From & To Sathish #5 - Page 105

I sat by the sea. I stared at the waves. I caught sight of one that reared up like a blue steed with a white head and tracked it with fascination as it rolled, swam, and floated closer and closer to the shore where I sat and then splashed loudly and withdrew meekly to recoup itself with others of its liquid and salty tribe.

I sat on the shore, on a bed of soft sands, and stared across the bluish-green waters and wondered how it must have been just a few hundred years ago when people dared to set sail across oceans in search of land, gold, adventure or just to escape the mundane and cliche that every day life throws up.

Time equals life. Life means time well spent. True that time has to be spent, used, lived well, and not squandered away. A gust of wind blows across the Bengal Sea and the single blue steed of a wave has recouped and regrouped and is racing toward me. The gust of wind that whipped the waves to form a posse of blue and salt reached me first and also kicked up a tiny dust devil.

I closed my eyes and the posse of sea waves struck me and well, did nothing but wet my feet. The gust of wind that gave birth to those waves did more damage vis a vis the sand as it went around kicking it into everyone present on the beach sands.

To my left, a man protectively placed his full-face helmet on his partner for the day while to my right, a young girl threw her dupatta around her mate's face and both buried their faces inside it.

The dogs that sat in quiet contemplation and in a kind of casual meditation, closed their eyes and went to sleep. I joined them and the gusts of time swept me up in its arms and took me back in time.

I was a kid. I was a boy. I was an orphan. I was a teenager and then a man.

Now, an old man.

I smiled and heard the whispers of time through life, ' Here gone tomorrow. Imagine Ceasar just minutes before he was killed, stabbed to death by his own friends. Just imagine that person on the motorcycle as he or she went about their life and got hit by another vehicle. Remember Corona times.

Time is here. The time is now. Right now. Time is life. Live it. Love it and enjoy it. Don't postpone anything. Do it now. Today.

If anything, try, really try to gaze at the morning sun as it rises. Try, give it a shot, and go out and stare at the full moon that fills the skies with soft yellow light like a giant zero-watt bulb.

I opened my eyes and caught sight of the waves swimming towards me and thought, 'Waves, it does not matter if you have changed colors from blue to a deep and dark green for you will remain flimsy and salty. Fret not and let me come to you of my own free will.'

I got to my feet and walked towards them and well, the waves ran away and fell silent and still and the sea was a shimmering magical cloak that would have made the walls of Hogwarts proud to have it amidst them.

Time is time and not money. Time, like money, can be spent for good and bad and even wasted on wasteful things. But sadly, money can be earned but not Time.

Time spent is time lost and gone forever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30R5lWUif1M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXEkUb2p6nU

Avan, Aval, Adhu 358

“All significant relationships have a price. It’s not that relationships are a sacrifice. After all, who wants a life of sacrifice? It is more a matter of priorities. We can’t do everything in life, and we can’t be with everyone. We automatically make priorities by choosing what we will do and with whom. If something is at the top of our list, then other things have to come second, third, or last.” Donna Goddard, Touched by Love

Azhagan trusted his instincts. He had trusted it for more than 800 years and it had served him well. But there was one lesson that he had learned well over the years and that was to have a backup plan. So, he called for backup and waited for events to unfold.

It was nearly 10.00 pm when SI Maarimuthu called Meenakshi and informed her that something suspicious was happening at Hotel Kailasam.

' Madam, the CCTV camera footage is not very good because of the distance. But one can clearly see what is going on.'

Meenakshi asked him to be more specific, and SI Maarimuthu explained to her what had taken place.

' Amma, another car, Darkish in color but not black maybe green arrived at the hotel and a woman and a man got into it and left. The woman was carrying a small suitcase. What do you want me to do, madam?'

' Track them for as long as possible and keep me informed. Thank you, SI.'

' No problem, amma. Do you want me to send out a patrol and have the vehicle stopped and checked?'

Meenakshi replied excitedly, ' That will be good and very convenient. It will also give me enough time.'

Sub-Inspector Maarimuthu nearly asked what she meant by that last sentence, but somehow his mind worked rather than his mouth and he remained silent. For he knew what happened to people, even cops who tangled with politicians and thugs. He also knew very well what a lethal combo a politician, thug, and power made, and that too when all of them combined and took a new avatar and called itself, Meenakshi.

So, in a subdued voice, he informed Meenakshi that he would follow the cars and stop them at the first given opportunity.

Meenakshi knew that it would be a good move to send a few men to check out Hotel Kailasam and find out if Gayatri had really left in one of the cars or it was all some kind of devious plan to fool her.

