Getaway

I was very tired that evening. The washing of clothes gave my back a lot of pain and my shoulders a bit of strain. The dinner was heavy. I gulped in 6 chapattis with a dry brinjal-capsicum dish. By 11 pm I left my chair near the laptop and fell on my mattress.  

I was in deep sleep when something started to move. I tried opening my eyes and I could see the figure right above me. It was waving as if chanting some spell on me. My legs had grown cold because of the ceiling fan. I remembered switching off the fan before going to sleep but now it was running in full speed. The figure drew closer to my face and I could hardly move an inch.I felt it almost caressing my throat as my breathing morphed into panting like a sudden gear-shift. 

As I tried to reach the figure with my arms suddenly the image became clearer. And with a sudden gasp I regained my senses and recognized the terror. They were clothes hanging from the metal-strip on the door. I checked my mobile for the time. It was 2:53 AM.

It was around 5:30 in the evening. After negotiating the rate 15 of us, all boarded the boat enthusiastically. The anchored boat jerked as we adjusted ourselves on our wooden seats. I was seated near the bow. The rudder boy started the motor attached to the stern at the signal of the coxswain who stood on the opposite end in front of me.After navigating through a narrow passage between rows of rocks we suddenly realized the vast endlessness of the sea. All of us screamed and hooted as the boat motored along and this was all in merry spirits. But soon things were about to change. 

A strong wave dashed against the port-side and only a swift reaction from the experienced coxswain prevented the boat from toppling over. With the help of a long staff he steered the boat and saved us from falling into the unknown depths. The boat swayed left and right at the mercy of the sea. We rode a wave and then plunged into the trough and the cycle repeated. I was starting to panic and the life-jacket which I was wearing seemed just like some normal apparel to me now.

My care-free group members who had still not worn the life-jackets suddenly understood its necessity and we passed them a few which were lying in front portion of the boat. The coxswain asked us to move a row back for stability. A simple act of standing on the boat in the middle of a rough sea looked a very dangerous act now. Having shifted back things seemed to improve a bit. But another plunge into the trough drew out loud screams from us and this time the merry spirits had been replaced with the spirits of worry and impending doom. It felt we were riding a raging bull and could be thrown over any time.

The coxswain and the rudder boy seemed unperturbed. It was like a walk in the park from them. I was very scared and am never comfortable in the waters. The rocky shore-line almost 50 feet right of us seemed would be the resting place of a wrecked boat. The coxswain talked in Kannada with one of the senior group member. They discussed if we should return and finally decided to proceed as our destination, Kudle beach wasn’t very far. In-fact the ride from Kudle to Om beach had been a very pleasant one. We felt like we were boating on placid waters of a quaint lake.

But on our way back, the sea was raging probably aggravated by the full-moon and we were in a spot of bother. The office outing had turned into a big adventure of man trying to survive against the wrath of nature. The brave coxswain, our only hope stood tall and calm steering the boat against the powerful waves as our eyes longed for the shore. The swaying subsided as we turned towards Kudle beach and the waters appeared calmer that side. 

We were greeted by sheer relief after reaching the shore as the adrenaline-pump receded. The short trip had been one hell of a ride. Having survived the nerve-wracking boat-trip we felt like we had successfully managed a great escape. It was one of the most memorable events of the outing and I am glad that we can laugh about it now. 

P.S: Such was the scenario then that none of us were able to take any photos on that short trip from Om to Kudle beach despite carrying smart phones and cameras.

For the book-lovers the image would have given a fair bit of idea about the novels. To be self-critical I am still a beginner in reading who is still finding his way into the amazing world of novels. Coming back to nostalgia and romance, the term “Romance” does not always imply a typical boy-girl love-story but depicts the aesthetic and the rich emotional experience the stories create.

 I have a weakness for nostalgia and at times can’t stop myself from indulging in it.

As per Wikipedia, “The term nostalgia describes sentimentality for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.”

The perfect nostalgia driven novel has to be “Norwegian Wood” by the legendary Haruki Murakami. This man’s writing is simply surreal and transcends you into the Murakami world where the real and fantasy merge seamlessly. Although Norwegian Wood contains almost zero   surreal elements, a feature of Murakami, the nostalgia and the love-story it speaks about is something which is disturbing in a unique way and manages to pull you in the dark and deep emotions of the protagonists Toru, Naoko and Midori. When Toru starts recalling his college days he starts understanding the real emotions Naoko had for him and how Midori saves him from losing himself. It’s a must-read for all the book lovers who want to taste the brilliance of Haruki Murakami.

