*From & To Sathish* - Thread 4 - Page 102

Vaanathai Pola 95

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on. – Robert Frost

Madurai police commissioner S Davidson Devasirvatham looked worriedly at his boss DGP J.K.Tripathy hoping that he would spell out the reason for his presence in the city and that too in plainclothes which meant that the top cop was flying under the radar and which screamed unofficial and that again meant official in the highest degree.

It would have been of very little concern for ADGP Davidson Devasirvatham, seeing his boss in his city but the cryptic phone call and the hurried arrival only compounded his fears that something had gone wrong terribly.

But, age and years of being a cop had instilled in him prudence and the capacity for patience. So, he wisely waited without asking the reasons and thus opening the conversation which he knew and trusted the senior cop would do when he was ready.

The black unmarked car slipped out of the airport and DGP J.K.Tripathy whispered ' Davidson, tell the driver to take us to Jagatratchagan's house.'

ADGP Davidson nodded and then froze and stared hard at his senior who nodded back and wondering what the f..k was going on, he told the driver, ' Muthu, Thevar illathukku ponga.'

DGP J.K.Tripathy looked at the driver and Davidson reading his mind assured him that the driver was a trustworthy person and that they could speak freely in his presence.

DGP J.K.Tripathy quickly narrated what had taken place in Chennai at the Crowne Plaza hotel and how Selvam and his goons had tried to attack and murder Anbu Chezhiyan and his wife during a personal function that was being held for Minister Kavita's brother, the late Vijay Bhaskar.

He then continued by saying how Selvam and his two thugs had been taken down by one of the men there and how the police had then arrested the rest of the three who had tried o flee the place.

ADGP Davidson swallowed repeatedly and his eyebrows came together as one and rose in question and in worry and this was a very rare thing to happen to him for it was usually the criminal who met him that reacted in such a manner.

He looked at DGP Tripathy, ' There is more, right sir. I guess you have something to add to that.'

DGP J.K.Tripathy nodded and said, ' Jagatratchagan's son Selvam died in the hospital and I got the news from the Chief Minister himself just as I was getting out from the plane.'

ADGP Davidson Devasirvatham's thoughts raced in blazing speed and in different directions and he suddenly turned and asked his boss, ' Sir, surely a five-star hotel will have CCTV footage and the cameras must have captured the whole thing.'

DGP J.K.Tripathy cursed and looking out of the window, answered,' the CCTV footage was lost, damaged, hacked 'and turning to Davidson, ' it is lost and why it was lost is a question that I am surely going to ask my people but not now. For now, we have to concentrate on how Jagatratchagan is going to react to the news of his son's death but also as to how the whole Thevar community is going to react in our state.'

Training and discipline make for a good police officer. But, wisdom, knowledge coupled with discipline and training makes for a rare breed of police officers and ADGP Davidson Devasirvatham belonged to that.

He looked unblinkingly at his boss, DGP J.K.Tripathy and began to rapidly sketch out a plan, ' sir, we will not divulge the information that the CCTV footage was lost to Jagatratchagan for that will buy us some time and in these kinds of situations, time is vital. But, we have to inform him about his sons' death as there is no way that it can be held secret and word will get out as it always gets out. Meanwhile, you have to talk to the Chief Minister and request his permission to place a curfew in and around Madurai areas and in all the Thevar community hot spots and the curfew should come into effect by midnight. The news about the curfew should be announced in all the Tamil channels and also sent out via WhatsApp and our official twitter account after our meeting with Jagatratchagan. , please request for armed police battalions to be sent from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for they will not be partial to lawbreakers like our own State police who are mostly made up people belonging to both the Dalit and Thevar community. And last but not least, you have to provide security for the people who were during the incident and for that man who defended his friends.'

Every word his Davidson had just said made perfect sense to DGP J.K.Tripathy and he called the Chief secretary who asked him to hold on and then handed the mobile phone to Chief minister EPS himself who worriedly spoke about the repercussions of Selvams death and his father Jagatratchagan's reaction to it.

DGP J.K.Tripathy slowly and methodically explained what needed to be done and how it needed to be done immediately and after he had finished speaking, the Chief Minister agreed and said that it was the best step forward under the circumstances and gave his permission to go ahead.

Muthu, the driver announced that they would reach the house of Jagatratchagan in about ten minutes and hearing this, DGP J.K.Tripathy looked at ADGP Davidson and said, ' Tell me everything you know about this man, Jagatratchagan.'

' Okay sir but before I tell you about him, let me tell you about his father. Jagatratchagan might be the voice but his dad Mookaiah Thevar is the brain behind that voice and he is worse than a stepped-on poisonous snake. He is the one we have to watch out for when we speak for not only is he poisonous but highly intelligent and a ruthless killer.'

DGP J.K.Tripathy looked at ADGP Davidson with wonder, ' David, is that fear in your voice, my friend. You of all people sound worried, why?'

