The Revenge

My eyes were drooping, it was 9 PM and after a heavy dinner, I was ready to recline and get my Good Night's sleep. My husband was lying beside lazily watching some show on Youtube. When suddenly, with raging anger, he sat up.

I asked him "What Happened", without a word he stormed out of the room, and was back, his hands clutching a fearsome weapon. And that was when I saw them. The enemy was there; at the far end, and  along with him, his friends.

My brain screamed " Who let them in?" "How did they come in?" My husband clutched the weapon. A Bat, it sparked out the fury. I screamed, "They are here"

My husband came over, holding on to the bat high above his head, eyes fixed on the opponent jumped up, and ran forward in fury. I sat there and just watched, My mind was screaming out "Help him",  "Help him", but my body was too weak to get up. I just sat there.

And then it all happened in slow motion. The Bat was sparking out fury. Brandishing the weapon above his head, brought it down at full swing, and then he made the contact, Our enemy fell down limp, My husband's eye lit up with the victory. I went over and saw , the enemy just lay there.

The war was not done just yet, they were more. My husband went forward with double the fury, and swung the weapon to and fro, up and down.

I could not take it anymore. I screamed "STOP" "STOP".  All of a sudden, I felt sleepy. In all weariness, I wanted to sleep. My husband sat down, heaving from the whole ordeal. I took the weapon from his hand and said "Sleep", we can see what we have to do tomorrow.

The next day we got up , all bleary eyed. The friends had taken their revenge. We were mosquito bitten  all over. The fearsome battle that was pursued last night  had just felled one of them in all. The whole swarm was left unscathed by the "fierce" electric mosquito swatter.

It was my turn, I was ready with the 'HIT' spray; This will get the bloodsuckers for sure.

My I POD

Jan 22, 2.30 PM.

Cramped up in the huddle room, for the daily never ending project discussions, I was exhausted. I needed to work. Just me and my Laptop!!!. But those discussions never seemed to end. At 2.30PM, everyone had gone for break and my phone rang.

Dec 22,  6.30AM ( Exact a month earlier)

With a hustle and bustle in the single bedroom apartment that we were staying  temporarily at Sierra Ranch, Phoenix, Arizona, we were getting ready. Alwin and Dheera had come to the US for Christmas 2012, and I had planned a few trips. It was Grand Canyon and Sedona  that day. I had booked a trip in SouthWest tours. They were supposed to come and pick us up at the apartment at 6.30 AM. and we were getting ready,

Rick came on time  and we got into the van and started a great family trip to Grand Canyon. First time ever, in eight years of our life together. 

That's Rick and Alwin posing against the mighty Sedona rock formations. Rick almost knew everything about the place and about the native Indians there. 

A family picture @ Sedona

  It was Dheera's first trip,a long awaited trip to the US, and she was immensely happy. Still suffering from jetlag, she slept through the whole drive and just got up at the pit stops for breakfast,  lunch, for photography and to play in Snow.

Dheera and Alwin and..... my i pod

It was snowing in Flagstaff.

Dheera was clicking pictures with my ipod while Alwin was trying out  his new Nikon camera.

We had a great time but for just the small accident Dheera had. She became sick of the long ride and puked. 

We @ the Grand Canyon

It felt great to be together as a family again. We spent time taking silly pictues as this one. Awed by the grandeur of God's creation, returned home tired and just wanted to hit the sack, and little did we know that Dheera had dropped the i-pod somewhere.

Later, much later on the next day did we realized that I no more had an i- pod.We had lost it. I was a bit sad, The i-pod was indeed my companion during the days of loneliness.

It was lost and there was no use thinking about it. I suck it up, and planned to get an I phone. But that would happen only after I earn some more.

Dheera had taken lot of pictures of me and Alwin together, and was hoping just if I could get the pictures back. Of course, it was wishful thinking. There was no way I would get it back. Just to try, I called SouthWest tours and told that I had lost my i-pod and if they found it in one of thier vans, they cound it to let me know. The lady over the phone promised me that she would. And I never heard from them until........

Jan 22, 2.30 PM.

Laura  from South West tours called me up and said, " I believe you have lost your i-pod in our van. We found it. Would you like to have it back, we could come and drop it at your place if you want." My heart leaped with joy. I could get my snaps back. Nobody ever takes the snap of me and Alwin together. Only Dheera does that. And true to their word,They came and gave it to me at my place. After one complete month after I lost it, it was back in my hands. I held it with joy, while thanking Laura and SouthWest Tours Arizona.

Fifteen Minutes

One of those miles that I have ever traveled till now brought me to Phoenix, Arizona in the year 2012. I was aghast when the flight landed. If India was near by I would have taken to run and would  never, ever, glanced  behind. The whole city was made of a dry reddish brown compared to the green and colorful New Jersey. 

Maybe this is a huge mistake, my Pilot had landed the plane in some desert in the Middle East. But there it was, the name "Phoenix, Arizona" written all around.  Normally my travels are full of nasty surprises, but this one was totally uneventful. It scared me. I was in Phoenix after all.