Another beautiful story which makes you look into your childhood days is Khalid Hosseini’s masterpiece, “The Kite Runner”.  The friendship of Amir and Hassan is stuff of legends. Even the father-son relationship between Amir and Baba is portrayed very well. The pure emotions which Hosseini can generate are spell-binding and you can feel for war-torn Afghanistan in all of his novels. All his stories showcase that one can find hope even in the most difficult circumstances, and the power of love overpowers all boundaries and divisions. One choice can change the entire course of life.

The Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk has this amazing ability to weave politics, humane emotions and love-story in the gloomy ambience of “Snow”.  The snow covered Kars; a desolate far-away place disconnected from modern civilization puts Ka, the main protagonist oscillating between his childhood Turkey and the present day(as per the novel’s timeline) Istanbul which has undergone a massive change.  In the degrading state of Kars, Ka has the only chance of finding pieces of his childhood dreams and his hearts’ longings. I am yet to complete this book and it has kept me wanting for more.

What touches or influences you when you read fiction? It’s a very interesting area to explore. The magic of art lies in touching your innermost seat of emotions and is worth thinking about.

The second last working day of a month is the most awaited day in the office. It’s the day when the emptied personal coffers get a refill. It’s a day when you finally say a “Thank You” for the job. It’s a day you thank your stars for granting you a placement. A day when you give a second thought to all your thoughts of quitting the job, which have accumulated due to the frustrating nature of work and fastidious bosses.

Yes, today is the second last working day of the month and I have received this month’s salary (I am writing this on the salary day.). But then an inevitable question pops up, almost every day, every second—do I love my job? The money seems decent. The office is fabulous. For embellishment (only if you consider it) there are plenty of pretty females. The work environment may vary like the continental climate from bearable to unbearable. Still, there seem quite a few reasons to put up with my current job, right?

What about the mornings, when you just feel absolutely allergic to the thought of going to office. The sneering bosses who hold your fate (especially when it comes to promotions). They make you to work, work, and work till the world ends or may be till the time when the clients who need to be serviced cease to exist. They call you on weekends making promises of comp-off but no pay for overtime. They coax you to cancel your leaves with their made-up soft-spoken demeanor. They can’t beat you so they plead with you just to fulfill an agreement made with a far-away foreign organization.   Now does that salary mean anything to you?

Yes, when my parents need money, I can send them easily without much struggle stories. I can pay my bills without any problem, pay back the loans and also make some savings (yes, I’m not kidding). That’s really cool, and I can also live in fancy apartments with swimming pools, and glamorous hang-out places. Sounds fun, right? And then, another twist of thought talks back to you asking,” Is this what you want to do all your life? Does life mean only this to you?”It shouldn't bother you if you are not one of the “Thinking Types”.

We would have seen the people who are less fortunate than us. And I happily call myself fortunate because that unfortunate or less fortunate could have been me just within a keystroke. When I see them I find myself having more than them (at least financially), and also living a more comfortable lifestyle. That stops me from asking too much from life.  It’s a strange feeling and there is not much I can do to change it. I mean, survival is important not only for the body, but also for the soul.

I know I don’t like my job, and to get a likable job is going against the wind and fighting against the world. It’s taxing on you and highly hinges on the success you can become. If you fail you are the biggest loser in the eyes of this world. With a slight compromise I feel I have found the means to feed my soul.  I’m sure you too will find ways to enrich the soul and not just care about the material gains.

     Chelsea were crowned the champions of Europe for the first time in their history after a dramatic night of football in Munich. The English finally got the better of  the Germans in a penalty shootout even that in their own backyard. The Germans looked crestfallen having passed up lots of opportunities in regulation time.  When Arjen Robben spot-kick was saved by Cech in extra time it became virtually clear that the name had already been engraved on the famous trophy by the football Gods. It was unbelievable, unfathomable, and unimaginable but it was real and it’s a fact that Chelsea overcame all odds to beat the mighty Bayern in the final.

     Didier Drogba epitomized Chelsea’s grit, determination, team-spirit and never say die attitude. He enjoyed every bit of the Everest like challenges and came out on top after exorcising the demons of the Moscow final where Manchester United had beaten them on penalties in 2008. The stalwarts of Chelsea: John Terry, Frank Lampard and Drogba would not have thought that they would get a second bite on the cherry in this fashion. Neither the master tactician Mourinho nor Ancelotti could achieve what the rookie coach Roberto Di Matteo has achieved with the Chelsea team. It was a stuff of dreams, a fairy-tale with the happiest of endings for the blue half of London. Destiny cannot be denied and Bayern and Barca both tried their luck in vain. One may call the Blues were extraordinarily lucky but they deserved every bit of it. As they say “Fortune favours the brave”.