Madurai police commissioner S Davidson Devasirvatham smiled, ' Because, I am a husband, father, son, brother and a friend. If the fires of community wars are indeed lit, then we will all burn in it and remember sir, the public in this country outnumber us by a ration of 1 lakh to 138.'

DGP J.K.Tripathy sighed worriedly and said, ' Horribly understaffed, vacancies and yet we are asked to do the best at all times.'

Muthu, the driver spoke in an angry voice, ' Iyaa, also please don't forget that us cops are the only workers without a union and are made to work like dogs in shifts that sometimes go past 24 hours, nonstop. Then, top it with the way, the shun us, fear us and compare us to the very criminals that we protect them from.'

ADGP Davidson's worried creases relaxed a bit and he asked in a sceptical voice as to what had taken place at the hotel and DGP J.K.Tripathy told him.

Davidson exclaimed in wonder, ' Wow! that indeed is a brave man and a man who seems to be highly trained and blessed with immense physical powers.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/diluting-discipline-police-union-remains-a-double-edged-deal/

https://www.quora.com/Have-cops-in-India-ever-gone-on-strike-What-could-have-happened-during-that-time-of-strike

Vaanathai Pola 96

“…the sad part is, that I will probably end up loving you without you for much longer than I loved you when I knew you. Some people might find that strange.

But the truth of it is that the amount of love you feel for someone and the impact they have on you as a person is in no way relative to the amount of time you have known them.” ― Ranata Suzuki

At about the same time that Jalad K. Tripathy, Director-General of Police and the Head of Police Force for the state of Tamil Nadu was getting out of the plane in Madurai to meet Madurai police commissioner S Davidson Devasirvatham and travel together to meet Jagatratchagan, father of Selvam, his phone rang informing him that the accused in the Crowne Plaza Hotel had passed away due to a sudden cardiac arrest resulting from the massive injuries to his inner organs in his stomach area.

DGP J.K.Tripathy had then conferred with the Chief Minister and the chief secretary and after a decision had been made, orders had been issued to increase the security for Minister Kavita Armugam and Anbu Chezhiyan and his Swedish wife Elsa and the head of the Government Hospital where Selvam had been passed away was told to maintain absolute silence and not leak the news about the death.

While this was going on outside their house on Greamways road, Kavita had just finished telling her parents about Radha Krishnan and how she had met him the previous day.

All three of them heard the discreet knock on the door and knew that it was Sub-Inspector Kanakaraj their favourite Police officer and Kavita looked at her dad and said, ' I thought he had already left and he is back now, wonder why? and was about to ask him to enter when the door opened and the person himself entered.

Sub-Inspector Kanakaraj saluted and without wasting time, jumped right into delivering the news that had been relayed from the Police headquarters about Selvam's death.

Kavita's face turned a ghostly white and getting to her feet, she grabbed her phone, ran to her room and locking it hurriedly called Radhu who answered on the second ring and she said,' One of the men, the main man behind this, Selvam just died in the hospital.'

She heard him curse softly and Kavita in a worried voice told him, ' I will do my best and will talk to the Chief Minister personally about this but things are going to get a bit complicated and messy after this. But, don't worry, I am here for you and will do everything in my power to protect you.'

But all her fears and worries were brushed aside by his calm voice, ' Minister Kavita, thank you very much for calling me and informing me and thank you for your kind words. More than anything, thank you for that lovely kiss that you shared with my lips and I hope that we can do it again.'

Kavita angrily, ' what is wrong with you, Radhu? Are you high on some drugs or painkillers? I am dying here worrying about what is going to happen to you and how you will be treated once the news of this death spreads out. The same people, my own people who called you a hero for saving all of us will now treat you like a criminal, and will not hesitate to use you to their own ends and purposes. Do you realize that the proverbial s..t is going to hit the fan and yet, here you are talking about the kiss that we shared.'

' Kavita, all governments and all over the world are the same and will react in the same predictable manner and I am used to that. Listen, I have to go now and I will call you later when things get better and when the situation is under control. Bye, baby. I love you very much.'

Kavita screamed ' hello, hello' many times before realizing that the call had been disconnected and that Radhu was not there on the other side for he was already on another call and this was a conference call that he was on with two others and the only souls who he trusted and had trusted for many years now and who owed him their lives and fortunes and gratitude.

Radhu quickly told them what had happened and what now needed to happen and ending the call, quickly dressed with the new set of clothes that had been purchased on his request from a shop in the nearby area of Nungambakkam.

He looked at himself in the mirror and said ' Trouble is thy middle name, first name and last name. Here we go again.'

Vaanathai Pola 97

Both Mookaiah Thevar and his son Jagatratchagan followed their advocate Venugopal Iyengar's advice and came out to greet both the DGP Tripathy and ADGP Davidson and pretending it was a pleasant surprise and welcomed them into their house.

As had been the practice for many years now, father maintained a discreet silence and sat in a chair that had been placed just a few feet away from his son and their family's legal counsel and proceeded to observe what unfolded before him.

