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Isabella ... She's cute . She's smart . I call her Bella. People do find it
strange, as Bella is Vodka's puppy. ( For the late comers , Vodka is my pet dog
and she lives in a studio apartment kennel near my office ). Strangeness in
Bella is in her name. Being Vodka's puppy, people did expect me to name her
Bloody Mary or Kamikaze . But I named her Isabella , fondly called "bella".
Nobody asked me "why" ?
Closest friends knew that I had a childhood crush ( which is still intact ) on a
yesteryear Actress Sumalatha. She did act in the title role of a malayalam
movie, "Isabella". I dont rememeber the story, but since Sumalatha was in it ,
story never matters. However, she is not the reason why my Bella is named
Isabella.
Whenever I go inside the spacious kennel of Vodka & Bella , Vodka runs to me
with Bella trailing her . Vodka stands up on her hind legs so that I can
scratch her chin and neck which she thoroughly enjoys. I take my hands of her
chin and she'll start whining. Bella is totally opposite. She runs around me ,
but never comes closer.
One day, I had to put a new collar belt for her . She just never let me and
started running. Finally after atleast 20 rounds in the kennel, I cornered her
and she suddenly became so still. I tried to make her stand but her legs were
stretched out as if she was in rigor-mortis. No cajoling made her get up or
atleast run away. There was no barking or whining. I guess, she was in a state
of shock that comes out of fear.
What has this got to do with the name 'Isabella'?
I always enjoy going to railway station, not knowing when or which is the next
train that I can catch. Sometimes, I end up in the railway station for hours
together, because I never bothered to check the timetable before leaving to
station. That day was different coz train was in the platform when I reached
the station. By the time I got my ticket, train was already moving . I ran in
and got into a second class compartment.
After Thrissur pooram, the only place I've seen so many people would be in
Parasuram Express on a friday afternoon. Saying that the compartment was "full"
would be an understatement. There were atleast 5 people sitting in a 3 seater.
People were getting crushed near the exits. I tugged myself through the bags and
bellies of others standing, to reach the center of compartment. I was standing
on the aisle on one leg, with the other leg constantly probing around for a
possible free space to get a foothold.
Minutes passed like hours and finally after 30 minutes I got my sense back.
Looking around , I saw a five seater with 2 teenage girls sharing one seat. They
both were chit-chatting animatedly and peppering it with hushed laughters. I
instantly hated both of them primarily coz hatred comes out of jealousy . I was
not even having a corner to rest my butt on, while those two were having the
time of their life. Shame on them.
1 hour later , we reached Kottayam when one of the girls got up and said
bye to her friend. Another lady in the same 3 seater also got up to leave. As I
noticed it, I was smelling a possible solace to my worries. Like a true Samaritan, I waited
for the ladies to go past me , so that I can request a corner of the seat.
Little did I know that, there were other hungry animals around preying on the
same seat. Even before the ladies passed me, there was a sudden pushing &
pulling from nowhere. As I got back my balance, I could see that the corner seat
was already taken. Damn , my chivalry. !!
Good thing was that from then on, I could stand on my two legs. World was
slightly brighter and I could see the winner of prized seat clearly & the gal
next to him. The train chugged on as I prayed for the next stop to come faster,
so as to get some place to rest my butt on.
Its very difficult to not look at a cute girl, even if you hate her for the
luxury she enjoys. Especially after one's chivalry has cost him a seat. ( Okay,
I couldnt come out with a better reasoning for bird-watching ).
The cute gal was not looking cute anymore. She was looking dull. Perhaps she
is feeling lonely after her friend left her. After few minutes , when my eyes
returned to her, I saw tears filling up in her eyes. Oh , the emotional
creatures !!
Something else also caught my eye, this time. The gentleman had his
right elbow jammed into her ribs. The gentleman, was sitting with his eyes
closed but I can sense that he was not sleeping at all. She moved a little and
his elbows pushed her even further.
Nobody else is seeing what I'm seeing and I was not sure what to do. Before I
could even think about my options, she looked up with teary eyes and saw me
staring at her. Usually, I take my eyes away coz I get self conscious, but this
time I strangely did not take away my gaze. I guess, that opened the tap and
she covered her face with both hands. Everyone around suddenly took interest in
whats happening with her as her sobbing was pretty audible. But she never took
her hands away.
Gentleman, who acted as if he woke up after a good night's sleep suddenly saw
everyone's attention on the girl. He moved his elbows away. Someone around
asked the girl, if she is okay and she nodded her head in acceptance. Damn!!
she could have said , "No" . She could have given the gentleman, "one tight
slap". She could have atleast got up from the place and walked away. Nothing.
simply nothing.
After sometime , another person in her three seater got up and walked away. She
moved to the window . Before I could move in to the middle seat, gentleman
moved himself to the one closer to her. I had to settle in the corner seat, but
my anger was shooting up . I was mostly angry at myself for not doing anything
about what I saw , she suffered and he did.
The anger made me write a small message for her in the reader's digest I was
carrying and she responded to me in few words. The gentleman got up and
walked away after that. When the train reached Chengannur, she stood up gave
me a smile and bid bye to me and walked away. On her shoulder bag, there was a
sticker which read "Isabella".
Isabella for me is that girl I saw in the train. Someone who is ready to suffer
all her pains without responding or reacting to it.
Isabella for me is the lady who sacrificed her happiness, thinking that is what
is expected of her.
Isabella for me is one who keeps quiet even when her heart says shout out.
Isabella for me is someone who is lost & lonely in this crowded world
Isabella for me is one who does not know, what she should do.
This song is dedicated for you , Isabella . Neermizhipeeliyil Neermizhipeeliyil neermani tulumbi nee yen arikil ninnu
kannuneer tudakkathe onnum parayathe
ninnu njanum oranyane pole
verum anyane pol Movie Name: Vachanam (1990) Singer: Yesudas KJ Music Director: Mohan Sithara Lyrics: Kurup ONVYear: 1990
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