around the bush, just say what happened?"

Gautam continues, " I took few snaps on that day with my Black Berry phone and posted it on FB."

Sharath asserts, " I saw those pics. I even remember giving couple of LIKEs to them."

Gautam protests, " You did?"

" Of course, I did." Sharath replies, "Especially the one where her face was covered with cakes' icing. Hilarious"

"Coming to that. You know what, that is THE SNAP which is bothering me now."

Sharath inquires, "What's the problem with that, when I first saw it, I had a good laugh.".

To that Gautam babbles, "You know what? She is not angry with her friends for rubbing the cake's icing on her face. But the guy, who took efforts to click and post the snaps of her birthday on FB, is the person who is under attack now. Since then she is very angry at me and behaving in a weird manner."

Sharath chuckles and replies,"Now, I understand your situation."

Gautam complains, "She is not happy for getting 84 LIKEs for her current profile photo, in which she is like an princess in her ball gown dress, photo courtesy: ME, I took the snap, instead of appreciating me for the gorgeous profile pic, she is yelling at me for THE SNAP with the cake on her face. Although, I don't understand one thing."

"What is that?", Sharath inquires.

Gautam mumbles, "That particular snap with the cake on her face has got precisely 123 LIKEs"

Sharath bursts out with laughter.

"Really?", Gautam protests.

Sharath controlling his laughter questions, "What you are going to do?"

Gautam sighs," I don't know, she has asked me to meet her tomorrow at City Center, Subway"

Sharath cheerfully replies, " Good luck bro"

                                       *~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*

The next day, Gautam and Gomathi meet at City Center, Subway. They ordered one mini Sub Veg Delite and Chicken roasted salad. Both are comfortably seated on thick heavy iron chairs facing each other with food on the table in between them.  This entire meeting is taking place on the terrace with a roof top, and cool breeze from the close by Marina beach is made the atmosphere more appealing.

Gomathi was sporting a ponytail hairstyle. In black t-shirt with printed art work and Levis blue jeans pants, she was absolutely gorgeous. The name might seem some what old but her looks and attire were that of modern and very trendy.

The conversation, by the time both had the last gulp, gradually ended up in a heated argument.

All of a sudden, there was this silence. 

Gautam started pondering and said to himself, "It was my mistake, I shouldn't have tried to tally the 84 LIKEs for her profile photo and 123 LIKEs for the snap with cake on her face. Now I have messed up."

Her eyes now avoided Gautam and shifted its focus. (Gautam was wondering whether she has already initiated the process of seeing someone else, before he could ponder further on this possibility, tears have already started rolling in Gomathi's eyes.) Then Gautam realizes that if further delayed it would lead to a cold war, emphasizing the state of "being hurt". 

Gautam said to himself, "this cannot and should not continue..."

Finally, he gets the courage to break the silence, "Gomathi, I don't want to reason, who's mistake it was and how it started. It took a while to understand each other and know each other's comfort zones. Day in, day out, we would like to see each other. Today, I had realized that I have crossed the lines and have taken things for granted. Why don't you forgive me. I had decades of friendship in mind and you are trying to diminish the very thought of it."

Now for the first time, (post war), Gautam gets an eye-contact. It said to him, of course her eyes, cut the blah-blah, what is your point?.(For those of whom doubting, Can eyes talk? Yes, they can!) 

Even though Gautam thought he was not totally responsible for the fight, he decides and says, "Forgive me."

Again a moment of silence. 

Gautam understood now that without the sorry word, things will not have an impact. So he continues, "Gomathi, I am very Sor.."

She interrupts Gautam, "Don't, thats alright Gautam. When I saw the number of LIKEs the snap with 'cake on my face' was getting, it irritated me a lot. Its just that, I am little sensitive to these things. Anyway, let us not talk about it any further."

They chit-chat for some time and then call it a day. 

Gautam walks to the Light House railway station. While waiting for the train, he becomes conscious of the fact that social networking sites have become a part-and-parcel of our life.



More importantly, he realizes that there is such a thing called as "Digital Reputation". May be, Gomathi was hinting at it ignorantly. The headlight of Chennai-Beach train interrupts Gautam's train of thoughts. 

Gautam boards the local train and secures a seat near the window. The fast moving people nor the city's landscape outside the window catches his attention, because his mind is now occupied with Gomathi. The very thought of her instills a smile on his face. 

He pulls out his Black Berry phone, after a little bit of scrolling, he types. It is a post on his FB wall, which reads: "Its always complex to reason and explain. But, don't you worry, in true friendship and love, the balance is always restored."

