Horrible way to spend weekend!

Every college life is unfulfilled without assignments. Some assignments can be interesting but some are awfully tiring. Recently my class was split into four groups to organize an event to learn about event management. We had been planning, visualizing, rehearsing and working on our event assignment for a while. Social media apps can be a headache especially the group created always fights in the chat instead of discussing. Especially, the super annoying voice message option. My group thought of meeting near my college to finish or have some progress in our event assignment. One of my group members told me she will pick me up at a specific place. 

So, I was waiting at the place my friend mentioned for her to pick me up. I got bored and I leaned on to a black wall of a closed shop and waiting for my friend's call to know that she has arrived at the spot. I took headphones and was listening to radio. Some random guy who looked a bit illiterate started accusing me of standing in the middle of the footpath and was having the facial expression as if he has seen some offender. Logic wise I was far away from footpath and literally standing at the premises of a closed shop. No one had a problem suddenly this random guy passed some lewd comments on me and went off before I could talk. Irony was a traffic police officer was right in front of me and was least bothered about what is happening to the people around him. 

I was glad that was not some sort of molestation, rape or any other such incident. But I felt mentally naked by allowing that random guy's accusations enter into my head and spoil the day. If I did nothing wrong why should I be worried and feel sad? Lots of questions buzzed in my head. A mere senseless comment made me to consider not stepping outside the house again. I wondered how many women around the world being affected by this? Suddenly my friend came and picked me up. We spoke about the event details and I forgot about that horrible incident. The event which we were doing was about post wedding reception. We were preparing props, decor, songs, dance moves, skit, and much more. We all became tired and thought of going home as important things are finished. The place was drizzling with raindrops. 

We were also assigned to bring sponsorship for my department's Intercollegiate and Conference for which deadline was Monday. I was worried I didn't get any sponsors yet so I went out with my friend to explore and grab at least one sponsor. We roamed throughout the offices of nungambakkam and came to the conclusion that on Saturday most people won't be present at offices and many are not interested in sponsoring to people who are not in their target segment. I was sad, tired, and sleepy and was in a hurry to return back to my friend who told me she will drop me near my home. While crossing the road, a bike Tyre went over my toes of my feet. The signal was red and that bike should have stopped but due to his negligence I may have been dead yesterday (27/08/2016). I was in statue mode, my friend who was beside me dragged me out of the place and we were walking again normally. We said our good bye and I reached home safely. 

I always tell whatever incidents happening in my life to my mom even though I clearly know she broadcasts about it and even exaggerates about it with others. I told how in the morning that guy emotionally and mentally screwed me and how I escaped a Hip replacement surgery in the evening. She started telling me idiots are there but I should have been more careful. And she told about this to my dad immediately and I regretted telling about it to my mom. My dad who did not listened to the whole story started accusing me that I should not obstruct footpaths and cross carefully. I cried. I cried till my eyes became dry and red. I was sad that no one was there for us to express our grief without being judged. 

The First week of February - Struggles!

Feb 1, 2016: My mother and my aunt who came from U.S. to visit us both left from Chennai to visit my grandma (Their mom). My ammama (Mother's mom/ my grandma) lives in a town located in Andhra. I was told to look after the house. They left the house after I went to college. College went on as usual and I came back home. The silence was tremendous. I felt haunted vibe in my own house. No single nagging or scolding of my mom to be heard. The silence was ecstatic until I had to do the chores for the day that my mom did for past 21 years of her marriage.

I cleaned some vessels, saw T.V., heated milk and mixed Maltova (Cocoa flavoured malt powder) into it and drank it. The next challenge was to make rice. I have very poor cooking skills yet I took Food Science as my Bachelor degree. 

I remember my mom telling me to add 3 cups of water to 1 cup of rice and switch on the electric rice cooker. It sounded as an easy thing to do but not after I did I realised only with practice you will get properly cooked rice. I had to wash the rice, then put it into the electric rice cooker vessel, then add water. I was confused by which cup my mom referred to. Then I used the same cup I measured the rice with and started adding water and lost count of how many cups of water I added. So, I simply added till the rice is drowned with water.

I saw T.V., checked my mails, browsed for good colleges for my master’s degree and ended up tired. The cooked symbol was blinking on the device and I checked the status of my first rice cooking experience/ experiment. The rice was semi-cooked, the outer portion of the grain was cooked but the center part of the grain was hard. So, I added some more water and set the Electric Rice Cooker to cook it again. This time the rice was cooked nicely and edible to eat. Yippee!! But the quantity was too high to for dinner for me and my brother. Damn it. 

