Santa Claus is coming to town

Nihal: gregarious, not street-smart and loves western classical music and adores his personal collection. He is responsible for a JEE implementation project for a Japanese client. He works at Bangalore and lives on the Airport road.

Maya: smart, practical but not very out spoken. A freelancer loves gardening and essentially a ‘dreamer’.

Mrinal: a six year old dreamy child with a sparkle in his eyes. Curious to explore things around him and is fascinated by the stars in the sky and their patterns. Loves Pokemon.

Zakhir: the regular-on-the-street autowallah hails from Hyderabad and lives by the rules set by ‘Munnabhai MBBS’.



Scene I

Faint sound of Beethoven’s ninth movement being played in the background. Nihal rushing through his breakfast. Maya busy on her computer, composing something very intriguing. Mrinal all dressed up for school, watching the Christmas special on Pokemon.

Nihal: Oh damn it. I mean what is this. It’s even more complex than my daily dose of su-duko while driving my car to work. What does this Hujikawa san think of himself; the god almighty himself. And why does he need’ inch-by-inch’ details of the project progress. Does he think that he is dealing with set of motley clowns who need to be monitored....?

(Mrinal, suddenly distracted...interrupts)

Mrinal: What did you say papa, Hujikawa san. Should I also start calling you papa san and Santa as Santa san?

Maya: See, this is what I have been telling you all this while. You and your IT jargons are influencing the thoughts of our dear Mrinal. See how he wants to call Santa as Santa san.

Nihal: Let’s not start it off again Maya. Chal Mrinal I will drop you at your bus stop.

Maya: You always escape from any serious discussions. Anyways, I am really struck up with my article for the Xmas eve. I seem to be completely blank and I don’t know why it keeps happening Nihal. I think we should probably discuss this with your influence on Mrinal. So that means we have two discussions pending. BTW, don’t forget to pick up what you were supposed to pick up last week.


Scene II

A typical day at work for Nihal.

(Jose is almost sleeping on his desk when Nihal walks in...)

Nihal: What’s up with you today, Srinivas?

Jose: I had a really rough night yesterday. No electricity baba. A splitting head-ache. I’m planning to sleep here till the power comes back.

(Phone rings...)

Jose: Nihal, its paddy here. I don’t think I will be able to make it for the meeting today. My ‘live-in’ partner ‘walked out’ on me. I don’t think I will be able to make it for the meeting today. I need to figure out how to get back my things back which she took away.

Nihal: Can you...Hello, hello.... Who do they think is the project manager here...? This in turn means I’m the only one who would be there for the ‘inch-by-inch’ review with Hujikawa san.

(Later at the T-con with his client)

Nihal: I truly understand your concern Hujikawa san, but understanding the underlying technical complexity in achieving integration between technical version 1.73 migration point to 1.79 migration point has been very challenging.

Hujikawa san: Nihal all you have is three hours.

Nihal: What three hours? But but my resources are undergoing some specialized training on the advanced tools to manage this complexity…

Hujikawa san: We are not working tomorrow, how about tomorrow EOD.

Nihal: Yes, yes, tomorrow by EOD we will be able to give you the prototype.

(Phone vibrates… Nihal is not able to concentrate)

Hujikawa san: What is that disturbing sound, is it your phone Nihal?

Nihal: Excuse me, I think it is one of our technical specialists with the latest update…Yes Maya what is it?

Maya: Do not forget the gift for Mrinal. I am still blank and I don’t know what to do…I really need complete the article, Nihal are you there, Nihal, Nihal…

(He snaps the phone.)

Nihal: Sorry for the interruption, let us continue...

(And so on and so forth Nihal’s T-con goes on and on. Barely does he realize that it is already 9:00 and what all he needs to accomplish. God why do you make man so weak?)

Nihal: Oh my gosh! It’s already nine, I need to rush to MG road and pick up the ‘Master Blaster’ bey blade for Mrinal.


Scene III

(While Nihal is battling with his predicaments at work, let’s us peek-in to see how Mrinal and Maya keep themselves occupied at home)

Mrinal: I don’t think I’ve been a good boy this year. Santa has not yet given me my gift yet. I’ve been a monster as mummy keeps calling me. But at least I have finally finished making the cards for Papa and mummy. And also some candles.

Maya: I really do not want to disappoint Mrinal this Xmas. Though I’ve been calling him a monster and ‘faltoo’ all through the year. I know that he has been an angel all round the year. I just hope Nihal does not forget the gift. I think I will sms him to remind him.



Scene IV

(Nihal ventures into the unending traffic of Bangalore from Electronic City. Every inch of space, a victory indeed. Radio city his only companion, distracting and irritating Fiona doing what she can do best- gossip…)

Nihal: If Santa Claus were to actually come down to Bangalore, leave apart Airport road, Santa would not even reach the kids of Bommanhalli. I could see the bey blade in Mrinal’s eyes today morning. Santa why don’t you ever do your duty religiously and spare poor fathers like me…

(Nihal, inching further, finally manages to reach Brigade road, only to find a serpentine queue of vehicles…If things have to go wrong, it definitely does…)

Nihal: I think I will leave my car here and rush to pick the bey blade and get back in a jiffy.

(Things are never simple. At the store there is only single piece of the Master Blaster bey blade and to add to the commotion, there is another contender for it. Will Nihal be able to outwit his competitor?)

