*From & To Sathish* - Thread 4 - Page 106

Vaanathai Pola 118

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Chennai Police Commissioner Viswanathan smiled and placing his mobile on the table, looked at Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan and asked, ' Do you want my permission to sit down or are you waiting for me to get up and exchange salutes with you?'

Ilavarasan smiled and staring at Vishwanathan's face, shook his head and replied, ' No, I was just looking at your face and was happy to see the glow that had been missing back in it.'

Sitting down, he pointed to the mobile and asked, ' whoever that was on the phone is okay in my books for he seems to have put some hope back in your spirit?

' You are right, Ila for I share the same opinion as you that Raman with whom I just finished talking to is an okay person.'

' Vishy, you mean, that kid that took out both those assassins from Delhi?'

' Kid. An apt description for a 32-year old man since he is nearly 20 years younger than us grizzled dogs.'

He pointed to his wristwatch and said, ' I, am meeting the Chief Minister at 10.00 am and the DGP is going to be there for he has to report about the situation in Madurai and matters concerning Jagatratchagan and the Thevar community.'

Ilavarasan nodded and then quickly reported about what had taken place at the Pallikaranai marsh last night and what Dr Neelima Devi had told him.

' Vishy, I am sorry to tell you but even with Dr Neelima's expertise, we will not be able to correctly identify the burnt corpse and declare it as our missing man, Radha Krishnan. Neelima asked me about Dental and DNA samples to compare and match the corpse for we only have one bloodied shoe to go on with.'

Commissioner Viswanathan's eyebrows came together in anger and he asked, ' Ila, we have this Radha Krishnan's bloodied clothes in the hospital and the samples from the blood in the parking lot. So, match the bloody shoe from last night with those and see if they are identical. Then, you have the bloody belt buckle which is another piece of evidence and find out for certain if it belonged to the same man. Nearly, three dozen people saw him that day in the hotel and many of them would have surely noticed the belt he was wearing and so will be able to easily identify it for you. What more do you want?

' Okay. If, everything does match up, what next?

Commissioner Viswanathan stood up and said, ' We will declare Radha Krishnan as dead. Case closed, and problem, over.'

Ilavarasan looked at Vishwanathan, ' Do you really believe that Jagatratchagan will let go the matter of his son's death so easily and back away?'

Commissioner Viswanathan smiled sadly, ' Obviously not but it will buy us time, and meanwhile, we can spin this Radha Krishnan's death in the news to our advantage and put pressure on Jagatratchagan and any of his future moves against those he holds responsible for his son Selvam's death.'

Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan stood up and asked his friend, ' Okay, Vishy. What do you want me to do, now?

Chennai Police Commissioner Viswanathan replied, ' Ila, follow your instincts and see what all you can dig up about this man for right now he is a total mystery to us.'

Ilavarasan nodded, ' I know just the place where to start and the person to start with.'

Commissioner Viswanathan asked, ' who?' and Ilavarasan said, ' Girija Padmanabhan, the acting head of The Flock.

118 and counting and counting slow. I have slowed down each and every chapter so that I can let you savour and relish every thought and scene in which the characters interact with each other.

Lifela thaan, we are not able to hold on, hang on to every moment and is lost, gone too soon and to never return. so, at least, let our characters relax and enjoy every breath that they take and that I make.

I am sorry if I come across as morbid and dejected but I am not and I write and feel exactly the opposite.

Many of my friends tell me that I worry too much and think too much and that I should learn to take life easy.

I look at them and think to myself, " Just this one life and how can I live it with eyes closed, soul closed and not feel".

I confess that I have discovered, to be exact, realized that I have a very long way to go before I can write better than what I am doing right now and also capture my thoughts and feelings better in words.

Ippo thaan, I think I have come out of the creche and will join 1st std and one day, I promise that I will write much better and make all you forum friends feel proud of me.

