Jaleo

Jaleo means commotion.. It's pronounced as haleo, it's a Spanish word and it’s also one of my favorite songs by Ricky Martin.

I had so many confusions in mind that’s when I remembered this song. (Commotion in heart - the theme based on which the song was written)

My heart started to sing the song without much interest. Firstly, I dint know the entire lyrics because it was all Spanish. Secondly, I wasn’t very happy when I sang that and finally, the song dint suit the situation. Then I began to think, I just thought to take a closer look at what’s happening around me and why I’m sad.

I asked myself, what’s happening??? The answer was "NOTHING", nothing at all. At least I was sure that nothing was happening my way.
I wasn't doing any good to myself and to the others around. I have become dumb. I wasn't productive in whatever I did. It’s ok now, I mean the time when I started writing this blog, still uncertain about how much I recovered from this jaleo.

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My life was like two sides of a coin, Head and Tail.

"Head" was the real me, it contains the characters that i portray to the outside world. "Tail" was a strange one; it was full of hidden secrets!!
Secrets? I had so many silly stuff that I don’t share with the others. Secrets remain secret to one set of ppl I knew; it may/may not be a secret to the others. Eg: I freak out with friends sometime, but I don’t tell all that to my parents. I love my parents and they love me. But the thing was, whenever I tend to avoid this "Tail", they both turned weird.

Eg: 90 on 100 times I go home late because I went to a coffee pub and 99 on 100 times my parents would be angry at least until I say the reason why I was late. In these situations, to tell or not to tell truth was my choice. If I tell truth (i.e. to avoid tail) they turn weird because they- not they both but my dad- dint trust me. He always suspects that I roam around with a guy all evening, whenever I come late. He never admitted this to me straight, but would ask numerous questions. My dad used to impose all his imagination to my mom (without my knowledge). My mom's very innocent, she'd believe everything (if reinforced on and on).

Dad: (with angry face) yen late? (The time would be just around 8 o' clock)
Me: (tensed) vella poinden
Dad: Phone panni sollitu poga koodadha?
Me: illapa time aagumnu theriyadu adhan (Moving in to keep my things in the study, my mom is sitting in the dining room and I sit opposite to her)
Mom: enga poinda?
Me: Bharani, Sarenya oda coffee day poindenma.. adunaala dhan late aaiduchu... inniki orunaal dhan ma please..
Mom: Yedukku dedeernu vella ponenga?
Me: Illama romba bore adichidu adhunaladhan
Mom: Seri inniki oru naal paravailla... inime vella pona munnadiye solliduma pls...
Me: (lil relieved) ok... sollidren ma
Now my dad closes the main door and comes in

Dad: enga ponna nee? (Still angry)
(He sits next to me, staring at me)
Mom: Friends oda vella poindalam.. inniki oru naal dhan
Dad: Friendsaa ennda friends?
Me: Friends na Bharani, Sarenya dhan.. verayaaru?
Dad: Oru Phone pannarthukku onnaku evlo neyram aagum?
Me: illa pa ivlo neyram aagumnu theriyaadu
Dad: Seri adellam right.. dedeernu edukku inniki vella ponenga moonupeyrum?
Me: (with pale face) chumma dhan pa ponom
Dad: Chumma ipdidhan vella povengala? (Raises his voice)
Mom: Seri... vidungo.. paavam inniki oru naal dhana..
Dad: Nee chumma irru.. ennaku idellam konjam kooda pudikala
Me: Seri....... vidunga.. Sorry inime naan engayum pogala.. (Getting up and heading to another room to change my clothes...)
Dad: (keeps mumbling to my mom) olunga veetuku vanda enna? ipdi dhan oorasuthitrupaangala...
Mom: seri.. vidungo..
(Inside the room... I start crying)
Dad: Konjam kooda sari kadayadhu... (Leaving the place)
Me: (Coming out) amma.... naan enna thuppuma panniten... ivlo kelvi kekarenga? neeyum appavoda senduta illa? enna nambave maatengala?
Mom: Seri. vidu.. onngappa ipdidhan.. Deepava koda ipdi dhan pannuva.. Deepa thirrupi nanna thituva.. nee chumma irruka adhan difference. Nee varrathukkula kathinde irrunda...

Me to my dad (after sometime): ennapa yen mela nambika illaya?
Dad: nambika thumbika ellam illa Savitha.. kaalam romba kettu kadaku.. onnum sollrathuku illa... (Other way of saying he doesn’t trust me)

This was just an example.. Though my dad never asked me whether I hang out with a guy or doing anything wrong (wrong – from his perspective) I always had a feeling that he suspected me. So, i always got screwed whenever I avoided tail. So I told numerous liessssssss

Same situation – The tail way

Dad: (with angry face) yen late?
Me: Bharani veetuku poinden.. naan sarenya, bharani sendhu oru project pannrom.. ma'am innike mudikka sonnanga, naalaiku print-out eduthu sumbit pannanam.. State-level competition... (Never allowing my dad to speak and moving in to keep my things in the study)

Then after explaining all this to my mom, dad enters.. (Not very angry, but confused)
Dad: enna dedeernu project???
Me: Ma'am inniku dhan sonnaanga... nalanikkudhan dead-line.. So adunaala anga poitom.
Dad: ohh.. ok.. Phone panni sollirkalamla.. bharani veetla dhan phone irruke
Me: illa pa.. konjam kuda time illa.. nyabagamum illa... project mudikanamnu orre tension.. (Getting up and heading to another room to change my clothes)
(With this both my mom and dad would become alright and stop interrogating me)

In Head.. All the three of us weren't happy. But would always leave them suspect me more whenever I come late in future. In Tail, both of them weren't unhappy.. (I don’t say they were all that HAPPY). But I felt terribly SICK that I never even had that courage to face reality.

