Part I
Venue: My Home in Vadakara - A small town in Northern Kerala, near Calicut
Date: 14th April - Any Year between 1986 to 2003.
Occasion: Vishu at my Home.
"Hey Pee, Come On Wake up.. Don’t you want to see the kani?" There comes my dearest mom in her all new Set and Mundu (Two Piece Kerala Sari) to wake me up at the early hours of the Vishu Day. She is all ready; I can feel it, even though I cannot see her as she had covered my eyes with her hands.
I am to see the Kani which should ideally include gold ornaments, fresh and white cloth, a measure of rice or paddy, bell metal mirror, flowers of the Konna tree, halved jack fruits, halved coconuts, yellow cucumber, and two standing oil lamps emitting sparkling light – all kept in front of the Lord Krishna statue in the Pooja Room of my house. But always things wont be these much elaborate as my mummy settles down with the Konna Flowers, Coconuts, Rice and Coins.
Mummy takes me down, slowly but steadily I am in front of the Kani and I see it - my first sight on the astronomical New Year day of Malayalam Era – the first day of Medam Month in Malayalam Calendar. This is my first sight of this year and of course the fortunes of the coming year depend on this first object I see on the Vishu day – and it should be good. So the important is this Kani Kanal, which literally means the first sight.
One by one my mom brings in my sister and Achan (Father in Malayalam). So naughty my sis is that she used to cry a lot in her younger years. Achan later distributes the Vishukaineettam and it is always equal. I crib.. "I am the eldest, why you are giving the same amount to Molu". No response, he goes back to have another short nap before going to his morning walk. Vishukaineettam means the gift of money to the children and to other people by the elder members of the family and it is always welcome
After the Breakfast we all are off to our paternal house – the Tharavadu where more cousins and uncles are ready to join the party with more kaineettams, crackers and may be a round of rummy (I was allowed to play this only after I became an earning member in 2001). Some uncles are more kind as they grant me more amount of money than that was given to Molu. Hurray, I am happy. Now I can have more bank balance than hers.
Crackers, Crackers and more Crackers. The one with sounds that deafens your ears – Gundu, MalaPadakkam, The rocket -Vaanam, The one that is handled by kids – Kambithiri, The one that can be put on the floors – Nilachakrams – only to here Achchamma’s (Grandmother) scolding saying that her floors will be now good for nothing. There all goes, up in the air and the atmosphere has a smell of gunpowder and little bit of suffocation and fun.
Sadya (Sumptuous Lunch) served on the big Thooshanila (Plantain Leaf) with Rice, different types of Curries, Pappadams and finally Payasams – usually two – one with Semia and other with Jaggery. Now back to long chatting, some may be sleeping, I may be teasing my sister, it’s all happening and it all happens only in Vishu and later during Onam.
Part II
Venue: My House in Pune and My Office
Date: 14th April - 2005
Occasion: Vishu at my Desktop!!!
06:00AM IST:
(Background Music: Good, Bad and The Ugly…)
"Oh where am I!! What is that music?? Oh it is my cell phone ringing.. Now where is that? Oh kept as a bookmark in between the Three Men In A Boat!! "
"Hello!!"
"Hey .. What are you doing.. Still sleeping on a Vishu Day.. Go getup and have a bath and go to a temple"
"Oh Mom – Why are calling me up so early in the morning – I came yesterday very late and that too from Mumbai after my Visa Interview"
"So What, Its Vishu Pee and I want you to go to a temple at least today. And Happy Vishu " and the phone went dead. Hmmm Yet another Vishu, but shall I sleep some more. No but I must go, I cannot lie to mom and she will ask me later in the day if I had gone to temple. In that cold morning I bath and then on my bike to visit the Ayyappa Temple at Khadki
After the temple darshan I am back to my reading world. Yahoo!! I need to go only by 1.30
10:00 AM IST:
(Background Music: Good, Bad and The Ugly…)
"Hello Dhanush, We got some problems in the UAT environment that you built. Please come and look at it urgently." That’s my PM and now I have to report… Oh God!! - Bye Bye J, Harris and George. Will meet you guys at night
10:20 AM IST:
Phone at my Desk rings
"Hello Dhanush, Its Jim here – what is the problem in the UAT" Now it’s the Client’s Turn
"Jim that was a problem with some in-doubt transactions and they are getting locked in the Database"
"Now what is that and why did it come now?"
