*From & To Sathish* - Thread 4 - Page 122

Films are not just films. The medium of films, television are not just entertainment but the very foundations of the modern world.

Back in the 20th century and starting from the 1980's to 1990's, Television played a huge part in spreading what is called Indian culture, its heritage and the vastness and also its depths through two mega hit serials called " Ramayan" and " Mahabharat."

But, for a whole generation of Indians who attained freedom from the British in 1947 films and their music were the only balm and the only remedy for a hard life.

A film however good and melodramtic is over in a few hours and is left behind in the movie hall once the viewer returns home. But, not the songs and their lyrics.

I am a late 60's child and even then when in Bangalore, I grew up hearing the strains of mostly Hindi and Tamil music and that tryst with them both continued when I arrived in Madras now called Chennai.

I was born in an area that was just a rung or two above a lower middle-class family and the house I grew up in was maybe about 600 feet and we had two or three small bulbs for lighting and an old rusty fan that had given up its ghost long ago and still managed to rotate and generate wind that was less powerful than what my tiny lungs could muster up.

So, starting from 7.00 pm, straw mats would appear out on the courtyard outside each house and a single sheet and pillow would bear the brunt of a whole family.

Like the saying that all are equal in death, our courtyard was the one which made us all equal and in sleep and in the darkness of the night.

The courtyard was also a connecting point for the two streets that ran parallel and only rarely did anybody uses it to cross from one to another and the reason for that was my late dad.

In those times, there used to be very little lighting in our streets and even the small houses in our courtyard had maximum one or two bulb connections and no, no tube lights back then.

No television to sit in front of and so after dark and come 7.00 or 7.30 pm it was dinner and out in the courtyard and lay down on the mat and stare into the dark sky.

Then, one or two of the people who lived there would switch on the radios and let it sing to us and lull us to sleep.

Starting from the age of 3 and until 5 and after dark, the radio was the only source of entertainment and our only connection to the outside world.

For the 20 to 30 odd members sleeping on our mats with the night sky as our roof and the stars as our torches, the music from those tiny transistor as the radio was called back then was our only source of music and life.

I remember lying awake and listening to Rafi, Kishore, TMS, P.B.srinivas sing to us and perform for us and pat us to sleep with their melodies.

But, a few songs have stuck with me from back then and from my straw mat days and they still do to this day and will do until.....

Some melodies stick with you for life for they carry a special message, a special bond that sticks to your mind and more importantly to your soul.

I used to wait anxiously for one particular song to be played every day and was never disappointed for it would come on and it used to come just as sleep used to wrap its hands and wings around me and I used to sleepily open my eyes and smile and slowly drift back to sleep.

I still do although I don't have the need for a radio for my soul and my dreams do that job for me and pat me to sleep.

Hope, faith and devotion

A few hard and a few light showers over the past week has transformed the beach.

Brown sand with white shells for crystals and diamonds, the shore and the area around it lay bare, barren and lifeless.

Then came the rain from the heavens and sought the earth mother with its life and together over the next few days created a spectacle, a miracle, and a treat for the eyes and for all souls

brown barren sand-filled land that had dominated the shore now lay under the cover of a green garden and an emerald quilt

Weeds, unpalatable and hardy and yet full of life, sprang up like little children and in just three days popped open their pink buds.

What can do you do when you witness this unfolding miracle but fall to your knees and feel the leaves and soft and tender pink flowers and look up at the sky and wonder.

' If you can transform brown and barren land with your few showers, why not do something about these two-legged species and rain on them some concoction and make them better, inside and outside.'

' My God, Man discovered how to fly just a century ago and in the past few days, two space crafts have been launched towards mars and are right now steaking to meet it.

Mars, so easy to say that name of the fourth planet and the last planet on which one can plant his feet on firm ground and after that, it is all Gas and ice.

One of the countries whose spacecraft is heading to Mars as we speak is China but hold on to your seats for the other country who has sent their own craft to the Red Planet is none other than UAE.

Ennathu, UAE, Adhu enga irukku.

