An ODE to GHARAM CHAI

Motto of Annapurna Mess

The pleasant windy Tuesday morning prompted me to set my feet into the recently opened 'Annapurna' mess of our PhD girls hostel(open for UG and PG girls too).I hardly go to mess on morning s and this is maiden entry to the New Year special Mess(hopefully my last entry as well for breakfast).It was my helplessness that made me go there. Anakha Ajith- numma Varghese Kurien Ji's Amul milk powder and even sugar got over and our store does not function on all days. My intention was to sip a glass of 'gharam chai' than the poha with namkeen and sauce.I am always reminded of a saying here especially that Bengalis and Malayalis love tea like anything.I consider myself an epitome of this chaivnist ideology.Here people prefer, love and drink milk which is as ghora as their complexion.However, I have never seen tea or milk served to the brim in glasses. Ishtiva(mandan baby) and my Nikhil bro know extremely well how much food their chechi can gulp.So I had a little bit of poha, finished within a few minutes.But mind was still thirsty for chai or some gharam pani.I asked the serving bhayya for some more chai. He said- nehi.. I asked - bhayya, khaana unlimited hei na?chai kyom nehi dethe?He responded- khaana unlimited hei lekin peena nehi.aap mess cordinator sei poochiye.I said- koi baath nehi,mei canteen jaakar peeongi.. I thought for a while as a soliloquy- Oh, the slogan of Annapurna mess is "food is our common ground, a universal experience".. Water or drinking material is not mentioned. Now I got the point'.. People talk about the royal highness and hospitality.I have seen people serving water or universal solvent when we are in real need. When we had a mess in the UG girls hostel, there was a serving uncle who used to give me sabji from the reserved bhojan of their box whenever I come to mess almost close to the closing time 10pm for dinner. He is not educated or not looking good like the khaana unlimited people.This uncle approximately close to my Father's age surprised me one day after Diwali break saying he is grateful to a few mess girls like me for gifting him Diwali token of love.I literally broke into tears when he showed the new shirt and pant piece which he brought because of us.Why I thought of saying this here is Last time I was invited for the so called community Malayali Onam programme.I reached campus after my Assam University conference on that day and some junior mallus forced me to attend.My parents and sister over phone said I must go.Hence I went, just showed my face.But some people forced me to have lunch with them(I had only one round food and that also took time to digest just because of the way the people are) Ananth- Hope you do remember the day, bro.. No sooner did I finish the food than a fellow said chechi, things for fired rice and chicken were high and we collected 250 Rs from all.I just gave the 500Rs and took 250Rs back.I never felt that as a home or space of my own as these community people including faculties come and recognise only for their needs.They dont even say a word of appreciation other than laughing at us like anything.Some faculties(not mentioning names) who say good for namesake will call and praise me for editing their 68 or 70 pages reports, articles saying its just a matter of 7 minutes for me.These people who make me do all their works with a comment on my promptness never say a good word other than usual mockery good and very good.Not even a wish on birthday to their best supporting friend?.Yet another fact for blame is I am a Southern Keralite and people here hold the notion that we are like moorkhans.I still do not know why they approach poor south Indian like me when they wanted their needs done especially druing admission, bank account opening and all. I am proud of mu Identity as a South Indian and above all a Southern Keralite.If had never stayed or studied at IJT PRESS CLUB 2013-14 of numma Trivandrum, I should not have become the present Aparna.Thanks and grateful to the way my teachers, wellwishers and acaquantances from Trivnadrum treat me especially during the troubles with their whole hearted support. Abdul sir- where are your so called great social worker students then?? A man has to born as social and no degrees can bestow the qualities of social workers.Hope you know all the stories and I feel proud of your comments to move forward without giving a damn to all sweet people of your land and social work language... This is how the days begin here.Disappointments and cold behaviour usually start from department premises and now it began in hostel mess. Let me conclude with a fact that I am not bothered of the consequences in penning the realities I face here.I have loads of friends here especially in PhD who gave me maximum support to express all the opinions as frankly in my usual tone.The saddest part of the saga is nobody supports me when I land up in a struggle.They keep on sitting together and gossiping and if possible, a sympathetic comment for the South Indian girl of their PhD batch.That is it.Still I dont care being a freelance journalist and I know a time may come when my pen will be mightier than sword.Last but not the least, my dearest Father's words always reverberate in my mind- Laugh and the world laugh with you, weep and you weep alone.I am glad that I have a family with utmost caring parents, a sister and a lovely grandpa chittappan.That is why my voice craves for a Universal solvent despite the silent pity of all my fellows.. Anakha Ajith- Please do come at least once to get the real feel of your only sister's desert life and experience how worth your hearsay is.. Paone - Please come along with my kutty..I am longing for your arrival, my crazy cum lazy companions <3