Gautam gets 123+ LIKEs (actually 156! and still counting) on his FB page, for the above post. :-)




Image source:
http://hello-son.blogspot.in/2010/11/call-64-birthday-message.html
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chennai_City_Centre.jpg; 
http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/chennai,station/Timeline

Worthy Attempts - A Short Film

The short film provided was a wonderful opportunity for me to work with my brother, Karthikeyan. I appreciate the efforts of "Worthy Attempts" crew for their support and interest. Pre-production work including storyboard and planning was a nice learning experience. Post production work such as editing and music composition really amazed me. (Note: Though it was made in 2012, the very thought of its making brings me joy. Hope the new viewers like it.)

Vasanth - Hey Mani, how did you write the screenplay for the short film. It is very complexly written...I am very impressed. U conveyed that it is really worth trying to help people. Help may be small or big..but it is always worthy...very nice team work. Expecting more. Good work from your team :)

In Conversation :)

Prithvi stands beside a telephone booth, which is exactly opposite to Vivekananda High school. There is this glow in his eyes. Though calm in standing posture, his mind is racing and rehearsing the different ways to initiate the conversation. Bell rings. His train of thought is interrupted.

Now he is steadily looking at the school gate. More and more children with loud foot steps rush out of the gate followed by students in teens. On the other side of the gate are the eagerly awaiting parents, and auto rickshaws with a mission to drive them home safely. All of a sudden, the engines of scooters and auto rickshaws start roaring. 

Little later couple of women dressed in sarees walk out the gate. One of the women is in light grey cotton saree. She has a hand-bag  and is carrying a medium sized book. The Titan Raga watch with white dial is worn up-side down (back of her wrist) and her right hand fingers still has little traces of white chalk. She is an English teacher taking classes for eighth and ninth graders in the school. She is in her twenties.

Seeing her, Prithvi's gaze now turns into a sharp focus.His phone screen with already searched name "Gayathri" now shows dialing and then connecting...

Realizing her phone being ringing, the women in light grey saree makes hand gestures to the other women, asking her to leave. The former halts herself outside the gate. (connecting...) From her black hand-bag, she pulls out the pouch and then the phone from it. (connecting...) She checks out the caller ID, blushing with smile, picks up the call. (connected.)

"Hello sir"

The voice - "Hi Gayathri"

She turns her head to and fro as if searching for someone and spots Prithvi standing right in front of the school on the other side of the road near the telephone booth. Hanging up the call, she walks towards him carefully amids the little traffic. Prithvi stares, and ponders how she found him. Finally she nears him.

"So the noise of auto rickshaws and scooters revealed that I was here... you are smart."  (Gayathri nods her head up and down twice fastly, conveying a yes)

Both start walking and take the first right lane which leads them into a calm road with tall and thick trees.The dusk ensures a beautiful and magical evening for them. Immersed in their conversation they continue to walk, after a while they suddenly realize that they have reached Gayathri's aunt house. The small black gate has a post box hung to it. There are flower pots with red roses and yellow daisies. The path leads to the wooden door with a peacock bird engraved on it. (Gayathri stays with her aunt, and her uncle works as a contractor in Muscat.)

Gayathri presses the calling bell. Her aunt, a middle aged lady opens the door, welcoming both of them inside.

"Aunty do you recognize him…..oh.oh he is Prithvi." (Prithvi and her aunt greet each other with a smile) "would you please give us something to drink." (Aunt goes inside to prepare some hot beverage and mean while both of them sit in a cushion-less sofa.) 

Gayathri turning to Prithvi continues "What are your plans engineer?"

"My CAT coaching is scheduled to start from next week in TIME institute, Secunderabad branch. I guess my classes would be held at a school called Sacred Heart High School."

"So engineer wants to become an entrepreneur now"

Prithi remembering something,"Yeah, speaking of entrepreneur, I completely forgot that I have to meet someone today." Prithvi gets up and moving towards the door, "Very sorry Gayathri, I got to move, it is important, but we will meet again soon. Say bye to Aunty. Bye."

"Okay Okay, don't be in such a hurry, go slow, sure we will catch up some other time, Bye"

Prithvi leaves. A moment later, Aunt comes out of the kitchen pushing away the thick yellow screen with a tray of two tea cups. Gayathri looking at her aunty sighs that she didn't remember the tea thing. "I forgot, otherwise I would have asked him to stay back for the tea". Now Gayathri and aunt both sit down to drink the tea served hot in two identical cups with some flowery art on it.  

Finally, the shy aunt opens her mouth and says, "Prithvi is handsome and good looking." Gayathri just smiles.Both have a sip of the hot beverage.

Just then, Prithvi entering the room: “Sorry I forgot to have the tea”  (He sees that there is no other cup in the tray and understands that his tea is now consumed by Gayathri’s aunt.) "oh!….."

