From & To Sathish #5 - Page 107

Avan, Aval, Adhu 362

Life means change. Life means evolution. Life means death. Every element in your body contains the death remnants of thousands of stars which were hundreds if not thousands of times bigger than our own solo superstar. Mighty, gigantic stars that burnt their lives away and exploded as supernovas and in the process littered the space, that part of the universe around them with their remains. It is much like those young and famous stars who died young after a meteoric rise to fame in the fields of music and movies and lived a fast and free life full of drugs and booze and then fizzled away in death.

Life comes to all but all that which has life does not mean that it is alive or living well. But death comes to all that life in the end. It is the change of eternity and one golden rule that must surely encompass the whole universe with its law of certainty. Maatram ondru thaan nichayam. There are no ifs and buts in death for when you are dead, you really are.

I am the oldest living human being or nearly human thing that is still alive and thinking on this four and half billion-year planet. My blind mother named me Azhagan and I called her Avini.

I have seen mighty empires crumble and collapse and lay in the dust as dust. I have seen with my own eyes mighty kings and leaders die at a young and of old age. Death comes to us all in the end and I am sure one day, it will come for me. There have been times when I have wanted it and willed it to come but somehow death has cheated me by staying away from me. No, don't get me wrong. It stays away not out of fear but out of some strange purpose.

I remember my old master's words as he spoke to my mind from the ancient hidden ruins in "Sairandhrivanam" after my mother was murdered and I wandered lost to the world.

The old master " Fool, stupid, young fool. Death is not the final story just as life is not the beginning. All of us, from the smallest particle to mighty stars and even those that are invisible are moving to and fro connected to the source and those movements are life and the tale of our lives. You know this, you understand this, and yet you refuse to rise above your bondage and come to terms with what you are really supposed to be doing. My child, you have the gift and so please don't waste it on petty issues such as love, lust, and revenge. My child, you are the light. You are the bringer of peace and you have been created for a higher purpose.'

For more about this chapter from " The Boy who went into the Dark and came back with Light" follow this link and it will take you back in time to seven years ago when it all started.

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/other-topics/4327334/from-to-sathish-thread-3?pn=29

Azhagan's phone rang and he answered it, ' Hello Raman.'

' My lord is everything okay? How are things in Madurai?'

Azhagan quickly explained what was happening and informed Raman about the cars and how he had them sent away in opposite directions.

Raman wondered aloud, ' Two cars. Are you in one of them and if that is so, then who is watching over Mrs. Premji?'

' Nobody for she is right here in the hotel but in a different room and I am here right in the middle of it all.'

' Then, what about the cars? Who are in the cars?'

Azhagan smiled and said, ' Trusted people who can take care of themselves.'

Hearing Raman, groan in misery, Azhagan calmed him down by saying, ' Don't worry, Raman. There will be no bloodshed for now. Neither in the hotel nor out on the road and in those cars.'

Sensing Raman's disbelief through the silence, ' Don't worry about it. I am here and I will take care of it and if it comes to that, I will take it to the next level.'

' Oh God, no. Please no. Don't do that, sir ' Raman pleaded hurriedly and said, ' I know what your next level means and I don't want that right now. We have so much left to do and we are still in the dark about who was the head of that secret group " Sons of Gaia ". Moreover, this woman Meenakshi is no ordinary person and has very powerful connections. Her father is the ruling party MLA in Madurai although he seems to be a very kind and humble person. So, one step at a time, my lord.'

' Fair enough. But, Raman, you forget that all this started with me right here in Madurai and in a forest not far away from here. Also, you are forgetting that the person, the shadow behind all this might be right here too and waiting for me and the rest of my kind.'

' No, my lord. I am not forgetting anything.'

' Ah! I see the reason now why you so hurriedly requested me to go to Madurai instead of sending someone else who could have as easily taken care of these petty goons and silly thugs sent by Meenakshi.'

' You are correct, my lord but there are also other reasons behind this and one of them is my instinct which told me to request your presence in Madurai.'

Azhagan smiled, ' All right. Like I said in the plane, you are as good as me or even better than me and I personally would lean towards the latter.'

' No, my lord. You are the original and I remain just a copy of yours.'

' Not a copy, child. But a better version than me.'

