ExpertDabbler

“Momma always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”
So goes one famous line in one fantastic movie. Its not out of place to say the same about blogger’s meet too. It always throws up an interesting mixture of people.
This was my third blogger’s meet (Discounting my talks with Vatsan, Keerthi and Siddharth).

Boat club meeting was the first, the second was in New Yorker with Balaji sir and Jo.

People impress you for different reasons, the latest blogger’s meet had about 40 people of all possible ages.

Also having my pic in the profile, taken just after stealing a chicken from my neighbour helped people to recognise me. So i need not break the ice which am never good at doing anyway. My formality half-smiles will look more a frown.

Some people who i got to interact with are

Mukund’s Parents ( Partha Krish Sir and Vasantha )

I was privileged enough to talk to Mukundan’s dad and mom. Their enthusiasm and the ease with which they mingle with a crowd not even half their age was amazing. There was so much to know from them. Including something appropriate to say when Partha sir wished me

( Refer Somu’s blog.) Chatunu enna solradhu nu therila makkaley. Verum kaathu mattum dhaan vandhudhu, Seri therinchadhai solluvomnu solten. I just suffixed a sir.
Will sure learn that before we meet next time sir, i assure you
I also came to know Thennavan had some nice things to say about me.
Hehe thennavan you got yourself a treat next time u r here. Annalum koncham unmayai sollirukalam especially to your parents
RAM VISWANATHAN

Then this time too i caught up with Ram Viswanathan sir who was modest enough to say, “Oh, i too work for just another software company” when someone asked.

Well his is not just another software company nor his job profile just another software engineer, thats Ram Viswanathan for you. He even remembered my North Chennai-South Chennai divide post and like all did not fail to mention my marriage travails post:)

KUMARAGURU

Man, he had known me since my Karthik Tiffen Center days. Another thing should be mentioned, I’d written about anything and everything but still some posts stick more than the others. His blog url is a very simple one, its almost a simple sentence. I got to know about his company which might be useful to my cousin.

Balaji

Yet another techie but very nice upbeat chap. I think he was the first to post about the blogger’s meet y’day. We had some nice things to talk, like Traffic in Shozhinganallur etc

Vishnu

Can u explain RTST vishnu?

I think it was Somu who asked “Eppo?”
to which he said “Dec 1″.

They were in synch. Lets leave it at that.

Ramesh of frozen thoughts was also present for the meet.

Swaminathan - an expert blog reader

A tech writer. He even asked about a few of my colleagues who had earlier been his colleagues. We got to talk something on those lines, his company, my company etc.

Muthuonline

A well known usability pro, he gave me a top or two regarding my profession.
He had even read my post on interaction design. Nice enough not to comment much on it though:)
Muthu Nallavar, Vallavar, Naalum therinchavar hehehe.

PSomu
He brought out another face of mine - my absent mindedness. Cheerful chap.

Carmalin
She was the official photographer of the meet. I graciously gave the stage to her even though i had my own camera in my bag
Another familiar, well known bloggers who made it were Ravikumar and the one and only Chinmayi but i hardly got to talk to them this time. With 40 odd people and my below avg social skills, i could not talk much to him.

And last but not the least Viji
“extrovert, optimist, cheerful, a never-say-die attitude” for once i had read a profile which was as close to the truth as possible.
No doubt that i found out the Paravai Muniamma of Indian bloggers

But seriously, viji reminded me of my friend and mentor priyums in so many ways.
I was even tempted to ask if she knew priyums. But i realised i was stretching things too far. Priyums was senior to me by three years. Possibility of them knowing is as high as a siruvani water in Sahara or whatever.
English poems are not exactly my kinda chutney but i liked her Chennaiyil oru mazhai kaalam post.

Another feature, almost everyone i spoke knew about Narayanan sir.
NV sir, neenga pesama next election la nikkalaam.

Some notable absentees or rather people i expected to come Vijay Krishna, Madhubala, Haripi, Kiruthik, our old Vatsan, keerthi (had a good reason though) and Siddharth.

