A Midnight Terror Tale (Part-1)

Foreword: Many had asked whether my first post was a true story. And after reading this, people would definitely ask me the same again. The answer being YES. All posts in this blog are real hilarious recounts of what i had gone thru/experienced. All posts are 100% true. And also sorry for the delay between the first post and this one. I was undergoing a transformation on a personal front. Had been thru some adventures during this phase. Hope to recount all of them thru this blog. As for now...Here's my new post. Recounted in 2 parts. 10 years back, a flashback...from those nostalgic days...One among the most hilarious stories in my life.

One of my happiest days were during the study holidays for the 10th boards. But also those were times of high apprehensions as to whether or not i wud do well in the exams.

Parents, relatives, neighbors, uncles and aunties...in fact even shopkeepers in the area used to ask me..."Son, So this time we can expect a rank from our area. Dont let us down"...

To which i would reply, "Ya, why not?Definitely..."

I really didnt have any confidence in myself...But what else can i say? And as if these guys were rank holders in their school days...

Needless to say...the pressure on me was way too high...CBSE 10th boards is no cakewalk...

Luckily it so turned out that i scored excellent grades in the exams...Primarily not becos of me...

I had a real gud tuition class and a really excellent tutor, Becky Ma'am.

She was a retired teacher, quite strict, and really brilliant in math...She was responsible for creating an interest for math in me, and eventually led to my gud marks in 10th.

And i am really grateful to her for tat.

But the real interest in going for her tuitions, during those days, were my gang of no-good friends. Kohil, Mithun, Sachith, Sandeep, Bobby, Jayce...etc...etc...Quite a large gang...The thought of hangin out wid them on every alternate day of the week, made me feel so happy. And in fact i always looked forward eagerly for the tuition.

The tuitions were at 4, till 6 in the evening. And i used to reach home back from school, at 2, have a quick lunch, grab my tuition bag, take my old bicycle, and rush towards our common meeting place, sharp at 3. We all used to gather up at a ground near to Becky ma'ams home.

Anyone coming late for the meeting would miss on the latest updates from the others. The various topics of discussion used to include the events of the day at school, Computer games, bikes, crushes, girlfriends, gossip news etc..etc...

After about an hour of exciting, but meaningless chatter, we would all go for the class, for no one dared to enter the class late...All of us were scared of Becky ma'am.

After the class we would all go out to the main street, and have our favourite Porotta and Chicken from Rappai's, an eatery near to our tuitions.

And this used to be our routine...

Apart from all this there was one other motivation (The real one) for me to go for the tuition without fail. Yes, no points for guessing...A new girl...Really pretty...And i was absolutely smitten by her....She was the first girl on whom i had a real crush...But as in all first cases, I never really had the courage to speak to her, let alone tell her my feelings...

And not to mention, the rowdy pack (my friends) were also quite fascinated by her. And she also used to figure in most of our discussions.

Things came to such heights that soon after the tuitions, we would all pick up our cycles...give her a headstart and then follow her, till she reached her home safely...Needless to say...The Goondas (including me) did a fantastic work of being her bodyguard, free of charge!!!

And i could swear that the girl was pretty haughty , maybe because she was getting the undivided attention of a gang of useless guys...Nonetheless, she never used to speak to any of us, enjoying all the attention she was getting from us.

Months flew by, and soon it was high time we start preparing for the boards. There was only a month to go...and a lot to study...Our study holidays had begun...

And it was at this time, that Becky ma'am announced that we all could stay at her home during the month long study holidays, she would help us not only with math, but also with the other subjects.

The schedule was as follows: We could study till late night 10.30 and then its lights out. In between we could have our lunch and dinner. We could get up early morning and go to our home...and come back by 11 in the morning.

The boys could stay in the room upstairs, and the girls could stay with Becky Ma'am, in her room downstairs.

Dhan Te Nan.....This was it...All the boys were excited...We all came up with lots of plans...First and foremost was to taste beer...The one drink which no one except Kohil had tried before.

This was also a god sent opportunity to chat and be close with the girls. Especially the one gal whom all were eyeing...

But all things had its own set of problems. How would we get the beer in? And who would go and buy it? No shopkeeper would give beer to highschoolers...And after 10.30, its lights out...How would we even think of chatting with the girls? Girls used to bring their food from home...Cant go out with them to have lunch/dinner...We would hardly get a chance to speak with the girls...

But dont worry. Trust Kohil....He has ideas and solutions for everything...

Soon we started our study classes. Was good in one way. Could learn a lot of things which were helpful for the boards. Apart from the usual chitchatting among us boys, we never got a chance to speak much with the girls.

