I rang up kochappan.this time it was about the writing skills of Meera.

''From some samples i have seen her written communication is very good.But, Dai, you will not believe this, she has started writing poems''

Let me break here for a second and tell you something.This mode of address 'dai', though used in Kerala extensively, is more prevalent in Trivandrum and surrounding areas.

Like 'kumkumapoov' in Asianet resumes every Monday after a break
I resumed my conversation with him ; after the above mentioned break.

'' I had a a difference of opinion with Mrs. Komala Menon,who, by sheer coincidence happens to be the mother of Aparna and Meera,in that order.
I was very vocal in that conversation with Komala, that my neighbour Mr.Simon pointed out later,that my voice has scratches and should do something to improve my performance. He also made a query regarding the raaga in which i was conversing with Komala on this occasion.He liked it''

I paused, had a dash of water and contd again; like the serial 'Kumkumapoov' on Mondays.
 
''Half an hour later Meera handed over her impressions on the incident in a paper in the form of a short poem.''

I read it out to him

'' Please mother don't stab father with a bread knife
Remember it was a gift when you were wed
But if you still want to stab father with a bread knife
Please, mother, use another one for the bread ''

''What touched me,Kochappan, is her equal concern for me the father,Komala the mother, and even the Bread knife which we got as a wedding gift''

I was overcome with emotions.I had tears in my eyes.
I felt a lump in my throat;the sort of which those novelists mention.

I disconnected.It's not good to talk with lumps in the throat... I will call him tomorrow....

Kochappan,Last hour and I

My classes for the BCA 3 sem is the last session on Wednesdays;from 4 PM to 4.50.Students are generally tired and will be looking for journey back home by college bus.

I rang up kochappan and explained about the situation and asked him to give some suggestions or options to solve ,may I say, this issue.

'' What solution can i suggest ? What option do you have?. I cannot think of any '' quoth kochappan.

suddenly I was struck by an idea and conveyed it to him'' One Sardarji who was travelling by the last compartment of a train from Mumbai to Delhi had lot of difficulty , because he could not buy any food or even tea because all the stalls are in the middle of the platform in all stations.
He wrote a letter to the GM of Western Railway.
''I have explained all the difficulties I had to face as a passenger of the last compartment and i give you two suggestions.
Sir, please don't attach the last compartment at all and if at you still insist and want to attach the last compartment attach it somewhere in the middle''.

Kochappan was silent for few seconds and asked me " What has this got to do with your issue?''

'' I can suggest to the students to speak to our Director and request him not to have the last hour at all, and, if at all he wants to have the last hour
he can have it sometime in the morning itself.''

I heard a 'thud followed by a crash.

If my memory serves me correct this would be the fourth time Kochappan has fallen for my creativity , my brains.

ഞാൻ അരാ മോൻ.

DESTINY, KOCHAPPAN, AND I

It may have been around 2 in the morning.They carried me to the car to be taken to the hospital.I was semi conscious.My weight,per se,was not a problem.What weighed them  down was the condition of some part of my anatomy ; heart,liver,kidney...;in my case my liver had grown little too big for its size.

Kochappan had come to Kochi and had advised me that I should not let things in me grow disproportionate to its design.

I used to look at the out side world,like any one of you,  through a window ,but here in the hospital I had
a look at another world through a 'ventilator' ; it was fascinating.

Immigration was denied and I returned home after one month.There was agony for a lot ; not ecstasy but a sigh of relief later on.

Nine years later,last week I went to the same hospital ;this time there were differences.
I rang up Kochappan and told him that I have taken quotation from three hospitals for an operation I had to go through, and have decided on the one where I was carried to nine years back.

I and Komala,packed a small bag stuffed with some clothes and walked to the auto stand and took one to the hospital. That was a re-enactment of our return to Kochi after a stay at her house after our marriage. we had caught an auto to kottayam bustand that day.

Sat in the room after reaching the hospital at 7PM.Climbed up to the fourth floor canteen had chapathi & Kuruma.
We sat in silence for some time.Looked out through the window from where we could see the main road and the three star hotel across the road.

That hotel was there, even then, nine years back ;but I could not see it because of  the ventilator.

The Barber came and shaved me clean, my chest. He insisted that I have a clean shaven face too. He dabbed Old Spice on my cheeks.

I smelled fresh for the surgeons who did the surgery.I returned home the next day.Walked up to the car.This time nobody got weighed down ; except my bank account ,which lost considerable weight.