Jagatratchagan looked at DGP Tripathy with awe in his eyes, ' Sir, it is indeed an honour to have you in our house that has been graced by many famous people including out late Amma, former chief minister OPS and many other ministers from Delhi. But, to have a highly decorated police officer is really a great honour.'

He politely enquired as to what they would like to have and when both the police officers said they wouldn't mind a cup of tea, Jagatratchagan informed the cook to quickly make tea for all of them and returning to DGP Tripathy asked him in a humble voice as to how he could be of help to them.

It is never easy to deliver to a parent, news about their child's demise and regardless of the circumstances in which he or she had died, DGP Tripathy thought to himself.

But, here he was, sitting inside the house of Jagatratchagan called Thevar Illam which was unofficially known to all and sundry as the headquarters of the Thevar Community and he was sitting before the man who was known by everyone as the unofficial head of that very same community and he was about to deliver the news to him about his only son's death and it hit him hard as he understood what the saying " meeting a lion in its own den" really meant and looked at Davidson

ADGP Davidson caught the subtle nod and with a sad face addressed Jagatratchagan.

' Sir, your son, Mr.Selvam, who was involved in a crime that took place earlier today in a five-star hotel in Chennai................'

Jagatratchagan quickly leaned forward and he looked at ADGP Davidson who watched with a bit of nervousness's as the man's real face emerged pushing aside the pleasant, humble and gracious demeanour that had been presented to them just a moment ago.

Both the policemen watched as Jagatratchagan's face turned an angry crimson colour as if it was some kind of an omen of what was going to be unleashed by him and his faithful followers and then they heard his lips part and growl his thoughts, ' was, what do you mean by using the past tense when you are talking about my only child?'

DGP Tripathy deciding that it was time to take charge of the situation, said, ' sir, Your son, Mr.Selvam passed away due to a cardiac arrest an hour ago.'

The chair he had been sitting in crashed to the ground unable to withstand the force with which Mookaiah Thevar stood up exhibiting a strength that a man of his age should not possess and both the senior cops watched as the real head of the family walked towards them and standing near his son and said, ' One hour ago. You said, my only Grandson passed away one hour ago. But, your flight from Chennai landed about an hour ago and taking in your travel to the airport in Chennai and all the time for checking in and most importantly taking into consideration your plans to come here to Madurai to meet us makes me wonder what is going on here and when Selvam really passed away?'

DGP Tripathy stood up and facing Mookaiah Thevar spoke in a calm voice, ' Sir, there is no conspiracy here and I swear that I have been sent here on Good faith by the Chief Minister himself.'

Jagatratchagan too got up and asked angrily, ' How did he die? Who had the ba..s to kill my only son?'

He stepped forward threateningly and said, ' Tell me everything that led to my son's death.'

DGP Tripathy narrated the whole incident, leaving nothing hidden but for the bit about the lost CCTV footage and also about Minister Kavita Arumugam being there.

Venugopal Iyengar slowly got up and joined them and introduced himself to both the high ranking police officers.

' Good Evening gentlemen. My name is Venugopal Iyengar and I handle all the legal affairs of this family as My father did before me.'

He looked at DGP Tripathy and asked the one question that he had been fearing and had been praying would not be asked and the bloody old advocate asked it, ' DGP sir, is there any proof or evidence that links my client's son to this so-called crime that took place in Chennai?'

DGP Tripathy blustered in anger and in a vain attempt to wriggle out of the sticky situation that seemed to be escalating into a danger zone and replied calmly, ' Sir, we arrested five other accomplices of Mr.Selvam and two who are his well-known associates. Along with that, we have more than 30 eye-witnesses to the whole crime along with the arresting police officers and the hotel security team.'

Jagatratchagan's eyes were full of tears and they were tinged with both sadness and anger but more out of frustration that his only son had died without completing what he had set out to do.

Blinking away his tears, he asked DGP Tripathy, ' who was this man who attacked my son, Selvam?'

DGP Tripathy looked away and said, ' I am sorry sir but I cannot divulge that information right now.'

Their talks were interrupted by the sudden arrival of Mangammal, Jagatratchagan's wife whose face was trembling with fear and confusion and she said, ' Ennanga, our son Selvam is on Tv and he seems to be threatening lots of people and children with a knife and our driver's brothers Arul and Sethu are with him and they too are holding large knives.'

Jagatratchagan froze in shock and looked at his father who picked up the remote and pressed the power button on it and the small flat screen nearby came alive with the videos and sounds of Thanthi Tv and all of them saw with their own eyes six men surrounding many people and a few small kids and threatening them with knives.

Then all of them saw Minister Kavita Arumugam standing there and the fear in her face and what they were seeing was at the same time being seen by the entire population of Tamil Nadu and minutes later the same news was picked up by all the national channels and the irritating voice of Arnab Goswami could be heard loud and clear as he said, ' Dear viewers, this is footage of six criminals, terrorists holding hostage nearly 30 people and among them the honourable Minister Kavita Arumugam herself at the Crowne Plaza hotel.'