Aunt gulping the hot beverage in her mouth, abruptly says, "Give me couple of minutes beta, I will prepare another cup of hot tea for you."

Stepping backwards to the entrance, Prithvi says, "Please don't bother Aunty, I will have it next time. Okay bye..bye Gayathri."

Prithvi exits.

(Gayathri after a while, laughs at her aunt. Her aunt is with a "tongue-between-teeth" smile, and shies away. Both have a nice laugh together.)



Yummy Get Together

(Gayathri's aunt house) 

In the terrace, a square table and six yellow nilkamal plastic chairs are arranged. The chairs are soon occupied by Prithvi, Pawan, Mary and Raghu. All are busy chit chatting.

Gayathri and her aunt bring the food in hot-boxes and other utensils to the table.

The hot-boxes contain chilly chicken, biryani, naan’s and alu masala. These dishes are accompanied with onions,lemons, Maaza and Sprite big bottles.

Pawan seeing the delicious and hot food, leans forward crying out loud, "Wow… wow…wow"

Prithvi pulling and restoring Pawan to his seat responds, "Pawan, hold your horses, have you not seen food before?"

Mary ignoring Pawan's Hungry Games' act: "What’s special Gayathri?"

Everyone are now looking at Gayathri for a bon appetit explanation.

Gayathri reveals, "Today is my aunt's marriage day. So we thought of having a small party."

Greeting aunty best wishes, all jump start to eat. Dishes and hot-boxes get emptied and are so clean that a culinary expert would not recommend the kitchen utensils for a wash. Gayathri and her aunty clean up the place. 

Soon all leave and the chairs also get emptied.

Gayathri and her aunt while washing the dishes, discuss:

"Why did you lie? It was not my marriage day."

"Sorry aunty, today was my birthday, I was eagerly awaiting for Prithvi to wish me. Every year, he never forgets to wish me and I thought he would remember it. I shouldn't blame him, he is very busy with his career and studies, entrance tests and getting into IIMs"

Her aunt in a complaining tone,"You could have reminded him, there is nothing wrong in it. I don't understand neither you and nor the current generation."

Gayathri and her aunt retire to their beds. Preparing and cooking so many dishes have made them very tired and the moment they lay on their beds, they were fast asleep.



Clock ticks 10 to 12 o clock. 

Suddenly the alarm clock rings.

Both Gayathri and her aunt wake up from sleep shocked, and look at each other.

Gayathri reaching and turning off the alarm, "Aunty did you set the alarm?"

Her aunt gets up from her bed and walking towards the washbasin: "Do you think I am crazy to set a alarm at this time?"

Gayathri,murmuring to herself. "Do I have habit of walking in the sleep. Oh God! Is that true? If so aunt would have noticed it by now and told to me about it. No, no.."

Her aunt walking slowly towards the bed in the dark says, "Some times, I get a feeling that I sleep walk"

Gayathri lying back on her bed: “Aunty, something has happened to me.”

Her aunt now stands besides her bed: “No dear, nothing has happened to you. Here take a look at this.”

Gayathri getting up from her bed, "What is it aunty?", has a look at what her aunt was holding in her hands. They are still in darkness. Her aunt pulls out a box from a plastic cover, it is a box rapped up with a colourful green wrapper with radium designs on it. The gift slowly starts to spread its green light all over the walls of the room and shines. 

Gayathri takes the box in her hand and stares at it. Her aunt turns on the light in the bed room.

"Prithvi has given it to me, a month ago. And asked me to give it to you only few minutes before 12 am. That is before your birthday ends."

Gayathri opens up the gift box to find a beautiful maroon cotton saree with gold linings in the border and a greeting card inside the box. She also finds a note. A hand written note and it goes like this...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Many Many Happy Returns of the Day My Dear Gayathri.

                 This is a special day for you, because you were born on this day.

What I am going to say now may sound little crazy. For me this entire month is special, because it has the day which you were born. 

I wanted this present to be given at the end hour of your birthday, just to convey that when you give up your hopes and retire, I will be there for you always to re-initiate your birthday celebrations.

Happy birthday once again. 

(Signed Prithvi, Date written under it, which was exactly a month ago)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tears rolls in the eyes of Gayathri.

Her aunt says, "Gayathri, now you will get an SMS."

SMS beep sounds aloud. Gayathri checks her phone.

It reads   :)

Gayathri types and replies   :*

(Beep sound) Reply from Prithvi,     :O 

(Beep sound) Little later she again receives :)Good night, Take care :)



The Next Day

Prithvi is about to enter the Time institute for "Data Interpretation" class. Raghu comes and meets him.