It was history repeating itself, probably a re-run. I travelled to Powai to L&T and waited in the park to get an appointment letter.Years later when I should have retired , I travelled to Amrita Coimbatore and sat on a bench to get another appointment letter.

This time it repeated in my trips to hospitals.The first trips in both cases were anxiety ridden ;both to L&T, and the hospital whether I will make it ; the second one, relaxed.

 'Turn of destiny or fate' said Kochappan.'' Not only yours, but ours too.Its our destiny and fate too that you are back,alive and kicking''.

Was he being sarcastic, my being back and his fate etc... I want to clarify that ... I will not leave him..


      

L&T, AMRITA, and I.

On the 2nd of August, a month in which I completed 59yrs and 8 months, I drove to Ettimadai, 35 kms from Palakkad towards Coimbatore, from where I could see ACC cement factory of Coimbatore closer, than the Walayar cement factory of Palakkad . It was to receive an appointment order from the Director, Corporate and International Relations (CIR), of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University to enable me to be a faculty in Soft skills for their campus at Edappally, Kochi.

That journey had some peculiarities. I drove and traveled alone. Surprisingly I liked sitting beside me for that entire journey; to and fro. That was the same way I traveled from Goregaon to Andheri, 33 yrs back, alone but by a suburban train ; to meet with the Personnel officer of Larsen&Toubro Limited in the hope of making it there. That train carried not only me, but it carried the hopes and fears of my parents and few friends; whether I would make it ; as an employee. The car that carried me now also carried the anxiety and the optimism of my wife, daughters and few friends that I would make it there ;first of all whether I would make it there by driving safely, and secondly whether I would get it..
I waited for about an hour to get the letter.
I sat on the concrete bench of a small park opposite L&T's works at Powaii then; wondering whether I would fit into that job well.
This time I sat in the plastic chair of Amrita's canteen and waited. The level and reasons for the anxiety differed; but it was there. One thing was for sure. My sitting there was part of divine destiny.I have had the holy water from the hands of the Poojari's of temples when I was young.
I have also had the 'Restorer of spirits' from the bartenders of pubs and permit rooms ; probably more than what was required. Now that I am waiting to be a faculty in a known Institute. I can quote W Churchill that ''I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me''.

Can there be flood without water?.
It was a forward from Kochappan that paved the way for my trips to Ettimadai, and the trips I would be making to their Edappally campus.
If I would stand and deliver what I am supposed to deliver, it would because of the opportunities, Larsen & Toubro and Guru Rajasekharan had given me.

Victor Borge a famous pianist, after a show on stage said '' I thank my parents for making this show possible, and my wife and children who made it a necessity''

In a thanks giving speech I would alter Victor's words a little and say

'While accepting this job, I should thank kochappan, L&T, and Rajasekharan for making it possible,and the personal loan divisions of Syndicate bank And State bank of India which made it a necessity'

NewYork, Edappally, and Kochappan.

The phone bell rang. It is kept there to ring. Nothing to write home about it.But this time it was slightly different.It was Kochappan at the other end , and obviously me, at this end.

Let me give you a break here, like Ranjini Haridas does in 'Idea Star Singer' on Asianet, and give you, in musical term, some BGM of Kochappan.

The aforementioned kochappan had gone to the US to be in the UN head quarter in their internal audit in New York. I was informed by his sister that he is returning after a term of one year; in his original shape and form without any injuries or damages ; considering his talents this is creditable: Because in his case lot of people leave impressions on him; indelible ones at that !
Give the devil his due.
Back after the break. We spoke thus.

I from this end " I am so happy you are coming back. It will be like old times. I am going haywire. its great.''
He from that end '' Aah! dude . Great'' . The American influence was evident.
He continued from the same end '' Don't use 0ld cliches like ' going Haywire'. Aniyan, you should know what you are saying'' he turned British and continued. ''Hay wire is a thin strip of wire used by farmers to bind together rolled bundles of hay. That wire, when cut to loosen the bundle, will spring open, and if not careful will injure a person. You don't intend to injure anybody if you are happy, Do you?. Know the origin of the sayings before you use them''.
I have taken lot of lessons from him willingly, but this is not the way he speaks to me after a gap of one year. I may not have gone to America , but my English is not all that bad. I kept aside my feelings and continued; like Tendulkar in One dayers and IPL. Firm but polite.

'' How was it in UN. How useful will be your stay in US, and work in UN, for India.''

'' I am in possession of lot of data about people of different countries and races like the Negros,Europeans, Africans etc which would of use. For example, I have some vital statistics about women from these regions which would of value for Indian women especially considering the women empowerment process in India'' He said it with pride; tremendous pride.

