to a distant stranger...
Hi...
This happened years before. But now when I
look back I feel that that was just yesterday. At times there is a great need
to comprehend with circumstances and a great demand to define oneself with
time. Today when one of the interns in my office said that he hasn't even seen
a telegram, I was wondering, "Do I belong to a different era
altogether?" I felt so distanced, odd and I don’t know how to explain that
feeling.
****
I was in 8th STD if am not wrong. It was not
rainy season; still it was drizzling on that day. Physics class were always
boring for me. In fact the subject was not boring but the teacher was. He was
short statured with hairs like barb wires ready to snarl at anyone, the hair
was as scary as that of Einstein's but without his innocence. Even when he
wrote E=mc square on the black board, one could see his impish eyes protruding
out through his spectacles thirsty to catch someone acting naughty during his period. I still don't understand what kind of heavenly pleasure teachers attain
while throwing a piece of chalk at somebody's head! He was as thin as a stick,
in fact he resembled some malnourished uncle from Somalia and who can forget
the fresh droplets of saliva spraying out of his mouth every time he said his
masterpiece dialogue, "whaaat is your pRobLem!!” with a strong mallu
accent, with a special emphasis on pRRoBBLLem...!! Problem's BLEM came like the
"BLLLUUUUM" sound when you throw a piece of stone into river just
like that! So I was literally "enjoying" his class trying to solve
physics proBLems..!
The physics period was about to finish and
then it was lunch time. And it was my favourite day of the week- Monday...the
only day when we get fish fries for lunch. I was dreaming about the yummy
crispy fish fries, praying to God ardently, that I get the biggest piece of
Fish. I was even wondering if I will get the middle part, head or the tail of
fish. Even the memory of Fish made me forget about all pRoBLems of my Physics
teacher. So there I am dreaming for the biggest chunk of fish and here comes my
house master. She interrupted my physics teacher and they had some discussion
after which my Physics teacher calls out my name and declares "Neethu
ElDose(with special emphasis on D, again his masterpiece), you have a telegram"
!! BANG!! on my ears and I woke up from my "fishy dreams" and looks
up! Did he really say that I got a telegram! Or was that part of my fishy
dream! Reluctantly I got up from my seat and slowly walked towards the door. My
house master says, "Follow me"!
And i walked behind her with my heart
pounding so hard that I could hear it in my ears! I didn't know much about
telegram then, but one thing was for sure. Nobody sends you a telegram for fun.
Ohh! Somebody died! I had seen it in films and read a lot about that in fictions!
People get telegrams when they lose their jobs or somebody is dead or critical!
OMG! Who will sent me a telegram! That too to my residential school! My granddad's
is still not bed-ridden and why would they sent me a telegram! They should send
it to my mom and dad! Who on earth will sent me a telegram, that too to my
school address! My heart pounded so loud as ever! ohhhh! my mom! my dad! who
died! How could they die so fast? I have learnt in biology that human beings
have a life span till 80 years or so...and they are not that old! an accident!
Did they have an accident! I was reminded of Oliver Twist! Will I become an
orphan! OMG! I was going mad!
Finally I gathered all my courage and asked
my house master, "Are you sure that it is for me! It might be a
mistake!" She was as arrogant as ever! I felt like banging on her head!
Still I controlled myself and went up to the post man. Even while I was signing
on the papers my hands were shivering. And finally there it was! A telegram!
Finally like all those desperate heroines in Television soaps, with all drama,
I gazed on it...there was a single liner at the bottom of that printed piece of
paper, all in caps,
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLU**...! with
love Papa"
A zillion emotions rushed inside me...I don't
remember if was crying or smiling...And yes, It was my birthday....
****In memory of my first and last telegram
to my distant stranger...also in celebration of period when mobile phone was
just a figment of imagination
** MOLU in malayalam means Bitiya...Daughter...
Regards
N
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