[11th December 2014]
Tringggggggggggggg!!!! …the alarm clock rang together at three houses in the colony of
Crispbase hill at Bangalore. It was 6am in the morning.
As usual the warmth of the bed didn’t allow munnu to settle her on her foot to start the household chores of the day. But with a pleasant stretch she managed to wipe the sleepiness and jumped out of the bed. The first duty after waking up is nothing, not even washing the face but rushing at the telephone and ringing the two laziest women’s in the world; achu and paachu. Like the woman’s protection society members says the other two part of the soul of IK4. She made the call on conference pressing the ear piece tight on her ears to make sure that the call is done. “Ow yeah they had picked up the call, Thank god!” she murmured. But all she could hear was the dirty snore of achu and the moan of pachu. With the most affectionate voice munnu said “hey gals get up get up it’s already 6:15am we gata cook, wake the small kids and the big kids (husbands he he), make them to leave to offices and schools respectively no much time left”. A terrific voice broke out saying “oh my god, I have a meeting with a client today morning, this manager post really sucks". No wonder that was paachu who recently got promoted as Assistant Manager at the Corpus Bank. The treat for the same things was scheduled for today itself at
the Vanilla Hut Restaurant at the Beach. The Next one to shake is achu the irresponsible one, both of then started to call “achu wake up, times up baby, just 16 more hours to go to bed again! Wake up now”. No use! Hmm. Suddenly munnus brain worked saying “hey achu, did you forgot that the treat for paachus promotion was planed for today” the word “treat” stroke her ear drum and she sprang up from the bed with widened eyes and the sign of exclamation above the head “TREAT???”. Yes achu. How could you forget the foody plan??..
Achu: oh yes. Thank god so we don’t have to cook for the dinner today.
Paachu: No no no you are absolutely wrong baby. The party will be just for us. We three will be there. No kids no husbands.
Munnu: Exactly, We will leave them at home. Idiot you don’t know that all such parties were celebrated with three of us first and later we will arrange a small dinner for friends and relatives later??
Achu: Yes I know.
Paachu: Then how did you ask that?
Achu: I was sleepy.
Paachu: Sleepy?? So you will forget the usual rules?
Achu: ??? Err I am sorry
Munnu: Paachu we can forgive this time.
Paachu: I am leaving you this time just because munnu said.
Achu: heeeeeee
Oh Shit! Its 6:30 now. Come on what are we waiting for lets start the battle. The three ladies kept the phone and ran. It’s really hard to write it all here. Believe me. What all happens in every house in the morning hours, It’s really unexplainable. I would rather put these signs instead – “!@$#%^&*(_(&&”.
Everything was done somehow by 9am. Cooking, bathing the kids then dressing them up, filling the lunch box, feeding them all, Ironing husbands dresses- “huh why cant they do this atleast by themselves, we have tones of other junks to do, this men are ridiculous!” :(. In between all the hurries theses three too made them well to go to their offices. Unlike other families the kids and the husbands will leave home first. And these unusual friends will go together, that too in rickshaw, sacrificing the facilities of luxury cars. [he he he].
Munnu on time got out from her house and waited out side, while achu was locking her door.
Munnu: Whats paachu doing?
Achu: Don’t know, might be examining her on the mirror.
Munnu: Yes meeting with the client.
Achu: Was saying, it’s an old NRI lady
Munnu: ah she will be screwed up in the evening
In between (Munnu took her mobile and ringed “what are you doing there?” “Nothing, just adjusting the sari; new one no? The cotton stuffy, it’s always terrible to manager when use first.)
Achu: God what ever happens with the client, I can’t postponed the treat.
Munnu: you are always crazy about food. Why can’t you think work is important than the treat.
Achu: what rubbish, how come work important, munnu? Neither work nor food is important. The treat which means; we three of us alone for some time including some foods is important.
Munnu: mmm mmm ok ok. You are always an expert in twisting sentences.
Paachu: what are you girls arguing about?
Munnu: nothing just some food matter (blinking her eyes at Achu)
We caught a rickshaw and directed the places to stop. Its now time for a chat.
Paachu: I don’t know how I will manage that old lady.
Munnu: Hey no worries. It will be easy. Just hear her needs and suggest.
Achu: Good luck dude for waste of time.
Paachu: Oh no achu please don’t tell like that I got to get this client, shit I am getting nervous.
Achu: Nervous? at this age? Don’t you feel shame to use that?
