*From & To Sathish* - Thread 4 - Page 121

Vaanathai Pola 185

The man who was called Aghori Baba was a familiar sight in the areas that surrounded the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple and yet none could exactly say when they had first seen him and his stray dogs for the first time.

Many said with absolute certainty that he had been there for many a year now and some said that they had seen him around the temple for the past few months.

But all agreed that the man was a very quiet, calm person and that he kept to himself and had never been a source of a problem.

Many called him a beggar. Some called him a holy man and again all agreed on one point and that was to give him a wide berth and the reason for that were his dogs and also the strange sense of creepiness and fear that he seemed to evoke in all those who approached him for his blessings or just to chat with him.

But, everyone had seen children boldly go up and play with the dogs and also spend some time chatting with the blind Baba.

And now, with the city of Madurai seething like a dormant volcano that was ready to explode its problems into the air, the blind Baba sat on the mountain in deep contemplation and waited for the villains to make their move and which he knew was going to happen any moment now.

He had no regrets for what had been done and for what was going to be done for in his mind, there was only two things, sins that could be forgiven and let go with a light punishment and sins that were meant to be dealt harshly and with death.

Just 30 km away and in Madurai city, Police Commissioner Davidson stood staring at the silk sarees and jewellery that had been removed from the box and had been laid upon his table.

Madurai Collector Vinay, IAS gingerly picked up and closely examined each piece of jewellery again and again and then slowly placing it back on the table, cursed loudly, expertly switching between both English and Tamil, leaving Davidson to wonder what was scarier, the collector cursing in such foul language or the reason behind the cursing.

He waited for the raving and ranting Collector to calm down although it did sound like the man was lamenting, apologizing rather than venting his anger.

Collector Vinay finally looked at Davidsons with teary eyes, ' do you know to whom these jewels belong to?'

Commissioner Davidson shook his head and Vinay answered his own question, ' These jewels belong to Meenakshi Amman. The ba.t..d was stealing from the Gods themselves.'

' But, Vinay, won't the temple authorities notice the missing jewellery. what about the priests themselves?'

Madurai collector Vinay smiled, ' Commissioner, stop being so naive and stupid. This means all of them are involved in this crime and if Superintendent Manohar who is in charge of Airport security is dead that means he was the last link in this smuggling racket.'

Davidson in a sad voice, ' so, they have been stealing and smuggling out the original jewels and leaving behind forgeries and copies of the originals.'

He looked up with worried eyes, ' Vinay, God knows, how long this had been going on and how much they have stolen until now?'

Collector Vinay spoke angrily, ' Davidson, if SP Manohar's head was left impaled on the gate of Thevar Illam, it surely means that both Jagatratchagan and his father are involved in this matter for nothing can happen without their permission.'

Madurai Police Commissioner Davidson took a deep breath and asked, ' What do we do now and how do we go about handling this case?'

' Carefully and very slowly and by keeping what we know between ourselves for we cannot trust anyone in this matter.'

Staring at the jewels that had once adorned Meenakshi Amman, he questioned pathetically, ' mother, if this can happen to you then what about us? If you cannot protect yourself who will protect us?'

Hearing the knock on the door, Commissioner Davidson said ' enter' and both he and Vinay watched as Deputy Commissioner Karthik entered followed by two other policemen.

' Sir, this is head constable Kuselan and this is constable Paneer' and introduced the two men who were the first to arrive at the crime scene.

Davidson looked at them and the look was more than enough to send shivers and tremors down the spines of Kuselan and paneer.

' Tell me exactly what happened today morning and without leaving out any detail, however small or insignificant it may be.'

Vaanathai Pola 186

Head Constable Kuselan's day had not started well at all and he stood staring at both the Commissioner and Collector and thought to himself, ' I should have been fast asleep in the comfort on my bed and at here I am, stuck in a nightmare and face to face with two of the highest officers in the city and all I can think of right now is rushing to the toilet.'

Commissioner Davidson looked both the Head constable and constable and then pressed a button and spoke into the intercom and requested for five cups of coffees and then requested Vinay to sit down and told Karthik to do the same.

He looked at both his subordinates and said, ' Both of you, sit down and relax' and pointed to the chairs that were in the corner and folding his hands across his broad chest stared at them.

' Head constable Kuselan, tell me about yourself.'

Kuselan gulped nervously for he had no clue as to what to say or why he was even there facing all these scary-looking-higher ranking officers.

