*From To Sathish* - Thread 3 - Page 104

JANNAL ORAM-44

Divorce is a fire exit. When a house is burning, it doesn't matter who set the fire. If there is no fire exit, everyone in the house will be burned! Mehmet Murat ildan

Raman sat in his chambers with Ashok mehta who was answering some of the questions that had risen last night even though his head had been muddled and spinning with thoughts about jeeva.

" Mr.ashok,you have been married for five years now with two children.From what you have told me in our meetings,you had a brief fling with one of your staff members an year ago and that was that and nobody knew about it.Just you and the lady who we are talking about right now who is called Neera."

Placing the pen which he had been holding on top of the file,Raman looked at ashok " Then how is it,that pics of you and neera kissing,hugging are now in the possession of your wife Pramila who is using that as the main point in her seeking this divorce."

Ashok gripped the arm rests of the chair he was seated in frustration " I am not worried about the pics raman,they could have been taken by anyone of my staff who traveled with us to singapore for that conference.I am not even worried about getting divorced.The only things i am worried and scared about is losing my children and losing my ancestral house,in which i was born,grew up and am now residing."

Ashok suddenly grabbed raman's hands and pleaded " This property is more valuable than my very life for it has been with us for nearly 200 years.Both my brother and sister who are settled abroad in america and france gave away their rights for the house out of love for me and also since they knew that i would take damn good care of it."

suddenly ashok realised that he was holding raman's hands in a vice like desperate grip ,released it " sorry,i just get so emotional when the topic of my house comes up for it is not just a house but a temple which contains the spirits of my ancestors and that of my parents .If push comes to shove,i will give up my children and everything that i own but not my house for i know what she will do and that is destroy the house for through that she will get here revenge on me."

Tears in his eyes " raman,let me tell you very clearly and that is,if i lose the case and the house,then i will kill myself the next moment.I promise you that for life won't be worth living after being the one responsible for destroying the name and fame of my family."

Raman's soul echoed the words "Heav'n has no rage like love to hatred turn'd / Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd." from the famous play ' The mourning bride' written by William congreve in 1697,although sometimes misquoted or misattributed to William Shakespeare.

" Mr.ashok,this is just the second hearing and it will take at least a few more years before a judgement can be passed and more if i want it to.If the divorce was by mutual consent then it would have been over in a year or so but i think in your case we can stretch it for some years.Just stay positive and please i beg of you to keep your emotions under control for even showing a bit of anger or frustration will make the judge think badly of you.And the judge in this case is a woman,mrs.lakshmi gurumurthy who is fair,wise and thoughtful in all her judgements."

Looking at his watch and seeing it was 9.50 am,he stood up " It's time mr.ashok and also please remember my advice.Don't say anything until i give you permission and don't look at your wife.I hope you understand these words."

Ashok mehta stood up with a smile " Yes,mr.raman,i understand perfectly."

Both men walked quietly with raman exchanging nods,good morning and hello's with his fellow advocates and then they come to the corridor that led to the room where judge lakshmi sat high up and meted out judgements.

Just as they were nearing the entrance,raman saw govind the advocate who was handling ashok's wife pramila's case and smiled " Good morning govind" and govind replied " Good morning ram." and both stood for besides them husband and wife locked eyes and stared angrily at each other.

This was the first time that raman was meeting mrs.ashok so closely and he used those fleeting moments to read the lady and her thoughts.What he thought he saw and what he felt after were very surprising to him and it was like kumble's sudden and surprising googly ball and looked away and entered the court.

Suddenly,a thought came to him and he whispered to ashok " please excuse me for i have a very important call to make.I will be back in a second."

Walking out and into the corridor and out of sight of the people inside,raman made a call " Good morning Sir,raman here.Can i see you later in the afternoon.4.00 pm.okay sir.i will be there sir.No,no,it can wait.I will explain the case to you in person and what i want done.Thank you sir."

Retired DGP Devaraj,the now chief of Global detective agency ended the call and spoke aloud " Raman from Rangachari and associates.Now that will be a turn up for the books if he is going to need my help in his line of work."