'Dubai theriyum ille?'

'Aamma'

' Antha ooru thaan.'

UAE aka The United Arab Emirates have with the help of the Japanese launched a space probe to mars and their mission is called the Hope mission or AL-AMAL in Arabic.

The robotic probe is sent to Mars under the Emirates Mars Mission has been named "Hope" or Al-Amal as it is intended to send out a message of optimism to millions of Arabs across the globe and encourage them towards innovation. In April 2015, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai invited the Arab world to name the probe. The name was selected after thousands of suggestions were received, as it describes the core objective of the mission. The name of the probe was announced in May 2015 and since then the mission is sometimes referred to as the "Hope Mars Mission"

Hope, yes Hope is such an important thing right now in today's Corona stricken world and also in today's modern world for without Hope, all is lost.

I think, hope and wishes, go hand in hand with praying.

I hope today everyone is okay and I wish everyone a good day. See, hopes and wishes have indeed become a prayer and right now all of us need more hope, wishes and prayers for us to navigate and negotiate our way through this mess that COVID-19 has created.

It would be such a beautiful and heavenly sight if peace reigned all over the world and we could all exist without the fear of wars, terrorist attacks.

It would indeed be a Utopia and it would be like that Ancient and beautiful saying " Heaven on earth" if all of humanity think as one, exist as one regardless of religion, faith, beliefs, colour and creed.

Maybe, one day in the future long after all of us are gone, a state like that might exist and I hope and wish it and pray for it from my soul and hope that it is not too late and that time has indeed run out.

But, Hope remains as always and that hope in a higher power is what makes us go on every day and breathe and live and walk on this path called life and existence.

So with hope, belief and faith, I wish you and Nikhil a beautiful day. All the best. Be well.

Kishore-tere bina zindagi nahin

Good morning. I wish you all a beautiful day.

Once there was a voice, a voice which sang for all of us and though the man is no more, he still sings for all of us and still makes us laugh and cry and feel so much.

If Kishore Kumar never yodelled or sang, Bollywood would have been a sadder, sorrier place for it. Kishore has managed to stay a fan favourite years after his death. His songs are where we go when we are in love or heartbroken, when we want to understand life or to forget it, and when we just yodel a little.

However, not many know that Kishore – born Abhas Ganguly – would never have sang if elder brother Ashok Kumar had his way. Ashok was a big star when Kishore was still a child. And if you have heard Kishore’s number ‘Paanch Rupaiya Baara Aana’ in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, you would remember how scared and in awe of his elder brother – played in the film by Ashok — he was. That translated to real life too.

A fan of KL Saigal, Kishore followed his elder brothers Ashok and Anoop in the industry. While Kishore was aping the style of Saigal and wanted to make it big as a singer in the industry, Ashok was adamant that he will act and not sing.With Talat Mehmood, Mukesh and Mohammed Rafi established as singers, Ashok felt Kishore would not be able to make his mark. He was also worried that Kishore didn’t have any formal training in singing or music.

However, Kishore disliked acting. His first few films flopped and then he decided to act so badly that nobody will cast him. Kishore’s decision to perform badly became his calling card and audience’s started loving him for it.

A hero who made the people laugh as opposed to principled and romantic actors of the age – that was Kishore Kumar for fans. Kishore’s big break in music came when SD Burman realised his potential.

Burman visited Kishore’s house when he was in bath, yodelling. After he finished bathing, Burman told Kishore to stop aping Saigal and develop his own style. He even gave a name to Kishore’s yodelling: Gala tod kar gaana.

When Mohammed Rafi Became A Playback Singer For Kishore Kumar

The duo that has always been compared to who has had the best voice Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar the two legendary singers of the industry also have worked together giving us a number of perfect vocals to remember by.

It was known that both Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar had unique God-given extraordinary voice that gave memorable songs and mesmerized the people all over the country, as well as the world they were the two vital players of Hindi film music without whom in the cinema and music, was unthinkable of.

