5 AM Struggle

I don't know how do you call 5:00 AM as. For many, it is midnight I say; please stay away from these people. There is a good possibility for them turning into out-of-earth-creature if you ever try to wake them up from their sleep. For some, 5:00 AM is when they're cozily tucked up in the bed and is sound asleep. They never wanted to be disturbed for heaven's sake. For some, there is no such thing called 5:00 AM in existence. They would have never seen a sunrise in their life. For some, it's always dark like this.

Waking up with the blanket over the head and then giving a big sigh "huh.. still dark"? and going back to sleep again.

I wish I could have slept for 5 more minutes, (and you never know how long 5 minutes is :-D ). My dad would never allow me to be in the bed after 6:30 AM. No, not even a single minute. If I don't move out of the bed, I know my consequences - one of my ear would be red that morning. So was I brought up. During exams, my mom would wake me up at 5:00 AM. I've never seen her using a alarm clock, but she always knew when the clock strikes five. I used to sit upright in the bed, propped up by pillows and study. You must experience the joy of sleeping in this position with a book on your lap. It's nice until this happens. A sharp pain would bring me back alive, my ear will red again. Yeah, my mother would keep an eye on me such that I don't sleep. If I ever, I end up having several nail marks in my ear. It was always water off the ducks back.

The worst part is during holidays/vacation. Either be it a bright day or rainy or foggy or biting cold, no excuses. Out-of-the-bed at 6:30AM was my dad's rule. I know how irritating it would be when you're disturbed in the early hours while you really wanna snuggle down into the quilt and sleep for just *five* more minutes. But, there was no exception in dad's rule.

Well, today I reap the reward of what was sowed years back. All the time when I have to be at office at 6:00 AM, I never feel the difficulty in waking up at 5:00 AM. Most of the time I'm awake even before my alarm goes off. 5 AM is no struggle anymore. All credit goes to my dad and mom. Thank you folks!

I manage to get myself 5 hours of continuous sleep before which I could start my day!

Want me to wake you up at 5:00AM ?

Please be my Valentine!

Oh how I cherish the sweet moments I spent in Bishop Heber College on this particular day. The Chapel Prayer Fellowship would organize a big event under the title "Valda" Please be my valentine! The best speaker we ever had for "Valda" was Vestry school Principal, Dr. Relton James. He used to speak very practically and one area of which he warned us about is "Sexual fantasy"; that was a big hit. We codenamed it as "SF". We had singing sessions too. I still remember the day when we sang "Some one to love me" leaving the audience in utter bewilderment until we reached the last stanza of the song. This song became so popular from then on. Exactly a year ago, I was there in my college enjoying this program seated as one among the audience. I've written that experience here. That night, when all of us were back in the room, we discussed about what really valentines day meant. Many questions were unanswered before we all fell asleep.

14th Feburary 2009 - Today!

Saturdays - the best thing ever that I could enjoy in Hyderabad on a Saturday is "Youth Alive" - a youth fellowship in AG chuch. I would never take a chance to miss "Youth Alive" and this has been my biggest source of spiritual nourishment until today. This is where I get my cup filled. "Valentine's Day" falling on a Saturday made Youth Alive more special. We had a bigger event organized by the "Youth Alive" crew this day. Wonder what is it? Here we go; Four different couples who came across this thing called "Love Marriage" were brought up the dais and we were allowed to ask any/many question related to love-relationship and sex.

This has been my second best valentines day sermon I've ever heard and participated. All questions were answered with respect to experience and Bible as baseline. I got most of the answers for the questions I posted a year back. I was very very satisfied with them. It is very desperate for all of us to get to know about these things when we are young so that we may not spoil it. Nevertheless, it is impossible to preach/teach such sermon in a regular church service and not all preachers can talk on it. Days like these serve this purpose.

One great saying one of the couples brought forth is, your prayer should be like "Lord, make me right; so that I may know when the right one comes." - I love this. 45 minutes went just like a rapid fire round. Now, I can't stay still without finding who my real valentine is. Buckle up!

Well, I leave a open request here, "will you please please pleeeeeeeeeaassse be my valentine?"

Few amazing love lines that very young minds (under 7 years of age) can think answered few of my questions. I found them really interesting and hence I'm posting them here. Enjoy reading

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.”

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.”

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend whom you hate.”

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.”

“My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.”

“Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken.”

“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.”

“I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.”

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth.”

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.