Saturday, December 16, 2006

Jebel Ali Desalination Plant

“There it is!”
“That sign says ‘Team Victory’”
“Anyone got anything to eat?”
“Please….Daniel Craig is waaayyyy hotter than Hrithik!”
“Stop singing!”

The day, needless to say, started out normally enough. After an intriguing presentation on desalination, punctuated by ‘Haven’t we done motors in class?’ and yawns, we wended our way to the front office to don hard hats (“blue!”) and pose for a photo (“but I wasn’t ready!!”) we boarded a bus that would take us on a tour of the desalination plant. The ride was scenic enough, what with the endless pipes and stacks and steam billowing out from random bits of ground…..and well, despite the obligatory ‘oohs’, ‘aahs’ and ‘Dissssneyland!’, it just wasn’t well, lively. I remarked to that effect, to which Meenakshi smartly taps the back of Sneha’s hard hat, “Safety First!” she read…..oh, those ominous words!

We disembark pretty close the shoreline, and the fenced off pools, just next to the cemented opening in the ground. About 15 feet below us, in plain view, water was gushing from the mouth of the undersea pipes to the drum screens. Standing hands pinned to our sides on the pretty gusty day, (“that’s why it’s called ‘Flashing!’”) we peered over the ridiculously short 3 and a half feet yellow railings, in pretty pensive moods. Lisha and I despaired over how it was sad none of us had a camera, would have made a nice picture- sigh. Someone asked what exactly was happening and Meenaxi, bless her soul, immediately stepped forward. Her arms moving with dutch like efficiency, she (ever the helpful, thoughtful person) explained the process in simple, lucid terms. We all watched her, with admiration, awe and ofcourse respect as she simplified the entire mechanism of desalination. When…alas! Disaster struck!

Like the one in Da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’, a hand – dripping with malicious jealousy no doubt -came out of nowhere and pushed kind, unsuspecting Meenaxi over the railing!! The poor thing barely had time to register what was happening when she was flailing, shocked and barely alive in the fast flowing water! Seeing dear Meenaxi helpless was too much for some, as Juhi fainted. Yet, Lisha and Karishma immediately dove in after her. Aided by Anjali’s guiding voice from the ground above, and an impromptu encouraging number from the Studzies, the aquatic trio were able to execute a complicated manoeuvre reminiscent of Baywatch (minus the tans and overdramatic males ofcourse). After a few tense minutes, they were back on dry ground and wrapped in towels and blankets.

Meenaxi, ever the Saint immediately condoned the actions of her almost murderer, with a magnanimous “I bear her no grudge”. What a person!
Such people are very rare. Trust me on this one, Very rare.

PS- Ofcourse this is what really happened, why do you ask?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Baywatch - overdramatic males? How can you say that?

As for the rest - :D (That's all)

Anonymous said...

baywatch, overdramatic females. haha.
and of course this story is true. i mean, i actually fainted when i saw meenakshi being pushed! meenu, this shows how much i care for u! (boohoo!.. i rhymed!)
and we are all proud of our stand in life guards, kari and lishes. without them, meenu wouldnt be with us today. (oh, darn you both to heck!)

Anonymous said...

in the midst of daniel craig and hrithik didnt ull ever think of david hasselhoff :p??!!i noe hes all old now ,but common u cant have baywatch without the hot and cute and "overdramatic males"! atleast the females should realise tht!!
as fr meenakshi...wat were ull thinking saving her!!???!!

Anonymous said...

sighh.. lem... i almooosttt fell for it... then i thought... lisha n kari to save meenakshi? reaally? ;)

Anonymous said...

way funny proma! no seriously i had no intention of diving into the freezing waters to save meenakshi of all people, but hey with the studzies éncouraging number'from the shores....who wouldnt? gee thanks lindze and chaal!

Anonymous said...

ok a quick point for all those so concerned about me....I didn't fall anywhere!!!! all lakshmy's imagination....