School...

It's been a while (not just since my last post)!

25 years, actually...


Only the other day, RV (short for R Venkatraghavan) reached out to members of the facebook group titled PSBB (Class of) 1990:

"Did you all realise this is the 25th year since we left PSBB? In recent years I have heard from PSBB alumni (current PSBB parents) of other batches that they organised their 20th or 25th reunion at PSBB. Maybe we should plan on a reunion at PSBB sometime around Mar-June 2015?
RV"

However, Hamsini (elder twin of Harshini, both daughters of my mom's younger sister), had reached out to me even earlier, albeit on a different note:

"One small request., whenever you find time, can you please write about how much chennai and Psbb mean to you? I've always wanted to read your version about them..."

Needless to say Hamsini and Harshini both go to PSBB! So did their brother Harissh. My son went there too and would have stayed if I hadn't moved to the US, but we'll save that story.

What I will tell, as we sit here on the cusp of a New Year, one that will mark the Silver Jubilee of my graduation from PSBB, is the one story that has stayed and comes first to my mind when I think of what PSBB means to me...


I love the school's Anniversary Program! A 3-day event that happens sometime Jul/Aug, it's the quintessential showcase of the not just the students' talent, but the ability of the teachers, the support staff, the management and the parents to all come together and deliver an event of great, grand scale...

The theme for the program is chosen months in advance and right from the time school opens for a new academic year in early June, staff coordinators are allocated for specific routines, students (spanning 3 branches and all grade levels) are chosen for the various parts to be played and rehearsals are held after school hours every single day leading up to the event...

Every single parent gets a printed invitation with the details of the program, children are brought in early to school on the days of the event for make up and other preparation and then bussed to the venue, which is usually one of the large prestigious auditoriums in the city...

Every routine includes elaborate sets and the right elements of music, lighting, props, computer graphics and even special effects. Students, teachers, parents and even celebrities make up the audience. A show grander than this is legion only in the world of Indian Cinema...


Even though I had the fortune of enjoying this event for 14 years in a row, plus one (when I went back as an alumnus to receive an award), it's one little thing from the year 2006 (when my son was in Lower Kindergarten - LKG), that stays top of mind...

The theme that year was "Dhanam" meaning charity, sacrifice or simply "To Give"! One of the routines was the story of Lord Vishnu's Vamana Avatar. The essence of the story is how the Lord taught a powerful but vain king a lesson on humility. "To Give without pride or ego"...

The Lord appears as a puny peasant begging for alms at a ritual the king is performing with pomp and show. When urged by the king to ask for anything at all that he may want, he asks for just 3 paces of land as measured by his tiny feet...

The king, consumed by his arrogance is amused by the peasant's ask but grants him his boon anyway. The Lord, who then assumes his true form, in his first step, measures up the entire earth and his second, the heavens and the entire cosmos...

When time comes to take the third step, the Lord asks the king where he might place his foot, then the king realizes his mistake, bows in humility to the Lord and offers his very head for the Lord to place his foot on...


This routine was being performed by 7th and 8th grade students. The character of the puny peasant though was played by a kindergartener. The moment that took my breath away was the point in the play when the Lord assumes his true form...

At the cue of the mighty king laughing in arrogance to the peasant's ask, the lights went out for a matter of a few seconds and when they came back on, the stage was filled with kindergarten students playing the king and his retinue and an overgrown high school kid playing Lord Vishnu!

And as the Lord placed his foot on the king's head, the music reached a crescendo...


Thank you for your request Hamsini! And I'll do my best to be at the 25 Year Renuion RV...

Whether it's 2015 or the end of time, I'll always remember PSBB as the place that taught me what BIG IDEAS are all about...


Happy New Year Everyone! Have a Healthy and Peaceful 2015...

Rag...

"Don't wear stripes", they said!

"Or checks! They'll make you count them. No long sleeves, no bright colors either, don't tuck in your shirt, wear simple pants, no jeans, don't wear shoes, only slippers and don't even think about snazzy sneakers."

