COMRADES PUNCH

I would love to site here an interesting incident which took place in my school days back in 2000. The school was Bhavans Vidhya Mandhir Irinjalakuda renouned for its discipline and strict rules and regulations.

Although there are a lot of memorable moments, I choose to write this one because I got of the present scenario in Kerala. Infact I was driven down to those memories, when I was paying my ears to pannyan raveendrans L D F campaign speech in Irinjalakuda.

This happened in 2000-2001 when Kerala was heading towards Legislative Assembly Elections. I was in 9th standard. The whole of Kerala was swept by this particular political fragrance. A perfect time for a 14er to get into such an ambience. And as you all know, I am a leftist, CPIM to be precise. It was neither because I got behind left ideology nor had I read Das Capital. But the entire environment around me was filled with a communist aroma. I always get to breathe that here. My family backgrounds do have an inclination towards leftist ideologies. I still remember kochettan(small brother) who was pretty active in door to door campaign along with the candidate in our assembly ward. And one day even I got a chance to be part of them. My sole duty was to write the election slips in all the houses which were the part of our campaign. Those moments are inexplicable. Especially when some girls gaze at you in amazement, they don’t expect a kid like me there with the a badge on pocket with the party symbol……I was in the top of the world….though when I look back today, I understood I was just a data entry guy….but still any one who works for cpim is a comrade-kochettan did tell once…So am I a comrade after all????

Bhavans environemnt was different…it was ulta there…I was the lone comrade (I love to call myself a comrade, rather than a mere supporter of the party) in my class….I don’t know the reason…most of them supported bjp and congress….i am speaking specifically about boys here…I still don’t know the reason why girls are never interested in politics…they were only interested in sharook khans,amir khans and other khans…or other stuffs like stamps or silly paper games(I wont deny the fact that I loved a few of those, especially-flame)……political maturity and social awareness….in both these, they take years to graduate…

I guess I have given a picture of my class…..like the recent ayodhya verdict….3 divisions, anti lefts (few boys-around 6-7), neutral rather politically ignorant girls and a few boys least bothered about politics and last but not the least the LONELY COMRADE (even today, when I write comrade here, I can see all my hairs in my hands standing on end). There used to be heated discussions in the intervals especially in lunch intervals between me and the anti leftists…..But I used to get an open fight not with all of them, but with one guy only…I am not gonna expose him here, because he is a very good friend of mine…though all from bhavans would identify him, once they go through this blog….sorry my friend Mr. X, if you think I brought any disgrace to you with this script. Mr X feelings for the ruling government were abominable. He always had senseless points against us. But I accentuated the fact that Kerala is going to have another 5 years of LDF governance.With the charisma of Naayanaar, it never looked impossible. At times our war of words seemed to exceed the boundaries and thank god, had it been not a class room, we would have responded each other with our fists.

That day was Sunday…..a day before the incident took place in school…election results were out….LDF had an unexpected defeat…I don’t know if PB expected it….it was unexpected for me….I could not believe my eyes when I saw the results in TV screen…LDF flunked totally and to add another nail on the coffin, Irinjalakuda also witnessed a huge backlash on LDF…….It was not the trauma of LDF defeat that was haunting me, but the very sight of myself being booed at the next day….how can I face mr X……

The next day purposefully I got into class late just in time for morning assembly. It was the only day of my life when, I hated girls for smiling at me.. While marching back to class and in first 2 periods, I could feel the whispering and chuckling…….and finally the interval came and Mr. X came across me and started his cheap teasing and mockery….i was getting heated up and to make the matters worse, girls got around both of us….i wonder where the boys went…”potty potty ldf potty..potty potty chandy potty”....His bantering song made me loose my temper….and completely lost my mind when one of the girls commended “sandeep….respond…respond”…..THUD…..girls were all taken back…..it was when I saw Mr X covering his mouth to stop blood from his mouth, I realized that I did give him a punch on his mouth….that was unintentional,but sometimes you loose all the control over you….I didn’t know what to do….but gave him my kerchief to wipe off the blood and took him by hands and dashed to gents toilet…He was emotionless and dumb. I wanted to check his pulse. But I didn’t. Don’t know why….Thank God, punch was on his lower lips and was a light one and he regained himself in a minute. Before he could react, I offered one of my insincere sorry (I don’t repent. That was badly needed for him) hugged him and offered him falooda in priya bakery same evening. This was not the first time falooda in priya bakery had been my mediator. Hopefully I would explain those stories in my coming blogs.

By the time we were walking back to class, all boys were running at us, only to see both of us walking together hands on shoulders. They never expected the issue to get resolved this easy……But it was then I realized, I bore the party in my heart. My emotional broke out stamped that….and truly deserve to be called a comrade at least by myself……When we entered the class, all were dumb struck to see us like that…..I could see them being diplomatic, they were clapping and cheering us…..With a pleasing smile, I waved my hands at them……A COMRADES SALUTE.

Kaleidoscope of love

In my last blog, I did post an interesting episode of my don bosco days. I am here rewinding myself through other unmemorable days of my life there.

This happened when I was in 3rd standard. I don’t know how and why…I had started developing a new feeling or a new emotion within myself. Before long I did notice that it was love. Maybe I was early or late..I don’t know how that came on me rather enwrapped me.

If I am right, I believe it was kadhalan and rangeela which were hitting the chart those days..and in Malayalam lalettans butterflies and yodha.. (it wasn’t lalettan then, merely a mohanlal…I was never aware of his glory then, curse my age-may be too immature to conceive it then). These films had a hard core romantic essence which was more than enough to sow the seeds of the so called passionate feeling-love…..and I could feel myself being drawn away by this tender breeze.

