Series exam progressing, but mind split between Josh's birth in Bangalore and the practice for the programme. The programme was on a Saturday evening, and I got myself a bus ticket to Bangalore for Sunday. Had it not been for my participation in the programme, I could have gone probably a few days earlier. The exams got over and the practices were going well. We also had the sounds and the instruments too for the last practice. This experience was very good for me. Not often had I got to be part of someone else's group. So, I got to learn a lot about stuff. Those moments are cherished.
The day arrived. There was some extensive sound check scheduled for the afternoon. Tennyson, sounds-man for all the major events in Kerala, possibly south-India, and also abroad, was the man for this event too, thanks to Sajan Achen. The event was held in the Sooryaprabha Convention Centre, Mannanthala. As I walked into the hall, I was surprised to see the lavish arrangements, the props on the stage, and the bright feel to it all. That must have cost much. But it was cool. There was this choir that came from Madras, to perform in this event. I forgot who it was, but the choir was named after a prominent film music director. The diocesan bishop, Abraham Mar Paulose Thirumeni was present, along with the vicars of all the parishes in Trivandrum (around ten, I guess). The chief guest for the evening was famous music director for Malayalam films, M. Jayachandran. The Trivandrum Centre Choir was the highlight of the programme, as it was made of 120 persons from all the parishes in the city. Members of the choirs and the Youth Leagues of all the parishes had come together to form this choir. Sajan Achen did a commendable job. They performed two of his songs - Oru Ponthooval Pole and Kurunnu Paithale - both were well received. They also did an English carol, in harmony. The choir from Madras performed some songs that weren't generally heard. They did an average job. I wasn't impressed with their performances, but I thought one or two songs were nice and unique.
The Trivandrum Centre Youth Music Band, of which I became a part (for the programme), performed around five songs. It was a new experience. We did an alright job. The feeling was great, to be part of the programme. I considered it to be a blessing, since there were many other deserving people who could do the job too. That was certainly one of the highlights of my four-year Trivandrum life.
Next day off I was to Bangalore to see Resmi, Geo, Amma, and Dada, and of course, most importantly, the new-born Josh. The post-birth period for Josh was a terrifying period for everybody. He didn't seem healthy, and was constantly being subjected to this certain kind of light, to avoid being taken out into the cold to face the sunlight (which was what is to be required). It was only later that it became revealed that he wasn't getting sufficient milk during the feeding. But once it became clear, certain things were done, and he slowly began to show improvement. That was a major relief for everybody. The moments of worry Amma would sometimes recollect later, when we think about his birth and the days in the hospital. I arrived early morning and took an auto to their place. Amma answered the door with baby Josh in her hand. Everybody was asleep. Josh would be taken care of in turns by everyone those days, and that time of the day was Amma's. He was (freaking) tiny. Resmi was wow! She became another person with the birth and everything, with the look, of course. But she did exceedingly well. Amma was forever with Josh, and Resmi had nothing to be concerned with. Even when at the hospital with the light and everything, Amma was the one with baby Josh. I spent just three days with them. But those three days were simply out-of-the-world days. A new member in the family - father, mother, grand-father, grand-mother, and uncle. I got to see how they clean him up, how they gave him medicines, applied cream and stuff, his baby clothing, and every other thing. I got to carry him couple of times, but he was just too tiny, that I'd preferred to simply see him than carry him. Those days I would wonder how every other being was once upon a time a tiny little baby. Amma would recollect the days when Resmi was born, and then how things were when I was born. I guess I'm a little more than 6 feet, and several years ago I was couple of centimeters long. I got to understand the differences between the times of our births and Josh's birth (not all of it, of course, but some things here and there). It was the day before I left that we began considering names. I'd be asked to find meanings of names that everyone had a liking to. This was a fun exercise. My folks would come up with biblical names and Geo would come up with some incredible (and funny) possibilities if those names were selected. Resmi and Geo would come up with some interesting names I found new world. I had one or two suggestions, which they did appreciate. But somehow, Joshua (the biblical connection) and Josh (the modern touch) came to be considered seriously, and yet again Geo came up with a good joke with Joshua which made us all agree to Josh. Thus, he was named Josh Rajan Geo. That day we had a great time with potential names.
