Thursday, April 29, 2010

Goofer,goofed big time



Chapter # 5

Scene # 1:


Fenny’s mobile buzzed. Frankie all of a sudden realized that he needs to replace the beers tomorrow as his bro and sis in law would reach Chennai soon. Frankie spent more than seven months with uncle Fenny as his guardian while his parents where in Ireland taking care of their daughter and her Kids. As Frankie would tease his mother “unpaid maid fly’s abroad “.A home by the beach side, credit cards and debit cards, weekly online meeting with family members and then the wild nights like the one they planned tonight. The previous time they arranged a party it was much bigger in scale, and the consequences was terrible .A always usual Shakti went wild and knocked Prathap, which made Divya Scream her throat out. A casual night with soft music was supposed to be an evening party that would end early. Limited beers and flavored rum with some barbeque was all it was .But when Shakti saw an irritated Divya having a chat with Prathap, things went wild. Riaz already had issues with Prathap over Devanika so Riaz had his blood rushing .Frankie was a mute spectator that night, and he promised himself “ no more party’s”.


Devika put in all her effort to make Shakti stay back and have his dinner at home, she went in for Vishwanathan’s support over this “God knows why am spending all my time inside the kitchen, no one eats what I prepare” Vishwanathan replied “so you don’t consider me as a human”.” Eshwaraaa! You are bound to eat what your wife prepares, now ask him to stay back .He is not going anywhere. it was easy to find a girl for Sandeep as he never stayed out of home” now Shakti came towards Devika and was about to say some thing which was not to be as Vishwanathan looked at Shakti and spoke “in that case Shakti, you should go out today at least for my sake” Vishwanathan turned towards Devika and stressed a point that he has been doing for years, that on hearing the first word that came from Vishwanathan Devika started walking back in to the kitchen with her head stooped. She has been hearing this from the day Shakti started to get his report cards from school “Devimaa don’t compare them Sandeep is Sandeep and Shakti will be Shakti , they will have their own individuality”. As Shakti was about to leave the land line rang, Vishy looked at Shakti and in no time Shakti was saying hi to Suwaina, Riaz’s sister .Shakti said a few Ok’s and called over his mom , Suwaina rang up the mullaivanam for her mother Fathima, so the telecon was taken over by Devika and Fathima. As Devika Spoke to Fathima, Shakti said bye to his mother. But Devika blocked him and kept on hmm hmm to Fathima on the other side. As the telecom ended Devika was transformed to Barrister Krishnamurthy, her father, Shaktis Granddad. Both her palms grasped each other behind her and she looked at Shakti through the gap between her upper eye glass frame “ Where are you all staying tonight?” she did not wait for an answer, “ where is Riaz?. Why isn’t he not picking up his mobile?” Shakti spoke all to him “Goofed, bastard goofed “.and he started speaking “Amma we are staying at Fredies and riaz is there may be his mob charge went down, let me go check”. Devika did not stop there, “Why should Riaz ring up Divya and talk to her using foul language?” Shakti saw thing clearly now, “Total classic fuck up”…. And he replied to Devika “enna Amma? Did Riaz do that? Who told you that?” Devika Replied “Divya rang up Suwaina and told her this, now you listen here, I clearly know that your appa will not get involved in this and Riaz’s father is miles away from home so listen go pick up Riaz and come here, I want to see you both.Fathima will come here now”.Shakti had to run, run for cover, as he went out his mind repeated the same words again and again “bastard goofed up” … God….


Scene#2:
Suwaina was on her phone talking so politely “Divya please let me talk with Richu Bhaiyaa, his mobile is switched off, please understand. If he has used such a word then I swear I would myself slap him, please.” The call ended. Fathima had her telephone in her hand ready to dial some one as Suwaina came in and stopped her mother from ringing up “Ammi , please don’t ring up Ibrahim chachu now , lets wait am goin to ring Shakti anna , just wait ammi”.Once again Suwaina moved towards her room, she spoke on her phone “ Shakthi anna , I thought you will ring me up , but where is he?, you tell me and then I would tell you what that show offer told me” Suwaina was referring to Divya.they spoke.


