From & To Sathish #5 - Page 44

Vaanathai Pola 431 Let's go down to the underground world

The word Terra which means land or earth has its origin in the ancient language of Latin. If Terra means land then subterranean means under land or underground. All of us are familiar with that word for we have been in and out of basement parking lots or otherwise called underground parking. But, long before we were parking our cars down in underground basement car parking lots, our ancestors or to be more specific, another branch of our ancestors called the Neanderthals were already living in underground caves that were both natural and artificial.

Neanderthal construction sites in France have been dated to 174,000 bc, far earlier than the earliest human sites. Human underground construction likely began with cave-dwelling pre-historic people who wanted to expand their homes. The purpose of many ancient underground structures is a mystery, but it appears that all ancient civilizations practised some form of underground construction with some also branching into rock-cut architecture. In early urban centres, underground spaces served as burial places, provided protection against invaders, and enabled early public utilities.

The first known use of gunpowder in underground construction occurred in France in 1681. The invention of dynamite and steam and compressed air powered drills in the 18th century revolutionized the industry. The 19th century saw innovations in shield tunnelling techniques which made underground construction in soil safer. As nations urbanized the extent of underground urban construction increased significantly with improved sewers, public water systems, subways, and underground commercial spaces all being required by expanding cities. In the late 20th and early 21st century advances in automation and geotechnical engineering have allowed the ambition and scale of underground construction projects to increase.

Modern underground military facilities (primarily designed to resist aerial attack) emerged during the second world war and pre-war period. During the later years of WWII Nazi Germany moved much of its military industry underground. The Nazis used prisoners of war and slave labour to build their underground structures and large numbers perished during the construction.

The Cold War brought about two new underground structures, the nuclear powers built missile silos and leadership protection bunkers in response. The heightened Cold war atmosphere that prevailed between USA and USSR and their allies forced almost all world leaders to start digging winter burrows. Yes, like rodents to burrow for the coming winter. Not winter that is a gift from Mother Nature but a nuclear winter and holocaust gifted lovingly by their enemies.

Well, you know how a human mind works. The moment world leaders and heads of powerful nations began preparing for their exit and escape plan to safety, super-rich people began to follow suit and started constructing their own underground bunkers.

Yes, I agree totally that underground bunkers are needed for your safety but that is if you happen to live in areas where the weather generates tornados as is the situation in many states of America. But building bunkers is a fad. Aaargh ( puke). This is somewhat similar to wannabe famous people going around in expensive bulletproof cars when forget, bullets from guns, for even sleazy, down and out journalists do their best to avoid shooting them with their cameras.

The Humvee is a classic statement that was borrowed by the public to imitate the US army who used it during the invasion of Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.

The history of underground cities is a complex and meandering one, ranging from the Ancient Era in the Middle East and Europe to those sunk during the height of Cold War paranoia, such as the bunker complexes of Cheyenne Mountain or Beijing’s Underground City. The primary reason for digging underground cities in the ancient world was for protection, as the spaces could be closed by rolling heavy boulders across the entrances.

I give you, Cappadocia homes in Aksaray, Turkey

It is believed that the underground cities of Cappadocia were initially built during the eighth and seventh centuries BCE by the Phrygians, who carved their living spaces into the region’s soft volcanic rock. There are around 200 cities in total in Cappadocia, with the most visited including Derinkuyu and Kaymakli.

The idea behind the subterranean cities was to protect the inhabitants from foreign invasion, allowing thousands of people to live their lives in total secrecy. During the 14th century, the caves provided Christians with a safe haven from the threat of the Mongolians during the assaults on Timur. Even during the 20th century, they enabled people to save themselves from persecution during the Ottoman Empire.

It was not until 1923, after the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, that the underground cities were completely abandoned and, then, not rediscovered until 1963. The story goes that a resident found a strange room behind a wall inside his house, and the rest is history.

Dr Sathya did not know what to make of her superior and mentor, Dr Raja Rao's sudden change of attitude and behaviour for it was not only strange and new but also something that she had never experienced in all the years that she had been working under him at The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.

It is a given and an understood rule that everyone follows the established hierarchy and the pecking order that has been established in any place of work and one breaks it only at the risk of being demoted or worse fired.

Dr Raja Rao was at the top when it came to operations and decisions concerning The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. He mostly left those tasks to his second in command Dr Sathya and spent most of his time in the lab working on his research. This rather quiet and unassuming attitude of his only served to generate more faith and complete devotion from all those who worked in that research centre. One of the main reasons for all those who worked under him to respect him and love him so much was that in all the years that he had been working in the centre, he had not once raised his voice to admonish an employee. Even when they had committed a grave error.

Instead, he preferred to chat with them and make them see the reason and the error of their ways. So, in The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Dr Raja Rao was God. Full stop.

Nearly all large Government Hospitals and research centres have separate wings and isolation wards to handle certain situations like pandemics and cases of deadly diseases and many who are working and conducting highly classified research have subterranean levels.

See, I have come full circle with the first line and you can now see where I am going with all the background information I have provided.

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology works under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research its parent organization and they report to the Prime Minister who is the president of the CSIR.

We live in a nuclear-capable world and in a world very advanced and different from even the cold war era of the 50s,60s,70s and 80s. For, the human civilization faces far graver threats not just from nuclear weapons but deadly diseases and chemicals that have been specifically mutated and engineered in the labs by brilliant minds whose IQ levels are far superior to the genius Albert Einstein himself.

