Memory Down the lane..24 & counting.. Conclusion

One would never to want to end such sweet memories.. But things have come to an end so that we can sit back and relax and refresh our glorious past. Sometimes we need to come to present as well. Living in present and maximize the enjoyment and pleasure in present is also equally important. Past memories drive and encourage us to live in the present.

It gives me an immense satisfaction, when I look back those wonderful moments and equally happy to have placed it on record. One may wonder why this all of a sudden… generally it happens in a Silver jubilee or Golden jubilee year.

Though, I thought of all these aspects but I followed it strictly as per Kabir Das’ famous couplet, which goes to say

“Kaal Kare So Aaj Kar, Aaj Kare So Ab

Pal Mein Pralaya Hoyegi, Bahuri Karoge Kub”

Which can be translated as follows

[Tomorrow's work do today, today's work now

if the moment is lost, the work be done how]

When I was portraying each individual, I was living with them literally, delving on those beautiful past. It was an experience in itself and cannot be described in words. It was a journey, a penance….

Though, I have written about only 15 stars, there are many unsung heroes who have associated with me in all these 24 years. “Chubby” Deepak who taught how to speak Hindi (though I know to read and write), “Charming” Shailender, my stiff competitor ( I enjoyed the challenge, though I lost it), “Big eyed” Ram Bahadur Tiwari, “Pleasant” Joymalya Sengupta, “Racer” Jose Noel, “Blue blood” Giridhar, “Smart” Banerjee, The only “Singh is King” Ballu alias Balwinder Singh Saini, “Gentleman turned Officer” Vinod Nair are still refreshingly associated in memories. I dedicate to all stars, including whose names have not come in this series

On this day, 24 years before, we started our first training session at 3 AM…..

Meet you guys after some time, on a different note, but at the same place…. Till then keep “jogging” your memories. I end my series on this note and with even a greater resolution that we keep our flag flying high…

The End

Memory down the lane...24 & counting...Star 15

Seshadri V

He is a very sincere, honest, upright, principled, logical, thoughtful, caring and charming personality. We became friends to each other in no time. Only in magnetism the rule of like poles repel and unlike poles attract would apply. In our case, it is like “Like poles attract”. So much so that he entrusted me with handling his expenses from the first month along with B Kannan. He was one the “three musketeers” as we were known then among our circle. Why he or Kannan trusted me at that point of time is what I am wondering even now, when I look back those days.

Those days were beautiful days, where he used to take care of us by going and fetching things for eating whatever may be the crowd.. When we all did the (in)famous crawling on a Sunday for no fault of ours, and shed our muddy banians drenched with sweat on the way like Salman does these days, here was a guy who stood up and asked bravely about his fault.. He was my partner in those days for maintaining the entertainment room. There was no time for people to spend in the indoors, yet we both had a wonderful time.

Though he was posted in Tezpur when I was in Guwahati, I had two wonderful opportunities to visit him. All I have to do is to inform that I am coming. My (his) bed will be ready with all the facilities on offer. He would go and sleep wherever he found one. He has also come to Guwahati once. I must mention his keen interest in Photography. This I understand he has picked it up when he was in Kanpur with One Mr. Anbarasan. Though his stay at Kanpur was a short lived one before conversion, his interest has pushed him to learn the tricks of the trade faster. As the days progressed photography as his hobby also grew with him.

When he came to Guwahati, we took him to Balaji Temple. He took a snap of us, framed it in a bigger size and later sent it as a gift to us. Even today, it is there in our drawing room reminding us the greener pastures. Sesha also came to Mohali with Mala to spend a day on their return from Himachal after attending a marriage. This was a Tamil New Year day. We spent real quality time with them showing Rock Garden, Rose garden and Sukhna lake.

The family acquaintances with his mother, brother were also nice. Incidentally his brother Krishnan is a product of PSG Tech and was doing his BE when I was doing my Diploma. I met him again on 14 Jun 2009 and 22 May 2010 and revived those memories to a larger extent.

To be CONCLUDED IN NEXT....