I microwave the chicken curry my mom kept in the fridge. I and my brother ate the rice with it, then with some curd and mango pickle. The night went on well, I made small pat on my back convincing myself there could be even other kind of disasters that could happen being home alone. Then we watched a Tamil dubbed Korean serial “Master’s sun”. It was a spooky serial. We both were scared to death while sleeping.

Feb 2, 2016: I woke up, brushed my teeth, heated the milk, drank it, and ate some biscuits, bathed, packed my bag and ready to go to college. Except my body and soul was ached to stay at home because I was too sleepy and tired from the nightmares. I told my brother good bye and walked towards the bus stop. College was same boring as hell. My classmates were practicing for aerobics and March past to represent the department at the sports day. They were arguing about the faults in their teammates. Head ache was at peak. I sat and helped my classmates with some tests for their research. Then college got over. I came home. My mom arrived. Even though secretly I was happy that she came at the same time the freedom to do whatever I want is gone. 

Feb 3, 2016: I went to college. I helped my friend with her protein analysis for her food sample in the laboratory. I told her to finish the test because I had some another class to attend at that time but she threw it off. All my efforts of preparing the reagents, sample, etc went into a drain. Then my class and some other departments together had a session on “Happy marriages”. It was more like a Stand up comedy than a counselling session on marriages. 

Feb 4, 2016: I had a proper class from my faculty after 2 full months. Finally it felt like classroom. Then, we had practical session to make nectar and ready to drink beverage from a fruit. After the last period my department calls me to meet them. There was this conference going to happen in Chennai for which I gave my name and paid money. The dumb thing was I gave my money on Feb 2 and Feb 3 also my friend did not cross check to inform me that I paid twice. I got an awesome scolding session from my department. Wow. What a crappy day! I am very bad at remembering whatever is related to numbers – time, money, date, schedules, counting, basically anything with math.

I felt weak, tired, sick, and more like a Character from Tim Burton’s movie. I walked on the road to reach my bus stop. Is it me or for everyone? When I felt tired and sad that particular day, I felt everyone is watching me. I got into a crowded bus, crushed and smashed every muscle of mine to squirm my way to get a proper spot to stand inside the bus. I went home and cried like anything. Life felt useless. My mom wasn’t of big help she even added more details to increase my sadness. I cried until my eyes got dried, reddened and burning as if my vitreous humor was replaced by fire. I took a kerchief wet it with tap water and kept it on my eye lids and slept for a while.

I am very poor at handling any scolding that is related to my mistakes. I felt horrible. I apologised to my friend who was also scolded for my fault. She told me “Don’t worry. Learn from the mistakes and Move on.”

Feb 5, 2016: Today I will be attending my college sports day event in the evening. So, I didn’t have college and all drama to handle in the morning. I had a good sleep and became less suicidal. My conscience said people had done far more mistakes than I did. I never murdered, cheated or spoiled anyone’s life. So, compared to some people’s mistakes I felt better. I hope we all get the strength to pass this test called “life”.

Unusual Department events

Today at my college, I gave my name for participating in an event conducted by my department's club. So, it consisted of free BMI (Body Mass Index) check and free Zumba class. So, during the break I went to the O.A.T (i.e. open auditorium not oats which was near the college parking space). One lady from one corner gave a tiny slip which I had to take to another opposite corner to another lady who checked my weight and height. This filled tiny slip had to be given to another lady who were in another corner which was not adjacent to my surprise. They entered my data into the laptop and calculated my BMI value. It seems I have a Normal BMI. A simple Horizontal set up was what I expected. But it turned out to be a Bermuda triangle in order to find my BMI. They informed me the next part of the event which is Zumba session starts by 12:30 AM. I had 2 more hours till the session starts. 

So, I went to check on my best pal who was having a bakery stall with some group of people. We spoke about her journey towards Canada for her further studies. She leaves Chennai on May 25, 2016. It's a bit sad to know I may miss a person in the future with whom I had tremendous fun for the past three years at the college. Then we spoke about couple of baking stuff. Then, some friends came who started wearing make-up and taking selfies. It became 12:05 AM like a flash of lightning. Talking to a friend does make the time goes faster. I dragged the selfie queens along with me because I like company and I don't want to end up for a new session alone. 

