Back in the days when cable TV had not invaded our imaginations and when in std V, I had cried hoarse for a cable TV connection and on not getting one would secretly go to a friend’s place to watch the afternoon movies, Sunday mornings on DD-1 were much more than delight.
Having completed most of my homework on Friday evening and also on Saturday, I would sleep on Saturday night with only one ambition, one dream and one goal, which was watching DD1 from 7am onwards.
Sunday morning I wake up with a start. Its 6:45am, don’t worry I could read a clock from std IV (lol!!!), just so that I don’t miss the start I switch on the TV and rubbing my sleepy eyes I gaze at it. The NIRMA add, followed by LIFEBOUY, then HAMAM and then the TV switches off….its 6:55am…..no no no!!!!
Its not a power cut, its mom :( :(
I got 5 mins to wash my face, brush my teeth, drink my morning mug of milk and catch RANGOLI….can I do it…ohh no just remembered I had to shit too :( :( :( Somehow I managed to convince mom that Ill do all this but just let the TV be. I will listen to it while I am doing all my morning chores.
Finally at 7:15am I am back it front of the TV, MERE SAPNO ki RANI song is on and I start shouting (I wont say singing, kya hai unn dino meri aawaz develop nahi hui thi na :)). Two stanzas done and just when I start enjoying myself; enter dad; to interrupt my Sunday morning :( :(
Time for a hair cut he says. Why today why couldn’t we go yesterday? No answer. It was my mistake I should have not told how Gonsalves Sir (our PT teacher) cut Mahesh’s hair in the class because it was too long :( :( . Now I got to pay the price, its too heavy a price…nahiii..and I start crying cos there is no way out besides I am too young to argue with my parents(lol!!).
Finally I stop crying after being promised a 5 STAR..(5 STAR cannot compensate the loss I would go through on forgoing RANGOLI but then next Sunday there will be no hair cuts and plus I get a 5 STAR too, not a bad deal right??)
Enter Vijay Hair Dressers. I didn’t like the guy Vijay. The only reason being he used to pull my cheeks with such force that my cheeks pained :( :( and he used to do that not only when I went to his saloon but also when I used to pass by :( :( . But then that was the only saloon close by.
Me and my dad sit on a stool waiting our turn. There is quite a crowd and we are told that we would have to wait for some 45 mins before our turn. Thank God, dad is here with me today, the last time I came; Vijay made me wait an hour. My number was conveniently given to others who came after me. I was too young to ask for explanations and I found it too trivial to complain to dad about it plus that Sunday we had a power cut so I was not exactly missing on RANGOLI and all :) :)
But this Sunday I was at a loss. The wrist watch on my dad’s hand read 8:00am. When Vijay says 45 mins it is an hour or even more. That would shatter my next plan too. I had planned to get home by 9:00am so that I could catch MOWGLI but that was not going to happen and plus I was gonna get only one 5 STAR. That would compensate missing RANGOLI but how do I get compensation for MOWGLI? I had to get home in time for the show!!!
8:15am and still no plan…think boy think…and finally at 8:20pm I had a plan and I went into action right away..the following is the conversation that took place, it has been translated into English:
Me: Baba, how much more time? (with a sorry look on my face)
Baba: Another 10 mins. Hold on
(I could see that even dad was growing impatient. That’s a positive sign. Time: 8:23am)
Vijay: (Butting in between) Bass Sir, iss ke baad ek daadhi banani hai aur phir aapka number. 10 mins max.
(No reply from dad. Another good sign :) :) )
the remaining conversation in Marathi, I don’t want it to lose meaning in the translation
Time- 8:30am
Me: (in hushed tone) Baba,……Baba….shee lagli (with a constipated look… )
Baba: Kay??? Sakali nahi keli ka..
Me: Keli hoti pan tari lagli…(more constipated look)
Baba: (looking at the watch) 20 mins thamb, cutting zhalyavar ghari jaun kar…aalach number aata (consoling tone)
Me: Jorat lagli ahe :( (more more constipated look)
Baba to Vijay. Time-8:45am
Baba: Arre me ek 20 mintat yeto. Number thev
Vijay: Sir, aata kuthe jata. Aalach ki number and asa number nahi thevat me. Pudche bomba marta
Baba: Asa ka…barr
Only 15mins more. This is my last chance.
Me: Baba, me jato khup jorat lagli ahe…(more more more constipated look. I manage to roll a tear down one cheek.Yesss!!!!)
Baba: Barr chal..(dad is frustrated and angry but he cant show it in the saloon. I am praying that by the time we get home the anger would subside.)
The moment we are out of the saloon I start running towards the building. Dad doesn’t know that I got just 10 more minutes to 9:00am. He thinks the boy was right and smiles. Anger subsided.
I charge up the steps, enter the house and panting switch on the TV. 8:55am just in time. Yess.!!! Thank God mom is having a bath or I would have had to explain the whole thing to her.
9:05am: Dad walks in. Baghira is saying something.
Baba: Kay zhali ka shee (he is nearing the truth it seems)
Me: Ho..attach alo (matter of fact expression)
He doesn’t say anything. Saved. He doesn’t want to spoil his Sunday morning.
I got to see MOWGLI but a couple of things changed from that Sunday onwards. My dad never accompanied me to the hair cutting saloon again. With this freedom I started going to a different saloon (on my bicycle of course) where the barber was more interested in his work than pulling my cheeks and who took customers strictly on first come first serve basis.
But on the down side, I never got a 5 STAR again for any of my HAIR CUTS…
1 comment:
Well said.
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