Hidden skill

Cartooning has been my favourite hobby from childhood days. My dad was associated with Stationery and Artist's materials business and used to bring home lots of brushes and different kinds of pencils. I always had a curiosity on using them. Once he gave me few of them and asked to draw. He was very impressed and encouraged. The sad part is he did not live long to encourage me. He had brought home sketches of him drawn by famous artists like Latha ( who used to draw for historical stories in leading Tamil magazine) and Raakee who used to draw cartoons for Thuqlaq cover in those days. I was impressed by it and started showing interest on them. I admired many cartoonists work and if I had to mention Mathan was my favourite. Few friends jointly were involved in making a manuscript magazine in younger days. I was given opportunity to draw cartoons in that magazine. That was a field which I was keen but never had an opportunity to develop further. Once I started blogging, I was inspired a lot by Arvindh's drawings. Due to that I bought few sketch pencils and decided to scribble a few while travelling.

If the above picture resembles George Michael then, I need to agree yes I tried drawing him. If you do not feel so, forget it. It was just a practise after many years. The drawings below are some people whom I came across while travelling. You cannot draw everyone especially cartoons. There are few who will be having certain features which you portrait easily. These two gentlemen are someone who travelled in my compartment and I drew without their knowledge. Glad that I have found a way to spend my time while travelling.

Thank you Arvind! I also need to thank Narayanan Venkitu a fellow blogger and childhood friend who has been encouraging me to sketch. We need motivation at all stages isn't it?

Probably based on your comments I shall produce more for you!

Telling Lies - No Papa

It had been quite hectic. During my train journeys I have started meeting nice people. For the last few weekends London was very busy. A week before while returning to London, a huge crowd was rushing to Wembley park to watch a friendly football match between England and Brazil. Last Sunday while I was returning from London, there was a huge crowd rushing to the same venue but for a concert by George Michael. I found few law breaking women smoking in the Tube stations. These kind of little things do upset me. Smoking is going to be banned in England from July 1st. It has been already done in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

I was wondering at certain qualities of human being during my journeys. However we all tend to forget the one which we do have – telling lies. I do not believe that there will be someone in this world who had not told a lie in their life. From childhood we are taught not to lie, both at home and at school. I keep telling the same to my kids. It really hurts when we hear someone telling a lie. The kids get confused when parents tell them not to lie, and when they lie. The kids get it indirectly into their mind that they can tell lies.

I think every human being would have told a lie, at some stage. But some keep telling lies as a habit and mess up many things in their life. I read somewhere that you do not need a great memory power to speak truth always. But if you are a liar, you need to have a good memory.

Sometimes it is embarrassing to hear lies, when you know the truth. I think fear is the root cause of lie. Fear of losing something, committing mistake, status, image, prestige, ego, pride, losing money, wealth, leads to telling a lie. The technology today is against those who tell a lie. We cannot tell lie while chatting and with the webcam. For example, few years before a colleague came to visit me. He got a call from another colleague of us. While answering the phone he told in a cool manner that he was shopping. I asked him why he answered so. He said that he may mistake him for being in my house. I could not understand it. I was also working along with them. Within minutes the guy who was on the phone visited my house and the one who told a lie was trapped. You can imagine his face.

I think even today, people are telling lies to get their children married. I knew someone who got married recently. Within few days after his marriage he has found that the girl had some serious sickness which was blatantly hidden. On questioning, the parents and relatives are now coming with the truth. They never bothered to understand how much it would have hurt the boy and his family. It looks like they thought a marriage will solve her health mysteries. The girl is innocent and could not even realise what is happening to her. The boy is now finding legal remedies.

Some tell lies, for simple things. I like to be plain in many cases. In my younger days, when I did not have money for Petrol, and cycle to work, people used to ask me whether the motorcycle had gone for service. On telling the truth, that I did not have money for the Petrol they laughed and said “ Sir... Romba Tamash..pa...”. (meaning he is a very funny man).

Recently we were discussing about finances. I told one of my friends that I am not having that much of money to buy a house. A couple who were present could not believe this and thought it was a lie. I told them that it is the truth. At the same time, requested me not to reveal the actual cost price of their house to others. They even told me that they had not told their parents and relatives about their recent purchase of a property in England. The reason given was that it will cause problem. I could not understand but was wondering why they should tell a lie about it.

