Chennai TrucXpress

                                                          My Experience

Thursday 3^th Dec 2015

I am very disturbed today, why? Because Chennai has been hit by a flood. Through my Friends and News, I found out that the causes for the flood was heavy rain which occurred due to unusual warming in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. All this rain caused the authorities to open a massive 30,000 cusecs of water from Chembarambakkam reservoir into the Adiyar River, Which caused over flowing on its banks. Similar flooding occurred in Poondi, Cooum and Puzhal. But unfortunately it was not the only causes! Illegal construction, choking of water exits, badly planned or Unimplemented Project and most importantly filling of around 300 lakes caused the sewer to over flow and fill Chennai with water.

My very close friends lives in Chennai, so I was very worried and a little scared for them as the communication was taken down.

Friday 4^th Dec 2015

My Mom comes to me and tells me that Maniji {A great man who lives in Abu Dabhi}wants to send money to help his birthplace, Chennai. After the Flood it had experienced it was human nature to want to help. So I gladly wanted to help. First things first, so we started finding out what resources were required as it was the first time we were doing this. We found out about a bread dealer and met him. To be honest I was very excited as a friend of mine said “we don’t have floods everyday but when we do, we must serve and make the most of it”. We spoke and got 500 packets arranged, Each packet consisted of 500gm Bread, Half Kg Rusk, 5 piece Bun and cookies. Next we spoke and arranged for Meds, Water and Milk.

Saturday 5^th Dec 2015

Today a volunteer namely Vaidyanathanji joined My Dad, Food Inspector Athmanand Uncle and Myself to Bangalore market. We first went to a shop where we bought Natural mosquito Coils, Matches and Small covers. Then we went to buy Blankets and large packing covers. Most of the stuff was carried by us and a labour till the car to transport. Then on the way back we picked up milk. To transport it we had to arrange an auto carrier and I had to travel in it to show the way. It was kind of fun. Well isn’t it just too perfect!!! Well then your right, the blankets were attached together, 2 each piece. Hence we had to cut 300 pieces half and fold 600 blankets, after we tied them, 20 each and packed them in the big plastic bags. Luckily we had a few more volunteers, Rahul anna, Chandan, amithji, pawan and a few Neighbours. Well this was not just it, by the time we were done with the blankets, the bread got delivered at 12:30 am. We had to arrange 500 packets which took around one and a half hours to pack.

Sunday 6^th Dec 2015

Last night with 2 hours of sleep I got ready to leave to Chennai. No force in the world would have been able to stop me from going. I was very excited as I had never seen a real flood. Not that I want one to happen… but u get it. So in the morning we packed all the bread and loaded it onto the tuck which already had 1 ton of rice, 100 Kg of Dal, water and lots and lots of bananas. Those bananas reminded me of minions, you know… that movie…despicable me…. You know what never mind… we left after taking tons of selfies and photos. We stared at around 10 / 10:30. Rahul anna, pawan, narsimha, Vaidyanathanji, myself and the truck driver travelled on the Chennai trucxpress.

On the way we were stopped at a check post. We told the cops that we were going to Chennai with food and other basic things. Then something unexpected happened the cops gave us a huge sack of water, another one with tetra pack milk and a few more boxes of water!!! I mean, like, that much from cops was something I never imagined. They said they wanted to contribute too. They also told us that we don’t have to stop at any check points or pay at any toll plaza as long as we have the banner tied on, as we were doing service for the people. And they were right we sped through the tolls and ever check post. I’m not sure how but when we stand for another soul or a group of soul then the nature works and helps us accomplish the task. Like in this case it was so cool, we sped past every toll and check point, like as if we were VIPs.

Then we reached, but unfortunately it was dark by then. We met Krishna rao uncle our coordinator there in Chennai. He lived there. And I meet my friend Raghu who flew to Chennai from Abu dabhi just before the flood and rain to serve the people. We wanted to give some food to a place where it was required but unfortunately there was water there and so the others had to go ahead and check the depth of the water. We had to park the truck out in the road and wait for them to come and take a decision. At this moment people started gathering around the truck for food. Unfortunately we dint have enough to spare for them hence they kept requesting and we had to tell them that it was not available. I felt very bad that we could not provide them with food. We then went to Raghu’s house to unload the goods. It was hard work but worth the efforts. It took us around 3 to 4 hours to unload. I mean common its 7 to 8 ton of food, that’s 7000 to 8000 kg of food. Ya 7000 to 8000 Kg of food was unloaded that night.