Scene # 3:
Shakti had 13 calls from his mother he picked up around 3 of them, he said the same thing all 3 times “amma am driving please”. But never did he cease to say “Bastard Goofed up”. Parking his bike inside Freddie’s and ran towards the steps. What Shakthi saw there made him laugh his intestine out .And he said “Goofer, you Goofed big time … wish I could see you like this for the rest of my life”…….

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Marble seller




Scene#1:
The all three of them sat around the small expandable table with all that they indented to drink. Frankie’s uncle an ex-sailor who never had a chance to see the shore had lost hope in finding a woman to get married, if Frankie could dig his memory then it was rumored that Fenny, his uncle had some one in south America with whom he lived for 5 years .This was during the time when Fenny had cut all his contacts with his family back in India. Frankie remembers his mom talking with his granny ( Fenny’s mom ) that “if he wants to go back let him go back , but let him confirm things with us , my man spoke with him but Fenny boy did not confirm anything”.

Riaz slowly started removing the bottles off the table , all the while Eddy was talking to himself, and Frankie knew what was happening . Riaz put them all on to the fridge and had a chat with Fenn uncle , he had three bottles of beer in his hands which he extended towards Frankie and Eddy. They slowly started sipping , Every thing was calm as they sipped and sipped one after another bottle, Fenny was just a few chairs away sipping on to his local brandy on his bamboo stick mug .It was Eddy who started it .” So it’s true , the bitch ditched poor shushi boy” . Eddy expected a reply and so gave a gap before his next talk. Eddy once again ”You remember that guy , the junior at our school ahhh ! The teacher’s boy , what’s his name? who had a sister ,,,,.Now Frankie started talking “ Devanika……………… and as he said this name his volume went descending and glanced at Riaz “ What? “ asked Riaz, “ why the hell are you staring at me?” . Eddy had already a buzz in him and his side had four empty beer bottles , “ but it wasn’t a secret man , you did try to …hmmmm what do you say for that , hmmm yhea rape her” .
Eddy now remembered what Shakti whispered in his ears as he left home “ don’t get them to talk serious issues , just keep them occupied , don’t keep the door open, lock it, I have asked Fenn uncle to do what ever possible to keep these guys sane, I shall come back at the earliest”.


Scene#2:

Shakthi did not think , he just acted. Off he went to Kumar’s jute tent .
Paandi was going through one of those debonair,s that Riaz hid below the wooden tool box. On seeing Shakti , Paandi started to act fast, but Shakti did not give a damn, he pulled out a cigarette from the old box they shared with Kumar. Puffing vigorously he rang up appa, “ Shakti were are you?, “Appa am on my way stuck at the traffic , what’s it appa , any thing important?, Vishy answered “ Vasu is here , he needs your help, just come”. Shakti felt a bit ok after the call as this was not the first time Vasudevan uncle needed his help. It’s a usual case where in Vasudevan would go off to nobody knows where asking his good friend’s son to take care of his Marble biz for a few days.

Vasudevan a simple man with loads of money , Vishwanathans good friend from their school days, each time Shakti does him the favor , Shakti gets paid which he always rejects with at most humbleness. This time Shakti was not sure what to do. All important papers were handed over to Shakti, this time it was a week as per Vasudevan but Sakthi knew from previous experience that he would extent it. While closing his cars door vasudevan looked at up Shakti and said “ come home tomorrow by around 11 am there are a few more papers you need to see , some pending payments and stuffs. Did Divya ring you up? I had asked her to , is there any thing wrong with the both of you ?.” Now this struck Shathi………………….his inner voice spoke again “no!!!!!!! not again please for gods sake , am starting to hate her”……

Monday, April 26, 2010

Mojito & Sangria




Chapter #3

Scene #1:
Neither did Vishy insist that Shakti should run home nor did Shakti inform his father that he had ideas of staying night out and it was a long ride back home to Anna nagar from Besant Nagar. Shaktis yes appa was followed by Vihys “ kochum veeduvara vara mudiyumada chinnavanay” ( can you please come home son?).Request, request is something that Vishy has mastered and Shakti Could never say no. Shakti even though a bit confused with anxiousness said all to himself, that’s my old man, wise, soft and calm.
Riaz was furious, “ oooothaaa (fuck) why didn’t you tell him that you were at bezant nagar? He would understand man”, Shakti dropping off the grilled chicken and , Naan that they picked up from Richeez on to Frankies Grandma’s old Burma imported dining table sighed and replied back at Riaz , “ its cuz he under stand’s me is why am gonna take this long ride back sucker!!!!.” Frankie had this “oh my!! Look I pissed on my own legs “kind of look on his face. Eddy didn’t give a peg for what was happening as he sat sniffing the Sangria’s neck. Shakthi patted Frankies back and whispered something on to his ear and moved out of the house.

