Exams

When I was in School, the days I dreaded the most were the ones when the teacher would decide to along distribute the corrected answer-sheets two days after any (not just the bad) exam. I would silently pray every day after a class test (even during High-School) that the teacher would not walk in carrying the bundle of corrected answer papers. God, (I imagine) figured it wise not to answer my prayer then by preponing in the Armageddon or less dramatically making my teacher accidentally burn only my paper; and thus, I clambered through school.
Today, again, after two years of blissfully not having to have my work graded, I am back to the going-to-class grind, therefore resurrecting all my child-hood phobias of receiving corrected papers.
What is it about receiving Marksheets that I don't like? When I was in school, I was (apparently) 'very quiet', 'disciplined' 'listens to teacher'. At least that's what the report-cards said! The remarks section always had a lot of good things to say about me. But obviously, those comments don't matter. It is all those single digit numbers written in red that do. Especially when the exam was out of 100. Following typical Pavlovian principle, the moment I see the bundle of corrected papers under my teacher's arm, I instantly imagine the blend of disappointment, frustration and exasperation on my parents faces, and that makes everything  that happens from then on taste like vinegar.
It was only after I grew my beard did I realize that studying could actually be quite engaging, and that it needn't only be a mad race to get good marks, but something you do because you love to think and wrestle with ideas. But in spite of that lofty thought, I did feel a little queasy when I collected my paper from the pigeon-hole today.
Thankfully I got the highest marks (along with 80% of the class). Apparently, they want to grade us liberally to make us feel confident. This particular person who got the same marks as me (and 70% of the class) said; "What must I do to get one mark more?" That threw me into a bout of emotional nausea. Aww... C'mon you! did you join theological studies so you'd top the class for the rest of the year? Did you join to compete? Seriously! Get a life! It's partly because I enough of this rat-race business that I'm into theology!
But upon further thought, I realized that I was kidding myself! My own emotional frustration rose from a primordial longing to top the class myself. May be it's all that frustration of coming last all these years! But on a more serious note, I love theology, (don't quote me on this yet) and campus life, (though that emotion still has nothing to do with the present campus) and hope to make the best of the two years ahead, in spite of the nagging fear of hitting the bottom of the class by the time the month is over.

Trivandrum

2006 July, found me in the back bench of a classroom at JNU watching a professor walk in to the class in absolute frustration. How much longer was I going to study? At that moment, I had vowed to not study further, ever.
2010 June finds me ready to start studying all over again. Not research, or correspondence, but actual class-room lecturing! I note - yet again (here's why) Never say never.
But this regret 'note to head' is one among many thought processes involved in the transition phase.
The next stage is the observation of the new situation. Right now, it's Trivandrum; part of Kerala, God's own country. The same place where I did my Std I to IV. The place brings back great memories of not having a care in the world, of me learning new things; how to play badminton, ride the cycle, whistle and juggle two balls; memories of a scary bullies who practised their new karate moves on you, and scarier malayalam teachers who gave me great insight on the fear of anticipation of punishment.
Kerala shares a lot of similarities with the state my family just moved from. West Bengal. Both states have a passion for rice, fish, football and communism, and for some reason, makes it much more pleasant to be in when compared to the other states like Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Of course, the average speech volume in both states differ hugely. You'll have to ask the Mallus to repeat themselves while expensive seinheisser earphones are necessary to drown out the ambient noise in an average Calcutta mall.
Trivandrum, though the capital of Kerala resembles a big town. No KFC, Me D's, or any fundoo restaurant. There is a Cafe Coffee Day here, whose service and ambience leaves a lot to be desired. But Trivandrum does not disappoint a foodie. Especially a cheap foodie. A good dinner with Beef Fry, Chicken Curry, Parottas, Fried Rice, and a huge range of high-end ice-creams for dessert should make the pocket of the father of a family of four lighter by not more than Rs500. And to think I used to spend more than Rs600 for a dinner for two at the Pizza joint in Delhi!
Other than the abundance of the 'four-wheeler' (means beef... THE secret-word to avoid offending cow-worshippers - chickens are two wheelers. Mutton is referred two as meat. The guy who coined the word doesn't eat pork), the place has its cultural attractions, A huge palace with an attached museum, and an awesome open-air theatre. Of course, there isn't much money here, so you don't get the famous artists exhibiting. But there is always some celebration or the other that goes on.
In my opinion, Trivandrum is a great place to buy your retirement flat. It's quiet, very green, and slow, if you want it to be. The real estate prices, I don't think should be as high as a hill-station, though it feels like one, except for the snow. The weather is actually very moderate, with lots of rainfalls. You'll love it if you've lived in super hot or freezing cold Delhi all your life. Just that you'll have to deal with the humidity and a new, extremely complex language. The shouting and bossing around won't work here either.
I'm happy to be here after such a long time. I'll be leaving for bangalore in a few days. That will be another new experience altogether!

Short update..

Just vacated my place, and said bye to the landlord.. Have promised to keep in touch.. Moving everything from my place to A's took three tiring trips on the motorbike in the middle of a duststorm.. Will stay with A till day after..
Looking back, this move has been quite hurried, that i haven't been able to say goodbye to most friends properly; i feel it's because gravity of me leaving delhi for good hasn't sinked in.. May be it's because of all these last suppers i've been invited to! May be i might miss them after i've reached trivandrum, and am breathing easily..
Will write a more sensible post once i get to a computer!