She knew that things were not going according to plan ever since that failed attack in Kodaikanal. Then her attack on Gayatri had failed again earlier that evening in the archeological site.

' Who is this man with Gayatri and how did they manage to take down Maruthu and all his men? Importantly, what happened to them, and if indeed something happened to them, where are they or where are their bodies?'

Meenakshi knew in her heart that time was running out for her and that finally life and her mistakes would catch up with her.

' This is not the time to make knee-jerk reactions, you stupid woman. This is the time to think well and plan well ahead for any eventuality ' Meenakshi told herself. Then getting up, she went into her bedroom, opened the teak doors that led into her very private walk-in wardrobe room, and switched on the lights.

She immediately felt better with his eyes on her and she whispered to Ravi whose face dominated every wall in the large room, ' Ravi, baby. You are mine. You belong to me. Nothing will come between us. I cannot imagine your arms around another woman. I will die, kill myself before I let something like that happen.'

Placing her lips on his lips, she kissed the photo on the wall, ' Baby, if it comes to that, I will kill you and then kill myself. That is a promise, not to you but to myself and the Goddess who watches over Madurai.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_KcJzfUjKM&t=11s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYJOEbiAd4E

Avan, Aval, Adhu 359

When we were born, nobody gave us a lesson on how to breathe. We just did. The same thing happens with love. Nobody tells you how to love. We just do. Life can be awful. Life can be ugly. And still, there are those who smile at the darkness, anticipating the beauty of an eventual sunrise.

Ravi along with Parthiban stood watching as both Dharmalinga Thevar and Inspector Guna departed in their vehicles and seeing their red tail lights recede and then flash into brightness due to the brake pedal being pressed, ' Partha, I feel a sense of foreboding fill my heart. I don't think it is going to go well tomorrow.'

' Then don't you think it is better that you think hard about what you are going to say or rather what you are not going to say when you meet Meenakshi tomorrow morning.'

Both of them turned hearing Daksha's voice and Ravi nodded and said, ' I guess so. But my head is swirling like a muddied pond right now and I am not able to concentrate on one thing. Maybe, a night of good sleep will clear up all the mud and fog that is clogging my brain and I will come up with something to convince Meenakshi when I meet her.'

' Don't fool yourself, master sir. Please don't for you are way smarter than that.'

Partha shot out impatiently, ' Ducks, sweetie, why are you harassing him with all these incisive questions? Give him a break. Have you forgotten we nearly lost him and that it is only through a miracle and God's grace that he has come back to us?'

' I am sorry Partha but Master has come back not due to some miracle or divine grace but because of Madhu. Thanks to her, Ravi has been given a new lease on life. But..'

Parthiban swore in anger, fear, and out of sheer frustration, ' There you go again with that But followed by a pause, along with your unspoken thought.'

Daksha glared at Parthiban, ' Hubby, sweet cub, shut your hole and keep it shut while the elders do the talking. All right.'

Parthiban froze and nodded in fear for he knew what that tone meant. It meant business and it also meant that she would brook no nonsense or contradiction.

Then both heard a strange noise and wondering what it was turned and saw Ravi go red in his face and then unable to hold his laughter, burst out with it. Like a waterfall that gurgled its roars, he laughed and all Parthiban could do was stand red-faced not in laughter but in shame and embarrassment.

Ravi pointed to Partha, ' dei, the look on your face is priceless. I swear on my mum, whenever I am down or feel sad, I am going to recollect this look of yours and I bet that I am going to feel instantly better.'

Partha swore angrily, ' Idiot, my wife threatens me and asks me to shut my hole and you find that funny. Brutus. Traitor. Nandri kettavane.'

' Dinner is ready, kids. Come in and eat it while it is hot.'

All three of them stared at Rasaathi Ammal and all whispered their own version of answers. ' Okay. Coming. Give us a few minutes amma.'

Daksha moved closer to Ravi and looked at him with a strange kind of tenderness in her eyes and then she asked him, ' Ravi, Meenakshi launched a secret and deadly attack on Gayatri who she perceived as a threat, and that too after having met her just once. Just once and that meeting did not last more than a few minutes. Yet, she became a target for Meenakshi and her goons.'

She smiled sadly and grabbed hold of Ravi's shirt, ' Master, just imagine what her reaction might be, will be when she realizes that Madhu is back in town and most probably is back in your life.'

Parthiban mumbled ' She will go ballistic! No doubt about that.'