JANNAL ORAM-45

Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough. Abraham Lincoln

I,yours truly,satish kumar have been in and out of courts in chennai about five times.Twice to the high court with a cousin sister of mine who went through a divorce and got it pretty quickly and just in two hearings and the other times to the saidapet magistrate court when a business partner of mine bounced a cheque and that was the only time i ever dabbled in business and also burnt my fingers and soul pretty badly.So,some of the stuff that feature here in this story is a direct account of an eye witness and that is yours truly.

I guess all of you have heard about mass marriages which sometimes take place in different faiths and one of the main reasons is the venue which could be a famous temple like tirupati,under the auspices of a person in power ( politics or religions) or just because aadi maasam is going to start and the last date is usually a mad rush for a man and woman to tie the knot.

I happened to witness one mass wedding in Thiruvannamalai back in 2006 when i was acting in the tv serial Muhurtham and there were nearly a 100 couple ready and waiting to tie the knot.Sadly,there were many sad faces,long faces,disappointed face and heartbroken faces and this was before even taking the first baby steps into matrimonial relationship and get a license to kill(more of that someday,but you people know what is killed or dies in you).

The divorce courts too have couples,dozens and more but unlike in weddings they stand apart in hatred and hearts full of bitterness.Where in weddings you will have the bride and bridegrooms parents around them yelling,screaming,wishing and greeting all the people who have graced the weddings,here in the courts,there is only silence,deathly silence and the occasional wails as divorce is granted not by mutual consent but because one of the two has found somebody else to love better and live his or her life with.The divorce courts echo the sounds of children crying their souls out as they are dragged off by one and pawns in the games of two.

The red walls of the court like the police station reflect bleeding hearts,bleeding souls and tears of blood and they stand mute witnesses to the lies and dramas of human beings.


The case concerning ashok and pramila were called and both raman and govind stood before judge lakshmi and with a very slight bow of their heads,greeted her with respect.

Judge lakshmi looked at both of them " Mr.govind,what is your position? does your client still want a divorce and does she also want all these things from her husband,for it looks like a pretty long list."

Advocate govind " Your honor,my client is firm in her stand and wants this divorce for she feels that mr.ashok has betrayed and broken the sanctity of their marriage by cheating on her.She feels that he is a bad example for the children and has no inclination of continuing in this relationship."

Judge lakshmi looked at pramila and then peered closely at the file before her and slowly removing her glasses " mrs.pramila ashok,are you sure that you want to go through with this divorce.I am asking you this for sometimes we take and make decisions in anger and in the heat of the moment,which we regret for the rest of our lives."

Pramila ashok " I want the divorce your honor for i would rather live alone than live with this man who cheated on me and broke my heart.I cannot stand the sight of him and this poisonous relationship is ruining my health along with that of my children."


Judge lakshmi nodded " But mrs.pramila,your husband made this mistake just once and don't you think you can forgive him and try to make your marriage work.Both of you have been married for nearly six years and have two children whose future you need to worry about,because a divorce can ruin their lives permanently."

Pramila ashok looked at the judge and then at her husband and with her head bent " i would rather die than live one moment with this man again."

Judge lakshmi stared at pramila ashok,then taking a sip of water looked at raman " Mr.raman,what is your clients stand on this?Better still, let me hear mr.ashok speak for himself."

Raman looked at ashok and whispered " Patience,mr.ashok and measure your words."

Ashok mehta smiled sadly as if he was aware like nostradamus about all the ills that were going to plague his life and world and bowing to judge lakshmi " Ma'am,i am not going to contest this divorce and accept everything of my wife demands but for one thing and that is concerning my house where i am curently residing."

Advocate govind " Your honor,my client mrs.pramila has the responsibility of looking after both the children and so respectfully requests rights to reside in the house that mr.ashok is talking about.My client also requests that you ask mr.ashok to vacate the place for both cannot live under the same roof for she fears for her safety and that of her children."

Ashok mehta could not take this any longer and broke down and burst into tears and the walls of the courts absorbed another souls tears and laments and stood in solitary red.