Together both Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar have worked in different ways. They have sung almost 30 songs and Mohammed Rafi also got to sing for Kishore Kumar in one of his movies.

Mohammed Rafi got to sing for Kishore Kumar’s song Man Mora Baawara for the movie Raagini. Also other movies like Baagi, Shehzaada, and Shararat where Kishore Kumar was an actor. They were a perfect fit and have given us many amazing songs to last a lifetime.

Some Anecdotes About Kishore's Quirky Behaviour

Here are some anecdotes of his quirky behaviour. Kishore was paranoid about not being paid for his singing. At recordings, he would only sing after getting a nod from his secretary.

Once, he turned up at a shoot with only half his face made up since the producer had paid him only half his dues.

Another time, he reported with half his head and moustache shaven because the producer had paid less than half of what he owed him.

On the sets of the film Bhai Bhai, he refused to act as the producer owed him Rs 5000 (about 90$ today). He was pursuaded by Ashok kumar to start shooting. After the shoot started, he would pause after every few steps, saying " Paan Hazaar Rupaiya" (5000 rupees) and do a somersault. As soon as he reached the other end of the floor, he ran out of the studio and hopped into his car ordering his driver to drive away.

Still another time, one producer R.C.Talwar did not pay him dues amounting to Rupees 8000, inspite of Kishore's repeated requests. So, one fine day he visited Talwar's residence in the morning and started shouting 'Hey Talwar, dede mere aath hazar rupaiya' meaning "Hey Talwar, give me my eight thousand rupees". He continued this every day till Talwar paid him.

For instance he had put up a 'Beware Of Kishore' sign at his apartment where he stayed for a while when his bungalow was being readied.

Producer H.S.Rawail, visited Kishore at this apartment to pay him for his dues. After taking the money, when Rawail put forth his hand to shake Kishore's hand, the singer reportedly took Rawail's hand and put it in his mouth and bit it. When asked why he did so, he retorted, 'Didn't you see the sign by my door'.

Once a reporter who visited him remarked that Kishore must be very lonely as he had no friend; this in reference to an interview in which the singer had said so. Kishore took the reporter to his garden and started introducing his plants by name, saying they were his friends.

Another time a producer went to court and got orders issued that said that Kishore had to follow the director's orders. As a result, Kishore followed the orders to the letter. Following this, he was shooting a car scene in Mumbai. Even after the car scene was over he kept on driving till Khandala (a distance of about 70 miles from Mumbai) just because the director didn't say 'Cut'.

Politics, Politicians and all things to do and connected with power, ruling power, Opposition power and Government is considered by most and including me as sewage and something that we should not stray too close to.

But, politics, power games and dangerous mind games start in humans and all animals at a very young age.

A dog has littered near my house and there are five healthy puppies that have just started exploring their surroundings and on weak and still unsure paws.

Two of the biggest pups, obviously male began to dominate the others soon after they opened their eyes and have established a strong pecking order as to who drinks or eats first and they show their aggression by standing over the other puppies and growling, I mean literally growling.

The brown one with a white pottu, a mustard pup and the last black and white pup wait for their turns after the bigger ones have chosen their mothers teat and then slowly make their way to the remaining ones and which seems to have less milk. ( I don't know why)

It is now nearly a month and all of them are moving around, walking around, chewing and tearing whatever their sharp teeth can grab on to and destroy them.

I feed their mother daily in the morning with two small packets of pedigree and a packet of biscuits and the puppies who were once shy have now become familiar with me and now boldly come up and try to chew my shoelaces and over the past few days have started competing with their mother for biscuit crumbs.

I smash the biscuits into a near powder state and let them feast on them and that is where this politics business starts and I mean, the use of tactics that Machiavelli and Sun Tzu themselves would be proud of.

The smallest ones, the brown with white pottu and the mustard one have since come up with a plan of their own and are doing well with it.

The mother dog seems to have taught her puppies a few words of dog language and from the noises they make, you can easily make out what they are talking about.