I had some time of adjustment as I had stepped into a new project, and had to do my due diligence,so until the formalities were over I could chill out and enjoy flexible hours of work. 

One of those days I returned home at 1.00 PM. It was hot and I was at the bus stop waiting for the bus to take me home. The temperature was around 102°F, hotter than Chennai, I hated Chennai for its 81°F, and I am just not able to state my love for Phoenix. 

Well, I was at the bus stop exact at 1.25 PM and checked the bus schedule, I smiled, "On Time!, will be at home in another 5 minutes", I checked my watch again: 1.30, "Its getting hotter, hope the bus comes soon," 1.35 PM, "Has the bus left?  Maybe it was earlier than I thought." Now It was a BIG "OH NO!!!"

Retracing a few hours back, when I told my friend that I would be leaving early, he had cautioned, "Be careful while you are alone OK" And now it was reverberating in my ears when I eyed the deserted streets. I checked the bus schedule again, the next bus was at 2.03 PM which meant, another half an hour more in the hot sun, "OMPHHHH" What a life???

I thought for a moment, and then I did it, I started walking towards my home, and two minutes passed by and so did the bus that I was waiting for. It was a small, frustrated and a tired "Oh No!!!"  And now I really  had to take the walk, I sighed, I proceeded. 

It was just a 15 minute walk to home, but a tiresome one, with an uncomfortable high heeled pumps and a hot merciless sun  slowing me down. 

Now safe at home, I am glad I took the walk, those 15 minutes was a learning curve.

"What ever you crave becomes precious to your heart, In that 15 minutes, water and getting into my home was becoming precious to me. The life that we lead is almost like a desert walk where people crave for things, fame, money, and push forward to earn the same". What are you holding dear and precious to your heart today? Is it worthy enough for the efforts been taken. Only if I had waited for 2 more minutes, I would have have reclined with my favorite coffee, rather than water. And the expense of my efforts too would have been lesser.

I remembered the people of Israel, As history says, they had walked through the desert for 40 years to reach Israel from Egypt while the distance was only a 240 miles. I asked God, "If Israel was so very dear to your heart why did you make them suffer so much", I got the answer, "If you had waited patiently in faith for another 2 minutes you would have reached home in FIVE minutes rather than the tiresome 15 minutes in the hot sun." Are we waiting patiently in faith for the Lord to act?

I smiled. I loved the walk Me and my God. I trudged back and saw the apartment from far off, I sped up and reached home a bit wiser,  and here is my post on that. 

 

Hoping my next post would be sooner. 

 

Signing off Now,

Prix.(My daughter calls me that now)

Journey to the LoneStar State - Part 1

The name Texas derives from a Caddo Indian word,"thecas"  that means "friends" or "allies," which was incorporated into the state motto: Friendship. The Spanish spelled the word tejas or texas and used it to describe the area where this Native American tribe lived.

As I pen down this post, I recall those humble days when I used to go and attend trainings hoping and praying that I would get a job which would make me feel purposeful and important. I look back and realize, It is indeed  a wonderful journey.

One such journey, On the birth on the third month of 2012, gave both of us the opportunity of travelling again to the United States of America, Alwin got to visit this beautiful place, Texas. I had to go to the same New Jersey for which I was happy too. Both of us got to stay in the US at the same time. Even though, we were at different states, for me it was the most craziest and the most impossible dream come true.

Easter was fast approaching, and I had made up my mind that I would travel to Austin, Texas to meet Alwin and we celebrate Easter together. I was so exited.

I booked my air tickets for the 5th of April, My itenary was Newark to Dallas Fortworth, and Dallas Fortworth to Austin. I got permission from my Manager and was all set to make the trip.

It was 3rd of April and just two more days to go. It was around 1.30PM tuesday April 2012, I went to the dining room to fetch myself some water. Coffee Tastes horrible here, if fact, it tastes fish. The FOX News was getting telecasted on TV, I glanced at the famous attractive FOX news TV host -  Megyn Kelly reporting  the tornado at "Dallas Fortworth". I stood still with all my energy drained from my whole being. I had had my share of disappointments in life, bigger ones, but none had such an effect on me. Pictures of the destuction that has been caused by the tornado was being flashed

 If someone could take a photograph of my emotions, then it would be like this :

With a very heavy heart, a hopeful me lived past 3rd hoping the dreadful tornado would go away leaving me in peace, and I would be ok to travel to Austin on the 5th of April without any hassels. I think, I get unlucky whenever I plan for any travel, sort of a jinx or something.  All my travels are accomplied with confusion.and chaos. I wonder why?

4th April 2012: 7.30 PM, I was getting ready packing up my stuff for the three day trip to Austin, Then I check my flight status on the internet, It said "CANCELLED"

I think I forgot to breathe for the next few seconds. It was then I lost my cool.

For my readers;

Life's journey teaches so many things, As I am penning down this post, I realize this is one of those lessons. "Never do stuff when you lose it."

