AWAY WE GO!

Do you have to sometimes pinch yourself several times because you can't believe what is happenning to you because it seems too good to be true? Well, that was the way i felt when i was standing in the railway station with my friends waiting for the Chennai-Allepey Express. There we were, the seven of us, and for the first time in my life, nobody elderly was there to see me off. We were all by ourselves, fooling around and teasing each other. It looked more like as if we were all set for a tour rather than heading for an international seminar held by the WHO.

The 7 of us were:

Mr. D: wearing a full sleeved shirt (as usual) and not so sure about what to do next(again, as usual). "Should i buy the soap or the cards or a cup of coffee first? or maybe i'll buy it when i reach chennai, or maybe..."

Ms. M: looking around as if she knows all and is the very picture of a mother hen looking around at her chicks. (But in actual fact she was the only one who cried when saying bye to her mum while leaving for the railway station.)

Ms. N: smiling and giggling in her charcteristic "quiet" way (she makes me feel like a clown because she everytime giggles when she looks at me). she claims to not feel excited but i know that she is. This trip brings her sweet memories of those few months she had spent in Ooty.

Ms.D: with that blunt look on her face, you'd think she is devoid of feelings. at times, though, she shows out those calcinated teeth of hers on the slightest provocation and answers back amidst broken laughter, in a mixture of english, malayalam and gujurati.

Sr. T: complains about the rain and about the dirt splattered on her dress(all nun sisters seem to have that common worry). she had packed three sets of sarees, carefully washed and ironed, for the trip.( I pointed out to her that nobody would know even if she didn't change coz all da sarees are of the same colour. )whatever said and done, though, you'd think twice before doing any kind of mischief when she is around.

Mr.K: dressed in a T-shirt and trousers, has a school-boyish look, especially with that naughty smile and twinkle in his eyes. At 1st sight, one wouldn't think he was the tour organiser and the official leader of our group.

Me: extremely excited but apprehensive because i'm well aware that the 7 of us could blow up like dynamite even over a slight disagreement - big ego problems most of us have...

The only time i sighed with regret was when the bangalore express passed by us...i would've been on my way to bangalore and not to chennai if i was not given permission to attend the seminar...whatever said and done, i always dream of that cold place...

(to be continued)