The Zombie song

So I met a Zombie
in the middle of the night
Driving down highway 54
Which adds up to nine

He had just one thumb
Which was just right
For he was waving asking
For a lift to get
On his way to wherever

I was a bit drunk
So I stopped to pick him up
He got into the car
And gave me a smile
Or so I thought cause
There were no teeth

He said thanks for stopping
No one does that anymore
And so it had taken him a year of walking
And yet he was far from the place he
Wanted to go

Nobody understood him he said
Everybody was afraid of him
Some who saw him
Said he was just a figment of their imagination
And looked away

And others were not so kind
And waved a cross at him
As if he would disappear
And close their eyes in fear
But not one liked him

He was a bit gloomy for
He was the only one of his kind left
Not willing to move on
Stuck in a reality that was not his
And yet he was the one who was scared

Scared of compromise or something
Scared of a lot of things
Scared of moving on and finding
His own kind that he missed
May not be the thing that
His dreams were made of

And all such crap or so I thought
Like I said I was drunk
The details were fuzzy
But the truth was clear
I didn’t know what to say
To cheer him up

A similar situation I am in
I told him so
And smiled at him
Teeth and all

He laughed at the smile
I knew so from the sound
He said I haven't seen someone
Smile and show me their teeth
In the way you just did

He got down a few miles later
I wished him luck as he did me
And a half hour later I wondered
Did that really happen
Or was that the future…

Cat Stories

This reminded me of The Cat. Thats what I called her. She wasn't allowed inside the house and within a year of finding us she had become a part of all our lives. In my house back in Madras the layout was such that my study room was above the garage and its windows opened onto a balcony. One day when I came to my study room I found the cat sitting on the ironing table by the window which I had forgotten to close. Instinctively I scolded the cat in my loud voice and said " WHat are you doing in here. You know you are not allowed inside the house. Get out!!" and I pointed to the open window. She just looked back at me and gave me a concerned meow..I actually felt her say why the hell are you shouting. I am not going out through the window! I just calmed down. And said softly " Ok.. You know you are not allowed inside here. So follow me out." She got up at once and jumped down, Followed me through the house - two rooms later we were at the front door which I opened and she looked up at me gave me a meow and walked out with dignity.

Hatred- I hate

Sometimes I get this feeling of Anger
That is unexplained and contradictory
To my nature that is
Which is emboldened by a cigerette
Smoked in invincibilty

It is a feeling I cannot explain
Even to myself let alone others
Makes me feel cocky and cynical
And that I can conquer the world
With anger and hatred rather than
Try the mellow other

I thought this world could
not move me no more
with its stories of ever horror
I asked myself why
A story of say child abuse
By an organisation as big as the UN peacekeepers
Gave shock no more to me

I have become emmersed in this hatred
The world has come to spread
And I find people all around me
In different types of guilt trips
In an effort to overcome
And satisfy ones own pitiful existance

That’s all it is a lifelong guilt trip

People like to talk about these things
Like China Myanmar as if
They sypathise with the plight
And in that they are human
But I do not see any humanity in that

There are others who go
One step furthur and give
A portion of their earnings to
A fund set up to help people
In need and feel good about themselves

That too is nothing but a glorified guilt trip

And then there are those who admit
That they do not feel any feeling
And in that their strong and believe
In the survival of the fittest

In them either I do not find the humanity I look for

And yet I find humanity in small things
That I come across when I feel these strong emotions
That always bring me back to earth
And make me believe!
Something as simple as a one line email
From a sister I love very much.

The Possum or Upposum...

The night was dark. The trees were tall. There were a lot of trees for it was a forest. The forest seemed dense. You get the point as to what I am trying to describe. But trying to imagine the sights and sounds from the perspective of a little possum was difficult. It was face to face with its predator. It suddenly lay down and started emitting the foul odor of death. The predator came up to the possum and bit it in the neck nevertheless. And then suddenly it gave a howl and walked away confused. The possum bled. It saw a light despite the pain it was in. Its heart had stopped beating. And then it happened. Something likes what happens to the legendary phoenix. The bleeding had stopped and it was alive again. But nothing was the same. Never had he had the sentient sense of being before. He had been reincarnated for a reason and not allowed to pass on. And there he stood with this new found sentient sense.


Midtown

I walked around in circles. I did not know what to do. It had started with the disappearance of the neighborhood pets. The old Hag Meyabelle had claimed two of her oldest cats were missing. No one had paid attention. And then things started becoming serious. The Rutgers, Mallers and the Horns had lost their dogs on the same day. The county policemen did not know how to respond and said there was probably a predator on the loose. They had contacted the city officials who had no idea what these country bumpkins were talking about. There had been no immediate response.

