Stories I heard the most

Sometimes loneliness is a blessing, especially when it is self imposed. This is partially true for me about this weekend. I was just at room, going out for 2 meals on each day and spending most of my time in front of laptop or by sleeping. During the post lunch nap today, I had a visit by Dad in my dreams- the most common figure in my dreams. I woke up soon with a lot of memories of him. He was a more like a grandfather to me as I was youngest of four in the family. He caned me just once or twice, he never said a ‘no’ to me and I could go with him to anywhere in the world.

My dad had a set of stories with some moral which I have heard atleast 20 times. Thereafter the title of stories would convey the meaning. Obviously they were not bed-time stories. I would like to share some of my favorites of the same old stories with everyone.

The Dead Dog

It’s probably the smallest story, but the best.

A dog was lying dead on the road. Everyone who passed by said, the dog smelt bad. But the hero came by the road and said “Look at its teeth, they are glowing white!!” 

And obviously moral is find only good in others.

Dad and Son with a donkey

This is my personal favorite.

A dad and son were going with some load on their donkey’s back. Then someone on the road asked, why can’t one of you can also get on donkey’s back and son got on the donkey’s back. As they went on someone else asked, how can you make your dad work when you are not. So both of them swapped. Next person had the opinion of both travelling on donkeys back. Next was on opinion of no one on donkey back as it was tired and even asked one of them hold the load as well. Father and son obeyed everyone.

The story has made me a bit adamant too. I wont accept anyone unless, I feel its right.

Manager and Peon

You might have heard the story in different version too. But this was the most repeated story.

A rich businessman had a manager and a peon. The peon used to complaint, why the manager was paid much and had less work. So finally the rich man decided to answer him. Rich man found a load of firewood taken through the road. Rich man asked the peon to check whether it was for sale. Peon came back saying, it was. The rich man asked the peon to check whether it was dry enough to be used next day. Peon ran again. When he came, manager asked to for the price to peon and the peon had to run again. Now the manger was called and asked the same question and he returned with all answers for all relevant questions. 

Once again moral is so simple. Its not the hardwork that matters but smart work.

Be always the last!!

The dad was teaching his son, always take the smallest piece of sweet from the plate. And then dad asked his son what he understood. The boy was smart, he replied like- always be the last one to take from the plate!!

I m going home!!

Yeah!! I am going home again for the weekend. Don’t get into the false impression from my excitement that I am going home after a long time. In fact, exactly 4 weeks back I was at home; but 4 weeks is long period for me. At anytime, whether you go home once in a week, or a month or an year, u will wait for that days to come only to see yourself back to your routine much before. Last time I went home it was another proof of Murphy’s Law from the time I planned the trip.

I had to go home town on that weekend as it was my Grandma’s –I don’t have faintest of memory of any other grandparents - death anniversary. And the Mass at church was at 7:30. I booked a ticket for bus at 7:30pm on Friday, leaving my usual 10:30 bus. I am all set to go on Friday morning. After reaching office, I got a call from travel agency saying, I can go only by 8:00pm bus. Fine, I agreed. I can still manage to reach in time.

I was in the middle of the meeting at 6:45pm at office. My system was used for conferencing. Its ok, I asked my one of my colleagues to lock my laptop in one of the drawers after meeting. And I started running. As usual, my bag is not yet backed and there is no power at room. As I was planning to go to church directly, I wanted to iron my shirt too. Ok! I will manage in a T-shirt. And so while I was having my dinner by 7:45, I remembered about my mobile charger. Again I ran back to get and somehow reached back by just 5 minutes for 8. Then I heard the good news, my bus is at 8:15. Still I can manage to reach for church. I always hate waiting, and I am waiting for my bus to go HOME!! Finally bus comes by 8:50 and starts by 9:10. Still I had a hope of reaching in time.

Bus journey is always the same. Everyone wants a lady to be seated next to you, but only ladies can ask for it. But you can still feel something running very softly through your skin. After 5 minutes, you can make sure, bedbugs always causes irritation. I wont wake on any sudden breaks in the bus, but bedbugs... Bus stops for dinner at 11:00pm, don’t ask me who will have dinner at that time. After all, I still prefer bus to train.

And now starts the worst part. I woke by 5:30 in the morning; bus is stopped at the check post – state border. Checking is always there and it will take upto 1 hour. So I went back to my sleep. If the bus is not moving, I cant sleep in the bus and by 6:30 I decided to have a look outside. Then, I realised the scene was worse than I thought. Bus reached here by 4:45 and there was no conductor and driver in the bus. Someone tried to call the travel agency and they too don’t know what is happening. Issue is simple, bus had 2 feet tall luggage and it was more like a courier from someone to someone. So my first question got an answer, I wont reach for Mass. Now, I want to reach at the earliest.

I got into next local bus that came by and boarded to nearest town, Palaghat. I was seeing that bus stand for first time in my life. After a couple of calls, I found the shortest route bus to my hometown, Thrissur.  After 15 minutes, a guy from the old bus has got into this bus. In next 10 minutes, the bus which we had left hopelessly is just behind us and it soon overtook us and would have reached Thrissur atleast 30 minutes before me.

And finally I reached the town by 10:00. I need to travel for another 1 hour to reach my uncle’s place on a normal day. But monsoon always doubles your time for conveyance. It was pouring so heavily too. And finally I got down at the bus stop. After heavy rains, it was kind of flooded and I hate walking in water, atleast when I was no extra Jeans in my bag. And finally I reached, with just 5 hours of delay.

But my luck dint change now too. After dinner, we went back home. I had bought a new jeans after my last visit to home and wanted to show to everyone. Then I realised the fact, I forgot to take my jeans from uncle’s place. I immediately called to uncle’s home and it was aunt who picked the called.

Me: “ I think, I have left my jeans there”

Aunt: “No problem, your uncle will wear”

Me: “I don’t mind if he is wearing it, but I have nothing to wear tomorrow”

Aunt: “You mean, you haven’t got anything when you came from Bangalore”

Me:”Nope”

Aunt (she cant stop laughing): “You don’t have anything else!! you are the best.”

One of my uncles, who was going back only on Sunday morning helped me to get my only Jeans back.

And the Sunday is always short, especially if you are Christian. Waking by 8:30, going for Sunday mass, lunch and a small sleep will make it 4 in the evening. And time for me to leave.

The return journey will never be better, but I will be tired after the weekend that will have a sound sleep. Bus coming late by 1 hour, bed bugs and much more colder night.

Whatever be climate or by whatever time I get late, once I reach home, have some homely food and then lie down in my mom’s lap, all those golden days returns.

Again I am going home on this weekend and all my siblings and nephew and nieces are at home. And I am so eager to join them....