The stay upstairs was pretty good. A huge room with two nice cosy bed. Large posters of sports stars . 2 had to sleep on the floor. But that was Ok. And night times were pretty much fun. We all used to play cards, chat for a long time, fight amongst ourselves. After a long day of gruelling studies, this was wat we really looked forward to...

So this was pretty much the routine.

Suddenly one night Jayce declared.

Jayce: Guys, all this is fun, but we are lacking something.
All of us: (Chorus): What is it?
Jayce: The 'B' thing...
All of us: Eh?

Jayce: BEEERRRR.....Guys...Tommorow we would buy some and get it in...What say?

Hmmm...Jayce had a point. We should have some beer...That was one of the big plans we had right from the start.But we all were at the same time rather frightened. Kohil is the only one who claims to have had some beer.

Kohil: Getting Beer is not a big deal. I will get it. But i need 2 guys who is big enough and looks mature...

All of them stared at me and Mithun.

Me: Huh? Guys...Why me? (I was already feeling butterflies in my stomach)
Mithun: No problem. I will come.

I gaped at Mithun. Only if i had half his confidence

Me(To Mithun): You?
Kohil(To me) : You want beer or not?

All eyes at me now...I hate this kind of a situation. If i say no...I turn out to be a sissy. All blame on for spoiling the event...

Me: I will take a very small sip, maybe the very last....
Kohil: (Quite sternly): Coming or not coming?
Me(Giving up): Ok...I will come.

A round of cheers went thru the gang...The Bastards...Baah...Why always me? Why not Sachith, Sandeep , Bobby or why not Jayce, he was the one who brought up this topic? But no...It had to be me.

So tommorow it was going to be the night when we all would have our first taste of beer. 10 guys. But not more than 3 bottles of beer could be bought becos we all had our tiny tuition bags and we planned to smuggle in the bottles using our bags.

And we had a detailed operation plan, as if we were some real inernational smugglers planning to smuggle in diamonds into a high security facility.

The very next day at 9 in the night, the time we all go out for dinner, 3 idiots took thier cycles and off we went to the nearby Beverage shop. I was all tensed up. Mithun and Kohil were quite cool.

We soon reached the shop.

Kohil went up to the shopkeeper.

Kohil: "Chetta, 3 beer."

The shopkeeper eyed us suspiciously. Maybe he was thinking we were underage.
Suddenly Mithun had a brainwave. Mithun to Kohil.

Mithun: Kohil, is 3 beers enough for our uncle?
Kohil(Loudly) : Actually for uncle 1 would be enough, the rest 2 is for this greedy guy. (Pointing at me).

Saying so, they both started laughing loudly.

The Shopkeepers eyes bulged on seeing me.

And as for me. I just wanted to kill Kohil straight away. Why always me???

Shopkeeper(While packing the beer mumbling to himself): Nowadays even small kids are having beer...Such bad times we are in.

And we started back. Reached the class. Kohil quietly slipped upstairs with the bags, while me and Mithun sat with the others. A problem was being discussed in class, and the girl of my dreams was explaining the solution...Aah...Meanwhile, the others grew restless. All guys glancing at me and Mithun...Mithun slowly showing a Thumbs up and an acknowledging nod...

Aal izz Well...Aal izz Well...All set for the night...The others being super delighted, while i was in my own world, A valley of flowers...somewer in the Alps, Switzerland...just me and her...

A loud thunder rumbling...Which was not exactly thunder...Tat was Becky ma'am yelling my name...I got snapped out of my lovely dream...

Becky Ma'am: Now Nithin would explain the solution.

Me: M-Me?

Becky Ma'am: Yes you...

Drat...Me again...Bad day for me...Real bad day...All others were laughing uncontrollably...while i got up to explain...

Me: "Err...Ma'am...What's the question?"

Another round of laughter...Laugh idiots laugh...

Anyway tonight is the BIG night....Wooowwwiee...Cant wait....For the first taste of BEER...

(To be continued...)

Jab We Met...Ek 'very' Chhoti si horror story

One fine rainy day. I woke up late...As usual...Not wanting to go to office...The roads were all wet and muddy...and the thought of the cosy bed...made me very reluctant to go to office...Anyway who would want to, on a cold rainy day....Well...Heck...No power at home...So as well shall go to office...Got ready and glanced at my watch. Hell...Another goddamn 30 minutes for the company bus to arrive. Reluctantly started my long and boring walk to the bus stop.