The two smallest puppies start barking and making loud noises as if they are under attack and this brings on a magical effect on the two large pups who tuck their tail between their legs and run for cover.

By the time they decide that the coast is clear of danger, the two pups have wiped the plate clean of the biscuit crumbs and are lying near their mother's tummy having a large cutting.

So, size really does not matter at all and what matters, in the end, is what you do with your brain and its powers.

I have seen these same Chanakya tactics being displayed by my street dogs and the one who does it is a frisky female who I call boisterous and she is one.

Their Gang is made of four and the Alpha is Kim Jong and two other Shakuni males.

Come food time, this female named boisterous starts barking using " alert, stranger" and immediately the stupid Kim jong runs all over his area to chase away the intruders and by the time he and his Commanders return the plate is wiped clean.

But, since I am the Alpha male among them, I now feed them equally and according to their sizes.

I stood listening to the scene being read for the new Vijay tv serial that I have been working on and it is a scene where my youngest daughter plays politics between me and my wife and uses me to often get her work done and that which always ends with mud and soup in my face and lap.

I bet that we have all seen and been in the midst of power games, mind games being played in our own house and how parties are divided and set upon each other.

Ruling and opposition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWOTn0-luto

From today, July 27th Monday at 6.30, Baakiyalakshmi is coming to see all of you and I too, am coming along with her.

Vaanathai pola 191

The moment the plane touched down Raman switched on his mobile phone and hurriedly checked for a message from his dad and saw that there was one and tapped it.

' She is fine and safe. Nothing to worry about. We are all at the hospital.'

Raman heaved a sigh relief and taking deep breaths finally began to breathe in a normal fashion.

All four of them turned and saw Raman enter the corridor and walk towards them and it was their turn to breathe again and breathe freely.

He looked at them and they looked at him and all their eyes reflected the same sense of relief and gratitude and smiling happily Raman entered the room in which his life was in and aptly that person's name was Jeeva.

He saw that she was fast asleep and he knew that look very well for many a time he had lain awake and stared at that very same face as it lay cradled in his arms.

Placing a chair, he quietly sat down next to her and thanked God for being there and watching over her and their family.

Maybe she sensed his presence in her sub-consciousness like people do when they are really attached to someone and Raman to his delight saw her eyes flicker open and slowly fix her gaze on him.

' Baby, you are back? when did you get back? why didn't you wake me up?'

' Just now a few minutes ago.'

She looked at him and also took in the tears in his eyes and her eyes opened wide with fear and hurt and she tried getting up saying, ' what is it, Ram? why are you crying baby?'

' Tears of joy, Jeeva. Tears of gratitude that you are okay and tears of joy to be back with you and our babies.'

Getting up, he held her face and kissed her deeply and both held the kiss for a long time.

She looked at him and said, ' I had one of the most beautiful and vivid dreams and something which I have never experienced before and it was about you and a tiny beautiful boy who gave me a message to deliver to you.'

Raman looked at her and said, ' maybe it was our own kutty baby Vijay talking to you and me.'

' No, not Vijay but a beautiful baby and he said, ' Rudran sends his regards to you.'

Raman froze and kept staring at her as if he was unsure about what she had just told him and the name that she had just taken and asked, ' What do you mean Rudran? You mean the baby in your dream.'

Jeeva shook her head and closing her eyes, recollected what she had experienced and said, ' No, that baby boy's name was Nikhil and he said that his father Rudran sends his regards and wishes to both of us and our babies.'

Vaanathai pola 192

Your love

Should never be offered to the mouth of a

Stranger,

Only to someone

Who has the valour and daring

To cut pieces of their soul off with a knife

Then weave them into a blanket

To protect you. Hafez

Hearing the names " Rudran and Nikhil" whispered by Jeeva only sent Raman leaning back in the red chair that he was seated in and he continued to stare at her.

She knew him very well, at least better than most and she knew that he was not looking at her and that although his eyes were on her, his mind was somewhere else and in all probability trying to make sense of her vivid and beautiful dream.

