*From & To Sathish* - Thread 4 - Page 116

Vaanathai Pola 154

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Time is life and life is time spent and both never stop or pause or halt for anything. Nothing comes in their way, and like fate, they march on with a single purpose and that is probably pre-destined and pre-ordained by a higher power.

Sekar the attendant who worked at The Flock had gone underground for a couple of days as instructed by his boss who had also informed him that things were underway and the problems would be soon sorted out.

So, he had stayed invisible and had even switched off his mobile like he had been told too and now proceeded to switch it on at exactly the time he has been told to and that time was now and the time was 10.30 pm.

His phone rang and he answered it after the first ring, ' Iyaa, sollunga.'

' Sekar, things did not go as planned and I have suffered a minor setback. It is too late to turn back now. Four men that I sent have gone missing and I think it is safe to assume that they are dead. That means this new entrant to The flock and to the family of Rajashekar is no who he really is and is dangerous to me. So first, we will take care of him and then we will finish the old man and his sister and with them gone, then there will be evidence of witnesses left.'

' Saar, I told you the very first day that I met that man Radha Krishnan that he was dangerous for his eyes are not right and very scary to even look at for more than a few seconds.'

' Don't worry Sekar, it will be sorted out tonight for I am sending a few men to do the job and I want you to meet them near The flock. This Radha Krishnan I am sure is hiding somewhere in the Flock and in one of the rooms and by the time the night turns to dawn, he will be killed and will cease to be a worry for me anymore.'

' Saar, what about the three children and that old librarian?'

' Like I said, tonight everyone connected to The flock dies and it will be case closed.'

Sekar waited and The voice spoke, ' I hope you have the keys ready for every room for there will be no evidence left behind as to who did the murders and the police will scratch their heads and wonder for a long time as to the who's and the how's of this case.'

' Saar, madam is in the hospital? how can it be done?'

The voice laughed and said, ' very easily and right under their noses.

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

and

If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your future plans.

Vaanathai Pola 155

The man behind this whole story and how it began with the attack on Brigadier Rajashekar made two calls and they were made to two different types of assassins. One was to the leader of the group that would kill, clean and vanish leaving no traces behind of their presence while the other was a solo performer and unknown to the world, although his murderous work was well known to the police departments all over the country.

The first group were sent to The Flock and the second and solo killer was given the go-ahead to finish his work in Global hospitals.

Girija Padmanabhan watched with fascination as Shinogai unfurled a prayer mat and then took out a small compass-like object and turned her body slightly and then closing her eyes brought her palms together and began to whisper in a strange language.

The only words that Girija could recognise were Allah and Muhammad and she remained quiet and watched as Shinogai went to her knees and then bowed and touched her forehead to the floor and all the time her lips were whispering verses from the Koran.

Ten minutes later she opened her eyes and got up and then rolled her prayer mat with reverence and then carefully placed it back in the cupboard along with her things.

She caught Girija's eyes on the tiny instrument and gave it to her and who looked up with surprise, ' But, of course, it is just a compass.'

She then carefully observed the words written inside the compass and looked up at Shinogai, ' ME, what does that word mean or is it some kind of secret code or something that I shouldn't be asking you about?'

' ME stands for Mecca, Girima and that compass is a Qibla compass.'

Girija smiled sheepishly, ' ME for Mecca was easy and yet that slipped away from me. But Qibla, I am sorry Shinogai, I have no idea what that means.'

She pointed to the direction that she had been praying to a few moments earlier and said, ' Qibla is commonly known as The Kaaba. The Kaaba also referred to as al-Kaʿbah al-Musharrafah also spelt Ka'bah, is a building at the centre of Islam's most important mosque, Great Mosque of Mecca in the Hejazi city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the most sacred site in Islam.[2] It is considered by Muslims to be the Bayt Allāh ("House of God"). Its location determines the qiblah (direction of prayer). Wherever they are in the world, Muslims are expected to face the Kaaba when performing Salah, the five daily Islamic prayers. '

Girija's eyes opened wide with excitement and she said, ' You are talking about that black stone structure in Mecca and which millions of people go to visit during the Haj.'

Shinogai nodded, ' Exactly.'

' Salah. What does that word mean, Shinogai?'

' Salah or Salat also known as Namāz among most non-Arab Muslims is the second of the five pillars in the Islamic faith as daily obligatory standardized prayers. It is a physical, mental, and spiritual act of worship that is observed five times every day at prescribed times. While facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca, Muslims pray first standing and later kneeling or sitting on the ground, reciting from the Qur'an and glorifying and praising God as they bow and prostrate themselves in between.'

' Girima, I have seen you standing near the window, gazing towards the south-west direction and chanting the mantra "Om Arunachaleswaraya Namaha" a few times today.'

Girija Padmanabhan's face creased with a smile and filled with understanding, ' So simply and beautifully explained. I guess every Hindu who has his or her own favourite God will turn in the direction of the deity's abode and pray for peace and safety. Almost all Hindus face the North, towards Kasi and Mt.Kailash to pray to Lord Shiva, and here in Tamil Nadu many turn south to pray to the God in Rameswaram.'

' God is one with many names, Girima and his abode is one with many entrances and we all are free to choose the one we like and are comfortable with.'

Girija reflected in a sad voice, ' and yet so much bloodshed, killings and destruction and all in the name of God.'

Shinogai went still and raised a finger to her lips and said,' the time has come.'

Girija Padmanabhan's face began to fill with fear and Shinogai sensing this, pointed to the Bathroom and whispered, ' Go in and lock yourself stay there until I tell you to come out.'

Girija began to shiver in fright and she mumbled, ' But, but, raja and you will be alone?'

Shinogai's green eyes blazed with an angry look, ' We will be just fine. Now just do what I have told you to do and please, get a grip on yourself.'

Girija nodded and walking quickly to the bathroom and locked herself in and placed her mobile phone in silent mode and yet her finger was placed on the speed dial number 8, which if pressed would call the hospital's security head.

The door opened and Shinogai watched with surprise as the chief of the neurology department, Dr Nilesh Bhatti entered and greeted her cheerfully.

' Hello. How are you ?'

Then after glance asked Shinogai, ' Dr.Girija is not here? Sad for I had something important that I wanted to discuss with her.'

' Sorry doctor, but Dr.girija has stepped out for a few minutes to make a call and should be back any moment.'

Dr.Nilesh Bhatti cursed and said, ' Bad luck, for I thought she would be here and I could get this done with before going home for the night.'

Shinogai very sweetly and in an innocent voice asked, ' Why don't you come back in the morning, Dr.Nilesh for she will surely be here and you can talk to her then.'

Dr.Nilesh was stuck for an answer and then he blurted out a reason, ' Could do that but there is a chance that I might be flying out of the city for an emergency consultancy case to Delhi and it might be a couple of days before I come back. So, you see, it is imperative that I talk to her tonight about this important case that I am looking into.'

Shinogai fluttered her beautiful eyelashes like a stupid girl, ' but doctor, you are one who is concerned with nerves and Girija ma'am's field is about the heart and its functions. They are both opposites, Dcotor Nilesh.'

