Harry Potter and the 21st of July

9.30 PM, 20 July 2007, some house in T. Nagar.

"Amma... Don't forget to wake me up at 5.30. We have to be at 'Crossword' by 6.30.", Divya said to her mom as she sipped her glass of milk.

"OK da chellam... I myself will drive you there. Now go to your bed." said Shrimathi and suddenly added, "Divya take your hands off your fore-head. You will end up rubbing your tattoo off." as she saw Divya touching her 'lightning-scar' on her forehead.

Divya took her hands off as if the scar was hurting her as it hurts Harry Potter, and slowly walked towards her bed praying to God that Harry Potter should not die.

6.45 AM, 21 July 2007, 'Crossword', Venkat Narayana Road, T. Nagar.

Shrimathi had never seen her teenager daughter in such an excited mood before. She was literally in tears when Divya's name was called and the owner of the store handed over the book to her in person.

Divya was exhilarated and was in a rush to read the book. She started pushing Shrimathi who was thanking the bookstore people, to leave immediately.

"You can't be so hasty with things Divya", Shrimathi said trying to showcase an angry face but decided against her foolish act.

Divya got into the back seat of the WagonR and even before Shrimathi could get in, Divya had started reading the book. She rushed to the 'Epilogue' and read it at the maximum speed her fingers could take her.

By the time she finished the Epilogue, she was in tears. "Thank you God", she said to herself.

"Amma, Harry potter does not die. He has three kids." she told her mother in an excited tone.

"Oh... thats good. Why don't you read the rest at home after breakfast?” Shrimathi replied with a smile on her face.

"OK ma", said Divya as she hugged the book like a teddy bear.

The cover of the book read 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Braille Edition'

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The only thing that made me write this story was the fact that a book like Harry Potter makes a blind child feel at par with the other children.

The reason being, in fantasy, no one can see or live life the way. One has to use his/her imagination whether he/she has a vision or not.

I appreciate J K Rowling or whoever it is, for their idea to publish HP in Braille.

PS. The dots in the picture actually represent the title of the book written by me in Braille and it was very very difficult to do that for just once.

777

7 July 2007, Saturday, Some God forsaken factory on the Old Mahabalipuram road, Chennai.

It was 11.00 PM when the final meeting got over. I said to myself "Congratulations buddy! Its the straight 20th day you are gonna reach home after 00.00 hours." Before I could hear it myself fully, some buzzing noise captured my auditory nerve.

It was my phone vibrating its way to the edge of the table, and I caught it exactly half way through its jump.

I was not shocked when it showed twenty-two missed calls and five messages. (No wonder why my phone wanted to commit suicide)

A summary from my mobile:

Missed calls:
Mom - 3,
Manager Srinivasan - 1,
Bums - 18

Messages:

Mom: 8.30 PM - Will you come home for dinner (atleast) today? The stray dog I am feeding every day with your dinner is suffering from obesity.

Manager Srinivasan: 9.00 PM - Hey Krishna, call me asap. very important.

Bums: 9.10 PM - Dei Kichu... why aren't u picking up honey? Its been days since we went out... you have to take me out somewhere tomorrow...I've freed myself for the whole day...call me soon and confirm dear... bubbye

Mom: 10.20 PM - The dog won't eat your food. It seems to be on a diet. The important thing is, don't go to office tomorrow. You have to go to our kula deivam temple at any cost, for the yearly archanai - Ur star birthday - Remember?

Bums: 11.00 PM - Dear Mr. Krishnamurthy, My name is Bhanu alias Bums. We got engaged a week back. Pls refer to the earlier message and the 18 missed calls on your mobile phone. Is this enough to remind you of who I am? :-(

You would have got a rough idea of the rough weather I was going through in my (personal) life.

This is not a lecture on work-life balance. I work late and hard because I like it. I was just not able to sync my life with work. Thats all.

"But I'm surely not gonna work tomorrow.", I said to myself. I picked up my mobile..

Calling....
Manager Srinivasan

The fone rang... He picked up the fone but I heard

"Vaada vaada vangikkada vayila beeda pottukkada.....
Sega fight-a Sivaji right-a...."
(I felt that the lines were telling something to me)

Srini: Hello, Krishna... I'm at Sathyam watching 'Sivaji'...

Me: I can hear that Srini... You had called up for something.

Srini: Yeah yeah... our distillery client has organised for a lunch tomorrow. As I am busy with some personal work, I would want you to go.

Me: (to myself) I'm dead. Bums will kill me; so will mom.
(to Srini) but Srini would it be possible to send some one else... I too have plans for some personal work...

Srini: I don't want to send anyone else Krishna...Its very important. Even the CEO and his family would be there...

Me: (thinking for a moment) OK Srini, I'll make it for sure. But where is the lunch?

Srini: I'm not sure Krishna... I'll sms u asap.

click.

I was screwed. Why the hell did I say a 'yes'? Srini played his cards right. He made me feel I was important to the firm and I fell for it. In fact that was why I had been slogging all the days. But was that worth making your loved ones unhappy? Or could I really not manage things right? The questions were ringing in my head making me feel like a vibrating mobile phone.

After a few 'vibrating' moments I could feel that I was hungry. I looked at my watch. 11.10 PM. 07.07.07. Huh! It was supposed to be the world's luckiest day. Not mine for sure.

My mobile buzzed again. It was Srini's SMS.

Reading the SMS, sent some thoughts running into my mind. I started feeling happy.

I took my mobile jubilantly and typed a new message, "Programme Confirmed" and sent it.
Recepients: Mom, Manager Srinivasan, Bums.

The reason for my happiness was that my kula deivam temple is Thiruvendipuram, Kadalur (near Pondicherry).

And this was Srini's SMS...
Manager Srinivasan: 11.10 PM - The lunch is at 'The Promenade Beach Resort', Pondicherry - 12.00 PM.
ps. You can take 'someone' along if u want ;-)

Triple seven really was a lucky day!