From & To Sathish #5 - Page 43

The blind beggar who was called Aghori baba and babaji by everyone in madurai is Dhana. He was the one along with Buddha who breathed life into Radhu as he lay dying in kavita's lap after being shot several times by the men hired by Jagatratchagan.

For more information and to recollect and remember better read chapters starting from 159 onwards

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/sensational-south/4919631/from-and-to-sathish-thread-4

Vaanathai Pola 429

How do you greet a former Chief Minister who is now a civilian and who now stands before you disguised as a beggar or something close to that level? What do you say or ask of a man who had become the youngest Chief Minister in the history of Tamil Nadu? How do you address a real hero who had nearly died trying to save the life of another on the stage during the public debate that was streaming live and watched by several million people?

Jeeva, Kamakshi, Mani, Shaktivel and Valliammai stood displaying various expressions as various emotions coursed through their hearts and minds. Almost all of those who proudly proclaimed themselves as " Tamilanda " were familiar with the name Dhanashekara Pandyan " and his story, although it had now largely faded away from the memory of the public. Out of sight. Out of mind.

Like the legend MGR who had won the state elections in 1984 as he lay battling for his life in a famous New York Hospital, Dhana too had won in a similar fashion. But his victory had come under a vastly different circumstance.

The late Makkal Thilagam, Puratchi Thalaivar MGR had been suffering from chronic diabetes which led to kidney failure and other complications which resulted in a stroke and was then flown to New York for surgery and treatment. He had left as the head of the state and returned again as the head of Tamil Nadu.

Seven years is the amount of time that has passed us by in this forum since the arrival of the character called Dhanashekara Pandyan. He was the hero of my second story " And the truth shall set you free " and then followed my thoughts into the next story as the one who narrates the story of Azhagan and Avini in my third story " The boy who went into the dark and came back with light." He made a brief appearance in the next story titled that was titled " Redemption " and did not feature much in Jannal Oram.

Dhana entered the story as Aghori Baba, a beggar kind of character in the current story of Vaanathai Pola when Radhu aka Radha Krishnan and Kavita entered the ancient and sacred forest of Perumalvaram. He was the one who along with Buddha arrived just in time to save Radhu's life as he lay dying after being shot several times by the criminals sent by Jagatratchagan the head of the Thevar community and the father of Selvam who Radhu had killed in self-defence and while defending several other innocent bystanders.

He sat as the beginning and as the end. On his left side sat Kamakshi and on his right sat Jeeva and Mani and Raman's parents Valliammai and Shaktivel completed the circle.

There is no end or start point in a circle and yet all their eyes were on Dhanashekara Pandyan and he gazed with friendly and caring eyes at all of them.

The doorbell rang and the chair Jeeva had been sitting on moved backwards as it scraped on the marble floor and she stood up and said, ' I will go and see who it is.'

Kamakshi thought to herself, ' Days go by before the doorbell rings and now it has rung twice and that too late in the night and has brought a Chief Minister who looks like he cannot afford a haircut. God knows who is going to come next. Maybe a Prime Minister.'

The little and faint hair on her hands raised their head like grass stalks as she felt Goosebumps all over her body and felt a tingle run through her mind and she heard him whisper, ' ma'am, you already met the sitting Prime Minister and even served him your exquisite Rava Kesari and he complimented you on your cooking. So, I, a former Chief Minister who resigned after a brief tenure is actually a step down for you and the others.'

Kamakshi looked into Dhana's eyes and saw something move and flare in them and was about to say something and he whispered in her head, ' No need to apologize ma'am. We are all family now.'

Then all of them heard Jeeva running into the dining hall and turned worriedly towards her but for Dhanashekara Pandyan who sat calmly, staring at Mani who sat in his wheelchair with his Arthritis riddled body.

Valliammai moving quickly to Jeeva's side, threw her arms around her in a protective manner and asked, ' Jeeva, what is it ?'

Jeeva slowly pointed towards the direction of the entrance and all of them turned and looked, wondering what was going on and then they stood frozen along with Jeeva.

It looked like a dog but it was not just a dog. It was something more and was unlike any other dog that any of them had ever seen in their lifetime. It walked majestically, like a lion, and yet it projected the mighty power of an elephant.