Reality? To hell with it.. It always left me in deep shit. So, I always call all my lucky angels when I go home late!!

Suspicion was the word I hated in English, (ennaku Englishla pudikada orre vartha..... Sandegam) it made me go mad, it spoilt relationships. Till date, I have kept so many stupid things away from my parents. I couldn’t blame my dad completely for this; it was also because of me and my stupidity. I only gave room to all this. I should have stopped my dad in the beginning and should have made it clear that I would be a good girl from his stand point. I thought I shouldn’t suspect anyone. The funny part was my dad never knew that i was terribly hurt because of him.

I hardly go by "the-tail-way" with my friends.. But then we had our own limitations.

Imagine the plight of ppl who are like "Open Book"?? If I suddenly decide to open up all things I had in tail side.... I would be a deserted kid!!
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I dint like to have these two sides, I jus wanted to have one... I mean I just wanted to be myself. I dint want to carry so many little secrets in heart. It made me SICK..... Terribly SICK!! (Chicungunya vanda madri!! hahaha)

ahh!!.. Coming back to jaleo..
* I was idle almost all time at office.. Doing nothing.
* I wasn’t talking properly at home.
* Not reading books.. Not learning anything. I felt like a waste...

These were jus small things. Let the big thing be unwritten.
-----I felt like a likely-to-be-deserted woman!!

I got hurt last Saturday... had a tough time. So many things I have to get rid of all this...

Firstly, to find another job
Secondly, to talk to ppl at home properly.. with patience
Thirdly, to read books
And, finally, to continue my vrath (viradam)

The relationship between jaleo and head/tail scenario remains in “tail” side!! Varrta!!

Appettu!!

Me@what-the-f**k.com

I used to be highly jobless... But I found myself hooked up with few things lately..

1. Go for a morning walk
2. Listen to music
3. Go to office
4. Come back and browse the net
5. Listen to Music
6. Talk to Prasanna
7. Dream and Sleep off

So, now-a-days, I hardly find time to blog like this.........

I never had time to polambify (i mean blogging)

It was July 31, 2006. The next day was the month beginning, there wasn’t much work whenever a month ends or begins, so, that day I never had any work at office, I wondered how my life has suddenly become so smooth.....

No troubles, no worries.. None

For how long??

((((((((Flash back))))))))

1. When I was at school....... 9th and 10th Std.... I always seemed to be confused with so many things.. esp wondering how ppl managed to study sth called ORGANIC CHEMISTRY.... how ppl even discovered/invented such a crap

2. When I was at school (Part 2)...... 12th Std.... I was out of such troubles which frightened me during 9th and 10th.. cuz I took commerce group.. Free from all worries. I dint have much stuff on my subjects.. I just have to mug-up and write the exams. I dont like that idea, I never studied for any of the exams. My answer sheets were filled up with attractive charts, diagrams and my sondha kadha soga kadha. But still, I managed to get the 2nd rank badge all time (Not trying to be proud, but my life is full of mysteries and miracles.... this was one of the miracles)

That time I dint have trouble in my academics. So, I was very happy all the time and started eating all junks. I put on lot of weight by the end of my board exams... From 53 kgs I became 65 kgs... (yepdi irrundha naan ippdi aaiten)

From then on I was under strict diet and exercise..... I hated exercises to the core... with utmost difficulty I came down to 57.. Phew!! ( It was such a dreadful experience)

3. When I was at college..... I was doing B. Com... I had enough trouble. I suddenly became very poor in studies and fell in to a plot that I pinned for Vijay. (that’s another big story.. probably I’ll blog about it next time)

“I got scolding from Mom, dad and professors, back and forth

I was in trouble black and blue.”

On the very first day at my college, I sat with a gang full of DAV padips... They never spoke Tamil; they always talked about books... Firstly, I never spoke English fluently that time and I spoke only cheri Tamil. Secondly, I used read only Mills and Boon, but, that gang considered reading M&B to be a BIG crime... So, one fine day I found to be isolated from the entire crowd.. I had only 2 ppl to listen to me or talk to me.. Sarenya and Rekha Bhatt.. Later Bharani joined us and Rekha dropped out to pursue BL

I always got scolding from law ma'am, mainly because I never listen to her lectures, and also because I always flunked law... First year was full of tragedies...

Second year and third year turned out to be the happiest part of my life....... I always cherish my 2nd and 3rd year B. Com Life... it's all because of my two sweet friends Sarenya and Bharani...

I had lots of important moments which I remember the most...

* Myself and Sarenya @ FDI state-level paper presentation along with Meenal - Funny part in this was we both dint know wat FDI was even after we presented the paper on stage!! Turning point was that we three (Sarenya, Bharani and me) challenged Meenal that we would win the title next year

* March Past @ Sports days - Bharani and me liked March past a lot, still dont know why. We participated in March past always. The biggest tragedy here was for the audience who always saw me in that kutti skirt!! (I realized that I look bad in skirts only after seeing the sports day snaps)

* Books @ nights - When I joined MOP, I wasnt very fluent in English... simply cuz I never belonged to vetti scene community in Chennai... I started reading lot of books only after joining MOP, few were matter books but many were good books. (Avvaaru... orru pakka cheri Peter aanadhu)

* Second prize @ National level seminar - I have told this to almost everyone I know... As challenged we won second prize.. "HOW??" - It is still a mystery.

