Say no to holidays

A Holiday is something what every one craves for.No matter how much one loves his/her work, everyone feels a deep sense of gratitude for the fella who first thought of keeping Sunday as a holiday.Despite it just being a sort of mini-break in a week full of mad rush, the feeling that you get the night before is epic.Ah..I too experience a similar feeling. My idea of holiday, being a Kulkarni, is newspaper in the morning, nap (read good 4 hours of sleep) in the afternoon and some good family time(read watching TV) in the evening. That night, as I geared up for the upcoming day of respite, I had no clue whatsoever, the way the following day would unfold..

It was Sunday.It wasn't exactly a holiday as my college was working. Let me tell a you bit about it.Our college is a dear old thing that can't stand a sight without us for an instant. Moment its without its students is a moment wasted. This time, emotions running high like akin an India v/s Nepal football match, it just couldn't bear a day without us. Finally, it decided to open shop on Sunday afterall (Much to public rejoice)! Oh, I tell you! What affection! Anyway, where was I? Ah..Sunday morning. Despite all the affection, I  decided to skip it for a day. Surgeon's Knife, what? So there I was! Sunday morning, hot cup of tea with snail on the thorn and lark on the worm, or whatever hell that is. Everything seemed perfect. Or did it? As I picked up the newspaper, bang. First warning shot for the day-it was soaking wet.

'Whats wrong with this thing? Did newspaper guy take it to the bath with him?'
'Look outside. Its been pouring since last night.'
'Now how will I read it? Heck, this just isn't done!'
'Why don't you use your hair dryer if you're so desperate? At least you'll keep it functioning.It doesn't look that you've touched that thing in months.'
'Bah! Chuck it. I could do without this for a day' Could I?

Cursing rain and all the newspaper boys in the world, I made it back to my sanctuary-Facebook. Trust me, there's no place as lonely as your Facebook on Sunday. Everyone's out or doing something great. Checking your chats tabs every fifteen minutes on fb makes you think what non-pathetic people in this world are upto!    
Dejected, I switched to Cricket '07. At least it doesn't retort with 'Hey sorry gtg!' everytime you use it.
I was busy beating the hell out of Namibian cricket team when my mom called,

 'Saurabh, theres someone here to see you'
'Who?'
'Rajesh Uncle from the neighborhood!'

Now, let me give you a background here. Rajesh Uncle is perhaps the most serious-looking and sounding person on the planet. He's a sort of guy you expect to see on DD National, playing obsolete instruments or giving a talk on cow health-care.In short, not sort of a guy you'd like to see on a Sunday morning, see?

'Mom, I'm studying!'
'Wont work, we can hear Ritchie Benaud all the way down here..'

Yeesh..I braced myself for a platitudinous disaster.

'Good morning, Saurabh.'
'Hello uncle'
'Good morning, Saurabh.'
'Oh. Good morning!'
'Saurabh, I want to talk with you.' (What was he doing all along? :\)
'uh, huh'

'What are you organizing for Ganpati celebrations?'
'Um, dunno I havent thought about it.'
'Think.Its not too far away. Lets organize something exciting. I was thinking Bhajan singing competitions for kids of our society'
'Sure that'd be great'
'I know. I thinking of inviting my uncle over. He plays tanpura. People will enjoy it.'

Enjoy it? Yeah right? The chap would be asking for raspberry.

'I want you to anchor the event.'
'Really? Gee..I dunno..'
'No you will have to. No one else volunteered. Otherwise you'll have to cover the musical chair for grand parents.'
'Oh no, I'll do it, thanks!' Knowing my relationship with a couple of angry old men of my locality whose windows I'd broken, I decided to steer clear.

After like several millenia, going through the program list again and again, he was finally satisfied, and retired to private life. So far, my Sunday was a total flopper. Trying to make up for the bad start, I decided to spice up things a little. After cracking my brain for an hour, we decided to go for a movie. After all, what other thing might you do on a rainy day? Judging by my day so far, I decided to be extra careful and booked our tickets beforehand online.Presto! Tickets booked, air conditioned hall and blockbuster movie, sounds good eh? Oh I wish...

We reached the movie hall just on time. I had to treat my parents to a nice refreshing brisk-walk in rain owning to long parking queue. I was still kinda optimistic, but my parents were getting frustrated by the minute. After groping in dark for several minutes and stubbing a few dozen toes(thankfully not mine!) we found our seats.
I had hardly watched the mosquito repellent advert on the screen when a shrill voice rang out:

'Excuse me! You're seating on my seat!'
'Wha-?'
'Look mister..K12! My seat.'
'Listen ma'am, I've booked the very same.'
'Show me your ticket!' With an agility of a seasoned TTE she reached for my ticket.

'I'm sure there must some misunderstanding. I booked it online'
'Misunderstanding my foot! You seem to be one of that types who watch movies for free at others expense! I'm aware th-'
'Wait a minute ma'am, lets go outside in the light and check the tickets.'

I had a feeling that people around me were enjoying this exchange more than the title credits that were coming on.So after another game of blinds man's buff, we reached out.

'Show me ticket!'      Again? What was wrong with this woman?
'Wait a minute..your ticket shows Sept 17.That is tomorrow. This is still Sep 16.'
'What!!? Oh..I'm sooo sorrry! My friend booked our tickets you know. She's never good with compu-'

I didn't give two hoots to her friend. Angrily, I moved back to watch the film. After several bruises and a couple of oaths, back I was.

'Whats going on?'
'Shhh'
'Hey, how did he get young all of the sudden? He was old when I left? Flashback kya?'

Before I could get to the root of it, someone shouted from the back

'Oye late current! Zara pudhe baghu dya na!'

The film was comedy cum tragedy (so I thought) but it ended up being a suspense thriller.Not only I didn't know what might happen ahead, I had no clue what had happened earlier. After two hours in the AC like an Idiot, I had to make back home.

As I was preparing to sleep that night, getting ready for monday, I was sure this was a strong contender for the most boring Sunday ever! However, a flicker of thought crossed my mind- maybe not..perhaps this is what makes an ordinary Sunday a little less ordinary. With that in mind, I let myself adrift with sweet dreams of Principles of Compiler Design and Design and Analysis of Algorithms...