I don't remember who said it, but it pretty much made up the playbook for 'How not to become an obvious target for ragging'. What they didn't tell me was that I was going to get ragged anyway, just not on these!

I had also heard other stories. From fun - like making a bunch of freshers go dancing around the college bus saying, "Aiya! Bus vandhachu (Oh what fun! The bus is here), to fatal - enough said.

"It's all in good spirit", they'd also said. "Ragging is how you build a relationship with your seniors because eventually they will give you their books, advice and who knows, even career opportunities."

But I wasn't exactly the bravest of men (read: "I was s#!+ scared")! So, it was with mixed feelings (more like sense of terror) that I looked forward to College.

I decided to prepare! But a look at my wardrobe only made my heart sink further. Not that I had any bright colored shirts (not with my skin color), but I seemed to have a penchant for long sleeves, stripes & checks.

My options really reduced to a white, polo style t-shirt I used for cricket or the white short-sleeved shirt from my school uniform! And given a bright red manufacturer's logo on the t-shirt that alluded to a famous cricketer (Sunny), I decided it was better to go with the school shirt, even if it meant that I would have to painstakingly un-sew the school monogram that was stitched on to its pocket. Even if I had outgrown it.

With plain black trousers and sandals (from Bata) to match, I felt ready when the day arrived. I was careful not to wear a watch and to smear my forehead with sacred ash and vermilion. I prayed every minute.

So much for all the hard work, I don't even remember how the first day went! I tend to think it was mostly uneventful, because sooner than I knew it, I was walking down the long pathway leading to the bus stop.

I was almost there, when, "What mighty arms?", I heard a voice say. Certain that the reference was not to me (but fearful that it might be), I scurried to fulfill those few steps that would get me to safety. But the "Hey You!", that followed told me that it was indeed being made to me, much to my horror and despite my frailty.

"What is your name?", was the first question, followed by "Which school did you go to?" and "Where are you from?" They got to the point (there were 2 seniors) once I had answered them satisfactorily.

"Why are you wearing such a tight shirt?", one of them asked me. "I was told to look simple and I couldn't find anything else", I muttered, still in fear. "You don't have to be afraid, but don't wear this anymore", said the other. "There's a bus due in 2 minutes, so come along. Let's get to know you better on the way home", said the first, even as he threw his arms over my shoulder.

I stayed scared for the best part of my first year at Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, but the only ragging I really remember being subject to was having to run around the college cricket field on a hot afternoon with a twig in my right hand, held high to signify the Olympic torch.

But all day on Sunday, 10 Aug 14, I've only remembered little things from those 4 memorable years I spent there.

For, it all began, 24 years ago, today...

Walk...

It's 930 AM! I woke up at 5 (4:48 to be exact)...

All those early morning conference calls have made sure that my earplugs haven't left my ears since I located them on my work desk using the flashlight on my iPhone. I can almost hear the relief...

I Alt-tab to my Outlook Calendar! I see more relief. In the form of a 90 minute space before my next meeting. The only decision I need to take is what to do with it...

It's been a long week! With discussions, deliverables, project plans and presentations. I could use the time to prepare for my meeting at Noon (I already posted my update for the 11 AM). But I decide to step away...

Working from home is a blessing! I walk down the stairs, into the kitchen and stare into the refrigerator for a few aimless moments. I realize the peril of filling the space with a snack and walk away...

I step out the door! Just to check how it feels. "It's a fine Friday", I tell myself, "balmy at best". I look up into the bright sky, but I can't see the sun...

I see my flip flops! I slide into them. I quickly check my trouser pockets to see if I have my iPhone and start ambling. Wow! I even have my earplugs, so I find some music to play...

I could have run but I walk! Maybe my sore knee made me choose the flip flops. It's not even leisurely, by no means brisk, it's a deliberate slow trot...

The streets are quiet as I tread along the sidewalk. A cyclist sneaks up on me, pedaling hard as she takes to the grass to pass me. I'm not really rattled but I couldn't have really heard her with the music in my ears...