The door opened and a tray with cups of coffees was placed by a constable and who made his exit as quietly and discreetly as his entrance had been and Commissioner picked up two cups of coffees and handed it to both Kuselan and Paneer.

The cups rattled and danced on the saucers revealing their nervousness and fear and Davidson seeing this told them both to relax.

' Both of you are cops so please behave like one and stop acting as if you are petty criminals who have been arrested and are under investigation.'

A semblance of calm slowly crept over Head Constable Kuselan but Paneer's cup was still quivering and it trembled in spite of it being held with both his hands.

Kuselan looked at the commissioner, ' sir, I am sorry for this silly exhibition of fear but you have to understand that we are not used to being in the same room with you and the collector.'

Madurai collector Vinay IAS smiled and asked him, ' Mr.Kuselan, why do you have to be scared or nervous if we are here? Aren't we all employees of the same government and public servants.'

Hearing the collectors words, Kuselan stared at him for a second and then looked at Commissioner Davidson and asked softly, ' Iyaa, should I answer the Collector Iyaa's question?'

Davidson nodded and said in an encouraging voice, ' speak frankly and freely, Kuselan.'

Kuselan took a few quick gulps of his coffee and then looked at his cup and slowly got up to his feet and placing the cup in the tray, returned to his chair and looked at the collector.

' Iyaa, this is the first time in my whole life that I have tasted such delicious coffee and also the very first time in my life that I have been served coffee in such a nice cup. This is the first time and maybe the last time that I will have this coffee and also have it served to me by a commissioner himself.'

They all watched his eyes fill with tears and they heard him say softly and sadly, ' This is the first time in my life that anybody has addressed me as Mr.Kuselan.'

Wiping his eyes, he looked at them, ' I am nearly 50 years old and yet I know that I look as if I am 60 or 65 years in appearance. I am a diabetic. I suffer from High Bp and also have ulcer problems and I haven't slept properly in a few weeks.'

Commissioner Davidson looked at him with compassionate eyes, ' Kuselan, it is the same for most of us in the department. You know this, right.'

Kuselan apologized immediately, ' Iyaa, I meant no offence and all I was doing was answering Collector Iyaa's question as to why we are scared and nervous, That's all.'

Commissioner Davidson's eyes had been watching constable Paneer for a long time and now he asked Kuselan, ' what's wrong with him and why is he behaving as if he has seen a ghost?'

All of them saw Head Constable Kuselan smile to himself as if he was recollecting something and then heard him as he spoke, ' Sir, we did not see a ghost but had our own ghosts scared out of us by some dogs near the temple.'

Deputy Commissioner Karthik, who had remained silent until then, reacted angrily, ' arent you ashamed to say to us that some dogs scared both of you? What kind of policemen are you?'

Head Constable Kuselan nodded, ' maybe sir but then these are not your ordinary stray dogs but dogs who accompany the blind beggar Aghori Baba.'

Karthik angrily, ' idiot, going on about dogs and a blind beggar.'

Commissioner Davidson calmed him down, ' Mr.Karthik, patience man. Let him finish what he has to say.'

Turning to Head constable Kuselan, ' what is this about this blind beggar and his dogs and when did this happen and why haven't you had the dogs captured by the blue cross-society?''

Kuselan quickly replied, ' Sir the dogs have never attacked anybody or threatened anybody and they do that only when they feel their master is threatened. I know this beggar very well. It just so happened that today of all days, this stupid Paneer threatened the baba with his lathi and that is why the dogs got all riled up.'

' You mean this blind man was there near the crime scene?'

' Yes sir. But, he was coming towards us when we told him to stop for he was getting closer to the crime scene. But, he did not listen and insisted on saying his prayers and doing his rituals.'

Commissioner Davidson looked at Deputy commissioner and said, ' Mr.karthik, go find this man and bring him here and take a few dog catchers with you just in case his dogs pose a problem and if they act funny and try to attack, put them down with force but only if you have to and use force only as a last resort.'

Vaanathai Pola 187

Kavita was about to place the spoon that held a piece of Sambhar vadai into her mouth when a movement at the far corner and entrance of the restaurant caught her eye and saw him walk towards her.

A tall man middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair in his hair and in his moustache and dressed in a grey safari suit that conveyed to everyone else in the world that he was some sort of security officer and a high ranking one.

But, she knew who he was and slowly placing the spoon back into the bowl that held the sambhar vadai, thought, ' If he is going to look as hot as this, twenty years from now, I cannot wait so long, god help me.'

