*From & To Sathish* - Thread 4 - Page 99

Good morning. I wish you a beautiful day.

First came the shock and the reaction " What?"

Then came " But, how?"

Followed by " It is just not possible?"

Then came acceptance followed by understanding.

With them came relaxation and peace.

Now, it is about time and it is about you and me and all that is us.

For me, it is back to school and to the tree of life and compartmentalization of time.

A life spent with eating, drinking, bathing, working, sleeping, loving and then just like that the life is gone.

Do we really need time, more time and to do what and to go where?

Inside. Inward bound. Homeward bound.

In 2002, a film called 28 days later released depicting the breakdown of society following the accidental release of a highly contagious virus.

Need I say more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7ynwAgQlDQ

I Am Hospitalized With the Coronavirus

As a generally healthy 45-year-old, I didn’t seem like a probable Covid-19 candidate.On March 12 I got a fever that didn’t go away.It hovered around 101 or 102 degrees for the next week, accompanied by severe fatigue and body aches. My office was already working remotely, so I powered through and kept at it, with lots of breaks and naps. I saw a doctor via video who said it was probably the flu — possibly the coronavirus, he added, but tests were unavailable and the prescription, rest and fluids, would be the same regardless.

I naturally worried about the coronavirus, but I didn’t have respiratory symptoms. I’m also a 45-year-old, generally healthy nonsmoker (I quit years ago) with none of the high-risk conditions listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I didn’t seem like a probable Covid-19 candidate.

Then, about a week in, I began to cough. Taking deep breaths felt as if fire were shooting through my lungs. My primary care doctor, with whom I also consulted via video, thought it was pneumonia and prescribed a course of antibiotics. New York State set up a coronavirus testing site an hour from my home. When I called for an appointment, I waited on hold for 80 minutes, after which someone took my information and said someone else would call me back. No one did.

Eight days after the fever first manifested, I could barely move. My wife took me to an urgent care clinic, where I received a chest X-ray and confirmation that I had pneumonia. They swabbed me for the coronavirus but their lab was overwhelmed, and they didn’t know when they would receive any results. I’ve still not heard from them.

I returned home in terrible shape, chest burning and wracked with chills, unable to do anything other than shudder under a blanket. My primary doctor urged my wife to take me to the E.R., which she did. There, they gave me a coronavirus test and another chest X-ray, but blood tests suggested that my oxygen and white blood cell levels were decent. They sent me home but insisted that should I feel worse, I should call them back immediately.

The next day, my temperature spiked to 103.5 degrees. We called the E.R., and they told us to come back. That night I was admitted to Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, N.Y.

The first night and day were a literal fever-dream of pricks, prods, scans and sweat. I floated in and out of consciousness and hallucinations as nurses drew blood from all over and gave me shots of blood thinner in my stomach, which became a daily routine. Someone took another chest X-ray.

On the second day I was more lucid but still felt horrendous, and a friendly doctor came in with two bits of news: The coronavirus test I took in the E.R. had come back positive and the latest X-ray wasn’t good. He showed me the earlier X-ray from the E.R.: Each lung had a cloudy patch near the bottom but was otherwise clear. Then he showed me the new X-ray. It looked liked some demented handyman had sprayed my lungs with insulation.

It was one of the bleakest moments of the ordeal, surpassed only by the moment when I wondered, as I hugged my 9-year-old daughter goodbye on the way to the hospital, if I would ever hug her again.

My doctor said we’d stay the course and perhaps add another antibiotic to the mix. But if things didn’t start to turn around soon, he added, I would need to move into the intensive care unit. I lay back, utterly dispirited, and turned on the TV. It was on CNN. President Trump was telling someone he wanted to reopen the country by Easter.

A few weeks ago I would have rolled my eyes and made a joke about how he should socially distance himself on some Mar-a-Lago golf course. Just go away and let the adults figure things out.

