Email collection

Finally I reached Madras....
What can I do...I was dispatched at the perfect time,
last week of June, 24th to be exact..had everything gone proper
I should have been here 15 days earlier..but this world is not
perfect..you agree. The sail over Atlantic was great..no bad weather..
though it is Hurricane season now.Other than a evening with
 thunderstorms and all,
and one bad day of food poisoning (blame it on lobster I tried
at lunch) it was all picture perfect. Maybe that was the cause...
so when it was time to cross the Suez Channel (for the shortcut..
if you forgot your geography), I was all asleep. By the time I woke
up it was too late. I contemplated shall I turn back to Suez Channel,
wait there in Queue when my turn comes up to cross it, or try to make
it faster , explore the new route of cape of good hope and relive what
vasco-ga-dama did 600 years back. So if you know me..you got it right..
I tried the adventurous way... my calculation was not wrong too....
if I could continue the faster speed I was crusing, a very little
sleep only what is needed I could have reached ontime by 3d July..
earlier I was schedueld to reach 1st of July..spend 2 days sightseeing
in coastal india and then land on Chennai on 3rd. So with this new route
I was ready to skip my vacation around Pondicherry etc but reach straight
 to Madras. Yes...you wont believe it was too hard not to stop around Sun
City South Africa.I patted myself that I was able to curb my "temptations"
 and still continue on my journey. I knew when he sees me on chennai at
perfect time he will be too happy... but it was something else in store.
On 30th June evening, 5.15PM to be exact while I was sipping tea over
Indian ocean enjoying the sunset, they appeared out of no where. 3
mechanized boats around 15 total people. From outside you will think
it is a fishing boat but have a close look and one can see their real
intention. Well there was no confrontation...as I have no option but
to obey them looking at their automatics and personalities. killing
person like me is just like maybe you or me kill a bug...you dont give
a thought. Yes I am talking about those notorios Somalian Pirates.
They aksed me what all I was carrying..looking at my possesions
(virtually nil!) they were surprised, After having a discussion among
themselves I think they thought I must be some spy or soemthing.
Their leader talked to someboody over a hand radio. I was sure that
they are going to shoot me... was thinking about all the good times
I had, all my unfinished tasks... all the while I was keeping my eyes
closed..after all I didnt want to see it coming. It was probably more
than 5 minutes when finally they aksed me to board their ship. I was happy
and sad both. Happy because I was sure they are not going to kill me...
sad because for sure I was going to miss my schedule. Over next 4 days
I was kept blind folded was given good food and drinks at regular
interval. Occasionally I could hear them laughing/dancing and also
gunshots. I though gunshots signify some more persons like but probably
not as lucky as me to be alive Finally around 4th or 5th morning we reached
a small island. They opened my handcuff and I was straight way taken to
a tractor and from there to a small shanty village. This was the place of
their leader. Without any formality he asked me what I do, where I came
 from why I was sailing without any stuff for such a long distance and
where I finally intend to go and meet and for what purpose. I was absolutely
honest..gave all the answers precisely. I could see the expression changing
of their leader and some other henchmen of his sitting beside. By the time
I answered their last question..they all were so gloomy and sad you wont
 believe. Finally the leader rose up and came to me hugged me (I still cant
forget the smell of his colgne and tobacco..what a combination..coulpe of
days back they had a good loot from one of containers carrying cosmetics
and tobacco). Anyway the leader said that unintentionally they commited a
great mistake and asked me and the pesron whom I was going to meet to
FORGIVE them. They said they cant even think of the wrath of the "GRUDEY"
(I dont wknow what they were referring as GRUDEY), they said if GRIDEY
came to know about this their entire village/boats/business/family
might disapper within a  day. They afraid him more than they afraid the
antiPirates ship or US Warships over Indian Ocean. They have heard too
much about this GRUDEY and his curses. Seems whatever he says
(even unintentionally) becomes truth within days. If anyone ever
tries to cheat him or say bad about him the consequences were certainly
disastrous. But anyways seeing the circumstances changing like this I
also took some advantage and made some deal. they agreed to let me take
rest  for 1 or 2 days more, gave me the best of the food and wine..they
 offered more "heavenly luxuries" but I did decline....I wish
my Moral science teacher could have seen that. The deal was they will
send me to Madagascar by one of their fastest boad and with full security.
There an agent of theirs will provide me another boat/rations etc for
my onward journey to India. So from then onwards things were again picture
 perfect...Long story finally short.. today 18th July 11.15PM I am at
Chennai. I hope to meet my Recipient tomorrow morning at 9AM when he
comes to work. I will meet him right at his Office,
and Say him Happy Belated Birthday, Grudey...I mean GURUDEV!

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(Mail was sent to Vathshan and All on 18th July 2006....a "massive" way to
say BELATED happy bday)

For those who dont know Gurudev (Vathsan) he was born on Amavas ke raat
and has a magic power of turning things nasty whoever wishes him bad
or even thinks  bad bout him. So all of us (his close frnds) ensure
that he is always kept happy. I am not kidding...there are so many
examples....