7:57

Saleem came with Anwar in a car in a small road which was leading to the tracks.
He had earlier his Vaapa called before Anwar joined him. If his dad had listened to his advice, the train should’ve reached the 84 km lamp post spot by now and then if applied brakes, would stop by 85,86 km smoothly. But that was not to be. The train had not come yet. He knew instinctly what might’ve happened.

His Father, Mr Sincerity would’ve gone and told his SM. He in turn would send some men in a trolley along with a couple of police men upto the point. There would be nothing in the tracks. By the time those people convey the message a good 45 min would be lost, thinking that was a hoax call, Kovai express would be in a hurry to make that 45 minutes and would be in full speed when it reaches the point. A few minutes before it comes there, his gang would park up a tanker lorry full of explosives right on the track in the next unmanned level crossing 1 km away. If it goes off, there would be nothing for a km in either side.

As he guessed, he could see a group of men running a trolley on the tracks.

The very thought made him sweat, ‘Why can’t people think?. Why should good people always have to be really dumb? Had his vaapa listened to his advice, it would’ve appeared like the driver was alert and stopped the train on seeing a tanker lorry on the tracks. That would be less trouble for him too.

8:20 AM

Hussain, the tanker lorry driver , instead of parking at the next unmanned level crossing parked his vehicle in the same road as Saleem. This crossing was right next to an almost blind curve. That means even less time for the train to react, slow down and stop.

Hussain stopped the tanker right on the tracks, and started to walk off in the opposite direction. On the way he shouted, “Saleeem kelambi poidu, vandi Arakkonam vittu kelambiruchu, vanduttu iruku, inum 10 mins dhan. 2 km ku onnume theradhu.”

Saleem saw Anwar, seated next to him, his eyes was beaming on the prospect of getting the target. No remorse, no regret.
“Here is one person would never understand the value of life” he thought. He knew Anwar would never let him do what he wanted to do – stop this accident. Nor would Saleem escape if he killed anwar. It was just a matter of time. It was just one-way traffic. Saleem was fast reaching the point of no return.

“Anwar kannai moodi 100 ennu”

“Edukku?”

“Ennu solren”

He started to count and in a flash, Saleem took out his revolver and shot him in his chest in near point blank range inside the car. It was instant death as blood spurted of the car upholstery.

Saleem took out a pen and paper and started to write all his leader’s names and address, contact info to the best of his knowledge in a few minutes. He gently placed the paper in Anwar’s trouser pocket. He got out of the car, took out a mask for himself to cover his face and started run on the tracks facing the oncoming train.

8:30

At last Saleem could hear the siren of WAP 4 22550. He simply kept running.

Akbar bhai who was coming at about 90 km per hour applied brakes on seeing a person with a mask on the tracks and kept blowing his horn. The man was just running as if he was blind and deaf.

Akbar managed to reduce the speed from 90 to 30 even as the train approached the young man, inspite of shouting at the top of the voices by both the drivers, the man did not budge from the tracks.

Shekar said, “Bhai ivan tharkolai pannika poraan, innaiki gilli dhaan”

A cry, and a mild thud was all they could hear in the roar of the engine even at 30 kmph. Both the drivers knew it was over. Akbar bhai and Shekar had learnt not to peep out. It was always gory sight. Such things happen in a driver’s career many times.

“Chey, aaru petha pullayo, en vaandi dhaana kedhachudu “ Akbar murmered.

And on traveling another 700 metres, Akbar saw a tanker lorry parked bang right on the tracks. Something was fishy about the lorry. He was able to stop the train a few hundred metres in front of the tanker lorry because it was already ruing slow thanks to that suicide.

He saw the lamp posts, it was more or less what Saleem said in his brief call.

12:45 PM

Two police officers were talking to one another.

“En service la ethanayo parthirukken, ana idhu …..”

“Ivanugalai ellam suttu kollanum sir, konna ivanuga supporta pesaradhukku, “Manidha Urimai Meeral” nu kathradhukku oru goshti irukkum. Idhai plan panravanga ellam Manushangala Sir? Enna oru arakathanam!….” he was fuming.

“Vedichirundha epdiyum 1500 per poirupaanga sir”

Akbar bhai was appreciated for his control and alertness because of which a major accident was alerted.