But my experience has made this pandemic much less abstract, and left me in no mood for jokes. I’m writing this from my hospital bed in Rhinebeck, on Day 14 of my Covid-pneumonia saga.

It has been miserable in general, with spikes of both awful physical pain and real terror, given the uncertainties that still surround the disease and its outcomes. I think of my wife and daughter every minute.

But I also feel humbled and awed by the care I’ve received from nurses, doctors, technicians, cleaning and food staff members, all of them strangers who risk getting this disease every time they come in to help me, which they do over and over, day after day, with good cheer and expertise. It is heroic and moving.

Every time the president minimizes this crisis, he is making these people’s lives more difficult. When he makes the pandemic seem less serious than it is, he gives those inclined to disregard it license to do so.

The virus doesn’t care about political talking points. Fewer precautions taken across the country will result in more patients. Which means that the people now helping me, and the thousands like them all over the nation, will soon have more patients than they can handle. These people — who are leaving their own families behind every day to help other people’s mothers, fathers, children and grandparents — will be asked to do even more.

For me, things did start to turn around as the drugs did their work. My fever broke a day ago and my most recent chest X-ray shows signs of improvement. I am feeling better. I feel confident that I will hug my wife and daughter again, even though plenty of quarantining will remain for each of us — their health has been fine, thankfully — after I am discharged. I know how fortunate I am, thanks to the support of my family, friends and employer — and most crucially, having health insurance. I also know the country has only begun to contend with this crisis.

I’m also lucky to have had such excellent caretakers, who help me sit up and eat and bathe and rest and heal, all the while telling me how much they are praying for me. We cannot do enough for these people, who are selflessly performing the world’s most important work. They are saving our lives. They have saved mine.

As this crisis intensifies, we must think about how to make their lives easier, whether through direct bonus payments, student loan and debt forgiveness, free groceries, free child care or all of the above (or something else entirely). We must mobilize American industry to expand our medical infrastructure. People are conducting sewing drives to make masks for health care workers. That’s sweet and noble, but why aren’t companies like Procter & Gamble churning them out by the millions? I saw a TV ad that said Ford will work with lessees affected by the coronavirus. Great. Now why don’t you get going on a few hundred thousand ventilators?

And of course, we must expand testing as rapidly as possible.

This is a national health emergency, and we must treat it with the seriousness it deserves. We must listen to the health professionals. And we must do everything we can to help them save us.

By Jeremy Egner, New York Times, March 27, 2020

(Mr. Jeremy Egner is the television editor for The New York Times)

Vaanathai Pola 78

Hacking is to get into someone else's computer system without permission in order to find out information or do something illegal and the person who does this is called a Hacker and this sort of criminal activities are termed as Cyber Crimes.

Do you know that India has been ranked 2nd amongst the countries affected by cyber-attacks between 2016-2018? According to a source, there was a 22% rise in cyber-attack in India on IoT deployments. India has faced the most number of attacks in the IoT department this year. In fact, India has been consecutively facing cyber-attacks, the second time in the row!

IoT means The Internet of things

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime Cell S.Sudhakar sat while Inspector Prabhu stood and they both watched quietly as their boss Commissioner Viswanathan read the report and then slowly looked searchingly at both of them and then leaned back and asked, ' What happened?' and pointed to Prabhu.

' Sir, It all happened very quickly and before we could even react to the hacking.'

He looked guilty of not having done his job, yet Prabhu was not nervous about telling it as he had seen it, ' Sir, I have been in this cybercrime division for nearly five years now and have even been awarded medals for my acts of merit by your own hands.'

' So, what does that mean and what are you trying to tell us, Prabhu?' Commissioner Viswanathan asked and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime Cell S.Sudhakar intervened, ' sir, if I may. What, Prabhu is trying to state here is that the way in which this hacking was done was something new and definitely not from around here.'