The classes had started after the summer vacation. My web of love which I mentioned earlier was tailored throughout my class awaiting a prey but in vain…I was a pretty confident guy then, may be a 10 pounds of confidence more than sreesanth who expect a wicket in all the ball he bowls…And finally, the day came…A new girl entered our class. My class teacher,Gracy Miss introduced the girl…Jessy Christo and she led her to a vacant seat in the second bench. And it could never get any better when Gracy Miss introduced me as her bench mate. Courtesy johns fever. I prayed god he never gets better. Now I am not going to describe her here. In a single terminology I would tag her – charming. I was given the responsibility of guiding her and helping to get herself adapted to the new school. This was the first time I realized the fruition of being the class leader. The other thing which I loved was to write names of those who chit chatted in the absence of teachers on the black board. But tell you- This was a bonus..

My claws of adoration had finally clutched a prey… And she was also liking my presence…In the evening when I was walking back home, I never expecting such a treat awaiting me. While I was munching dosas, mom asked me whether a new girl had joined my class. A piece of dosa which I was about to eat splashed back into plate..Luckly that was unnoticed …Yes..Jessy.How do you know-I replied persuasively and with ardor. It was then she told me her mom and my mom are colleagues in school….Oh my god…I was ecstatic…this was a good twine to bind our relationship but at the same time I should be a careful customer-I told myself..

Days went by, and I was enjoying myself with her…The lunch was together and I still remember her beef cutlets and she would always have an additional one for me. We used to exchange Tiffin and while back home we board the school bus together. But there boys and girls seats are separated but I would place myself in such a position that she stays in my visibility. I completely avoided John when he came after jaundice…I arranged another seat for him…another advantage of being a class leader and Gracy teachers pet. I still remember the nasty look he gave me for changing his seat.

Finally the day came-it was her birthday. I don’t remember which day was it, but was in monsoon months for sure. I still remember- it was raining profusely outside. I knew only when she was distributing sweets in the class. I don’t know why I wasn’t reminded of it earlier. Atleast I was the second recipient of the sweet, first being Gracy teacher. Now a birthday wish wasn’t all which I wanted to give in return. But what else could a 8 year old do. But that day was mine. The peon brought my fee receipt of the month and I found Rs 6 as the balance…I got lighted up with wily ideas…What about gifting an ice stick???? ( Those days ice candies are rated high…equivalent to todays kfc )


There was an ice vendor just opposite to our main gate and I knew an ice stick costs Rs 1.But now money wasn’t the issue. How to get out of the campus? There was a hefty watchman standing by the gate.To get out without him being notified was almost impossible. I don’t know how. Some forces seem to create a favorable environment around. The rain gods turned off the shower and gave a break. It was lunch break time. I was spying around the watchman expecting slightest of chances to get out. Suddenly I heard a scream behind me. One lkg kid has fallen down on the rubble while playing and was bleeding… as I was looking on the kid I saw a heavy figure getting past me. Yes, it was watchman getting to the lad. Not wasting a second I dashed outside, bought the ice candy and sped my way inside the campus. Luckily all of this was unnoticed. I hid the candy on the tamarind tree in one of the remote areas of the campus and normally no ones eye fall there. The candy was only packed in a news paper. My mission was never over. Slowly, steadily and carefully I made my next moves. I was successful in bringing Jessy to the tamarind tree…She was never aware of what was going on there. I took out the packet, untied, and with all my innocence gifted her ice candy. She was reluctant to accept but the lovely rose color of the ice did fascinate her…She tasted the ice although 50 % had melted by then. I seemed to be swirling in a tornado of ice candies. I don’t know if Edison had felt this much of a joy when he invented the bulb …While walking back to class I got one of the sweetest thanks you could ever desire…

Back home that day I tried convincing in many ways about the missing one ruppee . At last I surrendered and told everything about the ice stick with only one character in the narration ie me. It was pretty believable and as expected a wave of scolding stormed into me. But I was a true winner of the day…Could hardly get a sleep.

Those good days were finally brought to an end , when that news penetrated into my ears. Her father who was doctor by profession is leaving for Germany and he is gonna relocate his family too…I sat on my bench in despair, motionless and still…What to do. nothing...nothing I could do about this….I could not even face her…I don’t know why. The thought of myself sitting with other fellows was more indigestible and if it was John..my goodness…

On the day she was to leave, she came with her parents in the lunch interval and introduced me to them. May be because of family intimacy. I don’t know. I would love to read that in some other way…Before she was about to leave she presented me a chocolate box. When I asked her whether I was supposed to distribute it in the class, she told me no. With a pleasant smile on her face her sweet pouting lips spelled thee words.-THESE ARE FOR YOU, ONLY FOR YOU….
I was standstill…emotionless…I couldn’t speak up. I could not even tell a Thank You. But our eyes did the communication. It’s our eyes which speaks deeper and intensively than your mouth and the medium of its communication is the language of hearts.

She waved her hands at me and ran into her maruthi and I watched her vanishing ahead of me, myself in the same state of physical stature. Those words of her kept on reverberating…One thing was sure. There was something between us. I can’t explain what it was. I could feel her absence. May be this absence is what we call by several names-adoration, fondness or infatuation or love. I don’t know which of these suited my situation.

I knew I will never see her again but still hoped for it. Till date I have never seen her again but truly would love to see her once. It’s just an enthusiasm to see how she looks today and whether it matches with the shades I have portrayed in my heart of hearts.