“Naan onnum pannalinga sir, oruthan suicde panninaan, avanai kaapatharukaaga slow panninen, kaapatha mudile. nera vandilaye vilundaan. Ana avan illena mothama poiruppom, sethum nalladhu panitu poitaan magarasan” he said for the fourth time even as his eyes were yearning to see Saleem.

——————————END—————————

(I know this one was heavy, thats why i kept it short. Next fiction would be something light, the narrative would be in first person:))

6:17

Akbar Bhai spoke on his radio, got the green signal, upped the TE lever and the WAP4 22550 whichwas hauling Kovai started from the edge of Platform No 10 in Central.
Shekhar was his asst. Both Shekhar and Akbar have more than 20 yrs experience and have been together on a number of trips.

“Security bayangarama irukku bhai”, shekhar said.

“Ama. ellam sila per panra attakagasam. Kolagaara pasanga” Akbar Bhai said.

“Unga mootha payyan enga irukaan bhai?”

“Enakku jameel mattum dhaan pilai ippo. Mudhalavanai naan sethu poitaanu dhaan ninachukiren”

“Enna bhai ipdi solreenga?”

“Pinna ennayya? evlo paasama valarthen theriyuma avanai? Mudhal pillai nu avlo sellam, kettadhellam vangi kuduthen. 17 vayasule odi poitaan. Poi 12 varusham aachu, Poi indha terrorist groups la elam serndhu, avanaale enakkum, en family kum evlo prachnai theriyuma? Ethanai enquiry? Ethanai police station?. Evano oru silar panra imsayale enga community ke evlo ketta per theriyuma? Enna illai indha oorile? Thiramaiyum uzhappum irundha podhum, enna community munuku varlaam. Abdul Kalam ai India vey kondadhudhu, AR Rahman ai paadada youngster kedayadhu, aana ivangua panra atagaasam paaru…Babri masjid idichadhu thappu dhaan. Adukaaga indha nattaye rendaknum na enna artham? Kayile punn vandha kayaye vetradha? Ippo en magan Jameel engineer. Avanga company la ivanai america poganum nu solraanga, poi ninna muslim nalae visa kudukka maatraan. Muslim america poradhey gundu vaika dhaan ngra madhiri agi pochu…Enga pasanga padikanum ya. Nalla padichu mitha pasanga kooda kalandha oru prachnai varaadhu. Padippu varanum, Nyayamana vazhila selvam varanum, nalla serkai venum, idhu illame madham mattum irundha ipdi dhaan agum….”

“Neenga solradhu puriyudhu bhai”

Both remained silent for sometime.

6:57

The train crossed Tiruvallur smoothly.

7:17

Saleem decided to call up his vaapa when the train reaches Arakonam Jn. He asked his informer to let him know when the train reaches Arakkonam. He knew his vaapa had a mobile. He would carry it but would never use it while on the move. Not that he has had experience. He has never spoken to him in all these years. But thats what the railway rule says and that what his vaapa would do. He somehow knew that.

7:27

Akbar Bhai’s mobile came to life just as the train was easing itself into the platform in Arakkonam.

“Vaapa, naan saleem pesaren”

Akbar bhai was more stunned than enraged.

“Yaaru, endha saleem? Yaaru venum?”

“Unga payyan pa. ”

Akbar bhai slammed the phone.

The mobile was ringing again

“Hello Vaapa naan saleem pesaren, neenga en kooda pesalena parava illa, 84 th km ( innum 15 km) appuram track la eng aaaluga explosives vechirukaanga. Neenga adu varaikum vandhu angey trainai stop pannidunga. Ippo udane police kitte ellam solla vendaam. Veena prachnai. Neenga trainai niruthittu pakkadhu stationuku inform pannidunga ”

This time saleem disconnected the call. He did not want to inform about the complete modus operandi. If his father acted crazy then that would mean more trouble for him.

Akbar told Shekhar about the conversation.

“Ippo enna panradhu ?”Shekhar asked

“Naan poi SM kitte inform panna poren” Akbar Bhai said.

“Vendaam. Avan dhaan inform panna vendaam appuram pannikalam nu solraaney?”