Dhana slowly stood up and said, ' I am sorry if this sudden appearance of my friend has you worried but he too is here for the same purpose and that is to protect all of you.'

Turning to the huge and scary looking beast of a dog, Dhana said, ' This is Buddha ' and then he did what appeared to all of them as a very sweet and endearing thing even though it was a bit weird in nature.

' Buddha, please meet, Jeeva, Kamakshi and Mani her parents and also Shaktivel and Valliammai, Raman's parents.'

The huge beast of a dog sat down and replied in what sounded like the most perfect British accent, ' Hello. I am pleased to meet all of you. Kindly forgive us both for arriving at this late hour. But, it could not be helped as like time and tide, Evil and evil men do not wait and keep coming and coming.

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

she pulled, I pushed

she went away and the distance was great

she pushed and I pulled

and I fell away and once again

time and space came between us

that which we felt was called love

that which is love was in fact magic glue

for each time we pushed and pulled

and went our ways

our soul and thoughts remained one

and full of love for one another

who is the form and who is the shadow

matters not for in the shade of our love

we bask and burn as one

and as fire and smoke

and in the embers and ash

we are one again

songs from my soul-Satish

Avan, Aval, Adhu 119

A few and more than the normal amount of spirits had been imbibed and the first one to show the effects of wine and brandy dancing a duet in her body was the usually uber-cool and graceful Daksha herself. Booze will do that to you, to me and to all of us. For, alcohol is a free spirit that works inside our bodies and does not distinguish on caste, colour and status of its host. It embraces all bodies in an equal manner and usually never fails to reveal their true and hidden facets. So, you see drunks from all manners and walks of life. There is no good drunk or an educated drunk. Just a drunk.

When people drink alcohol, their brain releases dopamine. Dopamine makes one feel good and feeling good causes people to relax, enjoy themselves, and engage more with others. Good conversations happen when the participants are very engaged in the discussion. If you’re not relaxed and not engaged, you can’t have a good conversation. And with the help of alcohol, you can find yourself having engaging conversations on topics about which your sober mind would claim you don’t care. Sometimes. And sometimes you enter into a meaty, heady discussion on something near and dear to you.

Daksha lowered her glass of brandy ( third one and lest we forget the wine) and stared at Ravi. Parthiban catching sight of this stare which felt more like animosity, gently patted her and said, ' baby, are you hungry? Shall I tell the cook to set the table?'

Ravi nodded in agreement because he had seen what Partha had seen and both knew very well from past experiences that Daksha could sometimes be brutally honest and forthcoming in both her questions and answers.

But both of them knew it was late for the spirits of the wine and brandy had joined together and had stroked and released the spirit of Daksha who waved her hand and said, ' I am not hungry. But, if you are, please go ahead my dear husband.'

Taking another sip from her glass, she enquired in a sweet but gruff manner, ' Master, I suppose, you will join Parthiban and leave me alone here.'

Ravi smiled and said, ' Ducks. You know better. We eat as one or we don't eat at all.'

Daksha howled and cheered and tried placing her glass on the table and just barely succeeded in doing so and yet some part of her seemed still alert to what was going on and she growled, ' Yeah, I know. I know that I have had too much to drink. It's okay, guys. For there is f..k all to do during this cold off-season months.'

Parthiban knew his wife very well and he knew that any attempts to stop her from talking her mind or diverting her attention from the topic on her mind would lead to her throwing her legendary temper tantrums which usually meant," Run, hide and save yourself."

Ravi had known for a long time knew that Daksha had been wanting to talk to him about something or worse confront him with it and it appeared that moment had indeed arrived and as was his nature, he leaned forward and placed his still half-full glass on the table. In that split second that he took to place the glass, he glanced subtly at Partha and it was enough. Partha understood that Ravi did not want him to interfere, mediate on his behalf, even though it was a very drunk Daksha.

Turning to Daksha, he asked her if she was okay and if there was anything on her mind that she wanted to share with him.

Daksha smiled and then her eyes flicked towards Partha and after holding his for a meaningful but long moment, she replied with a smile, ' Ravi, I envy you. I really f..king envy you and have envied you for a long, long time.'