Dr.Nilesh Bhatti's face went grim with anger, ' I am sorry, but we have yet to be introduced. Who are you exactly and what are you doing here and who the bloody hell gave you permission to question me and my authority in this hospital?'

Shinogai began to tremble with fear and her eyes filled with tears and in a quivering and shaky voice, she replied, ' Please forgive my arrogance, sir. I am just a servant in Girija Ma'ms house and I am here more as a Nanny and to help out in taking care of sir.'

Dr.Nilesh Bhatti stared angrily at her for a few seconds and then as if he had made up his mind slowly walked towards Shinogai who shrivelled in fear and her face filled with panic and terror.

' All brave talk and in the end, you just are but a woman and nothing more' Dr Nilesh said standing in front of Shinogai who was hunched and bunched in posture and appeared many inches shorter than her usual 5ft 10 inches and also appeared shorter and weaker than Dr.Nilesh whose hands were inside his pockets and just as he brought them out, his eyes saw a blur of fingers streaking like a black mamba's strike and then his throat was on fire and his hands went quickly to it and found that he could not breathe anymore and he began to choke and at the same time his eyes went to Shinogai and tried to make sense of what had just taken place.

Shinogai placed a gentle hand on the Dr.Nilesh's lower back and shepherded him towards the open window and whispered, ' Next time, don't make the same mistake of underestimating a woman for it is a woman like me who made you' and pushed him out of the window and watched him plummet to the ground below.

At the same time, Girija opened the door and in the light from the bathroom saw Shinogai peering out of the open window and squeaked, ' is he gone? who was it?'

Shinogai smiled, ' He is gone. It was Dr.Nilesh Bhatti but not the original but somebody who was trying to pass himself off, like him.'

Then she cursed and looked at Girija, ' I forgot to ask him where he got the prosthetics from for they were really good and his contacts would have been useful to me and Radhu in our line of work.'

Girija swallowed, gulped and looked at Shinogai and then at the window, ' what now and what happens tomorrow morning?'

' Nothing, Girima. This block has eight floors and the Police will have a tough time trying to find out from which floor he fell to his death.'

' Shinogai, what about the Cameras?'

' Girima, you think this fake doctor wouldn't have disabled them before entering our room. Anyway, just in case he did not do that, I have a few tricks up my sleeve and so nothing to worry about.'

She looked at the window, ' we are safe for now and maybe a few more days for the person who sent this killer will soon be scratching his brains out and trying to figure out what went wrong and how it went wrong.'

She raised a mobile phone and looked at it and said, ' meanwhile, I will try and see what information I can get out of this mobile phone that our guest left behind in a hurry.'

Vaanathai Pola 156

The old man as he was called by Radha Krishnan sat in the darkness as darkness itself and even a passing creature of the night would have had a tough time locating him in the darkness.

The old man looked up at the cloudless sky and the thin crescent moon that was barely visible in it and that was as faint to the eye as the distant stars that made up the Milky way galaxy.

The night sky had always fascinated him and had captivated him right from his childhood in the Himalayan mountains and when he had learnt more through Radhu about all that made up the known universe, he had gotten even more addicted to astronomy and all that lay beyond man's limited knowledge.

His soul ached to go back to his Himalayan peaks and gaze on the stars from his own land and yet his soul was tied to both Shinogai and Radhu for they were now the last of the line of a family whose ancient roots and bloodlines could be traced back to the Rashidun Caliphs from the 7th century.

His mobile phone vibrated and the old man knew it was time to go to work.

He sat with his I-pad on his lap and saw that they were entering from the far side of the compound with the Thalambur lake behind them and that there were five of them, including that snake named Sekar.

The old man's face filled with pride as he witnessed the meticulous work and planning of Radhu begin to payback for with the help of all the tiny cameras he could track the five men as clearly and easily as one could track a cloud in the afternoon sky.

Hugging the trees, he moved slowly and then merged himself in the shadows that the building threw around it and moved quickly to intercept the interlopers.

' Pity, that I am supposed to spare them, for it would have been far easier to kill them and bury them somewhere in this land' he thought to himself and then, things went crazy and out of control.

That snake Sekar who had been in front of the four men and obviously leading them towards the innocent occupants of The Flock suddenly threw his hands in the air and stumbled and then began to run with his hands clutching his back.

The old man saw Sekar run towards the place he was hiding and then just as he was about to run past him, he stumbled on a root and crashed to the ground.

Even in the poor light, the old man could clearly see the knife sticking out of Sekar's back and realized that he had been marked for elimination by the four killers dispatched by some unknown master or masters and quickly made up his mind and acted.

The four men slowly advanced on the fallen and injured Sekar who begged for his life, ' I have been loyal to the boss all these years and have done so much of work for him and this is how he repays me and my loyalty.'

One man advanced with his silenced gun while the other three went on guard and turned in different directions and went on alert to see if the noise had attracted the attention of the sleeping occupants in the building.

' This is going to be easy and quick' thought the old man and rose in the darkness and shot the man in his head and before the three could turn around to see what was happening, he put three bullets in all the three killers heads and that was that.

He stared at Sekar who stared back in surprise and shock and asked, ' Who are you?'

Sekar saw the man stare at him and curse in some funny language and then reaching for his mobile phone.

The old man made the call and Sekar cried out, ' Sir, you are doing the right thing by calling the police. Tell them to send for an ambulance immediately.

The old man looked bewildered by this request and asked Sekar, ' Okay. Say I do call the cops and they do arrive here. How are you going to explain these four dead bodies and how are you going to explain the knife in your back?'

' I will tell them the truth. I was patrolling the ground to keep it safe for the children under my care and protection and was ambushed by these men.'

The old man with a vague smile on his face, nodded, ' okay, so you were ambushed and you fought back and grabbing the silenced handgun from one of the killers, expertly shot all of them in their heads and killed them.'

The old man's call was answered by Radhu, ' hello, are you done?'

The old man ignoring Radhu continued his funny debate with the injured Sekar, ' I asked you a question and it is the same question that the cops are going to be asking and which is how did you a peon manage to shoot dead four killers and that too in point-blank range.'

Sekar searched desperately for an answer and finding none said, ' I will not tell them about you and I will stick to my story and I will take your secret to my grave.'

The old man spoke to Radhu and explained what had happened with Sekar and the dead killers.

' Please, take the phone closer to that snake and put the call on speakerphone.'

Sekar instantly recognized Radhu's voice and knew that he was now in real danger.

Radhu's voice was calm and yet seemed full of intent and threat of pain and eventual death as he asked, ' who is behind you? who are you working for, Sekar?'

Sekar's voice squeaked loudly, ' Will you spare me if I tell you who is behind all this and why all this happened?'

' Of course. We are not made like you and the ones behind you and we never kill innocent people and never ever children. Not only will we spare you but we will reward you handsomely. So, please tell us, who this person is for who you are working for?

Radhu in the car and heading towards Madurai heard every word that Sekar spoke and it hit him like a bolt of lightning.

' Old man, this is a huge gift and a real twist in the plot and it makes our job easier and far less complicated from now on. I can travel to Madurai in peace and when I return it will be time to make that b.st..d pay for what he did to my father.'