Munnu: hey you can’t proclaim like that. I still remember your first days at this office. You were so nervous and made at least 5 calls in a minute and we were comforting you.
Paachu: yeah. He he. You were complaining “the staffs are all too arrogant, they gave a huge task, I got to make new deals, o what will I do? I will resign.” Etc etc
(Munnu giggling uncontrollably)
Achu: (with a weird smile) yes, we almost passed 4 years. The years kept going. We became so busy.
Munnu: Do you both remember our train journeys? All wonderful days. No tensions, but didn’t know that, those were the peaceful days of our life.
Paachu: What’s wrong now? We are still together no? Thank god!
Achu; Yes but the lost days are lost..
Paachu: All we can do now is making these days setting good memories for some day in our future.
Munnu: Yeah say; after 05years we will be thinking ‘hey 05years back we talked the same way as we did today’.
Achu: Why does past always hurts.
Paachu: Stop it now don’t go further. Let’s talk something else. Ah achu, tell how’s this saree?
Munnu: Good color da. And this cotton saree is always good for bank people. What we say an “Indian official look”.
Achu: “India official look” new word to the dictionary.
Paachu: I agree with munnu. Indian officials wear cotton sarees, especially the govt officials. Isn’t it munnu.
Achu: what ever. Wear what ever in which you are comfortable.
All together: yaah that’s it..
Paachu left at Bank road while the rest of us drove to mg road. Both of our offices are there.
We got busy I our official stuffs. In between the planner/reminder one “munnu” put a call conference again at the lunch break. Say girls what we will cook if we go for the treat today? Our kids will starve and husbands too.
Paachu: Ayyo we ddint think much about it
Achu: yes. Shoo now bring a plan. Munnu think fast da.
Paachu: I have an idea. Little money consuming. Any problem?
Achu: what? Tell fast.
Paachu: We will order the food. He he he funny isn’t it.
Achu: oh who don’t know this idea?
Munnu: hey that’s the only possible way buddies.
Paachu: you don’t talk much ok. You couldn’t tell it first no?
Achu: it was in my mind. I thought you girls will be having better ideas.
Munnu: laughing- now stop it. This is the only way, achu you call the “South Indian Meal house” and order food.
Achu: ok .I will do that. But what to order? Give me the list.
Paachu: 02 kerala rice with fish curry for me.
Munnu: yes we can order the same for everyone.
Achu: paachu will (neelu-[Nilambari]) molu eat a full meal? One is enough no?
Munnu: oh my kanjoos. Its better be more than fewer.
Paachu: yes if anything left we will send it to your house for Bruno (doggy)
Achu: ayyeda..our bruno wont eat waste. ;)
Munnu: ha ha ha she cares Bruno more than nuno [Narayan] (her son) now stop fighting.
Paachu: (laughing) hmm so do everything as we said.
Achu: at what time you both will leave
Munnu: me at 5:30. you come to my office,achu.
Paachu: Ok you girls join ther. I will reach Vanilla directly. Cant think about the dumb traffic.
Achu: yes.hmm around 6:45 we will reach there. Paachu if you reach first please don’t mind to wait us.
Paachu: podi pulle [meaning-grass] he he
Achu: well how was the meeting paachu.
Paachu: what to say man. The lady shifted the meeting to afternoon.
Munnu: Bad luck. Anyway handle her well.
Achu: please try to please her before 5:30.ha ha
Munnu: (laughing) he he yeah..
Paachu: I will try to pack her.
Achu: you are an expert in that.
Paachu: munnu one more thing, when is niru mon[Nirupam-munnus son]PTA meeting.
Munnu: Its on next Monday,chettan will go..hmm ok then. Let’s complete our works.
The call ended.
We three had lunch fast and get back to the works. At around 5:15 I completed my works. Started to wind up and at 5:25 I left my place I walked through the busy crowded M.G road to munnus office. I waited at the reception and got a word from the receptionist that she’s with her team members, giving some instructions about a new project. Hmm this is the problem with the Project Managers. They call for a conference at any mid night. But the team members are lucky that their PM is the cool lady “Munnu”. Finally she came out speaking on her mobile phone. I didn’t interrupt.
She gestured to call the cab halted in front of her office. We got in. Munnu gasped and said “what a life no?” I said “what da life’s always like this, think ours is better”
Munnu: yes. You are right. The taxi stopped at a thousand signals. On the way we called paachu, and she told she left office just now.