Commissioner Viswanathan nodded and waited for more and AC Sudhakar, Cyber Crime Cell continued,' Sir, the speed and the manner in which this was done was unbelievably fast and my suspicion is that it was the handiwork of someone from abroad.'

Commissioner Viswanathan closed his eyes and then opening them, looked at both his men, ' Agreed but why. What is the motive behind this crime? Why the F..k would some brilliant hacker or hackers from some foreign country enter a five-star hotel's security system and that too one in Chennai?'

AC Sudhakar, Cyber Crime Cell cautiously and in a soft tone, offered, ' Motive, sir. We will start from there for this does not look like a random attack and one that has come out of the blue.'

Commissioner Viswanathan wearily cursed, ' If this cyber crime was not enough then this attack on AIADMK party member Jagatratchagan is going to turn out into a nasty encounter. I have been specifically told by the Chief Minister himself to handle this with the utmost care and not move or make any arrests until we have enough proof involving him with his son Selvam's misadventure.'

He looked at AC Sudhakar, ' How soon can you find out more about this crime, Sudhakar?'

' I will have a preliminary report ready by tomorrow evening sir,but at this point I cannot promise more than that with any degree of certainty.'

Leaning slightly forward, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime Cell S.Sudhakar shook his head in disbelief and Commissioner Viswanathan smiled, ' Yes, that was my reaction too and I guess everyone's reaction in our department.'

Inspector Prabhu cautiously, ' who is he sir? Who is this Radha Krishnan?'

Vaanathai Pola 79

Sub-Inspector Kanagaraj was waiting at the elevator and informed Kavita that he had dropped off Jeeva and her family and had sped back to be with her.

' Thank you. There was no need for you to hurry back.'

' Ma'am, Mr.Raman's house is already under security cover and there was no point in me lingering there when my main duty was to protect you.'

A Sub-Inspector along with two armed constables came towards them and the SI saluted her and Kavita looked at Sub-Inspector Kanagaraj, ' What was the need for more security when you are here?'

SI Kanagaraj looked at her and then looked at his fellow cops and the new SI answered her question cautiously for he and the others were all aware of her legendary temper.

' Ma'am, we are here at the orders of the Chief Minister himself and at the request of Commissioner sir.'

SI Kanagaraj in a soft and endearing voice, ' Amma, It is for your own good. The man who was behind this crime was Selvam and who know perfectly well whose son he is and what their feud is with your friend, Mr.Anbu Chezhiyan. It is obvious that things are going to be a bit dicey until this problem is solved amicably for more than his problem with your friend he is now going to target you because of your new friend's actions.'

Kavita's face went red with anger but SI Kanagaraj smiled and said, ' Please, don't get angry with me. All I am trying to say is that, Jagatratchagan is not going to remain calm now that his son has been sent to the hospital and surely he is going to retaliate and hence, these extra security cover for you.'

' His son is in the hospital and deservingly so and for the crime he committed. How is Jagatratchagan going to cover that crucial fact and how is he going to explain away all the eyewitnesses and the security footage?'

SI Kanagaraj opened the door to the back seat and Kavita got in and the other policemen ran to their vehicle and got ready to follow them.

' I guess it is back to the hotel, right ma'am?'

Kavita replied curtly, ' obviously.'

Their vehicle exited Greams road and entered the busy Anna Salai formerly known as Mount Road and SI Kanagaraj took a quick look at Kavita through the Rear-view mirror and asked, ' How is he doing?'

' He is okay. Took a nasty stab wound and that too with a blade that was poisoned but he seems to be well on the way to recovery.'

' Thank God Ma'am that he is well and I owe him many thanks for doing my job although on hindsight I am glad that it was him there with you than me.'

Kavita furiously, 'what do you mean by that?'

' I mean that I am sure I would not have been able to handle the crisis and also end it the way he ended it,without anybody getting hurt.'

