From & To Sathish #5 - Page 48

Avan, Aval, Adhu 136

“Often Words Help Us Express Our Emotions But There are Times When The Beauty Of Silence Expresses It All".”

Driver Subbu left them and drove back to Madurai leaving Whispering Rocks in the safety of Kodai hills. Now, it was just the four of them and the cold of the December night and each one of them settled around the cedarwood fire and in the soft comforts of their seats.

Gayatri spoke her thoughts to Ravi, ' You must be really proud of Kumaran and his achievements.'

' I am as I am of all my students, Gayatri' he replied and she saw as his friends saw his eyes fix upon the flames that crackled spitting tiny sparks out into the air.

A sudden popping noise as loud as a cracker evoked a puppy yelp from Gayatri and embarrassed by her action, she apologized and said, ' Sorry but I am kind of nervous around fire, and specifically around crackers and stuff that pops loudly like these logs.'

His eyes pored into the fire like a forensic pathologist autopsying a dead body, searching for clues that might help determine the cause of death, ' Nothing to worry.

As wood burns, the mix of expanding gases and cellulose breaking down makes the pockets of trapped steam burst open from the wood, one by one. This is why you hear the crackling and popping noises. Even if a piece of firewood looks dry, it probably has moisture inside its pores. After all, trees absorb water to grow and survive. Without water, they wouldn’t be able to transfer nutrients, nor would they be able to produce energy via photosynthesis. Heavily saturated firewood, contains a substantial amount of moisture, so much, in fact, that it restricts the combustion process and causes wood to pop and crackle when burned.'

A slight, a shadow of a smile even, took possession of his lips that slowly spread wider like a drop of spring that turns into a stream and then gathers force to become a mighty river and when he turned, Gayatri saw a strange glow fill his face. It was as if his aura had jumped out of his body and was now spreading its entrails out and hanging all around Ravi.

Partha and Daksha who knew him very well and understood his moods better exchanging subtle glances stayed silent for they knew very well, that when left alone, even the silences of their friend could speak volumes and poetry. For, he had spontaneously whispered poems, several dozens of them over the years.

' Gayatri, I doubt if you have heard this name, Kannadasan ' and shaking her head, ' Sorry, Ravi. Who is he? I am sure that he must be someone very important and more importantly someone who is close to your heart.'

His eyes filled themselves with sudden recognition as if he was seeing her for the very first time and his shadow and stream of a smile now raged wide and beautiful and into a full-blown beam of happiness.

' Yes. He is someone close to my heart and someone very important to all of us Tamil People and to all those who listen to film songs and understand them very well and then place them on the same pedestal on which wise and great minds such as " Thiruvalluvar, Avaiyar, Barathiyar " stand on.'

Pointing to the burning wood and pointing to himself, he whispered sentences that Gayatri knew must surely be lyrics from a tamil film song but one that was slightly old or ancient even.

" Paarthaa pasumaram

Paduthuvitta nedumaram

Serthaa veragukkaagumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa

He looked at Gayatri and turned back to stare at the flames of the cedarwood. ' Even after death and even in the process of death, this tree is doing something wonderful. Even as it burns it is gifting us light and warmth. Now, compare a tree with a human who stands tall in arrogance and pride and full of pomp and who is nothing when he or she is laid out for cremation. Even there he needs the wood and fire of a tree to burn and then there are those that are cremated with sandalwood logs. At least in death, they want to depart smelling good after having lived a depraved and useless life.

His smile now exploded into loud introspective laughter and Gayatri touched his thigh and said, ' that is so beautiful but simple and yet so profound.'

' Yes and that was written by my favourite poet Kannadasan.'

Slowly his smile faded as the sun fades from the twilight horizon and a tranquil look filled his face which was as inscrutable and dark as the night sky and he said, ' I am not sure if pride and proud capture what I feel about the success of my students who are more like my children but there is a contentment that comes when one has completed his purpose and has finished doing what he set out to do.'

' Ravi ' Daksha called to him and when he turned to her, asked, ' It is a bit late in the day to be asking this but why didn't you travel out of Kumarapalayam and go out into the wide world and abroad seeking employment.'

Gayatri joined in, ' Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Why, Ravi? Why have you remained in your small town when you could have done so much more out in the wide world?'

' Never thought of it. My parents, my dad specifically forced, cajole me to go out of our place and do more and achieve more but I never saw the real reason or purpose in it and then, there is..........'

He paused, smiled sadly and looked at Daksha and Partha and said, ' I need a bath to wash away my ride and wash away......'

Just like that he stood up and walked away towards his haunt, cottage Number 7 leaving behind unanswered questions that were never asked.

Far away in Mumbai, Madhu stood staring at the life-like photo of her late husband Prem and recollected one evening when he had asked her to say and share more about Ravi.

' Prem, that is all in the past, darling. Why talk about it now?'

' Madhu, from the moment you shared your love story, I have been utterly fascinated by this man and how you believe that he remains in that village waiting for you.'

