My Journey in a Paper Van

Pic courtesy: http://www.imcdb.org/

It was July 1984 and Mangalore got a TV station to coincide with the Los Angeles Olympics. My brother wanted a Dyanora CTV(CT212) which was not available in Mangalore.

In Bangalore there was heavy rush as well but I could succeed in booking one through M/s Devi International on Madrtas Bank Road(St Mark's Cross Road). After much waiting that evening till 10:30pm, I got my piece, tested it, got it repacked and took it to my home in Malleshwaram. I also purchased 3 sets of 5 element antennae with mounting pipes and a full coil of ribbon cable for my brother and two other friends which was cheap compared to Mangalore.

Now the question was whether to book all that in a lorry or take it in the bus. A friend of mine told me that Hindu paper van(Matador) starts at little after 11:00pm and reaches Mangalore much before 7:00am to deliver paper and works out cheaper than bus/lorry. I booked a seat for the next night's schedule and also luggage space in that van at Sheetal Hotel in Gandhinagar which was the booking and pickup point.

Reached there well on time at 10:00pm and loaded the TV and the antennae plus my suitcase. The van was almost 50% loaded with heaps of cartons making chirping sounds that they told me are baby chicks that were being delivered to a Poultry. There were also 3 passengers seated in a cramped manner on the back seat! I wondered how they're going to dump the paper. That day being a Thursday, the weekly magazine Frontline was also printed and ready for loading. I got the front seat behind the driver on which I placed the TV box near the window and sat in the middle.

The van went straight to Hindu press on Cunningham Road, parked inside the compound and loading started. It was a never ending load and by the time they stuffed in all the bundles, the van was jam packed and even the back of my neck started getting hurt by the paper bundles! Besides, the birds kept chirping and I started getting a mild headache! From Hindu press, the van started at 11:45pm and the driver drove like a rally driver, screeching brakes at major towns like Kunigal, Chennarayapatna, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Uppinangady and unloading bundles of paper and Frontline. It rained cats and dogs almost all through the way and he entered every small town and was throwing them bundles expertly out of the window, without even stopping over! I had a doubt whether the paper remains intact in such a heavy rain but the driver said, someone will pick them bundles from the steps of the shops sooner, where he threw them.

Great network, that!

The chicks kept chirping nonstop. Two of the passengers behind me kept grumbling about chicks being loaded on paper van but I was tight lipped, as my load of TV and antennae were also questionable!

The cartons containing the birds were unloaded at BC Road and we all sighed in relief!when we reached Hampankatta little after 7:00am, it was bright and sunny. I sighed in relief that at least for unloading, I got an ideal weather! We reached Vyas Rao's Paper stall in Mannagudda near to my home, where I got down and unloaded the luggage, caught an autorickshaw and went home. The TV and the antennae reached safely.

My plight didn't end there. My head was reeling and I still heard birds chirping around my head with 3D surround sound like a baddie knocked down by the hero in some cartoon strip! I couldn't hear a word that my folks at home spoke and I was literally moving around like a zombie. I'd not slept a wink after getting into the van!

It took me almost two days to overcome that chirping sound and become normal!

Cycle Balance

Pic courtesy: DIPTENDU DUTTA/AFP/Getty Images

It was October 1967 and Dasara time. A Tamil song from Sivaji Ganesan movie was playing aloud on the horn loudspeaker. Over a hundred people were gathered around the make shift arena built on the vacant land of Panchavati Colony behind Modern Talkies Shimoga. They were cheering aloud as a slim dark man in his Twenties, wearing black half pants and colourful floral design shirt, was pedaling the bicycle round and round, nonstop. A banner written in rustic Kannada and Tamil read "Cycle Balance non stop 7 days. Shanmugham challenge".

Yes. Such scenes were not unusual those days in the Sixties in old Mysore province. They were supposed to keep pedaling the bicylce for 7 days without touching the feet or other parts of the body to the ground. I have also seen a movie in which, jobless hero has pressure on him to get his mother or sister cured for a deadly disease and he resorts to nonstop cycle balance to earn money.