In this country, the Government grants benefit for those who are single and separated. Few parents who come to pick up their kids in my daughter’s school, suggested my wife to declare that she is living alone and claim benefit. My wife was very upset and we discussed the cheap mentality of such people. Again, when it is real, and when we do such claims genuinely, we are being scrutinised to such a great extent, we really get irritated to claim such reliefs. But the system does allow for those liars to go free.

I still remember those times in India, when local government staff visited home to supply ration card and wanted to know the income. Most of the house hold commodities are supplied according to the income. But when I declared the true income, which was on the higher group, they wanted to assure whether it was true, since I may not get any benefits. We could only laugh on that day.

My mom often used to say “Poi sonnal Bhojanam Kidaikathu” (meaning if you tell lies you will not get food) and I used to reply “Bhojanathukey Poi solrangaley ma”. (Just for the food people are telling lies mom).

I remember a lady near my house that fooled everyone by telling she was a bank employee. Later one day we found that she was doing a job of cleaning the telephones at offices, since she visited my friend’s office too. We never understood why she had to lie about her job.

Certain lies go without reason. We never know why it was told. But it hurts when we know the truth. Many of those, whom I have come across, have told that they have told a lie, and it hurts them as well for being a liar, since their partner believes them. Some feel guilty. In that case, why should we lie?

I love children because they are innocent and always tend to speak the truth. Once when my son was a kid, he screamed from the bath, that there was a bird in the toilet. None of us showed interest due to the morning tension. He kept screaming and my wife rushed hurriedly and called me too. There was a bird trapped in the toilet flush. We could not believe it. Luckily we saved and took outside the house and let him fly. The bird’s entry into the shower room is a mystery till today. But we realised how true the kids are!

Once I met a kid in a friend’s house and felt that he should eat well since he had not grown for his age. He got the doubt in his mind and said “Uncle, do you think I am not grown up for my age. It is because of this...” and removed his shirt to show the operation scare across his chest. He continued “ I had a heart surgery... since my heart was small I did not grow. Now the heart has been repaired, I will grow..”. I could not control my emotions.

Kids are so true and innocent. Probably that is the reason they are being told as early as when they are in nursery “Telling lies, no Papa”. Let us be like kids in being true.

My train journeys

Train journeys have always fascinated me from childhood. I liked the concept of sitting in one place comfortably and going around beautiful scenic places. I have always enjoyed my train journeys during my childhood days in India. My first long train journey as far as I could remember was a trip to Pune from Madras by Dadar Express. One of my ‘Periappa’ lived in Korattur. If we had to travel from Tambaram to Korattur we had to necessarily cross the train links at Park Station and walk towards Central station. Those were the days when the Zoo was close to Madras Central station. There was another landmark called ‘Moore Market’. You can get any old stuff, and good old books in Moore Market. Then walking to Central and while waiting for local trains to Korattur, my sisters and myself used to keep looking at the long distance trains waiting to leave Madras Central. Just on seeing the different colour trains and their Engines we used to get excited.

I used to look around. I always wondered why some of them were in tears when the trains moved. We never knew the emotions. We as kids were thinking that people should be happy to travel by trains, rather than crying. Slowly we realised that it was due to separation and the thought of missing the dear and near ones. Our first journey to Poona was exciting. We had food for two days and I was keeping on asking my mom, when she will open the Tamarind Rice box. My sister said that the Tomato Thokku was so good and she tasted it when my mom was cooking. We were quarrelling for the corner seat and reached into an agreement to share the seat in turn. The first long distance journey was excellent. After 17 days stay in Poona with my Uncle’s family, we went to Secunderabad. It was another great experience. After another 3 or 4 weeks we returned back to Madras. By now we had become experienced of long journeys. After that, it became a routine for me to travel far distances by train. But till date, I have been enjoying those journeys. I like to travel sitting in a corner seat, and enjoy seeing the country side. It is wonderful when it rains. Now, I laugh to myself when I travel during the weekends.