Ravi sighed sadly and in understanding but it was misunderstood by Daksha who apologized drunkenly, ' I am sorry if I am offending you.....'

' No, ducks. You are not, ' and looking into her eyes walked willingly into the trap that she had laid for him and asked, ' why do you envy me, ducks?'

Avan, Aval, Adhu 120

The mere mention of the word Cancer usually scares the daylights out of most of us. But then there is the benign form of cancer and that scarier one which is called malignant.

The word envy means jealousy, discontentment, hate that are more like a malignant form of cancer. But like in cancer, envy too has a benign state which is filled with admiration, motivation, morale-booster etc.

Ravi repeated, ' Why do you envy me, Ducks?'

Daksha turned to Partha and winked her eye and flashed him a conspiratorial smile and raising her right hand, replied, ' I have but five fingers, master' and then slowly raising her left hand, ' no, ten fingers won't do for me to count out the reasons why I envy you, Ravi. But, I will try my best.'

Parthiban mumbled something and Daksha quickly pounced on him, ' you said, something babe. Sorry, but you need to speak up a bit more for me to hear you.'

His face was filled with concern, more for Ravi and less for his wife and his voice gave him them both away when he said, ' Baby, I am hungry. It is nearly 4.00 in the evening. Let's eat and carry on this chat at the dining table.'

' If you are hungry, please go ahead. I am not and you heard Ravi saying that we all eat as one or not at all.'

But neither her words nor her tone helped dissuade her husband Parthiban who insisted that they eat and talk or talk later and just like that, Daksha exploded.

' WTF is wrong with you, Partha? I told you once and I have told you twice. For heaven's sake, just let it go will you. We are all grown-ups here and none of us needs any protection, least of all our friend Ravi here and certainly, that too from me. So, just shut up and stay out of this.'

It was now Parthiban's turn to explode and he did and yelled, ' Our friend, Ravi. You say that and then with that same breath are willing and eager to ask him whatever damned question that comes to your mind.'

Daksha's eyes blazed in anger and frustration and Ravi saw the same in Partha's eyes and reading the cues very well, said, ' If you both don't calm down right away, you will be forcing me to leave in search of another place to stay.'

Both of them turned on him and Parthiban looked at him with surprise and spoke to him angrily, ' You will do that. You dare do that. Honestly, you had the f..king b..lls to tell that to both of us.'

Ravi smiled innocently, ' I would sooner lose my B.lls than see you both fight like alley-cats.'

And just like that the mood changed and all of them smiled and the smiles quickly turned into roaring laughter that matched the roaring fire of the cedarwood and Daksha downed her drink in one big gulp and slamming the glass on the table, yelled, ' Guys, I am sorry. Please, forgive me.'

' Ducks, there is nothing to forgive at least not with me for nothing you will say or ask of me will ever offend me. I swear it.'

Daksha paused her action of filling her glass with more brandy and ignoring both the question and Ravi looked at her husband Parthiban who turned his face away and then proceeded to fill her glass slowly.

' Ravi, I used the word envy for I am both jealous of you and at the same time admire you for what you are and the way you carry yourself?'

Parthiban turned and stared at Ravi whose face stayed serene and as always like stone.

Daksha prompted him for an answer, ' You are not going to say anything. Nothing. Neither a question nor an answer.'

Ravi smiled, ' You stated and did not question. Hence, I have no answer or questions.'

Parthiban could not contain his laughter that bubbled up and let it loose and rumble free through the air of their resort. Daksha glared at him and then looked at Ravi and mumbled, Hopeless. You just can't be helped.'

This only served to increase her husband's laughter and Daksha unable to take it, yelled, ' enough you dumbo. At least I tried while you are laughing away like a jackass. F..k you.'

Partha wiping his tears, said, ' yes, please. I am willing and ready.'

She smiled, ' always baby, always.'

They were interrupted by Ravi's question, ' Ducks, why do you envy me?' and with a smile, ' You wanted me to ask it and I have obliged.'

There was a hint of sadness in the way he said it and the pain that it evoked in them felt like someone had run a stake through their hearts.