I walk into a development. It's even quieter! The lone face I see is that of the postman stuffing the mail into the individual residents' boxes...

I check my email (I can't stay quiet). "Nothing that can't wait", I decide, as I move along. More emails arrive, and a meeting maker too! But I have to decline as it causes a 11 AM conflict...

I check the time! I've got some on hand. So I enter another development and walk on. The charge left on my iPhone battery is what I really need to be conscious of...

"Should I turn back now?", I ask myself. I check the time again. My gut tells me that I can still walk the entire length of the development before I turn back and I would still be on time...

I decide to save the battery from failing instead! I close out all the open apps on my iPhone (leaving only the music on), lock the phone and put it back in my pocket...

I see the birds! They move and slowly converge in the middle of the street. It's unusual. I've seen geese only near the little ponds, sometimes near the park...

I stop in my tracks. They're birds of prey! I tread with care, staying on the edge of the sidewalk till I've steered clear of them. They're too busy pecking at that dead rodent to notice anyway...

I hit the homestretch. I'm coming up on the hour! But I don't step up the pace. I trundle on. I still see no faces. I can even hear myself breathing...

I pass our own mailbox! I'll be at the door any moment. I check the time again...

"Not many can do this", I think to myself! I look up into sky.  I stop the music. And log in to the conference call...

Miss...

She must have been a "Miss"!

Well, her name was Karuppayi (that's female for sure)! And she didn't seem to have a significant other. So Miss Karuppayi, we shall say...

I don't remember how and when we got introduced but I obviously know where! She was the pet of the watchman and the maid (Mr. and Mrs.) at Greenpeace Maplewoods (apartments) on Lakshmanasamy Salai in KK. Nagar (that's Chennnai, India)...

I also don't know how it happened, but I know for sure that she was one of the most beautiful things that's ever happened to me!

She would stir (even from her slumber) at my very sight (or was it smell)! As soon as she me saw walk out the elevator or down the stairs, she would arise and come up to me...

It didn't matter whether I said something or even looked at her! She always knew that there was only one thing she was going to do. Follow me…

If I was walking out the door, she would walk along! Whether I stayed on the same side of the street or crossed over. And no matter where I stopped, whom I talked to or what I did, she would hang around. For she knew what was coming…

As soon she saw me turn around towards her, her tail would wag furiously and her tongue would be outstretched! And as soon as I stretched my hand out, she would grab from it whatever it held (a bun, a biscuit or a "porai") and instantly head back home…

She knew I worked nights! And she knew the sound of my car as it pulled up. I'm sure she knew that I was the only one to arrive in the wee hours of the morning...

And then she did the most amazing thing one could ever conceive!

As soon as she saw me park my car in my reserved space, she would walk up to the space between the stairs and the elevator!  And as soon as she saw me close the doors of the elevator (someone obviously trained her not to get in to the elevator), she would start running up the stairs furiously…

She always got to the third floor ahead of me! And her eyes would light up when she saw me emerge from the elevator. Because she knew what was going to happen next…

I would ring the bell! And someone would come to get the door. But even as they pushed it open, even before I could enter, she would squeeze her way into the drawing room of my home…

She wouldn't go any further, she would sit just right there! And not move till I brought out her treat, opened the door again to let her out and place it on a ledge in the foyer…

It wouldn't be over yet! Sometimes, she'd eat what I left on the ledge and sometimes she wouldn't. But soon, I would hear her nails scraping my front door…

I went to the door but was never surprised by what I saw! She would look at me, I'm never sure what she said but I knew that she wanted to be let back in…

Most times I would be just tired, but sometimes, I would just open the door and let her back in! And she'd do nothing but just sit there, even as I sat on my recliner and watched some TV…

Everyone knew about us! They talked about us and even wondered. What was it that she saw in me that she did those things she did with me but with no other person in that entire building. With no other person, period.