"Jim I don’t know- I need to look into it and fix it."
"Ok alright then, do that and keep me updated"
"Sure.. Cheers Bye"
This is why I love Google. Search it, apply it, and Fix it. Oh No its 3 PM and I haven’t yet had my lunch. Canteen will be closed by now. The R K Caterers is having something. Thank God the "Healthy (or Unhealthy) Diet meal" is not there. Now I am left with Egg Biriyani. Look at my fate on a Vishu Day eating the Egg Biriyani for lunch and that too at 3 PM
03.15 PM IST:
IP Messenger Says: "Can we have the daily status call at 3.30 PM." Oh Yes Sir.
03.45 PM IST:
Outlook looks out for me with a beep and "You got a new mail"
"All,
Please attend this conference call regarding Bridge Classic Testing at 13:00 to 16:00 CET (GMT +1)
Thanks
LM "
Now what time is CET here? What is the difference? Ok I got it. Reminders Updated
04.00 PM IST:
Outlook looks out for me with a beep and "You got a new mail"
" You are invited for the online testing of our new service at 10.30 to 12.30 EST (GMT –5). Please attend without fail.
Thanks
M "
EST – Eastern Standard Time – what is the difference now.. Oh that will be 7PM here, or is it 6 PM. "Hey RS what is the time difference between US and India"
"One Minute Brother, Abhi Batha tha Hun.. Ok it will be 7 PM our time "
"Thanks Yaar"
"You are welcome"
04.07 PM IST:
IP Messenger Says: "Have you seen this Exception: java.lang.Exception: ORA-20999: No Customer..……." It’s RS and he is tense because his server is throwing out strange things.
"Hey RS, I have seen it man, but I don’t remember. I think its DB related issue with Geneva. Don’t worry"
"Oh Thanks Buddy!! You are great. This is real good information" RS always flatter you and you are elated.
04.30 PM IST:
LM ‘s Web Conference.
07.00 PM IST:
"LM, Can I drop off from the call as I have another call to attend now "
"Ok Dhanush, Cheers". To hell with all these cheers. I am out
After a bathroom break and not-so-hot pantry coffee
07:10 PM IST:
M’s Web Conference
"Dhanush has joined the conference"
Venue: My Home in Vadakara - A small town in Northern Kerala, near Calicut
Date: 14th April - Any Year between 1986 to 2003.
Occasion: Vishu at my Home.
"Hey Pee, Come On Wake up.. Don’t you want to see the kani?" There comes my dearest mom in her all new Set and Mundu (Two Piece Kerala Sari) to wake me up at the early hours of the Vishu Day. She is all ready; I can feel it, even though I cannot see her as she had covered my eyes with her hands.
I am to see the Kani which should ideally include gold ornaments, fresh and white cloth, a measure of rice or paddy, bell metal mirror, flowers of the Konna tree, halved jack fruits, halved coconuts, yellow cucumber, and two standing oil lamps emitting sparkling light – all kept in front of the Lord Krishna statue in the Pooja Room of my house. But always things wont be these much elaborate as my mummy settles down with the Konna Flowers, Coconuts, Rice and Coins.
Mummy takes me down, slowly but steadily I am in front of the Kani and I see it - my first sight on the astronomical New Year day of Malayalam Era – the first day of Medam Month in Malayalam Calendar. This is my first sight of this year and of course the fortunes of the coming year depend on this first object I see on the Vishu day – and it should be good. So the important is this Kani Kanal, which literally means the first sight.
One by one my mom brings in my sister and Achan (Father in Malayalam). So naughty my sis is that she used to cry a lot in her younger years. Achan later distributes the Vishukaineettam and it is always equal. I crib.. "I am the eldest, why you are giving the same amount to Molu". No response, he goes back to have another short nap before going to his morning walk. Vishukaineettam means the gift of money to the children and to other people by the elder members of the family and it is always welcome
After the Breakfast we all are off to our paternal house – the Tharavadu where more cousins and uncles are ready to join the party with more kaineettams, crackers and may be a round of rummy (I was allowed to play this only after I became an earning member in 2001). Some uncles are more kind as they grant me more amount of money than that was given to Molu. Hurray, I am happy. Now I can have more bank balance than hers.