Judge lakshmi looked at pramila and ashok and then at advocate govind " Mr.govind,are the children of this couple present in the courts premises at this moment."

Advocate govind was caught unawares at this sudden line of questioning and raman whispered to ashok " cheer up mr.ashok and remember what i told you, that this judge was very fair and wise in her judgements.just watch the fun now."


" Your honor,i am sorry but i am not able to understand why you are enquiring about the presence of the children at this moment."

Judge lakshmi's face showed just the hints of the anger that could erupt with the slight tilt of her head in irritation " Mr.govind,was that a question or an answer?"

Advocate govind did the only thing that raman himself might have done and that any self respecting lawyer should do,but don't and that is lock horns with the judge even if it meant contempt of court and also a bad judgement in future.

Advocate govind was prepared for a bad judgement for then he would go higher on pleas and appeals and as is the norm,there is bitchiness and rivalries inside the hallowed halls of justice and he would find another judge to set aside a bad judgement and then the case would go on dragging.But those moves were for not right now for right at this moment what was required was tact and patience and most importantly the right phrasing of words.

( all of us have at some point suffered personally or have been witness to words thrown out but which had an other meaning and the person concerned hurriedly rephrases " i am sorry what i meant was,i really meant was")

Advocate Govind was ambushed and the seconds felt like hours and then he did something only two people noticed and that was take a subtle look into Raman's eyes and then turning back to face judge lakshmi " your honor,i pray for your leniency and patience and humbly request you to shed light on the information about the presence of the children in the court's premises."


Judge lakshmi smiled at the clever use of diplomacy and yet she was one of the two who had seen govinds eyes seeking out raman's for that fleeting second and yet that was enough for she was a very clever person and took in all signs and body language when determining and sitting in judgement.

" Mr.govind,it was not a request but a direct question and i fail to see what danger that information could pose to this case and at this moment."

Then with veiled sarcasm " If they are not here right now,i would like to see them in later in the afternoon just before closing time,preferably at about 4.00 pm for i have a function to attend to.I hope that is not too inconvenient for you or your client."

Advocate govind knew when he was defeated and gracefully retreated " No ma'am,absolutely no inconvenience at all and your evening schedule will not be disturbed for i will produce both the children in court right now."


Judge lakshmi looked at govind and pramila and then at raman " gentlemen,i feel like having a cup of coffee in my chambers and if it is no problem,bring the children and assemble in my chambers in exactly five minutes."

Getting up,judge lakshmi exited the court for more than the need for caffeine,her diabetes urged her towards the loo and with that done,she sat in her inner sanctum,nibbling on some onion bajjis and sipping hot filter coffee and looked up at the mini crowd assembled before her.

She looked at both the daughters of ashok and pramila " both of you sit down in the chairs in front of me."

Once the girls were seated,judge lakshmi asked them " could you please tell me your names" to which the eldest daughter whispered sadly" my name is shwetha" and the youngest child just three years old boldly proclaimed " my name is manjula,but you can call me manju".

Looking at both ashok and pramila " i want both the parents to wait outside while i ask your children a few questions.But both your advocates can be present here while this is done."

Raman and govind looked at their clients and requested them to go wait outside the chambers and once they had left,judge lakshmi looked at the girls " these bajjis are really tasty.try one of them."

While shwetha hesitated,manju jumped and took two bajjis and began to demolish them and the judge smiling in affection,opened a draw and placed a few napkins near manju to wipe her oily fingers.

" shwetha and manju,i am just going to ask a few simple questions and if you find any difficulty in understanding them please tell me and i wil explain them to you.Okay."

Both the girls nodded,and judge lakshmi " has your dad ever beaten you or threatened you?"

Both the girls shook their heads and then manju raised her hand " but maa beats us a lot and gets very angry nowadays and keeps saying bad words about us and daddy."

" Okay,we will come to that in just a moment but tell me who would you rather prefer to stay,with your dad or mum?"

Shewtha looked at manju and both smiled and looked at the judge " Daddy.we would like to stay with daddy because he is very kind and very soft and never gets angry not even when mummy beats him up and once slapped him before all our neighbours."

