RIP MJ

I was about 12 years old when I started singing ‘Heal The World’ as part of the school choir. I had no idea whose song it was. I loved the lyrics and I could be heard singing the same song in the bathroom, while braiding my hair, having breakfast, during lunch break, in the BMTC bus on the way to school and back, when I was pretending to study with a book in my hand, during dinner, on weekends, at almost all times. It kind of became like an anthem.

At about the same time, my neighbor – a boy an year older than me, had just bought this awesome music system and showed it off by playing MJ hits at the highest volume. I remember complaining to dad that the noise was not letting me concentrate on my studies (although all my life I have never been able to study without a song in the background). In time, the songs from the neighbor’s music system grew on me and I started liking them – my favorite being ‘Black or White’ and ‘Bad’. I borrowed the cassettes from him and got them recorded (my pocket money didn’t permit the purchase of originals). As I played the songs repeatedly and tried to memorize the lyrics, I cursed the poor quality of recording, but I couldn’t not play them.

That was also the time when there was an hour or two of MTV telecast on DD Metro. There was no cable TV. I caught a few of MJ songs on TV and tried imitating his singing style and moon walk in front of the mirror. I thought when I turn 18 I am going to cut my hair short in the front and curl it the way MJ had in his Black or White video, I didn’t have the permission to do so back then. I have never cut my hair to match his style. I meticulously collected all MJ posters and pictures I could lay my hands on (in the magazines and newspapers) and maintained a slam book of sorts. The inside of my wardrobe door became the MJ wall where news articles and posters of MJ was pasted, rotated and religiously worshipped.

In school, there were two groups of girls. One that was crazy about MJ and treated him like God (the one that I was part of). Another that focused on his personal life and controversies. We the pro-MJ group fought our rivals fiercely.

MJ had a concert in Mumbai when I was in class 11. I desperately wanted to attend that but couldn’t as it was being held in an alien city. I prayed then that his next concert in India be in Bangalore.

Since then, whenever I have been asked to sing, the second song would always be ‘Heal the World’ or ‘Black or White’. ‘Heal the World’ has won me a lot of accolades and prizes.

Romance with MJ’s music will continue. But the one regret is, I will never be able to attend his concert.

RIP MJ.

Nilu's diary - 25 Mar 2005

Nilu's married now. Read more about her life here.

25 Mar 2005, Friday, 3:15 PM

Dear Diary,

Phew! I am tired. Tired of the continous travelling - to Tirupati two days ago, the late night return journey last night, trip to the marriage registrar's office this morning, and then lunch at my place (errr... I hate calling it my "parents'" place). Phew! Phew! and more Phew!

Okay, so you got it right. I am at Praveen's place. My first day here. It feels a little awkward. It is a completely new environment. I have never stayed at any place other than my home for a long period. And this is going to be my home for a while, at least until I get the visa. Can I really survive here? What am I going to do?

The wedding happened as planned. As I had guessed, the schedule was very tight. Rushing to temples soon after the muhurtham under the infuriated hot sun in an empty stomach, without lunch or water made me giddy. It was after six in the evening that someone thought of feeding us poor souls. Another round of temple visiting followed before we boarded our bus at 11:30 PM. Aren't marriages supposed to be a happy occasion? A once in a life time event that you are supposed to enjoy? What's with all these crammed rituals and running behind the God?

Since Praveen is leaving tomorrow, actually early Sunday morning (3:00 AM), we had to get the marriage registered today. In all this mayhem, we'd completely forgotten this task until his mom reminded us to get it done today. Another place I'd hate to go.

We went with our application forms filled, the photos and the necessary documents ready for submission. The clerk (or whoever he was) looked at the application and asked where we were working. On learning that Praveen is an NRI and I work for an IT company, he said, "The boss is on leave this week and won't be back until Monday. Since, you have to leave tomorrow, I'll have to go to his house to get his signature.". Apparently, we are supposed to sign in the presence of that boss but the clerk was ready to ensure the boss "verified" our signatures. Bah!

Praveen didn't want to bribe him. He said, this certificate was not all that important. We could get it done when he comes again after applying extended leave. I had to make him understand that if we waited that long, the visa would take that much longer. Plus I had to get his name in my passport and that required the marriage certificate too. Praveen finally yeilded and gave a note of 500 bucks. The clerk made a vile remark, "Sir, you are a NRI. You've got to take better care of us". One glare from Praveen and the clerk's mouth was sealed. I'll pick up the certificate on Monday.

I have to get down to packing and unpacking now. Unpacking my stuff and packing his. I wish we had more time together.

I feel like my life is galloping at the speed of light. So much is happening even before I realise or take it into account. I wish I had the time to just sit quietly for a while and understand all that is happening around me. Well... I guess some people don't have that luxury.