' Ram, baby, what are you thinking?' she asked him and he looked at her, ' Do you remember anything else, like how you were brought here to the hospital and admitted in this room?'

Jeeva shook her head and only then realized that she had no memory of how all that had transpired and looked at Raman with panic, ' what happened to me and why am I here?'

She recollected something and said, ' The last thing I remember is talking to you and you told me that you were just boarding the flight and then all I remember is that beautiful kid standing by my side and ...'

' And what? what did the kid want from you and what was he even doing here?'

Jeeva thought of many things to say and then with a smile she told him, ' I think he was here to help me and which I think he did.'

She sat up and slowly felt her arms and then stretched them and said, ' I feel different somehow and I am not sure how to explain what I feel right now.'

She looked at Raman, ' Please, believe me.'

Raman got up from his chair and hugged her fiercely to his chest, ' Baby, I may doubt myself and I may if forced doubt God himself but I will never doubt you.'

He kissed her head and her cheeks and repeated his words, ' Never have I doubted you and never will I doubt you. Just that I was taken aback by you mentioning those two names.'

Jeeva pushed him back and made him sit in the chair and looked at him with a searching look, ' Do you know that boy? have you met him before?'

Raman shook his head, ' no. Never until now although I know his father Mr.Rudran.'

It was the way he said it that made Jeeva want to know more and she asked him, ' Ram, there are very few people who you speak of in a certain way and from the way you just said this person's name, I can understand that he is someone very important and also someone who you hold in high esteem.'

Raman nodded and said, ' I just happened to meet him yesterday in Tel Aviv but we in the intelligence business know perfectly who he is and what his achievements are.'

Shaking his head unable to make sense of what had happened and what was going on, he mumbled, ' Tel Aviv to Chennai. Rudran to Nikhil.'

Jeeva reached out and clasped her right-hand fingers in his and whispered, ' Baby, what is important is you are back with us and that I am safe and in good health.'

The door opened and Kamakshi and Valliammai came rushing in followed by Manigandan in his wheelchair that was being pushed by Shaktivel.

Kamakshi who had rushed from the door to see how her daughter was doing, froze on the spot and standing like a statue stared at Jeeva as if she was seeing her for the very first time in her life.

Raman and Jeeva looked at each other and Valliammai taking the cue, nervously shook her and asked, ' Kamakshi, what happened? why are you staring at your own child like that?'

Kamakshi ignoring them instead turned to her husband and asked, ' Mani, are you seeing what I am seeing?'

Manigandan nodded and smiled and this forced Raman to get up and join them and stare at Jeeva and then Valliammai and Shaktivel joined them in staring at her.

Kamakshi looked at Raman, ' I know my child and I know her very well and I can tell you with absolute certainty that there is something very different about my child.'

Raman did not know whether to scream in panic or scream with joy that his soul was safe and normal and said, ' I sensed it the moment I touched her and looked into her eyes.'

Jeeva who was visibly getting tired and irritated by all this yelled, ' All right you idiots, tell me what is it that is you see different in me and what has changed in me from before?'

Raman looked at both his mothers and fathers and said, ' There is something glowing around you like an aura or something and though it is strange, it looks and feels beautiful and pure.'

They all waited for her to say something nasty but instead Jeeva's face suddenly squeezed itself in pain and she looked up at all of them and said, ' the pains have started and our babies are ready to come out.'

Manigandan smiled and said, ' Perfect timing. Perfect parents and perfect babies and that too today of all days. That indeed is perfect timing.'

' Appa, what is special about today? Jeeva asked and Manigandan replied, ' today is pradosham day, baby. One of the holiest days for us Saivaites and for all those who worship Lord Shiva and Shakti and his children.'

Shaktivel looked at Raman, ' we need to tell you something that we are not very sure about' and pointing to Manigandan, ' but he says he saw him.'

Raman looked at Manigandan, ' sir, did you see that little boy?'

Manigandan nodded,' yes, Raman, and no, it was not just any little boy but in my eyes and soul, I think it was Lord Muruga himself who came to our rescue.'