Crackers, Crackers and more Crackers. The one with sounds that deafens your ears – Gundu, MalaPadakkam, The rocket -Vaanam, The one that is handled by kids – Kambithiri, The one that can be put on the floors – Nilachakrams – only to here Achchamma’s (Grandmother) scolding saying that her floors will be now good for nothing. There all goes, up in the air and the atmosphere has a smell of gunpowder and little bit of suffocation and fun.
Sadya (Sumptuous Lunch) served on the big Thooshanila (Plantain Leaf) with Rice, different types of Curries, Pappadams and finally Payasams – usually two – one with Semia and other with Jaggery. Now back to long chatting, some may be sleeping, I may be teasing my sister, it’s all happening and it all happens only in Vishu and later during Onam.
Part II
Venue: My House in Pune and My Office
Date: 14th April - 2005
Occasion: Vishu at my Desktop!!!
06:00AM IST:
(Background Music: Good, Bad and The Ugly…)
"Oh where am I!! What is that music?? Oh it is my cell phone ringing.. Now where is that? Oh kept as a bookmark in between the Three Men In A Boat!! "
"Hello!!"
"Hey .. What are you doing.. Still sleeping on a Vishu Day.. Go getup and have a bath and go to a temple"
"Oh Mom – Why are calling me up so early in the morning – I came yesterday very late and that too from Mumbai after my Visa Interview"
"So What, Its Vishu Pee and I want you to go to a temple at least today. And Happy Vishu " and the phone went dead. Hmmm Yet another Vishu, but shall I sleep some more. No but I must go, I cannot lie to mom and she will ask me later in the day if I had gone to temple. In that cold morning I bath and then on my bike to visit the Ayyappa Temple at Khadki
After the temple darshan I am back to my reading world. Yahoo!! I need to go only by 1.30
10:00 AM IST:
(Background Music: Good, Bad and The Ugly…)
"Hello Dhanush, We got some problems in the UAT environment that you built. Please come and look at it urgently." That’s my PM and now I have to report… Oh God!! - Bye Bye J, Harris and George. Will meet you guys at night
10:20 AM IST:
Phone at my Desk rings
"Hello Dhanush, Its Jim here – what is the problem in the UAT" Now it’s the Client’s Turn
"Jim that was a problem with some in-doubt transactions and they are getting locked in the Database"
"Now what is that and why did it come now?"
"Jim I don’t know- I need to look into it and fix it."
"Ok alright then, do that and keep me updated"
"Sure.. Cheers Bye"
This is why I love Google. Search it, apply it, and Fix it. Oh No its 3 PM and I haven’t yet had my lunch. Canteen will be closed by now. The R K Caterers is having something. Thank God the "Healthy (or Unhealthy) Diet meal" is not there. Now I am left with Egg Biriyani. Look at my fate on a Vishu Day eating the Egg Biriyani for lunch and that too at 3 PM
03.15 PM IST:
IP Messenger Says: "Can we have the daily status call at 3.30 PM." Oh Yes Sir.
03.45 PM IST:
Outlook looks out for me with a beep and "You got a new mail"
"All,
Please attend this conference call regarding Bridge Classic Testing at 13:00 to 16:00 CET (GMT +1)
Thanks
LM "
Now what time is CET here? What is the difference? Ok I got it. Reminders Updated
04.00 PM IST:
Outlook looks out for me with a beep and "You got a new mail"
" You are invited for the online testing of our new service at 10.30 to 12.30 EST (GMT –5). Please attend without fail.
Thanks
M "
EST – Eastern Standard Time – what is the difference now.. Oh that will be 7PM here, or is it 6 PM. "Hey RS what is the time difference between US and India"
"One Minute Brother, Abhi Batha tha Hun.. Ok it will be 7 PM our time "
"Thanks Yaar"
"You are welcome"
04.07 PM IST:
IP Messenger Says: "Have you seen this Exception: java.lang.Exception: ORA-20999: No Customer..……." It’s RS and he is tense because his server is throwing out strange things.