Vaanathai Pola 119

It was nearly three months now since he had suffered a massive heart attack and had undergone bypass surgery. His sugar levels were under control and as were his pressure and cholesterol levels. But, Durai Pandi Arumugam's discipline had not slackened in the slightest, and it only motivated him to get better and also be in better shape than he had been before the attack that had placed him at death's door.

He stopped to rest for a moment and thought that maybe Death had really not come for him but had come for his son, Vijay.

Seeing her husband standing with his head down and breathing heavily with one arm resting on a tree for support, Sharadha who had just finished praying to the holy Tulsi plant, rushed to his side, fearing the worst.

Durai Pandi looked up and catching sight of Sharadha who had worry written on her face, smiled and raised both his hands and said, ' I am okay ma. Just, remembered Vijay and the very thought of him not being alive anymore was too much to bear and I got overwhelmed.'

Sharadha looked at him and both with one thought looked achingly at the garden and all around the house and reminisced about their son and how life had cruelly snatched him away.

' Sharadha, sometimes, I find it very hard to breathe for a feeling of guilt seems to weigh heavy on my lungs and heart, asking me as to why I, an old man was still alive when a young one had gone and gone too soon.'

Placing her soft, warm and loving hand on his chest, she looked at him as a mother would look at a child and said, ' It is only your guilt and the incredible love that you had for Vijay that is making you think and feel this way. Ask yourself if our Vijay would want you to feel and suffer this way and whether his soul will be at peace if he sees his father constantly subjecting himself to such torment.'

Minister Durai Pandi looked away from his wife not wanting her to see his tears and said, ' I know of no other way to deal with my sorrow and pain. I am only a human being and not some superhuman being.'

He turned and staring at his wife said, ' I don't even have the strength that you have and neither the dignity nor the poise with which you have been carrying yourself since our son left us.'

Sharadha Arumugam smiled, ' If, I too break down, then who will you and Kavita lean on, for support and for solace.'

Taking his hand, she said, ' come inside and rest for you have walked more than enough for today.'

As they both walked towards the entrance of the house from the garden, SI Kanagaraj came up to them and wished them both with love and respect.

Minister Durai Pandi looked at him, ' Kanagaraj, A new police team meant exclusively for the protection of our is already here and in place and you were told to stand down and report to the commissioner's office. Also, I was under the impression that Kavita was not going out anywhere today and that she would be following the Commissioners request for her to remain at home until this problem with Jagatratchagan had been amicably solved.'

SI Kanagaraj looked at him pathetically and with an expression of a man stuck hopelessly between a frying pan and a blazing fire and not knowing what to do, bent his head and instead elected to stare at the ground rather than stare into his Minister's irritated eyes and that which were slowly turning angry.

Sharadha who knew her husband very well, spoke in a calm voice, ' Minister Sir, what is the point in getting angry with poor Kanagaraj and asking him questions which only the junior minister can answer?

Claustrophobia

It took a gentle wiggle of her hips to heave up an ocean and cause a massive wave that we call a Tsunami. It has taken a microscopic virus to teach us about not only claustrophobia but also to educate us about our underlying and hidden mental disorders.

All of us crave and thrive on harmony and peace and in that state all is well.

Parama sivan Kazhuthil Irunthu

Paambu Kettathu

Garuda Sowkiyama

Yaarum Irukum Idathil Irundhu Kondaal Ellam Sowkyame

Garudan Sonnadhu

Athil Artham Ullathu

பரமசிவன் கழுத்தில் இருந்து பாம்பு கேட்டது கருடா சௌக்கியமா

பரமசிவன் கழுத்தில் இருந்து பாம்பு கேட்டது கருடா சௌக்கியமா

யாரும் இருக்கும் இடத்தில் இருந்து கொண்டால் எல்லாம் சௌக்கியமே கருடன் சொன்னது

அதில் அர்த்தமும் உள்ளது

Each and every one of us has a set pattern, a schedule, syllabus as to how to lead our lives and we live it out and go about our business of making an existence quietly and hopefully without any harm falling on us or on others.