I went out of control called the agent and cancelled the flight ticket. I was angry, at everything, at everyone.

Just the thought of being at home for three days on a lovely long weekend tortured me.  

I went to office with  a mood as black as night. The damage was done. My fate seemed  sealed. I had to spend Good Friday and Easter of 2012 at Ravens Crest Plainsboro.

I just went into American Airlines website to see if any changes had been done to the status of the flight for which I had a "Cancelled" ticket. The flight was still "Cancelled". But still something in me did not want to let go. 

I took up the phone and dialled AA customer care. After a long two hour wait, I was answered by the sweetest lady in the whole world. Read On :) , I'll let you know why I call her that.

I explained my situation, and asked if she could do something about it. She said, that the best she could do for me is process the refund as my travel agent had not processed the refund.  I was drained. But, fine atleast I am not losing any money.

Just then a thought occoured to me, What if I could go the next day? I asked her the same. She said that there were no seats available till Saturday afternoon 7 April 2012. which meant, instead of staying for three days at home, I would have to stay only one day. Which was a BIG "OK" by me. I asked her to rebook the flight on Saturday afternoon, and she did the same. The flight to Austin in American Airlines @2.00 PM  of 7th April 2012 was mine.

I was going to texas, and this time I am not going to make mistakes, come tornado, come storm, come hail, come anything.

7.30AM, 7th April 2012, I got ready to go to the airport. The sun was smilin' down as I headed for the Airport.

Noah's Ark

 

11-11-11:11-11

Never before I felt hungry, So hungry that I just could not eat anything that was kept before me. This was me feeling on 11-11-11:11-11(November 11 2011 @ 11-11 PM) What Happened!!! Here is the story......

I was so stressed out for quite some time that I wanted to freak out. Not a usual movie goer, but as a chennaite, I was not left with any other choice. Going to movies is the only recreation around here. So today after last year's AVATAR @ Satyam Cinemas, we decided to go to PVR to watch some movie, but this time we did it with a difference.

Well, its just that we saw two movies back to back. Movies were not that great but, just to make it a day, we decided to do it so.

So there we were in the early hours of dawn of 11-11-11 we booked the tickets for "7 அம் அறிவு" and "The adventures of Tintin" and to make things more interesting, I had the beautiful thought of having dinner outside. A nice huge dinner buffet!!!

The plan was plotted, it was perfect, We start by 2.30 and make it to Tintin, then watch "7 அம் அறிவு" and then have dinner (Buffet was my idea and it was just an idea not put out in words), and then get a barbie for Dheera and return home. I had to give her a gift and I had not yet made the purchase.

As preparation for the buffet, which was cookin in my mental realm. I had kept my breakfast to a mere minimum of a dosa and milkmaid, skipped a  biriyani for lunch and, so that the buffet dinner would be easier to handle.

It was 3.00 and still Alwin had not come, I was not actually keen on the movie but had "GREAT EXPECTATIONS"  for buffet dinner, I was  keeping the cool even if he was late to pick me , withstanding the  longest route  he was taking  in spite of arriving late, and  holding on even when we were almost missed out half of the movie being forty five minutes late

At the entry of the theater room, we realize we did not have the tickets.So we were late, we did not have tickets. Wow so Uneventful. We somehow managed an entry, and  groped about in the dark for our seat, and finally heaved a sigh of relief after getting seated comfortably in our seats. But anyway, I kept telling myself, the best is yet to come. "Our Dinner buffet"

 

I was so much preparing for the dinner, that I even shunned the pop corns in the movie complex. Just wanted to keep my stomach empty that I could enjoy the buffet. But never was this idea put into Alwin's head. That was exactly what I missed in the course of my preparation. Later, regretfully much later I understood, that the idea of dinner itself had not crept up in his mind. 

Both movies were over, we had a nice time. and we were getting back home. It was a late drive and the restaurants in the cinema complex were closing down. Feeling disheartened that I would not be having a buffet, since it was already late,  I just wanted to eat something, hoping something nice during closing would do. 

We left the complex hurriedly planning to pick up something on the way, as I had to visit office and then get back home. So we planned on a dinner at Sangeetha near office. By the time we returned from  office Sangeetha was closed. 

I suggested Radisson, My hopeful heart flickered,  at least we could have an exotic dinner,  if it  not a Buffet, but  the flickering died  when Alwin drove past the restaurant for a much humbler place "Balaji Bhavan". I knew, I should have had those pop corns, my biriyani, coffee, I should have had  everything I had wanted to the whole day. I knew, we were going to go home without having any food. It was late almost midnight, and Balaji Bhavan would be closed by the time we reach.  And here am I  regretting that I had gone hungry the whole day just for some dinner buffet which never happened.

Just as I had thought, It was completely dark and all the hotels were closed. I was seething inside. I was hungry, 

 So hungry and disheartened  returned home as an angry bird. . This was me on  11-11-11:11-11(November 11 2011 @ 11-11 PM)

The Weekend