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Vaanathai pola 193

Jagatratchagan and his dad Mookaiah Thevar sat contemplating the matters that had taken place at their gates and in their hearts they knew that their lives and reputation were now being counted down in hours and days.

' Appa, we have to get ready and be prepared for what is coming our way.'

Mookaiah Thevar nodded in agreement and looked at his son from under his thick white eyebrows and said, ' If it comes to that, I will take all the blame and I will confess openly to the people and to the authorities that I only I was involved in all of this acts.'

Jagatratchagan shook his head in anger and in pain, ' No, I will not let things to come to that and if it does come to that then I will be the one to take the blame for all our actions.'

Father looked at his only son, ' We have already spoken about this and together came to an understanding and I don't see the point in arguing about it.'

He got up to his feet and with his hands folded behind his back began to pace up and down the hall and spoke his mind, ' I am too old now to get out and get things done. My time is over and it is up to you once I am gone to carry on our legacy and to fly the flag of our Thevar Community.'

Jagatratchagan looked at his father and then hurriedly turned his eyes away for even now in his late 70s' the old man's eyes burnt like the surface of the sun and it was near impossible for anyone to look at him and hold his eye and that now when things were beginning to unravel and bubble out to the surface.

' Appa, my own son, our heir Selvam is gone and with his death, my purpose and will are gone too and yet you too want me to carry on and that too without you.'

He too got up and stood with his head bent in pain and in fear and continued, 'what am I supposed to do and who do I look for counsel and support?'

The slap on his left felt like a hammer blow and Jagatratchagan collapsed to the floor holding his cheek and looked up at his father who raised his foot and holding it near his face roared, ' Otha, you are not a woman but a man. My son from my blood and what lies in me lies in you too. So stop whimpering like a transgender and like a woman and be ready to do what needs to be done.'

He bent and lifted his son with one hand and looked at him with loving and caring eyes and gently patted the cheek that had just been slapped so loudly by him that the noise had reached the ears of everyone nearby but only Mangamma, his daughter-in-law dared to peep out and she did that for she loved her husband more than she loved herself.

Mangamma stood by the door, hidden from both the men in the hall and heard her father-in-law talk to her husband, his son.

' You are in your 50s and you are still more of a man than others who are still in their 30s. So, stop worrying about Selvam who is old news and think of your next heir.'

Jagatratchagan looked up and into his father's eyes and asked what he meant with the silent look.

Mookaiah Thevar twirled his huge handlebar moustache and said with a smile, ' It is time for another woman in your life and one who can bear a healthy boy-child for you.'

' Appa, what about Mangamma?'

' What about her?'

' She will never agree to it?'

Mookaiah Thevar smiled, smirked and his eyes turned curious in nature and he said in a sarcastic tone, ' Agree. My stupid, naive son, you think my daughter-in-law is innocent to your affairs and sleeping around with other women whom you frequent twice a week and sometimes even thrice.'

Standing hidden and behind the door and in the cover of shadows, Mangamma heard the words that each felt like a nail being driven into her chest and she could do nothing but cover her sobs and whisper, ' Meenakshi amma, is this what my life has finally come down to and is this why I got married in front of you and your husband? Am I being punished for the sins of my family and am I being punished for standing by and doing nothing when I knew exactly what was going on.'

Wiping her tears, she went back to the kitchen whispering to her protector, ' Meenakshi, I surrender to your will, for I know that your will always triumph over those of us mortals. Sinners and saints included.

Vaanathai pola 194

Minister Kavita Duraipandi Arumugam looked at him, ' Radhu, I know that you have to look like a middle-aged security man but did you have to colour your hair grey when you could have easily stuck on a wig instead?'

Pointing to his thick Moustache, ' That is a very good one but still a fake and so why not a wig?'

Radhu who stood with his arms held behind his back and stood in front of the minister as Mr.Odyssey Pandyan slanted his head to his right and said,' In any other situation, I would have done that but not here and the last thing I need' and pointing to her, ' and you need is a situation where your personal guard's wig comes flying off.'

