God of Pop!

I woke up on last friday morning with a news that the legendary singer and dancer Michael Jackson has passed away due to a cardiac arrest. It was a shocking news to the world and to all his fans. The fact that this has happened at the time when he was about to perform his final concert is really sad and I am sure a lot of fans throughout the world, and also all the people, who loved him and also hated him, would shower their respect to this legend.

It is as if I know MJ right from my birth.I remember my dad and uncle listen to Michael Jackson songs when I was a kid. I still remember watching a young guy waking up from his bed and dancing to the tunes of 'Beat it'. It was only a few years later when I was introduced into the world of pop music from the 'Dangerous' Album of MJ. I even remember the day when they announced on music television that they are going to play the premiere of a song from his album 'Invincible'. I remember the days when I listened or watched MJ songs without break along with my cousins. But now I have to remember the day when I heard about the demise of the King of Pop - Michael Jackson.

MJ was surrounded with controversies right since he became famous. He overcame all the controversies and stood like a king as he is. He loved children. He built a theme park for children, called it as Neverland and also took children from orphanages and schools on a free trip to his theme park. Though he suffered financial crisis, he never wished to sell away the land and in the end, but in the end, he sold that land as a last resort.

I always wished that MJ and ARR should perform together in a song. To my shock, they were indeed preparing themselves for a performance to support unity in humanity. This incident had happened after ARR had won two oscars. People would always remember MJ for two things - his passion for entertaining people and his concentration on social causes.

There may be people who would try to fill his place but it is not really easy to replace a king who has ruled for more than three decades. He is the King of Pop and will always be the King. I pray for his family and well wishers Let his soul rest in peace. The world may have lost him but his music will be remembered forever. His dance will be remembered forever, not to forget the famous moonwalk. And most importantly, just like every other legend, MJ would be remembered forever. The fact that the increase in the download of the music video thriller, which has been a record breaking sensation of all time, even after his death only proves that his music journey has not ended. It will continue forever. His voice will still be heard, his moves will still be watched and like God, his presence will be felt wherever music is. He is the God of Pop!
The following video appears in the Dangerous video album. This video is a great tribute to him. Brace yourself!

The day I got my driving license

"You will lose your touch if you don't come in for a month", the driving coach said to me when I said my exams were coming by. It was the second week of November and the exams were scheduled to begin on November 25,2006. Only three or four classes were pending including the two classes for reverse drive. He wanted me to finish it as soon as possible. So I agreed with finishing the remaining classes and attend the driving test which was scheduled on November 18th.

The remaining classes went smoothly and with ease. Driving the scooty was left to me as I had to practise driving the vehicle in the shape of 8. I practised two nights before the scheduled test. Irrespective of the place, whoever stood there, especially kids, stopped their work in order to watch me drive in the shape of 8 as if I am doing a stunt show. After practising every night, I was ready for the final show.

November 18, 2006.

I was asked to be at the RTO in the morning and I made it correctly on time. We were asked to go to a place where I first started driving. That was the place where the two wheeler test was supposed to be conducted. I started practising along with everyone. I was almost making the shape when I realized that the road was empty and I was the only person there. Everyone else had left. I circled the area to find any group standing there but there were none. Just then I received a call from my driving master that the test is in the RTO office itself. How did I miss that announcement?

I was back at the RTO. I was told that the senior most police was there for inspection and his policy is to keep it simple. Thats why he wanted the test to be conducted at the RTO itself. Everyone taking the test were allowed to use their own vehicles. They took turns in riding their two wheelers in the shape of 8. Almost everyone succeeded in doing so and got a nod from the police.

My turn came. It started out well. Almost made the shape and then I had to take a U-turn. That was when I kept my legs down. I thought "Gone!". But this police was not really strict and gave me one more chance. I have to do it again from the beginning. I started again but this time, it ended up in a worst scenario. Before I could make the U-Turn, I placed my legs down and even went out of the path. The police need not say anything. I knew that I had lost the battle.

I was waiting out with my scooty for the car test. Just then the driving assistant came to me and said, "What is this? Why couldn't you balance your vehicle?" Then came the turn of the coach, "What happened? If you fail in two-wheeler, there are high chances that you will fail in four wheeler as well. Let us see what happens!". That was great news for me! If that happens, that would totally be unfair. "If only I had one more chance", I thought.

The two wheeler test had ended. All of a sudden, the coach came running to me and said, "Start your scooty fast. He wants to give you another chance". I couldn't believe it was all happening. The police is giving me a third chance? But why? I immediately took my scooty in. I was almost near the starting place when the coach told me, "No, he didn't call you. I misunderstood". I got frustrated and looked at the police as I started turning back.