Memory down the lane...24 & counting...Star 14

Gururajan

What can you say about this person? He is a stand - up comedian affectionately known as “Kaal Paatu” and “Ganmani” (for the famous song of “oorai therijukitten ulagam purinjukitten Kanmani”) and this sobriquet he earned on Day one. Can you imagine a person who becomes famous among 500 on day one? He is one such person. 

Though after initial days he was in a different branch, we never felt that we missed him. He used to come all the way from Shastri lines just to be with us from evening till night. This again was not for a day or two and spanned across entire training period. Such is the affinity that he has displayed towards his friends.

My memory goes back to Shillong, where I had an opportunity to stay with him for 4 days. I have gone specifically on leave to be with him and he showed me the paradise. A very jovial guy and you will never feel one moment boring when he is around..

A computer whiz kid these days, which many of us may not be aware and came to know of this talent, when we visited Pathankot on a holiday with family from Chandigarh. He is a father of two lovely and adorable daughters also visited us in Chandigarh on holidays with his family and as you can presume that we had a gala time. Vishnu became very close to Guru just to learn the computer games and some related programs. See his address goes like this Karunkaradu roadu, Vaaikal medu, Erodu… Nice, rhyming and unforgettable one…..


To be continued....

Memory down the lane...24 & counting...Star 13

Thirumalai Selvam

He is a very studious, smart, bright chap. He was also the first one to finish his AMIE in our group, second being Kannan B and finally yours truly.  His grasp for the subject was amazing right from Jesudas (he was our tutor for AMIE during conversion) days. It was no surprise that when he came to conversion he has completed his Sec A.

Even in Service he was no less, earning himself a direct LAC. He is a true all rounder to the core. Though he was put up in Ashoka he participated in all the fanfare with us. His dimples are very famous, even today… I have been lucky to have him with me at Kanpur post conversion. More luckily we were in the same project at work as well. Right from going to section for work or to mess for lunch or dinner or out to Lal Bungalow or watching a movie or match it was always together with him and B Kannan.

Many of us do not know that he is fan of Nadhiya and Vijaykant!!! We (B Kannan & me) used to tease him whenever we happened to watch a Nadhiya movie. When I get an opportunity to watch any Nadhiya movie Selvam comes to my mind first.  He is an artist as well who did some beautiful sketches. When he was in Kanpur, he was God father to many of his billet mates.

I cannot forget to appreciate his beautiful handwriting with stylish strokes. He was so talented and since he finshed his AMIE faster than anyone else, he came out of service exactly after 8 years in Sep 1995. He earned two opportunities one in SAIL and other in DRDO at the same time and decided to go in SAIL. He is also one person who got married after leaving the service, which itself is a unique feature in his life. Though, I was very happy for him, but was also sad at the thought of losing his company.

We have been in touch through emails all those days whenever it was possible. After all these years, having him again amidst us on 14 Jun 2009 was fructifying. The icing on the cake happened on 22 May 2011 when he attended with his family. Last but not the least, we (Kumar & me) received an email from Mrs Selvam very recently in his absence and on his behalf. That showed the affection on all of us and I feel Selvam is the chief contributor who must have told all those beautiful memories to her, which would have prompted her to reply….

To be continued....

Memory down the lane...24 & counting...Star 12

Sriram

He is affectionately “Lambu” or “Perisu” to all of us. He is very meticulous, perfect, dignified personality. He is voluntary participant in all the activities that we all undertook. A very good leg spin bowler in our days. He is a very learned person during our days and he was one of the few graduates to have entered in service. Being from Coimbatore, we have always travelled together the way I have explained in Kannan’s portrait. His way of smashing the volleyball is one scene that I would go anywhere to watch him. Be it cricket or volleyball he did his best and has entertained all of us.

I remember that famous bunk out with him along with Kannan, Nithya, Anbu and Kumar (?) to have jumped the fence and went to Tirupati. Though we knew it was wrong in principle, yet we managed to stage that episode successfully. Walking all the way from Lower Tirupati by steps to have early morning darshan.. It seems it has happened today only.