At about this time, the patrol cars dispatched by Sub-Inspector Maarimuthu caught up with the cars that they were following and lit up the police beacons along with their sirens.

The first car to be stopped was the one Azhagan had been driving with Madhu in it and it was stopped just outside Madurai. The two traffic cops peered into the car and saw its lone occupant behind the wheel.

She smiled and spoke in flawless English, ' How can I help you, gentlemen?'

Both the cops wore a similar expression that Jackals have when they turn a corner and come face to face with their worst fears and nightmares. The king of the jungle.

This is exactly how cops react when someone speaks to them in Convent English for automatically in their heads, they go " rich and powerful people" and in the process sadly reveal their inferiority complex and insecurities when it comes to the language of our yesteryear English rulers. Looters and Murderers.

Both the cops mumbled, ' Sarri, sarri madam ', and one of the called SI Maarimuthu and informed him about the situation.

' One woman. Alone? Are you sure about the car?' he mumbled and then he asked them to check the car thoroughly and if possible bully the occupant for information and ended the call by saying that another call was coming in.

' Hello, solluya.'

' Sir, there is no woman in this car. Only one man, a young man, who is on his way to his village.'

SI Maarimuthu lost his cool and yelled, ' How is this possible? Something fishy is going on here. Arrest him and bring him back to the station. At least we will have something to report to madam when she calls back.'

The traffic constable whined sadly, ' Sir, how can we arrest a person? It is not in our jurisdiction.'

The angry screams of their Sub Inspector were so loud that the constable was forced to quickly move the phone away from his ear and then he and his fellow constable along with the young man they had stopped heard the ravings and ranting of SI Maarimuthu.

"Section 179 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988- Disobedience of orders, obstruction, and refusal of information, Section 119 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988-Duty to obey traffic signs, Section 184 of Motor Vehicle Act,1988- Driving dangerously, Section 185 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988- Driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs."

Then a lull fell and was quickly followed by a softer and breathless voice that told them, ' Use any section. But bring him back to the station. Use force if necessary. I don't know what you will do but bring him back here or don't come back.'

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RspsrYILI3I

Avan, Aval, Adhu 363

Ravi and Daksha both sat down and joined Parthiban and Rasaathi Ammal for dinner. As expected, Parthiban began to praise ecstatically each time a bit of food touched his lips and the tempo only increased as he swallowed it.

' Aha, oh oh! Awesome, Super, fantastic. This is the best fish curry I have had in my whole life ' and saying that, two idlis would disappear down his throat and he would resume praising Rasaathi Ammal's culinary skills.

Ravi smiled and then he lost himself in himself and in Madhu and soon tuned off his senses to the outside world. Then sensing something awry and feeling someone's eyes on him, he shook himself out of his reverie and glanced towards the others and found all three of them staring at him.

Unsure of the reason why they were staring at him, he smiled thinly, ' Sorry, did I miss something? Did one of you say something or ask some question?'

Rasaathi Ammal returned the thin smile and said, ' No, you did not miss anything and none of us asked you anything.'

' Then why are you people looking at me? staring at me as if I was some kind of strange animal inside a cage.'

Daksha's eyes lit up like flower pot crackers and she gushed, ' You took the words out of my mouth, master. But, you are right, we are staring at you for you are acting a bit weirdly.'

Shocked and flustered, Ravi blustered, ' I am doing nothing weird or anything remotely close to it. All I am doing is eating quietly.'

Parthiban who was still fuming for having been sent away by him and Daksha grinned and pointed to his face and said, ' Eating quietly, maybe but what' with that happy look on your face, that seems to proclaim that you are in heaven right now.'

Daksha gushing sarcastically pointed out to Parthiban, ' Hubby, our master is in love and has finally met up with that love of all these years. That is why he looks so lost and out of it. Just like a junkie who has gotten his first fix of the day.'

Rasaathi Ammal's voice which had been angry and sad now displayed worry as she asked Ravi about Madhu.

' Where is she staying in Madurai? Is she safe? How did she know that you were in danger and how did she manage to come here so quickly?'

Ravi's confusion and lack of answers were writ large on his face and the ever-reliable Daksha jumped in with her incisive questions. ' Ravi, is she married? She must be. But if she too has remained unmarried and single all these years, I swear, your love story will be in my opinion the greatest story in the history of mankind.'