Kavita's face filled with pride and unknowingly her fingers slowly touched her lips where his lips had planted themselves so firmly just a few minutes ago. She felt an ache, a pain fill her entire body and she desperately wanted to turn back and go back to him and never, ever be separated again from his arms and lips.

' Amma, permission to speak freely, please.'

Kavita irritatedly, ' when have you needed my permission to speak? so say what is on your mind?'

' Amma, the police grapevine is buzzing with gossip about what took place in there?'

Kavita remembering Radhu's request for anonymity leaned forward and asked ' what gossip?'

' the way your friend handled all three criminals.'

' Why, what is there to gossip about what was done out of necessity and purely in self-defence?'

' I don't know amma for I have not seen the security footage and the only remaining copy now lies in the hands of the commissioner himself.'

Kavita's face creased in curiosity and she wondered, ' why do I get the sense that you are stressing on the word only remaining copy when the original footage is with the hotel's security.'

The traffic lights went red from yellow and the numbers began to countdown to green and SI Kanagaraj slowly turned and facing Kavita, said ' I heard rumours that the hotels system was hacked and the entire footage was removed.'

' Hacked, what do you mean hacked? By who?'

' That is the million-dollar question and the even more important question that you must ask yourself is, who is this friend of yours and what does he do for a living and why does he possess such skills that border on superhuman.'

The man called Radha Krishnan answered his mobile phone and listened as the voice spoke, ' It is done and the entire footage has been removed. But, a copy was made to an IPAD and I thought that I would talk to you before I make a move on that too.'

' Do it please and remove all traces of that.'

The voice spoke with a little tinge of anger in it, ' It would be less of a headache if you could keep your skills under control and not let your ego rule the moment.'

' WTF, What was I supposed to do when they were threatening all of us with deadly knives and even the little kids were being dragged into the conflict.'

' Radhu, Zareen and your son are dead. So, please stop looking for them in other people. You came for your dad and so finish what has to be done and head back home for soon our masters will realize that you are not really dead and will begin hunting for you and it does not matter if you have gone AWOL( absent without leave) for a very good reason. They will then brand you a traitor and then none of us will be safe from their scrutiny and you will be without any backup and all on your own and we both know very well how that story will end.'

' Yup, I know that story very well. Thank you. Removing that copy too and message me when it is done.'

Commissioner Viswanathan looked at Assistant Commissioner of Police, CyberCrime Cell S.Sudhakar, ' do you have the IPAD with you for I have yet to look at the footage of what took place inside the hotel.'

AC Sudhakar nodded and taking the IPAD that was on his lap, switched on the screen and gently tapped on the folder " Crowne plaza" and waited for it open, and then his face drained itself of blood and turned a sickly white and he slowly looked up at the commissioner and said, ' We have been hacked.'

Far away, the man responsible for the hacking smiled sadly and thought to himself, ' What's with these Indian cops and their cheap security software? God help them if the Pakis, Chinese or worse the North Koreans decide to do something about them.'

Vaanathai Pola 80

The vehicle stopped at the entrance of the Crowne Plaza hotel and Kavita wearily got out of it and looked at SI Kanagaraj and her nod conveyed all that her heartfelt and he watched as she walked away into the hotel, followed closely by her armed police commandos.

A man dressed immaculately in a black suit with the hotels crest on his front pocket came towards her and informed her that all her friends had been shifted to another hall for the previous one was now a crime scene.

Kavita thanked him and sensing that the man wanted to say more, said, ' anything else.'

The man looked at her and then hurriedly added, ' Ma'am, the hotel management wanted me to inform you that the bill for the conference hall and the food will not be presented and instead they want you to know that they are grateful for your patronage and are looking forward to seeing you again.'

Kavita's face creased with a smile and realising that it was rude of her to be laughing when the matter was deadly serious in nature, held up her hand in apology and said, ' I am sorry. Really sorry. I could not help but laugh at your hotel's kind gesture which is more of a veiled request.'

