Women

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When I put myself somewhere in the middle of that long queue, the prospect of pocketing a ticket for the Aleppy-Chennai express was certainly there, but never a thing as big as Sita. By seeing the words 'big' and 'thing' one may slightly err by musing or rather imagining about a sex bomb as imposing as a Monicca Bellucci or a Mount Everest. I can tell you with all confidence that you got it all wrong. Well Sita it is and a gorgeous woman she is, but men and women being heterosexual in nature I would be doing injustice to the creator if I rate such a wonderful human being within the limits of two words with less range. I am writing further more about a very special charm that cast a spell over me for some amount of the recent timings of my life , and gladly too .In September 2006 I went to Chennai to attend a training programme that was conducted under the auspices of the British Council. Personally, the event was not something I really looked forward to. Since I had given up all plans of continuing as a full time English trainer, majority of my interests revolved around meeting my friend Emil who is quite an artist, seeing around the romantic Madras Christian College campus and to do a bit of shopping for my mother. Plus, one is getting a golden chance to move around the hustle and bustle of the chennai street sides. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the trip had more on offer for me.

I spent the first day of my tour within the confines of the four walls of my friend's apartment since I felt like being roasted alive by the wicked sun. The hot and humid Chennai began eating down my body. It was too much for me that I gave up all my plans for the first day and preferred to stay indoor .The next day Emil assisted me to the venue 'Residency Towers', a three star hotel that was popular among the Chennai folks .It was quarter past ten by the time I pushed aside the busy city traffic, fifteen minutes after the scheduled time. I have to admit that I was a bit embarrassed when I peeped or rather barged into the conference room and enquired "training programme..? British council?" The trainer who was an Australian welcomed me in after confirming my identity. I found two seats vacant at the extreme end of the hall. One felt relieved since I don’t have to encounter any 'mistress' like glares from my colleagues. Even though I wish to address them as colleagues, at least thirty years separated me from them and one can imagine the fears of a prospective 'generation gap' or in other words a 'generation shock' that I felt creeping inside me. Those quizzing glares and the hush sounds had already conveyed me the message that at 22, I look very young to be a trainer.

I don’t know how many of them noticed the sullen expression of my face, but I continued to tell myself that it was not my kind of place .As far as that illustrious group of trainers were concerned, the only disturbance of the morning was my intrusion which was an eventful one owing to the manner in which I did it .Unfortunately for them and fortunately for me there was one more which decided upon the spirit of my soul for the next couple of days. There was a knock on the door and in came a girl who looked even younger than me (to my relief) and I guess, to the disgust of the masters and mistresses. I noticed a familiar and understandable uneasiness on her face as well as she walked towards our table .She didn’t introduce herself to the larger audience , but preferred to do the same to us four who were at the last table .As it turned out the activity oriented programme was one with a difference . Normally , one doesn’t expect a session full of 'fun n frolic' for a group whose average age was ,lets say 50 .This coupled with the presence of a new acquaintance who sat to my right side transformed an otherwise 'nightmare' into a pleasant dream . As time passed by we became good companions and there was hardly a time when I felt bored. There was nothing that missed our attention when we engaged ourselves in a series of discussions. During the lunch time , the frequent refreshment breaks and what more sometimes even while the session was progressing there was no famine for new and newer topics .From IELTS to life in Australia (where she was born and brought up), from cuisines that are typical of Chennai to the Marina beach to Johnny Depp's latest box office hit we chatted about almost everything .First of all she had an amusing tale to tell me - that was about herself .Ever since she finished her higher secondary education which she did in Melbourne , she was working as an instructor of English in a private firm .The people over there who got impressed by her flair for the language and aptitude for teaching gave her the dream job of her life - teaching .She, who started working at the age of nineteen proudly says that this was a profession that gave her high levels of satisfaction which is something very rare nowadays and the same something which we all crave for while building up our careers .

Besides all the things that made her a truly special person she had that charm that made heads turn every time she aired an opinion or two .Her colourful 'kasavu' sarees which you will see in and around the Indian subcontinent and her unique complexion suggested she's a typical Tamil Brahmin .Its no shame when one admires beauty in all its splendour. Be it a red rose or a chubby little child or the snow-capped Alps or the charming facial features of a Brahmin girl, my eyes never let beauty fade away from my view .If " a thing of beauty is a joy for ever “, I certainly don’t regret calling her the same in the beginning of my article .If you are anticipating the sequences of this unfolding tale, you may be predicting that I might have gone ahead and proposed to the young girl. No I didn’t. No rush of blood would make me do it which I consider a silly example. I prefer the sheer joy of having her as a very special girlfriend to doing crazy acts.

When I made my comeback journey I didn’t have a reserved seat. I and my artist friend had to share the footboard of our compartment. When I finished telling him about Sita, my prankster friend asked me “Come on boy; don’t tell me that you simply missed it! Did you try your luck on it? I had no other choice but to tell him “no, friend".

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