My phone rang again and again
I was half slept and I heard the ring from my bed, I thought it may be a dream
And I continued my dreaming
“I saw my dad approaching to the phone and he picked the call.
Hello...? Dad said. .
Hi Uncle, it’s me Jackson. Is Aman there?
Yeah, I think he is sleeping, sleeping like he didn't slept for years!!!
Is any urgency? Shall I wake him up? Dad asked
Yaa! If you can, will you please”
I smiled when I see the politeness of Jackson ...!!!
It was a 'politeness Vs politeness' incident.
Suddenly some one called me...!!! Aman woke up.
I opened my eyes, and looked.
Ohhh its dad... he interrupted my dream!!
“Woke up Aman... its 12.45pm now
You have a call from Jackson ..., go and have the call!!! He is waiting! “Dad said
”what????? Jackson ? Are you kidding me? "
Dad doesn’t understand what I said...As I were still in that dream. I saw dad's weird face,
While I am moving to reach the phone I looked at the wall clock, he was right it was 12 .46 pm
As I slept late at the night I was so sleepy, interruption of my sleep made me angry!
I pick the phone and said in harsh tone ..." yes Aman here!!!”..."what the hell you want???" what the hell urgency you have in this afternoon?
You know, am so tired I have to sleep little more! I rattled off.
You know, am so tired I have to sleep little more! I rattled off.
"Sorry bro, Sorry for the interruption!!!” Jacks said politely...!!!
“What the fuck? Have you got any job in 'All India Radio' or in 'Dhooradharshan' for using that "sorry for interruption" tag in between us.”
“Come to the matter Jacks, finish it fast my dreams are waiting there... need to sleep little more...!” I showed the urgency on my replays.
Shitt!!! “We are about to get our output today? You forgot our experiment with Reghu Bhai?”
“Fermentation have been finished buddy just need to distill the ethanol now “.
“Don’t you wanna try the pure alcohol from the first drop?”
He reminds me the importance of the day
I heard the rustle of that old kerosene stove burning, and dreamed the blue fire magic with that first drop.
And I charged up to 1000 Watts
(We stayed in a rented house called ‘Bharghavi’ near to our college. Real antique one which looked like a haunted house because of its haunted look we named it ‘Bharghavi nilayam’ (name of an old Malayalam horror movie) ‘. House owner stayed there alone his name was Reghu we added a ‘Bhai’ to give him a local don appearance. He was a ‘holly drinker and juicy grasser’ after all ,we don’t need to pay him any rent, Need to give him food whenever we cooks also need to pay the electricity bill, that was the deal. We got ‘toddy’ (a local palm wine) even at the time of toddy strikes and unlimited ‘grass’. No need to worry about any bad activities everything was allowed there. That much broad minded was Reghu Bhai.)
“Ohhh...!!! Sorry Bro Let me complete my packing I will be there within 1 hour may be within half an hour...!”
I heard Jackson laughing..!!! "May alcohol bless you” Jackson said in his mom’s voice and we both laughed?
“Listen Aman; actually I called you for another purpose!” Jackson said when I was almost putting the receiver on the telephone
“What!!! What purpose?” I asked
“Actually I need a help?” Jacks said
Help??? “Help in the sense? What you mean Jacks tell me straight! ”
“I got a letter from Surya” He said
“Ohhh!!! Really “
“You mean that 'Kannoor' girl? The one you got from Kannyakumari? “I asked
“Yes exactly! We are in a relationship now?” Jacks said.
What??? “You guys.... are...... in…. a…. relationship? You mean a long distance relationship?” I asked with wonder
I never believed Jackson will fall in love; he was a fun loving guy, never serious in love .Handsome with a fatty Roundy body,
Not muscular, had one aim in life, fill the stomach with brandy and fill the lungs with smoke and enjoy the moment. I had experienced Jackson ’s “I minute loves“at early times.
“I don’t know is she in or out? But I am…..!” He sighed
“Oh Jacks it’s been interesting now,” “so tell me, what help you needed? “I asked him
Aman, I am in love with her. I…am….Damn…serious!!! He stammered
I dazed with his replay “Jacks are you kidding me?” “Love and you both are two poles of a magnet!!!” “I can’t believe this!!!” “You are kidding me, Right?”