Radha Krishnan opened the window and peeped down and complained, ' Four floors, thank god just four floors' and slowly got out of the window and stood like a cat on the few inches of the ledge and then slowly reaching for the pipe that ran down the wall, scrambled down to the ground with speed and dexterity that would have shamed a monkey.

Quickly dusting off his pants and shirt, he made his way towards the parking lot when he heard a movement and that was the last thing he heard as a tremendous blow from a metal pipe landed on the back of his head and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Vaanathai Pola 98

The Television blared non-stop, news about a terrorist attack that had taken place at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Adyar, Chennai and the noise and the news echoed again and again inside Thevar Illam, the house of Jagatratchagan and Mookaiah Thevar and in both their souls.

DGP Tripathy caught ADGP Davidson's query filled look and his " WTF" look was enough of a reply for the experienced cop and both realized that somehow, someone had saved the backsides of the Tamil Nadu Govt and the police force by releasing the video.

His mobile phone rang and seeing it was the Chief secretary calling, he excused himself and walked away towards the entrance to talk in private and ADGP Davidson followed him.

Jagatratchagan looked at his father totally confused and clueless, as to how to proceed with this new development and Mookaiah Thevar placed a finger on his lips and pointed to his room and walked away quickly.

Venugopal Iyengar stood there struggling like a fish out of water knowing fully well that the position of his clients had become very dicey for the video was more than enough proof as to what had taken place and also evidence of Selvam being in the middle of it.

Hearing his name being called, he too joined both father and son in their bedroom and was confronted by Mookaiah Thevar's single question, but a very complicated one at that.

' Iyengar sir, tell us what to do now? the patriarch of the family asked and Venugopal Iyengar without hesitation replied, ' Complete denial of your complicity or having prior knowledge about your Selvams involvement in this crime.'

They looked at him and he continued, ' Distancing yourself from this mess is the best thing you can do right now for it will clear your names immediately. It is a different world out there right now and not like old times and incidents like this will go viral and will remain in people's minds forever and will only help to tarnish if not destroy your hard-earned name and respect in this city and also in your community. Please, do not forget that Minister Durai Pandi Arumugam is a Thevar himself and that is his daughter who was there being threatened by your son and his accomplices. Nobody will mourn his death and in fact, I will not be surprised if people begin to say that he even deserved to die which he sadly has done now.'

Mookaiah Thevar nodded grudgingly, ' Iyengar sir, this is why my dad trusted you, and why even now I and my son trust you and it is because you are able to sift through all the drama and emotions and make the right decision that is best suited for the situation.'

He picked up the phone and made several calls and then all three of them went out to join DGP Tripathy who had finished talking to the Chief Secretary and was waiting for them along with ADGP Davidson.

Jagatratchagan looked at the chief of Tamil Nadu police and said in a very sad voice, ' My son is dead and I cannot put it in words nor express the pain that I am feeling right now. Yet, what he did was clearly wrong and I condemn his criminal actions in the strongest manner as any father should rightfully do. Please proceed and do your duty and I swear that you have my family's complete co-operation.'

The sounds of many vehicles entering the compound could be clearly heard by all of them and Jagatratchagan looked at both the police officers and said, ' That is the press and I am going to tell them exactly what I told you right now. Come and join me while I do that.'

The duty doctor opened the door and stared at the empty bed and then at the open window and wondering what was going on, he checked the bathroom to see if the patient named Radha Krishnan was there but did not find him.

He slowly made his way towards the open window and peeped out and since he was a man afraid of heights, he just took a peek at the ground, four floors below and then ran out of the empty room.

The Police team that were assigned for Radha Krishnan's protection hurried into the hospital and then a silent search was done discreetly of the entire hospital but to no avail.

The Inspector in charge called his superior officer, an Assistant Commissioner who then made the call to the commissioner himself.

Commissioner Viswanathan yelled his frustration out at the top of his lungs and all that he screamed started and ended with very familiar English and Tamil words such as "F..K, O..a" that are familiar to even newborn babies and seems to be some of the first words that they learn in school today. 'O..a, Tamilanda.'

வெல் கம் டு சென்னை

எங்க ஊரு இந்த ஊருகுள்ள

நாங்க தாருமாரு

First வாத்தியாரு

அவர் சூப்பஸ்டாரு

கவிதைக்கு யாரு பாரதியாரு

இங்லிஷ் படதுல திஸ் இஸ் ஸ்பர்டா

இது தமிழ் படம் அதனால அட்ரவங்க

எங்ககிட்ட வச்சு கிட்டா அவளவு தான்

இங்கிஷ்பேசுனாலும் தமிழன் டா

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2FhQnouzR0

Vaanathai Pola 99

“It's hard being left behind...It's hard to be the one who stays...Why is love intensified by absence?”― Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife

Kavita stood in the darkness of her room. The darkness and pain that she was feeling in her heart and soul rivalled the darkness of the world outside and even though beams of light sprayed on her through the window, she felt lonely and lost and gripping her mobile phone slowly sank into her bed and laying her head on the pillow thought of him and her dreams were full of him.