But things had gone one step further towards the worse. Four little children had gone missing yesterday night among whom was little Parvathi. That was just the start of things. We were hit by a tornado. All communications were down as was the power. The two gas bunkers in the town had mysteriously blown to smithereens. The gas trailers did not come into town till Monday which was four days away. The storm had been a strange storm…. Some said it had been a freaky electric storm. None of the cars, trucks trailers would start anymore. This was freaking the hell out of us all.

We had gathered at the town house. The five hundred strong population that was our town. The sun was setting against the town house as I walked into it. The sun was in my eyes as I was partially blinded. I put my hands over my eyes which was when I saw it. I couldn’t believe what I had just seen. Had it been my imagination? I did not know. But something in what I saw made me move away from the crowd. The sun set.

It was dreary dark. I could not believe how much dependence we as a species had on electricity. And how scared we became when there was no power. I headed towards the smoke. It was the old hag Mayebelle. I followed her, as quietly as I could. She was walking fast and I was having a hard time following her. She did not show any cognizance of the fact that she was being followed. The town gave way to the forest. The forest to a clearing. And then she was gone. I was spooked but the thought of little Parvathi and the other kids kept me going. I walked up to the place I saw the Hag disappear. But every time I got close I kept finding myself that much further away.

I could not understand it. It was an illusion. It had to be. And then suddenly the doorway appeared in front of me. I do not know how or why. I walked in and found the kids tied up and the foul smell of the remnants of the poor pets. I quickly untied the kids and hurried out of there as fast as could. There was an explosion behind me. Or so I thought. I held little parvathi and the other kids close to me. There was nothing left there and there was no sign of the old hag. I headed back to town with the kids wondering how I was going to explain all this without sounding like a queer. I decided to lie.

Epilogue

The shield kept all people from discovering her ship. She was almost done with her mission. She looked at the small human kids and laughed. She would be amply rewarded for the finesse with which she had carried out her mission. She laughed again at the thought of the cats and dogs in the cage in deck two. She enjoyed this.

The Possum approached the ship. He was too small for the shield to detect and adapt. He was now in and found that she had left the door open in an air of pure confidence. He approached the end of his mission. There was his light. He walked towards the light. And then it was over. He died instantly. The foul stench of his possumness spread through the ship instantly. She screeched at the site of the main reactor becoming unstable and went below to deck two in a lame attempt to try and stabilize the core.

The attempt was lame all right... for a few minutes later she was blown to oblivion without the trace of as much as a molecule. The possum, heroism known to no one, was finally at peace

Emails from the past

Three years ago slightly edited...


"I got my visa today. This is what happened.

I got there at 7.50( my appointment wus at 8) and
afound a que that seemed like it would reach the
marina.I didnt know if i would make it to the end of
the raod(leave alone inside) by 8. So i asked guys in
the que what time their interview was. I got answers
ranging from 9.30 to 11.30. so basically i cut the que
and went atraight to the window( for check and
entering) with hundreds of people throwing silent
curses at me.

Anyways i wus inside now.I paid the dds( for the
american counsulate and the tts services) and stood
in line to get my doccuments checked.Now i had a
choice.Choice one wus a middle aged lady who didnt
seem to know that there was a mike and bullet proof
glass in front of her and choice two wus a cute lady
in her late twentys with priety zinta type of glasses.
obviosly ( being the shallow person that r all males)
i took choice no.2.Boy wus i tortured for that. She
took what seemed like ages to procees just two guys in
front of me.ppl who arrived after me where already
finished with the ch:1 lady and were gone fer the
interview while i wus there waiting.. waiting..
waiting.. i guess u get the picture.( moral of the
story the cliched u can never find a girl with beauty
as well as brains-- haha)

now i wus inside and wus directly sent to a que for
the interview. i had just one person before me.

his interview went as

Foriener: what r u gonna do in the us

this guy: i going to come back to india use the
techniques i learnt and work for the greater good of
not only the indian economy but also the greater good
of mankind as well.

the ferengi looks at him then says that wus not the
question i asked.
....... iam sorry to say that i am rejecting ur visa!

