That that man..that that pheeling

Recently Junior came up with a home work given by his class teacher on “one thing that he feels proud of”. The first question junior asked was, isn’t being proud bad? Didn’t’ Ravana and other asuras fell because of their pride? (Mind voicela overa Amar chitra katha vaangi kudutha ipdi than aagumnu thittikittay ) I, as usual, was stumped for an answer and was trying to cook up one on the fly. “Being proud thappu aana what the teacher means here is to share some good things that we do, which makes us happy, that others can also follow”. (shabba…ipdilaam history examla kooda suthi valaichu answer sonnathilla…ipovay kannakattuthay.innum enna kepaano nu while I was wondering, somehow that round about-ish answer settled further questions from him and he went to his mother for legal verification of the response provided by me. Ipdilaam naama padikarachay nammala ketruntha..hmm..as usual blank papera kuduthutu vandhiruka vendi thaan..for I was far too honest to lie and even for lying sake wouldn’t have been able to think of anything that I felt proud of. But if at all I can pick one item, apdiye lorry fulla points irukarapola nenachuka vendam..irukarathay our point thaan, I would say, I am proud that I am a teetotaler. In fact I was a total tea-er for a long while completely away from any morning beverages (unmaiayana reason being tea/coffee/veneer poda theriathu for it involves lighting the stove and vathikuchi kooda ozhunga kizhika teriatha case). But that is not the reason for the pride, obviously, ivlo kevalamana vishayatha yarachum proud moment nu solvanungala. The fact that I stayed away from smoking when the entire company around me was chain smoking their way to promotion and glory, stayed away from drinks even when it was open bar and offered free at drop of any and every hat in whichever party or event I attended where my saga fellows crowded those areas in rush, akin to thanni lorry being besieged by angry aunties during the drought times of late 90’s in Chennai. The “best compliment” of all came from my room mates and apartment mates when I was in Charlotte, where in till the time I vacated the house, I didn’t allow anyone to have drinks in the apartment and the day I left they celebrated it by buying a can of beer. They posted the photo and tagged me, thanking me for vacating the house and leaving them to drink in peace!! Ipolam vara movies lam paatha I feel glad that I was born couple of decades early when such peer pressure could at least be avoided. I guess unless you mention bare minimal you are a social drinker, going forward people may not even consider you for any hire!! Ithukelam piles (moola) kaaranam I could think of couple of things – firstly my dad. He would frown at people even for chewing paaku at kalayana functions and would scold his own brothers who would happily masticate (spelling paathu padinga!!) paan or vethalai, spit painting the whole place red!! And the way he would close his nose with kerchief when people next to him smoke would either shame the person in moving away from there or bare minimal take a step or two away. Secondly, during school days, I read a lesson on how Gandhi gave a promise to his mother on avoiding meat and alcohol when he travelled aboard. And I guess he had mentioned that he managed to keep that promise all throughout. My mom went one step further. She didn’t even ask me for any such promise. So obviously, that was a big boost for me on the level of trust they had over me and I guess no amount of intoxication is worth breaking it! Ipdilam yosichitay iruakrachay junior came back with a content of his own. His thing of pride being, the small vethalai plant that he is taking care of and tending to, and every other tree that he sees around him. He is one adhi theevira plant piryan and hugs trees like Chipko movement !!!Move away Greta Thunberg! You have serious competition!!