The police commandos who were in charge of Minister Kavita Arumugam's security watched with cautious eyes from a distance and saw the man stop at the table and salute the minister.

They only saw him salute and saw her nod her head in return and did not hear what she said to him but it was enough to make the grey-haired man blush furiously and reply, ' Don't play with fire for you will surely get your not only your hands but your delicate insides burnt.'

The reason for him to say that were her thoughts and which had been delivered with a properly poised face and in a prim voice, ' I wish I could unzip and take your big c..k in my mouth and suck you dry and then bend over while you f..k me on this very table.'

Perfectly aware that they were being watched, Kavita acted perfectly and whispered words that were only heard by Radhu, ' oh, like how you burnt me last night and that too several times. I don't mind doing that, again, and again and, every day and every night of my life and I am sure that I will never get tired of it.'

Radhu smiled even though smiling was painful with his false moustache and sat down in an adjoining table next to her and did that to follow protocol and to maintain his secrecy.

The Sub-Inspector who was in charge of her security team approached her and informed her that an old man, an advocate was waiting to see her and that he had been sent by Jagatratchagan.

Kavita thanked him and requested for the visitor to be brought to the table and stood up and waited as the old man came towards her and then folding her hands greeted him with respect and asked him to be seated.

' Sir, would you care to join me for breakfast?'

Venugopal Iyengar thanked her and said that a cup of coffee would be good and then continued, ' Today is Pradosham and that too an Amavasai Pradosham, so, I fast until evening and only eat after the pooja is finished.'

Kavita looked at him with both surprise and wonder and Venugopal seemingly understanding her thought said, ' I am over eighty years old, madam. I started this fasting for Pradoshams and other holy days when I was barely into my teens and have not stopped till now.'

He smiled happily and said, ' Madam, it was very difficult when I was a lot younger and when I was really active but has become a lot easier now that my body requires very little sustenance to keep it going.'

' Sir, Your client could have sent someone else or simply made a call and informed me rather than tax an elderly person like you. Please accept my apologies for you have come on my behalf.'

Venugopal Iyengar thanked the waiter who placed the coffee on his table and replied, ' Madam, Mr.Jagatratchagan and his father have been my clients from the time of my father and has looked after me and my family very well. I know that they are a bit of rough and tough creatures but have always been very fair to me and my late father.'

Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of Kavita's mobile phone and she saw it was Commissioner Davidson calling and answered it.

' Sir, sollunga.'

' Ma'am, something terrible has happened in the city and I will go over it when I see you later in the evening. It involves Jagatratchagan and his house that are now under police protection and also surveillance.'

Kavita stopped herself short of asking why he had used both protection and surveillance in the same sentence and instead informed him of Venugopal Iyengar's presence at her table.

Commissioner Davidson told Kavita that the old man would give her glimpse into what had happened and also why her meeting was being postponed to the next day or might just not happen at all.

' Ma'am, it is a very confusing and fluid situation and I am not sure what is going to happen next. If his son Selvam's death was a deadly and unbearable blow then today's incident is maybe far worse and more liable to blow the lid of this city.'

He quickly told her what had happened and how they had found Superintendent Manohar's body and decapitated head but chose to leave out what they had found near the gate of Thevar Illam.

' So, I think it would be better if you stay in the room and not venture into the city and if you do plan to go out anywhere then please do with your security team for I cannot stress how dangerous this whole situation in Madurai is.'

Kavita thanked Commissioner Davidson and ending the call, looked at Venugopal Iyengar who smiled and said, ' I gather that you are aware of the situation and also that the meeting slated for today is postponed.'

He stood up and bent his head in respect and then whispered in a very soft voice that only she could hear, ' I think they are planning something terrible and that is the extent of my knowledge about their affairs.'

Kavita thanked him and after both had wished each other the best, she stood watching the old advocate leave the restaurant and slowly sat down and looked at Radhu and said, ' Change in plans.'

Vaanathai Pola 188

Embracing a new opportunity with every ounce of enthusiasm you have can have many advantages. One, it presents an opportunity for pleasure allowing natural endorphins to provide you with a healthy buzz. Two, it promotes optimism which is the best antidote to almost everything. Third, it helps you live in the moment so you are able to appreciate and fully participate in the present. Fourth, it provides you with an opportunity to savour your good fortune so that in less fortunate times you can recall this great moment. For all of these reasons, learn to embrace your good fortune, face it with enthusiasm, and give it all that you've got!