* Fun unlimited @ Kodaikannal - It was the first time I ever set my foot on the dance floor (and it was when Chennai felt that slight tremor 6.5 on the Richter scale... heheheheehee)

* Unrecognized hard work @ event management paper presentation

* Marketing for HDFC @ Shastribhavan - It was when a cop suspected Bharani and Me.. He came to us, looking at the pamphlet he asked "Daily neenga rednu perum thaniya vandhu yella pasanga kittayum yenna notice kudukarenga?".. (Huh? Manjaaa notice... podanngu...) we got embarrassed and walked off (he asked us as we were call girls)

*Sarenya and her unlimited Boyfriends (BF hereinafter) - Partha, MTech, Rama, etc... (Imaginary characters created by Bharani and Me) we call her GVAP (I don’t remember wat it was... it was sth related to Gopalapuram, DAV and ICWA)

*Sarenya and me @ Tidel Park- we both went as external auditors (maadiri) for Tidel Park..... It was such a gr8 exp.

* Coffee day, Marry brown, Marina beach, Parthasarathy perumal kovil, were our hangouts

Like this I had so many wonderful things in my B. Com 2nd and final year

4. When I was at college (Part 2)... I was doing MBA this time... It was full of mystery again. With gr8 difficulty I managed to get a seat in MOP itself. It was when I learnt about different difficult personalities or rather species like... Jaishri (ma'am), Anupama, Lalitha Balakrishnan, Nirmala prasad and so on..

Few highlights @ MBA classroom...

* Started reading ET and BT (the only good thing that I remember)

* Managing my friends BFs.. hehehehe (I meant attending their ph calls to tell that my frnd wasn’t available there)

* How to Shut up! (And Shoot up?? oops!!)

* Bunk classes and hang out

* Laugh in front of ma'am whenever she gave advice.

* Buy so many books esp. foreign authors' and finally end up reading Balu (3rd rated guide)

* How to watch my classmates work hard for some management meet and crap conducted by our college MBAs

* Hours to prepare a sexy resume and attend placement interviews (unlimited)..... And never get thru any!!

* Put vetti scene in front of ppl in Royal Sundaram about my college (where I did my final semester project)

MBA never had any memories to cherish... It was rather a time period how I molded myself to face different ppl... (Romba pesaren!!)

5. Me@work.... Office tiger.. hmm... such a bad place.. But got another nice friend called Ambeka... so I never regretted working for OT

6. Me@Citifinancial... wonderful job, full of challenges.. I was happy that I finally found myself a very nice job... I always pitied the sales guys there, they always ran behind numbers.. Unlike me, they were always busy hunting for customers.. paavam I always rejected their customers by declining their files... Crazy ppl... this made me laugh all time, but it wasn’t my mistake to be in Credit Dept... I was happy doing my job...

Today U laugh tomorrow everyone will laugh at U... Biggest lesson that I always learn till date

Back to July 31, 2006, Tuesday, evening 17:00 Hrs... I hurried to office for Credit Meeting with our Regional Manager... There were 18 of us in credit dept. We all waited in conference room for our regional manager to come...

She came late... by the time she entered we were laughing and making fun... she sat with us and laughed for sometime.

It was one of my colleagues’ birthday... we all had nice fun teasing her and had a nice chocolate cake!!

Apram dhan vacchanga aapu!!

The meeting started... but was still noisy, we were all talking and making fun.. But suddenly, the entire crowd became dumb struck when my regional manager announced that few of the credits would be shifted to SALES!!!!!!!!!! (aaha nalla kalaparanga ya beedhi)

She was lil specific that the new ppl joined credit would be shifted (to sales).......

Good lesson for me!!
What the f**K!!

Chat Mania.....

Once when I was doing MBA, I had to do some project work for which I had to search some stuff on the net. My comp went crazy cuz of some kind of virus.... so I had to go to a browsing center to carry on my work.

Sangeetha and myself planned to go to Sai Net (a famous browsing center in my area) It was 2 o' clock and the browsing centre wont be crowded at that time... we sat on the last cubicle. The comps were arranged on after the other and each cubicle had a lil door on the side.. it was in such a way that you can see the monitor of the person sitting ahead of u...

We sat on the last seat.. I sat with the comp to do google search and Sangeetha sat next to me. She could see the monitor of a person sitting ahead of us.... The person was a guy, wearing one veshti, pinnjipona seruppu, pazhaya shirt and a soda buddi... he was a pakka brahmin phazham... initially he dint attract our attention as we were seriously concentrating on our project...

Suddenly............... andha payyan avan velaya kaata arambichitan... he started searching for porn sites on the net and started watching porn videos...

Sangeetha saw this mess...

Me: I think we need this stuff.. idha save panni vachikalan, ok va?
Sang: Oh shit..... (Laughing) that guy's messing up the whole system.. chi.. Yuck
Me: (puzzled) wat happ?
Sang: namakku munadi irrukara payyan matter site lan pakkaran d.. romba kevalama irukku
Me: ahaaa.. thallu konjam
I peeped out and saw wat he was watching... he was watching some kevalama "les" video...
Me: chi....... romba kevalama irruku..... Cha...
That guy was singing some 1980's tamil song...
Me: idhu pannra asingamana velaiku paatu vera kekudha...
Sang: ya.. wat to do now?
Me: hahaha yennaku onnu theriyala ingendhu... Sangeetha ensai... nalla paathu vachiko future la helpfula irrrkum
Sang: chi loose... hey that guy is also chatting in yahoo d
Me: apdiya... yenna ID? kalaichivuttralan... wat say?

