From & To Sathish #5 - Page 133

Avan, Aval Adhu 424

A hush fell over the room the moment Ravi said ' Okay. Thank you. ' and then proceeded to stare at the phone with a mystified look in his eyes. Since the others around him were all aware of the caller's identity, it didn't take too much thinking on their part to glean from Ravi's confused expression that Beedi man had confided something to him.

Even though Madhu had only now rejoined Ravi after having been separated for 25 long years, she could sense the mystified look on Ravi's face was something new and alien to him, and looked worriedly at his mother and friends whose eyes reflected her very thoughts.

Just when they were all collectively wondering about the nature of Beedi man's call, Ravi put all their minds at ease, and raising his mobile told them, ' That was Mr. Devathoothan who just called me.'

Then he exhaled loudly and exclaimed with wonder, ' No wonder their bodies were never found ' and looked at Partha and Daksha, ' Apparently, Beedi man was the one who removed all the bodies including that of the Paliyan before Inspector Guna reached Whispering rocks.'

' I think along with the Paliyan tribal, you more or less left the other three on the verge of death. So, what about the other two men?' Daksha asked him and Ravi shook his head, indicating that they must have gone to their fates that awaited them in the Kodai hills.

Ravi's voice sounded grim as he told them what Beedi man had conveyed to him.

' I don't think they will ever find the bodies of the dead and the dying or for that matter of fact the living, the remnants who fled the scene with a bag full of money. From the way Beedi man spoke, I think that money will be put to good use for the estate workers and for the members who belonged to the dead Paliyan's community.'

Partha smiled happily and in a relieved voice, ' Thank God. Now we can get on with our work and lives without having to constantly worry what each day or worse what each night will bring on all of us. I think we have seen enough horrors to last for a lifetime.'

' Not so soon, hubby. Don't be so quick with your presumptions ' Daksha said in a foreboding voice, and Partha making an exasperated sound, turned to chide her and quickly fell silent seeing her place a finger on her lips and point to Ravi who had walked towards the entrance door and stood staring at a calendar that hung beside it.

The photo in the calendar was that of Lord Muruga in the avatar of Kumaran, their village deity. He was in the form of a small boy holding a small stick in his left hand, presumably, his Vel that had been gifted to him by his mother Goddess Shakti.

Rasaathi Ammal felt a twinge of worry seeing Ravi staring at the calendar and told Madhu that it was an unusual sight to see her son doing what he was obviously doing.

' But Amma, he is just staring at the Lord's face. Why should that make you feel uneasy?'

' No, Madhu, he is not looking at Kumaran's face but at the date and to be exact, he is looking tomorrow's celestial timings.'

They fell silent seeing Ravi walk back to them with a bemused look on his face and shaking his head in disbelief, he giggled softly to himself and said, ' Unbelievable. There is something to this Beedi man after all.'

' Partha just told me that he was struck by lightning that should have killed him. Yet he lives ' Rasaathi Ammal said and taking his hands in hers, she asked him, ' What haven't you told us, Ravi? It is obvious that this Devathoothan confided something in you. Please, tell us what he told you?'

Ravi gave her a confused smile, ' I guess I will have to tell all of you what Beedi man told me. The reason is that most of what he said made no sense to me and he himself was honest enough to agree that he could not make any sense of his own predictions.'

Daksha folded her hands across her chest and said, ' Ravi, take your time and tell us everything and please, by that I mean everything. For all our lives are entwined with yours. So, you see, any decisions that you might and will make will affect us and hence it will be prudent that you confide in us before doing anything.'

Madhu nodded, ' Daksha is right. You by nature are very protective and sometimes over-protective.'

Ravi looked at her, ' Is that bad?'

Rasaathi Ammal replied to his question, ' Yes. When the lives and well-being of others are concerned, it is better to let them know of what is what instead of protecting them all the time.'

Parthiban looked at Ravi, ' Dei, master, you got hurt and were in a coma. What if trouble had come for us at that time? What chance would we have had to face it if we are in the dark, and are always kept in the dark?'

Ravi Kumar looked at them, ' I am sorry that all of you feel this way. Please accept my apologies. But right now, you are all wrong, and way off the mark for the truth of the matter is I have no idea what the man was going on about, for most of what he said made no sense at all.'