He was only one guy from our group to have benefitted by the new promotion scheme and reaped its benefits. I was happy that we could see one among us go one step higher in service. Another interesting thing about Sriram is his dress sense. He would always go out immaculately dressed and for his tall built it suited him like a glove in hand.

To be Continued...

Memory down the lane.... 24 & counting...Star 11

Seshadri YK

He is “Kamal Hasan” of our group. One must watch him when we call him like that. His big eyes will gleam and a smart smile on his lips. He is a style icon in a way. Whatever he did was style. Being another local hero of our days, having him in our midst was always difficult, obviously because of local commitments.

Being in “Flight1” he had this privilege of running (should I say dashed down) to mess first and grab his grub quickly and go for rest before others could even attempt having food!!! Unfortunately, since he was not even located in our premises, we could not have much of him. We could imagine only his past things.

Then there was a rare occasion when he came to Chandigarh on official duty. I was supposed to go on leave but had been forced to cancel the leave on national emergency. Sesha(YK) came and met “magudi” Thomas on the way. When they talked for few minutes, Thomas had informed him that I am there. Immediately Sesha requested him to take him to my house at Mohali. I also reached home only then for lunch and I was not even aware of this. While I was having lunch (all alone as Vaishali and Vishnu went to Chennai), he turned up at my entrance. I was surprised and happy to see him. He had lunch with me, specifically the curd rice he liked it and commented “Dhadhiyonnam besha irukku”. Really he was hungry and I offered him to take him out for lunch, which he refused and said that whatever is available in home is sufficient. Such simplicity and openness was amazing to me…

To be Continued...

Memory down the lane.....24 & counting....Star 10

Nithyanandam

He is the fastest man on earth.. (Can I say this??). Whatever, he does he would do it quickly, be it taking a bath or eating a meal or finishing some work, ahead of all of us always. I would say when we get up for getting ready for training session; he would be already ready after his breakfast. A man of words and perfection personified.  He is almost aggressive, but for a good cause always. When he gives commitment,  he will not listen to himself later (Am I sounding like Salman Khan or Vijay??). He was our real hero much before all these filmy guys.

Though he was not there with me for a major portion of life, but God has given me the opportunity to spend some 2, 3 years of life together with him and in that more than a year in the same house with him. He was everything for me. I need to highlight here and show my gratitude to him. There is no other way, I will be able to do justice for what he had done to me.

My stay in own quarters has come to an end and I have already stayed in 2 houses for brief periods. Nithya was not willing to take over a quarter considering the last 18 months of service and his family has been positioned at Chennai, though he has registered for. When I was facing the difficulties of frequent shifting, I approached him once and asked him knowing fully that he was not willing. But what a surprise, he just taken over the quarter for me to stay and in that sense, he offered me a shelter. I was not allowed to enter the house to share the initial works and he flatly refused that I should not step in the house citing that my health would deteriorate if I am present during white washing of house. He did it everything on his own, including the additional wiring that the house required and asked us to move in almost after a week. It was like a furnished house made ready exclusively for us. Such was the care and attention that he took in doing everything.

Nithya’s wife with Avinash came from Chennai during vacation and she has fed us with so many delicacies. What a nice and tasty way she prepares food. During final days, when we finished all formalities like visiting Delhi for final clearance and job fair etc, time has come for packing things. I am a novice in doing such things and in every posting one or other had helped me in doing such things.

This time it is quite different. Nithya was scheduling my packing as to how to pack, when to pack etc. He did packing single handedly for me with very minimal support from me. One should have seen the packing to see how he has taken maximum care to ensure things go in proper condition. The things have been dispatched to Pune to my parents and since I was searching for the job, we decided not to open the packing.

Finally the packing was opened at Mumbai after almost 4 months from the date of packing and I was surprised to see that everything was intact. The truck people who came at Chandigarh for taking the consignment and the people at Pune who delivered it and again the TCI packers & movers who came to reload it at Pune and deliver it to Mumbai have been surprised at the professional packing!!. They could not believe it…. The times that we spent with him at Chandigarh will remain evergreen. The association with him at the very beginning and at the end of career was a sheer coincidence….