I peeped out and saw the ID... it was "auntyloverinchennai"... shit wat a bad taste... for some reason I added him to my friend list

Me: chee.. ID yevlo kevalama irruku paaren.. avanun kevalam avan IDum kevalam... ippove avannuku oru msg anuparen paaru
Sang: loosssssse.. No d leave, ippo vendam, he'll find out
Me: ya.. indha nayku msg anupi yenna panradhu? Ok we'll leave i think we have enough stuff for our project...
By that time I had collected lots of stuff for the project, so we dint have any reason to stay there... (hahaha)

After few days....
I got my comp repaired and was checking mails, that time I signed on to the messenger that time that guy was online...

ahaaaaaaaa mavane innikkum bit padam pakka vandhutaya?? mavane nee seththa da

Monalisacool: Hi, asl plzz
Auntyloverinchennai: Hi, asl pls
Monalisacool: u first
Auntyloverinchennai: 22/m/chennai
Monalisacool: U like only aunties?? i thought u r an uncle
Auntyloverinchennai: ya sometimes...
Monalisacool: (wat sometimes nee mamava?? hahahahahahaha) wats ur name?
Auntyloverinchennai: Vishal
Monalisacool: i c... wat're u doing in the browzing center?
Auntyloverinchennai: wat browsing center?? i'm at home..
Monalisacool: (Ahaa.. yenda poi sollra..) dont tell lie.. i know u r in Sai net.. Right?
Auntyloverinchennai: No i dont know wat r u talking about... who r u?
Monalisacool: arent u watching porn pictures?
Auntyloverinchennai: wat the fuck r u talking about?
Monalisacool: ahh god... relax.. U want to know who I am?
Auntyloverinchennai: U bitch
Monalisacool: (poda baadu, yaara paathu yenna sollra... yenna seyaren paar) No wrong answer....... I know u r here in my browsing center.. Wearing veshti sattai and kannadi... dont u know watching porn pics is a cyber crime? (hahaha romba mukiyam)
Auntyloverinchennai: that’s none of ur bloody business
Monalisacool: it is my bloody business cuz I’m the proprietor of this net center...
Auntyloverinchennai: wat??
Monalisacool: (ippo podaren paaru da bittu) we have a software installed in each system to monitor the operations of each and every person using it.. thru this software we can easily trace out the URL with the help of IP address and track your entire history... look we even traced your yahoo ID thru that software only (super.. kalakara Savitha)
Auntyloverinchennai: (No answer)
Monalisacool: We prepare this entire history as a document and give it to the police... if a person continues to see porn pics for a long time (hehehehehe)
Auntyloverinchennai: this is too much... don’t we have privacy
Monalisacool: (adanggoyala... nee vaangama po maata polarke) dei.. nee paakar asingathuku unaku yedhuku da privacy? ivlo kevalama padam paakaravan kitta pechuvartha nada thikitrkom paaru engla sollanam
Autyloverinchennai: ohh... I can’t believe this
Monalisacool: one more thing you wont believe.. we r giving this warning for all the ppl who misuse net centers.. now dont pack off and start off these illegal activities in another net center... they all have this software installed
Auntyloverinchennai: (no answer)
Monalisacool: we r telling this thru chat cuz we dont want to embarrass u in front of everyone... understand?? got the msg? purinjidha?? I can even file a suit on you for using obusive language
Auntyloverinchennai: ya.. i'm really sorry.. sorry ma'am I will not do this hereafters...
Monalisacool: po da.. poi thirundhara vazhiyapaaru.....................

-------- auntyloverinchennai signed out-----------

Me: LMFAO, LMFAO, LMFAO, LMFAO, LMFAO, LMFAO, LMFAO, LMFAO, LMFAO, hahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 
(LMFAO: Laughing My F**king A** Out)

Lesson: idam, porul, yeval, oval yellam paathadarku pin matter padam paakavum... (apadiye paakumbodhu yahoo la chat pannama paakavum!!)

My cousin's (gap) love story!!

My cousin's name is Arun. He's my Athai's (Aunt's) grandson... He did his engineering in some college in Palani and now working for L&T in Mumbai

From childhood itself I hated him to the core (still figuring out why)

Once, after finishing his engineering, he came down to Chennai. He had a plan of studying MBA, so he came to Chennai to write TANCET. That time I also had the same plan, so obviously I had to write TANCET either.

He said he was very good in Maths and would teach me that. I agreed because I wasn't very strong in few of the topics. In my opinion, theriyadha oru vishayatha mathavanga kitta keitu therinjikardhula thappe illa........

But, that dash... he started thinking highly of himself. He literally insulted me in so many occasions when I made silly mistakes in sums.. I really got pissed in many of those occasions. Finally, one day I told him, "Ok fine, idhu konjam kooda work out aagathunu nanaikaren, I'll study by myself.. thank you so much"

Then, later I studied well and I got 24/100, but he got only 14/100
Ha ha ha angadhan Savitha nikara!!

Seri ippo matterku varuvom...
On the day, when he was leaving to Kerala, I forgot all my hatered and made friends with him. He asked me for my e-mail ID, so that he can keep in touch with me. I gave my savitha84 ID.

Arun: Hey.. nee indha yahoo chat lan pannuvaya? (in Malayala accent)
Me: Chata?? Hmm.. naan avlo vetti kadayadhu, yeppovavdhu chat pannuven
Arun: Nee oru waste, naan yeppovum chat pannuven
Me: Apdiya? (Mavane, naana waste? nee seththa da)
Arun: My id is alr141@yahoo.co.in... yeppovavdhu online vandha oru offline msg anupu
Me: Vandha anuparen.....

Then he left home…

I was very happy that finally I got the right time to kalasify him… I dint tell him my once-upon-a-time chat ID which was monalisacool
So I logged in and added him to my friend list
One fine day, he came online..... onnaku 71/2 (yezhara) aarambichithu da
I sent him a msg......