For Deputy Commissioner Karthik, Madurai was only his second posting since he had passed out from the police academy with flying colours and as the topper of his 2019 batch. But, all that enthusiasm and confidence had taken a dent and beating when he had been forced to spend a few months in Chennai, doing nothing useful or shuttling but shuttle between the prisons and administration department where all he had done, had been to look at old files of cold cases when he should have been out in the field doing his stuff.

Finally, after a few months and tired and dejected of what he had been forced to do, he had personally made a request to the Chennai Commissioner Vishwanathan who indulged him, something he was not known to do and had forwarded the request to the Chief Ministers office and had Karthik transferred to Madurai.

Just before leaving to Madurai for his new posting, he had gone to visit the Commissioner who had looked Karthik right in the eye and told him, ' Young man, being ambitious, enthusiastic, confident and career-oriented is all well and good but you also have to know the line and when to cross it and when not to cross it. Donning the uniform of a police officer does not mean that you have been given wings to fly but a reminder that we are here to serve the public and protect their interests. So, please remember that there are some lines we cannot and should not cross for it means a whole lot of pain. Always give diplomacy and reasoning, ample time to do their job, and if that too fails, then back away and let your seniors handle it. We are only here to maintain the law and enforce it and always remember that we are not the law itself. '

Karthik had stood up to leave when Commissioner Vishwanathan had given him a final piece of advice, ' Remember Karthik when the shit hits the ceiling, you will be left standing all alone and will have to face all the crap on your own.'

Karthik had thanked the Commissioner humbly for taking time to advise him and promising to heed it travelled to Madurai. In just a few days, he realized how valuable the commissioner's advice had been for unlike Chennai, the temple city was a law onto herself and almost all people he had met through his work had behaved as if they were all mighty kings and emperors of the Pandyan and Chola dynasties.

Caste and politics had the city in a stranglehold and was choking it slowly to its demise and in just a few months time he had come face to face with many thugs in disguise and who passed themselves off as an MLA, MP, Councillor and some ridiculously unnameable petty postings in the both the ruling and opposition parties and had experienced many difficult humiliating moments.

But, thanks to Madurai Commissioner Davidson who had taken on the role of a mentor, he had somehow managed to walk through the minefield that was Madurai and was now settling in and doing his job really well.

And now this murder of Superintendent Manohar had happened and as far as DC Karthik was concerned, he knew in his mind that his time had come and that he had to grab this opportunity and solve the case and use it cover himself with glory and fame.

He told both his Sub-Inspectors who worked under him, ' Guys, the sky is the limit. One of our men has been brutally murdered and left hanging in the public. We have to hunt down those who did that to him and if we find the killers, then imagine where it will take us.'

Inhaling deeply, he sighed happily, ' promotions and medals for all of us. If I am going up, then you both will follow me as Inspectors and who knows what after that.'

His words only served to charge up and infect both Sub-Inspector Anil Kumar and Sub-Inspector Kailasam and both nodded, ' sir, we will get those bas...ds and we will get our promotions.'

Vaanathai Pola 189

Kavita explained to Radha Krishnan what Commissioner Davidson had just informed her and Radhu from the next table politely told her, ' maybe it is better that you stay in your room and not venture out of it for we don't know what or who is behind that cops death.'

' I guess you are right as is the Commissioner but then we will not be venturing into the city for I have another idea as to where to go and spend our day' and she smiled and said, ' this place where we are going is very safe and out of bounds to the public.'

She caught his look, ' I know but then you forget that I am a cabinet minister and have certain privileges and power that I can wield and wield in a good way' and saying this she quickly made a call to a person and spoke to him for a few minutes and after the call was over, looked at Radhu and said, ' We leave in twenty minutes for that is the time it's going to take for this person, our guide to reach the hotel.'

Getting up she told Radhu, ' We have a walk of ten or more km through a thick forest. So, change into better shoes like I am going to do.'

Radhu stood up and waited for her to leave and then slowly made his way to the security team and informed the Sub-inspector that they were going out and asked them to be ready.

' Sir, any idea if the madam is going out and if that is so, then she is planning to go?'

He looked at Radhu, ' sir, I have to report to the Commissioner with constant updates and also have to make security arrangements in advance.'

' Sorry, like you I too am in the dark and I just follow her orders and drive her where she wants to go. But, not to worry for we only have to wait a little while for the minister called somebody and that person will be here shortly.'

The Sub-Inspector looked at the minister's private security guy and wondered if he should or could even ask the question that had occupied his mind for the past few hours.

