A particularly loud horn sound woke me up from my slumber. I could hear the radio blaring next door doing its life's worth. Between the sounds I could also discern voices talking and shouting but slightly muffled. Probably because the door to my room was tightly shut, I thought. Now that I am awake and sunlight was pouring in through the windows I conceded my defeat in trying to go back to my sleep. I opened my eyes slightly disgruntled about the long day this is going to be and saw my mobile lying next to me. It was 8:30am.
8:30am
Shit! Office at 9:30. Adrenaline kicked in and I brushed up, showered and got ready in no time. I unlocked the door to my room and the sounds of radio reached my ears in its full intensity. It was some latest Rajni song. We don't have a TV. Radio made up for that as much as it could. I stopped by in the living room and shouted, “Hey kelambaren da, door close panniko”(Hey I am leaving, do close the door). I received a grunt in response. In the dictionary we follow here that means an 'Ok'. If I don't receive a grunt that's when I should worry. I closed the door and descended the stairs and entered the world outside.
9am
I was walking to the nearest bus stop. The smell from a nearby hotel reminded me both that I have skipped my breakfast and why I skipped it*. :P The street dogs were still in their morning nap (lucky them), some of them raised an ear or two when I crossed near them, but then lost interest and went back to sleep.
9:15am
I was in the bus stop. I know office cab would have left. Instead I waited for the town bus praying it shouldn't be as crowded as it was yesterday or day before or since the day I have seen it, but knowing this is one other prayer in vain.
9:30am
To my surprise the bus was little less crowded and I thanked God and boarded it. Immediately like any South Indian boarding a bus would do I frantically searched for a seat and found one and got seated like my life depended on it. A window side seat! These are the few surprises that essentially boosts me here. ;) My mind involuntarily calculated taking the traffic into account and came to the conclusion that it would be another 40 minutes until I reached office. I asked the conductor “ASV oru ticket kodunga” and safely pocketed the ticket he gave. Then i gazed out the window absent mindedly. It was mildly hot and the bus moving at a rhythmic pace gave admission to the occassional breeze. The warm climate, late night sleep, power cut at about 2am left its effect on me and I felt drowsy. The adrenaline rush ebbed some time back. The bus felt more like a cradle with its swaying...
6:30am
“Sathyaaa elunthiri da! Evlo vaati ezhuppi vidrathu, night late a thungatha nu sonna kaetkriya?” (Sathyaaa Get up! How many times have I told to go to bed early?). My mom's voice sounded in distance though I know she was just few metres away. “Innum 10 mins ma, plz” ( 10 more mins Mom, please). I could hear the vessels clanging in the kitchen and some God's devotional song being played in the tape in the living room. Then there is always the mews of the numerous cats we have in my home.
7am
“10 mins, 10 mins nu solli 7 aachu. Apram thirupiyum unakku attendance kedaikathu! Ezhunthirida” ( It's already 7. Then you won't get attendance. Get up now). Now I could hear dad's voice to waking me up. “Itho muzhuchachu muzhuchachu”. I get up lazily and take my time to brush up and finally come to living room. Mom says, “Intha coffee kudichuttu va. Kulikka thanni ready panraen”(Go and have your coffee. I will heat the water to take bath). I drink my coffee watching TV flicking through some random channels. Then I go take bath and dress up taking all the time in the world.
8 am
“7 ku enthiruchu epdi da ivlo late panra?”- Dad's voice. Yes. I still don't know how but I finally got late for my college which is at 8 30. “College poi saptukraen ma, pasi illa” ( I will eat in college mom, not hungry). Mom will never agree saying everything is already prepared. Finally she feeds me up by walking along with me around the entire house while I search for the different things I have to take to the college. “Pothum ma, full aiduchu”(Enough mom, I am full) will always get a default reply “Itha last vai”(Here, last piece). Can never change Indian mothers! I do my last minute reading for the exam I have that day. “Yenga antha shoe pottu vidunga, padichutrukanla”(He is reading, wear him his shoes) my mom to dad. Dad does so patiently and when its done I disregard the many 'last pieces' on plate and come out. “Tataa ma, Tataa pa” touch my cat once to say tataa to him, “Bike slow va ottuda, college poitu message pannu”(Drive slowly and message when you reach college).
8 15 am
With those words still in my ears I start my bike, nod and accelerate it. The familiar roads and the wonderful morning breeze against my face refreshes me and I continue driving with a smile looking forward to the day ahead.
Screeeechh! “ASV ella erangunga, ASV ella erangunga” ( ASV reached, disembark). I wake up to the conductor shouting. The time was 10:15 am. I get down and walk towards my office. Life has changed. And I have come to terms with it. But not a single day had passed yet wishing it hadn't.
*- The smell of breakfast reminded me that I skipped it. But it's that I have already had bad experience in that hotel's quality. That's why the smell also told why I skipped it.
P.S I know I was pampered and am a spoilt brat :P