Monalisacool: hi... wat's up, asl plzz
Alr141: hi... i'm Arun from Germany
(ada paavi.. yedutha udane poiya) his native was Kerala and that time he was in Kerala
Monalisacool: cool... ctc?
alr141: wat's ctc?
Monalisacool: (huh? Cost to the company.. poda goyyala) care to chat
alr141: oh... of course... asl plzz
monalisacool: 21/f/ Chennai.. Have u ever been to Chennai?
alr141: of course... my cousin lives there
monalisacool: (ada paavi) who's that? And if u don’t mind... can u pls tell in which area she lives?
alr141: she lives in West Mambalam... wat abt u?
monalisacool: oh nice place.. i live in t nagar
alr141: oh... ok... wat r ur hobbies?
monalisacool: Are you single? (Ha ha ha... matterku varuvom)
alr141: wat? Why r u asking?
monalisacool: simply.. Very curious to know thats why... u dont have to tell if u dont want to
alr141: hey no... Actually i'm in love with my cousin
monalisacool: (aahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa) which cousin? wat's her name?
alr141: hey I can’t tell her name... she's the one I told you abt
monalisacool: (tension thaangala) her name?
alr141: I dont want to say
monalisacool: oh c'mon.. wat am i gonna do with her name? Tell me... Otherwise..... Bye
alr141: hey wait, this is too much ok?
Monalisacool: (No reply)
Alr141: Buzz!!
Monalisacool: (Still no reply)
Alr141: her name's Suganya…………………….
monalisacool: (appa... a sigh of relief… naan thapichen) oh nice name..... Strong love eh?

Suganya was my other cousin who lived in Trichy.. when he was doing his engineering he always frequented Trichy.. idhan mattera??But, suganya was another athai's daugher, precisely his sister..... So this was obviously impossible (I mean both of them going around)

alr141: ya from my side..... Her dad's very strict he's not allowing this
monalisacool: does she love u?
alr141: I think so... I have to ask her
monalisacool: dont worry (she'll definetly wont love a nerd like u) she'll definitely say yes
alr141: oh... Nice to hear that thanks da
monalisacool: ok I have to leave now...... IM u l8r....
alr141: this isn't fair..... U r so bad
Monalisacool: byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
--------Signed out----------

I was literally lol (laughing-out-loud) after finding out this secret.. till now he doesnt know it was me... mavane innoor vaati maatamala pova?

Lesson:
Never reveal ur ID and tell all your personal matters to some xyz, that too in chat (when u dont know who u r talking to)
hahahahahhahahahhahahahaahahahhahahahahahaahhahaahhaahha

Anyways my cousin ie. Suganya dint agree (I guess).. she's gonna get married to someone else (her parents are planning for this PP-fying)... so
Let this matter be a big secret!!

Btw... What's PP-fying?

Scroll down and read the other blogs you'll understand

Bankrupt

It was July 2005, one of my friends, called Aarthi, was in UK doing her MS, she asked me to collect her UG certificate from her college. She mailed me a letter, which I should give her Ma'am to collect her certificate.

That day I had to go to my college to attend my regular classes. I had finance class that day, which was obviously boring, so all of our friends decided to go to Cafe coffee day after the class. I had only hundred bucks, never mind, coffee day was cheaper. We went to the coffee day as planned, the bill was 150 bucks and one of my friends and myself paid the bill.

I dint have a single penny with me cuz I gave off the 100 bucks I had! I never realised the fact, that I dont have money at all. I rode my bike straight to Ethiraj College to get Aarthi's certificate. It was a damn sunny day; I had to travel for about 10 Kms to reach the college.

By the time I reached Ethiraj, I was all tired and tanned. I met her ma'am and gave her the printed copy of her letter. She asked me to take three photocopies of the letter, I got back the letter and told her, "I'll be right back ma'am"
"Better you come soon, they'll close the office"
"Oh.. what time will they close?"
"In another half an hour", she said
"Oh.. ok.. I'll be here in another 5 mins"

I walked to a xerox shop nearby, opened my wallet and found it empty! (ahaa... BULB) I searched all the partitions in my wallet but there wasn't any money! Then I ran to my bike and searched on the box, but there wasn't any either! I was totally shocked and dint know what to do. I thought I can come on the next day to collect it, but it was the weekend so the college wont be working. I had to courier her certificates within Sunday atleast for it to reach on time!

Trapped as usual... I was thinking of the ways to get the photocopies
1. To beg for money (which I cant..Prestige issue)
2. To take the xerox and pretend as if I lost my wallet! (that's pretty good, but, what if the xerox man swears at me?)
3. To ask some students around (It is close to begging, moreover an MOP student shouldn't beg to an Ethiraj student! prestige issue again)
4. To go back home and bring money! (fair enough, but the hot sun:-(

I found the 4th option to be okay and started back home. It was so hot and I felt thursty and tired... I reached home, got the documents photocopied and fled back to Eithiraj

It was nearly an hour since I left the place.. I ran to the ma'am and gave her the letter..
"ma'am here it is", I said
"What took you so long?"
"Ma'am... err... actually... err... I was a lil hungry so I had my food, so it took some time"
"Oh.. cant you finish this off first? The office would be closed"
"Oh ma'am but I felt giddy so I had to finish that first or I'd have been finished!" I said (but, ma'am I hadn't any money so I'd to go home which's only 10 kms away from here to get the photocopy for just Rs. 2.... ha ha ha)
"Are you alright now?"
"Very well ma'am", I said (Nothing much... Just became dark and stinking like one pig..)

She gave back the letter after signing it. I went straight to the office, It was open!! I was so happy (ketta nerathulayum oru nalla neram!!)
Then I got the certificate, atlast... Phew!!

Leaving OT

Finally, I got my express acceptance from CitiFinancial that I was selected as an Officer for their credit and risk function and in a week's time I'd get my offer letter..

I was very happy and was thinking on some reason that will help me quit OT asap

April 27, 2006... It was a sunny morning, I was eagerly waiting in OT at my desk to meet my AOM, I waited for him from morning, he came to office only at thirteen hundred hours..