Kavita slowly slipped away into a deep sleep and she probably went to sleep for sometimes dreams are better than being awake and a much better world than the bitter world that is called reality.

He stood with his hands wide open and they beckoned her to come into them and become one with him and so that he could become one with her. Kavita ran to him and grabbed him and said, ' I will not let you go.I will never let you go, Radhu.'

Sharadha Arumugam opened the door and closed it immediately and returned to her husband's side. Durai Pandi looked at her and her silence told him everything that he needed to know.

He looked at Sub-Inspector Kanagaraj, ' Tell me what you know about this man, Radha Krishnan.'

SI Kanagaraj looked at the Minister, with a loss for words and at the same time, his mind and soul were fighting a battle of loyalties between father and daughter.

Minister Durai Pandi smiled, ' Kanagaraj, I asked you about this man, Radha krishnan and did not ask you to choose sides between me and my child. So, just tell me about this man, please.'

SI Kanagaraj folded his hands and said, ' Iyaa, he looks like a very kind and wise man. But, he also comes across as a very dangerous individual and a man who has a capacity for great violence.'

Minister Durai Pandi looked up sharply at SI Kanagaraj and slowly turning and facing his wife, Sharadha said,

' See how history seems to be repeating itself in real life and always in our lives. First, there came Raman who took on Vaidyanathan and now comes Radha Krishnan, who has taken on Jagatratchagan, Mookaiah thevar and the Thevar community. Ram vs Raavan followed by Krishna vs Duryodhana and the other kauravas. Nalla irukku.'

Durai Pandi spoke to himself but loud enough for it to be heard by his wife and SI Kanagaraj and the words were, ' a capacity for great violence. He is surely going to be needing it now for right now in Madurai, I can practically sense and see what is going on and what forces are going to be unleashed against this man, called Radha Krishnan. Only, God can help him now.'

In the darkness of her bedroom, in the warmth of her colourful dream, Kavita looked at him and then her eyes slowly moved around them and she saw that they were bathed in light and that the light came from them and she asked him, ' Am I dreaming, all this?

He smiled and light erupted from his lips as he said, ' Of course you are dreaming.But, dreams do come true. So, sleep, dream and let it all come true.'

“Everything seems simple until you think about it. Why is love intensified by absence?” ― Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife

Vaanathai Pola 100

Dreams, about a beautiful heavenly realm

where one can be what they want to be

and see only what they want to see

feel only what they want to feel

so, peel and cast away the human of the day

kiss, love, hug, hold, laugh with the one

you love and loves you in return

and sit and talk for years

eyes locked into each others soul

where even a moment of silence

feels much better than

the ecstasy of a thousand orgasms

did you dream today

will you dream tonight

of love and a better life

in the next life and in eternity

poets are dreamers and poems

are their dreams unfolded

the invisible made visible

the silence transformed into sound

and the songs come wave after wave

after..... you and I are gone

so dream on and on

for sometimes

dreams are better than being alive

The night's sleep had closed shut her eye-lids and refused to flutter open for her soul refused to flutter open as she still lay in his lap, with his arms holding her close to his heart.

But, she came alive hearing the rude, incessant ringtone of her mobile and Kavita with her eyes still closed, reached for it and said hello.

Her eyes which had refused to open, opened wide like lotuses in full bloom hearing the voice of the Commissioner Viswanathan who told her that he was coming to meet her and would be there in ten to fifteen minutes.

' Okay, sir' she mumbled and wondering what had taken place in the real world when she had been fast asleep and lost in her dream world, called Radhu and only got the message "the number you are calling is either switched off or not reachable".

She hurried into the bathroom, and quickly brushed, showered and changing into a new saree with the customary party colours, walked out of her bedroom to find both her mother and father sitting in the hall watching news, on Puthiya Thalaimurai tv channel and asked her father, ' Appa, any further developments from last night?'

Minister Durai Pandi looked at her with a smile, ' developments, that would be insulting the situation for the whole situation has gone topsy turvy in on night.'

Kavita's mother Sharadha got up and told her, ' Sit down and talk to your dad while I send you a cup of coffee for you and get breakfast prepared.'

' Amma, make that two cups and send it after ten minutes for the commissioner too will be here and I will have it with him.'

Her Dad, Minister Durai Pandi looked at her and asked her what was bringing the commissioner to their house and at such an early hour.

Picking up the landline, he called his personal secretary and asked him if he the commissioner had requested an appointment with him and when his secretary said no, he ended the call and placing the receiver back in its cradle, looked thoughtfully at Kavita, ' he is not coming to see me. So, that means, he is coming to see you.'

Kavita looked at her father, ' yes appa. I wonder why?'

Shaking her head, as if to try to push that thought and worry for another moment, she asked her father what had happened last night after she had fallen asleep.

Durai Pandi, without answering, picked up the remote and changed channels and stopped at Polimer Tv in which Jagatratchagan was speaking to the press.

