A Life that Never Was

Manu Varma is a student at the Calicut Medical College and is deeply interested in art and culture. As a poet he has earned his reputation in the university circles. He has published several of his poems in various journals. We present two writings from his collection.

Manu Varma

Manu Varma, is just like any other 22 year old. He is very involved in college activities, and is happy with his family. So then, why him in this time's offbeat.? What makes him different from the rest.? He tries to understand and feel the world around him through his poetry and writings. As a fourth year Medical student at Calicut Medical College, he has been through some of life's most poignant moments. Not surprising because he chooses to live passionately whatever he is doing. And he tries to put things that he feels for, on paper. Manu Varma is a poetry aficionado as well, and does come up with quite a few poems, always on the spur of the moment. We have an article (in epistolary style) of his and a poem featured here. He is into elocution, debating, quizzing, and has won prizes at the state level in both inter school and collegiate levels in these events. Also has been trained in Carnatic classical vocal music, and is a connoisseur of the arts. He wants to be a psychiatrist and be some one who can make a difference to people's lives.

A life that never was

I dont remember when i was born,
I didnt know till it was too late,
To know what was left behind,
Was all too hard and unkind.

This sounds a tragedy,
But na, i'm not existent anymore,
To feel and live the tragedy,
Tragedy, again, it may sound.
Lest who's bothered about tragedy,
That affects none but this one,
Who ceases to be alive.

My story sounds docile,
But, that makes the grind,
All too benign and quiescent.
Life's just a game,
And am a player gone.
Timed out, before i had a chance,
To prove my worth, my salt

O'  mother, listen to me,
I beg thee to be with me
Cried i.......

My pleas, fell on darkness
All too pervasive and cruel.
But hey, do i see a light.?
In the distance..?

I'm moving forth it, within the bottle,
Without myself.
Unsure about the lead.
Pray, to you, who brought me here,
And called me back, all too soon.

Isn't that bcz u love me more,
Than those left behind.?

I don't give a damn about it

I’ve been racking my brains lately....( i know some of you guys would have already raised your eyebrows quizzically and in deep rooted
skepticism wondering on how could someone ever possibly rack on some non existent entity...I’m talking of my brains here...let's assume
that it was dormant...not totally non existent as some of you would like to put it...and let's assume that it has gone into a temporary
phase of (hyper)activity...ever since I’ve written a letter to a friend of mine and felt very stupid about it...

I did show the letter to a few and got various opinions...the most common being (more than 50%) commenting on the torture and even
the prospects of death (should I say suicide) the reader may possibly or probably would have had to endure...I’m rather taking this
seriously because even my dad made a comment on similar lines... he called it print worthy trash that should and must not be read by
anyone more...lest they may have to endure torture unwarranted and entirely unprecedented and absolutely for no fault of theirs except
perhaps the momentary one of trying to read it....

Most of you would not have got this far reading this letter. that just proves that there are sane and sensible people after
all...and if you have got this far reading this... let me hope that you have... and in which case can rightfully claim to be candidates for
the Nobel prize in peace for tolerance...not that you are insane and out of your mind...no hard feelings...ok...?

That has just brought us to the topic...about all the bright ideas I have been nurturing lately...numero uno...about getting to the
south pole. not just that... but getting there by swimming down the Indian ocean until I reach the coast and then hike with or without
special thermos clothing....but there's a snag since I’m especially in adept at swimming I may have to scrap the whole idea...in fact
there's a family joke doing decently good rounds amongst my relatives...that I’m the guy who has forgotten to swim after learning
it long back....sigh they just don’t understand that I’ve added weight all the years along...I’m not anymore the 20kg 7 or 8 yr old
something who could swim...the ability as such remains dormant...it's not absent...just don't have enough resources to get along

the second bright idea was to consider how much time I spent un-resourcefully in a year or a month... that did not turn to be a
very bright idea ultimately...some grossly shocking and shaking details popped up... no gossip here... I don't intend to share the
details over here... that could possibly make me a candidate for mass lynching... but yes it did reveal some startling facts.

The other idea was to start an exporting firm and to market rice flakes (avil) abroad...imported cornflakes are a hit among the
average city dwellers' breakfast menu... a kilo of kellogs can leave you poorer by 300 Rs but a kilo of our naadan avil costs less than one-
tenth of that...and it has definitely more nutrient value... maybe we'll give the Americans a sample of free will fairing by our Indian
avil dominating the sell list in Val mart....or Spencer’s...

The fourth and final bright idea was to take up tennis as a career option... that way I could play @ Roland Garros or at Arthur
ashe stadium or be a member of the all England lawn tennis and croquet club as i like...not to mention all the fame and stardom associated
with being a top player... Ralph Nadel... please excuse me... i'd hog and steal the limelight from the Majorcan wonder boy.... but again
there's a snag... i've not seen a tennis racket to date and therefore would not know how to hold it properly... but otherwise I’m a perfect
player presumably

My ideas have not run short.. it's just that it's time for me to go home...in fact I’m willing to share to anyone who's
interested more endearing and brilliant ideas.... now I’m perfectly sure that my mind was just dormant and all
it needed to come from the gallows and the depth was some inspiration...and the averages were a good source of
inspiration...MF Hussain comes close.. but he couldn't make it a match...

I’d certainly like feedback about this article... please... nothing physical...no brickbats or stones...they are strictly
prohibited...and are counterproductive in the very long run....