After a squishy squashy walk...I reached the bus stop...Another 20 minutes to wait...Wat shall i do?...Might as well go to Suresh annan's tea shop near the bus stop and have a nice hot cuppa tea to beat the chill. Dinesh wont be coming today.He was down with fever.So had no company. Had to wait there all alone. And the thought of the long boring day at office....Lavanya had called me earlier to inform that there was some issue with the application we tested...Wat a bore...And anyway as if i cared...

Me: "Suresh Anna oru strong tea..."(Suresh anna...One strong tea)

Then suddenly...I saw her...Man..A real angel...I had seen her many times waiting at the bus stop. If there was somethin like love at first sight, this had to be it...Man... she was charming...perfect...White Salwar...

At this precise moment...A romantic number popped up in my head(Minnale...RHTDM in Hindi)...out of nowhere...A kind of la-Main hoon na(Remember the scene where SRK is surrounded by many imaginary violionists and singers...wenever he sees Sush...Sumthin of tat sort). Readers at this point of time wud be thinking tat since i am comparing my situation with that of SRKs...there shud be some similarities between us...Well...not at all...Just the opposite...The typical 'No-girl-wud-ever-care-to-give-a-2nd-glance' kinda guy...

She was working in some other company and her bus used to come 5 minutes before my rickety old company bus. Wished she was working in my company...Atleast that would gimme a chance to chat wid her...Well no luck...

While drinking the hot tea, i was busy thinking of a way to strike a conversation with her...Wat shall i ask her? I shud speak to her today...Shud i start off informally, a casual talk? Or shud i be formal...Wich i never can....Saala...nothin was comin to my mind...

Then it happened.

An old woman, went up to the girl...Asked her sumthin...Next i saw was she( the girl) helped the old lady cross the road. Wow...Such a kind gesture...definitely yes...This is my kinda girl...(Romantic song tempo builds up)

And i got my much awaited chance...With a glimmer of glee in my eyes...I went up to her.

Me: Hey hi...Saw you helping that old lady...That was really thoughtful of you...

Girl: Thanks...

(Wow..Wat a smile...Behka, main Behka...Another song comin up...Gosh...This is my lucky day)

Me: So...Which company you working for?

Girl: CTS

Me: Aah...Thats a very nice company...I always wanted to work there.

Girl: Why so? What's so special with CTS?

God...Now I have to come up with a lie

Me: I heard the work culture there is very nice...

Girl: Very well...

Silence...More Silence...

Me: Hi..I am Nithin. And you are?

Girl: Priya(Name changed...for obvious reasons)

Me: Ahh...Nice...And you are from?

Girl: Palakkad, Kerala.

Me: (My joy knew no bounds) Hey...even i am from Kerala..I am from Cochin.

Girl: (A bit bored) Ohh ok...

Me: (Baah...Shud keep the conversation lively.Guess she is gettin a hint...uh oh...) I was thinkin that you were a northie, you look like a Punjabi...(Desperate attempts)

Girl: Ya... i Know...Many people tell me that...

Somehow...was feeling that the girl didnt wanna chat with me...Maybe wrong timing...Better luck next time Beta...

Me: Where do you stay?

Girl: Its near to your place...

Me: (Quite Surprised) : Hey..how do u know where i stay?

Girl: I have seen you a few times outside your apartment, roamin around, busy on the phone...

Me: Ooohh....Is it? Then it should be aftr 10 in the night. Thats a pretty odd time to see me...Wat do u happen to do there at that time?

Girl: I usually go on a late night walk with my boyfriend...

Eh?Whats that she said? Did i hear right? Boyfriend?

Me: B-Boyfriend?

Girl: Ya...My boyfriend...Now my fiance...I am engaged...

There goes beta...All hopes lost...Coming down like a house made of a pack of cards...A 1000 curses going on in my mind...Boyfriend eh? Saala, where did he come from, in this perfect love story?

Ok...watever be it...shud continue the conversation...

Me: Ohh..Ok...(Shattered)...I have never seen you before in that area...Which building?

Then She started...All hell broke loose...(Read as: To add fuel to fire)

Girl: (Voice a bit raised) Do you think its necessary for you to know? Hey...Are you trying to flirt wid me?

Quite a mind reader, huh?

Me: (Feeling quite uneasy...Things are not turning out to be as i wanted...First sign of an alarm) Uh...huh...me...err...ummm....Well no....

Girl: I see you often at the bus stop...Just outside the tea shop...Always commenting on this and that, other girls...with your Joker friend (Didnt i mention about Dinesh? Yup, he is the one). I have heard you guys many times...And God, you guys chatter and comment in such a loud voice....You create such a ruckus.