Kavita saw that DGP Tripathy was there standing next to him, along with the Patriarch Mookaiah Thevar and behind them stood ADGP Davidson, Commissioner of Police, Madurai.

' What my son did was wrong and there is no justifying it, whatsoever. I am a firm believer in the law and am totally dedicated to upholding it. I am requesting all my friends from my Thevar Community to remain calm and peaceful and not to react to any news that may involve my son and his health. I am extending my complete co-operation to my party and to the Police department and hope that this day will soon be forgotten and put behind us. On behalf of me and my family, I beg forgiveness from all the people who were victims of my son's madness and beliefs and hope they forgive him.'

He folded his hands and said loudly, ' Puratchi Thalaivar Naamam Vazhgha, Puratchi Thalaivi Naamam Vazhgha, Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Naamam Vazhgha.'

Kavita looked at her dad with a smile beginning to flower on her lips and her dad switched off the television and said worriedly, ' Now, I am really scared.'

' Why dad? why should that speech of Jagatratchagan scare us?'

' Kavita, there is a saying that the lion crouches not to hide but to ready itself to pounce on its kill. What, he really meant was that he is going to wait, recoup and then launch his attack on all those responsible for his son's death.'

புலி எப்போதும் பாய்வதற்குத்தான் பதுங்கும். ஓடி ஒளிவதற்கு பதுங்காது.

Good morning. I wish you a beautiful day. All the best.

God works in mysterious ways. Mother nature works in mysterious ways. Maybe, this virus problem is her way of telling us " Watch out, change, repair and prepare. "

We, Humans have enjoyed advancements, leaps in technology in all fields, starting from medicine to Industry. But, we have forgotten one important and very basic law and that is, " for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." She gave, gives but we grabbed, hoarded and destroyed and now whether we know it or not, we are staring down the barrel.

"F..k you, WTF is wrong with you" will be your reactions and thoughts and they are perfect reactions and totally justified. But, somewhere, deep inside we all know that we broke the bond, the sacred covenant with Mother nature and bit the hand that fed us and kicked the very breast that nurtured us.

Weighing anywhere between 50 to 70 kgs, an average human being will not stand a chance in the forest or alone in the jungle and cannot even take on a poisonous snake and yet, we are on the top of the food chain and eat things like a tiger, snake, dog, cat and even cockroaches for a snack or full meal.

Reason being our brain, our blessed brain that is capable of o much but has done so little.

Maybe, it is time that all of us all over the world come together and work as one, exist as one and in peace along with other life on this tiny planet or else... Something, worse, scarier might,(wrong) surely will come along.

These are my own thoughts. My very own thoughts and I humbly beg your forgiveness if they happen to offend you.

Vaanathai Pola 101

“Men have been taught that it is a virtue to agree with others. But the creator is the man who disagrees. Men have been taught that it is a virtue to swim with the current. But the creator is the man who goes against the current. Men have been taught that it is a virtue to stand together. But the creator is the man who stands alone.” Ayn Rand

After the doctor had alerted the police as to the disappearance of his patient, Mr.Radha Krishnan, Commissioner Viswanathan immediately summoned Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan to his room.

It took DC Ilavarasan 30 minutes to reach the Commissioners office and came dressed in plainclothes " Mufti" as per the commissioner's request.

Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan entered the room and saluted the Commissioner who stood up and both shook hands with a camaraderie that came from years of friendship that had started way back in college and had continued through their training in the police academy and had transformed now into an unshakeable bond although it was rarely ever spoken of and only acted on.

Commissioner Viswanathan looked at his friend and requested him to sit down and then apologised, ' Ila, I am sorry to have disturbed you from your investigation that you are doing on and on special deputation from the Chief Minister's office. How is that case going on?'

Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan, ' No, Vishy. I have spent nearly a week on these murders and it has gotten me nowhere.'

He slapped his thigh in frustration, ' Three murders and all of them of old people and importantly all three of them are freedom fighters and that is why the Chief Minister asked me to step in and take charge of the case.'

He looked at Viswanathan, ' can you think of a reason why somebody would want to go around killing old men in their 90's and who are ready to kick the bucket on their own accord. Poor sight, poor hearing and all three of them were frail, stick-like creatures and were of no value to anyone.'

Commissioner Viswanathan closed his eyes and sighed sadly, ' What is this bloody world coming to, Ila?'

Then he asked his friend, ' Have you checked on the insurance angle as a motive for somebody might be benefitting from their deaths?'

' Checked thoroughly for that was the first angle with which I started my investigation. Motive and who benefits from their deaths. No one, Nada, Zip.'

Then looking closely at the Commissioner, ' Vishy, why are you so tensed up and why are your eyes so filled with worry and even your shoulders are screaming tension with their posture. What's going on, buddy?'

Viswanathan looked at him and asked him if he had heard about what had taken place at the Crowne Plaza hotel the previous day.

