Soupy noodles!

This is the second time i’m updating my blog in last 48 hours. I didn’t expect to find something to pen down so soon. Anyway this is nothing much, but just a funny(horrible, u ll notice if u read) incident that happened to me today.

It was 4 pm. And I was hungry again already just after 2 and half hours of delicious lunch. Having eaten the hostel food for so long, anything mom makes these days tastes heaven! But I was hungry. I thought of making Maggie. To my surprise there was a packet of Knor soupy noodles in the kitchen. Ah! Brilliant I thought. I was eating soupy noodles first time after 8^th sem study holidays.

My mind was fast rewound to 8^th sem study holidays. Four of my friends were at my home to study. Rashmi, preeti, anup and shrivatsa. We had finally seriously decided to study, at least for 8^th semester’s sake. We had tried out studying at college reading room, which hadn’t worked out. Then we said to each other we shall study by ourselves. Which was a flop again. So it was I who called them all to my home on a Sunday. We finally started studying somehow. Had almost studied for 2 hours, and we were suddenly hungry. Mom and dad weren’t at home. They had gone to attend dad’s friend’s son’s marriage. So I thought I would prepare Maggie for us. Just then anup came out with as always different idea-lets make soupy noodles. It was first time soupy noodles had come into the market and anup was proud enough to say he had already tasted it and he said it is brilliant as though he was a great connoisseur. :P

So it was decided! Anup brought soupy noodle packets from a nearby shop. Now the question was who would prepare it! All four of my friends wanted me to sit nicely and quietly. Anup was telling he would do, it was his idea after all! But preeti wasn’t sure if he could light up the stove. Vatsa said he was ready to help. N rashmi wanted girls to do it because she thought boys can’t handle the kitchen! Finally anup and vatsa were the winners and they got the chance to do it. I got scared for a while. I remembered the day when anup had called all of us n few more friends to his home for lunch and had not prepared anything. Actually that day his parents were out of town n he had invited all friends hoping one of us would cook. I just recollected anup’s kitchen’s state after we all had finished with cooking. He was lucky that day. His mom was out of station. But in my case I knew marriage ceremony wouldn’t take long n mom would be back in couple of hours. I just prayed for mom’s kitchen and decided to sit in some corner n started shooting whatever was going on. At least I would have the proof of my innocence should something happen.

Anup and vatsa with the help of rashmi and preeti had prepared wonderful soupy noodles!!! I on the other side had finished recording their adventure. The video brings smile on my face even today. In mean time we had wasted one hour, but what we had gained was a memory for life... J

I, back in my kitchen was recollecting all those moments as I started preparing my soupy noodles. I knew I would always remember those moments whenever I prepared soupy noodles in future.

Mom had brought a new induction stove. N I had never used it before. It had an LED display which showed some numbers. I kept it at 5, thinking that it was medium. I heard the door bell ring. Mom had opened the door. I didn’t know who was at the door. I guessed it was a sales man, because I heard mom saying- no we do not need it. I had poured all noodles and masala into water. I had started stirring the mixture.

I was hearing distant voices of sales man; he was selling some books, I thought. I wanted to see. I lowered the number from 5 to 3 on stove. I thought I would be back in 2 minutes.

Sales man: hello ma’am!

Me: hello

Sales man: I am from Ramaiyya College for management studies, on an mba project. We have something that would really be helpful to u.

Me: wat is it.

He pulled out a huge encyclopaedia and gave it to me. What was he doing I didn’t know. I just took it.

I immediately realised it was kids book.

Me: oh... sorry I don’t want them... Thanks... bye. I tried to return the book...

He went on and said, wait a minute ma’am... u know what? u r getting this free.

I knew there was something coming up, but I didn’t want that book even for free. I tried to open my mouth in vain. He was not letting me speak.

He pulled out another black book now and placed it on top of big book in my arms. I noticed it was thesaurus.

Sales man: you know wat?

I asked- what?

Sales man: you are getting this also free.

Then he kept another big book on the other two. Totally I was getting three books free.

Sales man: do u know what was the first animal in space?

Me: er.. dog?

I just recollected from a kids science magazine I had read ages ago. Its name was laika... I had liked the name n that is why I had remembered it. But he didn’t realise I had answered the question. He was just going on, so u see.. All such things are in this book, as though he had all his speech by heart. I didn’t like him, now that he had started forcing. I had answered the quiz and I wasn’t appreciated either! Bad...

I said ok. But i’m sorry i don’t want.

Sales man: Do u know the antonym of sorry?

Me: sorry?

Sales man: u can find it in second book. U know. We have prepared this combination of books just for students. and you are getting it for free!!

Me: cool! m getting it for free? Thanks. I smiled because I knew I had to buy something else to get them free. I was just waiting for him to come there so that i can finally say bye to him.

Sales man: ya for that you should buy this... (He pulled out an even bigger book this time. It was some dark purple coloured book!! I didn’t like it just by its looks.) And this will cost u only 2500 rupees.

I looked at the book. It was a book on improving communication skills. He started turning out the pages. There were nice pictures of beautiful foreigners in formals. He said this will help u improve ur communication skills.

Then he suddenly asked me what was I studying? Thank god he finally remembered to ask the first question he should have asked. Engineeri... i just hadn’t completed the word yet. He was happy already. Brilliant he said. This is just the kind of books u would want to prepare for your placements in your final year.

Me: listen I don’t want these... They are nice. I have done with my engineering. Thank you.

Sales man: ohh then may be u r searching for a job. Trust me this is what u need.

Why was he assuming things...? Who told him to imagine I was trying to search for job? I was getting angry now. But he was just not ready to leave.

Me: no I’m not searching for a job. If u really want to know I was placed in two mncs but I never joined them. Please don’t waste your time. I’m sorry.

He wasn’t listening to me. But now I could see the sadness,frustration on his face as well. He was trying hard to get it sold. It was his project. I felt sorry for him. But then I had no use of those books nor did I want to spend 2500 rupees of mine on something I didn’t want. I wanted him to go. But he was just not listening. I could have shut the door, but I didn’t feel like doing that. Mom came back, and firmly told him we are not interested in buying. We are sorry.

He had got his cue, he left. I was sorry for him. It was a tough job. I started wondering if he had sold any since morning... hoped he.. damn!!! My noodles...

I rushed to kitchen. slowly peeped into the container...

It was all gone. All soup had dried up. It was some new color I had never seen before... definitely not the one which anup and vatsa had made.

I don’t know, I’m not sure if I’ll remember my final year study holidays when I next eat soupy noodles, but I’ll surely remember this guy from ramaiyya institute of management studies!

Nice story! But i still hope he made his target. Life is tough. Gear up!