Admirers UniTed !!

All of us need a respite from our hectic schedules, to unwind, to relax and think about something else other than work which occupies every inch of disk space in our heads. Even though there are some people who never unwind, most people do something which would help them unwind (consciously or unconsciously).

Now most people in my office revert to the healthiest of such recreations: Admiring the beauty of nature (pachha malayalatthil paranjaal, vaayinottam). So during lunch hour our daily escape from an environment thick with code, scripts, deadlines and appraisal cycles begins at about 1...

It usually involves a tingly sensation in my body (the vibration of my mobile phone ringing in my pocket, Shinu calling). So after I do a "Right Click> Refresh" in my head a couple of times, my mind is clear of the cluttered thoughts of all the problem tickets, artifacts and other issues with which I would have been wrestling with till then. I make my way out of the ODC trying to irritate all my team mates on the way out with what ever jest available. That might involve a smile or a mocking face at the new chick in the team (and she IS hot, if you are wondering, as I know you are), asking how many problems a new team member created that day or just enlightening someone on how their module is the uravidam of all bugs in the system.

Shinu, would usually be waiting at ground floor, with hands in pocket scrutinizing everything around him. As soon as he spots me walking down the stairs, there would be a reaction on his face to what ever I am wearing, which is usually a look of horror thanks to my god given gift for fashion (I do wear a black party shirt with wide shiny green stripes, which glows like bright green laser beams in the light, to office).

The paradooshanam (finding fault) starts soon after, and we shift to top gear soon after. Now, when Shinu starts it is something on a different level. I mean I was always the forerunner everywhere I went in this direction till now, but he is definitely a bonafide, certified master Vaayinokki (admirer, for the poor uninitiated non-mallus). Comments flow from his mouth as smoothly as the fountain in front of infosys campus here(both are equally examples of a work of art). I found that malayalam is an excellent language to express a myriad of situations and feelings to a such a degree of precision which cannot be nearly matched by english. This continues throughout our small walk to the cafeteria, and through our wait in the queue to get the food coupons.

Absolutely every girl in the office campus worth a look at has a nick name which fits her to such a degree that we would never need worry about forgetting their nicks or getting confused about them. There is Seema, who comes along with Muscle'an and Kuthira. This is the gang, on whom the whole campus of atleast 5k employees concentrate. The guys wont take their eyes off Seema and the gals cant get enough of the almost 6 foot Muscle'an. Then there are our favorites Princy Jacob and Annamma Varghese. Now first time we saw Princy we were 110% sure that she was a mallu. Hence one day I went confidently and asked her whether she was a mallu, to which she replied with a dazzled look on her face that she definitely was'nt. Anyway the saga continued with us mutually waiting for them everyday and escorting each other across the corridors(with our eyes ofcourse). Annamma was just the side kick whom no one noticed, untill we decided that we would drop looking at Princy and concentrate on Annamma since "Princykku ippo marana jaada. Nee aaradi thilothamayo" (Princy was acting too pricey). Now Annamma was definitely taken aback by this. She underwent a sudden makeover from a butch boyish type with a soda kannadi to a contact lens sporting, feminine churidar wearing lady who just could not hide a smile each time she sees either one of us.

Then comes Shinu's personal choice, Maanpeda. "Maanpedayude Kannukul. Aaha. Pennungal aayal ingane venam. A kaanukalil maanpedaye pole aa pedi kandille!" Sure enough from the very next day we started sighting Maanpeda only with dudes, and sitting on the phone for hours. So Maanpeda was suddenly dropped as the personification of feminine timidity.

There are many other notables among our regulars. Face-off, for turning her head suddenly when caught looking at us; Model, which is self explanatory, Kingini, Thakkudu, Nettholi, Shakkeela, Shinu's Vedala Romancham, my Vedala Romancham (most names are self explanatory, and don't ask me the meaning of vedala) etc..

Now, if I have given an impression that we are the only one monopolizing this industry, you are gravely mistaken. During the one hour between 1 and 2 in the afternoon, hoards of Vaayinokkis (from either sides of the gender barrier) line the verandahs on either side of the corridor to the cafeteria engaging in code review of all the people walking across. So we join them and sit on the verandah, along with some leading women professionals in this field on the other side.

All in all, lunch hour is only for admiration of nature's beauty and not even one thought of coding or work enters ours minds.

Now this, my blogosphere friends, is our Happy hour!!!