The police looked at me again and gestured to me to come back. I got my third chance! I started again. It seemed the entire place was too silent. I completely concentrated on what I was doing. It came out simple. I completed the 8 and also took the U-turn and brought it to a halt with a hand signal. I looked at the police to know the result. After giving a brief thought, he gave a nod. I had passed the test!

Then came the car test. Again the police wanted to keep it simple. Instead of the usual drive in the road, here we just need to start the vehicle, move it to a little distance, stop, put the reverse gear and move back the vehicle to where it started. As simple as that. It was easily finished. As I was little upset about my performance in two-wheeler test, the coach came and cheered me up. It was indeed a day to cheer up as from then, I was licensed to drive in the entire nation. "Why don't you drop this old man in his house on your way?" The coach told me pointing to an old guy standing nearby. My experimentation with driving had begun. It began on a happy note! :)

Confusions

Confusions happen in everyone's life. They are bound to occur when you don't understand what is going on either with the surroundings or with the people. A thousand of confusions would've occured in anyone's life. Some of them would have been funny. I would like to tell some of those of mine.

Mathematical Confusion

I was in the VI std and a Scholastic book fair was going on. They were offering 10% discount on any book exclusively for the students of my school. After searching for a book, I landed upon a good kids horror book. The book costed Rs.60. I had Rs.50 in my pocket. I thought to myself "10% discount means 60-10 = Rs.50". Satisfied with my calculations, I went to the only counter where a young lady was handling it. I gave her the book and also the Rs.50 note.

The lady said, "I need four more bucks"
I stood there giving a shocked expression.
"How? 60 - 10 = 50, right?"
I held my stand but the lady gave a chuckle and continued to explain clearly, "The book costs Rs.60. 10% of 60 is 6. So after deducting the 10%, i.e 6, the remaining amount should be 54. You gave only 50 bucks. I need four more bucks".
I didn't have any more money. I had just brought a 50 buck note. When I stood there still confused at the calculations, the kind lady smiled again and said, "All right, You did not understand. I will pay the four bucks for you. But you must promise me that you won't tell anyone, ok?"
I nodded, still confused with the calculations she did. After giving a brief thought, I thanked the lady and left.

Pronounciation Confusion

It happened four or five years back. Arunkumar, M.S.Karthikeyan and myself went to a Pizza Hut outlet. After ordering for a pizza, the delivery boy asked us whether we want anything else to eat and after a negative reply, he placed a bill. The delivery boy did not come to collect to bill after we finished eating. So we were busy chatting after eating the pizza.

The delivery boy finally came and said, "Check"
Karthikeyan looked at the guy and answered sincerely, "No cheque! Only cash!"
The delivery boy smiled and now said the complete words, "No sir, Check the bill!"
We laughed aloud as we exitted the shop.

Language Confusions

This incident happened six years back. The train had just stopped in Howrah and we were still waiting in the station for further arrangements to be made. People were lying spread on all the spaces available and atop a pillar, there was a TV attached and the movie "Predator" was being shown in a channel. We were waiting for a long time and my uncle told me to get two bottles of pepsi from a petty shop in the platform. I got the money and went to the guy handling the petty shop. Though I knew only a few words in hindi, I decided to test my hindi with him.

"Dhou pepsi bottle" (Two pepsi bottles), I said pointing at the 500 ml pet bottle.
He took out two bottles. I knew the standard prize but I still decided to test my hindi knowledge further.
"Kitna rupee?" (How much rupee?) Only after saying those words, I realized that I wouldn't understand whatever he replies. Too late! He said some amount in hindi which I hoped he didn't lie. I handed him a hundred buck note. Like all shopkeepers, he was also honest as he handed me the remaining amount. I realized one thing, "Look before you leap"

Another incident happened in a hotel in Nepal. We have heard from people that the nights in Nepal would be chilly. Who would know much better than the room boy? So my aunt and myself and one more person were there questioning the room boy. We expected the room boy to know some hindi and the room boy expected us to know hindi. Unfortunately, all of us knew only little hindi (or we knew worst hindi than the room boy). I knew that the word "baahar" means outside and the word "thandaa" means cold. "Kya" means "what?". So I decided to experiment.

"Baahar mae thaandaa kya?"
The room boy blinked.
Then I wondered where the word "mae" came from. I replaced the word with some other word.
"Baahar thou thandaa kya?"
The room boy still blinked. My aunt also tried to explain. I decided to go on with word by word.
"Baahar?"
He nodded.
"Thandaa?" He nodded again, smiling, probably proud that he is getting to understand us.
"Baahar thandaa kya?"
He once again blinked. We decided to quit with the idea as it was turning out to be fruitless. In another fruitless conversation, my aunt ended up saying in tamil, "Poda, neenga pesuradhu engaluku puriyala. Naanga pesuradhu ungaluku puriyala" (You don't understand what we are speaking, We don't understand what you are speaking"