If the threat of nuclear weapons sent people underground and into fortified bunkers, the threat of biological weapons has pushed man to seek refuge deeper in the womb of Mother Earth. These deep underground constructions serve two immediate purposes. One they are safe from attacks above ground and the other is that the dangerous research material they work on cannot reach the top and into the world of humans. It is not only nuclear and biological threats that governments worry about but spies and advanced information technology.

Today's spy satellites are highly advanced and have eyes and ears that rival Superman himself. Working deep underground immediately negates the threats from spies and spy satellites. Sorry but neither James Bond or Goldeneye can get through the hurdles that are placed in their way.

The patient called Raman that they had flown out of Chennai was being brought out of the ambulance when the vehicle carrying Dr Sathya and the others arrived at the Research centre and getting out of it they were all stunned and confused to see another team standing there in PPE suits along with a team of armed security men and listening carefully to what Dr Raja Rao was telling them. No, Commanding them.

' Take the patient to level 4 and administer drips and take blood samples and start working on them. I will join you in a few minutes. Remember this, nobody enters the level without my direct permission. Is that understood?'

All of them nodded and Dr Raja Rao said, ' Get on with it then.'

Dr Sathya and her colleagues looked at each other in confusion and at the same time with wonder for the tone and the manner in which their mentor and superior had spoken was totally new to them. Gone was their legendary soft-spoken and

mild-mannered boss for it appeared an authoritarian had now taken his place.

Dr Sathya walked up quickly to him and asked him what was going on.

Dr Raja Rao smiled politely and said, ' Just following procedures and protocol that the situation needs.'

Fixing them with a hard look, he thanked them for their service and told them that their business with the patient Raman was over.

' Forget about him for he is now under my personal care. Take a few days off if you need it and come back and go on with your normal duties.'

Then just like that and without any explanation, Dr Raja Rao turned and walked away leaving them all in total darkness and confusion.

The team of doctors stood around the stretcher Raman lay in and stared at the small screen over their heads as the elevator began its descent to level four.

But deeper than level four and deeper than the deepest abyss, something else was going on inside Raman. Deep inside his body and down into the genetic level, a change was going on.

Unknown to everyone but a few in the entire universe, a new light was being created even as it descended into the depths of The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology.

Far away from the hospital and south of Hyderabad, in Chennai, Jeeva looked into Buddha's eyes and asked the huge dog, ' Why did you address my soul as Lord Raman?'

' My queen, how else does one address the soon to be crowned King.'

' King, Lord. What are you going on about, Buddha?' and then she slowly got to her feet and asked, ' Queen, did you just call me queen. Why?'

The boy who went into the dark and came back with light.

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/turkey/articles/the-story-behind-turkeys-underground-cities/

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Avan, Aval, Adhu 123

Never Seek to Tell thy Love By William Blake

Never seek to tell thy love

Love that never told can be

For the gentle wind does move

Silently invisibly

I told my love I told my love

I told her all my heart

Trembling cold in ghastly fears

Ah she doth depart

Soon as she was gone from me

A traveller came by

Silently invisibly

O was no deny

They stood as two souls and yet in between them stood another. A third and invisible one. They stood pining, two souls, one gazing at the setting sun and the other gazing at the love that she had come to bid adieu.

The last time they had seen each other, been with each other had been that moment when they had breathed each other and breathed into each other with a life-giving kiss that they had shared in the hospital earlier in the morning and now here they stood apart from each other late in the day like the two poles which were destined never to meet.

Gayatri had reached Ravi treading soft earth but now a patch of nearly twenty feet of grass lay between them and it lay like a yawning gulf between them. She heard the plaintive strum of the guitar strings and heard the pain and melancholy of his aching heart and it tugged at the strings of her own aching heart.

She saw him standing there, a silhouette against the setting sun and dark forbidding Kodai hills and the only thoughts that came to her mind were, ' He is wearing jeans and a leather jacket and his feet are clad in boots. Wow! Imagine the master of Kumarapalayam dressed like Tom cruise from the Top Gun movie.'

Then she saw him slowly lower the guitar to his side and whisper something to the air and she knew who he was talking to.

' I am not going to cry. No, Gayatri, you will not cry you silly cow. You have seen and experienced greater pain and you will get over this pain too. So, leave him to his life and walk away right now.'

She cried at the same as she was telling herself not to cry. She cried for herself and for Ravi and slowly turned to walk away and unknowingly stepped on a thin dry branch that shattered loudly under her feet. In the silence of the Kodai evening, the noise it made was like a large cracker going off and Ravi turned casually to see what it was or who it was that had made the noise. Naturally.

They stood looking at each other and Ravi's face visibly brightened seeing her and he went towards her saying her name twice. The first time he said it with confusion and surprise and the second with surprise and happiness, ' Gayatri, Gayatri ' and then he stopped when he was a few feet away from her and stared at her.

She saw his expressions change subtly on his handsome, intelligent face and she did not miss the way his eyes sharpened in understanding, and she knew that he had realized how she had tracked him down but the gentleman that he was, he ignored it and instead asked politely, ' How are you doing?'

' I am fine.'

Ravi nodded and not knowing what to say or how to say it without hurting her did what best came to him and fell silent. There is silence and then there is silence. There are thousands of languages that can be used to speak verbally but just a precious few to communicate what the soul really wants and what the soul feels. It is through a gentle and loving touch and a soft and kind hug. It is through the skin on skin and mouth on mouth. Yet, only the eyes speak all that the soul feels and has endured and will endure.

Her big brown eyes connected with his sharp black eyes and they spoke what their lips could not or did not have the courage to do.

