My Journey before and after Vaaranam Aayiram

It was a Tuesday night when I dared to watch the movie “Vaaranam Aayiram”. I meant it when I say dared because it was third movie that I’m watching alone – without friends or family. And both the previous movies, were according to me, a punishment for myself. The movies being Thirupatchi – Aruva for my neck and Velli thirai – nothing silver about it. Coming to VA, I wanted to watch this movie on the very day I had written my Indirect Taxes paper in my Final examination. Unfortunately, it was remaining a unfulfilled desire for 3 weeks.

There was an opportunity for me to watch it on that Tuesday. I had to travel to a place called Sengottah, which is approximately 4 hours from Madurai. By the way I was in Madurai on an official visit and had to remain there for 10 more days. I have to be at Sengottah early morning on Wednesday to accord my presence in a function. If I start on Wednesday morning from Madurai, it would be too late before I reach the place. Rather if I start in the night around 9 PM on Tuesday, I will land up there around midnight. So, I thought the right time to take bus is around 2 AM. I decided to go for the movie and take the bus.

As it was already 3 weeks since the movie was released, I had little difficulty in getting a ticket. The movie scheduled to start at 10 PM was finally curtained up at 10.30 PM. The movie was a bit slow and for that time in the night, I thought it was too seductive but for the music. Nevertheless, I liked the movie for Surya’s dedication and charm of Sameera Reddy.

Dipped in the memory of these two performances, I took bus to Sengottah at 2.45 AM. I didn’t expect by any stretch of imagination to come across a mesmerizing beauty as Surya came across in the movie during his travel. And there was none actually. I reached the place on time, “graced” the function and got blessed and was ready to come back to Madurai. It so happened that my return travel was by train. I was 25 mins before time to the station. It was a passenger train and would take 3 and ½ hours to Madurai as it was told to me. I had taken a corner seat and there were no one around at that point of time. And now again memories of previous night crept in. I was hoping against hope that there would be a girl opposite me, as Surya got in the movie. The train started from Sengottah and there were no one till then.

As I had little sleep the previous night, I was dozing. When I opened my eyes, it was Tenkasi and oh god, why are you so cruel to me. It was a lady opposite and I guess she would be around 55 years. I was thinking when I would get luckier as Surya in that movie. I told myself that it would be possible only in movies or for persons like Surya and not me nor in my life. Still, as a true Indian cricket fan could hope India to win, when India is 8 down for 85 chasing 300, I was hoping that if not opposite to me, there would be such girl somewhere around me.

Little did I knew that things are going to get worse. At a place called Rajapalayam, the lady and company vacated but was replaced by typical south Indian ladies. They were talking non-stop and in full volume. Their speech not only disturbed my sleep but also my imagination of traveling with a girl like Sameera Reddy. The journey ended at 4.30 PM and I sweared to myself that I will not expect anything of this sorts in the future realizing I’m not a Surya to sweep someone off their feet. This is not an excuse right!!!!