Beautiful beach view , Italian wine , Frankies uncles trademark Mojito , Richeez grilled chicken and Eddy’s old man’s Cuban cigars , above all I could have buried the her in some corner of my mind at least until the day pops out. Shaktis mind was buzzing with If’s and But’s as he rode through the light spitting roads. Divya!!!
Ahhhhhhhhhh God why? why the hell did she do this to me , she loved me , I loved her and then she falls for some one else putting me in the dark . All through I never knew this, well may be what she had for me was not love, may be I should have been a bit more physical, but that is not me.” Don’t let anyone take me away from you please Shakti please, I beg you “she said that but ………. shriek ……… Shakti came out of his inner self … he could have hit some thing , a cat or a puppy .he got off his bike to see and was ok with what he saw piglets , never gave a damn and was still moving under the street light. Shakti started to move as his mind started to descend through his not so old past. So does that mean that she loved me? so its after all love that she had on me or may be she felt the pinch of guilt……..


Scene #2:
Anna nagar as usual was getting more than what it could accommodate, the veg restaurant was having its one among the greatest biz night .Now his confused anxiousness was on the peak,” why did appa had to ring me up so urgently and why didn’t he ring me up after that?” .Now that he was nearing Mullaivanam some thing was getting clear, blue glazing Santro, Vasudevan mama, Diva’s father. ” Oh God ……”

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Chapter 2: makeshift jute curtains




Chapter #2:

Scene 1.

Anna Nagar 15th and 18th main has in between a road that has become a part of their life, just a few blocks from mullaivanam . There wasn’t a single petty shop in which shakti and riyaz did not have credit facility. The two has always been together from the day both their mothers met at the Dr. Rangarajan Memorial Hospital,Anna Nagar with the little new born. Fatima far younger than Devika and a first time mother needed help and devika was able to understand fathimas needs, and so the friendship grew.

Riyaz passed by the small garage shed on his bike, while Pandi called from behind all the while fixing a silencer to the bike,as if he had nothing to do with whatever that was coming out of his mouth…
Riyazannaa!!!!!!!!!!! Shakti anna is here behind …..
Not even trying to turn back Riyaz echoed back. I will be back………..


Scene: 2

Brownish shades all over with a few rays of light that that passes through the deliberately punctured holes in the jute curtains. Its a small makeshift rest area that Kumar, pandi’s brother has put up and has stood a testimony for many a up’s , downs , turns and u-turns of life’s. The curtains get watered once in a while for some sensible air conditioning.
Came the voice……hey shushi boy wake up…., shushi boy, a name that stuck with shakti as in his younger days he would make a noise whenever he had a leak. shuuuuu chiiiiiiiiiii
Shakti rolled over facing Riaz.
Watz up mate? You look so much like a man who lost his love yesterday night. Riaz started laughing.
Shakti: Shut up and F@#K off …
Riaz knew tat his tactics back fired and knew that shakti was serious. Pulling out his mobile he rang a number and spoke.
Hey! Ding Dong did ya have ur shower?
Ok just shut up and come to our spot … ASAP!
Riaz spoke again to Shakti..
Shakti am sorry dude but won’t you tell me what happened? wat did divya say?
Man did you guys break up? Or is it true that she was two timing you?
Shakti!! Well dude I look like a transistor here …
Once again shakti turned facing Riaz and pulled out the money that his dad has given and finally opened his mouth to speak.
Let’s get sloshed out, fix a place….and as an answer to all your questions “TRUST NO WOMAN”…
Riaz coudnt belive his ears , shakti was always in awe of woman, in all good sense , he would keep on describing woman , their mind , the way they care , their curves , which of course was Riyaz’s fave topic. And Divya !!!!!!!!!!!!! , Riyaz thought “ oh father in heaven I wish that atleast shushi boy got to feel her soft skin at some point or the other”.