To be continued....

Memory down the lane....24 & counting....Star 9

Manikandan

He was an original local hero of our group in training days. Apart from the very initial period, he used to go and mingle with local friends in every available opportunity. He was one guy along with others like Anbu, Kumar who arranged money to go on our first posting for all the East gang. He is famous for his local chennai language and when he spoke that kind of language, I was amused to listen to him.

Because of his local commitments he was not taking interest in exams. But what I heard of him later in other units that without his technical advice, a servicing would not progress a inch further. Such was his domination, knowledge and technical expertise. Even before he could reach Chandigarh on his posting, his fame reached before.. 

There was lot of demand and pressure for him to secure in their respective areas. He came to Chandigarh at the twilight of our career and he had a plan for extension. Most of the days he was very busy in his works and very rarely we met. However, I could meet him on 14 Jun 2009. Thereafter, meeting him remained elusive.

To be continued...

Memory down the lane.... 24 & counting.... Star 8

Kannan S

He is another person who earned a sobriquet in few days of training. He was nick named as “Discharge” Kannan to avoid confusion among four Kannans. He was very soft initially, and always talked about how to go out of service during those training days. Though we were all like that, did not like the atmosphere, the food and the treatment meted out to us, he was relatively the much affected person.

Once the six months period was over, one could see the slow transformation in him. He joined Guru and both used to come and join us for play, party or for going out together. The moment he was posted to Dinjan (Even today, I do not know if this exists in map), he was again frustrated to find that no one was accompanying him. The east bound guys starting from NJP and Bongaigaon, started alighting from the train.

At Guwahati the remaining entire gang alighted from Train. Guru left for Shillong, Mani to Guwahati (local), Kumar to Kumbhigram. Anbu, me and S Kannan were for waiting for our trains. It was his train first. When me and Anbu went along with him to bid him farewell, he was emotional on two counts that he is leaving us behind and the other that he is going to a strange place. See how the time flies.

Exactly after one and half year when we met again in Jun 1990, I could not believe my eyes. What a phenomenal transformation. On Sep 23, 1990, we had a party and this guy danced like Michael Jackson and showed the world that he is not the same person.. he danced, swayed and sung all the way and obviously he was the master of our ceremony that day. I was very happy for him. He is another supreme athlete of our group, who excelled in every event along with Johny and Sreeprasad. 

He also visited us in Kanpur for three days. Even today, he is transforming himself as India trotter if not globe trotter and a very good organiser. He is the same person for you, 24 years back who felt bad about going to Dinjan and today he is scaling the country across its length and breadth….

To be continued....

Memory down the lane.... 24 & counting... Star 7

Johnson

He is another great sportsman of our batch who was unique who played hockey with certain deftness. He is a supreme athlete as well, who ran so many races to glory and jumped high tasting so many successes.  I had a privilege of watching him ‘live’ at Kanpur and I can say that it was a treat to watch him alongside Robert Selvaraj…

“Johny” is a jolly guy who never bothers about future and lives in the present and it is rare feature. He has visited us at Kanpur in Bengali Colony along with S Kannan and Sreeprasad. Being a sportsperson he was always competitive and had true sportsman spirit. He has a big heart too, to take up the failures in his strides.

He has practically solutions for every problems. A quick impulsive thinker and come up with some bright ideas. It was Johny who arranged a Tata Safari to go to Delhi for final clearance, when we were thinking and standing on the road at Tribune Chowk. His bargaining skills and amenable way of talking to anyone is so convincing.

He used to say this many times that life should be lived to the brim and never worry for anything. How true it is…When he is around, there is no dearth of fun.  The enthusiasm associated with him is infectious. He too like Inba joined me at Chandigarh.  We used to catch up in our work spots and did lot of things together. When I was with him the training days were back again. He was one person who had car at his disposal even during service..

To be continued...