Radhu in his new Gray avatar as a Private and personal security man for Kavita saw the man clearly struggling and asked him, ' what is it that is bugging you so badly? '

The Sub-Inspector smiled shyly and finally mustered up some little bravado and asked, ' Sir, your name Pandyan I know but what does Odyssey mean sir and why are you named Odyssey Pandyan?'

Radha Krishnan was totally thrown off balance by this vague question when in fact he had been expecting the cop to gossip about politics and career-oriented topics and burst laughing and looked at the Sub-Inspector and opened his mouth to answer when he realized that it was, in fact, a really difficult question and that his false name was not so false at all and held so much in its depths.

Radhu aka Odyssey Pandyan's face visibly softened, relaxed and even went a bit sad as he recollected and began to explain the meaning of the word Odyssey.

' Odyssey is a Greek word which means a long wandering or voyage to reach a destination but before which you have to suffer a lot of misfortunes and trials.'

Radhu's eyes caught the subtle shift in the Sub-Inspectors eyes and knew that somebody was behind him and turned to see it was Kavita and immediately he assumed his stiff posture and followed protocol.

Kavita had heard a bit of what he had said and wanting to know more requested him, ' Mr.Odyssey Pandyan, please, finish what you were just saying.'

Radhu nodded with respect and continued, ' Odyssey is the tale of a great warrior called Ulysses who fought against the Trojans in the Trojan war and who wandered for twenty years before he could return to his wife who he loved very much and more than his life. It is a love story and also a story about war and life and death but the love that Ulysses had for his wife is the core of the story.'

The Sub-Inspector nodded wisely and said, ' true sir. no love then no life sir. All of us have to experience love at least once sir and it is okay to have our hearts broken sir for it is worth it sir.'

Saying this he wandered away giving them space and privacy and Minister Kavita looked at Odyssey Pandyan aka Radha Krishnan, ' you are my Ulysses for whom I had been waiting for so long to come back home.'

He looked at her, ' Yes. I am home, and I felt it in my soul the moment I met you and our eyes connected in that Odyssey book store and I knew then that I too had a soul that I could go home to.'

Vaanathai pola 190

Dr.Aparna, Jeeva's gynaecologist took her time and read the pulses patiently and looked at the emergency room doctor, ' She is fine and so are the babies.'

The doctor by now was totally perplexed and confused and gave Aparna the readout from Jeeva's blood test ' the sugar levels were low, dangerously low and there was just a feeble pulse.'

She looked down at Jeeva's peaceful face and said, ' even her skin was pale, a deathly white and you know what that means, right doctor?'

Aparna raised her eyebrows and replied, ' I am not doubting you even for a moment but whatever it was it seems to have passed on. Let her sleep and we will make plans for the delivery once she wakes up and is ready and up to it.'

Both the doctors came out wearing pleasant smiles and Aparna told both sets of parents that Jeeva and the twins were stable and doing great.

Kamakshi who had been a nervous wreck nearly collapsed to the ground and was caught in time by Shaktivel who helped her sit down on the metal chair and sitting down Kamakshi cursed and her cursing caught the attention of both Shaktivel and Valliammai who looked at her with worry and asked her what was wrong.

' I am okay just these metal chairs are so cold to the touch' and realizing that she had just referred to her backside quickly turned away and mumbled an apology.

Valliammai sitting down next to her, threw her arm around Kamakshi and declared loudly, ' I have said this many a time and I will say it again and again. Shakti and me not only got a daughter-in-law but we also got a sister-in-law who is not only a great cook but one who has the ability to make light of all problems and instantly reducing our burden and sorrow. For that, I am thankful and grateful to God.'

Shaktivel asked Manigandan if he was comfortable or if he wanted to return home.

' Ille, Shakti, I think I will wait for Raman to arrive and maybe then I will return home.'

Kamakshi leaned into Valli, ' what just happened with Jeeva?' Not only had she passed out but she looked pale and not her usual self which she is now.'

Valliammai tried her best and failing, ' I am not sure what happened but I am sure that something miraculous happened the moment she was taken into the room.'

Kamakshi looked at her with confusion, ' But, they did nothing. She was not given any treatment and yet she is perfectly fine right now. How is that even possible?'

Shaktivel joined in and added his thoughts, ' Whatever the danger was, it is gone now and I am just glad that Jeeva and our children are safe and out of danger.'

Manigandan looked at all of them, ' did any of you see a kid enter the room?'

All three turned and said, ' kid, enter the room? No.'

Kamakshi hurriedly asked her husband, ' mani, ennada solre? what kid, and when did you see him enter Jeeva's room?'