I discovered the Zumba instructors were my own department juniors. Well, the Irony of the situation got personified. So, we all assembled into rows and columns. And the girl/instructor showed the moves twice and asked us to observe carefully. Another girl played the song for Zumba and we started doing the chaotic version by imitating the instructor’s dance/aerobics moves. We jumped, clapped, squatted, waved, bend, twist, moved in all ways which was similar to a clothes getting washed in a washing machine. 

The odd thing was I enjoyed it even though it was done among a group of people around me. I sweated faster than an Ice cream during summer. Then we did some relaxation exercise for which they played "love me like you do" song by "Ellie Goulding" which was pretty much distracting than tranquil. Many of us were lip syncing to the song than calming ourselves during this particular exercise. Well, I could feel small aches from my bones but still the session was worth it. I had fun. 

But Aftermath of the session was not fun. I had long walk towards the bus stop and i was too tired to step any further. But I still waited for the bus. The bus arrived late, I took it and reached home. Then I found my long time no see friend whom I always miss so much - my bed. I rested my back and felt instant euphoria. There is something magical about getting a good, cosy rest after an intense workout. 

Flood Life!

December 2015 began with hopes and dreams. But for Chennai it began with floods and streams. There is a saying "Little drops of water make the mighty ocean" I admire philosophy but no offense I get annoyed if it is too confusing. Yet the literal depiction of that saying became reality. Little drops of rain became floods which drowned prominent regions of Tamil Nadu. Seeing floods and experiencing floods are completely divergent. And I can say I have been both the spectator and the victim of the floods. 

From my previous post - “Rains of Chennai lead to my boredom” can show my perspective about floods as a spectator. This post is about my experience with floods as a victim. 

Dec 1, 2015: It was a usual day with my routine work. There was unusual pattern of continuous rainfall. Thoughts about Christmas time, end of the year, start of New Year, etc were captivating my mind. Until, the nuisance began at the night. Sudden flow of water from the drains entered the floors of my home. The water was clear and less but constant. So, I, my mom and my brother tried to sweep off the water. I felt like being heroic even though the herculean task was to just sweep off the water from the floors. As the level of water was not increasing and the flow of water was not halting. We got tired of putting anymore effort left in our body tissues. So, we all went to sleep. The good cosy feeling of sleeping after being tired; surrounded by the fluffy pillows, soft & warm fabric of the bed sheets and the last but not the least the bed that’s been supportive more than anyone in my life is something I won’t trade for anything. 

Dec 2, 2015: Once in a blue moon, I get deep sleep and I am an avid dreamer. Anyways, Instead of waking up to bright amber sunlight, I woke up to wet floors, smell of fungus/whatever similar to swamp atmosphere, darkness (no electricity), and expecting an apocalypse. The level of water increased and slightly having brownish tinge. I went to the sink and brushed my teeth. Then, I and my brother opened the door to see the situation outside the house, but suddenly water gushed inside the house we got startled and pushed the door harder to lock it up. We felt like feeling trapped on all sides but thank god the level of water was 2 feet which was okay for walking yet increasing at rapid rate. We started brainstorming immediately to safeguard the stuff to be packed in bags and kept on the top of shelves as high as possible. We dragged all the important certificates, some money, my laptop, chargers, phones, snack packets, water bottle, blankets,etc packed into a luggage and we kept as many remaining stuff on the top of the shelves and got out of the house. At first we waited for my dad to arrive from his shop to give keys for his office which is above the house at first floor. We poor souls were too afraid and stunned by the raising levels of water and stayed on the steps which lead to the door of the tenant’s place. The tenants came and they offered us to stay at their place. I was too suspicious and hesitant to enter but I had to obey my mom who gave me this ferociously frustrated anger stare on me till I enter. So I entered to see the view of darkness, secluded, dirt-filled and other obscure oddities of the tenant’s place. My instincts were alarming not to go inside any further but I had no other choice. Until, my dad arrived and asked us to come inside the office. I was gleaming with joy to get out of the tenant’s place and to stay at my dad’s office. We ate snacks for while, saw the water level rising, saw neighbor's houses getting sunk, saw a rat at a neighbor’s wall patiently and safely waiting for the water to reduce, saw people roaming in the flooded pathways, and the skies got dark. We took some photos and videos, spoke jokes, and got drowsy. There were sounds of helicopters roaming on the skies and rescue boats roamed on the pathways. We ate our dinner which was 4 biscuits, some puffed rice, salted peanuts and sip of water. And slept in chairs, which were icy cold like the weather outside. 