' Okay. That is taken care of. But, what do I do with this little snake here?'

' Kill him and leave no trace of him or the others and please continue your vigil of The Flock.'

Vaanathai Pola 157

A story is another life and about other people. A life filled with characters that are new and not as boring as the ones in your life. The synopsis tempts you and makes you turn the first page and you are off on a journey that transports you into a different part of the world and exotic lands that one can never hope to visit and can only dream of.

For me, a good book is a much better treat than a good film. Music and stunning visuals aside, words and beautiful prose do more to churn up the juices in my head and transport me to the lands on my own accord.

The old man sat in the darkness staring at the five dead bodies and whispered to them, ' Hello. What does it feel like, to be dead? Are you in hell or heaven?'

He cursed in his native Afghan tongue, ' Five dead bodies and I have to do all the heavy lifting myself, while he is off to see his newfound love. He should have been here helping me and not chasing his d..k and his soul.'

The twig snapped making just a very tiny noise and yet to his ears they were as loud as the crack of lightning in the skies and he went alert and at the same time acted as if he was going about his work and had not heard the noise.

The person who made the noise spoke, ' I don't know who you are, mister. But, I want you to know that I have a gun trained on you and should you make any sudden or threatening movements, I will not hesitate to put a bullet in your head.'

The old man heard the person stepping closer to him and heard him speak, ' Now, place that gun you are holding on the ground and turn around slowly with your hands raised over your head. Please, do as I say or I will be forced to hurt you.'

The old man did exactly as he was told and then turned around with his arms raised in the air and greeted the person in a cheerful voice, ' Hello, Mr.Thangamani. It is nice to make your acquaintance, finally. I am sorry to have disturbed your sleep, but the circumstances were such that I was forced to take action.'

The old man with his hands still up in the air looked past Thangamani and towards the building and nodded in appreciation, ' Thick shrubs, plants and trees notwithstanding and yet you saw the flashes. I guess that is because you have served in the army for many a year.'

Thangamani's hand was steady and unwavering and his question was short and direct, ' How do you know my name and that I was in the army?'

' Radhu of course. Who else, sir?'

' Radha Krishnan. How do you know him?'

The old man exhaled, ' Oh God! Now, that is indeed a good question but the answer is a very long story and for another day and when all this is over.'

Thangamani's eyes bore into the old man, ' do you have a name?'

' Old man. Radhu has been calling me that for a long time and sadly, it has stuck to me and even his mother insists on calling me old man and not by my real name, "Omar" which actually is a beautiful name.'

Thangamani master stood unrelenting,his aim true and unwavering and his voice steady as he spoke, ' Sorry, I am fresh out of believing strangers, and that too, one who has dared enter this place that I hold sacred, and who stands before me with five dead bodies lying around him and in the middle of the night.'

Gripping the handgun even tighter, he asked, ' Old man, what would you do if you find yourself in my position?'

The old man had lost none of his cheerfulness and exhibiting no sign of fear, said, ' I would have put a bullet in your head and then asked you questions and would have ended up regretting my actions on killing an innocent man.'

Thangamani smiled, ' so, you are innocent. Is that what you have to say for yourself?'

' I meant in this situation but let me confess that I am not innocent and lost that mythical quality a long time ago.

Now, if you don't mind, please, I would like to lower my arms, sit down and light a smoke.'

Thangamani stepped back but with his handgun pointed at the man and nodded.

The old man slowly brought down his arms and finding a large tree trunk, sat down and reaching into his coat pocket, brought out a pack of Beedis and lighting one, began to smoke it.

' Thangamani. What does it mean, your name?'

Thangamani master was flummoxed by this question and he muttered irritatedly, ' Gold bead something.WTF is wrong with you. I have a gun aimed at you and here you are asking what my name means.'

The old man smiled and ignoring Thangamani's angry rebuke, instead cheerfully said, ' Omar. My name means, long-lived and one who is a gifted and eloquent speaker.'

Thangamani angrily, ' I am surprised nobody has killed you before for talking so much for it is beginning to hurt my ears.'

The old man looked at his beedi with love and said, ' Ganesh beedis, the best then and now.'

This finally broke Thangamani masters resolve and a smile filled his face and he remarked, ' You think you are some beedi poster boy or some Bollywood model.'

The Old man smiled and winked, ' I am better looking than most of the old villains in the Hindi movies. Although, I have to admit that I have a huge crush on the late Amrish puri and his signature line, " Mogambo kush hua."

Stubbing the beedi under his foot, the old man looked at Thangamani, ' I am sorry but the night is running out and I have a lot of work to do. So' and pointed to his shirt pocket.

Thangamani nodded and watched the old man take out his phone and make a call and the quiet of the night was shattered by Radhu's angry question,' Old man, I have another 150 km to drive to reach Madurai and be ready and so you better have a good reason for calling me.'

' I have a good reason and which is pointing a gun at me right now. So, if you could talk to him and explain things, then I will get on with my work and be out of here.'

Radhu clearly saw the situation and understanding it even though he was far away from there, spoke in a calm and reassuring voice,' Thangamani master, that old man is my friend and he is there because of my request and he is there to protect the Flock.I am sorry but I am driving right now. I will call you in the morning. But, if he does not stop talking, feel free to bury him somewhere on our land and preferably while he is still alive and breathing.'

The old man cursed in his native tongue and even though Thangamani master did not know the language, he could make out that Radhu and his ancestors were being cursed and ridiculed.

' The insolent pup.I must have saved his skin a million times and he wants me buried alive.'

Thangamani master looked at him, ' how can I help?'

' Open the gate for I need to bring the vehicle here to take away these bodies and also clean up the place, just in case.'

Thangamani nodded and then glanced at Sekar, ' bloody traitor.'

The old man removed all the wallets, watches, jewellery from the dead bodies and placed it in a large cover and raising it announced, ' Evidence, trails to follow in case the situation turns tricky as this plot develops.'

Thagamani master looked at the old man, ' Thank you for being here and saving me and the children. I cannot begin to imagine what would have happened if these killers had entered the Flock.'

The old man bent to his waist and used his right hand to touch his forehead and said, ' Afwan, Inshallah.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8ZavLj5S3g

I put down these thoughts knowing fully well that some of you will get really upset and angry with me. You have all the rights and are free to do so.

Sushant Singh Rajput killed himself last Sunday and is still page 2 and page 3 news and page 1 in some of those newpapers and sites that had been finding it difficult to survive and had been scratching the bottom for a long time now.

About 900,000 people die by suicide worldwide every year,of these 135,000 (17%) are residents of a nation with 17.5% of world population. Between 1987 and 2007, the suicide rate increased from 7.9 to 10.3 per 100,000,with higher suicide rates in southern and eastern states of India.In 2012, Tamil Nadu (12.5% of all suicides), Maharashtra (11.9%) and West Bengal (11.0%) had the highest proportion of suicides.Among large population states, Tamil Nadu and Kerala had the highest suicide rates per 100,000 people in 2012. The male to female suicide ratio has been about 2:1.

Sushant Singh died at his own hands because he was unable to play the game and finish it.