I never wondered! I just enjoyed it…


And then one day I left! The Land of Opportunity (America) was calling and I had dreams to fulfill…

She must've thought I went to work or something! She must've waited for me to come back. I'm sure she hung around the parking lot, the elevator and the foyer space. And scratched the door of my home till the wood wore out...

For 3 years, I never went back! And when I did, I was told she left (so had the watchman and the maid). And I never gave her another thought…

Until last Friday night!

In my dream (in the wee hours of the morning), I went looking for her! I roamed through the streets, one after another. I saw a million black dogs, they all looked similar…

But even as I walked to end of that last street (I don't know why I know it but I do), I heard a distinct bark! I turned around and I saw her. "It's me, Thayi", it sounded like she was saying (I remember the words distinctly)…


"She must've missed me", I told myself, as I woke up to a Saturday morning!

"I Miss you too Karuppayi", I think, as I write this on Monday afternoon…

Line...

"How long would you wait in line for a cup of coffee?", I asked my son.

"Why are you asking me? I don't even drink coffee", he said.

"I know you don't drink coffee, but see that line there", I said, "do me a favor, can you quickly count and tell me how many people are in that line?"

"Really Dad! Don't you have anything better to do?", he said.

"Come on, be a sport, just count and tell me how many people are in that line", I urged.

"... 21, 22, 23, 24!", he said, "24 people to be exact".

"OK, one's just joining the line now, so let's call it 25", I said.

"Now think about it", I continued, "let's say it takes 1 minute to service every customer, so it would take 25 minutes (or 24) for the last customer in line to get to the counter and then they probably have to wait another 5 minutes for their drink, probably more, given that they have so many drinks to churn out"...

"So now tell me, would you be willing to wait 30 minutes for a cup of coffee?"

"I don't know", he said, "but probably not".

Clearly, I wasn't willing to wait that long either which was probably why I was not in that line myself at the Starbucks store in the Walter E Washington Convention Center in D.C. (where the International Science and Engineering Fest was being held) but was sitting on the sidelines, thanks to the sofas I had spotted from the far corner of the lobby.

"Let's put my theory to test", I said. "You see those last customers in the line? The guy in the black t-shirt and the girl in the skirt?"

"Yes, I do", he said.

"I'm going actually to time how long it takes them to get to the counter", I said.

"OK", he said, 'go for it!"

A few minutes later, I found out that I was clearly not in line with the times.

"Where is your phone?", he suddenly said, having paused playing whatever game it was on his iPod. "Why are you not timing it?" he added, noting that my iPhone was lying next to me on the sofa but was not running its Timer App!

I looked at him for a second. "I have a watch (pointing to my wrist) and I have a head", I said.

"OK, OK", he said and went back to playing his game. "Dads these days!", he must have thought to himself.

I spent the next few minutes watching 2 kids playing soccer with a foam ball (they once kicked the ball right into the Starbucks store), 1 lady leave a sofa that was adjacent to us, 2 other ladies join us on the 2 adjacent single seats (as their husbands joined the line at Starbucks) and other pretty ladies join the line for coffee. 

Every few minutes, I checked to see where the girl in the skirt was (conveniently for me, the guy in the black t-shirt had left the line to take a phone call) and then checked my watch. I didn't catch her checking her watch at any point, but as she got real close to the counter (3rd or 4th in line) I did notice her little shake and jig. Maybe she just heard the music from the store clearer from where she was, but I preferred to think of it has her victory dance...

"My hypothesis was right", I blurted out! "It took them exactly 25 minutes to get to the counter" I said.

"Wow Dad!", he said, "this is like the 4th or 5th time you've predicted something right this week" (he was referring to some of the scores I had predicted teams batting first would make in the IPL mid-course in their innings).

Allowing myself only a moment to gloat, I quickly turned my attention back to the line. I was surprised by what I saw.

"It seems like people are willing to wait 30 minutes for a cup of Starbucks coffee", I thought to myself. "But do they know that it could be another 30 minutes before they get their coffee when they join that line?" I further ruminated.