Ravi stared at the plate of food and answered them, ' I don't know where she is staying. I didn't ask her. But I know she is safe ' and then he slowly looked at Daksha, ' She is single... now. She was married but her husband passed away some years back.'

Parthiban gasped, ' What? Then why did she wait all these years to come here to you.'

Daksha angrily slapped her husband on his arm and said, ' You dodo. Idiot. Think before you ask such silly and hurtful questions.'

Partha retorted back,' What about all your hurtful questions? Why did you ask him if she was married or not when it is of no concern of yours?'

Rasaathi Ammal snapped at them, ' Kids, silence, please. Both of you are right in asking these questions because they were done so out of worry and concern.'

' Correct, amma ' Ravi said and looked at all of them and then seemingly lost for an answer proceeded to stare at the plate. ' It does not matter now and all that matter is that my Madhu is back and she is back for good. '

' My Madhu, careful boss, your feelings are showing ' Daksha commented and Ravi looked at her and smiled, ' Let it show. There is nothing wrong in those feelings.'

He looked at his mother, ' Amma, all these years you kept telling me to get married and that it will ease my pain and that it would make me feel less lonely. I resisted and refused and I am glad that I did so.'

A strange glow filled his face and it somehow made years drop away from Ravi's face and body, and then he smiled his trademark shy smile and it was like he was now in his twenties.

Pathiban choked on his food and cleared his throat, ' Dei Ravi, I don't know what this woman has done to you but I wish and pray that she does more of it. I have never seen you so happy and peaceful.'

' So, master, how was it seeing Madhu after so many years? What did you feel or what were you thinking?'

Ravi and Daksha glanced at each other and he read in her eyes why she had asked the question and with a shy smile, ' Ducks, I know why you have asked this question and I will answer it ' and raising a finger, ' but in my own way.'

' The Atcama desert in Chile is one of the driest places in the world and receives the lowest rainfall. Sometimes nothing for several years. But, when it does rain the whole desert transforms itself into a flower show. Seeds that were waiting to sprout for decades erupt in joy as moisture seeps into their bodies and they sprout, grow and bloom in a matter of days. It is one of the most beautiful sights in the world.'

He looked at all of them, ' My soul was like that desert and my love was like the seeds of those flowering plants. Dried up but not dead and waiting. Always waiting in hope for the heavens to cry and rain their tears down on me. It finally happened and only now do I see what all I have lost out in life.'

His eyes trapped his tears between their lids as if they did not want to part with their sadness or maybe even the reason for his existence and then he looked up and all of them saw that they were tears of joy and immense happiness.

' I feel healed and complete. I am able to breathe better, see better and hear better. Seeing her reminded me of what I was deprived of and all that had been denied to me.'

Wiping his tears, ' When she took me in her arms, I felt like I was finally home and that an angel had descended down from the skies to heal my soul and take me to heaven.'

Tapping his chest, ' All these years, I had felt this strange constriction in my chest that was unbearably painful. The moment Madhu touched me and hugged me, that pain, and constriction, vanished and it was as if a cage had been opened and a bird that symbolized all my sorrow finally left me in peace.'

All these years, I had this darkness inside me but now Madhu has come back as light and has filled me with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5woXjKJhr7E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KzN-I0ai-o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfckHjR3rs0

https://youtu.be/i4qBZcI45CY

Avan, Aval, Adhu 364

The two cars sent out by Azhagan had each been separately stopped by the Traffic police department on highways that were opposite to each other. The first vehicle and the main target of their search were the vehicle that Azhagan had used to drive Madhu around was stopped on NH 85 while it was on the way to Usilampatti. The other car was pulled over by the chasing Traffic police on NH 38 as it was approaching Melur.

The first car much to the two traffic cops was being driven by a woman who was the sole occupant of the vehicle. The two cops stared at each other for they were clueless as to what to do and how to do it. To top their misery, SI Maarimuthu had abruptly cut them off citing another incoming call as a reason.

Then, just as they were wondering what to do, the woman got out of the car and boldly approached them and very politely enquired as to the reasons why she had been stopped and that too on a highway and in the middle of the night.