Last day

Was too lazy/busy (take your pick to regularly do the timeline thing like the past two days.. But right now, i'm in the bus that's hurtling down the himalayas trying to fight nausea and mobile blog at the same time (which would explain certain weird words and indecipherable sentences)
the day was good, overall.. Started late, but owing to the slow way time passes in manali, we were able to do justice to it..
We ate some delicious bun butter for breakfast along with some tea.. After getting back and freshening up, we checked out of our hotel and went for a walk.. On the way, we stumbled across a pine forest.. It was quite dense, and the trees made sure that all the sunlight that filtered through was a nice shade of green.. The walk was long and good.. There were a bunch of dogs quietly following us, hoping for a morsel.. But we couldn't spare any.. We were fast running out of cash..
We then made another pair of tourists click our pic..
Afterward, we had lunch at our favorite shack, and took our time to eat.. Only when we got to the bus stop, did we realise the bus was just leaving! We showed our ticket to the busstand manager and ran toward the bus and jumped in.. The bus master ran after us and told us our tickets were for yesterday's journey!
What now? It took up another 10min to sort out the confusion. Thankfully, the bus conductor was a nice fellow, and waited for us to make corrections.. And since the date mistake was the office's fault, we didn't have to shell any more money!

(updated the next day) The bus journey was uneventful and we managed without a heavy dinner.. Didn't want to take chances with our stomachs against the chicanes and hair-pin bends!
Of course, there was this stupid with a blaring mobile phone that didn't let anyone sleep.. He assumed everyone in the bus liked bollywood item numbers!
We reached delhi safely at 5.30a took an auto home.. The heat is already getting to me!

Day 3

(please excuse the non-rotated and badly layouted pics.. Or buy me an iphone)
6.53a just got up.. Wanted to go for a walk at 6.30, couldn't.. Or didn't, rather.. Getting up out of a razai is quite hard! Will see if i'll go now..

8.56a Made it for the walk.. To the quieter part of manali.. Came here one early morning a long time ago.. Brought back memories.. But today, in spring time, when everything is not covered in snow, you realise how the green takes over everything that hasn't been walked on in 2 months.. Too bad i don't have a digital slr :-P

10.12a came back from the walk.. Had jam toast, and chai.. The sun's come up.. We've decided to stay here the night, and leave tomo morning.. But haven't decided what to do all day today..

11.30a went walking in one direction with the aim to climb a hillock.. Bought what the shopkeeper claims are raspberries and cherries.. I think they are ooty plums! Didn't climb the hill, but decided to stop halfway and dangle our legs off the roof of an abandoned building instead! On the way we saw a car that went sailing over an overbridge being pulled up by a crane.. Wonder if the man responsible for getting the car down there survived.. Came back and booked tickets home.. We'll be leaving at 1pm tomo..

12.45p at home.. Freshening up.. Getting ready to have lunch..

14.49p finished lunch.. 8 to 10 tandoori rotis each! The roti n dal was brilliant.. Had chai n came back for uno n catnap.. Realized the increased apetite is because of the great weather, good exercise and great food.. Initially thought i could put on weight before going home.. Later decided i'd lose the same in the delhi heat anyway, so there'd be no point.

22.18p stayed in the room till late in the evening.. Went out to get stuff for friends.. Had dinner.. Not as great as before.. A has a sore shoulder.. I have a headache.. Both promise to disappear by morning.. I guess it's setbacks like these that make a trip like this complete..

Day 2

3.30a Am woken up by tossing and turning of bus.. Look out the window to see am eerie stack of lights.. Second look tells me i'm in mountain country

5.45a i don't dare open my eyes. The bus moves at impressive speed along the u bends. Keeping eyes open would result in bad nausea. I remember i need to take my medicine. I negotiate 15 seconds of nausea to pop the pills off their packets n into my mouth. The view is undeniably beautiful.. Camera doesn't capture well.. Always Blame it on the camera

6.10a we stop at sundar nagar.. Take more pics.. It's cold enough we can blow out fog!

9.09a reached kullu.. turns out the road to ladakh is closed.. Will have to change plans

11.31a reached manali.. Booked hotel room.. 400, quite cheap.. Quite shady too.. I've decided we spend as little time in it as possible.. Manali looks different in the summer.. More green than white.. We can still see snow caps though.. But there is no need for sweaters.. A thinks we can stay here for 2 days and relax.. I think we should move in the morning and find something else to do..

3.00p. We've walked for over two kilometers.. The place looks so good in spring.. Though i still like it better in winter with snow all around! Taken good pictures.. But time really slows down.. A sees the point in leaving.. I'm enjoying the cold.. I see the point in staying.. We've postponed the decision to tomo..

5.00p walked some more.. Watched honeymoon couples, each having a photographer and tourist guide tagging along.. Our camera just died.. Darn it..

6.00p walked even more. Crossed the baes river n back.. Again contemplated tomo's plans.. Bought coffee, and roamed even more..

7.00p came back to the room.. Tired with all the walking. Played uno.. Went out again.. Realize that trips with friends are not about doing cool things, but just have fun doing the same stupid things in a new place..

7.40p. At the restaurant.. Ordered one full tandoori chicken.. That's it.. It's raining outside.. Temperature around 15C

8.00p had one full chicken between us, and a full glass of milk.. Time for much needed rest..

Trip to manali

7.30p got into the bus.. Fully packed.. Aashish is saying fond goodbyes

11p stopped over at a busstop dhaba.. Had bunta and clicked pics.. I figure the toilet owner has a friend in the printing business.. See pic.. We buy mint flavored potato wafers made in ludhiana.. Awesomeness..

11.40p on the bus again.. Will go to sleep