Gazing at the girls inside the college bus which passed by, Shiva rushed to his school to be present, before the Chief Guest inaugurated the function. No matter how hard he planned to reach the premises early, his plans always faltered. As such, cursing the auto-rickshaw drivers, the whole Government behind the Suburban train network and his tummy, he tucked in his shirt again and entered the school.
That day, there was a food-festival organized in his school. Shiva had a special reason to be happy about it. His role model "Chef Damu" was the honorable chief guest of the event. Shiva's journey in kitchen was embarked on, in a reaction to his friends mocking his stout figure during his childhood. His friends making fun of his pot-like belly, ate his heart. Though Shiva was saddened, he sprang up in reprisal to combat these humiliations by turning his negatives into positives. Henceforth, Shiva started to learn more about cooking rather than just shoving the food in his mouth. Shiva expanded his boundaries by experimenting with new recipes, which channeled him to cook on his own. Unlike his peers, his study rack was filled with 'Culinary books' instead of comics and novels. 'Dinner Dash' was his favorite game. Another instance which sets him apart from the rest is that he doesn't curse his mom like the other teens when watching Cookery shows. "Cooking is girls' business" were the common words he heard. He hid all his culinary books in a resort to not make him look effeminate, when lads of his age hid playboy magazines.
Shiva was at the peak of excitement as he saw the very possibility of meeting his inspiration whom he had admired so long in television. On entering the portals of the auditorium, he ran back to the backstage panting and wiped off his dripping sweat. The teacher in charge of the event blasted him for being late. Being the ‘school captain’, he secretly enjoyed the privilege of wearing a badge on his blazer. Shiva, being good in both academics and discipline was always in his teachers’ good books. His nature of being friendly to all, had him elected as the ‘school captain’. But to his dismay his fair complexion or his post as the ’school captain’ did not fetch him a girlfriend.
The students and the teachers were stunned as a white sedan entered the campus. All the students gave a rousing welcome to chef Damu as he made his way to the dais. He was handed bouquet by the principal. The principal guided him to a special brunch prepared for him right after the inauguration. Shiva had a sinking feeling in his heart as he did not have an opportunity to speak to the person, who fed his interest for food. But Shiva was distracted from his woes as he was flooded with responsibilities like collecting the names and details of all, who were participating in the fest. The day passed for him in a similar note.
As the day was coming to a close, the chief guest got onto the dais to announce the winner of the fest. Chef Damu began, "Good evening everybody. I am glad to see so many enthusiastic Home-makers from different parts of the city to have come here to participate and win the coveted title. Moreover I thank the Principal of this Diety School Mr. Sadhasivam, for his invitation. This day took me down in a memory lane of my own school days. It's happy to see so many students volunteering with enthusiasm. The culinary world…." the voice trailed off. "Nothing's audible check the speakers" shouted Shiva at his friends. Later the Principal called out the in-charge teacher and said "It's getting late already, request Mr. Damu to announce the winner now". The teacher walked to the dais and told the same to the culinary luminary. Accepting the request, dr.dhamu announced "Mrs. Gomathi Shekar from Perambur bags the title!". Chef Damu handed over the prize and goodies and posed for a snapshot . The Principal accompanied the Chief guest on his way back to his car. Out of desperation, Shiva ran to his teacher "Ma'am can I speak a few words with Mr. Damu please, I need to ask a few things regarding his career." "Oh come on kid, he is getting late for his shooting" smiled his teacher. "Can I ask the Principal because Mr. Damu doesn't seem like hurrying" Shiva said trying to justify. "You don't want the Principal to lose his temper, do you? Don't you have your preparatory exams tomorrow? Go home quickly and prepare for it" patted his teacher. He walked away without saying a word.
Shiva’s heart was clogged with sorrow, like a kid who wasn't allowed to watch his favorite cartoon show. He approached his friends who were professedly in charge of the mics and speakers. Flaring with rage, he spat his words "Why the hell can't you find it on time, why didn't that Damn thing stop working during the time of our rehearsal?" . His friend cut his rant by saying “stop it! It was done on purpose". Baffled by his retort Shiva stood frozen and choked out "What?". "Yes it was the Principal's order to do so". "But why? Chef Damu just started to talk to the students about the culinary world“ said Shiva trying to swallow back the lump in his throat. "That is it buddy, why would high school students want to listen about cooking?" He patted on Shiva's back and walked away.
He reached his home with a heavy heart, ready to cry his heart out in the confinement of his room. Unaware of the climate, Shiva’s parents were overjoyed with his arrival. "Come on Son, we have got a happy news for you" exclaimed his Mom and spoon-fed a Gulab jammoon to Shiva. "But what's the matter maa?" asked Shiva trying to fake a smile. "Remember me saying about my colleague's friend who is the secretary to the Vice chancellor of Amanda College?" asked his father displaying a huge smile on his face. "Oh yeah, NO!" retorted shiva in surprise . "Well, we have blocked a mechanical engineering seat for you. Your semester marks helped to get you this seat, so study peacefully for the board exams and maintain the same score" said his dad in a tone of immense happiness. "But pa…." dragged shiva. "Oh don't ask how much I paid for it" chuckled his dad. "That's nice, thanks a lot Pa, I'm a bit tired let me take some rest for now" He went to his room trying to hold back his tears. "Look how happy he is, there can be no best pre-birthday gift than this?" said Shiva’s dad who was oblivious to shiva’s culinary interests . "Yes dear" his mom smiled.