This forced lockdown has thrown all that out of the window and has torn up the rulebook and now it is just us and the walls.

There is no normalcy, and familiar routines and now it is just staring at each other and stare at the walls and add to that the burden of money and lost jobs.

Personal space, personal bubbles are damned and I shudder in fear and wonder how people are really coping with this solitary confinement with their own selves and with other members of their family.

Plaster a smile, a pleasantly drugged high as a kite smile and go about your work. When work is done, hide and sit still and say again and again " all is well" or " This too shall pass."

I do that and am lucky to have two rooms to hide myself in.

Jokes aside, I will bet you that long after this lockdown is lifted, people will write papers about this forced lockdown and all that it has revealed about the fragile human mind and how people coped with it or rather how they were unable to cope with it.

Vaanathai Pola 120

“If you’re searching for a quote that puts your feelings into words – you won’t find it.

You can learn every language and read every word ever written – but you’ll never find what’s in your heart.

How can you?

He or she has it.” ― Ranata Suzuki

Kavita stood for a moment before the mirror, adjusting her saree and hearing him calling her, looked up at her brother who stood with his arms around her and stared at the photo of both of them that had been clicked by a close friend and her eyes went to his eyes and she heard him from beyond the gates that separated life from death but that which seemingly could not separate souls bound in love.

' Kavi, it is you. It will always be about you and not what others need or want. Your heart is always right and beats right for you are a righteous person. so, listen to your heart and go with its beat and always remain true to it.'

She looked into his smiling, twinkling eyes that would remain forever frozen in a photo and answered, ' I mean too, Viji and I will do whatever it takes to find him and help him if he so needs it.'

Then she turned back to the mirror and looked into her own eyes and said, ' Radhu, I am coming.'

She walked out of her room quickly and walked right into her parents and all three stood looking at each other and then Durai Pandi not knowing what to say or how to say it said, ' I met SI Kanagaraj who told me that you had asked him to be ready with the vehicle and your security team and I was wondering if you were really going out?'

Kavita replied, ' Yes, appa. I am going out but before I leave, I need you to make a call and put in a word for me with the chief minister.'

Her father stared at her unable to comprehend this sudden out of the blue request made by his daughter and asked, ' what is so important that you have to go meet the chief minister?'

' I want to meet him and personally request that uses all his powers to find out what is happening with Radha Krishnan and save him as quickly as possible.'

Many thoughts and emotions flashed through the mind of a concerned Durai Pandi, but controlling them he asked with a hint of anger in his voice, ' The Commissioner came here in person yesterday and promised you that he would do his best in finding and getting this person back. Why then this hurry and that too for a man you hardly know and whom you met just a few days ago?'

Kavita stepped closer to her dad and looking into his eyes, replied, ' You are a minister who has been elected by our people to care for them and work for their needs and yet here you are speaking so casually and also so carelessly.'

Durai Pandi opened his mouth to protest but Kavita raised her hand and said, ' Please, let me finish what I have to say and then you can say all that you have to say.'

She glanced at her mother who stood quietly and then returning to her dad, continued, ' It is not about some man who I hardly know or someone who I met just a few days ago. Rather, it is about a brave soul who stepped forward and put his life and limb on the line to protect several people, including women and children and in case you have forgotten, your daughter's life too. He got stabbed and then nearly died from being poisoned and now he has disappeared, presumed kidnapped and you stand here, my father, a minister, a good man asking me all these moral questions and questioning my intentions.'

Kavita stared at him and spoke and this time her voice echoed her anger, ' Or else, I will call a press meeting and state the facts and tell the public how a hero has gone missing and that nothing is being done about it. I promise, I will do it and I give a damn as to our party and my post in the cabinet.'

Vaanathai Pola 121

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister EPS looked at his personal mobile phone and seeing the call was from Minister Durai Pandi, a man he respected greatly and who was also one of the senior-most members in the cabinet, answered the call with warmth and respect, ' Durai anne, How are you doing? Has your health improved enough so that you can return to your work for I more than others miss your presence for its wisdom and calming effect.'