(myself : oh my god this must be the guy who is there
to reject all visas so that they have a normally
distributed rejection rate... i am doomed ... oh my
god...

the words
"please come forward" broke my reverie.

ferengi : why this university
self: i have been lokin at the resaerch blah blah
blah......
ferengi: how are u gonna pay fer it
self: i am taking an education loan and my dad is also
helpin out
ferengi: abruptly what r u gonna do afterwards
self( thinking: probabaly take a toilet break no he
must mean after the course) and before i think it out
i find myself saying "i am going to (dont say work u
goddamn idiot ur visa will surely get rejected )
"WORK" as the prosepects blah blah...
ferengi: u still havent said where ( looks at me
expectently probably thinking say the magic word " usa
" come on give me the pleasure let me reject ur visa
come on come on ...)

self: obviosly i am coming back to india because blah
blah blah ....

ferengi : there is no visa issuance fee for students
thank you ( and smiles)


and that is me story. hope havent wasted two minute s
of yer time."

The rise of Karikula

Authors note-- I did not think I would ever write sequels to my stories cause I felt that it was just too easy to come up with a story once you have established characters.But with this it is a prequel..:D and I tried to be different for my own satisfation. This is a prequel to the story

The odyssey of Karikula



The sun was right above my head. I was on my way to the legendary kingdom of Hampi. I needed some rest. The rest houses that the king had built all along the main road at intervals had been impressive. But I had decided to stray on my path to go through the countryside more. I came upon a village which was perfect for me. But for the time of day there seemed to be no activity. I went up to the first house I came upon and said,” Amma—Bhavathi Bikshan Dehi”. The lady of the house soon came out with food and water for me,” Please call out if you need anything more”. I got my much needed nourishment. As I got ready to leave I called out and she came back to the door. I said,” Amma- May the lord’s blessings be with you for helping this Brahmin…” I continued, “ I had one question before I leave—why is the town so quiet at this time of day?” Her face saddened. She said,” This has never happened in this village before. There has been a murder and the town panchayat has been called. They have been at it for the last two days without coming to a verdict…” I thanked her once again and got back onto my feet.

As I came upon the town square the whole town seemed to have gathered there. They all sat in silence as a few wizened old men headed the meeting. They too were sitting in silence looking up at each other from time to time. I decided to speak,” Oh wizened old men of the panchayat. May I offer my services to thee in solving your predicament” They looked up and one of them who seemed to be the head spoke,” Stranger, We appreciate your offer. But this is not something that we wish to involve somebody from outside our community to solve. Please be on your way and do not make what is already a difficult situation for us” I said,” I have travelled far and wide my fellow denizens. I am confident of solving your problem. It is only the problem that intrigues and I can assure you once I am on my way no one will ever hear the disgrace that this situation might bring on this village. I beg your forgiveness if I am being a little impudent”

After a little discussion the panchayat heads rose and we walked to the mango grove owned by Soma. They had accepted my offered services. As we walked they told me the strange story of Soma. Soma and his son Karikula had arrived in this village about 10 years ago. Soma had acquired the skill of cultivating the juiciest mangoes and had convinced Raja the moneylender to lend them some money and everything else had been history. Soma since then had become famous in the whole region for his mangoes and had become affluent. He and his son were pious Brahmins and he had never forgotten to pay his dues to society. He had always been very charitable and a model citizen.
About two weeks ago in the night of the ammavasai there Raja had been to Soma’s house and the servants had heard a huge argument and Raja had been heard giving death threats to Soma as he left the house. And then the next day Soma had been found dead in the mango grove- A dagger down his stomach. As we got to the mango grove we reached the place where Soma had been found. I looked closely around and smiled to myself. I said,” I have got what we wanted. What I do not have is a motive. Sirs I would request a private audience with Raja. But before that I have a strange request. I apologize in advance and say I do not wish any disrespect. I would like to see Soma’s body ”


There were murmurs all round. And then they lead me to the other end of the mango grove to a what seemed to be a shack. An old lady was sitting outside. She cackled at me as I went past her. I put my angavastram over my nose and entered.


Raja was sitting in front of me. His body language suggested he was extremely frightened. I looked at him and said viciously,” How did you find out?” He stuttered” find out what?”. I said,” Stop playing games Raja. You were blackmailing Soma. You knew he was not a Brahmin” He looked stunned. He stuttered,” Hhh HH How could you possibly know. You are no stranger…. You … You must know then … I did not kill him… I did not…” He was howling now. I looked at him and said,” I know you did not kill him. I have you here to answer one question that would solve my puzzle. When you fought Soma that evening did you see Karikula in the house.” He looked at me strangely and said with a little more composure, “ No he wasn’t. In fact Soma shouted at the servants to go find him” I looked at him and took on a vicious tone,” That’s all I needed to know. Now if you ever let slip of this fact to disgrace Soma’s name I will personally make sure you are disgraced as well. And all the money you got from Soma through your blackmail you are going to donate to the great Tanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple. Is that understood” He just nodded his head and held it down in shame.