'' Of what use is statistics'' I asked; there was the echo of innocence in my voice.
He came up with a reply which hurt my innocence and pride ; how hurt would have been Shoaib Malik's feelings when Ayesha told him that he cannot marry Sania, and Sania's boy friend's feeling when she told him that she cannot marry him.
It may take a little time for you unravel the whole comparison , but then you should; for my sake.

Now, this is what he told me in reply '' Aniyan, you, who have not studied, leave alone statistics, even Arithmetic will use statistics like drunkard uses a lamp post. For support, not for illumination.'' I let this also go like Tendulkar did with Sreesanth's bouncer.

''How is Kerala going'' he entered the local waters.

'' Great. Lot of developmental activities. There is one smart city coming up. They have laid the foundation stone twice to show the intent.''
''Twice.That's nice.But why twice?'' his query.
'' Once three years back when they entered into an agreement.Having forgotten the land mark of the first stone laid, they laid a second one when they agreed a second time to go ahead with the project '' my reply.

'' The other major projects are related to infrastructure. There has been many number of accidents involving heavy vehicles and cars going off the bridges and plunging into the rivers killing many. Considering the number of rivers in Kerala and the spate of accidents the government has come up with an innovative project which the Govt claims can be emulated by the states also.'' I took a short break like Ranjini Haridas. When it comes to taking breaks with, nobody like Ranjini Haridas.
" Interesting. Tell me more'' Kochapps goaded me. I do not like being goaded, but anything for close friends.

'' They will demolish all the bridges across the waterways throughout the state , and introduce the Ferry System of carrying vehicles across river like in olden times, so that, even if by chance a vehicle falls into the river the casualty will be less , because the height of the plunge will be less. Considering the number of bridges being replaced with ferries, this also gives rise to additional employment and livelihood.''

I continued like Tendulkar approaching his 200 in IPL; fearless, confident.
'' Unlike in New York people don't have the habit of sharing their conveyance in Kerala which could reduce the traffic considerably.'' I generalised .
''How do you know about people sharing vehicles in New York'' He was surprised at my knowledge of New York.

These Menons (like Kochappan who is also a Menon) of Chittoor Road and Ravipuram area of Ernakulam look down upon the Menons ( like me) from Edappally area with a certain amount of
You know, I am not getting the apt word, say ridicule. I will prove that the Edappally ones are equal to the Chittoor Road ones.

'' I have read David Letterman, an American, who said that he has seen two New Yorkers, total strangers, sharing a cab. One guy took the tyres, and the radio, and the other guy took the engine''

There was silence at the other end. I could not make out whether Kochappan fell or silence fell.
I will call him up tomorrow.....

Kochappan,Obama and his umbrella.

This is the story of a convicted criminal and The Sultan Of Persia ; and to an extent Kochappan.
Let me come to the nuts and bolts of the matter without aplomb.

The criminal was sentenced to death. He, to escape the death sentence pronounced on him, gave a promise to the Sultan that he can train and make one of the horses owned and loved by the Sultan to fly in one year. Enamored by the dream of flying around the world on horse back the Sultan agreed to the proposal. On being asked by another criminal as to how he can achieve the fete the condemned criminal said '' There is the possibility of four things happenings in this one year. The King may pass away in this one year. I may die a natural death. The horse itself may die .And for all you know the miracle of the horse flying can also happen !!. My life is saved for now.''

Where is Kochappan in this story?.

When Kochappan left his job in the UN organisation in Hyderabad in a hurry people were discussing about various possibilities. He may have been sent out because of inadequate performance, was one. People who overestimated him felt that that job was below par for his competencies. Those who knew about his romantic bent of mind felt that he may have got himself into, what one might call romantic entanglements not approved by the Telegu society that made him flee the country; to the US of A.

The truth is none of these. It's Obama the first 'Black Precedent' of US that beckoned him to US.
'Precedent' because there is no precedence of a black holding that office.

Kochapps is the Adviser Media and Press connect of ' Oba' ; the a fore mentioned romantic bent of kochappan doesn't allow him to reel out the name in full; hence 'Oba'.Who henceforth will be mentioned by me also only thus.

The first feather in the cap of Kochappan was placed by Oba when Kochappan termed him the 'Precedent' and not the usual 'President'. The second feather placed by Obe was for a press release Kochapps wrote the title which read:
'' The president promises a great budget ; more lies ahead''.

I called up Kochappan at New York to find whether the wrong English which alludes to the precedent being liar has caused any resentment from the Americans.