She looked at the man who must have been the head of rooms and service and asked, ' I will see what I can do about getting the place cleared as soon as possible so that your business is not harmed because of this incident and I will personally talk to the commissioner.'

The man walked with her and opened the door to the new place where all her friends were waiting for her and all of them rushed towards her and surrounded her, worriedly enquiring about Radha Krishnan.

Anbu raised his hands and requested everyone to stay silent and then he looked at Kavita, ' How is he doing?'

' He is okay Anbu. The doctors treated him for the poison that was on the blade but the man seems to possess the constitution of a horse and was back to normal.'

She blushed slightly recollecting his lips on hers and the way he had slowly pulled her down to his mouth and mumbled, ' Yes, normal and will soon be on his feet again.'

Elsa, Anbu's Swedish wife looked at Kavita, ' Not only did your friend possess the health of a horse, but he also kicked like a horse and most probably his kicks packed more punch than the horse itself.'

Manimegalai pinched Kavita's cheek and giving her a conspiratorial smile asked, ' Where do you find these men, these heroes, Kavi? First Raman now Krishnan.'

Anbu looked at Kavita, ' Raman is the past and Krishnan is the present. But.... I am so sorry, Kavi'

' Sorry about what, Anbu.'

Anbu looked at his wife, Elsa and the others and said, ' Sorry that you and Raman are not together. We all thought that both of you would end up together for you were made for each other. But, now Krishnan too is already married and has three kids.'

' No, he is not married and they are not his kids.'

Manimegalai clapped her hands and placing two fingers in her mouth whistled loudly and hurriedly asked, ' Whose kids are they, then? His sisters or brothers?'

' No. Sadly no. They are orphans and come from the place called " The Flock" where Radha Krishnan is a teacher.'

Something moved through Elsa's barren womb and wormed itself into her soul. Barren and unable to conceive a life but full and brimming with love that only a mother can feel and without even realising it and without even realising it, clutched Kavita's hands and looked at her searchingly.

Vaanathai Pola 81

Jalad K. Tripathy, Director-General of Police and the Head of Police Force for the state of Tamil Nadu saluted Chief Minister Karuppa Gounder Palanisamy better known as Edappadi K. Palaniswami while the CM himself folded his hands humbly and requested him to sit down.

CM EPS flashed a humble smile at DGP J.K.Tripathy and said in a manner of complaint that was more of a confession, ' We just got through that mess with those two Assassins, along with the death of our senior minister Vaidyanathan and also the death of a bright star called Vijay whose light was snuffed out way too early and now we have this new problem that has vast ramifications for this state and my government.'

DGP J.K.Tripathy did not seem to be very concerned or worried by these words of the Chief minister and EPS seeing this wondered loudly, ' You seem to be taking this situation very lightly, DGP sir.'

' I am sorry, sir if my expression seemed to convey that but my thoughts were entirely the opposite of that.'

' Go on, please and lets us see if your thoughts can reduce the tension that I am feeling right now' said the Chief Minister and DGP Tripathy continued.

' sir, you have successfully negotiated worse problems than this and have achieved the nearly impossible feat of ruling the state for nearly three years and that too in a vacuum left behind by your late leader. It is not just you ruling the state but in my opinion and in the opinions of the majority of the people, you have done a great job and maybe a better job than what even your boss could manage to do.'

Chief minister EPS folded his hands and said, ' Thank you, DGP sir and it has all been possible because of

"Amma's" blessings and nothing else.'

' Tell me, sir, what do you want me to do with this case concerning your party man, Jagatratchagan.'

' DGP sir, From what little I know about him and with the little time I spent with him, I think he is an okay person. But, he like many others in this country are possessed by this demon called the caste system and that is his largest failing.'