I walked out and asked the panchayat head if I could talk next to Karikula next in private. The murmurs started again. But my request was met with. I took Karikula into the room and sat him down and said,” Kutti Karikula – how are you feeling? I have something for you “ I took out a burphy piece. He did not smile. He did not even look at me. So I continued,” Karikula I do not have words to console you. I have not been with children ever and it has been a long time since I had been a child. So I am going to tell you some facts. With you I am going to be honest and you have got to trust me in that what is said in this room stays in this room. “ I tried to muster as much as a fatherly smile at him. All I got from him was a look. At least his head was up now. I said,” Karikula I know your father was not a Brahmin. You might be suspicious as to how I found out. But it is I assure you purely due to the powers of observation. I looked at your dead father’s body. And his poonal was on right to left rather than left to right. “ Karikula started crying. I continued,” Do not cry Karikula. I am not going to tell anybody of this. I also know something else. I know you were in the mango yard that night. You are the only one who can tell me what happened” Karikula looked up and said,” h…how did ou know..”..I said.” Karikula I am a person who takes pride at his observation skills. I knew of your presence through the process of deduction and observation of the crime scene. Now young son please tell me what actually happened” Karikula started crying again and then said,” Appa Appa died because of me….. I was up in the tree and had fallen asleep. Appa saw me and shouted in anger. I got up in a fright and fell. He jumped to catch me. But in his haste the knife in his belt went right through his stomach and and…” I took him into my arms and said,” Karikula do not blame your self. You need to know the truth. Although it was just an accident it had been caused by something that had happened earlier. You father had gotten into an argument and then in his haste and anger he had worn his knife in haste and that’s what caused the actual event. I could tell that from the entry wound that was on his flesh…” I just held Karikula.

I was facing the panchayat. I had told them only the story of the accident. I had also told them of my wish to take on Karikula as my student to mentor. They had accepted. I picked up karikula and put him on my shoulders and wondered about Soma and his brave step in trying to live a lie for a better life for his son. I wondered why did he have to lie… when he was in fact the best at his trade but for social strata. I looked up at Karikula on my shoulder and hoped for a happier future as we walked out of the village…..

Tagged

The theory of Sankyosis or being able to guide ones thoughts through a maze any kind of maze, the maze being defined by the user was perfected by Dr. Gaber Wallpee in the year 2277. The scientific community had been at loggerheads of generations debating the true theory behind the work for Dr.Gaber had been using a revolutionary new science to prove his theory- Psychokinetics. I had been a research assistant for years under Dr.Gaber and though I had never been able to grasp his amendment to the main postulate, my background being in pure Psycholectia I had been, more importantly, able to grasp the signs he used to predict random events very accurately.

Why am I telling you all this. This might be close to the story of the chicken or the egg. Being involved in highly secret government research had its boons and its banes. And right now I was in a tight situation. I had been caught in a time warp on route to Alpha 1 and was now stuck in the 21st century. I had seen my ship my tools and everything I knew evaporate around me as I went back to a time they did not exist but I could not understand why I continued to exist. If I ever get back that would be one paradox the scientific community would grab at to grapple about. I laughed. I had landed in the middle of a state known as Kansas in what was then the United States of America. I found this funny for I saw myself as Dorothy. To someone else this might have been interpreted as a freaky coincidence. But I knew better. I could explain that now but that would spoil the aura of what I am about tell wouldn’t it.

Having found appropriate attire I started looking around for a tool to help guide me through this primitive culture. Most time travel stories and theories had been based of the fact that the person not being in his own time and having managed to travel to the past was out of place then and there and hence in doing so would alter history drastically. But they never took the theory of Psychokinetics into consideration. Part of which can be explained as- the various time periods move at the same rate and very much interconnected so much to say that changing an event in the future was much more drastic as it changed the past drastically thus affecting a larger populous.

