1 - Ek
2 - Dho
3 - Theen
4 - Chaar
5 - PAN...
How could an entire state or a region have learnt the numerics like this? Because that's how it seemed to me.
A common man addictively consuming Pan in public and blessing everyone with a
sprinkle of the holy red concentric liquid mixture of their heavenly smelling
saliva and the healthy juice of the Beetel leaves couldn't have possibly driven
me to mention it in a blog. Well, you know, that's the Indian TRADITION and one
shall not be surprised or taken aback.
But, Alas!
(A few) Cultured men, tutors and even laureates whose dressing sense is no
less than those of 'Hollywood James Bonds' are utterly failing to notice that
their mouths look no different than an ancient sink, aging a few billion years,
used by the Tyrannosauraus where they spit the excess blood and the unchewable
remains during a delicious dinner. We all know how the Tyrannosauraus are
trolled all over 'Facebook' for their shorter arms and obviously with those
arms they could never have cleaned the Sinks. And, that's how the mouths looked
like whence comes the explanation of 'Otto Cycle and MOSFET' and great ideas for
educational reformation.
No matter how hard you try you could never ignore the existance of a
respectable community of artists for whom their Teeth is the canvas on which
creativity is splashed (LITERALLY) all over with a unique solution very
skillfully mixed using tools not any other than their own teeth and the
tactical tongue which handily becomes the Brush to paint their master piece
which they put for exhibition everytime they smile at you.
One shall not assume that I'm complaining one region like the region I
belong to is free from Pan. Pan is all around in one form or the other but the
usage and the spread are not alike. I've never seen a school in any other place
where they have thought to highlight with pride, 'PAN FREE CAMPUS' on the
compund wall besides the name of the founder.
Parents and tutors are the role models whence the children and learners
learn their habits. Pan, they have adopted, even more efficiently and
enthusiastically without disappointing or failing their models.
There was a time when I had to wait for a train scheduled for 8 hours
thence in Guwahati, Assam while I chose to walk and look around near the
railway station for some 15 minutes than to sit idle, that too immediately
after dawn but ended up spending 6 hours sitting in a tourist park.
When I say park one ought to know
how difficult it is (if not impossible) to find a seat to sit in a PARK than
finding one in a crowded Mumbai train.
Now, don't imagine the park to have a legion of tourists.
There were around 50 seats very generously spaced and there wan't one more
person than 50 pairs ranging from 'infatuated infants still in school uniforms'
to 'hopeful hippies' and each has taken an entire seat for themselves. While if
it was a place where I could also contribute in an argument if one breaks out
between me and others I would have taken one seat ignoring the pair. But there,
I couldn't do anything such, as if they are unhappy or annoyed, no matter how
logical or rightful my explanations are, they would never understand.
Thus mentally fixing this in mind I scooted around trying to find a place
to lay my bag while I rest and finally found a seat where there were 3 school
boys who were talking and laughing louder than it is required except if any of
their hearing is impaired. I eventually found that their AURO Audio effect is
because of a group of dames standing a few feet away with the same school
uniform whose attention these Romeos were trying to get and were succeeding
occasionally. They could not be older than a 10th standard student and after
every two sentence they finish speaking (or spitting) they spit the PAN (with
style) after hitting a look at the girls.
I could not help but wonder how the girls are not offended by this action.
In movies and real life I've seen since my childhood, when someone looks at you
and then Spits, it is an expression of insult and with the utterance of 'Thuth
theri...' the insult is stronger and deeper. However it was different there.
A Bus driver, a ticket vendor, a TTE, the Principals and the
Correspondents, a watchman, a cab driver and with an exception of a few everyone
mentioned or failed to be mentioned here chew and spit all around and round the
clock.
One time there was a professor with a doctorate and a countable number of
years of experience, dressed so perfect in a cosy car, was driving me to their
institution. The car slowed down after crossing a speed breaker and the
Professor suddenly opened the front door of the car and leaned out far and I
was unable to choose between shock and terror
for I had no idea what he was up to. He leaned so low and so far ignoring the
road and the vehicles in the front and SPAT. I was only relieved when his eyes
met the road after he returned to his original driving posture. That was the
first and last time to be surprised and then I have started to predict what's
coming every time the car slows down.
There was another occasion where I was waiting at the railway station
where a group of about 10 or 12 local people (looked more like the tribal) settled
around me as there was enough room for 3 more people to sit in. Even while many
others sitting around me until then started to move away one by one, I chose
not to leave my seat as I had to wait for 3 more hours.
It would be so foolish of me not to expect them to consume pan or spit it
around while I've seen sophisticated men do it all the time even within the
campus of an educational institution.
All of a sudden one woman in the group had a 'CIGAR' on her mouth. One as
lengthy and as the one which 'Ajith has in the ASAL movie poster' and she ignited
it which I did not look at first. Confused with the strange smell and the
strong smoke I looked up and was taken aback with an expression of disapproval
and annoyance seeing which one of the men in the group shouted something
indecipherable to the lady and she moved a feet away smiling ashamedly at him
and looking at me. Relieved I was, thanking the man, who advised her to move
away, with a smile.
With common men I had at least the chance to express my vexation which I
have not with the cultured and well-versed who should naturally be mindful of
the troublesomeness it might cause to others.