' Gentlemen, do you both realize the troubles you are in? Stopping a vehicle without a valid reason. Stopping a vehicle being driven by a woman and that too when she is all alone and on a deserted highway after dark. That too without any women police for support. The best part is you are just traffic police, then she stared at the insignias on their uniforms and made a " Cluck, cluck " noise and shaking her head sadly said, 'One head constable and the other just a grade 2 constable and neither of you have any powers other than issuing a fine and that too not more than 100 rupees.'

Raising one beautifully manicured hand, the lady whispered politely, ' Please, just give me a moment while I confer about this to my superior.'

Both the traffic cops saw with their police-trained criminal eyes, not just the beautiful hand of the woman but the lean muscles that were like steel cords on her forearm and then they slowly took in the way she stood on her feet and the fearless way she looked at them and they realized that they were in for a difficult time.

One of them hurriedly apologized and said, ' Madam, you talk, we talk and get orders. Then we all talking together and decide. Okay, madam.'

He hurriedly called Sub-Inspector Maarimuthu and said, ' Iyaa, what do we do with this lady? She looks like she is very well connected.'

SI Maarimuthu yelled, ' Put some charge and drag that b..tch here to our station. Drunken driving, suspicious behaviour. Something. Just bring her back like the other team is going to bring that other chap here. '

' Sir ' the constable whined, ' I cannot make an arrest and moreover, she being a woman, we cannot arrest her without women officers. Sorry sir.'

SI Maarimuthu's instincts finally came alive as better sense prevailed, ' Okay, then just take her licence and some photos of her and let her go. If she wants her licence, then she will have to come crawling here to me. Then we will see what she is made of.'

On the opposite side of the same highway, and on NH 38 outside Melur, the young man who had been abruptly, rudely pulled over by the traffic patrol stood with his arms folded across his chest wearing an innocent look.

'Section 179 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988- Disobedience of orders, obstruction, and refusal of information, Section 119 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988-Duty to obey traffic signs, Section 184 of Motor Vehicle Act,1988- Driving dangerously, Section 185 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988- Driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs. Use any section. But bring him back to the station. Use force if necessary. I don't know what you will do but bring him back here or don't come back.'

He had heard every word of the man on the other side of the call and who was obviously their superior officer loud and clear and just when both the traffic patrol cops were wondering what to do or how to go about arresting him, he smiled and said, ' Gentleman, no problems. Don't worry and there is no need for arrest or any other illegal activities. I will willingly come with you. Let's go. You can take me where ever you want to and I will co-operate with you.

Both the cops heaved a sigh of relief and one of them said, ' Sir, you are a nice man. Our SI is a bad man. Always making problems for himself and for others like us.'

The other cop nodded his head vigorously, ' Aama sir. very true sir. Our SI is a bad man, wicked man and very corrupt man.'

The young man smiled, ' Officers, no formalities and no need for any explanations. Come, let's go and meet this SI of yours and see what is making him do what he is doing.'

Seeing him walk towards his vehicle, both the cops froze in shock and seeing their faces, the young man smiled, ' One of you come along with me while the other follows us in your vehicle.'

The young man got into the vehicle and tapped his ear and whispered, ' I am going to the police station. No worries. I can handle it. Promise. I will behave. I swear on you. But.... only if they behave well. Okay.'

' Sorry, that was my boss. Had to report in or else he will begin to worry and when that happens, things become a bit difficult for everyone.'

The traffic constable beside him spoke his thoughts aloud, ' Your boss must be one tough cookie. But, wait until you meet our SI Maarimuthu sir and then you will realize that your dad is a cupcake when compared to him.'

The young man turned and looked at the cop and began to laugh and the whole vehicle vibrated with his laugh and he kept laughing, chuckling all the way back to Madurai.

Meanwhile, SI Maarimuthu informed Meenakshi about what had happened.

' Thank you SI sir. At least we got one rat and maybe if that female comes back for her licence, then we will have nabbed both the rats. Good job.'

' Madam, I am sorry that I am forced to remind you about it but as a traffic cop, I can only arrest him and then hand him over to either the law & order or crime wing departments. I cannot hold him here in the station.'

' Don't worry about that for I have already contacted Inspector Anwar from the Narcotic Intelligence Bureau and he will be reaching you shortly. He will take care of everything. From planting drugs in that man's car and charging him with it. End of matter. He will be taken into custody and after a few days of beating will be ready to confess to even the killing of Mahatma Gandhi. Simple and end of the matter.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zXQlZbevWE&t=11s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6tDdKxUXdc

Avan, Aval, Adhu 365

In your light, I learn how to love.

