It was a lovely Friday evening when our mom told us that we had our Club Meeting at 6. Kannan and I made faces at each other as we were being made party-ready to attend that month's Club meeting. Amma was adorned in a beautiful maroon Sari which she had washed, ironed, and tried-in-front-of-the-Mirror a million times. Achan took out the topmost shirt from his drawer to wear for the meeting.
We walked into the Hotel Ballroom which was booked for the evening. Amma walked over to where the other Aunties stood, all dressed in beautiful Sarees, while Kannan and I made our way to the Food counters as was our usual task at the start of every Club Meeting. We would take in the smell of the food, look at the time required to wait to grab it, and vanish from there when Amma gave us the "stare".
On that particular evening, the meeting president walked over to Achan who seemed to be having a swell time with his friends and spoke something to him. Achan's expression changed. He seemed tense and politely excused himself from the group to grab a chair. We wondered what Achan was working on, but was too immersed in the beautiful ballroom and the sight of our friends, that we quickly forgot about it.
A few moments later, the President made his way to the dias and adjusted the mike. It was his way of saying that the meeting was about to start. Everyone grabbed a seat next to their friends and was seated in minutes. Small children ran about in the area behind the hall. Amma had carefully warned us against playing when the meeting was going on. Somehow, I felt obliged to listen to her while Kannan ignored it without much haste. I would sit in the front row and be tasked with the Prayer and a song to entertain everyone seated there. So I generally had responsibilities - something I could be proud of.
A few minutes later, the President introduced our Special Guest: "Alfredo Fernando" - a scholar, researcher, and distinguished guest of the evening. All of us clapped our hands in appreciation. The guest walked over to the podium and gave his speech. Our Special Guest restricted his speech to English (which was okay), but with a sort of Russian accent. I don't remember if I felt that way because I was sleepy or whether I was just bored. My brain ignored every word that came into my ears and ordered my eyes to stay awake. Seated in the front row, I needed to look like I was listening. I did not understand a word.
A few moments later, Kannan walked in tired and seated himself on the front row next to me. He looked at our Guest for one whole minute before pulling in two more chairs to create a bed for himself and sleeping on it. Everyone on and off the dias laughed a low smile. Amma tried pinching him from behind, but he didn't budge. For a whole lot of reasons, I had huge respect for my brother for his courage to sleep in front of our distinguished guest and indicate to him that his speech was point-blank BORING.
The Guest cut-short his speech, stared at Kannan for a while, and walked back to his seat. A few other meetings continued while the audience engaged themselves in short discussions. I looked over to where my Dad sat. He had a paper in his hand and looked as though he was reading and re-reading it. An aunt behind me tapped me on the shoulder. "What was the name of the Guest?" I didn't remember. Well, that was a good lesson for me to understand how first impressions mattered. All of us were introduced to the Guest at the same time, but he failed to make an impression on anyone. Nobody remembered his name.
"Lets now invite Kumar for the vote-of thanks!" called out the President. I looked over to Achan. He stood up, made his way to the podium, looked at everyone, and smiled. I was happy and impressed at seeing him there. I gestured Kannan to wake up. Achan started slow but thanked every person on stage and off-stage. Kannan got up to watch. His speech proceeded on to the thanking the Special Guest for his speech and his time. As was the norm, you needed to call out the person's name when thanking. As with everybody else, Achan too had failed to grab the name of our Special Guest. He continued,
"I would like to thank our Special Guest Mr - ArrdddoFerrdoo...."
For a moment, everything seemed to stop. Children playing in the background looked at the dias. Aunts and Uncles who were waiting for food had their eyebrows raised in astonishment, The President looked straight as though to Infinity expression-less. The Special Guest who sat next to him looked at Achan wide-eyed. Achan gave his best smile and pushed time forward:
".. for his insightful speech and his valuable time. Next, I would like to thank.."
As Achan continued his speech, the audience burst out in laughter. I laughed. I forgot that I was seated at the front row. Kannan shared the laugh. Achan closed his speech in 30 seconds and went back to his seat. Everyone clapped hard.
The meeting ended with everyone standing up for the National Anthem. Unlike other meetings, where everyone held an expression of hunger on their faces, that day everyone held a smile.
Everyone caught hold of a plate in no time and charged to the Food Counters. Achan kept a safe distance from the Special Guest while enjoying Dinner. I sang a song happily and won chocolate for the same. Amma talked and laughed with her buddies and enjoyed her evening. Kannan proceeded to his next round of after-food sleep when Amma caught him and said it was time to go.