I hear a lot of people saying, "He did not get his due" and I humbly ask them, ' how many if us really get our due or what we are owed or think we are owed by life and fate?'

The answer is that very rarely does life reward us fully for our talents and for our work and also please bear in mind that it is even more rare thing to find a person who is content with what he has been given and grateful for the opportunities that he or she had been blessed with.

Sushant Singh was just another actor and who got on the train called cinema and rather than switching compartments to suit his fate and time, tried to travel first class and found no seat there and so killed himself.

All this are wild shots in the dark for only the dead know the truth.

My thoughts are, if someone wants to die, there is just no way of stopping them.

In the case of Sushant, people talk about nepotism, different camps, failed offers, spurned choices etc and I tell you that this is the same situation everywhere and in every office.

There will always be favoritism and camps belonging to rival competitors and you just have to suck up and play the game or shut the F..k up and go home and do something else. Not kill yourself.

For that means you are a coward and that you took the easy way out.

Sushant singh came so far and did so many good films in such a short time.

If films were not happening then you should have fought harder and waited for the time or you could have entered television.

In the end, you want something, you fight for it and fight with your last breath and not hang yourself.

Oh well, soon something else will fill the papers and channels and Sushant will be old news just like Actress Shobha, Silk smitha, Divya Bharti,Fatafat Jayalaxmi etc.

Not to mention, dear colleagues such as saarakesh, sai prasanth, vaishnavi, murali mohan, director Balaji yadav, Kalyana parisu 2 cameraman raja.

https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/tamil-television-actor-sai-prashanth-commits-suicide/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpdO1040ffE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG0oGcUf-t4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIcSy3c14Yw

Vaanathai Pola 158

Radha Krishnan felt a weight, a burden being removed from his mind and breathed in relief that, Thangamani master was now in the loop about him and the Old man. He had been worried about leaving the librarian on his own and to manage the flock, the kids and the threats that were aimed at them and that was the reason, he had requested the Old man to come to Chennai for back up and for additional support for his mother.

He cursed himself angrily for having failed to see the clues that had been so obvious and yelled, ' I am coming for you and it matters not, where you run to, who you run to, I will come and I will take your head for what you and the others did to my father.'

The phone rang and he answered immediately, ' Umi.'

' Baby, it is done.'

' Who did they send?'

' A doctor or someone who was disguised as a doctor.'

' What did you do with the body?'

' Chucked him over the window, and I am sure he is going to be there until he is discovered later in the morning. Why do you ask, Radhu?'

' Umi, I think it is better to move the body from there, for it will attract unnecessary attention and that is something we don't need right now. The old man is here and is finishing up at the Flock and I will send him there to clear that body.'

' Radhu, don't you think it is better for the cops to find the body for they will be able to identify it much faster than us.'

' I know that, but under these circumstances, it is better for the enemy to remain confused and unsure of what to do next. We will continue to act as if we know nothing and wait for their next move.'

' Baby, once you are back from Madurai, we should think of shifting your dad to the flock for it is better that we all remain together under one roof until this is dealt with for there is no sense in splitting our resources and straining ourselves.'

' Umi, Sekar confessed and revealed the identity of the person who did this to my father.'

' Who is it?'

Radhu told her and then requested her to keep it to herself and not tell it to Girija.

' Okay baby. Take care and come back fast for I think it is time that we got this done for I am running out of excuses to tell my boss who I think by now must be wondering what is going on and where in the world I must be.'

' Okay then. See you soon, Umi. Bye.'

Radhu called the Old man who had just left the Flock with the five dead bodies and who cursed nonstop for a few seconds and then said, ' one more and you are lucky that the Global hospital is not far away from here. All right, I will see to it and call me if you need help in Madurai. I am a killer, not your cleaner.'

Radhu laughed loudly, ' You just took down five bad people and you want more. Old man, careful, for your darkness is coming out of the closet. This is not the time for your passenger to come out and play.'

The old man fell silent and then realizing Radhu was waiting for a reply, cursed again and then mumbled, ' sorry.'

Radhu smiled and ending the call saw the dashboard clock and realized it was nearly 2.00 am and that he still had another 120 km to go before reaching Madurai and the hotel Kavita had checked into.

He had never been to Madurai although he knew a lot about the ancient city and wondered if it was going to be safe for him and her.

' No. I am not going to let anything to happen to her or lose her the way I lost my wife and son for I doubt if I will be able to survive that kind of pain anymore.'

The man had been sitting in his study, waiting for his men to report back and saw with a growing fear that the time was nearly 3.00 am.

This was a strange situation and one which he had never face before and he knew that it was time to get in touch with the others.

He picked up his mobile and called his Senior and began to speak.

' Why didn't you inform me or the others about the situation before this? you should have called us the moment those men you sent after this Radha Krishnan disappeared?'

After thinking for a few moments the senior spoke, ' The cops think it is Radha Krishnan's body that was found in that marshland near Velachery. If that is true then who attacked our men and why?'

Junior's voice revealed his panic, ' That is what I have been trying to find out and also at the same time trying to take out the Brigadier, his sister and the others in the Flock. But now they too have disappeared and their phones have all been switched off.'

' Even the good doctor?'

' Yes sir.'

Senior spoke in a soft voice that was filled with anger and accusation, ' You have erred and terribly so. Present yourself at the cabin at lunchtime and me and the others will decide how to move forward and also decide your future.'

Vaanathai Pola 159

The Madurai connection

The city of Madurai has many names and has been called many names over many millennia. Yes, you read it right. More than two millennia and change of a few hundred years and counting. Today, we know it as Madurai.

Madurai is known by several names such as Koodal nagaram (City of Junctions), Malligai maanagar (City of Jasmine), Koil maanagar (Temple city), Thoonga nagaram (City that never sleeps) and Naanmada koodal (junction of four towers that refers here to the four major temples that Madurai was known for) among others.

Thiruvalavai, Alavai, Athens of the East and Koodal managaram are also other names used to mention this ancient city which finds itself among the list of the oldest cities in India along with Thanjai or Thanjavur as we know it today.

The other oldest cities are Varanasi, Patna, Ujjain, Delhi, Ayodhya, Pushkar

Madurai has been inhabited since at least the 3rd century BCE. Megasthenes may have visited Madurai during the 3rd century BCE, with the city referred as "Methora" in his accounts Madurai is also mentioned in Kautilya's (370–283 BCE)Arthashastra. Sangam literature like Maturaikkañci records the importance of Madurai as a capital city of the Pandyan dynasty. Maduraikanchi is an ancient Tamil poem in the Sangam literature. It is a didactic poem and its title connotes the "poetic counsel addressed to the king of Madurai".Composed by Mankuti Marutanar – probably the chief court poet of the Pandya king Nedunjeliyan II, the Maduraikkañci is the sixth poem in the Pattuppattu anthology. The poem is generally dated to the late classical period (3rd to 4th century CE).

Madurai is mentioned in the works of Roman historians Pliny the Younger (61 – c. 112 CE), Ptolemy (c. 90 – c. CE 168), those of the Greek geographer Strabo (64/63 BCE – c. 24 CE), and also in Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.