Ilavarasan nodded, ' of course, the whole department was buzzing about it and that was the only topic of gossip among my team members.'

Commissioner Viswanathan, ' A man has gone missing from Apollo Hospitals last night and I want you to find him and find him immediately for there is a chance that he has been kidnapped and that his life is in grave danger.

Ila, the reason why I want you to take on this case is that this person Radha Krishnan is connected to your old case concerning Brigadier Rajashekar and his educational institution, " The Flock."

Most men at this time would have jumped in with a million questions but Commissioner Viswanathan knew his deputy very well and appreciated his penchant for not interrupting him and waiting for him to finish and he continued.

' Apparently, this man is a new addition to their faculty and that fact was made aware to me by the Brigadier's sister, Girija Padmanabhan who is now managing the place and she also mentioned that he was related to their family from Kumbakonam. I have sent AC Sudhakar from cybercrime along with Inspector Prabhu to Kumbakonam find out more about this man and they should be reporting to me today. Now, this is what I want you to do. Track this man and find him for me.'

Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan looked at the Commissioner, 'Poor guy, little does he know how much trouble he is in at this moment. Probably, if he had known who Selvam was and what his connections were, he might not have gotten involved and acted so heroically.'

Commissioner Viswanathan nodded and said, ' You know who this Selvam was, right? '

' I do Vishy, for I have had the pleasure of meeting both his father Jagatratchagan and his Grandfather Mookaiah while I was based in Madurai many years ago. Dangerous people, powerful people and have strong connections with both the ruling and opposition parties.'

Commissioner Viswanathan shrugged, ' DGP Tripathy is handling him and he was sent to Madurai on a personal request made by the Chief Minister himself and things seem to be under control, at least for now.'

Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan smiled sarcastically, ' Only, for now. Vishy, I will bet you this months salary that you will soon see what that father and son duo are really capable of and the violence and bloodshed that is going to be unleashed once they start hunting for this man who was probably very wise in making good his escape.'

Commissioner Viswanathan looked at him and shook his head in confusion and asked, ' What do you mean by that, Ila?'

DC Ilavarasan replied casually, ' I mean that he is better off running and hiding than being in our custody for we very well know what happens to prisoners in our custody and how they die due to mysterious accidents like slipping in the bathroom and banging their head, sudden cardiac arrest and the most popular way which is suicide by hanging.'

Commissioner Viswanathan smiled, ' old friend, this man Radha Krishnan..'

' Vishy, what are you thinking? are you worried that he is dead?'

' I don't know Ila. But, I want you to find him and bring him back. Either in cuffs or in a bag for we need one of them as proof to wrap this case and bring it to its logical end.'

Commissioner Viswanathan stood up and said, ' Ila, something is wrong with this case and my gut feeling is that something terrible is going to happen. We have to find this man and take it from there.'

Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan stood up and looked at his friend, ' Vishy, I will get this done, buddy. Take care and I will see you soon.'

Seeing him come around the table, Ilavarasan said, ' Hey, I know my way out, brother.'

Commissioner Viswanathan.' I know and I also know that soon it will be your arse filling my seat in there. But, I am also heading out to meet someone who could probably shed some light on this man, Radha Krishnan.'

' Who, Vishy? Who are you off to meet?'

' Minister Kavita Arumugam.'

Vaanathai Pola 102

Commissioner of Police A. K. Viswanathan and Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan got into their cars and headed off in different directions but with a common goal, Radha Krishnan.

Viswanathan's thoughts were full of Kavita who he had come to think of as his own daughter and it had all started with the unlikely friendship that had started with her father, Minister Durai Pandi Arumugam who in his opinion was one of the kindest and honest Politicians he had the privilege to have known and the number could be counted using his fingers, of one hand.

Throughout his career and from the thousands of interactions with people from all walks of life, he had learnt a few things and of that, the most important lesson had been that one could find a beautiful lotus blooming even in sewage water.

Politics, in his opinion, was a sewage tank and the majority of politicians in his opinion were bugs and cockroaches that lived in that tank.

But, Durai Pandi had been a revelation and so were his children and then as life and bad things happen to even good people, tragedy had struck their family and had snatched away Vijay who in his opinion would have made a fine chief minister and a fantastic prime minister.

He liked Kavita and respected her a lot but in his opinion, she was a very stubborn, impulsive and headstrong soul who never hesitated to call a spade a spade. Sadly, these traits were not only dangerous in politics and detrimental to one's political career but also hazardous in real life.

Vijay was more tactful in his approach and had been a master at talking, convincing and making people see sense and it was this important virtue of her late brother's that Kavita, lacked.

In a manner of speaking, she was a lot like the late Chief minister " Amma" who was feared for not only for her power but also for her impulsive and explosive anger that could erupt if even given a hint of a spark.

' But, I guess, today's world and the way our nation and its people are, we really need tough and uncompromising leaders like Kavita' Commissioner of Police A. K. Viswanathan thought to himself as his vehicle reached Greamways road.