Madhu looked at her dying husband whose body was wasting away with cancer, ' He is that kind of man, Prem. Like the hills around Madurai. Strong and enduring and unyielding till the end.'

Prem looked at her curiously and asked, ' Why does he wait? what is he waiting for?'

' Because I told him to. Because I did not know better and told him to wait for me to come back and no matter how long it takes ' and then she broke down crying and said in a sad tone. ' I found new love, a new and beautiful life but I know in my heart that he has spread his roots in that village of his and waits for me and will wait for me until his last breath ebbs out.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqtlPc5WjNI

Paarthaa pasumaram

Paduthuvitta nedumaram

Paarthaa pasumaram

Paduthuvitta nedumaram

Serthaa veragukkaagumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa

Paarthaa pasumaram

Paduthuvitta nedumaram

Serthaa veragukkaagumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa

Kattazhagu meniyaippaar

Pottum poovumaa

Neetti kattaiyilae paduththuvittaa

Kaasukkaagumaa (2)

Vattamidum kaalaiyaippaar

Vaatta saattamaa

Vattamidum kaalaiyaippaar

Vaatta saattamaa

Kooni valanchi vitta

Odambu indha aattam podumaa

Kooni valanchi vitta

Odambu indha aattam podumaa

Paarthaa pasumaram

Paduthuvitta nedumaram

Serthaa veragukkaagumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa

Ponnum porulum mootta katti

Pottu vechchaaru

Ponnum porulum mootta katti

Pottu vechchaaruIvaru pona varusham mazhaiya nambi

Vedha vedhachchaaru (2)

Yettu kanakka maathi maathi

Ezhudhi vechaaru

Yettu kanakka maathi maathi

Ezhudhi vechaaru

Eesan potta kanakku maaravilla

Poi vizhundhaaru

Eesan potta kanakku maaravilla

Poi vizhundhaaru

Paarthaa pasumaram

Paduthuvitta nedumaram

Serthaa veragukkaagumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa

Aruvadaiya mudikkum munnae

Vedhaikkalaaguma

Ada aandavanae un padaippil

Iththanai vegama (2)

Paththupulla peththa pinnum

Ettu maasama

Paththupulla peththa pinnum

Ettu maasama

Indha paavi magalukkentha naalum

Karba veshama

Indha paavi magalukkentha naalum

Karba veshama

Paarthaa pasumaram

Paduthuvitta nedumaram

Serthaa veragukkaagumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa

Gyaana thangamae

Theeyilittaa kariyum minjumaa aannn

Vaanathai Pola 442

Dr Raja Rao, Head of the centre for molecular and cellular biology, Hyderabad gasped in shock and his mind reeled with the ramifications of the words Alpha, Dr Wang Wei had just uttered.

' Alpha, if you are not the head and the brains of the " Sons Of Gaia ", then who is it? Why have you hidden this fact from all the others and especially me? I am the one who trusts you and follows your every order to the last letter. I am the one who has taken the most risks with not just my career but also with my life and that of my family and friends. Yet, you kept this hidden from me. How could you, Alpha?'

' Rao, my friend, I am Alpha in name only for the real Alpha is Nature, God and its creations. As far as we are concerned, the real Alpha is our mission which is our only purpose. Our duties to this tiny planet which is on the verge of imploding is our only goal. The goal post is not far away, so please, stop worrying, my dear friend and just get to work and do your part.'

In a broken and resigned voice, Dr Raja Rao asked feebly, ' Okay, Alpha. What do you want me to do, now?'

' Beta, see that the patient comes to no harm. I am sure that someone is coming for him. Someone very powerful and something that is not of this......' and his voice trailed off.

' Alpha, what will you do now?'

' I am going to call the one who has been guiding me all these years, Rao. I have to pass on all the information that you just gave me about the patient for some of the things that you just said about the patient's brain and the Theta waves are kind of scary and beyond the powers of my imagination. Please, give me 5 to 10 minutes and I will call you with more information and orders as to how to proceed.'

' Alpha, You just said that someone or something is coming for the patient. What do I do about that situation?'

' Try capturing but if that does not work out, then kill it and preserve it.'

' Capture it. It... meaning?'

Sighing tiredly, ' Rao, my dear friend, I am as much in the dark as you are for I have no clue as to what is really going on.'

Dr Raja Rao nearly lost it and did lose it as his tone changed into a bitter one, ' I am sorry, Alpha. I am sorry to say this but I am disappointed in you and feel very let down by your conduct.'

His voice slowly raised in volume and the bitterness now metamorphized into anger as he yelled our his fear and bitterness. ' You call yourself Alpha and yet you are a Beta, a second in command like me. Just like me and here I was thinking that you were the best of all of us and all these years.'