According to mythology, Madurai was earlier a forest called Kadambavanam. Once a merchant passing through the forest saw Indran, the King of Gods worshipping a Swayambhulingam under a Kadam tree. This was immediately reported to King Kulsekarer Pandayan. The king cleared the forest and built a splendid temple, known as the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarer Temple, around the holy Lingam and later built a beautiful lotus-shaped city surrounding the temple.

Lord Siva appeared on the naming ceremony of the city and blessed it. The divine nectar (Madhu) from the tangled locks of Siva fell on the blessed city and so, the city came to be known as "Madhurapuri". It is also said that centuries ago Lord Siva himself performed sixty-four wonders, called "Thiruvilaiyadals", in Madurai. Thus, the holy city finds reference in the great Indian epics - Ramayana, Kautilya's and Arthasastra.

The Vaigai river, daughter of the sky, wanders ever on the tongues of poets, who sing the generous gifts she bestows on the land she has blessed. Most cherished possession of the Pandya Kingdom, she resembles a noble and respected maiden. Her dress is woven of all the flowers that fall from the date tree,the vakulam,the kino, the white kadamba,the gamboge, the tilak,the jasmine, the myrobalan, the pear tree,the great champak, and the saffron plant. The broad belt she wears low around her hips is adorned with lovely flowers of kuru and golden jasmine, mixed with the mushundai’s thick Lianas, the wild jasmine,the convolvulus,the bamboo,the volubilis,the pidavam, and Arabian jasmine. The sandbanks,edged by tress in blossom, are her youthful breasts. Her red lips are the trees that spread their red petals along the shore. Her lovely teeth are wild jasmine buds floating in the stream. Her long eyes are the carp, which playing in the water, appear and vanish like a wink. Her tresses are the flowing waters filled with petals.

As if she knew the sad fate that lay in store for young Kannagi, the river Vaigai had put on her best veil made of precious flowers, and could not hold back the tears that filled her eyes. After passing along narrow paths through the woods, Kannagi and Kovalan reached the bank of the river. Both cried out in wonder, “This is not a river but a stream in blossom.” Silapadigaram by Ilango Adikal-Translated by Alian Danielou

The patrol car with its constable driver and head constable were on their final rounds around the Meenakshi Amman temple and they still had an hour left in their night shift and before they could call it a day and go home and sleep it off for the next 24 hours and then return to a week of day shift duty and that would soon be followed by a week of night shift patrol duty.

It was exactly 5.00 am in the morning and the sky had clothed itself in a beautiful pink shade and to your author's eyes,( who else the dreamer who is penning this) it is as if the sky a woman was blushing in anticipation of the arrival of its lover, the Sun who had already heralded his arrival and sent her into a raging and blushing heat with his own passion and needs.

Even though Madurai is called Thoonga Nagaram because of its nightlife and bustling food joints, people do sleep, although their sleep time may vary from the ones who inhabit the day.

Head Constable Kuselan's eyelids felt like a ton each and it was all he could do to stay awake and yet his police yes spotted it and he yelled, ' Stop the vehicle.'

Constable driver who had perfected the art of sleeping and driving at the same time heard the order but it took his sleep-starved brain a few seconds to process the command and before he could comply, he felt the familiar whack on his head and the familiar curse, ' Okali Solrenilla. Vandiya niruthuda.'

The police vehicle's rusty and worn brakes screamed and protested pathetically as they slowed and brought the vehicle to a halt.

Constable Paneer who was now wide-awake from having been blessed with the hard knock on his head, enquired politely, ' Iyaa, you want cigarettes. I go and pick it up?'

Head Constable whose full attention was on something else, exploded, ' Panni, Panni. Panniku Porantha Panni. They should have named you Panni instead of Paneer. Periya English Pulavar nenappu manasula.'

He opened the door and getting down ran a few steps in the direction in which they had just come from and shone the torch on what had caught his attention.

Constable Paneer cursed, ' Poda Kusu. As if you have a nalla name. Panni is better than Kusu any day.'

Wearing a humble and appropriate expression, he slowly came and joined Kuselan and looked at what his senior was looking at and went, ' Okali. Our shift just got fu..ed along with both of us.'

“In every life, there comes a day of reckoning - a time when unsettled scores demand retribution, and our own lies and transgressions are finally laid bare.”? Emily Thorne

One or more of you forum members will maybe remember and recollect the Vaigai river description from Silapathigaram from The boy who went into the dark and came back with light. Seems like another time and another era.

I am fire and i am water. I am hell and i am heaven and i will bring peace to you.

The boy who went into the dark and came back with light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eePz_vK3iTM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2AtyJKr0RA

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/other-topics/4327334/from-to-sathish-thread-3

Those members who cannot read Tamil, please forgive me for this post. But, I promise that someday, I will translate these gems who masquerade as articles into English.

Those members who can read, write and understand Tamil, I share with you these Pokkishams from another generation.

Writer Sujatha on his father (courtesy Chittanandam V R )

அன்புள்ள அப்பா - சுஜாதா

(சுஜாதா என்றாலே சுவாரஸ்யம்தான். அல்லது அவருக்கு சுவாரஸ்யமான மனிதர்கள், நிகழ்வுகள்,மொழி ஆகியன அமைந்து விடுகின்றன.

அவருடைய அப்பாவும் சுவாரஸ்யமான ஒரு மனிதர்தாம். அவர் எங்கள் பாபநாசம் நீர் மின்திட்டத்தில் பொறியாளராகப் பணியாற்றியவர்.

சுஜாதாவின் தாயார் இங்குதான் காலமானார். = மா.பாரதிமுத்துநாயகம்)

இறந்துகொண்டிருக்கும் தன் அப்பாவைப் பற்றி எழுத்தாளர் சுஜாதா எழுதி இருப்பது ஒரு அற்புதம்!

செய்தி வந்த உடனே பஸ் பிடித்து சேலம் போய்ப் பார்த்தால் அப்பா படுக்கையில் உட்கார்ந்திருந்தார். “எங்கே வந்தே?” என்றார்.

“உனக்கு உடம்பு சரியில்லைன்னு” என்று மழுப்பினேன். “நேற்று வரை சரியில்லாமல்தான் இருந்தது. டாக்டர்கள் என்னமோ பண்ணி உட்கார

வைத்துவிட்டார்கள். சாப்ட்டியா?” என்றார்.

“எனக்கு என்ன வாங்கிண்டு வந்தே?”

“என்னப்பா வேணும் உனக்கு?”

“உப்பு பிஸ்கட். கொஞ்சம் பாதாம் அல்வா. அப்பறம் ஒரு சட்டை வாங்கிக் கொடுத்துவிட்டுப் போ.”

சட்டையைப் போட்டுவிட்டதும் “எப்படி இருக்கேன்?” என்றார்.

பல்லில்லாத சிரிப்பில் சின்னக் குழந்தை போலத்தான் இருந்தார்.

நர்ஸ் வந்து “தாத்தா உங்க மகன் கதைகள் எல்லாம் படிச்சேன். ரொம்ப இன்டெலிஜெண்ட்” என்றதற்கு “நான் அவனை விட இன்டெலிஜெண்ட்”

என்றார்.

