Vaaman-The story-teller

The following figments of my imagination are an inspiration drawn from the Maniratnam genre of movies, where a globally or a nationally appealing theme is portrayed through the lives of commoners.

Opening today is the first episode of a mini series of one such issue, and one such family:

Shifting gears – Episode1

22nd Jul 2003, Mumbai

This was just another day in the lives of Mumbaikars, but in the residence of Madgaonkars in bandra, the mood in the air was really pensive. For Kushaal Madgaonkar, the only son of Vaibhavi and Sunil Madgaonkar, who has had a dubious record in the FY and SY exams in his B.Com, the moment of reckoning was just round the corner. The TY marks would be on the net any moment.

Vaibhavi completed her syllabus of Siddhi Vinayak and Mahalakshmi Mandirs, and as for Sunil, he has been practicing the art of being absent in social circles, for if, something goes wrong with his Sone Putthar’s results, people may not find his absence conspicuous for a couple of weeks…”Are yaar Sunil Dada gaya kidhar” kind of embarrassment is something he wanted to avoid.

Kushaal, on his part was fully geared up literally, wearing a helmet, just in case things go awry to an extent that his mother starts o throw vessels at him. Commerce grads take conservatism taught in accounts to their heart, that they are very pessimistic about their exam results as well.

The mobile phone rings. The otherwise jack in the box Kushaal who expects Pinky, Ritu or Shalini to be calling him everytime the phone rings, is rather spectical this time around. Reason, te last two years history shows that it has been Jignesh, who usually tops the class calls him to inform him that the eventuality has struck.

This time was no different. Jignesh calls up and in his totally made up modesty informs that the results are out, and he has managed to get just 84%. “Kyaa bathaoon Kushaal… is baar marks thoda comedy ho gaya yaar..84 hi mila”.

Kushaal with a frown spanning across his face, dials up the net, and with utmost reluctance, keys in his admit card number, and waits till, what he thought was eternity, and there it is.

Admit Card Number : A 19278
Candidate Name : Kushaal Madgaonkar
Overall Status : Pass
Grade : I class
Total : 350/500

Our man is more than elated. He goes into a dizzy and recollects himself in a couple of minutes.

“mamma .. Mein kyaa bataoon… Kyaa bathaoon…. I class mein pass ho gaya… 70% mila hai”

Mom was just too pleased….”there mouh mein ghee shakkar”…….”bhagwan ki dhayaa hai”. this puts off Kushaal a bit, for his momhas handed over total credit to the almighty”. Kushaal soon realized that this was not far from truth, and kept quite.

Sunil just returns from his morning walk. Obviously, he now goes for his morning walk in Joggers Park and not in Asif khan Park, just to avoid the his decade long fellow walkers.

“Papa.. mein pass ho gaya…I class mein.. 70%”. Sunil did not remember a day in the last three years that gave him so much joy that he almost shouted “Arre Pass Ho gaya…pappu pass ho gaya”. But like all fathers, he kept his emotions under check, and all he said was” Congrats Bete .. Abhi aage kyaa karna chaahoge?

This question was just too premature for Kushaal, as the ecstasy was yet to subside, and this was one question, he was not prepared for. He just did not think beyond his TY exam results. But he had to act quickly and pose as though he was ready for the question…..

To be contd………