"Is the average wait time the same throughout the day? It's surely not the same at all Starbucks stores but do the smart people at Starbucks know how long their customers wait on an average for their coffee? Better still, do they know how long their customers are willing to wait in line?"

"Ten minutes", I told myself! "That's probably all I am willing to wait in line to get a cup of coffee. So when I see more than 9 people in that line, I'm probably not going to join it" I went on, when my phone rang.

"Where are you", she asked?

"We're in the lobby, near the Starbucks store", I said.

"OK, I'll be there in 5 minutes", she said.

I noticed that the line had become shorter. I got up from the sofa and moved towards the store.

"I'm sorry sir! We're closed for the day" the security guard said, as he closed the loop on the adjustable line guides...

Wednesday...

It's hump day!

Except, when it's a Holiday...

And when both Christmas and the New Year (following) fall on a Wednesday, it's really special!

Picture this...

You wake up on Monday, Dec 23! It's not really snowing but you still make yourself that cup of hot chocolate. The world seems a better place when your first conference call doesn't start until 8 AM...

You join the call to find out that half the participants are out for the entire week! Which means the list of items on the agenda gets trimmed by equal proportion and the decision is unanimous to follow up on the rest when everyone is back from the Holiday...

Right as you are wrapping it up (30 minutes ahead of schedule), a notice pops up in your outlook telling you another meeting is cancelled. You promptly remove that from your calendar and then cancel another meeting yourself looking at the number of attendees who have declined, being OOO...

Suddenly, your calendar looks open! You use the unplanned free time to cancel all the meetings starting Christmas Day until New Year's and mark your calendar purple with All-Day Events for 6 business days, subject and location reading: Out of Office...

A couple of other calls, a few emails and the day is over! You've never felt like this lately. So you enjoy a quiet evening, a light dinner and even though you're tempted to read that open book, you decide to catch up on your sleep...

It's Christmas Eve! There's even fewer people on that 8 AM daily call. It's over even sooner. Soon, you're staring at an empty afternoon. There seems to be more action on the street looking out the window. Emails slow down to a trickle...

A good lunch and you want to walk away but your conscience takes over! You spend the rest of the afternoon answering those emails you meant to answer but didn't and clearing out any pending tasks from your slate (and your conscience)...

The evening drive features some flurries! "Will it be a White Christmas?", you wonder. Confirmation that it won't be comes by the time you reach home with no more flurries is sight, just the still air. You blow out a bellow of cold smoke as you tread the cold, grey concrete...

Christmas comes and goes! It's family, food and fun. The vacation begins. More food and fun. Visits to pretty places and walks in the cold air. More hot chocolate and this time, cake...

Soon, you've had enough! You just want to rest. Breakfast and lunch on the couch with re-runs of favorite movies. Afternoon naps and even more TV. You even find a little time for that book from under the tree...

You relax and revive! Through a Nice New Year's Eve! And all through New Year's Day...

You go back to your calendar! You notice that early AM call, Thursday. "I really don't need to be on that one", you decide and then decline. You look to move some others to Friday or Monday. You really don't want to come back...

Come Thursday AM, you're back on the coffee! Come 8 AM, your spreadsheets are ready. You make a good showing and people seem to notice. You on the other hand, notice something else...

There's still some items on the agenda that have to wait until Monday! There's still some people who aren't back from their vacation. So you move some meetings around, catch up on your emails and are still left with some time to plan for what's ahead...

You're done at 4 PM! Not a bad place to be in. You look at Friday. It's going to be another light day. You block some time on your calendar to work on that monster project plan you're supposed to present at 8 AM, come Monday...

"It's the Wednesday", you realize! "That gave me 2 days ahead, 2 days after and effectively, a 2 week revival"...

You stop by the library. You even get some grocery. Just as you pull up the ramp and merge on to the highway, it begins to snow...


Happy New Year folks! Have a Good One...