“Evan? Avan enna Gandhi ya? Avanai nambi epdi naan nadu kaatile train ai nirutha mudiyum? Idhu enna busa? ninaicha nerathile nirutha? Niruthina udaney vasadhiya pochu nu bomb veesina? Nambalai nambi 1500 er varaan, nimmadiya vilayaaditu, thoongitu varaan, enakku en tharudhalai payyan pechai vida ivanga uyir daan mukiyam. Idhiley ellam risk edukka koodadhu”

Akbar bhai alighted from the engine and went ahead to inform the Station Master and other authorities at Arakonam.

Folks, another kutti story. will be done with in 2/3 posts in total. More on this story later.

Dec 06th, 2005. 12:45 Noon

It was a cloudy tuesday. Train number 2675 Kovai express should’ve reached Tiruppur by this time under normal circumstances. But that was not to be. It did not go beyond an unmanned level crossing 15km after Arakkonam Jn. The entire area has been cordoned off. No train would cross that spot for the next 24 hours, it has been announced.

A stretch of 5 km either side of the spot had been invaded by police – both Railways and Law and Order. The trackmen had been suspended and taken into custody for questioning. The Chief General Manager of Southern Railway would be visiting anytime. There were talks that the Minister of State for Railways might come along too.

Two police officers were talking to one another.

“En service la ethanayo parthirukken, ana idhu …..”

“Ivanugalai ellam suttu kollanum sir, konna ivanuga supporta pesaradhukku, “Manidha Urimai Meeral” nu kathradhukku oru goshti irukkum. Idhai plan panravanga ellam Manushangala Sir? Enna oru arakathanam!….” he was fuming.

Dec 05th, 2005 11 PM.

Saleem was an agitated man. He could not sleep no matter how much ever tried. This was the day when he ran away from home exactly a year after the Masjid demolition. In these 12 years, he has grown up from a cute looking 12th std boy to a handsome man. He has crossed the border several times, had undergone training in camps across LoC, has been subjected to teachings about the shortest way to reach God, and now a member of a feared terror outfit.

He was a very intelligent kid at school, but now that intelligence has been directed to make bombs and kill in the name of religion. But what he was about to do the next day disturbed even a person as heartless as Saleem.

The task was simple. 2675 Kovai express bound for Coimbatore has to be blown away into pieces.

Saleem is not a conscientious, rational, 29 yr old man anymore. Killing VIPs, kidnapping them and releasing in exchange of dreaded terrorists, he has done it all. All the teachings in the training camps had helped him overcome the guilt so far. But tomorrow’s task was too daunting even for him emotionally. He doubted if he could ever remain sane if he did what has been told - Kill thousands of innocent train passengers.

This was supposed to be executed by Amir, another member of the squad. But Amir, wanted in relation to so many incidents has gone into hiding. Saleem had been entrusted with this task at the last minute.

His heart sank lower when he got the info that the driver for tomorrow’s Kovai Express was his own Vaapa, Akbar Bhai. The respected senior train driver, the epitome of integrity and sincerity.

He could not imagine doing what he has been asked to do tomorrow. But then he cannot violate the command of his group chief. He cannot go and say, ‘I am not going to do this’.

Saleem would be history if he says that.The operation has been planned for a few weeks but discretion was maintained. He was revealed about the plan only yesterday.

On the other hand, It was sheer accident that the scheduled driver took leave in short notice and Akbar bhai had to be in charge. Saleem had his own sources to update him. Perhaps all this coincidences are to stop this from happening. If God’s will is to prevent that, it shall be prevented, he thought.

He sat down and thought about the possible scenarios.

What if he informed his parents right away? That would be far too easy to catch. His vaapa, the epitome of integrity that he is, would soon inform his higher-ups. That would mean the train getting delayed, intense combing operations, heavy track surveillance. Which in turn would annoy his group leader. They would then investigate as to who leaked the information, who is related to who and after that its all over for Saleem.

No, this conspiracy had to be foiled, but should be made to look like a failure at the last moment.

He thought over each and every detail, then sat silent for a few minutes. He was a determined man when he went to bed.