Achan drove his car with the whole family still laughing about the incident when he suddenly asked Amma:
"What was his name?"
"Arrdddooo Ferrdooo" screamed the rest of us!
The End.
We walked into the Hotel Ballroom which was booked for the evening. Amma walked over to where the other Aunties stood, all dressed in beautiful Sarees, while Kannan and I made our way to the Food counters as was our usual task at the start of every Club Meeting. We would take in the smell of the food, look at the time required to wait to grab it, and vanish from there when Amma gave us the "stare".
On that particular evening, the meeting president walked over to Achan who seemed to be having a swell time with his friends and spoke something to him. Achan's expression changed. He seemed tense and politely excused himself from the group to grab a chair. We wondered what Achan was working on, but was too immersed in the beautiful ballroom and the sight of our friends, that we quickly forgot about it.
A few moments later, the President made his way to the dias and adjusted the mike. It was his way of saying that the meeting was about to start. Everyone grabbed a seat next to their friends and was seated in minutes. Small children ran about in the area behind the hall. Amma had carefully warned us against playing when the meeting was going on. Somehow, I felt obliged to listen to her while Kannan ignored it without much haste. I would sit in the front row and be tasked with the Prayer and a song to entertain everyone seated there. So I generally had responsibilities - something I could be proud of.
A few minutes later, the President introduced our Special Guest: "Alfredo Fernando" - a scholar, researcher, and distinguished guest of the evening. All of us clapped our hands in appreciation. The guest walked over to the podium and gave his speech. Our Special Guest restricted his speech to English (which was okay), but with a sort of Russian accent. I don't remember if I felt that way because I was sleepy or whether I was just bored. My brain ignored every word that came into my ears and ordered my eyes to stay awake. Seated in the front row, I needed to look like I was listening. I did not understand a word.
A few moments later, Kannan walked in tired and seated himself on the front row next to me. He looked at our Guest for one whole minute before pulling in two more chairs to create a bed for himself and sleeping on it. Everyone on and off the dias laughed a low smile. Amma tried pinching him from behind, but he didn't budge. For a whole lot of reasons, I had huge respect for my brother for his courage to sleep in front of our distinguished guest and indicate to him that his speech was point-blank BORING.
The Guest cut-short his speech, stared at Kannan for a while, and walked back to his seat. A few other meetings continued while the audience engaged themselves in short discussions. I looked over to where my Dad sat. He had a paper in his hand and looked as though he was reading and re-reading it. An aunt behind me tapped me on the shoulder. "What was the name of the Guest?" I didn't remember. Well, that was a good lesson for me to understand how first impressions mattered. All of us were introduced to the Guest at the same time, but he failed to make an impression on anyone. Nobody remembered his name.
"Lets now invite Kumar for the vote-of thanks!" called out the President. I looked over to Achan. He stood up, made his way to the podium, looked at everyone, and smiled. I was happy and impressed at seeing him there. I gestured Kannan to wake up. Achan started slow but thanked every person on stage and off-stage. Kannan got up to watch. His speech proceeded on to the thanking the Special Guest for his speech and his time. As was the norm, you needed to call out the person's name when thanking. As with everybody else, Achan too had failed to grab the name of our Special Guest. He continued,
"I would like to thank our Special Guest Mr - ArrdddoFerrdoo...."
For a moment, everything seemed to stop. Children playing in the background looked at the dias. Aunts and Uncles who were waiting for food had their eyebrows raised in astonishment, The President looked straight as though to Infinity expression-less. The Special Guest who sat next to him looked at Achan wide-eyed. Achan gave his best smile and pushed time forward:
".. for his insightful speech and his valuable time. Next, I would like to thank.."
As Achan continued his speech, the audience burst out in laughter. I laughed. I forgot that I was seated at the front row. Kannan shared the laugh. Achan closed his speech in 30 seconds and went back to his seat. Everyone clapped hard.
The meeting ended with everyone standing up for the National Anthem. Unlike other meetings, where everyone held an expression of hunger on their faces, that day everyone held a smile.
Everyone caught hold of a plate in no time and charged to the Food Counters. Achan kept a safe distance from the Special Guest while enjoying Dinner. I sang a song happily and won chocolate for the same. Amma talked and laughed with her buddies and enjoyed her evening. Kannan proceeded to his next round of after-food sleep when Amma caught him and said it was time to go.
Achan drove his car with the whole family still laughing about the incident when he suddenly asked Amma:
"What was his name?"
"Arrdddooo Ferrdooo" screamed the rest of us!
The End.
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