When I go to office on Monday, I've to remember to carry sweets. The gang won't settle for anything less than a party but they'll have to wait.

Okay, time to get back to blissful matrimony now. My time to enjoy the few moments I have as a new bride with my husband.

Cheers!
Nilu.

Nilu’s diary - 23 Mar 2005

Want to know how Nilu reached here? Read bottom up.

23 Mar 2005, Wednesday, 8:00 AM

Dear Diary,

Send invites - check
Clothes – check
Jewelry – check
Makeup – check
Diary – Almost check (will come back to this) Check

We are about to leave in two hours. The bus is being loaded outside. We are awaiting a few of the relatives to join us. The chappara (the shelter in front of the house with matted coconut palm roof) is put up and decorated. It smells of fresh flower and tender mango leaves. We have to do a small pooja before we leave. I have to be ready in an hour for the pooja and we should be good to go. The videographer is here recording all the happenings.

I think I am ready. The past is behind me. I am looking forward to a long happy life. The only thing is, I wish I could utilize my GMAT score and study before the marriage. Well… may be some American university is waiting for me :-P

See you.

Nilu.

***

12:45 PM

We are somewhere near Chittoor. We left at 10:45 and we have stopped for lunch now. We should reach our destination latest by 3. Praveen’s bus will leave in an hour or so. We have to go there and get ready to receive the groom, you see?

Praveen is unusually quiet. It is a little strange, he doesn’t have anything to talk. Even when we went shopping, he had no opinion on the colors that’d suit me or the saris I should be buying. His mother did all the talking. Are all men like that? Dad spends so much time selecting a sari for mom. Praveen’s shopping was over in a jiffy, he’d just walk in, see something and pick it up – no trials, nothing. Hmmm… what am I missing here? May be it is good in a way to have a non-opinionated, non-interfering husband.

The lunch is served and I am hungry. Time to go.

***

6:10 PM

We are here. They just arrived. We are ready for the varapooja. Butterflies in the stomach. Excitement in the heart. It’s like being in a dream.

***

10:15 PM

My last singles day is over. From tomorrow, I will be Mrs. Praveen. Hoooo… that’s scary. Actually, it is weird. I will be staying at his place, until my visa is sorted out. That’s far off from office. I wonder if his mom prepares amazing majjige huLi like mine. Actually, she is very sweet. She takes a lot of trouble to ensure I am comfortable. The last few days, she’s been filling me in on Praveen’s likes, dislikes and habits.

Its going to be a whole new beginning.

All the best Nilu.

Nilu.

Nilu’s diary – 13 Mar 2005

Want to know how Nilu reached here? Read bottom up.

13 Mar 2005, Sunday, 10:35 PM

Dear Diary,

They left just now. Phew! What a day it has been.

I am engaged. I’ll be married in 10 days. Can you believe the speed at which all this is happening?

Like I mentioned yesterday, Praveen and his parents came home yesterday. His parents were a little hesitant to let him speak to me alone. I spoke to him for a few minutes – the regular stuff – likes, dislikes, expectations and aspirations. He seemed like a reserved sort of a guy. He was in a one syllable answering mode. I was asking all the questions. He wasn’t probing at all. Hmmm… that’s a little errr… strange. He is not like the other guys, he is refreshingly different – quiet, didn’t see me up and down, doesn’t have unreasonable expectations, looks obedient and doesn’t seem to be carried away by the US lifestyle.

I took his number and called him later in the evening, not a long call. He seemed alright, a little reserved for someone who is staying alone in a foreign country. He’d be leaving in two weeks. I said that’s too little time to find, decide and get married.

This morning, his mother called mom. I hadn’t made up my mind when mom asked me for my decision. I need time, I can’t make a decision that affects my whole life in a day. I mean, how can one meeting and one telephone call tell you if you are ready to spend your whole life with a person? But you know mom, she is impressed with every guy, she becomes their defense lawyer in no time. I thought for a while. You know, he isn’t as bad as the other guys. He is decent, a little shy compared to me – I’ll transform him. So, I said yes which mom promptly conveyed to his family.

Since his stay here is short and there is no auspicious day this week, they decided to have the engagement today. Boy! All this is happening so fast. And the wedding is scheduled for next Thursday, 24 Mar in Tirupati. There is so little time.

There is shopping scheduled for this week, besides making arrangements for the wedding, printing cards and inviting people. I guess I’ll just send out emails, not sure if I can even make calls to invite friends personally. I don’t think any of them will make it to Tirupati bang in the middle of a work week and I don’t think we have the time for a reception. He has his tickets for the following Saturday, so we have to get the marriage registered before that.

Phew! my head is reeling. So much to do in so little time and my life is never going to be the same again.

Nilu.