Vipz's Story

Late night combined studies is a time for telling jokes, gossips, the merits and demerits of the latest film around, watching TV, eating junk food, more TV, and at last and the least, studying a.k.a. cramming. It was one of those late night sessions when Vipz and I hit the books for a daunting 12 minutes & 40 seconds straight, that we decided to take a much awaited rest to relax our minds after the long tiring study session. So off we went to watch some TV. As we surfed through the umpteen channels, FTV sprung up; and that’s when Vipz told me he gets reminded of a particular incident that happened 9 years back whenever this channel comes up. For the uninitiated, FTV is Fashion Television, an absolutely boring channel for everyone; everyone except boys who’ve just entered the adolescent phase. The channel shows fine female figures catwalking on the ramp which induces funny fantastic feelings in young boys. Now where was I? Ya, Vipz’s story. Here it goes:

After the final exams at school, young Vipz decides to spend the vacation in his native place, not just to see his beloved grandpa and grandma, but also to see Cable TV and the gazillion channels in it (those were the times when Cable TV wasn’t ubiquitous as it is now). Once there, he discovered this channel called FTV which showed beautiful figures of a particular kind of human species; but he knew he didn’t get a chance to see this channel when everyone was around. So, determined to watch it, he walks gingerly into the TV room one night (after making sure his grandparents has fallen asleep); switches on the TV in mute mode and puts his blanket over the TV case and also over himself (he sitting on the floor), so that the light from TV doesn’t spread across the room and he can watch TV in peace without anyone knowing. Smart chap I say! But there was some junk showcase articles kept on top of the TV case and as Vipz started enjoying the ramp show, the blanket slowly slipped from over the case along with all the articles on it. *THUD* *CRACK* *THUD* !! Vipz sprung up from the floor terrified, changed the channel (but unfortunately did not switch OFF the TV), pulled down the shutter of the TV case, ran back to his bedroom and jumped onto his bed. Grandpa and grandma wakes up hearing the cracking sounds; comes within a short while to the TV room and switches ON the lights. Seeing the messy floor,

Grandma: There’s something wrong with this house now-a-days. We should call the Poojari to perform the delayed rituals. 
Grandpa: It might be that stupid cat.

Then they go to Vipz’s room, he’s there sleeping cozily under the blanket, I mean pretending to sleep cozily; they awaken him.

Grandpa: Son, did you see or hear anyone around here.
Vipz (yawning): Wha, err, har! See?? Wha….Hear?? No, I was sleeping.
Grandpa (believing his “honest”, “innocent” grandson): Alright son, nothing to worry, you go back to sleep.
Vipz: Ya, ok grandpa.

And he falls asleep immediately, I mean he pretends to. Grandpa goes to the TV room, turn OFF the lights and when about to turn, sees light coming out of the TV case. He lifts up the shutter of the case and to his dismay sees snakes crawling and hissing, on TV. Guess what, Vipz had switched to 'Discovery Channel' before running off to his room.

Grandma: I told ya there was something wrong. The Snake Gods are displeased.
Grandpa: Hmm, I too guess it’s time to call the Poojari and perform the rituals.

And that week itself all the poojas and yajnas were done to please the Gods and ward off all the evil forces out of the house. I know which evil force that was!! The “evil” himself told me 9 years later!