Every cop worth his salt knows what three white stars on blue background mean and every cop in and around Chennai knows by sight and by number, the Commissioners official vehicle.

The moment, the bluish-black Toyota Corolla car with the plates TNO9-CG-1000 was spotted on TTK road, the message went out to all the cops stationed in and around, Greamways road.

They all stood, trying hard to suck in their tummies, most of them failing in that attempt and saluted the commissioner as he passed them by and he commented to his driver, Constable Anwar, ' Why is that, our men are so fit, lean and mean when they join the service and just a few years later, develop these large tummies and end up looking like pregnant women who are just about to deliver.'

Constable Anwar smiled and said, ' Iyaa, with your permission' and Commissioner of Police A. K. Viswanathan nodded and said, ' Please.'

Constable Anwar quipped, ' Sir, you used the word pregnant but most of them seem to be carrying quadruplets and that is because of many factors of which first and foremost is rest and peace which is rare in our line of work.'

The vehicle came to a soft halt and Commissioner Viswanathan nodded and replied, ' absolutely right Mr.Anwar for we cops never ever get both of them together and in the end just rust to pieces.'

Constable Anwar delivered a final joke, a thought, ' so similar to marriage and love and peace, sir.'

Viswanathan looked at the constable with a smile, ' Another gem and another unspoken truth.All the best and please, don't ever say such stuff when my wife is around for that will be the end of me.'

He got out of the car and entered the house inside which lived a few of his favourite people and wondering how he was going to broach the matter of the missing Radha Krishnan and worried as to how the already fragile Kavita was going to take it

Vaanathai Pola 103

Lord Vinayagar sat at the entrance of the house with a heavenly smile in his eyes and his right palm open in an act of bestowing peace and victory to all those who prayed to him.

Commissioner Viswanathan's feet paused for a brief second and his eyes closed in prayer to the God and entered the house of Minister Durai Pandi Arumugam and his daughter, Minister Kavita Arumugam.

Finding both the ministers in the hall, he wished them both with genuine respect and friendship and Durai Pandi Arumugam requested him to sit down and enquired as to how he and his wife were doing.

' Two ADGP'S in one house. Who handles law and order and who handles the crime part of your normal life, commissioner sir?

Viswanathan smiled and said, ' the same as in all houses, sir. My wife holds both the portfolios in our home and all I do is eat, sleep and watch tv.'

Sharadha Arumugam joined them and after serving both the commissioner and Kavita their coffees, enquired, ' sir, We hardly get to see you as often as before and since you were coming here, you could have brought along your wife Seema with you.'

Commissioner Viswanathan smiled and apologised, ' Sorry, ma'am. She is not in the city and has been sent on a surprise inspection assignment of all the police stations in and around Vellore district to check if they are following the guidelines laid down by the state department.'

Taking a sip of coffee, ' maybe next time and surely for lunch for she loves your cooking, ma'am.'

Kavita unable to keep her fear and emotions in check any longer, interrupted the conversation and asked the commissioner for the reason he had come to meet her.

' Sir has something bad happened to Radha Krishnan. Has, his condition taken a turn for the worse overnight?'

She looked at him searchingly and said, ' I tried calling him after I spoke to you but his phone is switched off.'

' Or not reachable right now ' Commissioner Viswanathan completed the message she had heard and Kavita knew something was terribly wrong.

' Kavita, you know how fond I am of you and how close I am with all of you. That is why I came to you directly to talk to you about Mr.Radha Krishnan.'

Seeing that he was still undecided as to talk frankly and openly with her both her parents present there before them, Kavita cleared his doubts by saying boldly, ' sir, you can ask me anything and don't hesitate because my parents are here for they trust me and have total faith in me and the choices that I make, made and will make in the future. So, speak freely and ask me anything you want and I will answer them honestly.'

Commissioner Viswanathan thought, ' Exact replica of the Iron lady or maybe this little lady has even more Iron in her.'

' Kavita, when was the last you met Mr.Radha Krishnan.'

' yesterday evening and all of you were present there in the hospital.'

' Okay, when was your last conversation?'

' Again, last night when I called him to inform him about the death of Selvam and requested him to be very careful and to be on guard all the time and then I tried calling him to check and see how he was doing after you called.

Commissioner Viswanathan's eyes confirmed what his heart had already told him and that Kavita was telling the truth.

He looked at her unsure about how to ask her his next and remaining question for it was delicate in nature and may be unwarranted and also for Kavita was a cabinet minister of the very government in which he was working.

She smiled and leaning forward ' Sir, in case you are wondering, yesterday was only the second time I met him in my life. But.. You met him, right sir. He is not the typical man that you meet every day, is he?'

Commissioner Viswanathan looked at her and shook his head, ' no, he is not and definitely not typical by any stretch of the imagination.'

' So, please tell me, sir, what is wrong? Is he all right?'

Commissioner Viswanathan sighed and replied, ' I don't know, Kavita. He disappeared from the hospital last night but the story does not end there for something else happened at the same time and that is why I am here talking to you right now.'