Advocate govind looked up at the heavens and mind voice " govinda,govinda."

Judge lakshmi looked sharply at advocate govind and raman " why,why did your mother slap your daddy? did your daddy threaten your mother or make her very angry about something."

Both the girls fell silent and shwetha started crying and manju seeing her sister's tears " didi,please don't cry " and then looked at judge lakshmi " auntyji,mummy is okay but sometimes she drinks too much and fights with daddy.And that is when she beats him and us also."

Judge lakshmi turned to the bailiff " bring the parents in please"

With everyone concerned gathered,judge lakshmi looked at all of them " Mr.ashok mehta will reside in his house along with the children but will provide an alternate residence for his wife pramila to stay.We will have the next hearing as scheduled and i will see you all then.for now the case is adjourned.Thank you."

Mrs.pramila looked like an atomic bomb had been dropped on her head and she turned viciously to her advocate " what is this?what does this mean? you promised me that everything would be okay and here i am now without the house and the children."

Judge lakshmi looked at the baliff " go outside and get a few women constables to come in here immediately." and that had the desired effect and calmed pramila down and staring daggers at her husband stomped out of the chambers with her advocate running behind her.

Judge lakshmi looked at ashok " mr.ashok mehta,please take the children and wait outside for your advocate while i talk to him about something important."

Alone with Raman facing her " how is the great boss of yours doing raman?"

" He is well ma'am and doing great."

" Please convey my wishes to him and tell him that the courts miss his august presence.But raman,what i wanted to talk to you about was that look govind gave you for that brief moment."

Raman looked right into her eyes " Ma'am,nothing in particular your honor,just an exchange of looks and that's it."

" Come on raman,you and govind were batch mates in law college and it is so obvious that exchange of glances was you warning him very subtly not to push his luck and also warning him not to antagonise me and in the process incur my wrath.I have seen you guide him so many times and i can predict when he will look in your direction for do's and dont's."

Raman looked like a boy who is caught with his hands in the cookie jar " ma'am,i don't know what to say and i beg your forgiveness if i have offended you in anyway."

" Raman,this is a mad,mad world and it only gets madder and madder everyday and the only blessings are small but decent acts such as yours.Your boss has taught you well and you do him proud."

Raman made a movement and was about to leave,when judge lakshmi looked at him " The courts,the judges and the law can only do so much but in the end it is up to the people themselves and i know that you know that there is no happy endings in these cases and the damage done is done and it is always the innocent children who become collateral damage and are forever scarred."

" Anyway,all the best and you know what my wish is raman,it is to see you as a judge someday for you are not only wise but kind and a gentleman to boot.All the best,son."

Raman bent his head in acknowledgement " Thank you,your honor."

Jannal oram chapter 45 took me two complete hours to write and to write content which will make for good reading,logic balanced with illogical and heroism measured carefully with reality.

When ever i decide to write,i like music playing in the back ground and it is usually some soft jazz sax or jazz vocals.But today i went to you tube and selected some film songs based on carnatic music.

Here i share a list of what i heard,enjoyed and wrote to.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a7PI6jXD74

Devasabhathalam -Malayalam -His Highness Abdullah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCmsZbarARE

Pramadavanam veendum - His Highness Abdullah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtFLoz-b9cQ

Gopika Vasantham | His Highness Abdullah


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckuYaGGkqjw&list=RDQMkSUzb3syU0w

Nada Vinodamu Natya Vilasamu - Sagarasangamam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lAEYIpVNnI&index=4&list=RDQMGagTEGa5hKA

Poo Malai Vangi Vanthan Song - Sindhu Bhairavi -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WdZqJxmuco

SINDHU BHAIRAVI - MAHA GANAPATHIM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzCxeKXcY60

Kamalam Paatha Kamalam | Mogha Mull

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZACVIMSbOM

Shankara Naadasharirapara - Sankarabharanam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqL9FEYvwOk

Raagam Taanam Pallavi - Sankarabharanam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFfKyShYPxk

Manathil Uruthi Vendum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTdinhf73TY

Moham Endra yesudas Sindhu Bhairavi

Hi spain,

well said and well written ma'am.Thank you so much for those words of appreciation for they only motivate me to write better.

