This entry comes after a long break. I kinda feel the lack of order in the history.
November 2008 was the month that I delivered for the first time a seminar - in front of the class, and it included the Mechanical Engg. staff too. The topic was Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), a very relevant topic with respect to the potential it possessed for mitigating the degradation of the environment by human activity. Mechanical engineers had much role to play in this field. But, comparisons with the rest of the class' topics revealed this one to be considered lightweight. But anyways, I believe adequate and possible efforts were taken in the run up to the presentation, and guidance seeked (that's not a word, is it?) from the staff. It seemed alright. And then the time arrived. The presentation went well, I suppose, and the questions were pleasantly answered, in the best manner. At the end of it, there certainly was a sense of achievement, since this was something of a dreadful thing for us all - the presentation, the time constraint, the questions, its answers, and the like, quite tense.
There were few very remarkable presentations, like the ones taken by Anshad (was it something to do with air-vehicles?) and Deepak (noise-suppressors?). There were plenty of moments filled with fun too, like the seminar taken by Achyuth (plant management), and some others. I don't seem to recollect them all, or the details, but those were real crazy Tuesday afternoons. At the end of the term, when the sessional marks were published (December 2008), it was known that I top-scored in the seminar with 91 marks. That was very pleasing to know. God's grace.
IELTS coaching began and it was going pretty alright. Realization that Ms Divya was indeed a qualified trainer occurs.
Earlier, in August, Sajan Achen (then Nanthencode vicar, and previously, DSMC-director), had given birth to the concept of the Trivandrum Youth Band, being the then president of the Trivandrum Centre Youth League. It was a novel idea. The band would take up the singing sessions of centre meetings and could involve in other Youth League activities (I supposed). I came to know that, being a group for the centre, it would have participation from the parishes that made the centre. I was told that the group requires not more than two from each parish, and an ideal total number could be 10 or so. Ezra (SCT 2011), Youth League member of Peroorkada parish and (I think) then secretary of the Centre, had called me up, to get me involved. The timing couldn't have been more bad. (This seems to be a very general occurance in my life actually: when it comes - all together, and when it doesn't - idleness.) Ezra wanted that Ann and I attend practices every Sunday with the rest of the group for a one-day conference, or something like that, scheduled for later in the year. I was disappointed that my busy schedule in the months of August and September ruled me out of the practices, and hence, the band. I spent a considerable time on the phone with Ezra convincing him of my inability to make it. I knew this was a bad loss. The group had some other talented people from the Nanthencode parish, as well as the talented Kripa (senior at college) and Neha from the Pattoor parish (both, children of Manoj uncle, one of the choir masters of the Dubai parish).
I needed a solution to this dilemma. Ann was game for the band. Half the solution. The practices for the Youth Fest were picking up pace, and I found thinking about the solution to be tough. I'd agreed with Ezra to send some one else from my parish. I spoke to Sanichachan, and sincerely wanted him to take this opportunity. But his medley's progress (of which I was significantly related) was not substantial, and work commitments and stuff were time-consuming. So Sanichachan ruled out. I turned to Anish (senior at college, and piano-whiz) and asked him to take this up. But he wouldn't. (Interestingly, all the above mentioned did form part of the medley.) The person had to be musically inclined, and the people I had contact with, just couldn't do it. Although he is the next person I thought of in that situation, he certainly was an apt choice - Sam Kurishadi - then in 9th grade, St. Thomas, and fits the musical bill. Informed him of the requirement, and assigned him to the task. Thus, Ann and Sam represented the Paruthiparra parish. He also was part of the group (and was quite a tenor) that performed the harmony for the Talent Fest (my event). Practices for the centre's programme progressed slowly. I just got few inputs on that from Ann and Sam. But after the Talent Fest, I somehow never thought about that.
Back to November. The centre's meeting was happening on a Saturday evening. It was the Marthoma Youth Summit, and particularly was called the First Summit @ Nanthencode. Joe Joseph Achen was invited to give a presentation. The Trivandrum Centre Youth Music Band was unveiled at the beginning, and they led us through the singing. They did a very impressive job, both with the song selection as well as its handling. There was a great deal of quality in everything that I saw that evening. Too bad I had to leave when Achen was about to begin his presentation. (I was expected to play the keyboard for the evening service in my parish. Those opportunities came by rarely those weeks, possibly because of me not attending the choir practices, and the Christmas carol practices, and those were far spaced too, the opportunities, ie..) I remember getting back that night and entered a response on the Summit's webpage. That night I reflected upon the opportunity that had come my way, thanks to God. Not many people have opportunities come their way, just like that. I cannot take credit for that happening. I felt heavy and down, because of that. It wasn't pleasant. I kept thinking, how things could have been if I could partake in those activities too. But, I kinda believe, they did the job well, and was truly happy for them. I guess, I even thought of being considered for a second summit which was being planned after three months or so. That was something to look forward to.
Sajan Achen's other initiative, the Trivandrum Centre Choir's practices were happening at regular intervals for the big night - God's Own Night - scheduled the first weekend of December. Members of my parish's Youth League were taking part in it. It was after one of my tuition classes near Statue (for RAC / GD, at Balakrishnan sir's) that I happened to see a missed call from Kripa. I was surprised at seeing her call. Called her back. She was calling on behalf of the band, and they wanted to pull off few songs for God's Own Night. They wanted me to take part in it. This time too, there were some difficulties. Resmi's due, my series exam, and the event happened to be scheduled nearby. I tried real hard to not make this hard on me, by avoiding what can be avoided - which again turned out to be, me not being part of the band. (When it comes, all together.) But this time, Kripa did insist. She made a couple of phone calls just so that I could agree to be a part of them. When it came to that, I had to give in. I went for their first practice one day directly after the tuition at Statue; that day it rained, I remember, not that it was of any consequence, but just. We had a productive session, Aswin Abraham Thomas (Nanthencode, lead man), Kripa (lead girl), Ann, Sneha-chech (both, alto), Jeevan (Sajan Achen's son), and I. I was the only newcomer to the group and the size of the group was reduced, compared to the time at the unveiling (I'm assuming for quality's sake). Aswin's friends, Jyothis (keyboard), Robbins (bass), and Alex (drums) were also taking part in this. But they showed up on the last practice. There was one unknown song (Its Christmas Time), and the others familiar. I got to know the people better through this outing. Jeevan (then grade 11) and I sang the same part, and I was very fond of him, and his singing. I guess we gelled rather well. Sajan Achen dropped in to check on us. He seemed tense, but it wasn't bad. We had two more practices, of which one was with the sounds and everything. It was shaping up well.
Resmi's due was sometime at the end of the first week of December. My folks had booked a ticket to Bangalore on 2nd. I wanted that I go to Bangalore after my series exam, by which time it would have been the end of the week, and I'd be there to see baby Josh (of course, the name was decided on later). But God executed a varied plan. Josh arrived November 30th. Knowing that, my parents boarded an earlier flight, on 1st. My series were scheduled during the days to follow; and I couldn't have the excitement in all its color. Sanichachan happened to be in Bangalore with Vini and Sini-chech at the time. It was his text - 'Aap mama ban gaye' that broke the news. I was preparing for the exam then, and my folks ring me up to update on the situation, and I spent the next hour or so informing all the relatives I could over the phone. That was fun, introducing nephew Josh to the world.
