During these days, I was searching for a topic to pen. I spent time reading many posts out here. It is so nice to see many prolific writers expounding their thoughts in this space. So, what is left for me other than music, books, movies etc. Should I write something about my City, Thiruvananthapuram? Its heritage, idiosyncrasies and many such things that might not be expressed by writers or any other medium. Let me not bore you with the description of Kovalm Beach etc. It is something peculiar and un noticed or un documented by many. To begin with – let it be the “attitude towards foreigners”

I work for a public sector undertaking and hence enjoy a respectable status in society. But my friend who is reaping fortune in a MNC in Mumbai will be considered as “a normal private company employee”. That is my city. Anything “desi” or related to Government has been considered with full reverence. We are good in hospitality. You can see lots of friends from nearbyMaldives (less than an hour journey by flight from here) spending quality time for their education, health care etc. Also, being labeled as the land gifted by almighty, we have generous group of guests across the globe.

I was watching 2012 and my friend was also with me. Leaving a single seat, we saw two foreign ladies (might be in their early twenties) chirping, bubbling and energetic. All of a sudden two gentlemen came and they communicated something in a silent fashion. To my surprise one occupied the seat between me and one of those ladies and the other one occupied the seat adjacent to the other ladies. I was wondering the reason why they decided to split and give company to these girls. In a few minutes they started conversing to each other in loud tone leaning across them. This continued for five minutes and one lady stood up and said “Hey Mister, you are whacking us out. Please get up and find a seat near your friend and don’t disturb us”

Both Mallus vanished!

During the interval, I have decided to speak to them and become the guardian angel of Thiruvananthapuram. I have assumed a humble posture and asked “Hi Young Lady, where are you from”

She spoke in top of her voice “AUSTRALIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Have you heard of that?”

Allan Border, Rough and Tough Russel Crowe, The man who stole the book Markus Zuak and many other pictures flashed in my memory. Still, I became more humble and said “Of course yes”

Don’t know whether they loved this low profile way of mine as a symbol of “safe guy”. After interval, during each and every scene with magnanimous CG effect, she started hitting hard on my shoulder and said “Look, look, awesome!”

With each comment of this girl, I won the ugly stare of jealous and angry mallus in the front row. In between someone was commenting “Seems, that guy hooked the madammas” (Madamma is a local slang for blonde girls)

There I stood froze. Towards the end of the show, after the cataclysmic activities are over and the ship was sailing, majority of Mallus thought that the movie was over and started moving out. This girl got confused and shouted “All these guys saw the movie before or what? Why are they going out with out watching it fully?”

I said “All of them are bored it seems. We are inclined towards realistic movies”

Finally, the new shape of the globe was shown and then she screamed pointing her fingers on the screen “Look look, that is my country, AUSTRALIAAAAA”

Saying this she almost shook my shoulders and an old Uncle came near me and said “Movie theatre is not the place to misbehave with girls”. I was wondering, “Whether there are some other places to misbehave with ladies” – Hello!

I started feeling the symptoms of 2012 – The doomsday. While moving out I asked her “What is your name?”

For a change the other girl responded “P A G E –Page. Very easy to pronounce”

I said “Ok”

This time the other one intervened “So, pronounce my name. Come on!”

“Page”

Great! She was satisfied. I said “I am Jay”

“Jaaaaaaaaayyyyyy” Both of them screamed.

I said “Yesssssss. You have also pronounced without any difficulty”

I got myself immersed in the crowd. After all “End is near”