You post only once in a blue moon and yet they are more interesting to read than a 100 chapters of mine.

Thank you Spain and thank you Durga and Maghu for it is your likes and persistent interest in my thoughts that keep me going when i feel like giving up and not going forwards anymore.

My love and best wishes for you and your families.Be well.

JANNAL ORAM-46

Raman accompanied ashok and the children to the parking lot and after seeing them off,slowly walked back with a heavy heart and the words of judge lakshmi weighing like a mountain on his heart.The day,the case,the sadness filled his feet and before he could realise it,he was standing before the statue of manu needhi cholan looking at the king and the mother cow begging for justice before his feet.

He leaned against the railing and cursed murali,his colleague in rangachari and associates for making him take this case.Murali had been prepared and ready and then,just a week before the first hearing had lost his dad and had to back out and had personally requested raman to handle the case and their boss too had okayed it.

Raman reluctantly agreed to appear for the first hearing and then the client ashok mehta taking a liking to him refused murali who came after finishing with all the rituals concerning his dad's funeral.

Krishnaswamy iyer had looked at raman " The client's needs and comforts are paramount raman and it will also be a great opportunity for you to brush up your knowledge on family law and litigation and property matters."

Thinking positively,raman had dived in and now he was head deep in the case and all the baggages they bought,mentally and emotionally.


He slowly made his way back to his chambers and found both matthew and ganesh standing outside smoking and catching sight of him " Raman,you lucky guy.Wow,man simply wow."

Raman totally clueless " gentlemen,could you please clue me in on the topic of your comic observations for i am not able to follow your train of thoughts."

Ganesh laughing " raman,ennaiya ithu.The judges themselves sometimes get confused with your english and do we mere mortals stand a chance."

Raman raised both his hands in surrender " sorry,just came out of judge lakshmi's kingdom and i am still in that same frequency.Anyway,whats with all those awesome and lucky guy words?"

Matthew " raman,i am married but at this moment i wish was not married."

" Matthew,you sinner.you say the same thing when ever your eyes catch sight of a good looking lady.Okay,i will bite and so please tell me where this woman is and i too will join you guys and jollu kottufy a bit."

Matthew and ganesh looked at each other and then raman caught sight of their eyes and looked towards the chambers and grimaced for he feared the worst,the arrival of mrs.pramila ashok and began to slowly move away.

Both his colleagues grabbed him and raman looked at them " Guys, please let me run away and not face that woman.I spent nearly an hour or more in the same room as her and frankly speaking,she scares me totally and maybe she has come here to my chambers to probably beat me up or something."

Breaking free " Tell,mrs.pramila ashok that i had to leave very urgently on some other case and also inform her that if she so desires to meet me,it should be done in our office or while her advocate is present with her."

Matthew caught hold of Raman's left ear and gently twisted it " Tubelight,that woman who is waiting for you is not mrs.pramila ashok,but somebody else and she told us her name was Jeeva."

The moment raman heard her name,gone was his fear,his cowering before both his colleagues and he stood tall and smiled brightly and adjusting his shirt,looked at both ganesh and matthew " Gentlemen,i wish you a good day"
and practically ran into the chambers.

Jeeva stood near the window,feeding the crows and raman stood watching her and then jeeva turned to him and he took her in his arms " Thank you for coming here for i was feeling so lost and depressed after the hearing and now seeing you i feel better."

Jeeva looked into his eyes " I was there the whole time watching you in the courtroom and then i saw you heavy with emotions wandering away and it was muthu,the young man who brings you your food who showed me to your chambers and i have sent him to get us lunch."

With a gentle smile " is it okay if i have lunch with you.we are not breaking any laws here are we?"

Raman's eyes burned with intensity " No,no laws.But still,i have to punish you for sneaking up on me" and saying that kissed her harshly and although taken aback for a moment with his rough kiss,jeeva too responded and hugging him tightly,kissed him back with equal intensity.

After a long time, I am in this thread reading some of the posts here and there.

