Manimekhala, Srilankan UK citizen, Indian at Heart

Manimekhla

Different people make memories for you in their own ways. However some have their unique ways to stay in a corner of your heart. Manimekhla stays in my memories even after 23 years.

A tall fair lady with a nice athletic build said, "Hello I am Manimekhla. You can call me Mani." I smiled and said, "Wow I will call you Money and extend an invite to you to come at stay at my place forever!!!!" I liked her that moment when she laughed heartily and said, "You made my day. Thank you dear. But I come like a family pack." Both of us knew then and there that we are friends. She and I spend so many shopping days together. As I was not familiar with areas or places where we could get Indian specific food like wheat flour etc. Mani was a blessing as she knew almost perfect as to what my needs would be and the nearest place to reach to get that.

She wanted me to find out about her friend from her medical college in Kerala. However could not give me his details to find. It was so evident that she missed India where she took medical education. She missed Srilanka and her family there. I learnt how the smile with so many things inside you from this dear friend of mine. I thank god every day to send such wonderful humans as my 

People who call me talkative must meet her as she would never stop at all. I enjoyed her stories and she loved my choosy ways of enjoying. Crazy ways sometimes. I went to see Scotland and Yorkshire with her family. It was clear that she and I were laughing crazy when we were together. Her son who was 8 kept on asking "What's so funny?" as though we had lost it. We did not care and ignored that. The cheese factories we visited each one, is still in my memory. 

The Yorkshire traditional dance we saw and super delighted I just was following 1 guy returning home requesting him to teach me a step or two. Both of us tried doing that and the angry faces of her husband and son did not bother us. Now when I think about all those days, I would say sorry to Siva her husband and her son for bugging them to this extend. Mani cooked Asian style and her husband and son were both born in England. So had no inclination towards her food. Although I have seen many British loving Asian food.

Mani is not the complaining types, I could read her loneliness in her eyes. I hope that was only my thinking and pray that she along with her family will be extremely happy in Hertfordshire.

Small adventure

Hey there,

Sorry for not being there for a loooong time, of course had not forgotten but you know now i will sound more positive in my everything. Yes it is career. I will not tell what when and how as it will be seen when it really happens like i had thought. But for now I am changing gears fast. Aah that reminds me, another exciting thing is after say 8 long years was on the driver's seat on the express high way!!! I know you and all my other friends will say expressway does not need skilled driving. But atleast begin with... Also wanted to share the thrill of a drive with you.

 Meenal (friend) had a bike which she could not drive and was with someone else for 2 years. She sold it and till that time I wanted to ride it. I went to Pimple Gurav at 7after office, started for return journey at 8. The bike does not start. Try try try happens till next half an hour...by everyone who asks if he can help. Then she starts, i go to petrol pump, the keys for the tank bent inside while trying to open. No fuel ,cannot go. Now at 8.45 pm i cannot leave the bike n go and cannot ride it without petrol.The pump guy gives me the twisted key. parked the vehicle and got back the shape with a stone banging effect. Yeppeeei !!!! Started at 9, Now comes the best part I don't know the road. Then call meenal again and again, and to allow the bike to stop ignition, drive alone on the highway at 10. All dark around... then sound of the wind on my ears and the tension that no one at my home knows about my adventure.

It was a risk no doubt but i enjoyed it. When i parked the bike in my parking, it felt wonderful. yes i got scoldings yes i will not repeat such things.......hmmm can't say. coz it was really fun. Bye for now!

P.K Sreeja.... innocence personified

My school has given me lots of things. Out of all my friends, Sreeja in my memory was a sweet girl with a broad smile on her face. Extremely sincere expressions and hard working nature. She was never punished ( she was not like me). During the short break girls, (who have done that will remember and laugh) took her to some corner and ask what was in her lunch box. During the long break the breaking news of appam or some coconut rice, etc would be in everybody's mind and then they started calling her to eat with them.

                  Her face, I remember would be like "Oh my God! how will i say no to anybody?" Girls would be having a nice fight on this topic and Sreeja would be standing in a corner in despair. Then came the fighter(me.. common obvious..he he) and took her to the tree on the play ground and we had our respective food there. This was possible because i did not like rice, sweet and non-veg. So her tiffin was secure.She does not know even today that i was not the 'Masiha' saving her. She thinks I was really great to save her tiffin everyday.

Love you Sreeja where ever you are. Missing you.

Madhumitha George

Hey again!
Here I am with a sweet memory of another friend of mine. Madhu is an extremely lovable and spontaneous gem of a person. We met at an MBA entrance exam preparation class. She and her boyfriend Domnic were centre of attention in the class as they entered holding each other's hand in a royal manner. That's how Madhu was. True to every feeling emotion all the time. We were at Mohini's house to study and her cat scratched my face a little. Madhu scratched the cat really!!! Domnic was a hunk and whenever she felt any girl is watching him she kissed him then and there, in front of the girl and everybody. People thought she is doing all this to grab attention, but she hardly cared for any attention, from others. Professor was explaining a sum and then asked to solve an example on the board. She solved it and said " correct na sweety.." 
               That had almost become the tag line then. It feels like she is always there around as the spontaneity and truth. Where r u Madhu? Please contact if you read this. Miss you.

Ranjita I am proud of you

All of us always called her an 'Injection of Positivity'. She proved her title true every time. The most mischievous face of our class, (Interior designing course)  she was the one, who was caught hold by our professors. And innocent face me , myself used to be the culprit for any of the mischief that took place. One of them, Design professor had a problem with round beds. I had submitted my project with 7 sheets, including an isometric view, done till 3 am. He picked up my submission and tore all of them!!!!!!  “Round Beds they are not practically possible. “ he said. He had given time to the others who had not completed the submission. Now I got an order to do that again. I escaped saying, “Sir, I am doing a part time job and have my first site visit today.” Got a permission immediately. Rakesh from our batch had come late and i met him in the parking. We went to a coin box outside and called Mr. Kulkarni. He had a private practise as well. So we had an imaginary 3 bedroom flat, and a budget of 6 lakhs for its interior design. We decided for the flat to be in the outskirts about 25 kms  away and a meeting spot, a fake vehicle number and time was 8 PM. Next day he was bursting and said “ I know who has done this.’  And as he came near, slowly, my breath was like about to stop. Ranjita standing next to me was told to write a sorry note. She did that. Rakesh and I felt bad when we stepped out, she was jumping and congratulating us.” You scoundrels! How did you manage that?”

                “Ranju your sorry note will be sent to your parents by mail.” I said. She cheered me up            ” College has my official address in Pune where I am the only receiver of all letters. So mom will never know...” Flunking in your exams, getting a scolding, not having money for something, not be able to go to some place... anything she could make us positive about it.She is an absolute painter, and was teaching children in CASP (organization working for aids affected children), when she was. 

Now she has broken her backbone after an accident. She stays in Australia with her hubby. She has a permission to get out of the bed for only 4 hours a day. Out of that she spends 1 hour with a pet home with curly her favourite cat and takes care of more monetarily. “So what, I will love the young ones of these left animals. They need me as much as I need them.”  Ranjita I am proud of you.