Navarathri Hangover

Am getting lazier. Last Sunday I was supposed to meet my school friends to pay a visit to their k(g?)olus. But I happily dozed off and when I got up and checked the 16 missed calls in my mobile I realised it was almost 3hrs since our scheduled meeting time. Then a series of fone calls, conferences, apologies and explanations set things straight and we decided that we'll catch up on Tuesday at 3pm sharp.

We assembled at Miru's house at 2.45(yeah! I made it this time :)) and started our oorvalam. We made sure that we spent enough quality time in eligible bachelors' house. An observation - Indha kaalathu pasanga romba munneritaanga u c. A guy actually helped his mom in getting the vethalai paaku thattu ready. Future-ku nallaa train aagikkaraanga. I like it :) Kothu"kadalai " sundal, Shri chakra raaja simhaasaneshwari, Himagiri thanaye, MaaNikka veeNai yendhum, VaraveeNaa, vethalai, paaku, pazham, kutty gift etc etc were all regulars. Andha kaalathula sundal-a newspaper-la suthi kuduppaanga. Now it is replaced by a kutty plastic nair kadai tea cup. Rettai pinnal madichu kattiNdu 5th std padikkra poNNu kaila kunguma chimizh kuduthu kolu-kku azhaikkara pazhakkam innum maaRavey illa. It was really cute when this kid came and oppichufied "Aathula kolu vechrukkaa. Kandippaa vaango. Kungumam eduthukongo". Kaila neraya thookindu poga veNdaameyngra nalla eNNathula we emptied the sundal cups and vaazhaipazhams right away. This invited a few "IvvLo vayasaachu, indha poNgaL ellaam ippdi irukkey looks" from a group of maamis.

It was 6 and our merry-go-round came to an end. It was then that we decided we'll go to our Arts & Crafts teacher's house. Hers is the best kolu I'd ever seen. A perfect mixture of ethnic and modern bommais arranged in the right way in 7 padis. We went to her house but she wasn't there. Uncle(her husband) said "Konjam wait paNNungo. Pakkathula dhaan poyirukkaa idho vandhuduvaa" and he enquired where we are put up, where we work, etc etc. When it took time for ma'am to return, he brought sundal in cups and juice(Kissan Fruit kick I guess) and asked us to have it and said, she'll return by then. How sweet!! The kolu was damn simple and when we asked him about it he said "Illaye, eppavumey ivvLo dhaaney vekkradhu vazhakkam". We were stunned. At that moment something dawned on me and I asked "Idhu Arts and Crafts teacher Uma-voda veedu dhaney?" Wasn't that a million dollar question?? He said "Illai ma. Avaa kaali paNNiNdu 4 veedu thaLLi poyittaa. 5 or 6 months aachey". You should have seen the way we asadu vazhinjufied, uttered a 1000 Sorrys, got directions from him and hurried off. Hopefully his Mrs didn't shout at him for giving away the sundal and juice to a group of unknown girls :D

Uma Ma'am's house - Thank God! She greeted us at the entrance. The kolu was grand as usual. We arattai adichufied, sang, laughed and lived those old school days. When we were about to leave, this beautiful girl and her younger brother (6 and 3 year old neighbours it seems) came in. After the routine inviations and stuff we asked her to sing a swamy paatu. She instantaneously agreed and muzhu moocha sang "Kumbida pona dheivam kuRukka vandhadhammaa" unmindful of our giggles and her bro's question "KuRukka ponaa vaNdi idichudaadhaa dee??" (The days' kids!! They think so much) Dheivam is swamy was the explanation she gave us :) The brother fella said "Naanum paaduven. Enakku ajajam-la irundhu paatu ellam theriyum. Aunty enakku Vinodh aNNaavoda 3 chakkara cycle kudunga" (Ajajam = Advertisement) Uma Ma'am was generous and gave her son's cycle and we were curious as to what song from which ad hez gonna sing. He started riding the 3 wheeler and guess what he sang....

Yeh kya hua....kaise hua....kyun hua...kab hua...jab hua...tab hua....choro ye na socho....MY MAN

he shouted in his mazhalai voice

Gosh! Look at the impact of ads...Hmmm ulagam romba fast-a developing eh??
At 7:15 I was back at home. Few more friends came home and it was all fun. I just enjoyed the evening like anything. One of the best after a looong time :D