Daksha's eyes were wells of tears both from pain and guilt and she leant forward and planted a soft kiss on Ravi's cheek and said, ' Sweetheart, I envy you. Both of us do but that is not the point. What is the point is that you are hurting and have been hurting for a long time now and yet have done nothing about it.'

Ravi looked at her curiously and asked, ' What would you have me do Ducks? and turning to Partha, ' Dei, you too. Please, answer me. What do you want me to do?'

' See, it is easy to ask questions but very difficult to answer them. But, don't feel too bad about it for in life there are no right answers for all the right questions.'

Gayatri had dozed off and had slipped into a dream. In her dream, she heard some cries that tugged and pulled at her soul and she ran towards the source of the tears and found someone kneeling on the ground, sobbing in pain and great sorrow.'

The man turned and she felt her heart stop beating and her whole body turn cold for it was Ravi who was doing the crying and raising his arms he asked, ' What do you want from me? What do you want from one who is broken and is just enduring his remaining time and life? I have nothing. I have nothing left inside me for she took it all away and never gave it back.'

She woke up from her dream screaming, ' Ravi, Ravi. No. Don't cry. I promise I will leave you alone in peace. I don't want anything from you.'

She looked at the driver who chose discretion and keeping his eyes fixed on the road informed her that they would reach Whispering Rocks soon.

https://youtu.be/3hAFdY5Bvoc

Avan, Aval, Adhu 121

Here it was, the problem. The pain and the suffering. Here he sat and right in front of them, their best friend, who they loved as much as they loved each other and probably respected more. Here he sat with them along with that large elephant in the room that he had swept away under the carpet.

' But, Ravi. It has been 25 years. 25 fuc.ing long years since Madhu left you and Kumarapalayam behind and that too suddenly' Daksha stated emphatically and looked at Partha, seeking his support.

But, now as always when it came to matters concerning his best friend, Parthiban chose discretion and elected to stare at the carpet. Daksha deciding that she would have to forge on alone cursed him silently with her eyes and turned to Ravi who smiled and said, ' I know it has been 25 years, ducks but believe me, most of them have been beautiful.'

Parthiban who had made up his mind to stay out of it, could not help himself and asked Ravi, ' Beautiful. How is that possible with her somewhere in Mumbai and you here all alone?'

Then as if he had suddenly realized something, his face full with an expression of understanding Parthiban said, ' You mean all the work that you do in the village concerning the children, their education and securing their futures ' and smiling happily, ' you are right da, Ravi, That is a beautiful thing.'

' I did not mean that and what I do in the village, with the school has nothing to do with my years being beautiful.'

This answer stumped both husband and wife and realizing that there was more to their friend than they had previously assumed and wrongly so, Parthiban and Daksha decided that it was better to stick with the questions and leave the answering part to Ravi.

Partha looked at Ravi, ' Dei, I am sorry da. Let it go. Just let it go and lets change the topic. What you do with your life is your choice and your karma? In the end, we have to sleep in the bed that we make.'

Strangely, Ravi ignored Partha's words and instead turned to speak to Daksha. ' Envy. You envy me. For what? For being calm, composed in any given situation. For all the work I have done with Kumarapalayam. Is that why you envy me, ducks?

Daksha smiled and preening slightly shook her head, ' You are mistaken. Ravi. When I used the word envy, I specifically used it in the context of your love and how you have lived with it for more than 25 years. It is practically unheard of and I think you are the only one that I know of that is in this rather unique situation.'

' 25 Years. Okay. How many years has it been since you guys got hitched?'

' It will be 15 years next month' Daksha answered and Ravi smiled and said, ' Advance wedding anniversary wishes.'

Taking a sip of his glass, he looked at both of them and dropped a bombshell of a question, ' Has one of you been unfaithful to the other?'

Realizing that the conversation had suddenly gotten serious, Daksha shook her head and Partha followed suit.

Ravi smiled, ' I know that and yet I asked and ask again why you have not been unfaithful to each other?'

Daksha raised her eyebrows in an expression and said, ' Because we are married and because we are in love with each other.'

' That is the same way I feel about Madhu and that is the exact way I have been living out these past 25 years. Tell me, what is different from your situation and the one I am in.'

Partha nodded his head in agreement forcing Daksha to raise both her hands and whisper, ' WTF is wrong with you. Stop nodding and bobbing your head like those birds out on the lake. Say something, baby.'