Taking a step forward, she said, ' I am leaving but I could not leave without saying a proper goodbye. I am sorry for following you and disturbing your peace and privacy. Please forgive me. But, I could not just leave without seeing you one last time.'

' It's okay, Gayatri ' Ravi said smiling slightly and saying without saying it that he understood her reasons for following him to Whispering Rocks.

Then suddenly catching sight of something, he covered the few feet that separated them in two long strides and grabbed her left hand and stared at the bloodstain on the cotton sleeve of her Kurta and asked in a worried voice, ' Are you hurt? How did you manage to hurt yourself?'

Sighing, Gayatri shook her head and replied in a weak and helpless voice, ' I guess trouble seems to follow me where ever I go.'

Ravi searched her face with his eyes and then gently lifted her right hand to see if she was injured in any way and not finding any visible wound asked her, ' What happened, Gayatri?'

Gayatri looked up at him and into his eyes and thought, ' If only you could see my broken and bleeding heart that beats for you.'

' Gayatri, Gayartri, are you all right? Come. Let's go see a doctor right away.'

She came out of her thoughts hearing his worried voice and said, ' It is not my blood but that of Dayanidhi the cab driver who nearly lost his life saving me and the temple idol.'

When Lord Murugan returned home after the fruit fiasco, Lord Ganesha hosted a big party - a welcome home party for Lord Murugan. Murugan accepted the party under one condition that Sage Narada not to be invited since he was the main reason for the split in the family. Thus there was a major party in heaven, where everyone were invited. Indra and his troops, Lord Shiva and his commandoes, Lord Vishnu along with his followers and the whole of Satyalok except Sage Narada.

Narada felt left out. After the party was over, he went to Lord Brahma, and enquired why this bias? Lord Brahma said, he need to talk to Goddess Saraswathi, as He cannot mediate in this. Goddess looked at Narada and said, "Son, you may have done the right thing. But Lord Murugan felt insulted. It is not easy for him to forgive you. What you could do is call him for a good dinner party. Just tell him it is just you and him alone. He will agree to it. Make sure you give him plenty of fruits, take him to Nalabaha Restaurant and host a great dinner party for Him. He will be satisfied and His anger towards you will be gone".

Bowing to Goddess Sarawathi, Narada immediately booked a date with Nalabaha Restaurant. It was the first day of the Maasi month. He knew that Lord Murugan will be busy during 'Thai' month due to Thai Poosam and all. He then called Lord Murugan and invited Him for dinner. After the festivities of 'Thai' Lord Murugan was in a good mood and also his anger towards Lord Narada had diminished by this time. So, he accepted the dinner party.

On that day Lord Narada took some five of the rare fruits in a basket and went to the Restaurant. Shortly Lord Murugan joined him. Nalan the Master Chef of Heaven, had specially prepared a great meal that day. Lord Murugan was very pleased. He than gave the fruits that Lord Narada had given him and asked him to come up with a good dessert. Nalan using his own unique skills, mixing the fruits with jaggery and ghee qucikly came up with a great recipe. As Sage Narada and Lord Murugan completed the dinner and the dessert, Murugan was so impressed he said, "This is a great day for me. I had an excellent meal and I a great dessert. I would like this day to be remembered. Anyone with great mutual love for each other, split due to mis-understandings, then this day will be the right day to make-up with each other. The dessert provided today will be my chief offerings for my Temple"

Thus the dessert - Panchamirtham became famous offerings in all Murugan temple. As for the day, it is still remembered to this day as "Velan Dines Day" - in short Valentine's day!

Avan, Aval, Adhu 124

Gayatri began telling him all that had happened from the moment he had left her in the hospital earlier that day. She judiciously avoided any mention of the kiss, the intense kiss that they had shared after he had described his present situation and had finally used the words " Jeeva samadhi ".

Ravi interrupted her and in a voice full of frustration, said, ' You had been told to stay in bed and take complete rest for a few days. Yet, you bolted from the hospital. Why?' Ravi asked her with a slight hint of anger in his voice. Locking her with his beautiful black eyes that shone in anger and frustration, he asked, ' Gayatri, you nearly drowned while saving the children and also suffered a heavy blow to your jaw. It is not a joke, Gayatri. You need to take better care of yourself rather than straining your health as you have done now.'

She saw his eyes soften and fill with concern and heard him talk to her in a caring and soothing way and thought, ' probably the one he uses while donning his master cap and going about with the school duties. I wonder what would have happened if he had been my school teacher or better my college professor' and giggled and looked at him and blurted a quick apology.

' Sorry master.'

' Why are you calling me, master?'

Gayatri's eyes opened wide in horror as she realized that she had blundered and with her laughter frothing at her throat, she turned away from his all-seeing and all-knowing eyes and instead stared at the sky and the sun and blurted, ' Look, Ravi. The sky has got infected with Conjunctivitis.'

Ravi too turned and stared at the pinkish hues of the son and the white mist that framed it as the whites of an eye and smiling in agreement ' We call it Madras eye' and then with a smile spoke aloud, ' wonder what the politicians will do now. Will they spare it or will they try their best to showcase their love for Tamil and decide to rename a disease too as " Cheneye."

Both smiled, laughed and then he touched her cheek and asked in a sad and concerned voice, ' Why did you leave the hospital and follow me here, Gayatri?'

She looked into his eyes, ' Honestly. Are you asking this question in all honesty?'

She saw the softness, care, concern that had filled his eyes begin to slowly eke their way out of their homes making way for sadness and confusion and replied, ' I really came to wish my friend goodbye and thank him personally for being a great host.'