Memory down the lane....24 & counting....Star 6

Jayakumar

He is another most respected person by everyone and only myself call him always in singular like “Vaa” or “Po”. He was there with me always throughout training. He was in my same flight, and the only tamil friend. Personally speaking, we had that unspoken bond which cannot possibly be described. He was there always for me and so do I.

We have spent every exam, every class and training together, even shared sleeping in class together!!!! (When he sleeps I will not and vice versa). The days spent with him at Gandhi and Shivaji – 6 are more memorable. A highly intellectual by nature and this aspect can only come if one moves with him very closely (because he is an introvert) and has definite opinions in every issue. We can always discuss with him on any topic and he used to respond in a logical way. He is a suave, soft spoken person and a no-nonsense guy who reads a lot of things. 

My association with him was short lived to the extent of Training centre till Jun 1991 and we never met each other after that till 2009. Almost after 18 years, when we met again at Chennai, we didn’t have words to share. How can you share all those 18 years in 8 hours?? However, we were very happy to be in each other’s company on that momentous day – 14 Jun 2009….. and thereafter the next year on 22 May 2010. Unfortunately, I could not meet him on 22 May 2011…  Men proposed, God Disposed….

To be Continued....

Memory down the lane....24 & counting.... Star 5

Arumugaswamy

A smallest person, who hails from my grandfather’s place, has earned the highest stature and respect from one and all. He is soft spoken with a great knowledge on plethora of things. He was never posted with me anywhere and whatever interaction that I had, was restricted to initial training days. He has been with us during studies of AMIE Sec A and had grasp of subject. But for his health during those days, he could have come out with flying colors.

We have discussed many things during training days and he has this uncanny sense of humour which always goes unnoticed. “Samy” as he is affectionately known has helped us immensely in the final days when he was posted in Delhi. We all had an opportunity to be with his family as well and had a great time. In fact this particular event everyone would have experienced, I believe, except for Thirumalai Selvam, B Kannan and V seshadri.

He is a banker by profession, who has helped me in getting my arrears by promptly providing the inputs, which in my opinion is a great help personally and cannot be explained in words. That was the time when my arrears were getting delayed though all got it much before and I was to repay some loans which I took it for upfront payment of my home.


To be continued....

Memory Down the lane....24 & counting... Star 4

Kumar

He is an ebullient, energetic, enthusiastic and an emotional person. He is unique in a way to our group that he was recruited from Delhi. I was under the impression for a few days that other than Tambaram batch, there will be no Tamilians in any batch.

When I met for the first time, he gave me Mysore pak, a favourite sweet of mine. When he came to know this, every day he called me to his room to have one at night. Though it used to be a prohibited hour of visit and supposedly a strict study hour (most people will be half asleep inside mosquito net before night roll call), out of extreme desire, I go to his room for having one, considering the risk is worth enough. His share of sweets was also given to me and he took pleasure in sharing those wonderful sweets with me.

Even this year in May 2011 when we visited his home he greeted me with Mysore pak thus completing a full circle. He is a very good writer, writes poems and stories at his will in a very short span of time. The creativity which lies beneath him is unparallel. Give him any topic, pat comes the poem or story. Really God send gift for him. He also used to write letters often in those days and make me feel that he is around me somewhere.

He was never posted with me anywhere and it was unfortunate in many ways, where I could not even meet him in the entire span of career. Only when I went to Delhi during final clearance, met him very briefly for about 10 minutes… That too he was busy leaving and was supposed to catch the train in a few hours and I enter the premises. Even then those 10 minutes was like heaven and we could share so much of news that was possible and promised to be in touch.

During Training days, he used to be captain of Volleyball team of our group for one side and opposite would be Anbu. The stiff competition that we all enjoyed every day and a talk about the match how it went lasted for the remaining portion of the day. Every exam used to be a fun time. He used to sleep and say everybody that he will get up later to study and ask one of us to wake him up during conversion. That “later” would not come at all. Yet he used to do well in exams. He is a very good organizer and a very responsible person in our group and works out the details to the minute.