He looked at all of them and into their anxious eyes and said, ' Devathoothan told me that he had visions of the last day of the Kanda Shashti festival and that it is around the corner.'

Rasaathi Ammal went, ' What does that mean and how is that even possible? Kanda Shashti has come and gone and it has been nearly two months since that festival.'

Madhu looked at all of them, ' If what I remember is correct, then the last day of Kanda Shashti is Surasamharam. Right.'

All of them including Ravi gasped in shock and fear and looked at Madhu who turned to Rasaathi Ammal, ' Isn't that the day Lord Muruga kills the demon Surapadman?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC9NOQLzwWE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYmH8wOZ4Yg

https://www.proudhindudharma.com/2019/08/Vedic-discussion-with-muruga.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJI5hgdvsMg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2nYA330usU

Avan, Aval Adhu 425

Rasaathi Ammal wailed sadly, ' Surasamharam, war, death ' and slapping her forehead, yelled loudly, ' Is there no such thing as peace and happiness in our lives? Is that meant only for the privileged few and for those who terrorize people who are kind, simple, and live quiet lives?'

Then she pointed to a large photo of Lord Muruga in his Pazhanimalai avatar and said, ' We have been worshipping this God for so many donkey years, and for what? More sorrow and more pain?'

Ravi hugged her gently and said, ' Amma, please, calm down and please stop feeling sorry about what happened and what is happening in our lives right now.'

Then pointing to Madhu, ' Look at her. Take a good look at your future daughter-in-law and tell me if life does not turn out okay in the end. Even for all of us who have suffered so much.'

Wiping her tears gently, he said, ' Mother, where have you stowed all your immense faith and courage? Come now. Calm down and cheer up or else, I will start crying and that won't be a pretty sight and you know what it does to you when you see tears in my eyes.'

Rasaathi Ammal hurriedly shut his mouth with her right hand and shaking her head spoke in an imploring voice, ' Vendaam. Not you. I would rather die and stay dead than see tears in your eyes ' and hurriedly wiped her eyes and did her best but failed in her sad and weak smile.'

Placing a soft kiss on her forehead, he mumbled into her left ear, ' You have a guest standing in your house and you have to offer her a chair to sit on and something to drink or eat. Woman, where are your manners? Everyone in the village sings volumes about your kindness and grace and here you are acting out like one of those melodramatic mothers from those cringy Tamil serials.'

Mortified by Ravi's accusations, Rasaathi Ammal turned to Madhu and quickly apologized to her, and hurried away toward the kitchen. Seeing her go, Ravi smiled and requested Madhu and the others to sit down and make themselves comfortable.

They all sat around the ancient table that was made of teak and just as Ravi was about to speak, his mother yelled loudly from the kitchen.

' Don't start up without me. I too want to hear what you are about to tell your friends, Give me a few minutes and I will be there with you.'

A few minutes passed by before Parthiban suddenly jumped up and after sniffing the air, went, ' Great, hot steaming idlis with that famous mint chutney and along with her legendary Chettinad tomato and onion pachadi.'

Rasaathi Ammal yelled from the kitchen, ' Partha, there is also leftover dry fish curry in the fridge,. Take it out and warm it slightly in the oven.'

Daksha jumped to her feet yelling, ' Amma, did you say dry fish curry? ' and hearing Rasaathi Ammal say yes, clapped her hands loudly, ' Awesome ' and quickly whispered naughtily, ' Ravi, I am willing to forgive and forget your Mum rebuking me and teaching me manners and putting me in my place for her dry fish curry dish.'

Ravi smiled, ' Thank you. But no thank you. My mother does not need you to forgive her and likewise, you don't need to taste or even sample her food. How is that for your offer of forgiving my mum?'

Partha without even realizing that he was clapping, did so and yelled, ' Awesome. I like it. More food for me now.'

Madhu looked at Ravi and pointed to the dining table and he smiled, ' That is only for guests and for those who cannot sit on the ground. We rarely use it ' and went into the room and came out with a few straw mats and then placed some cushions on them. ' in case, anyone feels a burn in their backsides.'

' I am for the table. No sitting on the ground with my expensive titanium legs ' Partha announced and Madhu looked at him sadly as she recollected that fateful day when Parthiban had lost his legs.

' Parthiban, why go sit at that table when you can sit in a chair right next to us? Unless you find it difficult to hold a plate in your hands and eat from it?'