That Shanmugham seemed to do it regularly for a livelihood. They had all the necessary equipments like the gramophone and the public address system with something written in Tamil. I think they travelled by buses and went from town to town, him performing the feat.

I was fascinated, as I was on a holiday, staying in my sister's home nearby, I was still 10 years old and I had nothing better to do! My brothers, a few relatives and myself stood and watched Shanmugham pedal the bicycle while he did some feats like they do in circus like wheelie and staying still without touching his feet to the ground. He also entertained the crowd by miming his lips to the song playing on the gramophone.

Couple of days went by and late one evening, I saw Shanmugham leaning over the fencing and having bath with cold water, while staying on the bike. I appreciated that, but also wondered how on earth will he attend to nature's call while balacing on the cycle!

Then on the fourth day, Four of us boys went to watch a movie. At around 10:00 in the night, we were returning home. As we reached the arena where the cycle balance was going on, we neither saw any light, nor we heard any sound on the gramophone. Shanmugham was visible sitting on the bicycle in the dark smoking a beedi, but with his left foot touching the ground! We laughed aloud and suddenly music started to play, lights were switched on, and Shanmugham threw the beedi butt and started pedalling the bike aggressively!

As we tried to move away, a woman grinned at us with an apologetic look on her face that seemed to say 'Please don't think he has broken the challenge. He was out of his mind or probably he was sleepy. Otherwise he will do this nonstop!' We just laughed heartily and went home.

Shanmugham completed his "7 day nonstop Cycle Balance challenge" exactly on the Seventh day amidst a loud cheer, some folks garlanding him and applying turmeric powder and ash on his forehead and offering him tender coconut to drink. He looked like real hero of Tamil film with dark glasses on and milky white teeth sparkling in the sun!

He gave a long speech in Tamil, thanking all the people and said he never gets tired when he takes up challenges like the one he just completed. The crowd cheered and threw coins into the bowl a small girl went around with. However, he ignored us boys smiling and watching him with keen eyes! 

Cheap Of-FUR

Winter days were fast approaching when I was in Mysore in 1979. I had to travel early in the morning to Chamarajanagar and return late in the evening. Some of my colleagues suggested me that I buy a sleeveless sweater and beat the chills.

Those days, a sleeveless sweater in any shop cost little above Rs.120/-. I did check in two or three different stores but was two minded, whether to buy one or not. My salary of little over Rs. 500/- per month just kept me going and I had to travel to Mangalore once in three months to overcome home sickness. That cost quite a bit because I took some goodies home and while returning, purchased something for my friends and colleagues.

Then on a weekend, I was chatting with my Mangalorean friends near the post box in KR Circle. A Tibetan woman grinned and asked us if we want sweaters. I was attracted to the different designs, some resembling typical American Apache Indians' attire! I asked the woman the price. She said it ranged from Rs.45/- to Rs. 75/-. I thought, the prices were reasonable as well, and asked her to show the pieces.

Prabhat Kumar, the senior most among us, also my childhood friend, warned me that Tibetan sweaters were not good. He advised me to buy a branded one in any shop paying more. I again thought about my bank balance and nodded my head. Just to save myself from the curse of Prabhat, I asked the lady to move on and said I'm not interested. She was surprised and she went away.

The next day I was standing alone at KR Circle waiting for my friends. It was just 6:30pm but was already dark. Sundays my friends usually appeared late, as they either went for a movie matinee show or to have evening snacks and coffee at Madhu Nivas Roof Top, Deepa Drive-In or Dasprakash before reaching the usual hangout, the Post Box.

Then she was there, the same Tibetan woman. She was looking as charming as she was the previous evening and she again grinned and asked me if I want a sweater. I was bored and thought why not have a look into the heap she was carrying. I also developed sympathy for her, being a refugee who travelled all the way from Tibet to reach Kushalnagar and settle down, doing hard work and making sweaters. I thought, I will buy one for sure, no matter anyone likes that or not!

