Nishanth S Coontoor
When I decided to make the annual pilgrimage to the streets of Malleshwaram and Basavangudi to eat masala dosas at CTR and Vidyarthi Bhavan, I realized that, for the first time since my flight to the USA in 2011, this trip back to the city was not an “escape” from a pressing issue. No grad school pressures. No summer internship searches. No on campus job postings to track. No EAD card follow ups. No full-time job search or changes. No winter blues to recover from.
With nothing to stress about, I recall getting off the flight, getting into the car and honking my way home.
Vacation began with the mysterious turning off the ceiling fan at 8.30 am. A newly formed sweat drop now rolled its way down my forehead. I suspect the maid turned off the ceiling fan to sweep the floor. And of course, she did not turn it back on. I stared at the fan and the open door with my left eye, taking care not to wake up the moody other. I was waiting for a kind passerby who could turn on the fan.
No one came visiting.
One layer of the bedsheet came off. Then the second. A distant “soppu,” woke me up.
‘CET results expected today. Counseling to follow,’ announced the daily newspaper.
“Where is the watch I asked you to buy from Walmart?” asked an excited mother, holding a belan. “It’s for Suresh’s son. His CET rank is 432.”
I reached toward the phone to check the date. “Where is today’s newspaper?”
*
‘Studies and extracurricular activities are this topper’s secret.’
‘My son will take up engineering, says a proud father.’
‘She walked 5 km to school every day.’
The usual post results news articles.
I flipped a few more pages landing on the comics section. Garfield, my old friend, still had swag. I then did a quick read on what the stars had in store for me in the horoscope section. Finished my tea. Folded the paper.
CET reminded me of my pending trip to BMS College. I needed to pick up the 8th semester marks card.
“Lift beka?” (Need a Lift?) asked a familiar motorist as I rushed to catch bus 60A to Ramakrishna Ashram stop. “Illa bus pass ide.” (I have a bus pass)
After picking up the marks cards, I had a long chat with a friend. We met up at the same adda on campus where he had taught me unit 7 from Advanced Thermodynamics course 20 mins before the exam. That lesson got me a passing 35 mark.
The rest of the week was uneventful as well. It involved gym in the evenings. More honking in and around Bangalore. Some street food. Excessive Facebook updates. F.R.I.E.N.D.S marathon at 2 pm on Saturday.
Sundays were however reserved for Maya Sarabhai.
As I sat to watch the ‘Popat kaka’ episode of the show, already humming to the tune of ‘Guzar gaye Popat Kaka…’ it struck me that there were now new episodes online. Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Take 2.
The first video began.
Wait, where is the intro song?
I paused the video. Opened up youtube in a separate tab. Played the intro song.
There was balance in the world again.
Back to the new video.
The house looks different, doesn’t it?
It’s okay, nothing to panic. There is a new version of the Mona Lisa painting. But there is the painting nevertheless.
The old house did not have pink birds for showpieces.
It’s okay Nishanth, let it go. LET. IT. GO. Madhufufa is still the same. There comes another ‘hain?’
And then walked in Maya. Ah, Maya Sarabhai.
Wait, what’s happened to your hair?
Is that grey hair?
“This is not Maya. She looks different,” I complained, turning to my sister.
“The Maya you have in your head is from 2006. Its 2017,” she laughed.
CET results and related news articles – 60A – bus pass and swalpa adjust maadi – BMS College – F.R.I.E.N.D.S – Sarabhai – honking – puliogare point hotel was my routine in 2011.
Between chasing and waiting for things to fall in place since 2011, nothing had changed except, wait, everything had.
That familiar face who asked me if I needed a lift was the kid who was in class 6 the last time I remember seeing him. He was Suresh uncle’s son.
When I entered BMS College, I was asked for an ID. (Wait, what is an ID again?) And did I make a security book entry to enter my college?
And the conversation with my friend who taught me thermodynamics may have started off with it but ended with hair care solutions to prevent hair loss.
The Facebook posts I liked were no longer of friends getting engaged. They were pushing out babies.
When did everything change?
When did everyone grow up?
Glossary:
Malleshwaram and Basavanagudi: Localities in Bangalore, India
Masala Dosa: an Indian snack.
CTR, Vidyarthi Bhavan and Puliogare Point: Hotels in Bangalore, India.
Soppu: Leafy vegetables. Sellers on a cart walk through streets loudly calling out the vegetable names to announce their presence to potential buyers.
CET: Abbreviation for Common Entrance Test. A mandatory entrance exam to get admission into engineering or medical colleges.
Belan: Rolling pin used to make Indian flat bread.
Adda: Hangout place
Hain?: Eh?
Maya, Madhufufa: Characters on Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, a show.
Swalpa Adjust Maadi: Adjust a little.