Greater Than Lesser

Subramany dreaded going to school. The anxiety of facing Vivek the bully is not a proposition to begin your day with.

“That North Indian fighter cock”.

But deep in his heart was the day he would dream about licking the fellow.

 “His father must be teaching all the Karate moves” reasoned Bala his comrade in this common personal hatred. The fact that Vivek was the son of an Army man must have been the basis for this belief.

“Mother doesn’t make Oodumbu curry like Mani’s mother” chips in Subramany, Mani born in the family of relatively limited means but was strong and fast attributed by Subramany to the delicacy of monitor lizards.

Bala agrees, “No wonder Vivek doesn’t mess with him”.

This was the usual drift of conversation between Subramany and Bala apparently “Best Friends” of late but Subramany hated Bala’s guts. But who could an 8 year old turn to, who could understand the predicament. It all started when Subramany, perceived to be always sucking up to the Northerners, got licked by Vivek. The humiliation was too much and Subramany got back to the Southern camp after lot of sermons by its leader Nagendra and oath taking of never to share your tamarind, playing in the same team as the Southerners, and not talking Hindi. As it were, "playing" was always allowed with them apparently very sacrosanct among the 8 year olds as nobody could say “I wont play with you”, sacrilege. However the second clause of the oath as per the “South Indian code of conduct of standard 4 C” meant that one must always play in adversarial position with respect to the Northerners.

The last clause “not talk in Hindi” almost killed Subramany. Up until the fated confrontation Suraj, a Northerner, was his best friend. They had a common hero- Amitabh Bachchan, discussing his much flopped movie “Toofan” scene by scene intoxicating their blood vessels with the hero worship, in Hindi. Subramany basking in his freedom smug with pride that he knew Tamil, Telegu, Hindi, English fluently and was beyond the petty small brain political divide along linguistic lines. It all made him so secular he thought until his demeanor exuding confidence ticked Vivek and a challenge along physical lines meant that Subramany’s decent physical prowess was not so decent after all or so he thought as to what others thought about him.

Subramany and Bala decided to take matters into their own hands and joined the gym. Among the portly middle aged and young show offs the two minions got into the act of bulking up a little bit to confront their common adversary better. The gym “instructor” called them “Toi Toi” and “Poi Poi”. This had Bala over the moon of being reckoned among the grown ups to the chagrin of Subramany muttering “That Oldie…” 

The whole drama was enough for Subramany. All that plotting and planning and improbable ambush was depressing him. He found it very difficult to maintain a façade of cordiality with Bala and hold back all the scene discussions with his old chum Suraj.

“I am a fool. This charade has gone long enough. Why the hell do I have to avoid Vivek come what may…” muttered Subramany and just then the bell rang. It’s the dreaded English teacher Marimuthu sir’s period. All the words escape because kids are too bothered to make sure that they do not catch his attention. The lessons are easy enough for Subramany, the smart one, but nobody wants to get to Marimuthu the Psycho’s good or bad book. Somehow the conversation veered on comparisons of one protagonist in some story overcoming some other fellow with strength and therefore had to be “Stronger Than” the one licked.

“Subramany, get up.” Boomed Marimuthu and Subramany’s heart and all the accompanying organs sank.

“You Vivek, get up”

“What the hell!” thought Subramany, “I am getting lynched”

“Two of you come front” commanded the Psycho

With that Subramany went blank he just obeyed the command as an automaton and was instructed to face Vivek whom he almost failed to recognize. What transpired then was that Subramany was to arms wrestle with Vivek and he just went along with the motion. Somewhere there was a familiar boom which said “Start!” and it started. Vivek was all over and Subramany was exceedingly calm and aloof. The whole class joined in a wild chorus unleashing the pent up emotion that went “Subramany! Subramany! Subramany!” shocking Vivek and the Psycho to the corner. Half way through Vivek sensed the horror of what was to come. His biceps, fingers and palms cried and he was huffing and puffing but nothing to shake of Subramany now. What a contrast Subramany's face was just plain poker. Steadily Subramany grounded Vivek’s palm to the bench to the arousal of the whole class of boys to wild revelry and smiles among the girls. Subramany just woke up to the jingoism around and realizing that he just defeated Vivek, his nemesis, what sweetness. “Revathi also smiled” sighed Subramany. The commotion made everybody forget the lurking monster who just then managed to cane charge all the boys to submission leaving Vivek and Subramany in front of the class. Subramany just then managed to look at the face of his adversary for the first time since being called to the front. “Tears! Vivek in Tears!” some body whispered. It was too much for Vivek with his face red and trying in vain to hold back the tears in front of Marimuthu the Psycho.

“From what the two boys have shown you. Subramany is stronger than Vivek and Vivek is weaker than Subramany. Or Subramany is greater than Vivek and Vivek is lesser than Subramany.”

All through Subramany felt bad for Vivek but that didn’t last long. He had a sense of elation that the world is not so bad after all, Vivek had feelings too. He could now renounce his vows of the Southern code and get back to his secular ways and for now he could respect himself and more importantly, just as the lunch bell rang, catch up with Suraj to discuss Amitabh Bachchan’s next dud “Jadugar”.

Oodumbu – Monitor Lizard

Toofan – 1989 film starring Amitabh Bachchan

Jadugar – 1989 film starring Amitabh again