' While you were in a huddle and talking to the duty doctor.'

Kamakshi knew better and yet she forced herself to ask the question, ' Mani, are you sure about a kid going into the room and are not just imagining it?'

Manigandan shook his head with a smile, ' No, I am not imagining anything and my arthritis has only crippled my joints and not my brain or vision.'

Valliammai asked, ' how old was the kid and what was he doing all alone and why did he enter our child's room?'

Manigandan replied, ' you were saying something about miracles and I am saying that tiny child was the miracle.'

Pada raksha, paduka and Adi seruppale

I am a beach walker and have never been a beachcomber although I confess that I do sometimes stop in my morning walk and look at objects on the shore with interest and curiosity.

If you have ever been to the beach, you know that the most common things that you will find on the shore are shells of different shapes, sizes and colours and bits and pieces of other creatures that once dwelled in the sea.

You will also find dead fish, turtles, eels and other strange and creepy creatures curled up in death and washed up on to the shore.

Yes, I do place my hands on my hips like the superstar and look at the sea and ask her, ' why don't you leave them in peace in their deaths rather than cast them on the shore?'

Yes, you guessed right and always the answers have been large waves splashing surf into my eyes and soaking my shoes wet and making the walk home a miserable feat.

Feet. Yes, many a time I have stopped and looked at tiny shoes, slippers and wondered who had once worn them and why only one was here and have combed desperately for the other one.

Shoes and slippers and always alone, even in death. Cinderella, not in boss.

These solo slippers and shoes make me recollect about a strange and weird action and that is " ADI SERUPALE."

You will have to go back to 359 AD for the first official and documented incident of slipper throwing when Constantius II, Roman Emperor, was giving a speech from a small hill to a group of Limigantes to ask for their loyalty when he was hit by a shoe thrown by one of them. The thrower shouted 'Marha, marha!' in a "signal of war."

But, we Indians are and have been familiar with footwear for it is instilled in our Hindu culture and in our epics.

In Sanskrit, Footwear is called Padaraksha. Pada means feet and Raksha mean protection and the style of slippers that Lord Rama wore is called Padukas and that section of the story is called " Paduka Padalam."

It is immediately one of the most interesting, intriguing part of Ramayana and vastly superior to the other portions and even overshadows Lord Hanuman's love for Lord Rama.

In this part, as you all know, Prince Bharata, younger brother of Lord Ram comes to the forest and begs him to come back to Ayodhya and be crowned as the rightful king.

When Lord Ram refuses, Bharata begs for Ram's Padukas and carrying it on his head returns back home and placing them on a throne rules by proxy.

If that is the ultimate end of all that is right, just, noble and fair, return to now, the present day and recollect how many times we have witnessed chappals and shoes being flung at each other and that too in the Parliament, in Delhi and in our state capitals.

Padukas enge and Adi seruppale enge.

Maybe, our representatives in the parliament are trying to emulate Prince Bharata's actions and are trying to donate their slippers and voluntarily and are doing it with great enthusiasm by flinging it in their colleague's faces and that too repeatedly.

Many years ago and back when I was still riding a two-wheeler, I came out of the temple and stood and stared at my slipper. Yes, a slipper as in single and not in the plural.

One slipper remained and my first thought was, ' O..a, who is crazy enough to steal just one slipper?'

I stood staring at the single slipper and even thought of wearing just that and do what. hobble, limp and then decided that it was okay and walked away.

The next move was to fit a side box for my bike and use it to keep my slippers and slipper safe from thieves.

That my bike itself was stolen is another story. God, they somehow manage to screw your life.

Anyway, why footwear for both respect and for hate is simply because of the feet.

Respect when it belongs to someone wise and old and hate when you fling it at someone's face and one cannot be more obvious what he means to convey with that action.

But coming back to the feet and our country's tradition of touching the feet of our elders and those who we think are worthy of it.

Firstly, touching feet of elders is a form of pranam (greeting). Namaste is another popular form of greeting somebody. Foot touching, however, is a form for the young to greet the elder.

Secondly, the saying “every time you bow you receive a blessing” is a part of Hindu philosophy. Certainly, the elders bless the younger one when the latter bends to touch their feet. “Sada Khush Raho” (Stay content forever) or more traditionally “Ayushman Bhava” (May you live long) is a common response to the traditional act.

Therefore, while it may seem odd to the other cultures when they witness this act, it is eternal to the Hindu culture. Of course, like any other ritual, touching elder’s feet should not be imposed upon the young person, rather, should come from within.