Our hand written magazine “Hello” was edited by him along with Anbu and Sesha V. He is a fan of Pattukottai Prabhakar and Sujatha, and would finish their novels ahead of anything. He is affectionately called as “Thambhi” who is always meticulous in his approach.


To be continued....

Memory down the lane....24 & counting....Star 3

Anbuselvan

He is a simple and yet a powerful personality.  His sense of humour is unparallel laced with jokes. A teacher by heart and wants to change the world, spiced with anecdotes. He is a great teacher of Mathematics and had the privilege of being a student to him. He had burnt midnight oil for the sake of me and ensured that I cleared my Mathematics paper (AMIE). It was neither a one day affair nor a one off occasion, but a day in day out, of disciplined teaching for more than 3 months. I am indebted and will not be able to re-pay it forever.

A Man never shows his sorrow and has an amazing ability to cope with issues and pose a smiling face. His presence will be readily felt once he enters the scene. An absolute team man, who led his team along with him always and showed glimpses of his leadership. I was given an opportunity to assist as what you may call as a cashier or an accountant and I did this to the best of my ability and thoroughly enjoyed this stint. Of course this stint with him certainly had its own favours and fringe benefits!!!. For example, I can be with him always and go to any room during “study hours” and meet my friends. I was also given a portfolio of not so important entertainment in-charge of library and indoor games along with V Sesha and did not attend PT!!

He is affectionately known as “Silvan” or “Ambu” to many north Indian guys and we also called him like that. His skill in inter-personal relationship is another amazing thing and he always ensures that he is in touch with all. His letters were always an experience. In fact on one occasion he spoke and said that it would be nice to meet at Delhi in the pretext of job fair, which was a nice idea. Though we were not seriously looking up for job, we made it worthwhile to visit Delhi and met. When we were about to separate that evening, words were not spoken. Only eyes spoke and there were lot of questions…. Will we be ever to meet again? Will we be in touch again??. Though we both had no answers, we bade an emotional send off to each other. But rest is history that we met again that too every year. He is a master in the art of story narration and one can go miles to hear those witty stories. (Though of late, he is yet to keep abreast with technology..).

A keen learner, who was a novice in cricket once upon a time, started doing scoring the games for all of us and thus started learning the game. Today the interest and knowledge he possesses is phenomenal. Living in a town famous for its falls, though he has invited us to come, the time and opportunity has not come yet.


To be continued.....

Memory down the lane... 24 & counting... Star 2

Inbavanan

A great personality and cool like cucumber, hails from cool place. He is an affable person by nature. He is a jolly go guy, who takes everything in positive spirits and surges ahead.  He is a good competitor and unique sportsman in our group in the sense that he played basketball and was very good at it.  He represented highest form of the game right from initial training days, which was unheard of.

“Inba” as he is affectionately called by us had been allocated a different branch and he was in a different training mode. He happened to be posted to Chandigarh, where I had a very good opportunity to spend about 4, 5 years. I vividly remember, when I was at Mohali, he came for the first time with his family to our home informing that he is posted to Chandigarh… We have spent many family get together one on one every Sunday in the sense that we reciprocate our visits on alternate weeks. Later we had quarters just a stone’ throwaway. Thangavel used to be Vishnu’s playmate and on many occasions I bowled to them.

We have gone to many places together in and around Chandigarh and even many purchases have been together!!!. Not only at home, but in offices also we used to visit each other every day as my favorite canteen was at his place. His wife had fed me on many occasions and had never allowed me to cook when Vaishali was on vacation.

Above all, since we were in same place and eventually last posting before discharge all our final disposition of activities including pre-release course also took place together and this pre-release course period was the most enjoyable moment.

Another event, I would like to remember here is that we travelled together to Delhi for final clearance in a Tata Safari whole night and rested at his friend’s place. For all his talents, he got selected in a campus interview in a different trip to Delhi, (Probably the first to get selected!!!), where I accompanied him primarily to meet our friends.

To be continued.....