Scene 3:
Vishwanathan was neither happy nor sad , he felt better thinking about Shakti’s results and he kept on saying in his mind 18 -3 is not that bad , my son will get there.The one thing vishwanathan was so proud of was that he never gave any sermons to his four children , like “ do you know how I struggled in my life kinda sermons’ a tender voice disturbed vishus thoughts Vishupa !!! , it was vishwanathan grand kid aamni , his elder son Sandeep’s daughter .Sandeep does his own business that his father-in –law handed over to him. He is the silent power of the house, his wife Sunandana a Chennai iit’ian who had no issue staying at home taking care of her husband and daughter has always admired her father-in-law from her college days when Vishu used to do guest lectures at IIT while he was working for the famous motor company .

Vishu always had a soft corner for Shakti not for the reason that he is his youngest, but for reasons more than that.Now that aamni was by his side he needed to concentrate on her but all of a sudden he started searching for some thing.

Scene 4:
The evening chaotic Chennai traffic, like the honey bee’s mating with the queen bee, the war of supremacy .shoving up your machines on to whatever gaps you can find. It was usual of Riyaz to moan whenever some biker would shove his bike near him, the moan of a woman having her big O . Riyaz, Shakti and Eddy parked their bikes near Frankies house all set to get sloshed out. That’s when Shaktis Erricson started spitting Jai Ho .Shakti stood staring at his mobile and picked it up , no hellos and hi’s , all he said was Yes appa…

Saturday, April 17, 2010

from the dust..chapter 1




Scene 1.

Shot from behind: 1. 30 am , protagonist on his mobile phone ( camera close shot on his ear and his hair), inaudible voice from the other side , camera rotates towards his face darkness, click study lamp with a dying bulb. Tears dripping off his eyes. Voice from the other side .
Shakti … shakti ,, are you there?
Shakti:hmmm….divya give me sometime … stops abruptly as once again the voice says
am sorry shakti , I know how u feel ..am sorry (sobs………….)
Shakti: don’t feel sorry for me ,rather I feel sorry for u. bye
Divya : shakti it was never meant to be like this…phone goes dead …………

Scene :2

Mid day … shakti still on bed , knock on the door..

Shakti paaa , dai ,, kannuu , open the door , its 11.30.
Shakti drags him off the bed , clears off the cigarette buds , not knowing were to dispose he drops them in to his pant pockets hanging on the door hangers.

Shakti: ammaa, I am having my bath..
Amma: dai the servant is here open the door let her clean up.
Shakti pulls out his deodorants and perfumes, sprays them all over. opens the lock of his room door without much noise and runs in to his toilet and calls out

Amma ! door is open , u did not have to knock.. enna ammma nee..
Amma opens the door with her nose sniffing like a rabbit.
Eshwaraaa what have u done? , cant stand this smell , have u been smoking ?
Shakti: opening the tap making sure that he did not hear his mother.

Scene :3
top view of Mullaivanam , a man clad in his dhoti and t- shirt in his late 50's not the type who would die his hair (not bald).
Mullaivanam door number 356 , post man leaves handing over a brown cover to Mr vishwanathan. On by reading the content vishwanathan sighs calling shaktis name aloud..

Shakti … dai chinnavanay….

Shakti squeezing himself on to the blue jean walks towards vishwanathan

What paaaaa?
Vishwanatha: here you still have 3 more papers to clear , don’t worry, improvement is visible 18 – 3 is good .
Shakti smiles at his father , his lips moved like as if he wanted to say some thing but never went beyond that. vishwanathan pulled his son to wards his study room and closed the door.

what do you want to tell me?
Shakti: appa …..
Vishwanathan: yes I am your appa and please, me being your appa I do have the right to tell you, quit smoking! , the whole house has nicotine all over, we have kids here and me , am a heart patient you get me? Now wat do you want? All through maintaining his calm
Shakti: nothing appa….
Vishwanathan: money?
Shakti blinking his eyes and making a face as if he was biting his lips off
Hmmmm…..
Vishwanath pats his shoulders …….