The Right Way of Touching Feet Of Elders

To understand this, we must first know the right way of touching one’s feet. Bend the upper half of your body, ideally without bending your knees, and stretch both your arms – with your head between them – to touch the feet of the elder. Obvious that it is, the fingertips of your left hand should touch the right foot of the elder and your right hand should be on their left foot. The elder person should now touch the top of your head with their right hand.

The Scientific explanation of touching feet Of Elders

The nerves that start from our brain spread across all your body. These nerves or wires end in the fingertips of your hand and feet. When you join the fingertips of your hand to those of their opposite feet, a circuit is immediately formed and the energies of two bodies are connected. Your fingers and palms become the ‘receptor’ of energy and the feet of other person become the ‘giver’ of energy. Usually, the person of whose feet you are touching is either old or pious.

When they accept your respect which came from your reduced ego (and is called your shraddha) their hearts emit positive thoughts and energy (which is called their karuna) which reaches you through their hands and toes. In essence, the completed circuit enables flow of energy and increases cosmic energy, switching on a quick connect between two minds and hearts. To an extent, the same is achieved through handshakes and hugs. Ever wondered why you suddenly feel better after a firm handshake or an affectionate hug? Now you know. You should feel the same after touching feet of a good soul, provided you do it the right way.

Some schools of thought say older people absorb sins from younger people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LVjyWyORNM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAOUmnSs5VA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V7lUd_6U8c

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

Private priorities

Read the lines for my scene and rehearsed it and readied myself. A few scenes later the same situation and same old lines were handed to me and I looked at the director and he said, ' Do what you do and have to do', and so I did and which was improvise and also change the words but not the sense and the meaning of the words.

As always and as usual, my eyes came open and my mind bright, ready and wide awake and the time was 1.30 am, today and I went about what most of the world does after 4.00 am or 5.00 am.

On most days, it is bearable but somedays the whispers turns into a persistent and nagging voice that soon evolves from squeaking into a loud roar.

' Hi.All well.'

' Yes.'

' So, back to the road and back to the beach and the sun.'

' Yes.'

' Don't you get tired of it?'

' No.'

' But, same road, same shoes, same routine and same old stuff.'

' so?'

' I mean it is all the same and every day is just another day.'

' So?'

' Do something different? Try out something else?'

' Okay.Like what.'

' I don't know.'

' You don't and yet here you are and forcing your thoughts and feelings.'

' Hey, come on, I am doing it just to make your life better.'

' Better than it already is?'

' Yes. Buddy, whether you know it or not, time is ticking and the wick is lit for the bomb?'

' Wow! wick and bomb and that too to describe my death or exit from this stage? nice.'

' Listen, you have but this one life as yourself and God only knows what next after that is done?'

' So, what?'

' so, make it all worthwhile. eat, drink be merry. Travel, read and follow your dreams.'

' I am already doing that and I am content with that.'

' Content?'

' Okay, I am happy and satisfied with what I am and where I am.'

' But, what have you done with your life? What have you achieved? fame, name and wealth?'

' No, and yet I am okay with that.'

' WTF is wrong with you?'

' Nothing is wrong with me and all those things you hold so dear mean nothing to me. never did and never will.'

' Buddy, I have to say this and I say it even though I am the other part of you and I am sorry if it offends you.'

' I am waiting.'

' You are so boring, so bloody boring.'

' So?'

' F..k you and your so's.'

' Okay. have a great day and take your time and don't come back too soon.'

So, I shut my other side and the other part of my imaginary soul and went about doing my thing.

' Holy crap! Satish, you talk to yourself?'

' Yes and so?'

' Buddy, there is something wrong with you?'

' Who better to talk to than one's own self?'

Who better to listen, talk, convey share, debate, evaluate and evolve and who in the end is your own solo and personal companion if not your own inner voice and inner friend?

Instead of loving yourself, it should be learning about yourself. Learning about our own limitations and shortcomings rather waste time on other's limitations and shortcomings and finding fault with them.

Barter system worked well in ancient times.

We can find parallels with that ancient system of doing business for in the end love and marriage is a form of business and partnership and in which one is the financial director and the other is the technical director.

I am this and I am bringing this to the table of our life.

There is no such thing as perfection and will never be for every moment is a fluid and dynamic and evolving and shape-shifting moment.

You are not the same what you were yesterday or even now after reading this for our thought process changes and we weigh and look at things differently.