Customer: The last of the bey blades, well I have it now.

Nihal: Oh thank god that’s the last one in stock and I can pick that up for Mrinal.

Customer: Well well where do you think you are taking it away?

Nihal: I was here before you and I am the rightful owner for it.

Customer: Do you think you have your name scribbled all over it kya?

Nihal: By the way do you have it engraved or what?

Customer: Let’s arm wrestle to see who wins…

Nihal: What a crazy idea is this. Better think of something substantial now.

Customer: It’s going to be arm wrestling.

Nihal: Well who guesses the price right gets to walk away with it. Its 499 I must say.

Customer: No way, 699.

Nihal: It costs 525 and I am closer to it. I take it.

(That was not all for Nihal; his card was not working when he went to pay for it. He somehow managed with whatever liquid cash he had. If things where as simple as this all of us would have been heroes. Little does he know what is in store for him outside the store?)

Nihal: I think it was my good presence of mind that I was able to outwit that scoundrel. Hey how similar does that car look. Well almost exactly my color and the patch exactly like mine. Are they towing it away? Well what is the number on it? Oh my gosh, that’s my car. That is my car. Hey where are you taking it. Stop, stop. Oh it’s gone. They towed it away. What will I do now? I think I will take care of it tomorrow.

(You see Nihal was confused. He really didn’t know what to do. He was not at fault. Neither where they. But that’s how life is right. C’est la vie. By the way you must be thinking where our popular Zakhir disappeared. Well he was waiting for his prey in his auto nearby)



Scene V

Zakhir: Yen martad di ra.. Eh chipkali kahan jaane ko mangta?

Nihal: Airport chalna hai kya?

Zakhir: Boss bole to 200 lagega. Chalna hai kya?

Nihal: Kya 200, one and half le lo na bhai.

Zakhir: Kya bolta hai saab, airport road se khaali aana ka. Wahan se koi bhi saawari nahin milta boss. Waise bhi aaj kal petrol aur gas ke daam to kya hai maloom hai kya? Bangalore zoo chalna hai to bolo…

Nihal: Why did I ever decide on buying a place on the Airport road…? Don’t worry boss, mera neighbor roj ghumane ke liye MG Road aata hai. Aap ko sawari zaroor milega.

Zakhir: Last price bole to 150 aur wapis aaneka 50 aur extra lagega. Chalna hai kya?

Nihal: Aacha chalo. What a crook he is… Jaldi chalo bhai. Airport road ka traffic mujhe yahan se hi dikh raha hai.

(Zakhir manages to keep his cool while maneuvering through the traffic. He is at his best with his regional Kannada for everyone on the road.)


Scene VI

(Well finally Nihal manages to reach home. It’s already past 11 and little is he surprised to see Mrinal awake.)

Mrinal: Good evening papa.

Maya: Nihal is everything intact? Everything is in place; right?

Nihal: Yes. Everything finally accomplished. Oh no where is the gift? Where is the gift? I forgot to pick it up from the auto. Maya won’t believe me. Mrinal won’t forgive me. I have failed.

Maya: Nihal forgot to get the gift. Poor Nihal could not make it and I could not even help him.

Mrinal: Papa and mummy, I have something to tell you both. Please read this…

(He hands over the apology letter. Maya reads the letter and is almost in tears, Nihal is drowned with guilt.)

Mrinal: I always wondered why Santa never gifts you both. Papa you work so hard through out the day and Mummy you keep writing and thinking all day. Why does Santa never gift big people? So I have made this card and some candles for you. Merry Xmas.

(He hands over the card and the candles. The parents are speechless)

(Suddenly the doorbell rings…)

Mrinal: Well it is exactly midnight but I do not think it is the Santa. I am not opening the door.

(Nihal opens the door, only to see Zakhir at the doorstep)

Zakhir: Saab, bole to woh 50 rupees wapis jaane ka apun to abhi chahiye. Kya saab itna accha kapda pahanta hai aur pachas rupiye nahin de sakte kya?

(Nihal is almost mad)

Zakhir: Saab bole to apun III class tak Bishop Cotton school mein padh re la. But bole to family problems se padhai to choot gaya. Baad mein falily mein bhaut bada ho gaya aur who khush ho ke apun ko auto de diya. Par saab, jo Santa Claus ne apun ko gift school mein diya tha, who aaj bhi apun ne sambhal ke rakha hai. Bole to apun ko maloom hai baccha log gift ke liye wait karta hoga. Kahan hai tumhara baccha log?

(Zakhir hands over the gift to Mrinal)

Mrinal: Tumhara naam kya hai?

Zakhir: Bole to apun ka naam hai Zakhir. (Zakhir wears the Santa cap) Sorry Zakhir hai nahin tha. Mein Santa hoon. Merry Xmas.

Nihal: Yes, Mrinal, he is indeed the Santa. Santa Claus is coming to town. Indeed Santa Claus is coming to town.

(Santa Claus is coming to town, played in the background)







Apology Letter

Papa and Mama,

I am very sorry for being a ‘monster’ all through the year. When the guests came over and all the cookies were missing, it was me who had all of them. When you both were not around, I copied the home work from Rustum’s textbook and watched Pokemon all day long. And all the time I complained of stomach ache, and not go to school, it was bcoz I was feeling lazy. I am so sorry papa and mummy. Papa I also tried to open the cupboard to see the magazines kept there.


Mrinal