I found what I had been looking for. I grabbed it and came out of the farm house as quietly as I could. This would be my guiding tool to get me back to my own future. It took me some time to figure out the primitive device but I had it figured soon. I switched it on and applied the science of random quantification to it- I pressed the shuffle button and read—

Tears – Dream Theatre

I looked around and new the direction I needed to take. There was the billboard that said- Turn your tears to laughter. Make your dreams come true at the Atery. Come and …. I started walking. The night was still young. I must have walked about an hour. It was the fourth intersection I had come across. As I walked past it a young lady came up to me and asked me for a cigarette light. I shuffled-

Standing in motion- Yanni

I looked up at her and said “I do not smoke”. She just smiled back at me and walked away. I knew I had to wait. But what I could not predict was for how long. It must have been an hour that I stood in the same spot when the young lady came back and asked me,” Are you all right? You been standing right here since the …” She looked at me strangely. I pressed shuffle and said-

Snowballed –AC/DC (For those about to rock)

She looked at me and said,” Excuse me ..?? “ and then turned and started walking in a huff. I ran up behind her and lied,” I am sorry—I thought you asked what I was listening to. I think you misconstrued me. It was just a coincidence“ I smiled sweetly at her. I say I lied cause I do not believe in coincidences but that is a different issue for a different day.
She looked at me and said,” You have been given the benefit of the doubt… what were you doing standing there?” I said,” Waiting for you to come back” She laughed,” You are strange….you don’t look like you are from here. Where are you from?” I shuffled…

EKWG- Unknown artist


It took me a few seconds to interpret and then I said,” I am from the year 2284. I was caught in a time warp and now am stuck here trying to find my way back…” She started laughing loudly.I said,” I am Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig by the way” she said—“ I am Dorothy..” I shuffled

Crossfire- Scorpions

I said,” Would it be too impudent of me to ask you to dinner at the Crossfire?” She simply said,” When?”I said as soon as I locate where the restaurant Is at. She laughed,” I know where it’s at! Come on” A few blocks of walking later we came to the Crossfire—it was a classy restaurant with live jazz music. As we entered I shuffled…

Hell cat- Scorpions

I knew we had to enter cause that was the insignia that the Cross fire had adopted-- the Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter aircraft. We got ourselves a table. We sat down and the waiter came up to us and said,” Monsieur, lady… what can I get you?” I shuffled…

Mona Lisa—Matrix reloaded

I looked around. It was then I saw him. He had been presumed to be dead when he disappeared about four years ago in 2280 that is. I smiled. I ordered wine and excused myself. I walked up to him and said,” Hello Dr.Wallpee… its nice to see you again” He looked up at me and smiled,” You have used the theory well my student to find me… but what brought you here in the first place?” I brought him up to date (which date though I am still confused) and my situation. I needed to find a way back to my future. He looked at me and laughed,” Its good to see you again. Though the probability of meeting anyone from my past ….(he laughed—“that always cracks me up when I say that” )… what was I saying yes the probability was quite equiangular but I did not expect too… “ He looked at me expectantly. I shuffled

Come as you are- Nirvana (Nevermind)

I looked around confused. I had finally been stumped. And then it struck me. This one was not for me. I showed the track to him. He said,” There is a rock station across town called “Nevermind”. I hypothesize that you will find a cosmic point to make your journey back. Do not forget… you would have to go as you came. Do not take back anything – not even your acquired clothes” I gave him a hug.
As I walked back towards Dorothy I shuffled..

Khamoshiyan Muskurane lagi – One two ka four (AR Rahaman)

I knew I needed help. I said,” Dorothy I need some help. I need to get to the Nevermind radio station across town.” A few minutes later we got into her car. Her number plates read- KML 124. We were soon at the Nevermind radio station. Now that we were here I shuffled-

Vennilave – AR rahaman (Minnisare Knnavu)

I looked up. It was about to rain. There was lightning all about that made the moon look silver in color to the naked eye. The radio station had a huge radio tower on the roof of the building as was a lightning conductor. I needed to get to the roof. She looked at me and said ,” I have a key—I am one of the producers …” I smiled.
Once on the roof of the building I shuffled-

The outlaw torn- Metallica

I had to make a decision. I turned to her and said, “What I told you earlier—it was true. I think we are meant to be together. But the fabric of space and time will be broken if we go back to my present. The only way is to go back to the past… the Psychokinetics will make the decision as to which time period. But you have to make a decision if you want to come..” I broke the lightning conductor and walked up to the radio toewer and placed a hand on it. She looked at me as if I was crazy. I did not know why she had come so far in trusting a stranger….

The year—1895
I started writing The Wizard of OZ. We had changed our names to Frank Baum and Maud. You can find out what happened next—Its history. I told you-- you wouldn’t believe if I had told you earlier….

Authors note--

This is a result of being tagged by Mac-san. I found it more interesting to do it this way..:)... And I kept to the rules generally cause everytime I needed a twist or to take the story forward-- I shuffled and was honest with the song that came up to direct the story...