I asked her to show a sleeveless white one with dark blue ethnic design. She showed that and I knew there was bargain in Mysore for almost every deal. She started from Rs. 45/- and I started from Rs. 10/- and was rigid about it. After many minutes of bargaining, she parted with it for Rs. 10/- and I bought it, feeling jubilant. I also wore it, though it had some foul smell. I thought I'll surprise Prabhat and other friends with my buy and bluff that I purchased it in a showroom on Dhanavantari Road.

After 20 minutes or so, Prabhat Kumar, Krishna Kumar and Shashidhar Pandit appeared on their scooters and bikes. Pandit had an eye for fashion garments and he was fascinated to see my sweater. He came closer, touched the sweater and asked me, from where I purchased it and how much I paid for it.  I first boasted about the name of a ready made garment showroom on Dhanavantri Road and said I paid Rs. 100/-  but he didn't believe me. He said, the feel says this is a Tibetan sweater! Prabhat heard him and stared at me with a "I told you not to, but you didn't listen to me" look!

I then told them everything and said I am not worried about the quality, as It was a temporary measure till January when the winter will be over. I also added that I felt good by helping that Tibetan woman who was struggling to sell the sweaters. They laughed and said that's usually the case with new bakras who fall for Tibetan women, their smile, their sweet talk and charm! I started feeling a bit odd but controlled my agony.

When I reached my room after a night out at Kings Kourt and removed the sweater over my head, I heard couple of stitches giving way. I also felt some kind of itching sensation around my neck. When I examined my neck in the shaving mirror, I saw red rashes all around it! Then when I gazed at my Raymonds Woolen pant, the area that was covered with the sweater was full of white fur from the sweater. I could not remove it that easily and I felt helpless. I frantically tried to rub the pant with nylon washing brush without success. My roommate Mohan Reddy was laughing aloud watching my plight and I shouted at him to get lost. I said I shall leave the room the very next morning, if he ever tried to laugh over my miseries. He silently went out on the balcony and watched the stars in the sky.

I hung the sweater on the wooden frame of my bed, went to bath room and washed my arms and face with soap and water. Still felt the itch on my neck but I was helpless, without any anti-histamine tablets or cream in stock.

I called Reddy and said, " Look. I think I am allergic to the wool they've used in the sweater. That's why I got the itch. I remember using some woolen blanket in Dwarka Hotel Hyderabad few years ago, and then also it was itching like this."

Reddy said "No sir. It is some cheap fur they use to make these sweaters. You should feel lucky if they haven't made it with Dog's fur!"

I was shocked! For the first time in my life I felt grossly taken for a ride by that smiling fair skinned charming Tibetan woman. I cursed my luck and thought, there's no hope left for humanity in this world. If we get duped by people for whom we show sympathy and try to help them this is what we get in return! I also thought, Reddy might be right. That's the smell, dog smell that I got when I wore the sweater for the first time!

Next morning I wore the sweater and travelled in the train to Chamarajanagar. Most of the train mates were impressed by the design but they warned me that Tibetan sweaters are not strong. I need to get them stitched on the insides for better reinforcement. For a moment I also heard some grinding sound of wheels on railway track and thought the train is skidding while changing tracks at Nanjangud outer signal, but we were still in Kadakola. It was Vijay Kumar of Indian Bank and Badalu Srinivas my colleague squeaking like rats trying to laugh without showing any emotions. I just nodded my head and watched the marshland through the window with deep worry.

After I reached the branch, I removed the sweater and did my work. In the late afternoon, our Bank sweeper Madamma came and she watched the sweater hanging on the back of my chair. She asked me how much I paid and where I bought it. I told her about that. She asked me to get one for her the next time, as she wanted one badly to keep her warm in her thatched roof home.

Suddenly an idea struck my mind!

I whispered "Madamma.....!"

"Sir?"

"Do you really want a sweater like this one?"

"Yes sir."

"Definitely? God promise?"

"Ayyo sir...what are you saying? Don't you believe me? I want one sir!"

"Take this Madamma. It's all yours."

"But sir, don't you want it? How much should I pay for it?"