பேப்பர் பேனா எடுத்து வரச் சொல்லி “உன் முன்னோர் யார் என்று அப்புறம் தெரியாமல் போய் விடும்” என்று வம்சாவழியைச் சொல்லி

எழுதிக்கொள்ளச் செய்தார். ஞாபகம் தெளிவாக இருந்தது. முதன் முதன் முதல் திருவாரூரில் நூறு ரூபாய் சம்பளத்தில் பதவியேற்ற

தேதி சொன்னார். கணக்கம்பாளையம் பின்கோடு நம்பர் சொன்னார்.

“பழைய விஷயங்கள் எல்லாம் ஞாபகம் இருக்கிறது. சமீப ஞாபகம்தான் தவறிப்போகிறது. நீ வந்தால் கேட்கவேண்டும் என்று ஏதோ ஒன்று.

என்ன என்று ஞாபகம் இல்லை. ஞாபகம் வந்ததும் ஒரு காகிதத்தில் குறித்து வைக்கிறேன்”

“அப்பா உனக்கு எத்தனை பென்ஷன் வருகிறது தெரியுமோ?”

“தெரியும். ஆனால் பணத்தில் சுவாரஸ்யம் போயவிட்டது. எத்தனை இருந்தால் என்ன? நீங்கள் எல்லாம் என்னைக் காப்பாற்றாமலா போவீர்கள்?”

“ஏதாவது படித்துக் காட்டட்டுமா அப்பா?”

“வேண்டாம். நிறையப் படித்தாயிற்று. இப்போது அதெல்லாம் எதற்கு என்று ஒரு அலுப்பு வந்து விட்டது. நீ போ. உனக்கு எத்தனையோ சோலி இருக்கும்.

அம்மாவின் வருஷாப்திகம் ஏப்ரல் ஒண்ணாம் தேதி வருகிறது. அப்போது வநதால் போதும். நான் படுத்துக்கொள்ளட்டுமா? களைப்பாக இருக்கிறது.

காலையில் போவதற்குள் ஒரு முறை சொல்லிவிட்டுப் போ” என்றார்.

காலை புறப்படும்போது தூங்கிக் கொண்டிருந்தார்.

பெங்களூர் திரும்பி வந்து ஒரு வாரத்துககுள் மறுபடி சீரியஸ் என்று தந்தி வந்தது. என்.எஸ் பஸ்ஸில் “என்ன ஸார் அடிக்கடி சேலம் வர்றிங்க?”

“எங்கப்பா சீரியஸா இருக்கார்ப்பா.”

“ஓஹோ அப்படிங்களா? டேய் அந்த மல்லி மூட்டையை பாத்து இறக்குங்கடா.”

ஸ்பெஷல் வார்டில் அவரைப் பார்த்து திடுக்கிட்டேன். படுக்கையில் கண் மூடிப் படுத்திருந்த முகத்தில் தாடி. காலில் பட்டர்ஃப்ளை ஊசி போட்டு

சொட்சொட்டென்று ஐவி க்ளுக்கோஸ் உள்ளே போய்க்கொண்டிருந்தது. சுவாச மூக்கில் ஆக்ஸிஜனும் ஆஸ்பத்திரி வாசனையும் வயிற்றைக் கவ்வியது.

கண்ணைக் கொட்டிக் கொட்டிக் கண்ணீரை அடக்கிக் கொண்டு “அப்பா அப்பா” என்கிறேன். கண்ணைத் திறக்கிறார் பேசவில்லை. “நான்தான்

வந்திருக்கிறேன்” என்று கையைப் பற்றுகிறேன்.

பேசும் விருப்பம் உதடுகளில் தவிக்கிறது. கையை மெல்லத் தூக்கி மூக்கில் இருக்கும் குழாய்களை அகற்றப் பார்க்கிறார். தோற்கிறார்.

“நீ போனப்புறம் ஒரு நாளைக்கு சரியா இருந்தார் அதுக்கப்புறம் இப்படி மறுபடி…”

படுக்கையில் பூஞ்சையாக நெற்றியைச் சுருக்கி கொண்டிருக்கும் அப்பாவைப் பார்க்கிறேன்.

இவரா ஆயிரம் மைல் தனியாகக் கார் ஓட்டிக் கொண்டு சென்றவர்?

இவரா மின் வாரியத்தை தன் டிஸிப்ளினால் கலக்கியவர் “நல்ல ஆபிஸர்தான் ஆனா கொஞ்சம் முன்கோபிங்க”

இவரா அணைக்கட்டின் பாரப்பெட் சுவரின் மேல் ஏறிக் கொண்டு விளிம்பில் ஒரு ஃபர்லாங் நடந்தவர்? “என் வில் பவரை டெஸ்ட் பண்ணிப்

பார்ககணும் போலிருந்தது”

இன்ஜினியரிங் படிப்பையும் இளம் மனைவியையும் விட்டுவிட்டு காங்கிரசில் சேருகிறேன் என்று காணமால் போனவர் இவரா? “ஐ வாஸ்

கிரேஸி தட் டைம்”

மேல் நர்ஸ் வந்து அவரை உருட்டி முதுகெல்லாம் யுடிகொலோனும் பேபி பவுடரும் போடுகிறார்.- “பெட்ஸோர் வந்துரும் பாருங்க.”

ஸ்டாஃப் வந்து பக்கத்துக்கு ஒரு ஊசி கொடுத்து “நீங்கதான் ரைட்டர்ங்களா?” என்கிறார்.

நான் ஆஸ்பத்திரியைத் திகைத்துப் போய்ப் பார்க்கிறேன்.

ஆஸ்பத்திரியிலிருந்து தப்பிப்பதைப் பற்றி ஸர்வைவல் புத்தகங்கள் ஆங்கிலத்தில் எழுதியிருக்கிறார்கள். டாக்டர்கள் எல்லோரும்

நல்லவர்கள். ஆனால் ஸ்பெஷலிஸ்டுகள்.

“ஒரு ஸிடி ஸ்கான் எடுத்துரலாமே டாக்?”

“முழுங்கறதுக்கு ரொம்ப கஷ்டப்படறார். ஒரு பேரியம் மீல் கொடுத்துப் பார்த்துரலாம். அப்றம் ஒரு ஆன்ஜியோ.”

“ஃப்ளுயிட் ரொம்ப கலெக்ட் ஆயிருச்சு. புட் ஹிம் ஆன் ஹெவி டோஸ் ஆஃப் லாஸிக்ஸ்!”

எல்லா டாக்டர்களுமே திறமைசாலிகள்தான், நல்ல நோக்கமுள்ளவர்கள்தான், ஆனால்…

ராத்திரி முழுக்க அவர் அருகில் கீழே படுத்திருக்கிறேன். தூக்கமில்லை. கொஞ்ச நேரம் வராந்தாவில் உட்கார்ந்து காற்று வாங்குகிறேன்.

கான்க்ரீட் மேடையில் வேப்ப மரம் முளைத்திருக்கிறது. காகங்கள் ஸோடியம் விளக்குகளைச் சூரியன் என்று குழம்பிப் போய் இரை தேடச் செல்கின்றன.