Inner voice first. Outer voice second. I could go on and on but I am sure you got me.

Deadly matters

What now Satish?

Photos, I say, goddamn photos they click of us and that remain etched in people's memories even after they are dead. Some photos are so bad that they continue to haunt us even after we ourselves are dead.

To top all that, you have camera phones popping out on and in any given occasion and capture you in all your morning or tired glory and forever.

Even the dead are not shown properly and sometimes they use such bad photos for the Obituary posters that a passerby will actually mutter, ' Glad you are dead' and rush off from the place.

Bad photos were okay in those black and white days when on occasions like weddings and receptions, photos were clicked and I bet all of us have one or more photos where we have been caught stuffing our faces or in some lechy and leery expression that has a perfectly innocent meaning.

I remember getting my bike drivers licence and also my car driving licence and it was all okay for we had to supply the photos ourselves and so we did and we did that by heading to the nearest studio.

I got my photos from Guhan studios. (Ennavo AVM studios mathiri solre)

Then all that changed in the late 90s with the advent of the Voters ID and bad photos started then and continues to this day with the Aadhar card photo.

My voter's id was delivered after a month, and I stood holding it, staring at it and trying to convince myself that the scary and creepy looking person in the id was me and also at the same time tried hard to recollect if I had done something wrong while posing for the photo for it to have come out like that for sincerely I felt that it rightfully belonged in the house of horrors.

'Was the photographer sitting down or had he shot if from below or had he shot it from behind some warped glass' I wondered aloud, staring at my voter's id or had I suffered a sudden onset of some kind of demented behaviour.

No, I think that the photos are all taken properly but the computer guy with a bee in his bum does some kind of psycho morphing to all our pics and hence our bad ids.

But what about the pictures in the posters and also why do people say, ' He or She passed away'.

Ironic that so many fail in all departments while alive and still get a pass in our final getaway.

My humble request to all my friends who are reading this, please remember when I die to use a good photo of mine and preferably a portfolio shot done in the 20th century by G.Venket Ram when I was young and had a lot of hair.

Do ghosts of people who passed on stand and stare at goats eating their posters and ruin their only chance at stardom and popularity, even if it was only for a few days.

Maybe, in hindsight, it is better to say he or she passed on, moved on to a better place then say " he died. Sethutaar or worse ticket vangitaar".

Passing on, moving on sounds better for it gives hope of the next class, promotion and a better world.

WTF! What if we one get demoted. OMG, is there something like " Moved back, passed back".

Maybe, for I am sure that there do exist and did exist people who were so bad that even heaven and hell passed them back and moved them back to, wait a sec, where to. Oh no! back to Earth.

Thaalatuthe indrum Rajavin raagangal

That opening vocal bit in this mix is by S.Janaki for the film Annakili and anyone hearing it knew that they were experiencing something new and very different from the music of MSV, G.K.venkatesh and K.V.Mahadevan that they had been used to.

I used to pause, stop and try to understand what the singer was wailing about for it touched me in many different ways.

Music, movies, books, painting, pictures all reach out and touch us in an invisible way and still, we feel it for it reflects our own sadness, happiness, loss and burdens.

That's why we have our own favourite songs, movies, books and people that we fly back to and return back to their open arms for in that space we are one, them and us.

Music more than anything brings tears to my eyes and worms its way into my core again and again and whether we know it or not, our own soul and life rhythms are tied with the rhythms of composers.

The opening bit like I already mentioned is by s.janaki for Annakili. The second is by my favourite TMS for the film Thyagam. The 3rd bit is by Yesudas for Mullum Malarum. The 4th humming bit is again by Yesudas for Agal vVlakku and my all-time favourite piece and song. The 5th bit is for Bathrakali and the last bit is and you guessed it right is for the film Johnny and sung by Jency.

For me, these songs that start with just a vocal bit is like the calm before the storm and the explosion of violins, flutes and guitars and they all come together in an orchestra of melodies.

I might sound cliched, old, boring but take your time and try to recollect a few songs from the last few years and try singing them and I can tell you boldly that you will fail.

Somehow, Tamil music, Tamil films, lyrics and dialogues have all slipped into an abyss and which I fear they might not crawl out from.

NEW GEN, NEXT GEN. WTF.

One has to go back and turn the pages to the early 21st century to find a decent song with good lyrics and if one goes back then it is back into time and back into the golden age of Tamil cinema and music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnCge4x-df0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg_ejTHZRp8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e17naoTrmE

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GNXi6UgZEo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyQ_5C6iU2o