"Nothing Madamma. Just take it, but on one condition. Don't tell anyone about it. Never wear this when you come to Bank. I don't want anyone to know that I gave this to you for free."

"Sure sir. Thank you sir. Goddess Chamundeshwari bless you sir."

She was looking extremely delighted. I still remember her smile when she took the sweater and turned around twice before leaving, and looked at me with gratitude.

(Almost)Missed Train - Experience 1

Pic source: http://wallzoa.com

Train journeys are fascinating. We get to enjoy the nature passing by, while we make friends with fellow travellers, have breakfast, lunch and dinner on board and also have the facility of toilet.

My first train experience was from Mangalore to Manjeshwar in the year 1966 when my father's friend Manjeshwar Vasudeva Kamath and his family came down from Mumbai to attend the festival 'Manjeshwar Shashti'. Since they stayed in our home, they persuaded me to come with them and enjoy the festive mood. We travelled by the passenger train in the evening to reach little after dark. That was by all means thrilling, but that's not what I'm talking about.

I was invited by my friend Ganesh Baliga in the year 1976 October to visit Madras for the first time. He was working for Fedders Lloyd Airconditioners then.

That Saturday, I caught the Mangalore Madras Mail in the afternoon and reached Madras the next morning. Baliga came to the Central Station and picked me up on his Lambretta scooter and we reached his room in a Lodge opposite Kodambakkam Railway Station.

I spent 4 days with him, happily visiting relatives and friends, visiting places including a day trip to Mahabalipuram and thoroughly enjoyed his hospitality. He was a good cook and his simple rice and daalithoi with a curry in the night is something to reminisce over.

My return journey was booked by Brindavan Express to Bangalore, where I wanted to spend a couple of days with my brother and my uncle's family.

The night before, Baliga told me "Rajani, your train is in the morning at 7:35. We need 15-20 minutes to reach the station. SO, I'll keep the alarm set for 6:00am, prepare coffee and have some bread butter with it. By 6:45 we must start. You better be alert and wake up as soon as I call your name first thing in the morning!"

I nodded, but the night was stilling and we kept listening to the album 'The Sound of The Sunshine Band' that I had recorded for him on a cassette and also talked and talked till maybe 2:00am!

The next morning when I heard Baliga shout my name, I opened my eyes and saw him looking at me with panic in his eyes! He feebly said "It's already 7:05am and we have hardly time to talk anything. I'll run to the parking lot and start my scooter. You come down with the luggage. Now don't waste any time!"

Obviously, he had missed the alarm and woken up late!

I nodded my head, just washed my face, changed my dress, packed my bag in a hurry and ran to the parking lot. There he was, ready with his scooter. The time was 7:15am.

He drove very fast on the Kodambakkam High Road and reached Mount Road. Luckily traffic was not much, but as he went past the various Embassies, Secretariat and reached the other end, there was deviation for some road work going on! Time was 7:30am.

He cursed the Municipal Corporation for the sudden development and somehow managed to reach the Central station at sharp 7:35am!

He shouted "Rajani Brindavan is on platform no.1. Go from the open right side gate of the terminus. I'll park the scooter and be there. If I miss you, we shall meet next time in Mangalore".

I did just that and as I reached the train, it blew horn and started moving! I jumped into the nearest compartment, stood at the door and saw Baliga appearing just on time to wave goodbye. I too waved at him.

The jubilant, happy and thrilled expression on both our faces was copious!

Tiger Dancer

Pic courtesy: Rajesh Shetty

Mangalorean Tulu speaking people are generalised as 'Shettys', no matter they are Poojary, Bhandary, Hegde, Shettigar or otherwise.

I happened to meet this Shetty in Shediguri(Ashok Nagar) in Mangalore in the year 1974 where we lived in a rented house belonging to the Yenepoyas for 3 months from July to September. He had a shop near our home selling vegetables, fruits and a few grocery items. This Shetty was a courteous guy who called me 'Dhani'(Sir) even though I was just 17 then!