Me: Vijay, can I talk to you in private for a while?
My AOM's name was Vijay P.
Vijay: Yes, ofcuz u can

He took me to the conference room which was near the lobby. He, then, asked me to sit and he sat opposite to me

Vijay: Tell me Savitha, what's the matter?
Me: Vijay, actually I have decided to quit OT... I'm getting married
Vijay: (shocked) oh... Congrats... its both happy and sad news to us
Me: For me either... Happy that I'm getting married and sad that I have to quit OT
Vijay: Why’s that u have to quit?
Me: Actually, my wedding was planned to be held in Feb. But, there is a new project that suddenly came up in US, so my fiance has to move to US,
Vijay: I see...
Me: It's a great offer that someone cant miss, so he's taking up the project and it'll atleast take two years for him to come back..
Vijay: Where in US?
Me: err... New York (which came out instantly)

(if he had asked me Where in NY?..... my reply would have been... Saar, anda NY bus standa otti.. No. 6, Vivekandar theru, NY kurruku sandhu, NY main road, NY..)
Vijay: Which company?
Me: HCL Technologies
Vijay: No, I'm asking about the company in US he's gonna work with
Me: hmm.. DSP Merill Lynch (aaha.. is it there in NY? poi mela poi sonna soru thanni kadaikadhu di)
Vijay: Oh that's really great
Me: Actually, my engagement is on May 8, It's happening in Madurai
Vijay: Oh that's gr8... but, after, the eng. wont u come back?
Me: I'm afraid not, cuz i'll be staying there for a while and come back here for doing some shopping and visa processing
Vijay: Oh when's ur wedding
Me: Its on June.. err.. 14th
Vijay: Ok Savitha, in that case we cant do anything.. we just have to accept ur decision
Me: Ya, u cant even do relocation as i'll be going to US (ha ha ha thapichen)
Vijay: ah that's right.. So u please give me ur resignation letter so that i can process it asap
Me: (smiling) thank u so much Vijay (appa vela mudinjidhu)

Then after a while I gave my resignation letter, a week after that I was issued with a relieving letter after long hours of waiting... Phew!!

Ponnu-paathufying

Ponnu-paathufying (Translation-Sight-ing a girl with parents' consent)

Meaning:
After a mutual understanding is established between guy's parents and girl's parents (as mentioned in my previous blogs) the guy, along with his parents (and grand parents, in this case) comes to the girl's place to have a look at her, this is called ponnu-paathufying (sighting the girl with
parents' consent).. this is from the guys perspective.. but, there's no payyan-paathufying.. however, the girl does it at the time of ponnu-paathufying itself.. So, it can be rightly said as sigting each other with parents' consent...

Few hours b4 ppfying (Ponnu-paathufying)
I was ready... I was wearing one of my new salwar-kameez(es)... My dad had called my sister and her family home... (My sister, her two kids, her husband and her mom and dad-in-law..) it was a big crowd as u can see..

The event was supposed to be at half ten, it was 10 o'clock when my sister's crowd came home... At the moment she entered home, she was shocked when she looked at me... she started scolding me and asked me to wear sari..

Deepa (my sis): Sari kattiko
Me: Chance-a illa.. I cant.. I dont have a nice sari
Deepa: paravailla.. u can wear that orange sari
Orange sari was the new one that I got for my nephew's aayushhomam (first b'day)
Me: adhu romba kevlama irrukum.. it's Tassar silk.. I'll look fat like one aunty
Deepa: No.. U wont.. it looks gr8.. u wear it otherwise no one in the guy's family will like u
Deepa's Mother-in-law: yenna nee ivlo bhanda panra? ippo olunga dress panna oru dhadavayoda podhum... thirupi thriupi naraye guys munnadi poi nika vendaam
Me: (grinding my teeth.. got so angry with wat she said.. but had no choice).. err.. ok fine.. i'll wear it (podi... po)..

I went to my room, started wearing the sari and after sometime my sister came in to adjust the sari

Me: (Tears streaming out of my eyes) Its so embarrasing.. why the hell should I wear sari when i'm not comfortable in it?
Deepa: Ok da.. yein azhara? relax.. cool down, its a traditional event so u have to adhere to these strict regime..

I came out wearing my sari.. then my mom got many dazzling jewellery (which i hate to the core) and asked me to wear them.. I was so pissed and I silently wore everything she got...

Finally I looked like one chingucha (More or less means tribe or gypsy).. I knew for sure that it's gonna be a flop -show

The begininng
It was 11 o'clock, the guy's crowd came home, I was asked to sit in my room.. I should wait there till they call me... I was looking funny (like never
b4)... Then someone said, "ponna asirvadham vangika varasolunga".. then my mom asked me to come out..

I came out to the hall, in which they were waiting and sevichified (hmm.. it means crawling on the floor near their feet to get their blessings).. then I was made to sit on a paai (plastic carpet).. opposite to me Prasanna, his grandpa and his dad were sitting on chair, to my left my sis' crowd was sitting on the oonjal.. I tried to be casual.. but I was lil nervous.. I looked at the guy once or twice, he looked little different in person..

Sing in the rain...........

My mom served some snacks to the invitees when someone said "ponna oru paatu pada sollungo"

Me: (gulp) Illa vendame... (yein vazhkaila ipdi risk edukarenga)
But everyone was compelling... I couldn't escape... I really regretted, why dint I have cold or throat infection!!

My mind started racing with tension... What to do as I never practiced any songs for a longtime, atleast for 5-6 years... At this point in time all i can sing was only some koothu songs, but that obviously wouldn't work, i should sing only carnatic songs in these occasions!!

Trapped, as usual, I was thinking what to do... suddenly, an idea flickered,
I said, "Naan Deepa kuda padaren...” Everyone agreed with me slowly, then my sis sat next to me, (staring at me and mumbling) I smiled at her as I felt relaxed, yenna akkavayum matti vittutomila.