' I am feeling much better now, Thalaivare and the doctor has informed me that I can get back to work in a few weeks time. But, thank you so much for sending many of the important files for me to go over and to give you my opinion.'

' Durai Pandi anne, only your heart took a beating but not your wisdom or acumen and that is the need of the hour. Tell me, how can I be service to you?'

Durai Pandi looked at Kavita who stood before him and then told Chief Minister EPS the reason for him calling and that he would consider it as a personal favour if he could accommodate his daughter's request, even if it was for a few minutes.'

The Chief Minister smiled and said, ' our children have practically grown up together, Durai anne, and in case you have forgotten, it is you that took me to see Puratchi Thalaivar in Ramavaram thottam, and introduced me and my family to him. If I am where I am today then you are one of the main reasons for it too. Could, you just hold for a moment, please?'

Durai Pandi could hear the Chief Minister talking to the chief secretary and then he came back to the call and said, ' Durai anne, ask Kavita to be here by 10.00 am for I am meeting with both DGP Tripathy and Commissioner Viswanathan and she can ask them whatever she wants and I will see to it that they answer her questions honestly and clear all her doubts.'

Durai Pandi thanked the Chief Minister and ending the call looked at Kavita and said, ' He will see you at 10.00 am.'

His eyes caught the time on the old grandfather clock and placing a gentle hand on his daughter's head, said, ' Ammadi, you still have a lot of time left, so come sit with this old man, and have breakfast with him and shine some of your light and spirit into his soul.'

Kavita smiled and gently hugged him and Durai Pandi hugged her back and whispered to her, ' I am your father and we have known each other for nearly 30 years and I hope you remember that when you are fighting for the rights of friends whom you have known for just a little time.'

' I cannot help it appa, and I am scared that something might happen to him, and if it turns out that way, then I doubt if my heart can take that pain, and still keep on going.'

Vaanathai Pola 122

“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present, you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

Durai Pandi Arumugam watched his daughter Kavita do circles in the chutney with the piece of idli that had been served a few minutes ago and he smiled to himself.

Kavita realizing that her dad's eyes were on her looked up with her big, black almond eyes and yet for her father eyes, she still appeared as the tiny brat with pigtails that had thrown daily tantrums by refusing to go to school and insisting that she would accompany him during the 1991 election campaign.

He had relented a few times and allowed her to tag along and had watched proudly as she had stood on top of the van with her two fingers raised in their party's two leaves symbol.

He reached out and gently took her hand in his and asked, ' Does your dad have permission to speak his mind, openly and without holding back?'

' Appa, just say it, no. You are my everything and you have never, ever required permission to talk to me. so, just speak your mind for it is always right.'

Durai Pandi looked at her and asked, ' can you tell me when our party came to being?'

Kavita looked at him with a smile and asked, ' Dad, come on now'

' Just, answer the question, Kavima.'

' Our leader, Puratchi Thalaivar established the party in October 1972 and we came to power in 1977 and again in 1980 and in 1984 under his leadership.'

Durai Pandi nodded and then shook his head, ' He did not establish the party, kavima.'

Kavita went ' what? what are you saying?'

' What I am saying is that he did not start the party himself and instead, it was us, fans, his admirers who started it without even taking his consent and blessings and then with no other way out he reluctantly accepted the title and donned the mantle that the people blessed him with and wanted him to have. All his fan clubs became affiliated to the new party and its members became the new political party members.'

Pushing his plate aside, he continued, ' even during the end, he was reluctant to name a successor after his passing and sometimes even openly declared that the party would cease to exist after his death.'

Kavita stared at him unable to comprehend this late twist in the tale of her party and she asked, 'why appa? why did thaliavar, think that way?'

' His justification was that without him at the helm of the party, it would turn rotten and corrupt and that people would make use of his name and indulge in criminal activities.

