It's a wonderful life !

Chapter 1 : Fighting the British

"Kisthi, thirai, Vari, Vaati! Vaanam pozhikiradhu, bhoomi vizhaikiradhu, unakku en kodupathu kisthi ? Engalodu vayalukku vandhaaya, ettram iraithaaya, neer paaichi neduvayal nirayakandaaya, naatru nattaaya, kalai parithaaya, kazhani vaal ulavarukku kanji kalayam sumandhaaya, angu konji vilayadum em kula penkalukku manjal araithu pani purinthaya, allathu nee mamana machana ? Manakettavane, etharkku ketkirai thirai, yaarai ketkiraai vari ? Poradithu nerkuvukkum melai naatu ulavar kootam, parangiyarin udalayum poradhathu, thaligalai ner kathirgalai kuvuthi vidum, jakkirathai!". Not a roaring performance like Sivaji but an innocent one from a 7 year old. I still remember repeating "Yaarai ketkirai vari ?" a second time because the first time I forgot to ball my fist and make a questioning pose. A total mess of the roll and yet it got a good response. Who would want to hurt a 7 year old even though he has just committed the worst sin of his life. Then started the wonderful journey. The chapter would be incomplete without the highlight of the skit. Too much rubbing of the fake moustache and it fell off for the perfect dialogue. "Thudikkiradhu meesai, aanaal adakku adakku engirathu natpu naadi vantha uravu !". The entire crowd of fathers and mothers erupted when it happened and like any 7 year old I was too innocent to realize what had happened. I owe a apology to both Sivaji and Veerapandiya Kattabomman. Sorry guys.

Chapter 2 : Money doesn't matter

Rupees 10. In 1997, in an unknown town called Virudhunagar, it was a big sum. And the sum seems more valuable if you are a bangle seller's son whose father worked 12 hours a day for 40 Rupees. And yet I was careless enough to pay a man 10 rupees more than what I had purchased for. The roadside vendor who was selling stationary sold me a few items for a 20 and I had payed him 30 by mistake without realizing it. I had cycled a couple of blocks before the man came chasing me in his bare foot. With his dirty clothes and big nose more than anything he scared me. He was poor for one thing and yet he was just scary to me then. He gave me back the 10 rupees and advised me to be careful next time I pay someone. That 10 rupees could have earned him a meal, a toy for his kid, or something for his wife. He gave it back to the stupid. It was embarrassing then, but now I know money is not everything. Thanks to him. After 13 years, he is still selling stationary sitting in the same spot where he used to all those years ago. He probably will not recognise me and I will never forget his face. At least I can tell I have seen one HONEST man in my life.

Chapter 3 : I hated Geography

The only subject I ever came close to failing was geography. It happened in class 7. 8 out of 25 and when converted to 100, it was 32, 3 short of the pass mark. I went to the teacher and showed him my paper. He put a +1 and I got 4 more and I passed. Little did I knew three years later I would top my batch in the 10th public exams in the very same subject and earn my first medal. Thanks to the new teacher I got. Over the three years she not only became my favorite teacher, but also my best friend. I still remember spending a lot of weekends at her home, trying to learn what she had to teach. She proved to the school she could make a statue out of clay and Clay I was. I last visited her 5 years ago. I had not seen her in 2 years for she got married and moved out to Maldives. She lost her husband to cancer just 2 years into the marriage and was a single mother with a 1 year old baby when I was visited her last. I became an atheist.

Chapter 4 : First Tears

Like any other student of the 20th century, I started doing small science projects as a kid and in class 9, I represented my school in a district level science project competition and won the first place. I got a place for my school in the state level competition and found my name on the paper(Well, in one small corner of the local news though). And for the state level I

was expected to win again. Well, Like you would have guessed by now, It was a total disaster. One of my friends won the first place and I was not even charted in the top 10. And to add to the embarrassment mine and my partner's family had traveled 200 miles for the event. I found a corner where no one would spot and let out a couple of tears. You can escape the World, not your dad. My father found me, spotted my tears and immediately knew what to do. He hugged me and bought me an ice cream. I remember my little brother laughing at me and he has continued to do so till this date. Though this incident looks very childish now, I still feel the first defeat. And then the hug.

Chapter 5 : My first play

At school, I had always been a cultural guy. I have participated in a lot of skits, dances, mono-acts, fancy dress competitions. I have danced in the parade grounds for the independence and Republic days. So on. But the first play I ever wrote was in class 12. My own sweet little play. It took a lot of time to get people convinced to take part in it. I staged it in the annual day function of our school and I am sure its the best play I have ever written till this day. I will save the story

for another article as I have got couple of more chapters to write. To be frank, It wasn't a big success. But It was that play what made me what I am today. All my imaginations had a kick start that day. I went on to top the district in 12th board exams that year and found my name on a couple of local news channels, won a lot of awards from different clubs. But If I am asked for my favorite moment that year, It was when we brought out the Indian flag in the climax of our play and crowd erupted with applause.

Chapter 6 : Songs that no voice sung

Scared at the responsibilities facing me, I became a loner in college. Job was a must and to get that I locked myself from the rest of the world. But any living being needs company and that was when I took writing serious. On a lot lonely nights words have kept me company and I enjoyed the warmth of them. I started with Tamil poems. And the first one was about the kingmaker Kamaraj, the only known face from out small town. I have written close to 90 poems in 2 years and only 5 of them have ever seen light. The rest stay bundled in a very old notebook which is shelved somewhere in my house. I wrote poems on loose papers and lost quite a few of them. The one titled "Kanavugal" was my big loss. In those 3 dark years, writing made a man out of me. When I turn back to look at those years, I understand that they were dark so that I

can find light. I hope I found one.

Chapter 7 : It's a wonderful life

4 years of hard work just to miss the convocation due to some stupid stubbornness. I was kind enough to shatter the life time dream of my parents. When I look back at 23 years of my life, this is the most stupidest thing I have ever done. But, Well, Fate had other plans and another chance. After all 4 years of hard work was no match to a 4 day madness. the hard work had won. Anna university arranged a convocation for the college toppers and I was fortunate enough to find a place in that. My parents will attend the event. I reached Chennai and met my parent for the first time in six months. They had grown old and the silvering on the hairs were showing. My mother started pouring when she saw me. 3 hours later I got into my rented convocation gown and went to the stage to receive the medal from the governor of Tamil Nadu. But that was not what made me happy, an award from the governor, but the chance I got to make my parents dreams come true. I have never seen my father cry before and I will never see him cry again. It is definitely a wonderful life !