He wanted to but did not and seeing it, she smiled, ' Believe me, Ravi. I really came here to wish you well and thank you for all the love and care that you and your mother showered on me.'

She looked at him sadly and he saw the last light of the setting pink sunshine their light briefly in her eyes and saw the tears and fears that they displayed and it touched him and moved him and sadly broke him.

It was her turn now to touch his cheek and she lovingly cupped his face in her hands and then taking both his hands in her, kissed them and said, ' I could have called you and spoken to you over the phone but then you are not that friend.'

She looked at him with eyes full of yearning and also full of peace and said, ' you to me are more than a friend. More and will always be more. I know that I shouldn't be speaking these words but my heart tells me that I better unload them all now in your presence and cry it all out one last time before leaving.'

Then, he did something that she had not expected and that was to hug her.

Ravi stepped forward and enveloped her in his arms and said, ' Then, my friend, you will listen to your friend and stay here for a few days and rest before leaving.'

Vaanathai Pola 432

The sand dunes in this large desert do not move like the dunes of the other major deserts of the world. Only the sand blows off and is blown back and all this happens with the shape of the dune remaining intact for days and sometimes months. He lay buried in one of the dunes with his body so completely hidden from view that even aerial drones and satellites with infrared and other sensors would find it very difficult to pinpoint his location. Only the eyes of the man who lay buried in the sand dune peered out into the distance through his night-vision goggles. He had been here in this part of the desert for more than a week tracking a group of men who had left Iran a month ago. More than the ten members of the team, he was interested in their leader whose name was Sheikh Syed Mohammad Bhukari a well-known Sufi poet and scholar and importantly a benefactor of the ISIS and other deadly terrorist groups who were active in the Gulf region.

For a long time now, whispers of a global conspiracy had been doing the rounds in the corridors of power of all the world's major capitals but had been brushed away as mere rumours. But, he knew better for he trusted his instincts and his instincts had yet to fail him. That is why he had been away from home for many months now pursuing this quarry for he sensed a difference, a change in their operating styles.

The desert that lay around the man was called Rub' al Khali in Arabic and was known to the world as the Empty Quarter. It was the fifth largest desert in the world and which killed all those who dared venture into it without respecting its power.

The man's mobile satellite phone vibrated and his super instincts told him who it was calling. He tapped the button on his earpiece and whispered, ' Hello father.'

The powerful voice filled his head and heart as it replied, ' Child, how goes your hunting?'

' They are up to something, father. I am sure of that.'

' Are you still in the desert?'

' Yes, father but my heart tells me that they are just about to reach their destination. Satellite photos that Dr Otto kindly sent from Mossad's spy satellites show some kind of rock formation some forty km from where I am right now. There is nothing else but desert for a few hundred km in all directions. I don't know why they are heading there but I will find out soon enough.'

After a few moments of silence, the man spoke, ' Rudy, I know where they are going but they will find nothing of value but a few archaeological pieces that may be of value for collectors. But, more importantly, I know what they are tracking, child. Keep me updated constantly for we need to be prepared for any eventuality.'

Rudran replied, ' Okay father. What is going on there in Chennai? Are you done with the hijacking? Is everyone safe?'

' Yes, everyone is safe but for Raman. Not to worry child for I will take care of him.'

' I know you will father. What about Raman's family? '

' Dhana is there right now, Rudy and that should be enough for now. If things do escalate then I have told Dhana to move everybody to our home in the forests of Perumalvaram. Arul and Jothi are there at your house and that will do for now.'

Rudran smiled and said, ' Father, I know you are not mentioning it but my child Nikhil is there to protect Renuka and her parents.'

' I know, Rudy. That is what worries me for Nikhil is still young and might not be able to control his anger and power as well as he will do when he is all grown up. He might just end up levelling the whole block around your house.'

' Father, your blood runs in all our veins. So, I am sure Nikhil will be prudent and careful when the situation calls for his powers to be unleashed.'

' I know but as your guardian and elder I do worry about all of you for we have lain hidden for many thousands of years and hopefully it will remain thus well into the future.'

A few more moments of silence followed and the Rudran heard Azhagan words and smiled and said, ' Will you leave anyone for me to hunt down when I return?'

He smiled and said, ' We will see, won't we' and ending the call stepped out of the darkness and into the light of the airport and began to walk towards the hangar where a few military passenger jets were being housed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLJcuiz-d3U

Vaanathai Pola 433

The doorbell rang loudly announcing the arrival of more visitors at the doorstep of their house and hearing it, Kamakshi, Manigandan, Shaktivel and Valliammai looked at each other wondering who it was not who was going to make an entrance at this late hour. But the formidable presence of Dhanashekara Pandyan reassured them and Shaktivel who was getting up to go to the door, stopped and watched as Jeeva passed him and the others on her way to the door.

' I will get the door ' Jeeva declared as she rushed towards it and opening it, invited the next set of visitors into their house. All of them, save Dhana got up from their chairs recognizing them and stood smiling at Kavita Arumugam and Radha Krishnan.

A quick hug was exchanged between her and Kavita and Jeeva led both of them towards the dining table and towards Dhanashekara Pandyan who slowly turned and smiled and said, ' Hello. We meet again.'

Jeeva, who had only been confused and worried until then was now left feeling shocked and amazed as she and the others watched both Radhu and Minister Kavita Duraipandi Arumugam drop to their knees with their heads bowed in respect.