Hi meena,
Thank you for dropping in and we all wish you the very best.You should write more,talk and debate more and we in the forum are your friends and will welcome that.Feel comfortable and write what your heart allows you to write.

By new pics,i guess you mean new projects.My last project was with vikram in " Irumugan" and i am currently doing a film called " Thiruttu payale"

A web series called " maya Thirrai" in which i played a pretty decent role released a couple of months ago.Apart from that,it is ads and a few corporate films here and there and as before life goes on.

I wish you the best.

JANNAL ORAM-47

"We are so overwhelmed with quantities of books, that we hardly realize any more that a book can be valuable, valuable like a jewel, or a lovely picture, into which you can look deeper and deeper and get a more profound experience very time. It is far, far better to read one book six times, at intervals, than to read six several books.? D.H. Lawrence, Apocalypse

They stood gazing at each other,each soul having changed places with their deep,burning and passionate kiss and now they were back in each other bodies and yet,they felt a bit of the other's essence in their own soul.

The moment was broken by gentle knocks that gaver them enough time to stepp back but with eyes still locked on each other.

Muthu entered the chambers and with a naughty smile on his face,looked at each of them and then handing over the remaining change to jeeva " Akka,3 meals and balance 40 rs.please correct check."

Then looking at jeeva " How my english? akka"

Jeeva gave back the change to him " Your english is good but don't lose touch with tamil."

Muthu was just about to exit and popping only his head back in " Akka,you are a lucky ponnu to get sir for he very nice man.Please take care of him."

Washing her hands in the tiny wash basin,she looked at Raman " Yen mister,is there nothing bad about you or is there anything at all that you have done that you are ashamed off. From the way people talk about you and treat you,i am thinking Lord Rama himself has reincarnated as you."

Raman looked at her rather shyly and an expression of embarrassment " Couple of times,i stole one rupee coins from my mothers kitchen jaadi.Also stole mangoes and jack fruit from my neighbours thottam."

Jeeva hit herself on the head in irritation " Mister,you call that stealing for then god knows what you will think of me for all the crap i have done."

Removing the meals,raman counted three " Why three meals?"

" I was feeling so hungry and i missed my breakfast.So,i thought i could work my way through two of the meals,talking with you and just being with you."

Both heard the knock and in came advocate govind with a smile and then seeing jeeva,the smile shrank and composing himself " Good afternoon ma'am,sorry da raman for barging in.I will talk to you later.Bye."

Jeeva looked at govind " It is okay,we were just going to have lunch and you can join us if you have not eaten."

Govind did not hesitate for a moment for one second he was standing and the next second he was sitting and already stuffing his face.

Then realising his manners " I am govind" and looking at raman's plate " dei,you are not going to have the sweet,can i take it" and raman nodded and govind turned back to jeeva " ma'am and you are."

Raman looked at govind " This is jeeva,a very dear friend of mine" and govind waved his hand and at the same time stuffing his face with the kesari and then suddenly looked up at jeeva and at raman " Dei badava,this is the lady right.The lady."

Raman nodded and govind hurriedly wiping his hands with the napkin,extended his hand with great enthusiasm and jeeva took it and both shook hands.

Jeeva looked at both of them " This kind of bond and comfort that i see between both of you must have been forged over many years and if i am right both of you must be childhood pals."

Raman looked at the roof of the chambers and mumbled something and jeeva not catching his words " raman,you said something,what was it?i didn't get you."

Govind looked at jeeva " sani comes and goes every seven and a half years,but in my case it is nearly 15 years."

Jeeva shook her head " what does it even mean?" and govind stuffing more sambhaar saadam and filling his cheeks,pointed to himself " It's me.Justice raman was referring to me."

Jeeva suddenly grabbed govinds hand " bro,i don't know a damn thing about this friend of yours but his bio-data,so come on give me all the gossip and the truth behind this beautiful face."

Govind chewed,swallowed and then looked achingly at the chips that lay untouched near raman's plate and raman mumbling some dirty curses,pushed it to him and at the same time gave him a threatening glare as if warning him that he was in serious trouble.

