One fine August eclipse......25thDec2009


One fine August eclipse

Dec 25, 2009
It was without the huge hype and hooplah of the celestial event that floated a month back that this 'person' upstairs decided to unveil (or veil) yet another spectacle just for me.To think of being unfortunate to be chained down south and not on the eclipse belt , the opportunity to witness the longest solar eclipse for any living being during his life span,this gift came to me unsolicited and begs to throw open the chains of my agnostic existence.
The previous day my dad had brought home a packet of samosas from the bhelpuri wallah parked just outside our home and he trudged home grumbling all along about the swelling on his feet.The month of 'Karkkidaka' according to him is a harbinger to all the diseases in the world and should be dealt cautiously perhaps with a plate full of greasy spicy samosas.Eyeing the samosas all the time with a touch of disdain my maratha queen got into battle mode proclaiming that Karkkidaka gets translated into the month of 'Shravan' in her calendar and that it was a holy month.The crusade still continues unabated........
Dawn broke and as I lazily scrambled up my bed I found that I was viewing a partial eclipse in my left eye.The top upper portion of my vision was clouded as if though the moon was popping in from that
corner and going to block my vision.I knew it was the scourge of Karkkidaka or the holy touch of Shravan enabling me to view the celestial event right inside me.
The fact that an eclipse doesnt last that long brought me back into my senses and figured perhaps a quick 50 laps in the local swimming pool might do the trick to work away this spectre.No respite.The
second day ensued with me sitting with my friends Ist day, Ist show.Ist row for this bollywood blockbuster which still didnt work any wonders.I finally had to tell Amita about my romance with darkness.
We fixed up an appointment with an eye clinic where it was confirmed that I had a case of 'retinal detatchment' and needed to be under the operation table pronto.As I was being told by the counsellor about the risks and expenses of the operation,Amita was on a telecon with the her own doctor brigade raking up a modus operandi for the show.I was told to rush into 'Giridhar hospital' where a chirpy surgeon was waiting for me.The operation was performed the next day morning under general anaesthesia and the whole day turned out to be one big siesta.The next day morning the surgeon came over and after
exchanging pleasantries he took off the bandage without a fuss.The eclipse had been exorcised and I tried to lift my arm to showcase the thumbs up which suddenly decorated my hand.He told me that its not yet time to celebrate and that utmost caution should be taken so as to enable my retina to get itself attatched but assured me that the operation was a huge success.
I was told to rest for the ensuing two months so as to avoid complications which can arise due to eye infections.Six months have passed since the celestial event and I am now fit as a fiddle.Though I wanted to say guitar,it still embarasses me to see my guitar lying untouched dusty and untuned in a lonely corner of my den.
Its christmas time .I dont want any more of these gifts.
I am slowly getting into the groove and taking a vicarious pleasure in the success of my dear friends.
I was advised by the doc not to sit in front of the computer for long so explains my absence from the cyber world.
I went through all the messages posted in our web page and I feel previledged to be amongst you and take a lot of pride at the huge strides taken by my mates.
Kat the globetrotter, Jerry the Professore,Dennis the Menace ........next time I will come up with names for all my classmates,I am so proud of each one of you.Happy Christmas and a very succesful New year ahead to all of you
Hasta luego in Calicut
J
A maverick at heart

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