Thursday, November 8, 2012

Dracula.

Today, happens to be Abraham 'Bram' Stoker's 165th birth anniversary. He's a lot of literary efforts to his credit but the one that had the world by storm and continues to be a popular read is 'Dracula'. It came subsequently as a film called 'Dracula - The Prince of darkness' which went on to be a smashing hit after its release. Christopher Lee had immortalised the title role with his convincing performance in it.

I distinctly remember the scene in which he slithers down a rope - slung from the castle roof - head first, like the lizard and that had given me a frighteningly creepy sensation. But the film was tautly made and made interesting viewing!

While at school, it was during the days while I was in class XI when among us classmates, there used to be an oft waged bet wherein one was to walk through a dark stretch of a muddy path, within the school premises, during midnight or immediately past it after reading a few chapters of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Anyone who could do it successfully was entitled to an extra serving of our favourite pudding served in the mess, a movie ticket at the expense of the bet wagers and the title of a 'braveheart' bestowed upon him.

Being a House Captain, I couldn't afford to get into frivolous challenges and therefore, gave an alibi that the incentives did not excite me a wee bit! Those were the days!!


Tailpiece.

Chaitanya, from Delhi on work, had come calling and had spent the evening with us. It was again an occasion to recall the crazy times that we had together in the not too recent past and there was mirthful laughter all around making others, in the banquet hall of the hotel where he'd taken us, wonder as to what was happening!

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