Memory down the lane...24 & counting.... Star 1

Kannan B

He is a smart, good looking, ever smiling, soft guy. I became friend even before training. I remember on 20 Sep 1987, when we all assembled for filling in forms during a break we happened to chat and it turned out to be that he was from 1986 batch (me - 1985 batch) from the same PSG Tech. Forget about service and these 24 years, we became very close the same day…. and it continues…

The training days, were very fond memories. We were not separated for a moment. We travelled together back to Coimbatore after 6 months of training, returned together for technical training and made it sure that we returned together during conversion as well. In fact we (B Kannan, Sriram & me) were the last set of people to arrive by Kovai Express. During first posting though we were separated we did ensure that we completed Sec A (AMIE) during conversion.

Luckily, we were posted together post conversion… We were put up in same room and stayed together and it was he who ensured this. How many mornings and evenings we might have studied together. There was a healthy competition among us and definitely no jealous attitude. One was always supportive to the other. He attended my marriage as well.

One particular incident which I would like to recall here is before Kannan’s marriage, which is etched permanently in my memory. Though I might have narrated to a few people, I would like to put it on record now. This will be there as long as I live.. We (Vaishali, me & Kannan) were travelling together from Kanpur to Coimbatore by Cochin – Gorakhpur Express. I was not keeping well though I was prepared to travel. I was suffering from Asthmatic attack during travel. Though I had taken tablets twice or thrice (I do not remember), the breathlessness associated with it did not subside. Seeing my condition, Vaishali was perplexed and she lent all moral support that she could, as she was also new to me (Yes.. this incident was within 3, 4 months of marriage). My Friend, My real hero swung into action as soon as the train reached Vijayawada.. Though the train did have a stop of 10, 15 minutes, he ran almost 10 platforms, went outside to a medical shop to fetch an inhaler. Imagine the rush during the time. (it was probably night and peak hour time).

The train was about to start and we were obviously worried that he has not reached. More than my suffering, I started worrying for him. The train was just chugging off slowly from the station and he hops into the train and gave my SOS (Save our Soul). After having two puffs of medicine, I became totally normal. GOD, Kannan was my savior who saved me literally from the crutches of pain and agony. He even did not think of the consequence if he would have missed the train. He proved the idiom to its worth that “A Friend in need is Friend indeed”.

Even our marriages were not widely dispersed. He married within 6 months of my marriage in Jan 1995, which we attended. He has ensured a couple room in a hotel for us in Pollachi. We invited Kannan and Hema in a traditional way at Kanpur. I had my maximum dinner almost every day at his place when Vaishali had gone to Kumbakonam for delivery. Hema and Kannan was my moral support during this longest separation… How am I going to repay them??

Even today, when I write this, those sweet memories are overwhelming. The moment he was posted out from Kanpur, I felt sky shattered on my head. I could not take this, though I know for sure that it was unavoidable. The tracks of life have changed and it was something like a derailment. We were in touch, but it was few and far in the later stages, obviously due to the distance, time, commitments. But then, we rejoined through technology post retirement and the bonding is up and running again all over…..

To be continued....

Memory Down the lane... 24 & counting....

A Real friend is one who walks IN when the rest of the world walks OUT

Don't walk in front of me , I may not follow
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead
Walk beside me and be my friend

A hug is worth a thousand words. A friend is worth more 

 A thought flashed across mind..... This is an attempt undertaken to showcase and portrait all my friends individually as I perceived and written all those fond memories associated with everyone as far as possible.

This attempt took a non-stop effort of 3 hours each day for 2 days. What better moment can it be apt than to present it to all of you in September? This week 24 years before, we were all filling out forms and enrolled ourselves.

The words are straight from heart and I thank Almighty for providing me such good friends in my life on behalf of HIM to represent.

The words may be less or more about anybody, but whatever it is, I value every one of you at par.

The beauty of this write up is that I did not think much as to what to write about each individual. It came like a flow, without any interruption, implying that you all have made such indelible impact on me..

When I finished this one, felt emotionally overwhelmed and certain lines made me shed happy tears…

Let us be like this for ever....


A series of blogs to follow on every individual......