A for Alice

"Oops... Its getting late". I was rushing out of the Chennai airport collecting my luggage. An auto driver approached me, "Sir Auto?". "Ya.. I need to reach Egmore to board the Rockfort Express... I mean... Egmore polama" - "200 Rs aagum, sir". I was walking away from him as if I didn't hear him. He followed me, "Sir kedaisiya 150 kudunga" - "Seri Vaanga..". He drove me through the traffic like a drunken maniac. But reached Egmore in one and a half hrs. Kewl ahh.. Met Victor, Jenny, Sylvia, Sam and Jack at Egmore before boarding the train. That was a nice journey for us, with a lot of disturbance to others.
The next day (6th Dec, 2006), early in the morning, reached Trichy, to see some of Alice's college mates and her brother and the lovely Nancy. Hunted for rooms - got ready - reached the Mandapam just in time. We guys were led to the bride's room by her brother. Bride - Alice. We had a nice photo session after which we guys eagerly got to the front of Mandapam. "Hey kozhi sutha poranga !!" - "appadina enna?" - "Chumma kozhi eduthu suthuvaanga" - "Uyiroda kozhiya?" - "Aama, kannu padama irukka.." - "appadiya, appa oru Maadu eduthu sutha vendiyadhuthane?, suthama kannu padadhu" - "Maada thooka mudiyadhu.." - "Hmmm.."

Here comes the groom, we were watching him as the lucky guy to marry Alice. But not lucky enough to lift his head up to see who is standing infront of him. There were atleast two kilograms of flowers hung over his face, he was accompanied by a person with a "Visiri". "Dei maapilaya pathiya?" - "Illada.. enga..". Alice's brother was searching groom's face in between the 2 kgs of flowers to feed him some sweet. Then happened the "Kozhi Suthuradhu" and all...

We waited for the marriage to happen - Waited for more time - "Hey whats happening?" - Some mantras were chanted - "Hey where is Alice?" - "Wait she will come.. She must be upstairs.." - Waited for more time - Finally the groom stood up but disappeared - Waited for more time - Groom came in, started to hug every one around him - "Hey see thats nice, get me the camera" - I was clicking as they all stood in a queue to hug the groom - I was also eager to hug him, but was a kind of afraid whether I could - Finally I understood that the marriage was over - "Geez I didn't see Alice at all, Wow!!!" - Then came the real photo session - All family members get up and down the stage - Click - Click - Click.

Mean while we guys went to buy the cake to celebrate the occasion which Nancy had already ordered. "Sir, Neengadhan order kuduthadha?" - "Aama nae.." - "Pesh Kaem cake sir, presha irukku.." - "Seri pack pannunga.. Seekeram urugida pogudhu".
We all went up with the cake to the newly wed ones to celebrate the occasion where the photographer said, "idhellam enga palakathula illapa..". He was a gentleman, he knew everything otherthan clicking a camera. We waited for some time and finally I saw Mrs. Alice smiling at us as we approached the newly wed. Nice... - cake - cut - celebrate - feed the loved ones. I gave my camera to the so called professional photographer to click the celebration. He put my little cam in his pocket and started chatting with his colleague. Alice fed the cake to her lovely husband mean while and the shot ain't there in my cam. - "Anna photo edunga... enn camerala photo edunga.." - Damn it.. No other go, I had to grab my cam from him and I started clicking. Damn it, I was throughly pissed off with the guy. But he was a nice man, sounded like a well wisher to the family. But what ever it is, Alice feeding the cake to her husband aint there in my cam. Sorry Alice :(
Time was flying, biryani - matinee show - Fast Tracked Sam - Party - Goodnight.
We had plans for the next day at Tanjore. But every thing was messed-up. At around 10:00 pm (7th Dec 2006) - "Vandi enn 6878, Trichy, Vizhupuram vazhiyaga Chennai egmore varai sellum 'malaikotai' veraivu vandi innum siridhu nerathil mudalavadhu pilatparathai vandhadayum".
Dec 10 2006 - Reception at chennai - We, the Newsy 9 guys gifted them an oven.Alice called me to pose for a photograph - Alice - her husband - me. I was made to feel special. Nice dinner - Wishes - Bye.
Next day morning boarded my flight from Chennai to Hyderabad. Nice trip. I came out of the airport and it was drizzling. Nice again :)
My flight got delayed by 2 hrs, "Ohh shit I donno I gonna miss my train to Trichy". I was at the Hyderabad airport calling Nancy's mobile, "Hey enna panra?, Alice enna panra" - "ava kitta Pesuriya??" - "Ya, kodu". That phonecall is memorable. That was my last phonecall to Miss. Alice :) (Dec 5 2006). Some how reached Chennai around 7:30pm. "Oops... Its getting late". I was rushing out of the Chennai airport collecting my luggage. An auto driver approached me, "Sir Auto?".