Dhana quickly stood up and gently touched the top of both their heads and said with a smile, ' Rise, children. Rise my friends. It gives me great joy to meet you both of you and that too so quickly.'

Radhu was not a man usually given to largesse when it came to displaying his emotions and was a person who always kept them under control save when it came to very close friends and family.

What he thought of Dhana was visible to Kavita and the others when he suddenly hugged Dhana and said, ' Good to see you my friend. Really good to see you my brother.'

Jeeva who had requested both of them to come to her house immediately, stood feeling relieved realizing that Dhanashekara Pandyan and the huge animal that was trying to pass itself off as a dog were not threats and did not pose any danger either to her children or to her family. Her relief and understanding increased ten-fold when Kavita too suddenly hugged Dhanashekara Pandyan and she heard his deep voice whisper softly, ' Be well, child. I am here. We are all here and it is going to be all right now.'

Dhana suddenly turned to Jeeva and looked into her eyes that she felt were looking right down into her soul and into even the first moments of her being and then she felt a sudden rush of intense happiness and peace fill her being and smiling, she said to him, ' I am sorry, sir. I am sorry if my doubts and fears have offended you or hurt you. Please forgive me.'

' My queen, my lady. There is no need for an apology and that too from you to me. Nothing you say will ever offend me or hurt me.'

Jeeva heard his words loud and clear and so did everybody else. She looked at Dhana conflicted with her thoughts and then they all heard her, ask, ' what brings you here, sir and why are you calling me a queen?'

Pointing to the room where her twins were, she asked, ' I asked your companion the same question and now I am asking you too, the very same one. Where is my Raman? How is he doing? Is he in some kind of danger? '

Dhana looked at her, ' I know where he is and how he is doing and as to the danger he is in.....'

Gasping with fear and worry for her soul, she asked in a slow and deliberate voice, ' Why are you here instead of being with him when it is plain to see for all of us that our Raman is in some kind of grave situation? Why are you here for our protection instead of protecting him?'

Dhanashekara Pandyan's eyes bore deeper into Jeeva's eyes and she saw some kind of green flames move in them and heard his deep voice like thunder as he spoke.

' Raman is not alone, my queen. There is someone who is going to him this very moment and with him watching over Raman, there is nothing for you and the others to worry about.'

Jeeva felt the words in her soul and it brought a sense of peace and relief to her and yet doubts lingered and she asked, ' Him. You said someone is going to be there for my Raman' and asked in a frightened voice, ' one person. Just one person to help Raman. Will that do and will that be enough?'

With a smile, he said, ' He will do and he is enough. For he will watch over Raman as both Laxman and Hanuman did and with combined might.'

Jeeva nodded and asked, ' Who is he, sir. Who is this person who is going to watch over my Ram?'

' He is the boy who went into the dark and came back with light. He is the first king and the king of all kings.'

Avan, Aval, Adhu 125

His arms were around her. Surrounded suddenly by his arms and held close to his body, Gayatri was certain that she was going to drown in his heady scent that filled her nostrils and waves of pleasure ran amok all over her body. Just when she thought her body would betray her, she felt his lips touch and softly planted a kiss on her head and whisper, ' It's okay, Gayatri. It will all be okay.'

Sighing with relief for not being caught out after her body had betrayed her, Gayatri rested her head on his strong chest and said, ' Friend. Yes, that too sounds fine, Ravi ' she told him and then her nose inhaled his musky scent and desire, passion, lust, pain flooded her soul and thoughts as not just scent and air but as physical beings.

She felt her knees buckle as her mind whispered to herself, ' Liar. Liar. your panties are on fire. You silly fool. You know better and should have walked away and yet here you here entertaining silly thoughts about being friends with Ravi.'

The cold of the coming winter night announced its imminent arrival as the drowning sun announced its imminent departure and heat gave way to cold and they began to settle down on the land and on all life.

Ravi who had felt her trembling when he had held her now felt her shiver and quickly removed his leather jacket and wrapped it around Gayatri's shoulders and quickly turned away with a smile mumbling something to himself.

Gayatri looked at him strangely even as Ravi stood with his face turned away mumbling something to himself and quickly recognized that he was talking or rather questioning in his own native language of Tamil. She knew from the confused look on his face that it had something to do with her and yet it was not about her.

' Mister Ravi, I am shocked. You, being the perfect gentleman should know better. It is impolite to laugh and mock a lady behind her back and that too while she is standing right next to you. I am hurt, sir. I expected better from you.

Ravi knowing fully well that she was teasing him, smiled shyly and it took all her strength to restrain herself from burying her mouth on his and instead pretended to fuss over the jacket all the while pouting and carrying on her pretence of being hurt.

Bowing his head and holding his right hand to his chest, he bent low and said, ' Sorry, Lady Gayatri, if I have offended you but I could not help it for I suddenly recollected a scene from one of my favourite films and I could not help laughing and thinking about it.

She waved her hand and said, ' No need to apologize, kind sir. But, you owe me an explanation. So, out. out with this scene that you recollected and that too while we were exchanging a hug.'

An expression of shock and fear filled her face and eyes and stepping back, Gayatri whispered in a strange tone, ' Ravi, No. Don't tell me you recollected some romantic scene in which the hero and heroine break out in a song and dance. I am sorry but I am too tired to sing and dance with you right now. Maybe later.'

He smiled and she smiled with him and his smile filled her emptiness and she felt peace and a sense of belonging that she had been longing for a long time now.

She thought, ' Even being friends, just friends with him is so beautiful. Just being with him fills me with so much joy. God, please watch over him. Always.'

