“Da come, lets go for a drive,have a tea” I told my friend..he looked at me, bemused.
That
was a night before exam. The days commencing one week before exam and
through the exam was meant for enjoying. I have seen my friends starting
new hobbies and passionately doing it..people, whom I thought were
immune to computer games playing counter strike, reading newspaper
everyday that too religiously.But all these things were confined to
above mentioned period and after that everything relapse.
And
that was a such day……exhausted of running for securing Photostat of my
classmates notes,famously known as E-notes,who eagerly jots down each
and every word coming out of profesers mouth, I decided to go for a
tea…I picked my ”passions” key and headed to friend’s room.
As I opened the room, he was staring
to some slide..poor guy dint know what to do with the illimitable
number of slides that he has got..it seemed to me that his head is
overheated like an automobile engine which ran out of coolant…I wanted
to help him out, but being in mediocrity,as always ,I coudnt..only thing
that I could do is take him away from laptop…so I made him an offer..
“Da lets go for a ride…come lets chill out then you can carry on with your study”…
He was a good friend of mine who was a partner of my every escapade, politely rejected my offer..!!
Just
500 meters from our hostal is located Mini canteen famously known as
MC…MC under the proprietorship of jayan chettan offered “Quality “food
till 2:00 am…they provided a black coloured liquid that they called as
black tea …tired of that “wholesome” food, the people who were
privileged with a bike , took a circuitous route, travelling kilometres
to CMC circle .
CMC
circle,an area inundated by "chai wallas" and their costumers after
10.00 PM. "Chetta kadunu varu oru chaya kudikku",the chai wallas calling
out for people to their kiosk,offering them an extra item along with
the chai so that people come to their shop.At a corner,Isolated from
this hustle and bustle stood gopalettans chaya kada,bearing a name board
“Chintha tea stall”.
I
slowly moved into gopaletan’s chaya kada(tea stall).Gopalan,famous as
gopalettan was the oldest citizen in medical college premise. An
yesteryear active comrade, who was party`s stalwart in this region
retired from active politics, coz of his health costraints. A maverick,
gopalettan stood for the people,sometimes even resenting with party’s
policies..”party alla janangal annu mukhyam”(Prime importance to people
than to party)..is gopalettan used to say when asked about this..he
loved people,he loved party he lived it.
I entered to the shop, took a newspaper and sat on a bench beside.(He is also selling party paper).
As I glanced through, my eyes riveted on a news .….Like other papers it wasn’t a top story for gopalettan’s newspaper..
“Mamata cracks red bastion”…I read the news loud..gopalettan glanced over his shoulder
With a quiet disgust and disdain ….he then turned towards me …muttering something he turned back again and resumed his work.. …
Gopaletta one tea ……
He knows my taste well … I was a regular visitor for past two and a half year..
He bought a strong tea, a special chai for me in a glass tumbler and told “ inna kudikku”.
He sat beside me and started speaking…
“Mone”
(for gopalettan who was unmarried everyone in my age range was like a
son so he always affectionately acknowledged me as Mone or son, moreover
me and gopaletan had built a good personal rapport by the time as we
had something in common)
He continued …
“Left
gained incumbency in 1977,defeating INC,ruled there for 3 decades .They
lost their focus…they took some steps which seemed unconventional and
against their idealouge. A maverick lady comes to picture capitalize the
situation.”
He
moved from the bench towards the hearth and continued ….”.this happens
to most people in their life. Why going to others lets take your example
you have got exam tomorrow and instead of preparing for exam you are
sitting here sipping tea and reading newspaper…people fails when they
loss focus or takes thigs as granted and situation worsens when a women
enters..”
His
statements made me contemplative… I immediately left the shop, asking
him to keep an account as I usually do.I reached back hostel by 2:00,by
the time entire hostel has slumbered. I took E-notes glanced through it..the notes were so strong that a glance of it made me drowsy…
Next morning, I was fortunate enough to be roused up by a friend ,managed to reach examination hall in time…and rest is history…
Gopalettan was a true visionary…the results told me…!!