We both reached at the Vanilla Hut Restaurant this location we always choose for specials occasions like this. A calm and quite place, completely different from the teen-style. It’s made in a different style. It has an extension of space over the water and its open air. The flooring is of wooden and you can hear your foot taps while you walk. Each table is at a good distance that assures privacy for gossiping. We took our table. Settle our bags on one chair. We could see the setting sun. While we make orders she rushed in. with a foolish smile she sat on her chair. Paachu suddenly broken in with the topic of pangu, the one who’s abroad.
Paachu: Hey girls pangus gona be a mom once again.
Achu and Munnu: is it? Shes carrying, she never told us.
Paachu: yes.she tried to call us last week but didn’t get it.
Munnu: yaa.i remember saw her missed call.
Achu: huh. Its time for her second baby to come..he he
Munnu: Feels to see her.
Paachu and Achu: yes. Very badly.
Munnu: Why can’t we call her now?
Paachu: best idea.
Munnu dialed her number and after few seconds she picked the call. Saying da I am at the hospital. Made an appointment for check up.
Munnu: Its oke. We will call later, called you just to say that we are missing you.
Pangu: Me too. Wish to see you all. I will be coming by next month second week.Pls tell paachu and achu also.
Munnu: Wow that’s big news. Yeah its better you come here. It helps you to take better care from mother’s house.
Pangu: hey the nurse calld out for me. Let me go and catch you all soon. Love you
Munnu: Love you too.
Call ended
Achu: What she’s telling?
Paachu: is she all right. Heard something like hospital and all.
Munnu: She’s fine, right now at the hospital for the check up. and she’s coming to native next month.
Achu & paachu: wow that’s great news
Paachu: She’s a poor stupid. no?
Achu & Paachu: hmm yeh.so now its time to schedule another treat after pangu comes.
Munnu: let her reach here first.
The waiter arrived with the dishes. The bowls of hot yummy fried rice and noodles came. Paachu gave me a naughty look. Eatables are ready on the table. Now what are you both waiting for? – munnu asked.
Achu jerked in and said “did you forget that on every special day you promised to allow us to have beer??”
Munnu with a crooked smile answered: when did I promise that? I don’t remember.
Paachu: you cant do like this.
Munnu: ok ok. I am not going to break the promise, you both are allowed today.
Paachu and me called the waiter loudly with excitement and ordered for two bottles of beer and one bottle pepsi.
Munnu: don’t you girls think that you ordered pretty much?
Achu: na I don’t think so. Its just two bottles. And half of a beer bottle is just froth.
Paachu: aysa hai. He he
Munnu: hmmmmm mmm..
The bottles arrived and we poured it in two glasses. and pepsin in another glass for munnu. We raised our glasses and said “cheers”. The food was delicious, we were involved in a lengthy talks comprising about every topics. Our family/ relative talks, kids/ school/competition talks, talked about visiting native, Husband/ his work, planning for holiday trips, and finally we came to the final topic of ours, our past days. The days we left over in the past, the days in which we could hear the whistle of the engine and the announcements at the railway station, the cracker days, the fights with the co- passengers, the travel on the steps in the evening, the vada-coffee -idly breakfast and lots more. We never knew that this once in the future we will sit like this and discuss all this recollecting one by one. The effect of the beer made me jovial than usual and it made serious effect on paachu. I laughed and chuckled while paachu made serious shrugs. We both started to confess to munnu, even though we know that all the small small mischief’s we hide from her are known to her. I snatched the bottle and poured, while paachu said. Its enough for you, I am totally tensed I will have the rest. I was taking the biggest gulp handed the bottle back to her. Munnu stared us with her kind loving face said: hey both of you please lower your voice. This is an open air restaurant. Everyone is noticing us. It’s not our old rusted train compartment. And it’s going to be 8:45pm we got to go home. Saying this munnu paid for the bill.
Oh yesss…paachu come on lets move on..are you fit? Paachu said: na na..no effect. Achu: Yeh for me too..this beer is not that good.. we lost our money..paachu:who lost whos money?? Munnu paid the bill..achu: ya munus money = achu +paachu money..evryone laugh out louder.
By now it was dark and the street lights on the shore line was all on. The breeze was stroking our hairs. We felt like we went back a 5 years and reached 11th of Dec 2009. But with eyes half filled we all realized that we can’t go back to those smooth, good, lovely, easy days again…
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