We started singing.. "shriman narayana....." usual Kolu (Dassara) song, which usually would lead to a maami giving sunddal to us.. (Childhood memories)

Finally, we finished singing, Thank God no one ran off nor did any donkey came running into our house... Phew!!

Rendezvous
After this whole assignment, my sister's mother-in-law came to me and asked whether I want to talk to the guy... I just nodded my head yes...
I was then asked to go to the bedroom; I went there and waited for a minute

Then he came in and sat right opposite to me on the chair, I said "Hi" and smiled, then he started speaking...

"Hi, Unga peyr Savitha dhana...”
"Ya... aama" I said
"Yennoda peyr theriyuma.. Prasanna"
"Ya... theriyum"
"I'm very sportive"
"Oh... apdiya", I said (so am I)

My niece and nephew entered and switched on the A/c...

"indha sari pottadhalam unga plana" he asked
"illa.. actually naan casuala salwar dhan potirunden aana yellarum sendhu sari katta vachitanga", I said (Total damage.. he must be scared after seeing me in this get up.. ha ha ha)
"yennoda grandparents traditional adhanala dhan sari katta vachirupanga", he said
"Oh... irrukalam"

Then we spoke for sometime, nothing much, actually I dint know what to speak so I sat there dumb as usual

"yennaku bad habbits yedhuvum illa... sila occasions la drink pannirken", he said

I was thinking... Yennakum yendha bad habbitum illa.. yeppovadhu BD pidipen, andha smell varama irruka konjam Brandy kudipen, which brought a smile to my face

"Oh... yepovavdhu thani adicha thapila, yeppovum adicha dhan thappu" I said and regretted for that cheiri accent. Actually i should have told "yepovavdhu drinks saapta paravailla, yeppovum saapta dhan thappu".. namma vazhkaila idhelam sagajamappa

We spoke for a while, never came to a conclusion as to whether we like each other and whether our parents can go ahead and so on. He asked for some days' time and left home after sometime...

My engagement was later planned to be held in June:-)

Busy Evening...

April 13, 2006..(Thursday).. I was very happy that I'm gonna have 3 day's off from work.. April 14th was Tamil Newyear and Sat, Sunday is my weekend off.. andha sandoshathla vellaye seiyala..

That day I had an interview with ING insurance.. I forgot to inform my parents about it.. i called up my dad at 4 o'clock..
Me: Appa.. naan inniku veetku vara late agum.. I have an interview with ING vysya
Appa: Oh!! yeppo varuva?? Late aaguma?
Me: Illa pa.. 5:30 ku vanduduven
Appa: Ok.. seekram vandhudu va illa? appo ok
Me: ok pa.. bye

I was confused.. my dad wont ask me to come early and he wont ask all such questions like.. late aaguma? Seekram vadhudhvaya? Anyways I thought yedo akkaraila ketruparr.. I headed to ING vysya which was near LIC building.. I was thinking about sth else and took a wrong direction.. I roamed around Pudhupet for half an hour.. my head started aching terribly cos of veiyil ("veiyil" - more or less refers to hot sun).. then finally I reached ING only at 5..

I met the manager his name was Afsar.. He bugged me for forty-five mins..

He explained the job profile, it was marketing for his insurance products, which I dint like.... he talked about all the employee facilities, CTC, etc.. nothing interested me.. mokka thanga mudiyala..

my cellphone started vibrating.......... "Appa calling"..

Afsar: U'll have loads of benefit by taking up this job
Me: (the time was 5:40 and my dad calling?? wat's wrong with my dad? Why is he behaving wierd??..) ya.. err.. i can understand
Afsar: How many customers can u get per month?
Me: (poda po.. yennala oru dashum pannamudiyadhu) I can get atleast one per day, Sir
Afsar: That's the spirit of a real marketer.. i'm so impressed with ur profile
Me: (dei.. vennada.. verupethadha) ok sir, I think its getting late for me, I have an important appointment with one of my clients...
Afsar: Oh.. wat type of clients? If u dont mind could u explain pls
Me: (aaha.. mattnaya? vaiya vachiktu summa irukamata?) hmm.. they're based on US.. they're the employees of Moody's in US.. we work together on a project.. sir i'm afraid i cant tell u more than this (podum idhukumela poi sonna soru kadaikadhu)
Afsar: Oh that's interesting.. u bring all ur certificates on Monday.. u can join in two weeks
Me: thats gr8.. I'll be here with all the docs on Monday.. nice meeting u (appeettu)

I was so happy that he let me out finally, Then I called up my dad and told him that i'm coming.. It was 6 o'clock when I started..

I reached home at 6:15.. my dad was waiting on the doorstep

Me: Wat's wrong? yenna aachu??
Appa: Inniku nama veetuku yaaro varranga..
Me: yaar andha 'yaaro'??
Appa: Payyanoda appa amma.. they're coming at 6:30, poi dress change pannitu vaa
Me: yenndha payyan? (as if i dont know)
Appa: Overa scene podadha..
Me: aaha adhuku dhan ivlo call pannengala?? appaye nanachen.. munadiye sollakudadha?
Appa: Ok ok, time aachu poi ready aagu

I got ready at the nick of the time.. It was 6:45 when they came.. Prasanna's parents and grandparents came..

I dint know wat to speak to them.. I was sitting in the oonjal (swing) like a dumbo.. they asked me few questions.. I answered them in our brahmin
accent.. It was very difficult to speak in our traditional accent as I was familiar with only three accents,
1. Local peter language.. adhanpa English (Courtesy: MOP Vaishnav)
2. Madras bhasha (Courtesy: SRM Nightingale Mat, Hr, Sec, School... ha ha ha)

3. Hyundai Accent

I spoke to my would-be father-in-law and Grandfather-in-law (ha ha ha).. I was scared to talk to the guy's mom and grandmom cuz I dont know many difficult household activities like, cooking, cleaning, etc.. so I maintained distance...