I used to buy bananas from him and a few vegetable items. He was very reasonable and he charged slightly lower price than in Mannagudda or Ballalbagh where we used to do most of the shopping. When the prices of vegetables and bananas went up during Dasara time in the latter half of September, he was very apologetic saying, "Onthe piriya atthe dhani. Maarnami kariyi boka sama aapundu."(Slightly costly now Sir. After Mahanavami/Dasara is over, prices come back to normal)

Starting from the 8th day of Dasara, we get to see many 'Pili Veshas' or Tiger Dance troupes going from home to home, dancing to the wonderful rhythm of 'Taashe' and 'Dhol', the local instruments that we used to compare with Afro beats of Santana, Osibisa and similar western artists of the early Seventies. Known people who lead the troupes  were paid well by the householders, anywhere from Rs.25/- to Rs.100/- those days and unknown ones were discouraged from dancing or they themselves avoided such homes.

On the Ninth day(Mahanavami) we heard the Pili Vesha band approaching our home and a troupe having 6-8 tigers entered the compound and started dancing aggressively! We never knew any known troupes from Ballalbagh or Mannagudda side reaching a far away place like Shediguri those days and my mother told me, "Stop them and tell them that we don't entertain strangers".

I obeyed her and politely told the vesha leader to move forward. I told him that we don't promote unknown people dancing the tiger and they are not going to get anything. I also added that I don't want to insult them by paying a Rupee or two!

Then that guy with a well protruded paunch smiled and told me humbly "Yaan dhani. Gurtha thikkije?"(It's me sir. Didn't you recognise me?)

Omigosh! It was our Shetty, the vegetable shop owner!

I felt ashamed and ran inside to inform mother that he's a known person. Mother also felt embarrassed and she said "Now I don't have change with me. All I have is a 5 Rupee note and a Hundred Rupee note. If I pay him 100 Rupees, your father will definitely take me to task!"

I took the 5 Rupee note and handed it over to Shetty. He immediately ordered the band to play again and started dancing feverishly with all the other members of the troupe for another 5 minutes and finally he did the back bend like a scorpion which we call 'Chelu Bagguvudu' and picked the 5 Rupee note with his lips, an act done mostly by those who are paid over Rs.25/-!

We all had a hearty laugh after he left our place with his troupe.

Twentieth Century Bheem

Mustafa Volli was a humble looking silent ex-serviceman staff in our bank who resembled Boris Becker. He lived in a joint family house on Ansari Road. Was an unassuming guy.

He had a peculiar habit. Going to the toilet soon after the bank hours are over at 5.00pm! Perhaps he didn't have the comfort of western toilet at his home. That's why.

One evening, he went to the toilet and slightly dozed off while sitting on the commode. The attender Krishna is a super fast guy who moved like mercury and did his job like clockwork! He as usual inspected the toilet area but forgot to find out if anyone's in. That's how Mustafa got trapped inside the Bank premises!

That's not all. Mustafa opened his eyes at little time past Six and when he came out of the toilet, he was shocked to see the common door was locked! He gazed at the glass panel on the big ventilator without a grill and thought of breaking it but he also knew that outside the window is a direct drop almost 30 feet below and he may end up with fractured skull or limbs if he tried to jump out!

He also thought of breaking open the common door but he knew about the burglar alarm fixed on that door. In case police arrived at the spot and caught him he'd be facing charges for a break in attempt.

His Air Force training had made him strong like a man of steel and he had maintained that even at his late Fifties. So, his next idea was to try escape through the toilet ventilator.

Again, his knowledge of carpentry came in handy and he knew that ventilator rods have holes with extra length on one side. He used all his skills and force to move and bend the two rods and make a gap for a man to pass through the ventilator. Climbed over the commode and the flush tank, slowly lowered his legs on the other side, facing the inside of the toilet. He then held the frame of the ventilator to hang on to and yet, there was a gap of 1 foot almost between his feet and the cornice outside. If he made a small mistake, he'd fall down 25-30 feet into a narrow lane, breaking his bones!