Again I asked.
“See Aman I’m serious about Surya! Am seriously in love with her” it was more emphatic than earlier.
That seriousness pierced in to my brain, and I decurrented in to a stage of seriousness
“Hey Jacks listen” I interfered him “shall we discuss this matter at Bharghavi” I asked
“Be there our self is perforce; otherwise tasting the ‘nectar’ will be a dream for us ‘makes hay while the sun shines’ after the blast we will discuss this matter “
“Don’t worry bro I will help you.” I added and put the receiver back.
I saw Dad’s weird face!!!
He might have heard some part of our conversation
“I am moving, everyone reached ‘Bharghavi’!! I said.
Bharghavi? Who’s Bharghavi? Dad asked
I mean hostel Dad. “I said
It’s our hostel’s name I added
He became weirder than earlier
I sniffed an advice, am going to get some free advice now,
His face had turned in to that mood
“Aman, come here he “called me
What’s the matter? He asked
Nothing dad I shrugged. Actually jacks need some help
Some love matter Dad, there is nothing to stare at me
It’s all about his love, not mine and I passed a teasing smile to Dad
He smiled back “pride goes before a fall “I remind you!!! He said
I ignored his free advice as usual, and went to my room for packing my things.
I packed my things and came back to the hall; as usual I forgot the bike key I called mom
She replied from kitchen
“Mom have you seen my key?” I entered in to the kitchen by asking this
I get a sniff of frying meat; she was cooking some beef dish there,
Without taking my looks from frying pan I asked again “Have you seen my bike key? I have to go now!
“Ami, are you going? I’m making this for you, just wait 10 more minutes and have the lunch, what’s the urgency now?” She rattled
“No time mom I have to move, if you can just pack it for me.” I showed my urgency
And I dreamed beef fry with Arrack what a nice combination
“Home made food with home made alcohol”
“Ohhh really blessed” I whined!!!
You check the key on the shelf; I will pack this for you. Mom said
I kissed on her cheeks and left the kitchen
My conscience asked me, is this right, which you are doing? You don’t have any time to spend with your family? Why you are dyeing for Friends?
Aman” blood is thicker than water” don’t forget this, one day you gonna pay for this”!!! He said.
This is college life Mr. Conscience you won’t understand. ‘If you want to achieve something you have to sacrifice’ I said.
Yeah I have to sacrifice Mom…. and I sighed
I looked back to the kitchen. She was busy on slicing the onion.
While I were engaged on searching my bike key she packed the fried meet and handover the packet and 500 Rs for my weekly expenses
I hugged her; and left my home
My sister came from her tuition classes
I waved her on my bike and I started my bike
I heard Dad’s voice behind me,
Aman Ride carefully!!!
****
I reached Bharghavi at 3.30 pm Jackson had already reached there. I saw Reghu Bhai and Shine on the door steps all of them were eagerly waiting for me.
Hi everyone, I waved towards them
Where were you Ami?
It’s been 30 more minutes! Shine said
I smelled the tedium on shine’s voice
And he shoved Jackson and ran in to the kitchen where the alcohol fermentation set up had been fixed
We followed him.
Reghu Bhai lightened a match, and I saw three enthusiastic faces on that yellow blaze, then he ignited the old Kerosene stove. Kerosene started burning with a buzzing sound, yellow flames turned in to deep orange, extracted substance in side the pressure cooker simmered and the distillation process has been started. Vapor of ethane reached the rubber tube and turned in to alcohol. It dribbled out through the rubber tube and the glass jar got the first drop and it twinkled in our eye balls
I dip my finger on the Arrack and I showed it in to fire, my finger caught fire!!! And we saw the blue blaze
“It’s pure; thickness of that blue flame indicates the purity!” Reghu Bhai said. Scientists in side us horripilated with joy
“After all we proved, we are science students “Jackson said!!!
“I love chemistry” Shine added!
Both I and Jackson laughed, by hearing shines comment
“Yaa, we know you love chemistry more than anything”, I said.
And I passed a teasing smile to him .His girlfriend was from Bsc chemistry. He spent almost all the time around chemistry department.