Monday 7^th Dec 2015

I went to bed around 1:30 with my friend Ragu and instead of sleeping we kept talking and slept around 3:30 / 4 and woke up at 6 in the morning. By then a volunteer from there teja and Rahul anna went to give food to that place we were not able to reach last night. We got fresh and had a great breakfast. Raghu’s aunt had made the food. Then we discussed and call a few local NGO foundation. They knew how to handle those places where people throw stones and hit volunteers. Well technically it’s not the people but a few goons who work for the political parties. So moving on the NGOs came and picked up the food. We took a lot of pics and selfies with them.

In the evening we went to a school nearby, where refugees whose houses were still in the water or destroyed were present. We met an aunty who was very commanding and helped us distribute food. Then we went to a street where poor people lived and Raghu’s aunty gave them each 1 pack as she knew the people there. We also distributed bananas. While cutting the bananas I accidentally broke teja’s swiz poket knife. Well the bananas were supposed to be cut from the bark and then distributed.

Later that day Vaidyanathanji and myself travelled back to Bangalore.

Today, Tuesday 8^th Dec 2015

We reached today at around 6 AM. I loved my trip. Yes there are some pros and cons but still I realised a lot and it feels really good to help another person. If you’re truthful to yourself and the world then nothing in the world will stop you. Like for example when we wanted to do all this people supported us because of the trust they have on my Mom. If you want a loan of 30,000 and you might or might not get it but if you want to help someone then u will get more than 3 lakhs in one day!!!! And no I am not kidding it happened here in this situation. Now I am not asking you to go help in floods or earthquakes, but to just help a person when he is in need and don’t expect anything in return. Imagine when everyone is helping each other, that’s where I want my brothers, sisters or children to grow in.

Signing Off

Ashwin Reddy

Do i need to think...

story time.....
Me: Their was a panda family ..
Akash: In Bamboo forest..?
Me: yes, while moms and dads were busy , the two little pandas set off to play...
Akash: n they got lost..???
Me: they were jumping all over trees and having fun and one panda got stuck ...oooucchhh ...
Akash: oopsi time...
Me: ya , his friend tried push him but his bum got stuck...
Akash: hehehe....pandas are big
Me: His friend took a stick and pushed him, panda screamed hhaa it hurts be gentle...get me out of hear...his friend asked him to stay calm and think ....panda who was stuck refused to think and said what's their to think just get me out of here...his friend got an idea , he asked panda to squeeze himself while he stretch the branch and push him....finally panda is out of the branch....and walk ahead...they started feeling hungry , panda demands food, they eat everything that forest has to offer ....suddenly they see a huge pond to play...splish splash they play....panda's friend says lets built something to play...panda says i dont know you tell me ...his friend again asks him to think for which panda refuses...
Akash: they can build a castle ...
Me: ya they do ...it starts getting dark and the birds return home chirping and that reminds them its time to go home...when they turn back...they realise they forgot the way....panda starts crying...
Akash: oh
Me: panda's friend says let us see which direction we had come right or left ...they check the foot steps and follow them back home...they say bye and go to their home..before sleeping panda looks sad , his mom asks how come he is sad after a day long play...he says today he found out that he hardly thinks and is always demanding answers or things from parents and all so when he actually had to solve a problem he couldn't think and felt even more lost....mom dad from today onwards allow me to think ...i want to grow ...my friend helped me in every situation today and i was a burden on him not participating but just demanding ....what if i had to face things alone...i need to grow strong and be a thinker ...i always felt lazy to think but not any more....his parents hug him and cuddle...
Akash hugs and cuddles asking me.. your their for me....
Me: yes am always their for you but physically atimes am not their around so you take care of self ...
Akash: yes i do..did panda's friend sleep too?
Me: ya but his friend was sharing the whole story to his mom and dad , wondering why panda would not think at all...his parents said sometime some kids take time and its ok...better late than never...and that they are glad he helped his friend out...
Akash : i too help my friends and think while playing chess...or studying n all
Me: (smile)...its dark and pandas fall asleep to wake up with fresh mind to think....have a nice sleep...
akash slips to sleep....goodnight...