Point noted.Grrr...Dinesh Dinesh Dinesh....I have told that bugger Dinesh many times, 'Machaa, Dont shout.Dont u think u (we) r a bit too loud'...and he wud say..."Machi...Nee bhayapedaatha...Ithu ennuda area...Ethum prachnam Kedayathu"...(Hey dude...No problem... this is my area...We will do as we please).

Girl:(Continuing)What exactly is your problem? No other work to do? No girls in life?Pretending to be local heros? What is it?

I was kinda taken aback. I mean, the very first meeting with this gal...Who wud think tat she wud explode like an atom bomb? There goes everything...All my lovely dreams...All in vain...And most of all, wat shall i tell her?...She had thrown me all these options...Maybe go for 'All the above'??? Like in an entrance exam, wen u r not sure of the answer?

Me: Uh...huh...me...err...ummm....Well..no...I...we...

I was wishing that i was someplace else...I was melting in front of her...The angel had turned into a demon...Not quite wat i wished for....Big mistake...My mind was telling me..."Get outta here u loser, before u r crushed like a handful of peanuts"...And wats the point any way?She has a boyfriend too...But my legs didnt budge...As usual, in times of danger, the ungrateful fellas, were firmly rooted to the ground...

And the situation was not helping either...Very embarassing...Thank God, Dinesh was not here today...Definitely he wud have got a piece of her mind. And it's only me and her...No one was around...Or is it? Oops...Thanked almighty a bit too soon...Here comes tat lazy bugger(I believe he told me that he wud not be coming today.Now wat made this moron to change his mind)...Not very far now...Will be here anytime soon...Aaah..God...Help....Wat shall i do?

Girl: (Continuing) See Nithin, Nithin right?

Me: (Tensed, and wanting no more of this): Uh..huh...Ya...Right...

The girl kept on shouting some more, which atleast felt like gibberish to me...Cant take her anymore...Devil woman...And above all...My pride was hurt...Big time...And thinking what would happen once this She-Devil sees Dinesh...

Now to tell something about Dinesh. Eventhough he seems very innocent and dumb at first sight...Well you got it wrong. He is shrewd...ohh ya, very, and a loud mouth, who doesnt know wat to tell and wat not to under certain circumstances...Anyway...He is my project mate and a guy who knows his job...very brilliant...So kinda got to stick with him to clear doubts at work...

And being buddies (Well...not exactly, atleast that's wat he thinks), we sometimes talk about girls, booze, work,complaining about the whole system, making fun of fellow colleagues...the lot.

And as things would be, even he had noticed the girl before on many occasions and we have talked about her too(Rather commented)...And now it is turning out to be that she had heard us...Or else...She would not be shouting now...Would she?

Dinesh had seen me...That too with this girl...I swear i cud see his eyes shining...and tat too with a wide stupid grin on his face...He was fast approaching from behind the girl...I tried my level best to give him a sign, by blinking my eyes, shaking my head vigorously...

Aah the dumb oaf...If only he cud understand...

Enter Dinesh...

Dinesh: (In his typical loud madrasi voice) Machaa...Intha nerathukkulla intha figurea correct pannitiya da...???Super... (Within this small time frame u were able to 'correct' this 'figure'?)

Damn you, Dinesh...My Eternal tormentor...

Now this is what one calls Madras Bashai, mixing of certain English words with Tamil, the original English words wud not have the real english equivalent meaning.

Correct - Make fall in love.

Figure: A beautiful girl.(Though this particular word meaning can change in different contexts)

To Hell with Dinesh...I tried everything, to make that idiot understand...

Anyway under the circumstance...Self protection is of prime concern...

I ran...and I ran...Leaving the astonished Dinesh and the girl behind...Straight into Suresh Annan's Tea Shop...

Suresh Annan: "Enna Thambi?, Innum Tea vennuma?" (Do you want more tea?)

Me: Uhhh...No thank u...

I could see now from a small distance...The girl was shouting animatedly at poor Dinesh...God knows what, her hands shaking violently...

Now that i knew i am safe...I was actually enjoying the fun...hehe...Dinesh...He deserves this...The bloody bugger...Let him bear the devil incarnate for sometime...Yeah....Devil indeed she seemed to be...

Drat what is this, that i am seeing? The CTS bus has arrived a bit early today.

The last i saw of the girl on that eventful day...She was boarding the CTS bus huffing and puffing, still in a fit of rage and poor Dinesh was standing there in the rain, with his umbrella...A dumb look on his face and having no clue of what had actually happened. A real classic scene...