''Aniyan'' he spoke to me from U.S.'' This usage in English is known as 'Double etendre' which one in India calls double meaning. When you read a caption '' Local high school drop outs cut in half'' doesn't mean that drop outs are physically cut into half. Learn proper English aniya. Learn.'' He severed the tele connection mercilessly; the only connection he had with mercy was with Mercy George of II nd year Bsc Zoology in Maharaja's College; after that he has not shown any mercy to any body; he has been Merci less since then.

I rang him up yesterday night. My anxiety to know more about Oba and English language made me call him. We spoke thus.
Normally I address him as 'Edai, kochappa'; that was when he was in India. things have changed a bit , you know.
''Americans are upset , according to paper reports, about two things Oba has done recently. He bent in front of the Emperor in Japan and bowed in front of King Abdulla of Saudi Arabia.'' I waited solicitingly for his comments.
''That is to respect History. By bowing in front of the Emperor ofJapan Oba was reminding the people of America that had Nippon won the war which started with the attack of Pearl Harbour
this emperor would have been the emperor of the US.''

''Oba'', he paused,stuck his neck out through the window, took in a fresh volume of Oxygen from the Rego Park area of New York,and continued. ''Oba did not actually bow to King Abdulla. Oba being taller had to stoop low to shake hands with the short version of the King. This is being given adverse publicity by a columnist of Fox TV who bears an ill will against Oba's 'Precedency'.

'' Do you know that the Chinese have been bowled over by Obama's visit there. They were wonder struck to see the 'Precedent of United States of America' emerging alone from the
Air Force one carrying an umbrella' . Nobody held the umbrella for him unlike his Chinese counterpart.He walked alone with a smile on his lips and an umbrella in his hand. that did it Aniyan, that did it.'' Kochappan ended the soliloquy . Then there was silence; pregnant one.

We Menons may fight but coming to appreciating talent we never cringe

'' Kochappan you are great. your advise of the umbrella did the trick.Papers say that shops in China are selling T shirts with Obama's picture of emerging from the aircraft with the umbrella with a caption '' Serve the people like Oba-Mao''

There was silence at the other end of the phone; for the second time in few minutes.
'' Be in touch. Iam the same old Kochappan for you''. I was touched ; in the heart.

We went to bed with heavy hearts; he in Apartment 5B, Rego Park, New York and I in 44/2977c, MCB road, Kaloor, Kochi.

Rajasekharan, Kochappan , and I.

'' If I learned about aspects professional from Mr.Kulkarni, Mr.Rajasekharan's lessons were about meeting challenges, facing them, and about finer aspects of life like literature, music etc.''

'' You are lucky to have had such people in life'' Kochappan commented; probably with a sense of loss. If Lehman bros, and Morgan Stanley can go on loss , why not Kochappan?. I thought.

'' Music and literature. That's interesting. What did he teach you?'' Kochapps was curious because he had an intense passion for learning classical music.

'' I used to learn the meaning of the words of Thiagaraja and other Keerthanas which helped me to bring 'Bhava' to the songs well .... '' I couldn't complete because Kochapps interrupted.

''Which keerthana's meaning?'' he was eager.

'' All of us have been hearing 'Vathapi gana pathim bhaje' for years together. How many of us know the meaning of it. It's Rajasekharan who taught me the meaning. He told me . '' You are addressing Lord Ganapathi in that keerthana.When you say 'Vaa' the singer is invoking him to come; for his presence. 'Thaa' means shower me with your blessing. Up to this probably others would have explained but nobody would have told you about 'Pi ganapathi'.

'' That is true. what does 'Pi Ganapathi' mean'' Kochappan asked earnestly.

'' Ganapathi is the son of Lord Parameswara. So 'Pi' in ' Pi Ganapathi' stands for Ganapathi's initials ; Parameswaran ganapathi. Has anybody given you such valuable information. Only Raj is capable doing it''.

I still don't know what struck him, but before I could reach him Kochappan went down from the chair to the floor with a big 'Thud' sound.

This happened on the day of the terrorist attack in Mumbai. He opened his eyes today;ten days after the fall.

His wife and others think that he went down from his chair after seeing the gory scenes in Mumbai on TV. I did not tell any body that his going down like piece of teak wood chopped down was after hearing Rajasekharan's explanation about the 'P ganapathi'. They might also get struck by Raj's profound knowledge of music and literature and go down. I didn't want one whole family getting affected. I kept mum.

I have not gone to see Kochappan yet; if he sees me he might go down again reminded of pi.Ganapathi !