He made up his mind and let go of the ventilator frame and landed on the cornice! Then he slowly moved inch by inch sideways, hugging the wall like Spiderman and reached the corner. Moved to the other side and luckily he found a ladder placed by the painters against the wall and scaled down to reach the narrow lane below. That lane led to the back door of the wholesale grocery shop Dhanalaxmi Traders, which is right in front of the building. He entered through that door and reached the godown of the shop. Nobody was in there. It was almost 6:30pm when he did all this. Then he waited for 5 minutes when a porter came and took a bag of rice on his head. Mustafa casually followed that porter and came out into the shop but none of the owners and other people paid attention to him, as they knew him well!

After reaching home, he called another colleague GV Bhat and informed him what happened. He did that because the next day Bank Manager should not suspect a robbery attempt and call the police, who may take finger prints, do interrogation and take him to task!

All ended well for Mustafa Volli and we all cheered thrice to commend his act of bravery and I called him Twentieth Century Bheem!

Hypnotism

Pic source: http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/kaa,mowgli/Interesting

Disclaimer:
This is not to prove that Hypnotism is fake or those who practise it indulge in match fixing. This is only to show that personal loyalty, integrity, determination, strong will power and endurance can be more effective than being in a state of hypnosis.

Introduction:
One can remember how Kaa the snake in Jungle Book story tries to hypnotise Mowgli the boy and enslaves him!

Hypnotism was very much popular in the Early Seventies. Here in Mangalore, Prof. Din Coly had demonstrated Hypnotism in his shows at Town Hall. My brother was in Mysore Medical College then and he learned Hypnotism by reading books and watching others perform. Late Din Pai was also into Hypnotism then, and both my brother and Pai were friends. Narendra Nayak also was an enthusiast demonstrating Hypnotism those days.

Introduction:
Hypnotism was very much popular in the Early Seventies. Here in Mangalore, Prof. Din Coly had demonstrated Hypnotism in his shows at Town Hall. My brother was in Mysore Medical College then and he learned Hypnotism by reading books and watching others perform. Late Din Pai was also into Hypnotism then, and both my brother and Pai were friends. Narendra Nayak also was an enthusiast demonstrating Hypnotism those days.

Experience No. 1

Narendra Nayak held shows mostly at Pompei School Hall(St Aloysius School Urva) and I attended one such show at Pompei School. I also sold tickets for Narendra Nayak's shows since he was a good friend.

Narendra first explained to the audience, the scientific background of Hypnosis and its uses in curing certain psychological disorders. He then did a mock demonstration with a sample subject on stage. Finally he called a few people from the audience and demonstrated real hynotism.

That part was rather funny due to the presence of Narendra's youngest brother Surendra among the people participated. When Narendra mesmerised those on the dais with his catch words "Sleep! Deep sleep sound sleep...!", Surendra was quick to respond and others took some time.

I then started to get a doubt that Surendra was acting as if he's being mesmerised, to show the spectators that his brother  a powerful Hypnotist!

Then Narendra gave command to each one of them to perform certain duty and Surendra was made to act like Shammi Kapoor, supposed to be his

favourite actor. Surendra jumped and danced like Shammi Kapoor, tilting and nodding his head just like him! Then all others played the roles of their choice and were asked to relax in their chairs.

Then Narendra flicked his fingers and shouted "SLEEP!"

Surendra fell off his chair and started snoring! At this point, Naredndra also was convinced that Surendra is acting, and he disqualified him and sent him back to audience. Surendra walked like a zombie and sat in the front row.

Narendra repeated the show with the remaining ones on stage performing in different roles and then again shouted "SLEEP".

This time, it was rather unexpected, but Surendra fell off the chair on which he's sitting in the audience. He also started snoring aloud!

Then Narendra either got convinced that Surendra was indeed mesmerised or he didn't want further embarrassment by his brother's overacting.

He called him back on stage and ordered him to perform something else than being Shammi Kapoor and Surendra did it well!

Experience No. 2

Same year, my Medico brother was home on a long vacation.

He wanted to show his talent as Hypnotist and he announced that in the afternoon he will demonstrate Hypnotism in our Radio Room and all the neighbourhood boys were supposed to be present.