It is becoming a great experience. I work at Wolverhampton and travel from London Euston on Sunday nights, to return back the next Friday night. Sometimes I come across some people who really enjoy their trip. On few Fridays, I had to get early and leave to Manchester from Wolverhampton, in the morning, attend meetings and then return back from Manchester back to London. Just thinking of it could be a nightmare, but since I enjoy it, I do not worry about it.

Out of my experiences of this kind of weekend travelling for the past four months, I have come across young Indian software professionals during these trips. It looks like they are here through their Indian companies for few months. While talking to one of them who were on a short trip from Pune, on a casual chat I found my ex-colleague was his Project Manager. He was excited about it. I told him to convey my regards to her. He was glad that he found a new reason to increase his rapport with his PM.

During another trip, there was this Indian couple with their kid wandering for a seat. I offered them a seat. The gentleman came and sat next to me. I tried to talk to him, but he was a bit reserved. His wife was often looking at him from her seat. His son was naughty and wanted to come to us. Within few minutes his kid got attracted to me, and believe me or not for the next 2 hours, me and the little one were so engrossed in talking until we reached Manchester. The parents had a sigh of relief and the gentleman went and sat along with his wife. He never bothered to have a look at his kid. But the lady was often peeping and laughing and admiring at the way we both were getting along. The kid of less than 5 years old was adorable. I spoke to him in Hindi, since he could not speak English, and we both enjoyed our trip. He was a cute little boy.

Once I hurriedly rushed into the compartment to see four seats (2 on each side with a table in the front) was occupied by an English lady, and an Asian lady sitting opposite side. The English lady was busy taking her make up set from her bag kept on the other seat next to her. The Asian lady had kept her bag on the seat next to her. When I asked whether she could give me the seat, she immediately said that someone was about to come. Hoping that somebody would have gone to the toilet, I went and sat in another seat. The train left. But to my surprise nobody turned up. The English lady was still busy with her make up, and applying creams over her body, and changing herself presentable. The Asian lady was keeping on looking through the window. When the train reached next station, another Asian lady rushed in straight to this seat and occupied the seat. It seems like this one reserved a seat for her friend who gets in at the next station. Both of them seem to be born and brought up in this country, though of Indian Origin. I thought of teaching them manners. But realised it will be a waste of time. Will they ever learn? At least she could have been polite, and explained me the reason for keeping her bag. I prefer a seat with table because, I can scribble or be busy doing Sudoku which helps me to spend my time.

This week there was a huge crowd getting in one of the station. One English lady was struggling with her baggage and there was crowd both the sides waiting for her to give way. She was getting tensed that she could not find a space for her luggage. I got up from my seat on realising that she was my daughter’s teacher, who had taught her a year before. She was excited and I helped her in settling down. She went thanking and shouting in the train “You are a star”. Sometimes you meet people whom you know.

In Madras, just before when train reaches Central, it will slow down from Basin Bridge. In the same way, just before the train reaches London, there is a junction called Watford. I pack up my baggage and get ready and go near the door. In India, we can open the door, but here the doors will open only after the train stops. During our childhood days, I used to have a bet with my sisters about the destination platform. I do it every week here with some unknown passengers waiting near the doors. I had been successful till last week continuously for the past 14 weeks until last week. Last week I failed in my bet and the platform arrived on the opposite side.

As I was rushing out in the crowd, I heard a voice saying "Oru nimisham iru seriya ketkalai.." I stopped walking and looked around. There was a young Tamil couple talking over mobile phone and I smiled at them and walked towards my local train station.

There are no vendors shouting and selling fruits or peanuts. There are no beggars in the junctions. It is calm and there is frequent announcement about the way the train is progressing. If there is even a minute delay it is being announced. Last but previous week it was announced “We apologise for the delay. We have not received any information for the cause of delay and we shall let you know before you reach London”. After few minutes there was another announcement. We were almost reaching London and the announcement was “Kind attention please. We will be calling at London Euston shortly. We apologise for the delay. We are yet to get the reason for delay. We are not sure whether we will know the reason, since the train has already approached the platform. We wish you all safe journey home”.

Every week I get down from the Train happily looking forward for my next week’s train journey.

After all I travel by “Virgin”.