"Hey RS, I have seen it man, but I don’t remember. I think its DB related issue with Geneva. Don’t worry"
"Oh Thanks Buddy!! You are great. This is real good information" RS always flatter you and you are elated.
04.30 PM IST:
LM ‘s Web Conference.
07.00 PM IST:
"LM, Can I drop off from the call as I have another call to attend now "
"Ok Dhanush, Cheers". To hell with all these cheers. I am out
After a bathroom break and not-so-hot pantry coffee
07:10 PM IST:
M’s Web Conference
"Dhanush has joined the conference"
"Sorry M, just got out of the other call now only"
"Its alright, we have just started" And M’s desktop moves, mine too.
09:15PM IST:
(Background Music: Good, Bad and The Ugly…)
Oh it’s from home!!
"Hey Pee its me Molu" It’s that naughty sister of mine.
"Edee.. I got no time to talk you now. I am on another call. Will call you later."
09:35 PM IST:
M’s Web Conference
What are they talking about? And why do they want me here, my area is working perfect. Come one M let me go out man.
"Dhanush, the defect 3089 seems to be with your area. Can you please have a look at it?"
"Yea will do that, can you give me some test data to investigate?"
"Oh Ya sure the id is B002347"
"Thanks"
09:52 PM IST:
Phone at my Desk rings
"Hello, Dhanush here"
"Haa patha hai too hi hai , Isliye tho phone kiya there hi extension me" Now that’s my roomies wakeup call to go home
"Tho, Mei Kya Karoo"
"Ajinkya jaana hai kya " – To us Ajinkya always meant less food and more booze and today I am not interested. Today is Vishu
"Nahi yaar aaj nahi"
"Chal Phir Teeek hai yaar – agar thujhe interest nahi hai tho abhi kya karooo. Jaake Mera favourite Aloo Capsicum banathe hai" Now that’s the only one dish my dear friend knows to make, and in that he is the king among us. (Now should I think if Ajinkya Better than the Aloo Capsicum. No No!! Today is Vishu – the New Year day. If I drink today I will be a Bewuda for this whole year)
"Teek hai yaar, Too Banale, tera Aloo Capsicum Khaake kitne Din ho gaya. Aur sun, sabji main Aloo ya capsicum dalna boolna math"
10:15 PM IST:
(Background Music: Good, Bad and The Ugly…)
"Hello"
"Yea Mom"
"Did you go to temple today?"
"Yes Mommy, Don’t you have anything else to ask"
"Okay, Got some Sadya or what. What did you have for lunch"
"Egg Biriyani"
"Why did you have Non-Veg on this day? Didn’t you find any time to go to the Malayali restaurant that you always mentioned? This is the problem with you. No care of values and traditions after you leave home"
Oh Mom!! She started in her usual self. Her worries about me, her particular about rituals to be followed .Oh Mom please understand me.
"……"
"……"
"Any ways you went to temple atleast. Here I have gone to temple and offered prayer on yours and Molu’s name"
"Ok Mom"
"Now what are you doing? Why can’t you go to sleep now and get up early in the morning and go for jogging instead of sleeping till 10 AM?"
"Mom, I am working from 1.30 to 10 PM and at times I come late and by the time I catch sleep it will be Midnight "
"Hmm you and your habits have changed a lot"
No Mummy. I haven’t changed at all. I am still your dear son, who would love to be at home during Vishu, see Vishu Kani, enjoy the Sadya, fire up some crackers and sleep while your fingers run through my hairs.
11:15 PM IST:
J, George and Harris are still on their boat across the Thames. J explaining his tryst with the cheeses. I know I am reading it and still to go along way before I finish it. But things are not sticking in my mind.
11:30 PM IST:
(Background Music: Good, Bad and The Ugly…)
"Hello Petts"
"Hai Macha. Still half an hour to end of the day, so not late to say a HAPPY VISHU"
"HAPPY VISHU da"
And into the night my thoughts went about me, my family, my friends and the Vishu I had with them all. Where are all those moments, which I miss in this Multinational Culture? Where are all those people whom I would love to be with on this day? Missing them all, but not my memories – my nostalgic sweet memories.
Dr Hannibal Lecter wisely said – Memory is all I have instead of a View