Peanuts

Story time....
Hmmm...ok their were many peanuts in the farm ..The little boy would go to the farm with his father for every vegetable or any seeds to plant.
Akash was so happy that boy could go to farm ... (I guess all children like to be close to earth n be engaged in activities not gadgets )
Me: After filling the basket full of peanuts they came home....farmers home had calf ...
Akash; cow baby or buffalo? 
Me : cow' s calf 
Akash: awee ok
Me: calf was innocently looking at basket full of peanuts...The boy looks at calf and says oh you want to eat...wait I will give you some...boy thinks for a second should he open the shells and give nuts or give them as it is....after thinking for few seconds. ..He says to calf..."I don't want to take a risk as you are too small and might choke so I will open the shells and give you"
Calf looks so excited. ..boy opens up peanuts ...Some have 2 nuts inside...
Akash adds quickly...: some have 3 and just 1 too...
Me: Yes so the boy opened up 10 peanuts shells so how many peanuts could he have got in hand?
Akash: it depends on 2 or 3 or 1 in each..
Me:approximately? 
Akash: hmmm 25..
Me: so he gave a handful of peanuts to calf...The calf chews n chews until it becomes juice in mouth with saliva as saliva helps in digestion ....calf relishes the peanuts fully n than puts to the stomach....They are not in a hurry to gulp and finish ....boy says to the calf ..that his mom said handful of peanuts are good to eat everyday...boy hops into his room singing ....peanuts from the farm ...peanuts in the home...peanuts everyday for you and me...stars in the sky and am on the ground ...time to sleep gdnite to you...and me...
Akash slips to sleep....as I sang in a very low n smooth voice. ...gn...

Joy

 Hi am back from UAE workshops n stories continue....

bedtime creative story..for akash..
akash : Ma story...
Me: hmmm their are ice cubes
Akash: title of story is Ice cubes.
Me: ice cubes talk to eachother in fridge.
Akash: moral of the story is we all should talk to each other. .hehe
Me: ok story done?
Akash: no no tell
Me: ok. Ice cube was asking the other cube which juice he likes to go with.cube says I like lemonade. It feels so fresh to get dipped n splash .another cube says yes its amazing we become cubes n melt dissolve. We go to birthday party n wedding ..kids like us in their juice after playing in sun....we are part of the joyfulness. Another Cube says it scares him to stay in fridge for long ....it makes him think why is no one celebrating in this house...why is no one playing out...
Akash: May be they have cold n drinking without ice cubes .
Me: could be...
Fridge door opens n tray is take out twisted n all cubes put to a box...today they are going to picnic ....cubes were so happy to see all jumping playing chatting ..family time...cubes danced in the glass when they shake the glass round n round....it was fun n cubes felt so good to keep them cool inside....
.after long day it's time to be home..fill water into trey n keep it fridge again....slp well ...
Akash slept off...gn.

Togetherness

Story time...
akash: mommy storyyy but this time they should be living things.
Me: cuddling him...i start the story...their was a boy called akash and he had ten little fingers...
Akash: giggles...
Me: one day their was a debate in five fingers.
Thumb said ' am the strongest as am plumpy wide and sign of victory '. Anyone who cheers up or wins shows thumbs up. 
Little finger said , well am tiny but have the power of breaking big thing...for which all fingers were wondering at ...how is it so possible. ...little finger said when children don't want to talk they show me and say kattif. ..I have the power of breaking strong friendship. All fingers laugh and make fun of little finger that yes your shown when children have to go loo.little finger takes it in stride and quickly says yes am so important for their basic needs too. Now the ring finger jumps in and says oh I have the power to connect people. Wedding rings connect through me to eachother.index finger says oho i have an authority to pointout anything ..good or bad am shown.middle finger says whatever it is am the tallest of you all and reach first .While fingers were discussing akash just slipped while playing and all fingers together hold the rod to balance the body and they look at each other with smile...akash felt thirsty and all fingers together picked up bottle to drink water...fingers would hold sticks to play the drums and hold the bag. Fingers would help in eating and writing.if a finger was hurt while cutting something than other fingers would do the job of that finger until it heals and soon fingers realised that though they have their own importance yet being together gives strength to do any task.since than they were so happy to help eachother and enjoyed being together. 
Akash: ya just like family. 

