My person-al GPS

Some recent happenings in my life revoked these memories. Funny how things always seem easier and amusing (just a blog-post or a dinner table anecdote) once we are out of the situation. But when we are bang in the middle of a sticky situation, life is bleak with a blank future! OK I know I exaggerate :-P

This incident took place when I was in school. High school - Std 8 probably. We had one of those Second-term, Third-term exams - regular stuff going on. My brother and I used to go to school by auto-rickshaw. On that day, I don't remember the reason, but there were rumors of a Bandh (strike/protest). There were speculations that schools might be closed. Since there was nothing concrete reported in the daily newspaper or by the Local news channels, we were packed off to school. It was the last exam and there was already a post-exam plan in place. On the way to school, at a petrol-bunk, we were told that schools are closed. We were at that moment right outside the school gate. My friends and I had decided that even if the exam is postponed, we would meet in one of the houses and have a ball. So I instructed my brother to inform my mother, jumped out of the auto and ran towards the school gate without a second thought. (My friend S stayed within the school premises). Soon enough, our other friend U also joined us. S's parents were off to work and her younger brother Sr was at home. It struck me then that I could've dragged my brother along too. The more the merrier. Nevertheless, the 4 of us had a classic time - Running up and down her terrace, playing board games, gossiping and laughing over the silliest of things. Literally not a care in the world !

We had lunch and spent sometime idle. Towards afternoon, other kids in the colony were playing cricket and we enthusiastically joined in. Sr brought out his bat and although the three of us (the girls) didn't know to play real cricket, we were inducted in the team. We were a huge gang and of course, playing our own versions of cricket. One of them was both a left and right handed bats-woman decided in a split second according to the approaching ball. No Wide calls here , you see !! ;-) When I was 'batting', the unexpected happened. I swear this is not a made up story to attract your smiles. I lifted the bat and attempted some sort of an impromptu shot wherein the ball flew high , right above my head ( Sort of like how Shahid Afridi plays usually ) ... but wait a minute, only the handle of the bat was in my hand! The rest of the bat was also flying in the air; Half of the fielders had their eyes transfixed on the ball and were positioning themselves to take a catch while the other half was avoiding the flying bat !! :-) I was amazed at my physical prowess when Sr revealed that the bat had had a crack earlier. After this, everyone who used that bat made it a point to hit shots only so that both bat and ball would be air bound. It was comical I tell you. You had to see us to believe it.

Just like all good things come to an end, even this happy day was fast approaching its end. Little did I know that my mom was frantic with worry. My brother (the messenger) had relayed a garbled version of my instructions and she was expecting me home right after lunch. My friend didn't have a phone & so my mom couldn't reach me. So what does my mother do? She calls up school, finds out my friend's address from the school office and lands up at her doorstep with my brother in tow. This is no joke !!! Obviously she was no angel then, she looked like she would gobble me up alive in one shot. My friends didn't want to face her wrath and disappeared inside the house. I went home morose and downcast with my mom yelling all the way. Unpleasant !

Mothers. I have used so many Re.1 coins calling her from all the local booths in town ! So much so that my friends nicknamed my mom as my personal GPS. I'd feel a void too if I didn't get her customary " Hello C, enge irrukke, ( where are you? ), eppo varuve ( when'll you be home ? ) " !! But I was (still am) a mean kid. I'd be highly irritated ( in the middle of a useless movie or sitting in my office bus gossiping or merely for the heck of it ) and give her these curt answers. Anyway, moms being moms never give up. What do you know , I might've inherited her very genes. I already do the same to people whom I am close to. I pity my kid !! Although I have vowed never to land up at their friends` doorsteps. Not a chance.