1st Janaury 2007

This was my first Christmas and New Year celebration away from my family. Also, the second one away from place where I was born - Tuticorin. The first one was when I did my 10th grade, I had to stay back in Nilgiris for my special classes. I've successfully completed 2 months in Hyderabad now, got accustomed to the food, climate, shelter and everything. The worst part in food is, all hotels add a pinch of sugar to every dish. Crazy cooking recipes they follow, sugar-in-every-dish. I still remember the first day when I tasted sambar in a hotel, I was like - where's the Chef?

31st December 2006, 9:30 PM.
2006 will be history in few hours. I was flat in my bed thinking about all the ebbs and tide I've been through the year. I sure didn't wanna start my new year 2007 in my bed. I wanted to go to the church. But, the one that I usually go will have it's new year service only the next morning, 7:30 AM and I was not willing to wait until then. I still had a choice. I knew the service in AG church was scheduled to begin at 11:30 PM. My room mate had told me this; yeah, I stayed in YMCA , ClockTower, Secunderabad.

I jumped out of my bed and started getting ready. I very well knew that there would be no seat left if I were to be late. My room mate should have reached there already. I took a quick bath, donned my new clothes and was ready within minutes. But, there was a little problem.

"I didn't knew where the Church was" :-D

I was not willing to giveup. My room mate had shown me the direction of the road which leads to the church days back and I thought I will get some help from the people on the way if I should get lost. With my Bible in my hand I started walking.

I reached the first signal on my way. There were police men standing on the road and the security was tight as it was New Year's eve. I went to them and asked them "where is Millennium Garden ?" (this is where AG church is held). They didn't seem to know it, they were not the regular policemen of that area. Also, there were several party halls and celeberation gardens in the vincity, they looked confused. I said it's alright and started moving

I kept my head high while I walked just to make sure that I don't reveal myself to be from some other state. I wanna show I am a hyderabadi. It was almost 11:00 PM now and I was left with just 30 minutes before which the service would start. I saw a maruthi 800 far off and started walking in greater pace. I went to the driver and asked the same question. I didn't concentrate in him much closely as my interest was in finding the church. He replied "Get inside the car; I'll take you" and insisted me a couple of times. I stood there perplexed. Just then my brain struck me saying, "he could be a decoy". A cold shiver ran down my spine, I didn't lose my mind. I wanted to be very clear this time. By now he has started the car. I asked him again, "Where is the AG church being held?" He saw the Bible in my hand and questioned back "Are you going to church?". I said, yes. Now he knew that I am not the guy whom he was looking for and let me go. I started walking as fast as I can from that place.

I didn't lose heart, as though nothing has happened I still kept my head and chest high as I walked. I know I would find it this time. I saw few people standing a little farther. I was happy and I thought I found it. From such distance I could see them to be well dressed, dazzling clothes and all looked like ladies. I thought that they should be the welcome team as AG church always has a team for every bells and whistles. I also noticed there were few men around. I thought to myself I am going to have a great New Year.

As I moved closer, the joy in me was reaching greater heights. They all had a broad smile in their face, heavy make-up, thick lipstick. Though they were standing in front of a gate, there were no lights inside. I wondered why? I thought they should have planned some surprise for the new year.

I was much close to them now. I was in reachable distance and with a broad smile in my face, I opened my mouth to ask "AG church?" , just then one of them turned towards me and said "Aaaooo Bhai" with a peculiar clap. Oops, I am in soup now - they were eunuchs. How stupid was I not to recognize them at first sight. I was deceived by their smile. I didn't waste another second, literally ran away from that place with out turning back.

After reaching a safer distance, I stopped and turned back. One of the eunuch had followed me for some distance and knowing that it cannot persist me, stood there and was waving hands calling me. Whew, that was crazy. I ran a little further and now I could hear the songs that was being played in the church. I also was able to see a long row of cars parked on the roadside. There was no difficulty in finding the church now. I walked the rest of the distance with my head down and my heart filled with shame. I laughed at myself. I reached the church 10 minutes before the schedule and was happy in getting a good seat.

This is how 2006 closed its doors. I enjoyed the whole service. It lasted until 1:30 AM. I returned back to my room with a fulfilled heart. Yeah, I didn't take the same route, I took a longer one back home. Later I found out the gate where the eunuchs were standing led to a gravy yard.