Update
CLICK HERE FOR LIFE AND KISS PART VI

Got this as a mail fwd.

YEAR 1981

1. PRINCE CHARLES GOT MARRIED

2. LIVERPOOL CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE

3. AUSTRALIA LOST THE ASHES

4. POPE DIED

YEAR 2005

1. PRINCE CHARLES GOT MARRIED

2. LIVERPOOL CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE

3. AUSTRALIA LOST THE ASHES

4. POPE DIED

IN FUTURE, IF PRINCE CHARLES DECIDES TO RE-MARRY …. PLEASE WARN THE POPE!!

Using abusive language is more a matter of habit and environment than the person’s character or upbringing.

During my adolescence, every fourth word from my mouth was a four letter word. All in sudha thamizh ofcourse. Ours was a boys only school and that did not help matters one bit. Had there been any girls, we would’ve tried to maintain a modicum of decency atleast to impress. And i have to tell you, there were guys who used “only” four letter words in my class to communicate
There has been incidences where we’ve used such foul language in our friend’s place only to be overheard by their family members. Embarassment for them as well as us.

Nowadays i don’t use them. Not that i dont get angry. But its just the environment and my sudden aversion. Let’s see how far this goes…:)

It was 11:40 PM and i wanted to listen to some nice music. i typed the raaga url and for a second thought raaga.com has been hacked. For it had a name like uiyui or something. Only then i realised i had typed raaga.blogspot.com instead of raaga.com.
Pramaadham!

Trains are still my favorite mode of transport. Even a daytime journey is better than a night journey for 11 hrs in an “Arasu Viraivu Pokku Varathu Kazhagam” bus. Chances of you attaining moksham pretty quick is quite high in that. And let’s not even even talk about the Omni bus services. They deserve a separate blog series. Guess regular KPN travellers would do that
I’ve taken Train no: 2675 Kovai Express far many times than I wish to remember. Business travelers between Chennai and Coimbatore would always prefer a night train for obvious reasons. But those days I always took Kovai because I had precious little to do during daytime anyway. And the ticket charges were much cheaper than the sleeper class ticket. And if I can manage a window seat, nothing like it. Add to it some time at the footboard and i used to feel like a Mani Ratnam sitting on a fast moving trolley shooting a dance sequence in the open landscape.

This route has become very familiar. So familiar that I can assess the exact location, the previous station, the next station and how much time it would normally take all by a look of the electric posts nearby and the distance marked in it. Here’s some useless trivia.

Starting from Central if the post is

40km – Its Thiruvallur
67Km – Arakonam junction
128-130km – Katpadi junction
180 km - Ambur
213-215 km – Jolarpet junction
265 km – Morappur
332 km – Salem junction
392 km - Erode
442 km – Tiruppur
And 479 km – Irugur

After that the sequence would change for the next 17 km because it’s a single track

I think this is fairly accurate give or take a km. And Kovai on normal speed covers 45 km in 30 mins on an average.

Nowadays, traveling in Kovai during weekends has become a pain. All the coaches are jam packed. With vendors of all types and shapes invading the coaches, its more like a speeding Ranganathan Street.

One joke that was doing the rounds here in chennai today

South Africa won the toss and

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Elected to Swim First


LIFE AND KISS - PART V up in kadhai neram

While Carnatic singers are adored, worshipped in chennai during every music season,
I am mesmerised by instrumental music ever since childhood - music of both east and west. The feeling is indescribable when i listen to the likes of Yanni, KennyG (The Moment, Breathless), Vanessa Mae(”Storm” and my favorite is Aurora) and our own Mandolin U Srinivas, Ganesh Kumaresh, Kadiri Gopalnath’s sax just before sleep.
I like Nadaswaram and Thavil(NPN, Jaishankar, Valayapatti) too. But i don’t see many youngsters learning these nowadays. Why is that?

IBH has written about MJ. There is one guitar piece in Dangerous (Give in to me). Does anyone remember?

I did not get to learn music when i was young and that remains my small regret. I should’ve learnt atleast the rudiments to appreciate good music.

Hey, maybe i will learn along my kid:)