இங்கிருந்து அப்பா தெரிகிறார். அசையாமல் படுத்திருக்கிறார். முகத்தில் வேதனை எழுதியிருக்கிறது. கூப்பிடுகிறாரா? கிட்டப் போய்க் கேட்கிறேன்.

“என்னப்பா?”

“போதும்ப்பா என்னை விட்டுருப்பா” என்று மெல்லச் சொல்கிறார். வில்லியம் ஹண்ட்டரின் கட்டுரை ஞாபகம் வருகிறது.

If I had strength enough to hold a pen, I would write how easy and pleasant it is to die.

பொய்!

ஆனால் இவர் அவஸ்தைப்பட்டால் எனக்கு அபத்தமாகத்தான் படுகிறது. இவர் செய்த பாவம் என்ன? ப்ராவிடணட் பண்டில் கடன் வாங்கி

பையன்களைப் படிக்கவைத்ததா?

அவர்களுக்கு வரதட்சணை வாங்காமல் கல்யாணம் செய்து வைத்ததா? ஏழை உறவினர்களுக்கும் ஆசிரியருக்கும் மாசாமாசம் பென்ஷனிலிருந்து

பணம் அனுப்பியதா? குடும்ப ஒற்றுமைக்காகப் பாடுபட்டதா? பிரபந்தத்தில் ஒரு வரி விடாமல் மனப்பாடமாக அறிந்ததா?

காலை ஐந்து மணிக்கு பக்கத்தில் இருக்கும் சர்ச் எழுந்து ஒலி பெருக்கி மூலம் ஏசுநாதரைப் பேசுகிறது. அப்பாவுக்கு இது கேட்குமா?

ரேடியோ சிலோனில் சுவிசேஷத்தை தவறாத ஆர்வததுடன் கேட்கும் தீவிர வைஷ்ணவர்

“பைபிளில் பல இடஙகளில் நம்ம சரணாகதி தத்துவம் சொல்லியிருக்கு தெரியுமோ? சில இடஙகளில் ஆழ்வார் பாடல்களுக்கும் அதற்கும்

வித்தியாசமே தெரிவதில்லை”

பங்களூரில் குரான் முழுவதையும் படிக்கச் சொல்லிக் கேட்டது நினைவுக்கு வருகிறது.

ஆஸ்பத்திரி புது தினத்துக்குத் தயாராகிறது.மணி அடித்துவிட்டு சில்லறை கொடுக்காதவர்களை எல்லாம் விரட்டுகிறார்கள்.

டாக்டர் ரவுண்ட்ஸ் வருகிறார். “இன்னும் எத்தனை நாளைக்கு இப்படி இருப்பார்னு சொல்லமுடியாது. இன்னிக்கு கொஞ்சம் இம்ப்ருவ்மெண்ட்

தெரிகிறது. கன்னத்தைத் தட்டி “நாக்கை நீட்டுங்கோ.” மெல்ல நாக்கை நீட்டுகிறார்.

“பேர் சொல்லுங்கோ”

“சீனிவாசரா..”

“அஃபேஸியா ஆர்ட்டீரியோ ஸ்கிலிரோஸிஸ். ஹி இஸ் மச் பெட்டர் நௌ. டோண்ட் ஒர்ரி!”

புதுசாக பல்மனரி இடீமா (pulmonary oedema) என்று ஒன்று சேர்ந்துகொண்டு அவரை வீழ்த்தியது.

சென்ற மாதம் இருபத்திரண்டாம் தேதி பிற்பகல் மூன்று மணிக்கு இறந்து போனார். உடன் அப்போது இருந்த சித்தி “கண் வழியா உசிர்

போச்சு “என்றாள்.

பம்பாயிலிருந்து தம்பி வரக் காத்திருந்து மூன்று பிள்ளைகளும் அவரைச் சுற்றி நின்று கொண்டு அவர் மார்பைக் கண்ணீரால் நனைத்தோம்.

வீட்டுக்குக் கொண்டு வந்ததும் வாசலில் நெருப்புக் கொண்டு வைத்தார்கள். நண்பர்கள் வந்தார்கள். ஆஸபத்திரி வண்டியில் எடுத்துக்கொண்டு

போய் “வீட்டில் ஒருவரில்லை வெட்டவெளியாச்சுதடி காட்டில் எரித்த நிலா கனவாச்சே கண்டதெல்லாம்” என்று முழுமையாக எரித்தோம்.

காலை எலும்புகளைப் பொறுக்கிச் சென்று பவானி போய்க் கரைத்தோம். இந்து பேப்பரில் இன்ஸர்ஷன் கொடுத்தோம்.

“மாலை மலர்ல செய்தி வந்திருந்ததே பார்த்திங்களோ?”

உறவுக்காரர்கள் வந்தார்கள். சினிமாவுக்குப் போனார்கள். வாத்தியார் கருட புராணத்தின் பிரதியை என்னிடம் கொடுத்தார். பிராமண

போஜனம் செய்விக்காதவர்களை எல்லாம் சிரித்துக்கொண்டே கொடுமைப்படுத்திக் கொண்டிருந்தார்கள். ஏதோ ஒரு நதியைக் கடப்பதற்கு

கோதானம் இல்லையென்றால் ஒரு தேங்காய் கிஞ்சித்து ஹிரண்யம்!

அப்பா மரணத்தைப் பற்றி ஒருமுறை சொன்னது ஞாபகம் வருகிறது. "அது ஒரு முற்றுப் புள்ளி. We cease to exist. எபிக்யுரஸ் (Epicurus) சொன்னதை

மறுபடி படி!"

“Death is nothing to us since so long as we exist death is not with us but when death comes, we do not exist”.

ஒன்பதாம் நாள்… பத்தாம் நாள்… பதினோராம் நாள்… பிரேதத்தின் தாகமும் தாபமும் தீருவதற்காக அதன் ரெப்ரசெண்டேடிவ்வாக வந்த “ஒத்தன்”

என்னைப் பார்த்து சிரித்து “நீங்க எழுதின ரத்தத்தின் நிறம் சிவப்பு குங்குமத்தில நன்னா இருக்கு ஸார் அடுத்த தடவை ஒரு ஸோஷல்

தீமா எடுத்துண்டு எழுதுங்களேன்!”

சேலம் கடைத் தெருவில் பத்தாறு வேஷ்டிகளுக்கும சொம்புகளுக்கும் அலைந்தோம். ஸ்ரீரங்கத்திலிருந்து ப்ரபந்த கோஷ்டி வந்து எங்கள் தலையில்

பரிவட்டம் கட்டி நாலாயிரமும் ராமானுஜ நூற்றந்தாதியும் சரம ஸ்லோகமும் சொல்லிவிட்டு – “எனக்கினி வருத்தமில்லை” – இரண்டு மணி

பஸ் பிடித்துப் போனார்கள்.