The day to leave came, and I departed on a bus back to Trivandrum. I wished I could stay longer. My seventh semester university exams were scheduled to start a few days after I reached home. I had two exams first, then a ten day gap (for Christmas), and then the rest. My father had to get back to Dubai before the last week of December because of the end-of-year associated work at job. So he came to Trivandrum for a couple of days and then went back to Dubai from there. He arrived in Trivandrum after my first exam, and then left two days after the second exam. Those exams were RAC and GD. I dont' quite remember how it went. Those were major papers when considering the B.Tech. as a whole. Those were the days when the Youth League members would go for carol-rounds. The exams prevented me from going, and I was so looking forward to go after the GD exam. Carol-rounds are a very happening season for me. There's just so much fun. But that night, Dada wanted to take Babupapa and family, Shajipapi and family, and Dubai Ammachi and family out for dinner. I figured I should go with them. Sanichachan didn't come along with us, because he opted to go for the carol-rounds. I missed that night's fun. Dada left the next day (if I'm right); I'm not sure if I missed that night's fun too. But I did make it for the next few days' rounds. That was incredible! We'd been singing the same set of songs the last three seasons and I did get bored with it (like in season two itself) but the fun and joy compensated for that well. It was two years back when Linda brought her friend, Gibin (CET 2009), to our church to teach us some songs for the rounds. He did a good job, and those songs were very pleasant. It took us some time to gel with the songs, but at the end of that year, those songs were the only things that we knew. The same thing we'd repeat uptil the season in 2008. I didn't need the song sheet to sing from. I felt really happy in being able to sing alongwith the guys - Liben, Jerin, Nelvin, Nithin, Robin, Rohan, Ron, Renosh, Sam, Samchayan Sanichachan, Betsy, Linda, Sairachech, and everybody else. Those days of merrymaking also will be greatly cherished. Some of us were aware that we couldn't repeat this again, may be ever. I think we went to Kesavadasapuram and Mannanthala the days when I was there. It was during my exams when the group came to my house when Dada was there. I didn't think they did well, but it was alright. We made up for that after my arrival.
One of those days I went for the carol service at the Nanthencode parish. I'd been wanting to hear their carols and see how differently they did it. I went alongwith Sanichachan and we arrived just in time and yet got to sit (comfortably) right behind the chief guest for the evening (it was a funny little thing, we doing that; the church was actually filled with people and we saw quite a number wait outside since there was no place to sit). The evening began with a song performed by the tiny tots of the parish, and that was incredibly cute. Jyothis accompanied them on the keyboard, and he did a good job of it. The choir was trained by Sajan Achen for his songs, Ritchie (an old choir master of the CSI church (who once taught the choir in the Paruthipparra parish when my father was its member, several years back)), and another person (I don't know his name). The latter two dealt with harmony singing. They had a good mix of songs, and I was impressed with the way they held the programme. I remember that their soprano was just incredible and their combination with the alto was wonderful. Sajan Achen had Tennyson do the sounds for the evening. It went well. I also decided to not attend the Paruthipparra parish's carol service (a few days later), since I didn't seem to be interested with what it had to offer. I knew that my hatred for the choir was also the reason for not attending. I instead headed to the Peroorkada parish, for their carol service, which was scheduled on the same day. The carol service was disastrous. The sounds were horrible, the singing was horrible, and the arrangements were horrible (I probably forgot some other things that were horrible too). There was probably just one song that I did like. Sanichachan and I were glad we had to leave before it ended to catch up with the carol rounds that night. I kinda felt bad for Abraham Joshua uncle (the choir master there), since I know the man and have had the opportunity to work together with him earlier. A few days later for a marriage that was conducted at the Peroorkada parish (Amma's relative, I forgot who it was, but they were from the States, and K M Raju sir, my principal, was also there), we met up and he asked me what I thought about the carol service. I remember trying to mildly convey what I felt. He seemed down about the whole thing.
The Christmas season came to a close. The last few days of the year I worked on the preparation for the rest of the university exams.