Kavita burst out laughing and hurriedly covered her mouth and mumbled, ' now that would be a sight indeed.'

Then both looked towards the entrance and saw an old man walking towards them.

A head full of silver that seemed to flow and cascade like a waterfall and that trickled down his cheeks and had formed an even luxurious beard that now hung like frozen white snow from his cheeks and the ends of which fluttered like drifting and lost cotton wisps.

A white kurta complimented the faded but clean saffron colour veshti that the old man was wearing both Radhu and Kavita watched the cotton bag that hung around his neck and the thick staff in his right hand that he was using to move forward but would have done so even without it being present.

The old man came up to them and folding his hands together, said, " Vanakkam."

Radhu looked into the man's eyes and wondered why they shone so brightly and which meant laser clear sight.

The old man looked to be about 80 and above or maybe even 90 and above and yet here he was standing before them with eyes like sparkling black diamonds.

Kavita wished him and said, ' Iyaa, I am really sorry for troubling you by asking you to take us to this temple that I have heard so much from my dad.'

She looked at him, ' Iyaa, is there no one else who you can send instead of yourself?'

The old man smiled and replied, ' Child, this temple and the area that it is in is out of bounds to the public and entrance into it is highly restricted. I know that you are a cabinet minister but even you have been granted permission to enter because of me. Only if I come along with you can you and your friend pass through safely and visit the temple and also leave safely.'

The old man looked at Radhu who stood without any display of thought in his eyes and both looked at each other and exchanged greetings.

Kavita pointed to Radhu and introduced him to the old man, ' This is my personal security guard and his name is Odyssey Pandyan.'

The old man folded his hands and greeted Radhu with a smile, ' Namaskaram,Mr.Radha Krishnan. My name is Pazham Swamy.'

Vaanathai pola 195

The word rule owes its origins to the French word riule, reule and they in turn originated from the Latin words regula and rego. Yes, the latin words themselves like many words unknown to us have come from the ancient language of Sanskrit and from the word rā́jati.

The word rule has in it embedded the meanings that don't change from what they were originally meant and created for. So, rule means to control or direct; exercise dominating power, authority, or influence over; govern: and rules simply mean a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct or procedure within a particular area of activity.

We tend to think of breaking rules and laws as applications of creativity, or even necessary for success. But there is never good enough justification to flout them.

We defile monuments by carving on the walls our undying love for someone. We overstay, wander off in national parks, pluck leaves and flowers and break branches. We drive without putting on a seatbelt, use the cellphone while driving. We disrespect all limits speed, drinking, decibel level of horns, number of passengers in vehicles.

For the question “Why do we break primary traffic enforcement laws (seatbelt, cellphone use, parking, stopping behind lines)?” on a website, readers voted this as the best answer: We are careless or inattentive, we like to defy authority (who is he to tell me?), we feel we are young and therefore indestructible, we find it convenient (why waste driving time?). People think they rule the road when they are behind the wheel. And, some genuinely don’t know traffic rules.

It’s a paradox, really. Most of us think we are honest, play by the rules — even when we litter, text while driving, mend the silencer in our vehicle, enjoy pirated movies/music, blow past speed limits, or lie to give our kids an advantage. When confronted, we offer a string of arguments in our defence. 1. I don’t always break rules, only when I can’t help it! 2. You talk as if I’ve stolen money! 3. It’s okay to break rules for others. 4. When so many get away with littering the beach, why should I look for a garbage bin? 5. Is that the rule? It’s not clear! And this clinching logic: When the big/powerful fish go scot-free why is the small fry caught?

Psychologists have found that rule-breaking makes people feel powerful, smart, innovative. You break rules, you feel macho — “See, I gamed the system!” Also, one who puts his feet on the seat in front at the theatre, smokes in public, parks on the speed-breaker and shouts at workers is thought of as a guy who “gets people to listen.” Breaking one rule, say, jumping a queue, gives you a sense of freedom from all rules. One offender said, “It’s healthy to let off steam once in a while, you know.” When a minor crashed the family BMW into a median, the parent claimed, “He can’t help it, it’s his hormones.” A study by Josephson Institute found that when asked if lying and cheating were necessary to succeed in life, more than 50% of young people are likely to say “Yes!”