" Jeeva,if in case you hear or read in the newspaper that a lawyer was beaten up,then let me tell you that the accused is right here and please inform the police."

Taking the chips and crunching it loudly " Me and big boss here know each other from our high school in trichy and then came together and he took up B.A.Economics and i took up B.A.Literature and then went to Law college together.But sadly we parted there and he went and get a cushy job with Rangachari and associates and i had to settle as a junior with my boss Advocate jayachandran."

Raman nudged jeeva " The comedian here is comfortably forgetting the interview i arranged for him with my boss and which he failed miserably and tail tucked between his legs went slinking back to mr.jayachandran."

Looking at govind " does mr.jayachandran know that you actually came for an interview to my firm?"

Govind desperately " Sir,please.as it is i am fighting for survival and please don't finish it for me.Otherwise i will have to go back to farming and agriculture."

" The idiot is lying through his teeth for his family owns half of trichy i think, for they are that rich.His dad just indulges this guy just to boast to everybody back home that his son is a big lawyer working for a famous advocate's firm."

Looking at jeeva " and the even funnier fact is that his wife is even more wealthier than this clown and thinks the world of him and even once told me on my face to try for a job in this guys firm and learn a thing or two."

Both jeeva and govind with his mouth full of chips looked at raman and then all three burst out laughing and govind roaring " Machaan,imagine that,you learning a thing or two from me and my boss mr.jayachandran."

Wiping the tears from his eyes,govind looked at jeeva " Ma'am,they used to call us ram and laxman back in school and it continued right up to college for we were that inseparable."

His voice choked a bit " but the reality of the matter is that while he was like ram,i was nothing like laxman and more like the monkey king sugriva who ran at the first hint of trouble.it was raman who helped me through my board exams and without raman's help i doubt i would have even cleared the bar exams and sit here in front of you as lawyer."

Raman acting as if he too was very emotional,looked at jeeva " Honestly,i did all that for the sake of eating his mothers food,specially her fish curry and mutton fry with coconut oil."

And looking at the table" and here we are,eating sambaar saadam and curd rice.enna koduma saravana."

Just then raman's mobile rang and seeing the caller as mr.devarajan from global security,he stood up " excuse me,i need to take this call" and hurried out.

Govind looked at jeeva " That call must be regarding the case between ashok and pramila my client.Even though we are friends,we still are honor and duty bound to our clients and that is why he left.if it had been any other case,he would have taken the call right here and later both of us would have discussed the pros and cons of the case."

Jeeva looked at govind " He is a real gentleman,kind and down to earth and very courteous."

Govind finishing the chips,rose from the table and washing his hands,looked at jeeva with a smile " ma'am,that is the only side he shows to the world and rarely will he reveal the other side of his."

jeeva shrugging her shoulders " Another side,the man has another side to him?"

Govind nodded and picking up his coat,looked at jeeva sadly " if he had not been injured in the accident,he would have surely been a national champion and then would have taken part in international championships."

" National champion,in what govind?"

" Judo.He was the youngest state champion and he won that title during our first year in presidency college.But that was not what i was talking about for when i meant his other side,the tough,tiger side."

Holding the chair,govind looked out of the window as if he was winding the clock back by many years and turning to look at jeeva " we all went on a college trip to ooty and there some drunks tried teasing and harassing our college girls and when some of our guys tried to defend them,they too were thrashed and then raman stepped in and ended the matter.The police came for a few had their noses and wrists broken by raman when he threw them like dolls all around the place and i had to call my dad who was a Lok sabha MP and the matter was hushed up."

Hearing raman coming back,govind placed a finger on his lips as if telling jeeva to keep things for herself and jeeva nodded.

Govind said bye to both of them and left and jeeva too got up to leave and both stood close to each other and then raman gently embraced her and held her closely to his body " Thank you for this sweet surprise."

Looking down at her " i was supposed to meet someone at four pm but the meeting has been preponed to three pm and so i have to rush off.i will come back and pick you up at the usual time at the usual place."

jeeva nodded and looked at his soft,loving eyes " it breaks my heart to hear you say bye even though it is just for a few hours."