Around 6-8 boys including me and my elder brother were present. My brother asked a volunteer to come forward. I went forward and he started the usual commands like swinging a key chain and asking me to concentrate on it, saying in soft tone that slowly my limbs, my eyes and my whole body feels numb and then I will go into a different world in my sleep. He then said "Sleep" and I closed my eyes, leaned on the folding chair with my head rested on my shoulder like we sleep in a bus!

Then he asked me to cry like a baby, laugh like a hyena, roar like a lion, act like a monkey and what he did next, is very interesting!

He asked my elder brother to get some small round root vegetable 'Arvi'(Aalva Maande we call that in Konkani) and he got them intact, unwashed, with mud sticking to them! I was slightly worried now about what will happen if I am told to eat them!

My expectation was not wrong. He did exactly like I thought and he said "Now I have these delicious juicy world famous apples from Kullu Valley. You just enjoy eating them!"

Omigosh! Kullu Valley apples...these arvi root bulbs! That too with heaps of mud! I thought I'd quit and say I'm very much alert and not at all in a stupor, but my priority was to save my brother from embarrassment in the eyes of our friends who had high regard for him! They may lose faith in him forever and all the good things he'd done mnay go wasted!

I was determined, and I ate two of them at a go, hurriedly biting and chewing them, feeling irritation in my throat and the sandy taste of mud as I chewed them but I didn't stop. I ate them both completely and laughed happily, though inside me I was crying silently!

They all clapped and approved "Bhayankara mhaaraaya! Aagabahudu!"(Amazing man! Really great)

I thought he will stop at that and end the session, so that I can run to the toilet and puke all that muddy crap and feel good. He went further and said "Now this is the last and final feat for today. For that I want a volunteer, heaviest and strongest among you all."

Balu came forward. He was well built and strong, at least 60 Kilos at his age of 12! I was watching with half my eyes closed and thought,

"Today is my last day, I'll be told to wrestle/do boxing with Balu, he will give a few solid ones and I'll bleed to death for sure!"

My brother smiled and said "I will demonstrate steel body! Yes. A human being with body as strong as Bhilai Steel! Now this man will sleep facing up, on two folding chairs placed opposite to each other with a space in the middle. When I give him command, his body will become stiff and strong as steel. Then Balu will stand on his stomach for 1 minute to show that this is not fake!"

I started to curse my luck for being born in that household and also thought, it would've been more convenient, if I were born elder to my brother testing me like a guinea pig with so called Hypnotism and all that nonsense!"

Yet, my loyalty, my integrity, my dedication, my determination...these overpowered my weakness and I at that moment thought, "Anyway this is the last part of the program. Let me withstand this torture as well!"

I was adept at adjusting according to circumstanes and I had a knack of passing through any calamity without uttering a word. I inherited this unique quality from both my parents who were mentally strong as long as they lived!

They placed two metallic folding chairs opposite to one another, I was told to lie down on them with my legs on one and my shoulders on the other with almost 2 feet of my torso hanging loose!

"Now you will feel like tempered steel sheet from Bhilai plant. You can withstand 5 Tonnes of load on your body! Keep stiff. Keep still!"

I tightened the stomach muscles as much as I could, held my breath, made my body stiff and waited.

Balu climbed on a stool kept next to my tummy, set his first foot on my belly, tested if it is firm, two boys held his hand to support, then he set his other foot as well and stood on my belly. My abdominal muscles were stiff but Balu was moving with a swinging action like tight rope walkers swing in a circus. I didn't feel any pain in my tummy surprisingly and I could bear his weight for slightly more than a minute without breathing even! My face flushed with blood rushing in my veins and I thought my brain will explode, but then Balu was asked to get off my stomach and I was set free!

I was alive! Yes. If I were not alive that day, I'd not have shared that incidence with you all today!

My throat irritation persisted for 2 days in spite of gargling with hot salt water or consuming Incidal tablets. I can still remember the pungent taste of raw arvi with its rough skin coated with mud even today!

Thankfully my brother discontinued hypnotism after that, and I was spared from getting dejected in life.