     Football is such an unpredictable game and it always gives you more than you expect. It’s beautiful, it’s ugly but it always wins the show. Dramatic, miraculous, magical and beyond;  it has everything innate that sports has to offer. Undoubtedly and unanimously it is the best game in the world. The emotions: passion, ecstasy, despair, tragedy all packaged in a single match. You can be a hero and a villain in the same game (Drogba almost became both but Cech redeemed him). The best team not always wins but the most deserving does (opinions may vary). This present Chelsea side are far from the best ever Chelsea eleven but their team-ethic was second to none. They played for each other, with that unceasing desire to win and the best part; they played to their strengths. You play like a team and your chances of winning increases exponentially. 

      It’s been an incredible season and the sport keeps reminding where there is will there is a way. Each one of us may have a destiny ordained by the almighty but we have to claim it and fight for it  to come true. We have to ride the stormy circumstances, unfavourable surroundings and manage with not the best of resources. If the goal is clear in our heads and we are focused enough I don’t think anyone can stop us from fulfilling our destiny. It’s a short life and dreams do come true in the most unlikeliest of ways. It may seem impossible and overwhelming but if you are stuck at it you will get there eventually.

    A sport has a unique gift of teaching us that losses make us stronger and the impossible is always possible. Every previous defeat serves as a guideline for attaining future victories. No matter what the world thinks and no matter how strong your opponent is you always have a chance if you believe in yourself and play according to your strengths.  The sweetest victories always come after the darkest of hours. Patience and persistence always pays off and if you get opportunities to score you have to or else you will get pegged back.

Our hopes and dreams, do they really stand a chance against reality? Can we make them come true and are we even given a chance to reach out and fight for our dreams? Easy to answer right! The answer in most cases is no at least in the burgeoning Indian middle class.

I believe all of us in our most wishful thoughts want to become someone in their lives. That someone is characterized by our passion for something, something that is ingrained in us or we are drawn towards it naturally. The inclination deepens gradually as we learn more and more about our passion. But the global rat-race spares no one. This affects the mentality of our parents first and then channels through them to us. The effect is you have to become a doctor or engineer, or do an MBA and what is the reason for this? It gives more money and status in the society. All the students are cajoled, forced at times and mechanically trained to take engineering or medicine. They are not even asked if they want to pursue anything else and if they have any unconventional career choice, it’s ruled out by the parents. Giving up on the dreams becomes the likeliest option for the youngster.

Coming to myself, I was considered good in science as I scored high marks in the subject. This immediately gave my parents the idea that their son should become an engineer. They had never enquired me about my interest. I had a liking for writing but at that point was never serious of making it as a career. I ended up in an Engineering college eventually and got placed in an IT organization. Meanwhile my liking for writing had grown and I had become more serious about it. The possibility of pursuing it professionally remains.

                                                                                                                             

Life has changed a lot after college. Most of us are employed, busy into our jobs as we try to impress our bosses. Looking back into introspection a question pops up in my head “have you found what you are looking for or are you just fitting in?” I find it really difficult to answer that in an instant. If the answer is yes for you, life can’t get better. Everyone has hopes and dreams of becoming someone in their lives. Very few make it though and it’s not that easy too. Circumstances and lack of will power get better of most of us. Eventually, we have to be content with what we get. Yes, jobs which give you decent amount of earnings or more can seem the best that can happen to you, but we are never truly content until we find that one thing that we crave for. With a realistic view, we all can’t reach the levels of success that some people manage when their careers and passions meet but still; we can give it a shot, trying to fulfill our dreams and turn them into reality.

We have our talents or something that we love doing (The base of our dreams). These are the things which bring us joy and contentment and we enjoy every bit of it just because we love doing it. What if we can’t become legends? At least as a hobby we can keep our interests alive and find time for them in spite of the busy work schedule. The other day I went shopping with my friend. His eyes lit up as they set their gaze on a bundle of paint brushes. He told me that he used to paint a lot during his younger days and was pretty good at it. I told him to buy a paint brush and start it again. He replied with reluctance that’s it no use now as there is so much of work and he does not find time for it.

Looking back at the past brings in lots of “ifs” and “buts” but they won’t provide you the solution. Giving up, when knowing that you can make your mundane life more beautiful and fruitful should not be considered as an option. It’s never too late to start to follow the dreams unique to yourself. Someone has told”Better late than never”. As per my own experience you can always start again if you stopped sometime back.