Partha placed his glass on the table with force and quickly followed it with a few sorry's and then looked at Ravi, ' Permission to speak freely, chief.'

' As if you need it, Partha. But, just to humour you, permission granted to speak freely and from the heart.'

' Ravi, we have been so happily married for the past 15 years. You, on the other hand, have been living a life of a bachelor and that of a monk and yet, you compare your life with ours. How is that even possible for it does not make sense at all? It is okay if you were a character in some story, a fairy tale but you are not. It does not make sense at all, Ravi. Not unless there is something wrong with you.'

Daksha slapped his thigh and scolded him, ' I wanted you to talk not decipher or diagnose Ravi's mental situation.'

' It's okay ducks. Partha did not say anything wrong for I myself have many a time asked myself this question. Am I insane, weird and a bit of a psycho?'

Ravi stopped with that and fell silent and just looked at them and Daksha in a pleading voice asked, ' What did you say? I mean what answer did you find for your own questions?'

' That there is nothing wrong with me and that I am perfectly fine the way I am.'

Parthiban, in a frustrated voice, declared, ' No. No, you are not. You spend almost all your time in the school and with the students. If that is not enough, then you drown yourself with the village and all the other towns around Kumarapalayam and are actively involved in their civic matters.'

Ravi looked at Partha for a long time and said, ' I am disappointed that my friend thinks this of me and that too for many a year now. It's okay. But let me set this right, right now.'

Getting to his feet, he looked at both of them and said, ' What I do with the school and the village and towns around us has nothing to do with what I have with Madhu. They both are different. I would have carried on my life working with children and their education even if I had never met Madhu.'

Daksha realizing that they had misjudged him and misread him, stood up and hugged him and said, ' Ravi baby, but Madhu is gone. She has been gone for 25 years now.'

Ravi gently kissed her cheek and said, ' Ducks, that is where both of you are wrong. Really wrong' and patting his chest, ' She is here. always here and has never left me.'

Sighing sadly, he said, ' I am going out to stretch my legs for a bit. It will do good for my thoughts and am sure I am going to come back with an appetite. So, make something and I will back in half an hour or so.'

Then he reached for the box guitar and picking it up, said shyly, ' Good, I can now howl and bray in peace without you kids bullying me about it. Bye.'

Placing the guitar on his shoulder, he mimicked Shah Rukh khan so perfectly that both his friends were soon rolling on the ground in laughter.

A few minutes after Ravi disappeared into the mists of Kodai, both of them looked towards the direction of the gate for the sounds of a large vehicle were clearly heard coming through the driveway.

Daksha looked at Partha and said, ' No bookings and no enquiring calls either. That means bonus customers in this off-season times.'

She hurriedly cleared the table and joined Partha at the reception table and both of them looked eagerly at the door that was covered by the mists of Kodai and saw a woman walk through it.

Vaanathai Pola 430

“Magic exists. Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind and the silence of the stars? Anyone who has loved has been touched by magic. It is such a simple and such an extraordinary part of the lives we live.” Nora Roberts

The natures of Shaktivel and his wife Valliammai were very similar to Jeeva's father Manigandan and true to their nature, they sat quietly, observing the huge dog that called itself Buddha that had just introduced itself to all of them. If the unheralded arrival of a former Chief Minister was not shocking enough, hearing a dog talk and that too in flawless English was too much for Kamakshi, who not knowing how to react, turned to her daughter and said, ' Endi, Jeeva, Anda nai pesuthu. Did I just hear a dog talk?' and then she hurriedly looked at the others and asked, ' Did you hear that dog talk or was it just my imagination?'

Manigandan mumbled to himself but his voice carried clearly to everyone and Kamakshi turned on him angrily, ' What do you mean that this dog is a welcome change? Are you all crazy? That is a dog talking.'

Buddha's jaws opened wide in a smile and he said, ' Ma'am, what he means is that he is tired of hearing you talk nonstop about cooking, tv serials and other gossips and for a change would rather chat with me.'

Jeeva used this moment to slip away, using the pretext that she needed to check on the twins and entering her room, hurriedly called Kavita.