Pointing to the phone, ' I could pick up the phone and talk to him directly but my conscience says no and it is not only about my conscience but also my people. I belong to the Kongu Vellala Gounder community and Jagatratchagan belongs to the Mukkulathor Thevar Community. If I am seen cosying up to him then my people will not hesitate in condemning me and with elections next year, I just cannot risk burning any bridges right now and have to do this ballet of balancing and pleasing all communities in this state.'

Leaning forward, Chief minister EPS looked at DGP J.K.Tripathy, ' This is what I want you to do. Go to Madurai and meet Jagatratchagan and talk to him and convince him to remain calm.'

' Sir, what if..?'

' Then, do what has to be done as the head of the police force in Tamil Nadu.'

Chief minister EPS flashed his wide smile, ' Even if we take strict action and quell any sorts of uprisings by Jagatratchagan, it will only be seen in my favour for people will appreciate my no-nonsense attitude when it comes to law and order situation in this state. For, both my party leaders, Puratchi Thalaivar and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma were very strict and uncompromising when it came to the safety of the public and their property.'

DGP J.K.Tripathy stood up and said, ' It will be handled as per your request, sir' and saluting the chief minister left him to ponder in solitude about his party and its future.

Vaanathai Pola 82

Nearly 30 years ago, Jagatratchagan had stood outside the large 10 ground property that he had purchased and had told the engineer,' This house that you are going to build for me is going to be my dedication to my father, to all my ancestors and to all my future family members.'

Jagatratchagan pointed to the empty land and said, ' Build me a beautiful house based on my existing house and in the same layout but it should have all the modern amenities in them.'

He opened a file that he was carrying and handed it over to the engineer who saw that they were all brochures from famous spas from all over the world.

' Sir, this is going to cost a lot of money. My humble suggestion would be to renovate your existing house.'

' Engineer, your suggestion is good but even with all your renovations my old house will not last very long and it is a surprise to all of us that it still stands after nearly 250 years. My family purchased it from some royal Nayakkar's descendants about 110 years ago and a lot of work has been done on it.'

He spread his arms expansively around the large vacant property and said, ' This is going to be my legacy and all the future family members will remember me and thank me for it.'

Then as the engineer watched him nervously, Jagatratchagan's face slowly filled with an endearing shyness and age and years seemed to vanish and he looked like a young kid and he spoke with the same zest and passion, ' Engineer sir, More than anything, I want this house to be a dedication to our leader, Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar and to my other favourite hero with whom Muthuramalinga Iyaa had a very close bond until his disappearance in 1945.'

The engineer had looked at him having no clue as to who Jagatratchagan was talking about and seeing his confusion, Jagatratchagan said ' Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.'

He had pointed to the gate and said, ' This is where they will stand, proudly and boldly, both my leaders and in between them with his right hand showing my party symbol will stand my idol, Puratchi Thalaivar MGR.'

That was in 1990 and the house had been completed in 1993 and the late " Amma" had herself made an appearance and raised the curtains on the three statues that stood at the entrance of the house inside a small garden around which ran two paths that led to the entrance of the house.

Inside,on both sides of the gate were small houses for the security staff along with their own bathrooms and kitchens.

Both the wide paths ran around the garden and came together at the large entrance and the magnificent front portion of the house where teak pillars stood as giant guardians and the roof was designed in classic Kerala style Tharavadus and in red tiles.

Both sides of the entrance had expensive sofas for visitors who were meant only to sit at the entrance and had no pass or privilege to enter the inner space.

But, what immediately caught a visitors eye was the large painting of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar on the distant wall that faced the entrance and which reminded everyone from every caste that the house was a shrine dedicated to the Thevar community.

Jagatratchagan had seen the bits and pieces of news on the television that were more speculative than specific in nature and slowly fear for the safety of his only son began to gnaw his soul and he tried Selvam's phone again and again but no response.

He got up from his chair that was meant only for him and slowly walked towards his dads room to inform him about what was going on.

Mookiah Thevar lay in his old rosewood chair and only his eyes moved as the door opened and his only son entered and stood before him, wringing his hands in fear and worry.