I moved to the water tap and washed four glasses, one plate and our frying pan.
“Wait bro, just a minute” let me warm this!!!
And I took my bag and bring out the meat packet. I removed the distilling set up from the stove and laid the fry pan over the stove. And I put the fried meet to the frying pan for warming.
Frying smell of meet wafted through the air pierced in to our nostrils
“It’s been a great party now!!!” “Let me arrange the room” Reghu Bhai said and left the kitchen for arranging the room. Shine followed him with the Arrack jar
I switched off the stove after 2 minutes
And serve the fried meat in to a plate
Jacks had sliced some onion we garnished meat with onion slices
“Took that glasses too bro,” I said to Jackson , and we went to the room
Reghu Bhai and shine had arranged the room. they put a mat on the centre of the room and sat around the mat
We laid the glasses and plate near to the ‘Arrack jar ‘
And Sat comfortable around the buffet
“It’s our turn now Reghu Bhai, we will serve the nectar!!!”
I said when I saw Reghu Bhai stood up to serve the Arrack.
We filled the remaining part of our glasses with water and took the glass up!!! And said
“For the excitement we shared in these days of experiment
For the brother hood of friendship we bonded through
For the fucker who said ‘blood is thicker than water’
For the tears, laughter, regrets and for the memories
At last, but not least for almighty “
Cheers every one...Cheers…!!! Enjoy the moment
And we took the first sip; it streamed through my soul and blessed the pensive veins of my body .the taste less liquid draw some figures less designs inside me
“Wow!!! Nice fry” Reghu Bhai wowed after he tastes the meat.
Mom’s food I said
“Mom’s food is mom’s food always …!” he sighed and looked at the wall photo. Reghu Bhai’s mom smiled from the framed photo, twinkles of read lamp reflected on his eyes
Party progressed gradually with the drink and meat
As it was a home made pure alcohol the after effect was very quick
Reghu Bhai sang some folklore songs .we followed the tune and moved our heads to both left and right direction like elephants.
After 2 and half pegs I said “it’s enough!!! Ohhh...!!! I’m gone “
Yes, earth is rotating its own axis …!! I have evidence with me.
And I sighed
“One more peg, Jacks?” Shine asked,
” it’s enough Bro…!” “You guys enjoy!” I’m done. Jackson said and leaned on the mat and switched on the CD player. It started playing in a crying voice.
“Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year to save me from tears
I’ll give it to some one special”
George tried to grab our happiness …!!!
We followed the lyrics then it became uproar.
Suddenly Jackson jumped from the mat by looking around and he goggled at me!!!
Shine and Reghu Bhai were still with the Arrack, they argued about some ‘mallu movies’
“What’s the matter?” I asked Jackson when I saw the excitement
He avoids my question and continued the drama.
“Reghu Bhai we have a seminar tomorrow, have to write our report, we will join after the preparation! Shall we move to our room? Jackson asked Reghu Bhai and winked at me.
I dazed when I heard the word ‘seminar’!!!
“Ok carry on guys” Reghu Bhai said, and they went back to their discussion .Shine had almost lost in the Arrack
I followed Jackson to his room
“Which seminar you are saying bro?”
“Is any seminar tomorrow?” OMG! “It’s really fucking then”
“I ‘m almost lost in the nectar, how can I prepare now!”
I explained my helpless situation very innocently
My tongue had become hard .I felt very difficult to move my tongue in side my mouth, words broken in between my talks. After all, alcohol had worked on me.
“Fucker don’t worry about seminar, there is no seminar at all.”
“I had asked you one help at the afternoon!!! Hope you remember my call!!! Jacks asked with an enthusiastic face
“Ohhh yes, now I got it …!” you lied about seminar to avoid them? Hmmm, and I pat on his back “He replayed a weird smile to me.
“Show me the letter “I showed my eagerness!!!
“Wait; let me explain the situation!!!” Jackson said
What situation!!!You just give me the letter; I seized the letter from him.
I will check it out myself then I’ll suggest you what all treatments you both needed. Hmmm!!!
And I opened the letter and read the first line
My Dear Jackson ,
(To be continued)