Then she heard him mention the word Shiva and coming back to reality, said, ' Ravi, you really think the world of this actor, Sivaji Ganesan. Don't you?'

' True, Gayatri. But it is not just about liking him but respecting him and appreciating his immense contribution to the Tamil Film industry and stage plays that is still echoing to this day.'

Bemused, she asked him what had prompted this sudden recollection about an actor and the film he had acted in, ' Why now and that too here when we are just the two of us?

' Why, because of you ' Ravi said with a smile and pointing to her head, ' because of your hair and its fragrance.'

Confused, she touched her head and then horrified, she asked in a very urgent voice, ' Oh, is my hair smelling bad' and dejectedly added, ' I have not had a chance to wash it for the past two days has been hectic, to say the least, and that too having spent them in the hospital.'

Gently patting her head, ' Your hair smells good and perfectly okay. So, stop fishing and please stop worrying about it.'

Relieved, she shivered and pulled the leather jacket closer to her and looked at him pointedly, ' Okay mister. Now better explain and do it quickly before I freeze to death.'

' Maybe later when we are all warmed up before the fire in that office cottage.'

' No. I want to hear it right now. Just finish it, Ravi' she insisted and Ravi did so.

' The film's title was " Thiruvilayadal " and it is the story about Lord Shiva and his devotees and how he tests their faith in him.'

Avan, Aval, Adhu 126

' Like he is testing me right now and has been testing me ever since I met you, Ravi ' Gayatri thought to herself and smiled and seeing her Ravi thought to himself, ' If only she knew how beautiful she looks when she smiles and how beautiful it makes others feel about themselves.'

Both stood looking at each other lost in their own thoughts about the other and unaware that Parthiban and Daksha had been watching them from far.

Parthiban whispered to Daksha his wife, ' Baby, I have never seen Ravi so happy and I have known him all my life.'

' Forget him being so happy, F..k, I have never seen him speak so many much and that too in one day and I have known him for a very long time.'

Parthiban turned to his wife and looked at her and she saw them filled with many questions and she heard him speak one out aloud, ' The mad dog, I have known him for so many years and he has spoken more in these few minutes with that lady than with me in all these decades.'

Then his eyes slowly returned to Ravi and Gayatri and unconsciously he muttered something to himself not realizing that he was clearly audible to his wife who stood next to him.

' What is that strange glow around him, around them? Why is his face and why is his smile filled with so much love, patience and tolerance? Why is it making me jealous?' he mumbled to himself or so he thought to himself and then feeling Daksha's loving arm around his waist, he turned to her and heard her say, ' Come away baby for it is time to be away.'

Parthiban nodded and both slowly tip-toed away. He on his expensive titanium alloy legs and she on legs made of an alloy forged from her father and mother.

Feeling her tug at his arm, Partha stopped and Daksha planted a soft, wet drunk kiss filled with her own spirits that were more powerful than the ones they had imbibed from the bottle and he kissed her back.

' What was that atom bomb for?'

' My answer for your question?'

' Question, what question?' Parthiban asked casually and Daksha with a smile said, ' The one you asked about love, patience and tolerance.'

' Oh no! You heard me' he exclaimed and stood there like a young boy who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar by his mother.

She stood looking at him and he saw her eyes were full of emotion and he teased her, ' what's your kiss, got to do with my questions, Ducks?'

' Everything baby. Everything baby' she replied and looked at him, ' It is okay to feel jealous for that shows how much you care and how much you love, Ravi and my kiss was to show you that I love you that much and more than that and will until my last breath.'

He kissed her mouth passionately and said, ' I know that sweetheart. But....?'

' Partha, love is but a word. A term and an expression that is used to define that which cannot be expressed and importantly, suppressed into one single word. Love is the same and not the same and very different for each and everyone and we feel differently for each and everyone.'

Parthiban mumbled, ' Sorry babe, as always you have lost me.'

Daksha smiled and gently punched him in his tummy and said, ' It will come to you, sweetie. It will come to you.'

He smiled and replied as they returned to their office cottage, ' It has already come to me as you. That will do and that is enough for me, my love.'

Then he suddenly stopped and turned to her with wide eyes, ' You think Ravi is in love with that lady?'

' Maybe. I am not sure if it is that love which is in your question but as a woman, I am sure about one thing.'

' What is that one thing?' he asked her and she answered.

' He is very protective about her and feels connected to her in some strange way and that is weird for they have known each other but for a few days. Knowing Ravi pretty damn well, that is too short a time for him to feel so strongly about someone and that too a woman.'

Vaanathai Pola 434

He twirled his dark glasses with both his hands in a manner that suggested he was closely examining them for scratches when in reality he was just taking his time to answer Jeeva's questions. Almost all the people who laid eyes on him immediately and wrongly assumed he was blind and the walking stick that was more of a weapon only served to add more support to that wrong assumption. His thick, long beard and the faded clothes that he wore then reduced his status from Blind to a blind beggar.

Jeeva who had been left confounded with Dhana's reply repeated it, ' First king. King of all kings. Sir, everything about you and what you say is confusing, to say the least. If that talking dog who goes by the name Buddha was not enough to make our heads spin, here you are stating that Raman is in danger and that a king, a single man is watching over him. I am sorry sir. But, you will have to do better than that.'

Dhana nodded and smiled grimly, ' I am sorry but my answers will have to wait for later. Like you, I too am at a loss as to what is going on right now.'

His eyes that had been seemingly occupied with his glasses, now suddenly flicked up and after holding Jeeva in their look, slowly gazed at all of them.