But, he did not factor in Amma or her courageous spirit into his dying calculations and left her high and dry and also our party too without nominating a leader. It was sheer will and self-motivation that propelled Amma to fight hard and she finally managed to unite both the factions and swept into power in 1991 and you might even remember the few times that you were there in the same van as Amma was as both of you stood flashing the two leaves victory sign during that year's campaign.'

He looked at the two large pictures of both his leaders that hung on the wall with sandalwood garlands and said, ' In 1972, it was the people who made MGR into a political leader and then in five years time in 1977 they elected him as the chief minister and did the same with Amma in 2016 even when it was predicted that we would lose and lose badly after the disastrous 2015 floods.

People still have faith in our party and people still believe in the goodness of both our leaders and they hope and pray that new leaders come forward to lead the party and the people into a better future.'

He kissed her hand and said, ' I see great strength and power in you, but..'

' But, what appa?'

' but for your anger and patience and control over your heart, you will make a great leader.'

Kavita opened her mouth to protest and her dad stared at her with meaning and said, ' Kavima, it is not always about what one wants or the immediate picture but what is required and an ability to look at the larger picture. So, be patient and hold your thoughts to yourself at all times.'

He looked at her with pride and immense love, ' There are many ways to get things done but only one right way and that which satisfies all and not just the selfish needs of one.'

Tears slowly swam from her soul and up and into her eyes and got ready to escape from their prison of pain where they had been locked up and wiping them she said, ' I know appa but this is a matter concerning the heart and there is no reasoning with it nor do I have the strength to do so.'

Minister Durai Pandi Arumugam patted her cheek and said, ' It will be all right da, chellam. It is all going to turn out just fine. I promise you.'

Vaanathai Pola 123

Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan looked at his watch and seeing the time was nearly 9.30 am told the driver to go to Global Hospitals, Sholinganallur and closing his eyes began to nibble at the case concerning Radha Krishnan. His instinct told him that he was missing a vital link that was the clue to the pressure cooker situation that was now facing the government of Tamil Nadu.

' Well, I have brought the case to a logical end by discovering the burnt corpse that seems to be that of the missing man, Radha Krishnan and if it turns out that it is indeed so, then the DGP could use the death in either a good way or a bad way' Ilavarasan thought to himself.

He did not envy his friend, Commissioner Viswanathan's plight and told himself that he was better off in the field with lesser pay than having to constantly pander to the whims and fancies of the chief ministers of the state where Commissioners were posted and then transferred if they refused to buck the trend of the local government.

Deputy Commissioner Ilavarasan opened his eyes and thought, ' No, I am a hunter. I was born to be a detective and track my prey and bring them to justice and not for me, administration and a comfy chair behind a desk.'

But, Ilavarasan's mind filled with trepidation for he was going to meet none other than Doctor Girija Padmanabhan, who he had last met, two months ago, and now here he was with a case concerning her, that neither had proper leads nor logical answers and was similar to the case concerning her brother Brigadier Rajashekar who had been brutally attacked and although he had managed to survive, he now lay in a coma that was a state lot worse than death.

Doctor Girija Padmanabhan, he knew was going to look at him in a way which reminded him the way his class teacher used to glower at him back in school and just like then, he, would again have no other way, but to hang his head in shame and whisper, ' I am sorry ma'am, I will try and do better.'

He knew he had done his best and he also knew that some case could never be solved and would remain a cold case for decades.

' What about, the Jack the Ripper case which was never solved?' he thought to himself and cursed his own Ego for wanting to have a perfect track record that off late seemed to be losing its sheen and his rotten luck for now along with the Tambaram serial killer case, and the unsolved Brigadier attack case, he was now saddled with another rotten egg of a case concerning Radha Krishnan.

He smiled and thought ' A plane carrying 239 passengers goes missing in 2014 and remains missing to this day even after several countries searched the Indian ocean for over three years and here I am, stuck with just myself and my instincts' and comforted himself with what he knew was perverse and wrong but a weirdly satisfying comparision.