In your beauty, how to make poems.

You dance inside my chest

where no one sees you,

but sometimes I do,

and that sight becomes this art. Rumi

' Ravi ' Rasaathi Ammal whispered his name and he knew from the way she said it that she was scared. Genuinely scared. He remembered and recollected from another time in the distant past when she had said his name in a similar way and in a similar tone. That moment had been when they had both stood by the hospital bed looking down on his father who was gasping his final breaths of life and gasping out his final moment of life.

He and his mother had known in their heart that he was gone and then moments later he really left them. Even though they both had known and had prepared for the worst after he had suffered a massive heart attack, the end when it came had been numbingly painful.

He had heard his mother whisper his name and nearly collapsed to the ground. But he had held her and hugged her with his strong arms and both had cried their hearts out to each other. Both stood with broken hearts and broken minds and both stood consoling each other.

He remembered her gently wiping his tears away using her saree and he remembered what he had said, ' What about you? Your pain and your tears? How am I going to console you? '

' The loss and pain are unbearable, Ravi but the pain I feel when I see you cry and suffer is a million times more when compared to my grief. I am a mother and this is a pain that is unique to mothers alone. There is no way to explain that process but believe me it is real. Seeing you cry and seeing you suffer makes me even forget the fact that I have just lost my husband who was also my best friend. We women deliver our babies and the world might think that we are not one anymore but they are wrong. Even when our bodies are separated, the bond remains. It is a spiritual bond and a pulse that resonates in every cell of a mother's body.

He went to her and hugged her as he had done that day, all those years ago, and said, ' Amma, remember what we spoke the day Appa passed away.'

Rasaathi Ammal stared at him, ' No, I cannot think properly right now for my mind is all numb with what has been happening to us these past few days.'

He wiped her eyes and placed soft and tender kisses on them and looked at her and said, ' True happiness is when you bring happiness to those you love and care deeply about. Pain, unbearable pain is when you see your loved ones suffer This is the price we pay for love. Extremes of joy and sorrow. One life with two sides like the two faces of a coin.'

Rasaathi Ammal smiled bitterly and looked at him pathetically, ' I remember saying those words. But, Ravi what does a person or what can a person do when their life becomes just suffering. How can a person cope when every day is filled with suffering? What shop will accept a coin that has the same face on both sides? What can you buy with pain but more pain?'

' Amma, things will get better. I promise you that everything is going to change and change very soon.'

' Maybe Ravi but that monster will forever haunt us and will never let us live in peace.'

' Okay, mother. Okay. You tell me what you want me to do and I will do it. Promise. I will do it without any objection.'

He stared at her and said, ' I love you. You are precious to me. So, tell me what you want to be done and I will do it.'

Rasaathi Ammal looked into her eyes and in a feeble and quivering voice said, ' Let us run away. Call your lady friend, Madhu, and let us go away somewhere far, far away from here. This is a huge world and maybe there is a place where we can live in peace and beyond the reach of that evil thing.'

Ravi stared at his mother and asked her soul using his eyes, ' Are you sure? Is this what you want to be done?'

Then, before thoughts could evolve and tumble out as decisions and goals, Daksha spoke her thoughts in her own characteristic way. In a brutally frank and chillingly honest manner.

' Okay, Mother and son along with Madhu flee, fly, and run away. But what about us and what about all those who are left behind? Who will take care of us ....' she paused and looked at Ravi and then slowly shifted her eyes and continued with her thoughts.

' What happens when Meenakshi unleashes her anger like a cobra uncoils itself before striking and lashes out at all those who care about you and at all those you care about? Who will protect the school, the children, and this village in case Meenakshi decides to make all of us her objects of affection? Sorry, Affliction.'

' Who will stand against her?'

Her questions unleashed thunder and lightning inside all of them but particularly in Ravi who stood staring at her.

Daksha smiled and asked, ' Master sir, will you be really able to live in peace far away from here and will you continue to live on in peace and with your love after having heard, bad and sad news from home? I mean Kumarapalayam and in that include our resort, Whispering Rocks.'