After hours of crying shiva grew numb to the situation. He sat up on his bed and said to himself "Scoring good marks helped me to get my parents off my back and gave me a little time to spare for myself. I didn't know it would end up like this. Now it's time to permanently hide the culinary books and also my ambition". He laid back and looked at the fan thoughtfully.
-THE END-
Shiva was at the peak of excitement as he saw the very possibility of meeting his inspiration whom he had admired so long in television. On entering the portals of the auditorium, he ran back to the backstage panting and wiped off his dripping sweat. The teacher in charge of the event blasted him for being late. Being the ‘school captain’, he secretly enjoyed the privilege of wearing a badge on his blazer. Shiva, being good in both academics and discipline was always in his teachers’ good books. His nature of being friendly to all, had him elected as the ‘school captain’. But to his dismay his fair complexion or his post as the ’school captain’ did not fetch him a girlfriend.
The students and the teachers were stunned as a white sedan entered the campus. All the students gave a rousing welcome to chef Damu as he made his way to the dais. He was handed bouquet by the principal. The principal guided him to a special brunch prepared for him right after the inauguration. Shiva had a sinking feeling in his heart as he did not have an opportunity to speak to the person, who fed his interest for food. But Shiva was distracted from his woes as he was flooded with responsibilities like collecting the names and details of all, who were participating in the fest. The day passed for him in a similar note.
As the day was coming to a close, the chief guest got onto the dais to announce the winner of the fest. Chef Damu began, "Good evening everybody. I am glad to see so many enthusiastic Home-makers from different parts of the city to have come here to participate and win the coveted title. Moreover I thank the Principal of this Diety School Mr. Sadhasivam, for his invitation. This day took me down in a memory lane of my own school days. It's happy to see so many students volunteering with enthusiasm. The culinary world…." the voice trailed off. "Nothing's audible check the speakers" shouted Shiva at his friends. Later the Principal called out the in-charge teacher and said "It's getting late already, request Mr. Damu to announce the winner now". The teacher walked to the dais and told the same to the culinary luminary. Accepting the request, dr.dhamu announced "Mrs. Gomathi Shekar from Perambur bags the title!". Chef Damu handed over the prize and goodies and posed for a snapshot . The Principal accompanied the Chief guest on his way back to his car. Out of desperation, Shiva ran to his teacher "Ma'am can I speak a few words with Mr. Damu please, I need to ask a few things regarding his career." "Oh come on kid, he is getting late for his shooting" smiled his teacher. "Can I ask the Principal because Mr. Damu doesn't seem like hurrying" Shiva said trying to justify. "You don't want the Principal to lose his temper, do you? Don't you have your preparatory exams tomorrow? Go home quickly and prepare for it" patted his teacher. He walked away without saying a word.
Shiva’s heart was clogged with sorrow, like a kid who wasn't allowed to watch his favorite cartoon show. He approached his friends who were professedly in charge of the mics and speakers. Flaring with rage, he spat his words "Why the hell can't you find it on time, why didn't that Damn thing stop working during the time of our rehearsal?" . His friend cut his rant by saying “stop it! It was done on purpose". Baffled by his retort Shiva stood frozen and choked out "What?". "Yes it was the Principal's order to do so". "But why? Chef Damu just started to talk to the students about the culinary world“ said Shiva trying to swallow back the lump in his throat. "That is it buddy, why would high school students want to listen about cooking?" He patted on Shiva's back and walked away.
He reached his home with a heavy heart, ready to cry his heart out in the confinement of his room. Unaware of the climate, Shiva’s parents were overjoyed with his arrival. "Come on Son, we have got a happy news for you" exclaimed his Mom and spoon-fed a Gulab jammoon to Shiva. "But what's the matter maa?" asked Shiva trying to fake a smile. "Remember me saying about my colleague's friend who is the secretary to the Vice chancellor of Amanda College?" asked his father displaying a huge smile on his face. "Oh yeah, NO!" retorted shiva in surprise . "Well, we have blocked a mechanical engineering seat for you. Your semester marks helped to get you this seat, so study peacefully for the board exams and maintain the same score" said his dad in a tone of immense happiness. "But pa…." dragged shiva. "Oh don't ask how much I paid for it" chuckled his dad. "That's nice, thanks a lot Pa, I'm a bit tired let me take some rest for now" He went to his room trying to hold back his tears. "Look how happy he is, there can be no best pre-birthday gift than this?" said Shiva’s dad who was oblivious to shiva’s culinary interests . "Yes dear" his mom smiled.
After hours of crying shiva grew numb to the situation. He sat up on his bed and said to himself "Scoring good marks helped me to get my parents off my back and gave me a little time to spare for myself. I didn't know it would end up like this. Now it's time to permanently hide the culinary books and also my ambition". He laid back and looked at the fan thoughtfully.
-THE END-
- Lohithaksha Sreedharan
Edited by: Nivetha Sivasamy
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