Ravi had only his immense patience to offer at that moment and so he looked at Daksha patiently and replied in a very slow and methodical manner.

' Ducks, honestly, I am as lost as anyone right now. I am tired, hungry, and sleepy. So, ask me these questions tomorrow and I promise you that I will answer them to your satisfaction.'

Daksha accepted his answer cheerfully and Parthiban's face was full of relief and joy and then it just vanished. Like a pebble that lands on a still and calm pond and sends water splashing and rippling away, Daksha's question did the same and felt the same to him.

' Okay, since you have been kind of all closey-closey and kissy-kissy with both the missy's, what does your heart tell you, wise and learned one? Who does your heart desire, Madhu or Gayatri?'

' Oh f..k, ducks ' Partha groaned loudly and stood glaring at his wife.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3Ufk-ZgF9U

Avan, Aval, Adhu 360

Nothing flickered in his eyes or on his face. No nervous tic or twitch that would indicate that Daksha's question had upset him or the timing of it had suddenly thrown his mind off balance. Instead, his face seemed calm and tranquil like the surface of a lake that had suddenly decided to go into a deep sleep without even a tiny blip of a wave.

' Is that it ' Daksha said and pointed to him, ' this calm and your cliched Buddha look is all you have for an answer?'

' No, I do have an answer, Ducks. But, before I give you my answer, tell me why you keep doing this.. even though?'

' Even though' Daksha echoed his words in a challenging tone and continued, ' even though it is disconcerting and uncomfortable for you to answer?'

Ravi shook his head and pointed to her, ' Even though it makes you uncomfortable to ask them.'

Partha looked at his wife, ' Ducks, then why do you persist in tormenting him with all your stinging questions?

Ravi smiled and said, ' Ducks, there is no need to answer our questions. But, I will answer your question for it is one that I have asked myself several times over the past few days.'

Partha growled his exasperation and said, ' Dei, Ravi. Podhum da. Dinner is ready da. I am so hungry. Let's eat and get some sleep. I don't know about you but I am dead tired.'

With a face full of concern, he looked at Partha and said, ' I am sorry da. You are right. You must be starving. So go ahead and eat something while Daksha and I finish our Q&A chat.'

Daksha nodded, ' Yes, Partha. Go ahead and start off with dinner. We will join you in a few minutes.'

Partha's face reflected his confusion and then flashed a bright smile, ' Come on guys. Stop messing with me.'

He lost the smile the moment he saw Ravi's face and then he saw his friend's eyes flick toward the house, subtly signaling him to go in and give him and Daksha a few moments of privacy.

Watching him go, Daksha said, ' Oh God, we are not going to hear the end of this. He is going to moan and bawl like a tot in a toy shop and say that I am putting a wedge between him and you.'

' I will talk to him ' Ravi said in a soft and loving voice and looked at Daksha, ' To answer your question in simple words, nothing will compare to what I feel with Madhu or how she makes me feel about myself and about this world.'

' Ok, Ravi. I can kind of understand that but then why did you lose it with Gayatri? What did you see in her that made you fall for her? The reason I am asking this question is because of the self-imposed celibacy that you followed for more than twenty-five years. But you broke it for her. I mean...'

Ravi looked at her and it was clear to Daksha that even he was not sure why he had broken his vow to himself and to Madhu.

' Ravi, forget Madhu and Gayatri, for even you will agree to the fact that Meenakshi is much better looking than both of them. Okay, forget her and instead let's talk about all the women who proposed to you over the years and who were all pretty decent looking. Some of them were even downright stunning. You turned all of them down but not Gayatri. Why?'

Daksha shook her head in disbelief, ' Nobody would have grudged you if you had slept around or may be carried on a secret affair or worse, pay an occasional visit to the night spots in Madurai on the sly. But, you didn't do that. That is not your style. Yet, you gave up all of that for Gayatri. Why?'

A sarcastic smile filled her face, ' She was not an easy person to get along with and it is obvious she has a very short fuse. If I have judged her thus, then I bet my life that you judged her too and came up with your own opinion of her. Am I correct?'

Ravi buried his face in his large hands and mumbled, ' You are correct Ducks. I did judge her and I did form an opinion about her but mine differed a lot from you and that is why I became close with her. What you saw as flaws in her, I saw them as her strengths.'

He slowly looked up at the full moon that was climbing in the sky and said, ' I saw something else that none of you can see. I saw something in her that reminded me of....'

Daksha pounced on him and his words and said, ' Reminded me of.. go on Ravi and say it.'

' Reminded me of Madhu.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8rnnC5fJ34