"Hey Raghu, what are you doing here?"

Raghu hands over a folded-paper sheet to him. Prithvi unfolds it and reads. (Data Interpretation, unknowingly we do it on a day-to-day basis)

Note:- “Today evening, there is re-party. And you are invited, and please make yourself available before 8 pm. I have intimated the same to Pawan and Mary as well. Don't be late. Eagerly awaiting yours Gayathri.”

Prithvi folding it,"This she could have SMSed me...". Immediately Raghu gives Prithvi another folded-paper sheet.

Prithvi is thrilled, opens it and reads “If you don’t turn up before 8 pm, I will celebrate my birthday at your home with your Dad and Mom. Its up to you to decide”.

Again a party is arranged. Same place, the terrace, table and chairs are assembled, friends arrive. Chit chatting, and eating.

Pawan: "Yesterday was aunty's Marriage Day. What is special today?"

Gayathri: "It is for my birthday, which was actually yesterday."

Mary: "Then you could have celebrated it yesterday along with your aunt’s marriage day celebrations, right?"

Gayathri: "Even I thought of it. But someone said, that not only the day which you are born is important, even the month is."

Every one in a chorus: "Wowwwwww…"

Pawan: (whispering to himself) "Why do this thoughts only come to damn “somebody”. Why not me?"

Pawan turning up to Mary: "Mary, Wish you a very happy birthday."

Mary: "Today is not my birthday, it was in last month?"

Pawan (clearing his throat as to say something very important): "I say”not only the day which you are born is special, not only the month, but the whole year is”

All burst out laughing.

Amidst the laughter, there are these cupid eyes of Prithvi and Gayathri blinking in silent conversations. 

In Conversation :) .. Continues...

~ Into the woods ~

An early morning walk into the woods,
fortunes nature lovers to observe,
the sleeping and yawning leaves slowly waking up,
to the rising sun and chirping of birds.

                                   

With red, yellow and purple colors on tender petals,

flowers lure and seduce passersby for a poetic praise,

whilst wild thorns on the stem are on guard,

to protect their blooming petal cousins from abductions.

Slipping into contraction stance with the slightest touch,
meet the shy and sensitive ‘Touch-me-not’.
Trapping insects and spiders with the slightest contact,
meet the poisonous and carnivorous ‘Venus flytrap’.

It’s the rich natural cultivation, 
unfolding its divine beauty and mystic charm.

Hard to grasp and interpret,
the silent whispers of these green and flowery companions.
And wonder why? 
Dry aged leaves scattered on the ground, rustle slogans,
disapproving casual visits to see their descendants on plants and trees.

Howling wind rub shoulders with hesitant mum keeping trees,
unwillingly making them swing and sing,
to widespread the chorus of fear and concern,
for depleting and fading green race.

Are we deaf? Unable to hear their saddened woes,
crying of being used and not been taken care of.
Are we blind? Unable to see their sufferings,
mourning and pleading to save them.

Let’s not ignore and forget their gracious favor:

of feeding and satisfying hunger and thirst,

of extending branches for shelter and shade,

of breathing oxygen into the atmosphere.

Oh, Mankind! Where is your kindness?
Are the six senses not adequate to sense and gauge,
mother nature’s unequalled strength of love and hatred?
Then why pester and trouble her with deforestation,
making her angry and to regrettably discipline us with natural disasters.

Time has come, to plant a plant,

garland a garden, foster a forest,

and nurture them with

utmost respect and gratitude.

Indebted for the noblest cause of mother nature,
let’s take an oath, to stop babysitting the life’s chaos and worries,
and take a walk among the earth’s greenery,
‘stand and stare’ to appreciate its beauty and gesture.

Let’s keep a promise,

to be a loving parent for the greenery to flourish,

to be a dutiful guardian for the flowers to bloom,

cherishing mother nature, and her rejoice.

(Photography: M Karthikeyan)

Oh! The Misunderstood Boon

Where is this life taking me to?
A metaphor of fears and un-comfort zones
Sometimes, I possess a choice, sometimes not
But to undergo the realm phase of fears

Whether I escape it by fate
Or have emerged through directed struggles
I feel to be one amongst the achievers
People applaud for what I had over-come, but not for what I am

Difficult to understand the hidden truth
but those who always try to explore new horizons
knew the secret for what and when it has arrived
And start their journey, respecting the fear

Never let this fear, drown your spirits
put up a board-wide attitudinal smile which is the need of the hour
and enjoy the seasons of love and friendship
let all know, you are here to live and not to fear-FEAR

Oh! The misunderstood boon,
How much patience and kindness you possess?
Receiving hatred and grudge through again and again
only to teach and elevate the living souls for a praise