' Hello, Jeeva. How are you doing?'

' I am okay Kavita.'

Kavita's senses tingled as she picked up on the confusion and panic in Jeeva's voice and asked her what was wrong. Getting a call from someone and that too who you are very close with is always a cause for concern.

' Kavita, I know it will sound weird but I want you and Radhu to come to my house immediately. I am sorry but there is someone here and he is not alone. A dog, a really huge dog is also here and they both are together.'

' What do they want, Jeeva? Did the man tell you why he is here? Why haven't you called the cops?'

Jeeva did not know what to say and how to say it and after struggling for a few moments, said, ' I know this will sound strange but he is a blind beggar.'

The moment she said it, Kavita yelled, ' He is there. In your house right now. Dhana, is there right now ' and then remembering something, ' is there a lion with him?'

' No lion. But this dog looks like it can have a lion for breakfast and an elephant for lunch and still have some space left for another large meal.'

Outside, in the dining hall, Dhana who heard every word of the conversation, smiled and then covering his mouth and his smile, looked away from all of them.

Buddha too had heard every word, loud and clear and turning, glared at Dhana and said, ' HE too did the same thing at the airport and had me morph into a fat dog then had the gall to call me Chunky. Imagine that. Not satisfied with me disguised as a fat female labrador, he kept making jibes about my belly and girth. Now, here you are, smiling at my expense while the lady inside is discussing my food habits.'

' And you people call yourselves my friends. Fat chance' Buddha said and getting up stood on all four paws and said, ' I am going to watch over the children ' and was about to leave when Kamakshi whispered, ' Yes, the dog does look a bit overweight. Maybe, I can cook something that will help it to lose weight.'

That was it and unable to control his laughter, Dhana let it burst and rumble out of his chest. Buddha gave him another glare and walked away towards the bedroom.

Jeeva who had just finished talking to Kavita seeing Buddha enter, asked him, ' Can I help you?'

' Buddha. My name is Buddha, my lady. Feel free to use that name.'

' I will soon enough. So, how can I help you...... Mr Buddha?'

Buddha smiled, ' Not you, my lady. We both, me and Lord Dhanashekara Pandyan. We are here to help you. My duty is to watch over the children.'

Jeeva not knowing what to say or how to say it just nodded and said, ' Okay. But, I am going to be here....'

' Until Kavita and Radhu arrive and tell you and the others that it is okay. Fair enough.'

Jeeva was shocked and with a bit of a stutter, ' what? how, I was here and you were there?'

' My lady. With the little power that you were blessed with by our prince Nikhil, you see and hear so much. Imagine me, who was born this way?'

Jeeva's face revealed the relief that her mind felt and she said, ' True, Mr Buddha. If Nikhil had not arrived at that moment to save me and the twins, God knows what would have happened.'

Buddha smiled and comforted her, ' I don't know about God, my lady but I know this much for certain. No harm would have come to you or the twins.'

Jeeva looked at Buddha and asked, ' How can you be so sure?'

' Because you and the children are a part of Lord Raman.'

Jeeva felt something tug at her womb and a sense of warmth fill her chest and breasts asked tentatively, ' Lord Raman. Lord, my Ram is now a Lord. Beautiful. Just Beautiful, Mr Buddha.'

Then her brows furrowed and the thought leaked out as a question first as a spark in her eyes and then as thunder through her lips.

Jeeva stood up and stared hard at Buddha.

' Why are you calling my husband, Lord Raman? What has happened that has turned him into a Lord?'

Avan, Aval, Adhu 122

The weather apparently was in a joyous and playful Holi Mood but sadly without the colours that give that festival its halo and aura. Instead, the Kodaikanal weather had to make do with the fine, white misty clouds and so it gently threw a veil around Gayatri as she got out of the car and saw that the visibility had shrunk dramatically but caught sight of the boards that announced the way towards the Reception area.

The driver of Dharmalinga Thevar told requested her to go ahead while he parked the car in a vantage spot and brought in her luggage. Gayatri smiled and taking a 2000 rupee note from her handbag, offered it to him and said, ' Thank you. Thank you so much for taking all the trouble to drive me all the way here.'