' I know and am very sure of one thing. Some terrible danger is heading towards us and we have to prepare for it and any eventualities.'

Getting to his feet, he looked at Radhu and Kavita, ' When I say us, I mean all of us and that means our families too.'

Nothing had been clearly stated and yet Radhu understood and taking out his mobile phone called his mother Shinogai, ' Ammi, stay alert. I will return soon. But, until then stay alert and keep an eye for any signs of danger.'

Then he called his shadow, his uncle and said, ' Old man, stay alert. Right now it is just you and Mr Thangamani, the librarian watching over The Flock. Warn him and one more thing. Maybe it is better if you place the children in one room. That will make it easier to defend in case of an attack.'

The Old man's reply was as always caustic in nature. ' It's already been done. Watch your arse for I cannot be there to wash it or save it like I did when you were a toddler ' and ended the conversation leaving Raman in a quandary as to what to do with the Old man and his sarcasm that had been tormenting him from the time he had opened his eyes.

Kavita did the same and called Police Commissioner Vishwanathan and informed him that she had been warned by a very reliable person about her family being in danger.

Commissioner Vishwanathan told her that he would send a second squad of police commandos to aid with the already existing one.

Dhana spoke to Buddha through his mind, ' Friend, stay with the babies. They are your number one priority and right now, your only priority.'

Radhu heard his thoughts. Kavita heard his thoughts and so to had Jeeva. Loud and clear but in her head. But, her thoughts were only about Raman and a bit of the person who was watching over him.

When the head of Chakravyuh walks towards you, all you can do is close your feet, stand erect and salute stiffly. But, then, the very existence of Chakaravyuh was known to a handful of other secret and clandestine departments and that the head of Chakravyuh was General Rudran.

But, almost all men in service in the three forces were aware of Rudran and his meteoric rise from the post of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Delhi and how he had been quietly recruited into Chakravyuh.

The pilot saluted and stood in attention and hearing Rudran's command, replied, ' yes sir. Right away sir.'

Brigadier Sooryanarayanan along with Major Param Singh were deep inside the belly of the airport, talking to other doctors and verifying them and did not hear the jet taking off and another hour would pass by before they were informed about it.

The plane that General Rudran was in had made short work of the distance between Chennai and Hyderabad and the normal 1 hr and 10 minutes flight time had been completed in 45 minutes.

But unlike, Chennai's domestic airport from where the army plane had taken to the skies, its wheels touched down at Hakimpet Airforce station, Hyderabad.

Hakimpet Air Force Station (Hakimpet AFS) is an Indian Air Force (IAF) base under the Training Command. It is located 25 kilometres north of Hyderabad Central Nampally Railway Station, and 18 km north of Secunderabad Railway Junction in the state of Telangana. It houses the Fighter Training Wing, the Helicopter Training School, No. 43 Equipment Depot and ancillary units.

Rudran had not spoken a word from the time of boarding the small jet that was meant for the elite of the army forces and spoke only when they were handed over to the air traffic control tower at Hakimpet Air force station.

The mere mention of the name Rudran had been enough for the Air Commodore to grant permission for the plane to land on its single runway.

Still, rules and regulations were in place and had to be followed and Air Commodore K V Surendran Nair stood and watched as the army plane slowed and taxied to a halt.

The moment he caught sight of the tall, lean man who exited the plane, his doubts vanished and with a smile, he walked forward to greet General Rudran and the head of Chakravyuh.

Both men shook hands and Rudran whispered, ' I am sorry sir. But, I am on a very highly classified business and have to be on my way.'

Air Commodore K V Surendran Nair smiled, ' I know, Mr Rudran and so does the entire world. I wish you all the best.'

He paused and in an angry voice, whispered, ' Whoever is behind this must be punished?'

Rudran smiled and answered, ' I am going to personally see to it, sir. Thank you for letting me land here without asking all the usual questions.'

Hakimpet Air Force Station's head, Air Commodore K V Surendran Nair smiled, ' Imagine me or anyone in our country asking questions or stressing on rules when it comes to the head of Chakravyuh.'

' All the best, General and happy hunting.'

Refusing an official vehicle, Rudran requested instead that he be let off at the nearest autorickshaw stand for security reasons.

Air Commodore K V Surendran Nair flashed a knowing smile and with twinkling eyes whispered, ' So, you are already on the job.'

Rudran nodded, ' More of a mission, sir and more of a personal one and one that has been ignored for too long.

Ten minutes had passed and Rudran's deep voice growled, ' don't approach the stand. I don't want anyone to see me getting out of this vehicle.'

The driver pulled over in the darkness and after Rudran had gotten out, saluted him and making a u-turn returned to the base.

Azhagan watched as the vehicle's tail lights finally vanished into the distance, drowning him in near darkness and he looked up into the night sky and spoke to the stars.

' I know. I am aware of it. But, it has be dealt with and dealt with as quickly as possible.'

Then he tapped the screen and Rudran's voice came through loud and clear, ' Father, are you in place?'

' Yes, child. I am.'

' I hope you know what you are doing, my king?'

' Child. There comes a time when you have to get on with the job and just do it. That time is now.'

' Okay, father. All the best.'

Brigadier Sooryanarayanan and Major Param Singh came out of the secure room that had been hastily converted to an interrogation room and both lit up and stood inhaling and exhaling smoke instead of pure air.

Major Damodaran, the head of Team B came towards them with a smile and after saluting his boss, said casually, ' Sir, I remember you mentioning a year ago that General Rudran was a scary son of a bitch. I confess that he is that and much more.'