Good morning. I wish you a beautiful day.

If the opening track of Beethovens 5th symphony is equal to someone throwing a large rock into a clear and tranquil pond or worse someone screaming so loudly that your spirit leaps out of your body, and vanishes, hopefully not for long, then Erik Satie's Gymnopedies, particularly, no.1. is like an Angel placing its hands on the water and soothing its ripples and in the process, your spirit too returns back home to roost a little longer.

The better half in the house hides her bitterness better than me although it does reveal itself in her strange and unique food that she prepares for lunch.

I look at the mass, lumpy things on my plate sadly and think of my foster home with the other Reddys and then look at her sideways and the decent actor I am, I plaster a big wide grin that spreads from ear to ear and proceed to eat the alien stuff with "mucho gusto" ( or else it is machaan, sethe nee).

I, confess wholeheartedly, that I have been obsessed with music for a long time now and have secretly been saving in my hard disk songs and instrumental pieces that would make an ordinary person go ' Nee enna loosa' although, some, I am sure will say, ' I dig that. Appo,Naanum loosu thaan'.

Just two of us in the house and our paths tend to overlap during breakfast and coffee time when I dare to play some music that I like and it ranges from pink Floyd to A.R.rahman to K.V. Mahadevan.

One of my all-time favourite songs is from the time of Christ and from the film " Then Nilavu" and the song is titled " Nilavum malarum".

Disturbed's sound of silence will roar and rise with Rainbow's stargazer and then it is time for Yeusdas to sing " Ka karoon sajni" and then very soon it is time to slink away with my tail tucked safely between my legs for the better half is staring at me bitterly and saying it is my yoga time.

I lock myself in the bed and practice the one Yoga pose I know, " Shavasana" and I am delighted to share the benefits of my fav pose.

Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression.

Relaxes the body.

Reduces headache, fatigue, and insomnia.

Helps to lower blood pressure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7pQytF2nak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xm7s9eGxU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXsz7BYKC50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-bvaFL-IOs

Vaanathai Pola 124

There are many a time when the day we live through resonates a quote that we had read somewhere, long ago. The only problem is that it turns out not always to be a beautiful one, a romantic one, a poignant one and more often than never, it resembles a bad day.

Even the passion of a beautiful kiss pales and fades before a bad day that just seems to never end and just when you manage to take a breath and pause, life and fate are ready to knock the daylights out of you.

That is who you and me and all of us are. Fighters, boxers with gloves one and punching away but sadly sometimes we are thrown into the ring to face opponents who out-weigh us in weight, skill and ferocity. Welcome to the ring of life and please, put your paws up to either punch back or defend yourself by covering your face while punches raid down on you.

The Inspector at the gate of the fort saluted the moment he recognised Minister Kavita Arumugam's vehicle and waved his hand and her vehicle driven by SI Kanagaraj was granted entry into Fort St. George which houses the Namakkal Kavingyar Maaligai building.

Namakkal Kavingyar Maaligai is a 11-storied building at the Fort St. George campus which serves as the power centre of state secretariat of Tamil Nadu. It is the only skyscraper built within the Fort campus. As of 2019, there were about 8,000 staff working at the secretariat.

Kavita opened the door and was about to get down when SI Kanagaraj stopped her by saying, ' Amma, one moment please.'

Kavita looked at him and said, ' One father spoke to me back at home and another father is going to speak to me now.'

SI Kanagaraj nodded, ' Yes, I see you with the eyes of a father and it is with that thought that I am speaking to now. Please, don't react until and unless you are aware of all that has taken place and is taking place. Whether, you know it or not, there are many of us who are rooting for you and for your future. Please, be careful and don't step on anyone toes, whatever the provocation may be or however bad the news, may turn out to be.'

Kavita frowned and her eyes flared and reacted on hearing these words and she asked, ' Is there any particular reason for the choice of your words and the timing of it?'