The man jumped back but was held in place by the very vehicle he was driving and he yelped in fear and shock, ' Madam, amma, What do you think you are doing?' and pointing to the note, ' Please put your money back in the bag. I don't want it and don't have the need for it.'

She stared at him hard and then smiled relaxedly and said, ' Your boss is not here. So, no need to worry about him finding out. This is something that I want to do and feel like doing. So, please take it.'

The driver smiled and said, ' Ma'am, you are mistaken. I am sorry for correcting you but I have been forced by your words to do so. Please forgive me for my impertinence.'

' What did I say wrong? '

' Ma'am, you said Iyaa is not here. You are wrong. For, Iyaa is here.'

' what? where? How did he manage that and that too before us?'

' Ma'am, I meant me and not that he is here physically.'

Gayatri smiled and hung her head in realization and said, ' It is just a gift. A token of my appreciation.'

The driver smiled realizing that Gayatri had finally clued in on what he had been trying to tell her.

' Ma'am, I know it is a gift and that it is pure in nature but I cannot take it for I too like Iyaa and Master Iyaa belong to the old world.'

He nodded, ' You too, ma'am are from the old world but with one foot in the new and different world.'

She nodded and said, ' Okay sir. I will bite and ask the question. What is the old world?'

' A world that has more or less faded into oblivion and I see that rot right here in Madurai. All people care about is power, money, drink, I-phones and fancy cars. Gone are honour, self-respect, discipline and a code of conduct for personal and public life.'

Pointing to the 2000 rupee note, ' Ma'am, what would my culture think of me and how do you think it will judge me if I take the money that you are offering as a gift?'

' Ma'am, you risked your own life and saved two of our children and nearly lost of your life in the process. Forget Kodai ma'am, I would be happy and honoured to drive you to even Kashmir if you say so. We and the village are in your debt, ma'am and it is a debt that can never be paid. At least not in this life.'

Gayatri shook her head and said, ' wow!

The driver bent his head in embarrassment and in a soft and humble voice requested her to go ahead while he brought out the luggage.

Gayatri reached out and gently squeezed his arm and said, ' I have heard of a saying that states that as long as there are good and decent souls on this earth, the sun will not stop shining. The rains will not stop falling and the earth will not stop spinning.'

They stood, souls from south and north. Old and young and both stood drowning in the silence of the good and kind world. The mists swirled and pirouetted around them. Maybe thinking they were dancers in some great ballet performance and Gayatri remembering something, looked at the driver, ' I am not sure if I can ask this and I am sure you cannot answer it but my curiosity has gotten the better of me.'

' Amma, please ask. If I can I will answer and if I cannot I will just hang my head and stare at the ground.'

' Why is your boss, Mr Dharmalinga Thevar taking so many pains to look after me and why go to all this trouble of sending me in his own vehicle?'

The driver smiled and said, ' I think you know the answer to that. He feels that the village is in your debt and more than that, he thinks of you as his own child and also because you are .......'

' because I am Ravi's guest and friend. Because I am interested in Ravi or is it more than that.'

True to his words, the driver bent his head and became busy removing Gayatri's luggage from the vehicle's boot and without a word headed off towards the cottage that served as the reception and office area.

' Poor man. can't blame him for doing his job ' Gayatri thought to herself and then she heard the faint notes of a voice. Her whole body was covered with goose pimples and before she even knew it, her heart slipped into a higher gear and began to race at a faster pace.

It was Ravi's voice she had heard and he was singing. She had never heard him sing but instantly recognized his voice. The mists seemed to act as a thick veil and were filtering out most of the sounds and yet his voice reached her and she headed unerringly in the direction they were coming from.

The December sun was bidding adieu much earlier to the hills and the lives of Kodai for it was sinking fast behind the stone giants that were the western Ghats and Gayatri caught sight of him standing with his back to her. He was staring out into the distance and was strumming a guitar and singing some sad, old Tamil song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLlWrQCCHv0

Raasaathi unna kaannadha nenju

Kaathaadi polaadudhu

Raasaathi unna kaannadha nenju

Kaathaadi polaadudhu

Pozhudhaagi pochu

Velakethiyaachu

Ponmaanae onna theduthu

Raasaathi unna kaannadha nenju

Kaathaadi polaadudhu