I showed them my tour photos.. they glanced thru it patiently.. then they had few snacks and left home by 8 o'clock

Shock of my life...

One fine Sunday afternoon... I was sitting in the dinning room and reading a book, my dad and mom were sitting in the opposite side..

Suddenly..
Appa: (to my mom) sollitaya??
Amma: Illaye.. neegale sollunga..
Me: (Puzzeled.. closed the book and kept it aside) yenna aachu?
Appa: Onnu illa... oru nimisham iru...
Then, he went to his room and came back with a paperpaperla naalu pakkamum manjal (turmeric) poosirndhudu..
Appa: Idha padichi paaru!
Me: yennadu idhu?

I opened the paper and glanced thru it.. it was a guy's jadagam (Profile)

Me: yedhuku yenkitta katarenga??
Appa: indha payyan peru Prasanna.. HCL-la vela pakkaran..
Me: Seri.. adhuku?
Appa: Payanku oru sister, avangalku kalyanam adhuchu, she's in US..
Me: Seri.. ippo finala yenna solla varenga??
Amma: payyanoda photova kaatunga
Me: (Shocked.. aaha yennama idhellam).. (blinking)

Dad got his photos and gave it to meThere were two photos.. i jus glanced thru and kept it aside, (seriyave paakala)

Appa: yenna payyana pudichiruka?
Amma: -do-
Me: (nalla maatnen.. yenna reaction kudukardhune theriyala).... hmm... (started crying) yenna pa adhukulla kalyanama?? ippo dhana velaiku poga aarambichen?
Appa: aama ma, but its time for u to get married,
Amma: nee ippo kalyanam panikardhu dhan correct.. yengalkum vayasite pogudhu.. (same cinema dialogue)
Me: (blinking)
Appa: yenna sollra??
Me: illapa naa innum financially romba weak.. Konjam dhan save panirken.....
Appa: Kavala padadha ippo dhana start pannirkom, kalyanathuku innum 6 months aavdhu agum
Amma: aaru masam irruku illa, payyanoda appa amma nee velapatha paravailla nu dhan sonnanga
Me: Ungalku yenna correctnu padardho adaye seinga

First day @ job

March 6, 2006, was the day in which I have to join.. I went to OT (Anna Nagar), with happiness and contentment.. My reporting time was half Nine.. I was asked to wait till half ten!! I really wasted my precious time sitting and doing nothing (chuma Scene.. ha ha ha).. I talked to few girls sitting at the reception.. then the guy who interviewed me (Vivek Bhandari) came and confirmed our presence and told us that we have an induction program which was organised in a hotel called Shan Royal (Never heard of)..

The Hotel
The hotel looked good as of its one star hotel (it was indeed a star hotel) but it wasnt up to the mark when compared to Taj, Park, Chola or Fisherman's cove which I frequently visit (Oops!!). I had plenty of reasons to degrade the hotel.. firstly, the flooring wasnt good and it wasnt carpeted, secondly, the furniture wasnt wood but merely plastic, thirdly, the walls were filled with patches of dirt and finally, the room spray was dull.. It really turned me off.. huh.. namma rangekku ellam idhu orru hotela?? (vetti bandha)

The People
People were not bad and not so good.. I spoke to few people and tried making friends.. few of them were client managers, few were document specialist and only one girl called Ambeka was a Research Associate. So I thought it would be better if I made friends with her.. I spoke to her for a while she seemed to be soft hearted girl!!

The Program
The induction program was boring as the name suggests.. They turned of the light so that we can see the projections made by the LCD clearly. Many people made presentations, It was all about "OT is the Best", "OT is the No. 2 BPO in India", blah, blah.. blaaaaaaaah, blllaaahhh, Zzzzzz... (I was literally sleeping cant u see??.. Cant help it)

The Food
YEAH.. the food was gr8!! I was really happy and all fresh in the buffet.. All the dishes were my favourites (samma kattu!! ha ha ha).. Started with Soup and ended with Icecream as usual!!

So the first day concluded very soon after the lunch, they gave few presentations about the HR policies and then let us go by half five..At the end, they told that the day next will also be an induction and it will be boring.. (as if they brought Ricky Martin to entertain us in the first day..!!)

Freaky environment??

Along with me two of my friends, Sangeetha and Archana, also got a job with Office Tiger (OT) for the same position and the same Sal.

They consulted few of their friends and decided not to take up the job. Best part was that, they tried persuading me not to take up the job which was when I made up my mind to take it! The main reason they decided not to take it being the environment in OT is so FREAKYY!!

Freaky??
Examples:
1. The guys and gals flirt with each other
2. They often have a team party or a day-out in beach resorts in which they drink, smoke and hit the sack together!!.. (ha ha ha)
3. They have a socialised environment, even good girls turn bad girls sooner or later..

These reasons sounded dumb!! parties are everywhere almost in all the companies under the sun!! I was very firm that I should accept the offer!! Good girls remain good wherever they are!! (Oops!!)

Incredible!!

One fine day I got an e-mail from one of my friends saying that there was an interview with a company called Office Tiger.. I ignored that mail as I have never heard of a company called Tiger!!

Then I sent a text msg to that girl asking which tiger was that.. She was dumb struck.. she told me that it was a BIG Company and she also told that it wasn't "Tiger", it was "Office Tiger" (ha ha ha).. then I browsed thru the websites and asked few of my other friends and came to a conclusion that Office Tiger perhaps was a big company..

I had two rounds this time.. and all's well that end's well.. It was another cake walk where I came out with flying colours..

Gr8.. Finally, I was employed as a Research Associate in (OFFICE) Tiger:-)