The 85-year old Mookiah Thevar's eyes saw everything and he said, ' One D.l.t dog and you are not able to kill it.

Imitation is the best form of flattery.

When it comes to Nadigar Thilagam, he is the original master and everyone else is the student, copy and one who follows him.

Sometimes, when an actor runs out of expressions or emotions and his talent runs dry, it would serve him or her well to remember and recollect the master's words, voice and actions and also, that original blueprint from where everyone else's actions flow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D_xHmqO7yw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsuOontkJH4

It is a maze

shrouded by a haze

somewhere in the heart of this maze

waiting for me to seek it out

by clearing away all the haze

is the truth, the peace

of this crossword puzzle

called life

You start any journey, any voyage

by taking the first step

for without making that then there is nowhere to go

This path into the maze

begins with my question

why and then is quickly followed by what

and as always I end up with WTF

Vaanathai Pola 83

Mookiah Thevar raised his left hand and pointed at the small stool next to the colonial planters chair that he was reclined in and slowly raised himself using the sidebars and resting his elbows on them looked at his only son, Jagatratchagan.

' This chair that I am sitting in has been in our family for a long time now. Maybe more than 150 years if my memory of our family history is right.'

Jagatratchagan watched his dad use his grizzled hands to gently caress the armrests of the recliner chair and his memory took him back to the times when he had been a child and had peeped into his grandfather's room and had watched him talk to his dad like he was being talked to.

Mookiah Thevar lifted the handset of the telephone that looked as old as him and dialled a number and loudly clearing his throat, spoke into it, ' Iyengar sir, it is me, Mookiah. Come immediately. I know and that is why a car will be coming to pick you up. Thank you.'

Venugopal Iyengar had just been getting ready to sip the piping steaming filter coffee and nibble slowly at the soft and delicious Vazhai poo vadais that his wife Rukku aka Rukmini had placed before him when his client Mookiah Thevar had called and he had no other go but to oblige and so slowly he got up and made his way to his room to get ready for the car would be arriving any moment to pick him up.

Rukku seeing her husband shuffling past her and heading towards the room, quickly went to him wondering if he was feeling unwell or worse if his heart was acting up again.

Astonished, she watched as her husband slowly slipped into his advocate uniform of black pant and white shirt and unable to quell her fears, asked , ' yenna, where are you off to and at such a late hour?'

' A client called and it sounds like an emergency.'

Pointing to the still bright evening sky, ' Just because we have grown old, it does automatically mean that time too has grown old and has changed with us.'

' But, have you called for a cab or an auto. Where are you off to and why can't you send one of your juniors to attend this client?'

Venugopal Iyengar smiled and gently patted her cheeks and said,' This is not your ordinary and garden variety kind of client who called me,Rukku maami, but Mookaih Thevar himself and when he calls, one goes or he really goes away....'

' But, he is as old as you and must surely know that you are not active anymore.'

' Not active anymore but I am still open for consultation and before you say any more, stop and remember he is still my client just as his dad was my dads client.'

The doorbell rang and Venugopal indicated with his head, ' Vandi vanthacchu.Bye.'

The driver who stood at the entrance of his house was the personal driver of Jagatratchagan and he bent his head and said, ' Iyaa, vanakkam. Polangala.'

The car that had been sent for him was a top-end Mercedes Benz and even parked it screamed money and power and Venugopal's heart swelled with pride as he saw all the envious eyes peeping through all the windows of the neighbouring houses in his Agraharam.

The driver opened the door for him and waited for him to get inside and then asked humbly, ' Sir, door close pannatuma?'

Venugopal Iyengar nodded and sank into the soft and comforting leather of the Mercedes and thought to himself, ' 75 years old and here I am, still craving for luxury and the good things in life.'

https://pastperfect.sg/product/british-colonial-teakwood-planters-chair/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C9Omqq8qyU