We know the bottomline: breaking rules cannot be justified. No excuse is good enough. No violation of the law is legitimate. You follow rules because it is the honourable thing to do. Being law-abiding reduces chaos and ensures safety. Oh, yes, authorities everywhere try to ensure people follow rules. But the ultimate responsibility for following rules rests with every one of us. We should know right from wrong. We must see ourselves as honest people, in a positive light. Respect for rules is a necessary aspect of modern life.

And, ah, yes, misdemeanours have a way of coming back to bite us.

The time was nearly 10.00 am when Deputy Commissioner Karthik reached the holiest site in Madurai and which was the premises in which the Meenakshi Amman temple stood as the eye and the light in the sky.

Both his subordinates, Sub-Inspectors Anil and Kailasam got out of the vehicle with him and watched as the local police stations law and order branch Inspector Naseeruddin came rushing towards them and greeting DC Karthik informed him that all the beggars had been rounded up as per his request and were currently being held in a charity home close to the temple.

It took them just a couple of minutes of brisk walking to reach the place and upon entering DC Karthik exclaimed, ' Wtf, so many beggars in this city?' catching sight of all the rags and ruins of the human species that spent their lives on the streets begging for money, some for sustanence and further some to quench their drug addiction which was more of an affliction.

Inspector Naseeruddin smiled and said, ' sir these 70 beggars are from the vicinity of the temple and if you take the total count of beggars in the city they will number nearly 500 and more.'

DC Karthik cursed filthily and in an angry voice for knew the value and essence of time and knew that time was running out and with it were slipping away the chances of catching the killer or killers who had split SP Manohar into two and with it would slip away his medals and glory that would help his meteoric rise up in the ranks and also in the history of Indian IPS Officers as a new legend.?

He glared at the Inspector and growled, ' Did you question them?' and Naseeruddin nodded and replied, ' I did sir but none of them seems to have an idea as to the identity of the killer.'

DC Karthik's anger flared and danced in his face and he knew that this investigation needed to be handled with both, a velvet glove and an iron hand.

His training had taught him that most criminals broke at the first beatings while others took more time to break and confess their sins. But, some could be coerced with bribes and turned into informants. But they all broke at some point and if they did not break they died in the end and that was something that he did not want right now, not after what had happened at Saatankulam police station where father and son were brutally beaten and to which had finally succumbed and had died.

But DC Karthik knew that he had some rope, some leeway in this case for a senior and high ranking police officer had been murdered and left to hang in the heart of the city and the heart of Madurai as far as he was concerned, was the Meenakshi temple.

' Who in your opinion is the smartest beggar here?, he asked the Inspector who pointed to three men and asked them to stand up.

Two of them were clearly above 70 years of age while the other was probably closer to 50 or more, give or take.

All three of them were handicapped people and lame in hand and leg while the youngest was totally blind.

DC Karthik looked at all three of them, observing them as he walked past them twice, thrice and then he put out his hand in which Inspector Naseer placed a lathi which he took and gently tapped each beggars tummy with it and spoke.

' I am going to ask you three just one question to which I want an honest answer and if the answer is satisfactory you are all free to go but...'

He looked at the shiny, varnished lathi and felt its balance and then in a blink of an eye swung it and whacked the youngest and totally blind beggar who screamed, ' Baba, Aghori Baba, Kappathu saami.'

DC Karthik roared his happiness and laughed loudly, ' Bravo you blind ba..ard and full points for answering and clearing my doubts. Now, all you have to do is tell me where to find this other blind ba...rd who you just called out for.'

The blind beggar cried tears from his blind and empty eyes, ' Perumalvaram, Baba always goes there on Pradosham day to pray to the God of the mountain.'