“அவ்வளவுதாம்பா பிள்ளைகள்ளாம் சேர்ந்துண்டு அவரை பரமபதத்தில ஆசார்யன் திருவடி சேர்த்துட்டேள். இனி அந்த ஆத்மாவுக்கு ஒரு குறையும்

இல்லை! மாசிய சோதம்பத்தை மட்டும் ஒழுங்கா பண்ணிடுங்கோ”.

சுபஸ்வீகாரம். எல்லோரும் பந்தி பந்தியாக சாப்பிடுகிறோம். எட்டணா தட்சணைக்காக வாசல் திண்ணையில் ஒன்பது பேர் காலையிலிருந்து

காத்திருக்கிறார்கள். காஷுவாலிடியில் எனக்கு ட்ரங்க் டெலிபோன் வருகிறது தொடர்கதைக்கு டைட்டில் கேட்டு. பங்களுர் திரும்பி வருவதற்கு

முன் அப்பாவின் அந்த கடைசிக் குறிப்பைப் பார்க்கிறேன்.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB9IyzlwQ1E

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sujatha_Rangarajan

Vaanathai Pola 160

"Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin. And there are many things that don't really end, anyway, they just begin again in a new way. Ends are not bad and many ends aren't really an ending; some things are never-ending." C. JoyBell C.

Madurai police commissioner S Davidson Devasirvatham's keen senses heard the vibrations of his mobile phone as it danced on the glass table next to his bed and picking it up quickly turned to see if his wife Meera had been disturbed by the noise and seeing that she was fast asleep, quickly came out of the bedroom and answered the call.

Sub-Inspector Rajan greeted him, ' Good morning sir. Very sorry to have called you so early, but it could not wait.'

Commissioner Davidson swore in panic, ' does it have anything to do with Minister Kavita Arumugam?'

' No sir. I checked with the security team and she is safe and in her room. But, I have sent another six-member team as a precautionary measure to add another layer of security around her and they are in place already.'

Sighing in relief, Commissioner Davidson replied, ' Thank God she is safe and well done Rajan. Good thinking. Now that she is out of the way and taken care off, what else can be that bad that you had to wake me up at 5.15 in the morning?'

Sub-Inspector Rajan, ' sir, a policeman has been murdered.'

' what? Who is it and from which station, Rajan?'

' Sir, it is not just a constable or even an Inspector but a senior officer.'

Commissioner Davidson slowly sank into the chair and asked, ' Who, Rajan?'

' Superintendent of Police, Airport security, Mr Manohar, sir.'

He took a few quick breaths and felt his panic slowly begin to put its clammy paws around his heart,' SP Manohar, WTF. How and where and any idea as to who killed him?'

' Sir, I am a bit lost for words and I think it is better if you come immediately to the crime scene.'

' Okay, Rajan. Give me a few minutes and I will be ready. By the way, where did this crime take place?'

' East Chitrai Street, sir' Sub-Inspector Rajan answered in a soft and horrified voice.

Commissioner Davidson sprang out of the chair that he had been sitting it and echoed in a loud voice, ' East Chitrai street.'

' Yes sir and facing the East tower of the temple.'

' what do you mean facing? you mean the body has been placed outside the temple door?'

' No sir. It has been left hanging there and....'

' And what, Rajan. For god's sake, just say it man and don't torture and kill me with this suspense sh.t.'

' Sir, the body of SP Manohar is there but it is missing its head.'

Vaanathai Pola 161

The sun rose in the East and just as it began to make its way over the Arabian sea and shine and illuminate the holy land of Madurai, Head constable Kuselan and Constable Paneer heard the tapping noise of a cane on the ground and turned to see the familiar figure of Aghori Baba make his way towards them. Along with him came his companions, five dogs of various shapes and colours but all similar in their character and purpose and which was to protect their blind master.

Both watched as the blind holy man walked slowly with his cane tapping a hypnotic rhythm and with his companions forming a circle around him.

Head constable Kuselan raised his voice and said, ' Baba, please stop and don't come any further for this is a crime scene now.'

Aghori Baba smiled and replied, ' Kuselan, you have been known me for more than a year now and are well aware of my morning routine. So, please, let me get on with it and finish it and I will be on my way.'

Constable Paneer trying to score points with his superior officer, yelled, ' Hey, blind man. Didn't you hear what my senior just requested of you? You better turn back right now or else?'

' Or else, what, Constable Paneer?'

Paneer irritatedly, ' or else I will have to use my police power and my lathi.'

No sooner had he said the words, the five dogs that had been gently walking with their master, suddenly changed character and all of them looked up at the constable who had just threatened their Baba with violence.

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation.

Cynophobia means fear of dogs.

Modern man may think he or she is in control of his environment but that control is only in controlled places such as his house, place of work or a mall etc. But, even an average man can leap out of his skin, pee in his pants on being startled by a spider, lizard or worse a slithering snake. But, most humans still react with great fear when confronted with a dog with its mouth wide open in a growl and clearly in the mood to attack.

Teeth and claws still top the list of fears and it matters not whether it is a lion, leopard or a rabid and angry dog.

Both, Head constable Kuselan and Constable Paneer's legs seemed to freeze in the spot where they stood and they watched with horror and dread as all the five dogs of Aghori Baba slowly began to advance on them and then the dogs split themselves and forming a circle around their target, slowly came closer and began to growl their displeasure at the cops.

Constable Paneer's bladder broke its gates and flowed freely down his pants and it was all he could do to stand and not faint away in fear.

Kuselan gave paneer's head a mighty whack and yelled, ' Ok..li, Panni, Panni. Can't you keep your stupid Gob shut and let me do the talking?'

He whimpered, ' Babaji, please forgive this naive and stupid guy. I apologize on his behalf. Please carry on with your routine and we will not disturb you. Not today and not ever.'

No sooner had he said the words, the five dogs that had been sitting and growling at both of them, got up and padded towards their blind master and formed a circle around him.

The first light of the sun broke its eastern barriers and shot from him as a rain of Golden arrows and streaked into the holy temple of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarer Temple and garlanded the holy shiva linga and bathed it with reverence. Fire garlanding and praying to fire, the first fire.

Aghori Baba raised both his hands over his head and yelled,

தென்னாடுடைய சிவனே போற்றி!

எந்நாட்டவர்க்கும் இறைவா போற்றி!

அண்ணாமலை எம் அண்ணா போற்றி!

கண்ணாரமுதக் கடலே போற்றி.

சீரார்ப்பெருந்துறை நம் தேவனடி போற்றி

ஆராத இன்பம் அருளும் மலை போற்றி

பராய்த்துறை மேவிய பரனே போற்றி

சிராப்பள்ளி மேவிய சிவனே போற்றி

ஆரூர் அமர்ந்த அரசே போற்றி

சீரார் திருவையாறா போற்றி

ஏகம்பத்துறை எந்தாய் போற்றி

பாகம் பெணுரு ஆனாய் போற்றி

தென்தில்லை மன்றினுள் ஆடி போற்றி

இன்றெனக்கு ஆரமுதானாய் போற்றி

குவளைக் கண்ணி கூறன் காண்க அவளுந்

தானும் உடனே காண்க காவாய் கனகத் திரளே போற்றி

கயிலை மலையானே போற்றி போற்றி

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