When God conspires....

The world is changing. Those who cannot keep pace will fade away and soon be forgotten. This was what happened to the canteen of IIIT Bangalore, loyal but nameless, the caterers were stuck up with biscuits and coffee. 13^th November, 2010 was their last day in the campus. They were replaced with caterers who could provide Butter Dosa.

But Deepthi Karnam, the most enthusiastic girl in IIIT Bangalore, decided that even if we would forget them they should not forget us. She made this possible with two bottles of Soft Drinks, a box of Cadbury celebrations, Haldiram Son-papdi and a bunch of her friends. We gave a tiny farewell to the dismissed four member staff on their last eve in the college campus. They were surprised and really happy. One of the staff happened to be from Kerala and talking with him brought back memories of my Kerala trip.

The trip which taught me that how much ever you plan there is just no use because chaos is a part of our life, the world and the universe.Divine intervention could disrupt even the best laid plans.

It was the first trip I ever organized and took great pains in planning everything down to the last detail. Mom, sis and me would travel from Chennai to Ernakulum where a taxi would be waiting for us. We would have breakfast and head towards Munnar to spend two days in the most beautiful part of the country. Then a day in Thekkady, where we would go shopping for spices in the afternoon. Mom would then rest in the hotel; me and sis would go on a night safari, by walk. The next night, we would spend in a house boat. Kerala, God's own country! But God tried everything to keep us off his lands.

“Where the hell is my wallet?”, I muttered looking around. I was sure I kept it in my pocket. After half a day of frantic searching, I had to admit defeat. It was lost. I was crippled. ATM cards, driving license, PAN card – all lost. It would take at least a month for me to apply and get all the cards back.

“Oh my God! I lost my driving license”, I shouted.

“I know. Apply for it. You will get the duplicate in a month”, said Mom.

“We are going to Kerala in five days. The ticket without my license is invalid”, I said sitting slumped.

Those who are familiar with the old IRCTC rules will know that the only way out was to cancel my ticket and make Mom the Master passenger with her PhotoID and that was what I did. I booked myself on a bus since the train was overflowing.

Two days before the trip, God turned his wrath on Keerthi, my sister.

“Jayanth, Abdul Kalam is coming and SASTRA has sealed itself. No one can take leave. All permissions to go home stand cancelled”, she wailed.

After half an hour of discussion, we decided that the best way out was for her to come directly from Thanjavur a day later. A dent in the best laid plans. Mom and me had to wait for Keerthi in Ernakulam on the first day and spend a day less in Munnar. I was dejected. Munnar was the place I wanted to visit the most. Also, we were split up. Instead of happily going together, I was going in a bus, mom and sis in two different trains on two different days!

It was the day of the journey. Mom didn't have a mobile phone so I gave her mine and headed towards the bus stand to catch the afternoon bus. Mom would catch a train that evening.

“Jayanth, Jayanth”, I heard Mom's voice in the bus stand. Perplexed, I turned around and saw her hurrying towards me.

“What are you doing in the bus stand”, I shouted.

“I was cleaning the house and tore the train ticket”, she said handing me shreds of her evening train ticket.

I was speechless for a moment and then burst out laughing. God has his style. Fifteen minutes were left for the bus to leave. I told Mom to somehow delay the bus if I was late and rushed towards the nearest Internet cafe to take another printout.

The trip was fun. Night Safari on foot, Speed Boat, Rowing Boat, Elephant Ride, Bugs Bunny Carrots, Echo Point we had nothing to complain. But God was not done with us yet.

We were going to Allepey for the Houseboat and were almost there when my phone rang.

“Sir, we are calling from Hotel Mountain View, we found a purse in your room”, said a male voice.

I turned around and relayed he information to mom and sis hoping against hope it was not ours.

“It has a five hundred rupee note and a PAN card. G Keerthi is the name”, he continued

I cursed.

“Oh shit! I am not able to find my purse”, said my dear sis from the back seat.

“That is because it is around 200kms away”, I told her through clenched teeth.

I requested the Hotel to courier it to our address.

“Ok Jayanth, calm down. Even you lost your purse. Don't be angry”, I calmed myself down.

“Jayanth, my return train ticket. The PAN is my photoID”, she said in a low voice.

“WHAT!”, I shouted turning to face her. She was close to tears.

“Its ok. I am an expert at handling these things now. Lets just enjoy the houseboat now”, I consoled her.

Luckily that was the last thunderbolt God had in His arsenal.

We got back home safely and I fell into my usual routine of sitting in my cubicle dumbly staring at the computer screen feeling envious of the taxi driver who took us around.