Both, Brigadier Sooryanarayanan and Major Param Singh stared hard at the Major and Param who nodded in agreement and then enquired curiously, ' He is, surely that and like you said more than that. But why this sudden talk about him?'

' That's because I just met him an hour ago as he boarded our army jet and took off to Hyderabad.'

Brigadier Sooryanarayanan and Major Param Singh both stared at each other with their eyes wide open in surprise and wondered what Rudran was doing in Hyderabad.

Major Param Singh's mind raced as he thought to himself, ' But, Rudy is somewhere in the desert. When did he get back and why didn't he stop to meet me?'

PHEELINGS

It. God. Him. Her. Man. Woman. Although I in my own mind am comfortable with God being a woman.

Yes. If somebody asked me what came first. Chicken or egg? My answer would be, Hen. Only, a woman with all her immense grace, patience, incredible strength could have created this vast empire called The Universe.

Maybe, God is it and that is why X and Y are present in all of us.

I am a believer that everything exists for a purpose. Science has proved beyond doubt that the universe is infinite and as of now, our most powerful telescopes can see up to about 13 to 14 light-years away. Light years, I stress on the word light here.

Like all others, I too do crave for answers, a reason, a purpose to who I am and what I am and what I am doing with my life. Like everyone I too sometimes stand in the Advance booking counter and by that I mean afterlife, what comes after death but sadly always find the counter closed and no information forthcoming.

Sometimes, I get desperate and in despair try the angry and red mist mode but soon tiring of it come back to the hope and believer mode.

The past two years have been traumatic to say the least and all of us have been touched, tapped and marked by death and disease. Almost all of us have been visited by the grim reaper and all we could do was watch numbly and impotently as loved ones have passed on to better pastures.

Another year and another Mahashivratri and another day of worship and celebration of God.

There are many emotional paths to communicate with God and I have taken the obvious parent-child route. An orphan, I am left with no other way to talk to It and have been doing it with faith and devotion all my life.

Sometimes, God is big daddy and sometimes Big momma. But, always me remaining a child.

I don't know why but it suits me just fine and I and God, have been getting along well with my temper tantrums and lamenting sessions.

I do all that and in total faith and devotion that It being a parent will not forsake its child. I do that for I firmly believe in the bond between parent and child.

Yes. There are a lot of funny sessions and some downright hilarious. At least, that's what I felt at that time.

session sample

' I am sorry.'

'Sorry. For what, Satish?'

' For what I am about to think, say or write, share with those who are reading this.'

' Okay. You have my attention but for a few moments. So, better keep it short and quick.'

I kind of, kind of was saying, chanting God's name in the pooja room and I heard someone sniggering at me. Firm in the understanding of my own madness, I ignored it and carried on whispering, chanting The One's names and heard chuckles that had progressed obviously from sniggers.

I am embarrassed but I will say it. The sniggers and chuckles were coming from inside me and my bloody inquisitive brain matter was up to its adhigaprasangi thanam work. Pest. Parasite. Pariah.

I sighed and by now totally distracted and disgusted with my other, the so called inner me aka the consciously conscience or so-called " Manasatchi ", I asked boldly, ' what now dummy Satish?'

' What are you doing?'

' Me. I am praying.'

' To who.'

' To God.'

' God? What does it mean, this word God?'

Lost for words, I mumbled, muttered and then, realizing God was standing right in front of me, posing with one leg planted and the other leg raised, I replied to my conscience, ' God means God. Creator, protector and destroyer and also one who sustains life. All life.'

My conscience sniggered and asked, ' It is 3.00 am in the morning and you are half asleep and yet you stand here mumbling this supposedly God's name when you should be sipping piping hot filter coffee and getting a rush out of it.'

I preened a pompous reply, ' that will come once I have finished with my prayers.'

' You call that praying. Okay, tell me this, dummy, who asked you to pray and why do you do it, every day and that too half-asleep and half-awake?'

' F..k this conscience, I thought in Tamil and hurriedly apologized to Lord Nataraja whose third eye appeared to blink in anger and for a second, I imagined his raised right leg changing stance to one Bruce lee takes before he delivers that deadly roundhouse kick.

' It is my duty. Praying is good and it pleases God and make him more benevolent and maybe more receptive to my wishes, I mean petitions and grant them soon.'

My damned and evil and surely hell-bound conscience latched on with its imaginary claws and dug deep into my already tortured soul saying, ' Praying, good, benevolent, receptive, wishes..... and began to laugh loudly.

I protested, ' Not only that. Praying also makes me feel good.'

' Good. How can that be when you are doing it for purely selfish reasons and your praying is a sort of bribe. Giving in hope of getting.'

Stumped, lost I whispered in a whipped voice, ' I know. I know and I do feel mighty guilty about it. But, most of the time, it makes me feel nice and gives me a high.'

' How does it give you a high when you are praying for selfish reasons and expecting something in return?'

' I feel high and I feel good and all warm and cuddly when I pray for the safety and well-being of my loved ones and even those who I love but don't love back.'

My conscious fell silent and I heard its wispy whisperings as the wheels turned in its wicked mind, ' Thought we had cornered him.'

It was my turn to snigger and I did and stupidly, madly at my own conscience. ' Corner me. You lose. I win.'

My Conscience opened its eyes and roared, ' No. you lose. I win. You pray for your loved ones purely for selfish reasons.'

My anger raised the octaves and tone of my Gob and with a snigger, ' If not those who I love and care about, who else should I pray for? Pray for God and pray that It is safe and well.'