Fish

Today Akash has bad cough so gave him ginger honey and rubbing his chest to comfort him...he says Amma story....A smile on my face...hmmm thinking...suddenly boats came to my mind...i started,,,
 Their was a boat and lot of fisher man ...
Akash : Ma if lot of fisherman than lot of boats should be their not just one boat..is it a ship? lot of fisherman will fit in a ship.
Me: hahaha yes Logic noted...lots of boats and lot of fisherman but am talking about one boat and a fisherman...He would go fishing and catch lot of fishes ....one day as usual when he spread the net to catch fish and pulled the net up , he found no fish and wondered why so....he again threw the net, the moment he felt net got a bit heavy , he pulled it up but saw no fish in it...after trying and trying he gets tired and rows back home .sits under a tree shade wiping his face , meanwhile his son comes back home from play and looks at his father and says "Appa (daddy) you seem to be upset what happened "? Father expresses" sorry dear i could not catch any fish and so will not be going to market nor sell or buy something for you as i promised". Appa its ok lets see why net could not catch the fish . both of them start looking at the net from edge to edge and child says Appa see here theirs a hole in it , Appa i think a big fish bit our net ...hmmm father says may be and may be not, it might have got rubbed to a rock while i pulled it hard ...Child says Appa when i was on way back home i saw a cycle shop keeper trying to fix a hole in the tube, he dipped the tube in water and air bubbles came out and he quickly marked it to fix . Why did you not see the bubbles when net got hole? Father smiles and says tell me dear why so... child thinks for awhile looking at the net and says may be because this is big and that was a small hole ..and may be coz air bubbles come in water as its just a small hole but here in net everywhere their are tiny holes and no air ...
Akash interrupts and says ...if their is air in water than we all can talk under water too so air in the tube not in the water ...b4 i said yes he says ok ma continue...

Father says now we got to fix it and starts searching for the tools. child asks Appa are you going to put gum to it or tie it ? father while picking up tools says am going to stitch it , child says ya amma says stitch in time saves nine else my shirt would have got torn more and more . yes says father while he fixed the net back for fishing. next day he goes for fishing and while child waits on shore to see if Appa is coming with basket full of fishes and yessss their he is with basket of fishes and sells them in market and gets yummy cookies . child runs to appa and hugs him for getting him cookies , his father hugs him and makes him sit on lap while child is eating cookies and says thank you so much for helping appa fix the net without crying for cookies yesterday . child says amma said we are family and we care for each other but appa is it ok if i cry sometimes as am not the same always you see, atimes when i dont get what i want i feel like crying than am i bad ? Father takes him close and says no dear you don't become bad and we are with you even in your cry and its ok as we are family...both exchange a warm smile ....amma calls out for dinner but child is full with cookies and wants to sleep ...the sun sets and waves are slowly hitting the shore ...it so calm and beautiful....child goes into appa arms and off to sleep ...Appa carries him home and puts him to bed giving goodnight kiss on his forehead....breeze coming in through the window and he sleeps sound....

Slowly Akash slips to sleep imagining beach waves and breeze.....what a pleasant feeling...so peaceful so calm...gn

Hide n Seek

Ystrday I created a story n it turned to acknowledging emotions...bedtime small story .....With lot of voice expression n body language involved
A squirrel was enjoying going up n down the neem tree....n hvng the neem fruit which turn yellow from green....While eating squirrel peeped out from branches down..on.hearing sm laughs n giggling
Squirrel was amazed to see sm children playing together. ..seven stones hide n seek etc n was jumping when they jumped n found it very exciting
It got dark n kids went home n squirrel on the branch was alone...it strikes to him that he was alone n had no one to play....He became sad.
But even when he was sad he was thinking as brain works in every emotion ...in sad happy angry etc
N he discovered that he should do smthing about it so next mrng went to every tree n invited squirrels to play
Sm squirrels said oh if we play on your tree than what about all other trees n places
As squirrel observed that kids wld play everywhere n go home by nite ....
He quickly clarified thr doubt that we can tk turns n play on every tree n place n b4 dark go back . It convinced squirrel mom's n squirrel babies too...that b4 dark they reach home
All got along n started playing ....so thr were giggles n laughs on tree n under the tree
Akash eyes were glittering in joy n he was clapping....
Now b4 his energy raises to play mode I quickly said now it's gtng dark
So all went to thr homes ...n quietly slipped to thr sleep as thr mom's sang for them....
I started singing n akash slept off....
Mrng akash says even in sadness we can mk wise decisions like squirrel did...😀