' Good idea, Madhu. I will sit next to all of you.'

Daksha sniggered and told Madhu, ' Don't believe what he says. His real intention is to sit next to the food and in as close proximity as possible.'

Madhu smiled and taking Ravi's hand in hers, kissed it lovingly and looked at all of them, ' Thank you for accepting me, and thank you for all the kindness and respect that you are showering on me.'

Her eyes were warm with hot and sweet tears and she gushed happily, ' I have never felt so happy and protected in my life. Thank you.'

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah997WK7EuQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-w2z_dvyfI

Avan, Aval Adhu 426

Rasaathi Ammal piled a huge plate full of idlis and placing a small hill of mint chutney next to the hot steaming rice cakes, proceeded to create what looked like a small pond on the plate with the dry fish curry and handed it to Parthiban who grabbed it from her hands and declared proudly, ' Now, I will show all you people how to enjoy good food ' and began attacking the idlis with gusto.

Daksha shook her head wearily and confessed ' That is not my husband but a poor and pitiful apparition of him. I don't know what comes over him when he sees food and why he behaves like this.'

Turning to Madhu, she pointed to Partha and complained, ' Look at the way he is gobbling his food. It's as if he has not eaten for days and has been starving for a long time. What does it convey about me and how I care for him?'

Madhurima not knowing what to say or how to say it, looked at Ravi who without any qualms scolded his mother, ' Amma, God himself knows what a kindhearted woman you are but is it really necessary to invite and feed starving animals and beggars inside the house? How are we humans supposed to eat with such specimens sitting right next to us?'

Parthiban looked at Ravi and belched so loudly that the floor vibrated and said, ' See, all of us are going to die one day. Sooner or later. My policy is to eat, drink and enjoy every moment of it. I don't want to spend the last days of my old life having any regrets about life and especially not about food and that too your mother's food.'

Belching loudly, he pointed a greasy finger towards the ceiling and all of them looked at the tiny dry anchovy stuck to it rather than look up at what or where he was pointing to. Partha calmly swallowed the dead and dry fish and announced, ' If I happen to go before God, my God, I am sure the first crime I will be accused of is not doing justice to great food and that to food like this. So, you can all stuff your comments where the sun doesn't shine and let me eat in peace and in happiness.'

Rasaathi Ammal smiled and gently patted Partha's head and told him to eat as much as he wanted and not to worry about anything else. Then sitting next to her son, she fixed him with a killer stare and growled, ' Now, master sir, out with everything that Devathoothan told you.'

Ravi smiled and asked her, ' Good news, bad news, or confusing news? What does my mother want to hear first?'

Parthiban belching, again and again, said, ' Tough choice da. Batting or bowling? and that too after winning the toss.'

Madhu asked in a curious voice, ' Good and bad we are used to but not confusing. So, please go with the confusing stuff first.'

Nodding his head, he said, ' Okay ' and looked at her and then slowly turned to Rasaathi Ammal, ' The boy will finally get his revenge and avenge a blinded mother. A new light will return to Kumarapalayam and two mothers will be reunited and a new master will rise again.'

Daksha went, ' WTF! Has Beedi man lost all his marbles?'

Parthiban wondered loudly, ' What boy and what new light and who is this blind mother?'

Madhurima closed her eyes and said, ' We don't know what he saw or felt in his head. The reason for that is maybe we don't see the entire picture in its context as yet.'

Ravi Kumar smiled, ' If that was not confusing enough, he then told me to convey this to the boy when I see him again.'

' Again?' Madhu whispered softly and looked at Ravi, ' Jaanu, that means you know this boy and you have already met him.'

' Madhu, do you think I would not be able to remember meeting a boy and his blind mother? No, I am sure I have not met anyone like that in my life.'

Rasaathi Ammal accepted his words and said, ' Okay, that is confusing news indeed. Now what about the bad news and how bad is it?'

' Bad in a way but also good in a way, mother and it all depends on the lady by my side.'

Madhu looked at him but said nothing and Ravi gave them the bad news that was given to him by Beedi man.

' Devathoothan said that if I and Madhu did not get married tomorrow then..........'

Madhu went still and slowly looked down and Rasaathi Ammal unable to take the suspense any longer yelled, ' For God's sake just say it and be done with it.'

' If Madhu and I don't get married tomorrow then we will never be married in this life.'