Dec 3, 2015: The dawn was cloudy. Everything was stinking, the place, the stuff, the surroundings, and us. The view bored my eyes. The birds were flying on the sky and I wished why I didn’t have wings to escape from fate’s catastrophes. The ambiance of the place was strangely calm, sad, and cold. Everyone wished the water level reduces. By afternoon it got reduced; we entered the house to analyze the state of the house. The furniture were tumbled and jumbled on the floor which looked like a perplexing maze. The electronics which we forgot to keep in safe place because of being in a panic and hurry to escape from floods were all drenched. It was shocking to see that all the vital stuff bought with hard earned money is gone. Seeing the books, clothes, food and other objects collected for the past 20 years dripping with water, glued with slime and coated with mud; even though I am not a bookworm or materialistic person still it felt so heart-wrenching to see them in that condition. The level of water was imprinted on the walls which showed that water came up to 5 feet. There were dead insects, lizards and a rat on the leftover water at the rear end of the house. The doors and windows were soaked which fell off when touched. The floor wet and filled with mud, filth and cooking oil that got spilled from the kitchen due to flooding of water. It was very uneasy and too slippery to walk on the floor. Also it was a risk to walk because the glass on the cupboards were broken into pieces on the floor. The thought of where to start cleaning and dumping trash was haunting the brains. When cleaning was initiated someone in the roads started telling that the Chembarambakkam dam got broken and run for your life. And here we were again feared what to do? Is it true? Etc. Then the police announced in loudspeakers that it was a rumor. On top of helping why would certain people create rumors to add more misery to us? The need and importance of a candle and matchbox is known when there is no electricity and no torches. Mom got calls from grandma and her sisters. I was bit jealous and sad that no one cared to call me to enquire whether I was dead or alive. Then the electricity came, but there was no phone signal and Wi-fi working. We cleaned the guest room near the porch and slept there. 

Dec 4, 2015: I woke up with body aches and stink. Even though electricity came only the fans and lights worked. I and my brother had to bring buckets of water from the hand pump to the house which is not an easy task. Cleaning the aftermath of a flood is difficult. The mud gets stuck if it dries or gets stagnated persistently if it is wet. The walls get covered by patches of microbes, fungus and florae. The heavy furniture has to be hauled outside in order to clean properly. The stuff that cannot be useful anymore has to be thrown away even though they have a lot of sentimental value. And occasional bruising, bleeding, slipping, and getting hurt both physically and emotionally occurs. Life feels worthless and trashy. Then, the Wi-fi worked. I started checking mails and other apps. In the messages few of my friends texted whether i was fine or not and some even said they will help if I require any help. These words were enough to restore my belief in life. And because of this I guess I am not psychotic yet. Someone delivered lemon rice to everyone which was delicious. And some gave biscuits, matchbox, candle, water bottles, milk powder and foods which was the reason for my survival. Thanks to those people who were determined to help the flood affected people. Belief in humanity got restored.

Dec 5 & 6 - 2015: I was too tired to do anything. I browsed internet for a while, mom started slandering about me for being lazy and useless. Then, I segregated another pile of drenched stuff to keep and stuff to be fare welled. And proceeded to cleaning which was by now became a routine. The electrician came and dried the electronics with a hair dryer and to my surprise they worked. 

Dec 7, 2015: The same usual clean and dump activity happened the whole day. Bathing after a long time is like glimpse of heaven.  I saw a frog being with me near the bed at night without croaking and leaping. We had a stare contest, truth was I was petrified to hell don’t know what the frog was thinking and stared at me. I don’t remember what happened next I was tired and slept. 

Dec 8, 2015: Today, I am alive and blogging about my Experience with floods as a victim. And also got the strength to recall what happened few days back. Still the cleaning and segregation work is pending but the stink has reduced. Being flooded is not fun but it teaches a lot of life lessons. 

Some of the flood pics:

The flooded porch at my house

Bridge near Kasi theatre which is submerged 

Prepped Life boats to the rescue!

That's me.. Does selfie and floods means floofie?

Nearby area

The view i got when i woke on Dec 3, 2015