Balakanth & Prabhakar

Each one thinks they have a sense of humour; but majority actually don't. In my 40 years of earthly existence, I can just think of two names who fit the bill. One was the incomparable and even inimitable Balakanth and other a good friend and ex-colleague S D Prabhakar (SDP hereafter).

Interacting with both these people was a sheer pleasure; almost magical. They had their wits about them and an amiable humour that could light up even the most morose days. I would define humour as one in which one can enjoy a joke at one's own cost; it takes a large heart for that. Fragile egos get easily hurt and defensive, the very anti-thesis of humour. It is only a healthy person sure of themselves who can crack jokes at oneself. Humour is definitely not reading a "party jokes" book and recounting it during a lunch recess!!!

There is a subtle difference between using humour for banter and sarcasm as a hostile tool to hurt. These two were brilliant and knew the nuances well.

Balakanth was a fabulous person to be with; he was a giant in any company. He had the appeal of a college dadha (the bully whom one would run to in times of trouble sure in the knowledge that he will smoothen it out). His antics look like Krishna's tale amongst gopis.

We would go to movies for the late show at Satyam complex and on one occasion the person next to him was wrestling for the lone and shared hand rest. BK just gave him one thump as he swung his thighs and thereby settled the territorial issue. He recounted this during the interval when I cautioned," Boss, they are four of them and all college students and what if they gang up". He chuckled," Sathya, let them. You don't know what I can do for I am an international crook. I shall start a riot here and thrash all of them".

I would frequently go to Ram Bhavan for breakfast with BK and he would divert my attention and swallow the puri from my plate. I would be bemused wondering where the food disappeared. There was never a light moment with BK around.

Once he said," Sathya, there is an attractive girl in the next table. Can you ask her name and date of birth?" I chickened out while BK went, spoke to the girl and came back," Her name is Aparna and she is 19". Later he told me the trick," I just went to the girl and said that I have a foolish bet with a foolish friend and all that was required of her was to give me a nod when I spoke to you". She was a sport and acquiesced.

Then on another occasion he saw a couple of girls in jeans and their backs, full and swaying with each stride. They were slinging a plastic bag containing ice-creams on the shoulder. BK stopped his bike and audacious enough to take out the stick ice-creams. They girls were shocked before BK smiled most endearingly that reassured that the joke wouldn't go further. He said handing back the ice-creams," I liked the way both of you walk and wish to complement you". They too took it in humour as we proceeded in his bike. I was 22 years old to BK's 40 and never have I seen a person who took more out of life. BK was the idol of my early 20s before he left for USA for good.

There are many lessons I learned from BK; happiness is independent of money and a smiling face is welcome anywhere.

Then in January, 2005 I joined Sinex Systems and got acquainted with S D Prabhakar. He was my reporting manager but there was no such artificial divide in our relations. We were more friends than manager-subordinate roles.

SDP as a person defines a gentleman; he is a natural well-wisher of anybody. At mid 50s, he is a person who has a lot of international work experience. He is incapable of gossip or rancour though as a boss, demanding. He will coax people in doing their jobs and sees himself more as a mentor of the next generation than a control freak. SDP's greatness lies in his extraordinary listening prowess; one gets a feeling of being heard.

I am full of pranks with SDP. I would trigger off saying," The water problem in Madras is because of too many Telugus here. It would be better off if they stay in Andhra than spoil things for us".

SDP, a Telugu, would not get provoked and instead say," Madras should be only for those people who can read and write Tamil and not for some silly assholes", hitting back at my Tamil illiteracy. SDP's Tamil is better than mine any day.

Whenever I am angry, I would address him as," Prabhakar Naidu". He soon learnt that trick from me as he would say more in repartee," You Sathyanarayanan Iyer". Once on my birthday he got a cake that read; happy birthday, jackal. After the office sang the chorus he asked," Sathya, what is your message to the world on your 36 birthday?" I was tickled so much that I cried as my stomach burst from too much laughing.

There is this famous equip," Prabhakar, you earn a lot of money and so does your wife. What do you do with all that money?" SDP has a daughter and she is happily settled in USA. We were so friendly that he did not mind even when I asked in front of others.

SDP once said," I have a recurring deposit account of my salary. Everything goes into my retirement savings".

Then each time, I see him I enquire about the progress of his RDs !!! There are many variants you can have with “what do you do with so much money?” For instance, how do you ferry your salary home….a truck!!! SDP would sometimes quip,” I loaned some money to Dirubhai Ambani” or “yesterday Ratan Tata was waiting for me at my doorstep with a bowl in hand” or “I am planning a holiday in space”.

Today he called in to wish the 11th anniversary of my heart surgery and I said," SDP you should change your car. I am sick of seeing the same old Santro. It should be no trouble since you earn so much money".

SDP said to a guffaw," I thought that you will get rich with your books and present me a nice car".

I said," Prabhakar, why don't you include me in your will?"

We went along most humorously along that track. I have never found more pleasure than talking with SDP. One can joke with him and he knows that my jabs are friendly. It takes a lion-hearted man to take those punches and still have the wit to get back.

In my life barring these two people, I have mostly seen people too full of themselves. They just can't take a little chaffing to their egos; so bloody uptight. The best conservationist is one who can differentiate between a slight and friendly banter and know how to kick the ball along.

Each time I speak to SDP on the phone, I laugh most of the time and realize that I could be so creative. He is a spark for my mind that brings out the child in me. I don't have anyone who can make me so lighthearted.