SI Kanagaraj ' Ille Kavitama. I just felt like saying it and if I have offended you, please forgive me and kindly bear with my impertinence.'

Kavita smiled and got out of the vehicle and watched it move away to the parking lot.

She stood staring at the renovated 11-storied building that was Namakkal Kavingyar Maaligai and smiled and looked to her left and thought ' Only Amma could have done it and only under her rule could such a building have been built purely on will and spite.'

To her left, just a few km lay the new but now abandoned secretariat that had been constructed at a cost of 1800 crores by the late Kalaignar Karunanidhi who had commissioned the new secretariat complex in 2008 and had it inaugurated in 2010 by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The rush to have the two leaders inaugurate the complex was aimed at defusing the tension between the DMK and Congress over the 2G scam which was raging at that time.

After the inauguration, Karunanidhi managed to hold two sessions of the Assembly there and the secretariat functioned both out of the new building and the old causing immense hardship to officials. But once Jayalalitha returned to power in 2011 with a massive majority she declared that the Assembly and the secretariat would function only out of Fort St. George. She ordered an enquiry commission to probe the building of the new complex and also declared that it would instead house a multi-speciality government hospital and a medical college attached to it. She also sanctioned Rs.15 crores to convert it into a hospital.

It was meant to be the seat of power. But today it treats the sick and the poor. Instead of Ministers and bureaucrats, its corridors are frequented by doctors and nursing staff. Both the former Chief Ministers, one who built it and the one who converted it, are now dead. Yet the controversy surrounding the sprawling and unsightly building in the heart of Chennai refuses to die down.

She heard the familiar sounds of footsteps that can only be made by the shoes worn by a cop and also heard the familiar voice of Commissioner Viswanathan and turned at the same time he wished her, ' Good morning, Minister Kavita.'

' Good morning sir' Kavita greeted him back and both stood staring at each other realizing that a chasm seemed to be developing between them and the Commissioner asked in a troubled voice, ' I thought that you were going to be staying back at home and yet here you are.'

Forcing a smile, he politely remarked, ' I guess work and duty does not wait, Minister Kavita.'

' Uncle, I am still Kavita to you and will always be Kavita to you.'

Commissioner Viswanathan looked at her with eyes full of wisdom and experience and said, ' I am sorry, minister but as you see, I am in uniform and on duty and you likewise are in your party colours and standing in the secretariat where you work from and so it is just business and duty between us at his very moment and I stress at this very moment only.'

Kavita looked at him and then raising her hand pointed it towards the entrance and said, ' can we talk as we walk for I cannot keep the Chief minister waiting and not when he has so kindly agreed to meet me.'

Commissioner Viswanathan's face went a bit grim and he asked ' Is it okay for me to ask at what time you are meeting the Chief Minister?'

' 10.00 am, and from our experiences with him, we both know that the man will be in his chair, prepped and ready for all the meetings that are scheduled for today.'

Saying that, she looked at the commissioner and asked, ' is there any reason for you asking about the timing of my appointment with the Chief Minister?'

Commissioner Viswanathan looked at her and turned away as not to give away his thoughts which were about the burnt corpse found near the Pallikarani marshlands and how Kavita was going to react when she heard that the body was of the missing man, Radha Krishnan.

He shrugged his shoulders and said, ' There must be a reason for this mix-up, for both me and DGP Tripathy have been given the same 10.00 am as the time for our meeting with the Chief Minister.'

' Uncle, maybe he is pressed for time and then again it may be just a coincidence. Moreover, I will not be staying for too long and all I need is just a few minutes of his time to make a personal request.'

Commissioner Viswanathan looked at Kavita and opened his mouth to reply but the sadness and pain that filled his heart refused to form sounds and sentences and he looked resignedly at his watch and said ' Just a few minutes to 10.00 am, Minister. I guess we should get going.'

The personal secretary looked at them and said, ' DGP Tripathy has already arrived and is in conversation with the chief minister. Please, go in and join them.'