Raman cupped her face " i know for i feel the same way" and then lowered his lips to hers and softly kissed her mouth and they both once again drowned themselves in each other.

"For all night long I dreamed of you:
I woke and prayed against my will,
Then slept to dream of you again.? Christina Rossetti

JANNAL ORAM-48

"My God, a moment of bliss. Why, isn't that enough for a whole lifetime? Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Raman stood by the window and watched the world gear itself from the lethargy of lunch and people dressed in black led people of colors back into the court rooms to conduct further,operations and autopsies of their lives.

Raman smiled sadly as his soul imagined a gigantic body of life spread on a massive table and teams headed by a doctor conducted autopsies on various organs of the body.The same business was being carried out as various people in various courts stood facing various charges.tenants vs landlords,man vs woman divorce cases,brothers fighting with brothers and sisters for property and money with one or both parents still fresh under ground or ashes still blowing in the wind.

The pair of ravens,bellies full of food fed by jeeva sat near the window sill,blinking and winking their black,dark eyes at raman and the smaller one,obviously the female gently pecked his fingers with her beak.

Raman smiled and kept his palm open to show the birds that he had nothing hidden with which he could harm them.

Picking up his mobile,he dialed mr.anwaruddin and told him of his plan to meet Unicorn steel owner Krishnaswamy for one last appeal to settle the case out of court and his client gave him permission.

" Raman sir,it is futile,this brave and respectful attempt of yours and it will be for nothing in the end."

Raman knew the words to be true and yet he knew he had to give it a shot for once the trial started,then it would be too late for either parties to back away and take a softer stance.

Placing the phone back,he imagined both parties involved in the case facing each other and wondered about the rights and wrongs and why we are pushed to do certain things at certain times,even though we thought of ourselves as not capable of it.

Unicorn steel's owner was lashing out simply because his son was in love with a woman from a different faith and even if that was understandable,what was wrong was trying to defame and drag mr.anwaruddin's family through the mud just to satiate his anger and ego.

This was just one thing that raman wanted to talk about with mr.krishnaswamy,owner of unicorn steel and hoped against hope to make him see sense and also the irreparable damage that would be caused due to his actions.

His wrist watch showed 2.15 pm and raman left his chambers and headed towards the parking lot.

Global securities had their offices near new woodlands theater and thankfully the traffic was still a bit light and finding a parking slot,parked his car and crossing the road entered the 10 storey commercial complex.

" 5TH floor please" he told the attendant who had the air of a king in his kingdom,the tiny elevator and whose looks were " you miserable creatures dare enter my domain" and raman took a brief glance at the man and his clothes and broke him down in his mind.

" Late forties to early fifties.man who wasted many opportunities in life and finally life chewed him and spat him into this elevator and inside these four steel walls the man has found a stability and wants everyone who enters the elevator to accept,respect and acknowledge his presence.But sadly,nobody notices this invisible drama for in reality he is a nobody and practically invisible to everybody who are on their way up or on their way down,busy and lost in their work."

Raman stepped out of the elevator and turning to the man with a kind smile,said " Thank you very much " and just like that the defiant elevator attendant came out of his imaginary arrogant clouds where he had been dwelling and with a bright smile filling his aggressive face " Okay sir,okay sir".

It never ceased to amaze him as to what a gentle and kind word could to another soul and the transformation was nearly magical.

Raman walked away knowing that man would at least be happy for a brief while,happy and positive in the knowledge that people did see him and that he was not just another invisible elevator attendant and he too really existed,a part of this game,journey called life.

That's all it takes,a moment,a word,a nod of acceptance, a sweet smile and that kind and positive thought of yours finds a new home and burns as a candle in another soul.

But then,i am a dreamer,an alien,outcast and yet i shall persevere for it is not how many but how bright the one soul blazes.That will do,that is enough and i am happy.

"Do not go to my grave.
Mary knows, I am not there.
Look for me in between pages
and on people's lips.
Do not go to my old school.
Do not go to my old house
I am not in any of those places.
Look for me in your hearts
and greet me there.
Kamand Kojouri