Dr Wang Wei's 90-year old voice remained soft and pleasant revealing none of the hurt and insult he was feeling hearing Dr Raja Rao's bitter outburst. ' My friend, we have known each other for more than 35 years now and yet here you are speaking to me in this rude manner. Have you forgotten how much of my help you needed to get your two Nobel prizes? Have you forgotten that it was with my help that you are where you are right now and yet you speak to me like I am the enemy here? I am not, my old friend. Our enemy are the human species that are killing this planet and our foe is the one who will try to stop us from completing our mission.'

Up and high above and on the ground floor, Azhagan in the form of Dr Sathya heard every word of the conversation between Dr Raja Rao and Dr Wang Wei. Beta had spoken to Alpha through a highly encrypted line through a computer and yet it had been decrypted, analyzed and relayed down to Azhagan in realtime from the spaceship that his people The Ancients were in.

Encryption

A WhatsApp call has many benefits, over cellular calling, and one of them is being cost-effective. If your smartphone has an internet data plan, or is connected with WiFi, you can make a free call on WhatsApp including international calls. Other benefits are that WhatsApp calls cannot be recorded. Though this can be both in favour, or against the application. Callers cannot be tracked if they are using WhatsApp Calling feature.

Throughout your WhatsApp call, you will see a label on the display of your phone which says End-to-End Encrypted. The text written in a smaller font is accompanied with a Lock icon. This is nothing more than an advanced security feature from WhatsApp.

End-to-End Encryption assures that all the messages and calls are converted into a code while following encryption protocols. This way, the data you share online while communicating is all safe and secure. WhatsApp provides End-to-End Encryption for its users in order to have secure phone conversations.

Encryption is the process of encoding information. This process converts the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. Ideally, only authorized parties can decipher a ciphertext back to plaintext and access the original information. Encryption does not itself prevent interference but denies the intelligible content to a would-be interceptor.

Data gathering by spy satellites

Space is a battleground for dominance among major powers. About a fifth of all satellites belong to the military and are used for spying.

There are certain countries, powerful nations, that spend billions even trillions to listen in to what their enemies are talking about in secret. At any given time, these countries have satellites up in space and looking down on their enemy and listening to all the in and outgoing flow of data. The data could be mobile calls, messages and other digital stuff. These spy satellites also called Reconnaissance satellites are bristling with cameras that can see objects just a few inches large and the only purpose of their existence is to watch, listen, look and collect and then stream that data down to their base where supercomputers go to work in breaking down the walls of the encrypted data that has been gathered.

The USA is rumoured to have nearly 145 spy satellites in space right now. Russia is known to have 71 military satellites, and China 63. Other countries, such as France, Germany, Italy, India, the UK, Turkey, Mexico, Columbia, Spain, Denmark, and Japan have less than 10 each.

Spy satellites gather data that is encrypted and relay it down to the people who launched it. Spy satellites are like giant ears and eyes in space that can see and hear but cannot analyze for that job falls to supercomputers. Then again there is that point, important point, of where an enemy satellite is positioned and looking and listening.

It does not make sense for the USA to spy on its allies like the UK, France and other Nato Nations and it would surely not make any sense to be looking down on Antarctica or on open oceans for there is nothing happening there.

The USA will position its satellites to look down on Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and other enemy nations. Likewise, Russia and China will look down and gather data on those who they consider their enemies.

Capturing data is not everything for then there is that word again called Encryption. Starting from your password for your mail id to the pin of your credit and debit cards we all use encryption. For, encryption makes it very difficult for hackers to get into your account. The more complicated your password, the more difficult it becomes for people to hack their way into your details.

But, then again there are hackers and geniuses from the computer field that are specifically recruited for this purpose by spy agencies of all nations. These brilliant minds don't work on Laptops and Desktops like regular people but they work with supercomputers.

In plain and simple English, comparing an ordinary laptop or PC to a supercomputer is like comparing an average man's running speed with that of Olympic runner Usain Bolt. Speed. In the end, it all comes down to processing speed and raw data crunching speed and how the data obtained by eavesdropping, snooping and other clandestine activities can be decoded and their secrets are known.

I have yet to open up the topic concerning The Ancients and the origin of Azhagan in detail. I hope to do that sometime in the near future after completing Vaanathai Pola. But, there are certain things that you readers are familiar with about Azhagan and his kind. Again, in plain and simple English they are Aliens. I will leave it right there and just add that one detail, which is, that they are powerful and possess technology that is millions of years ahead of ours.

While on Earth, Nations use spy satellites to see and hear and snoop on rivals and capture data while streaming and then use supercomputers to decrypt, The Ancients need none of those for their brains are supercomputers themselves and all they need is the data. This was how Azhagan was able to listen in to the conversation that was taking place between Dr Raja Rao in Hyderabad and Dr Wang Wei in China.

Just when he thought Alpha, the Chinaman would end the conversation to go and consult, he heard a beep like noise that sounded timid at first and then increased in intensity as the seconds ticked by.

Dr Raja Rao's alarm bells went of in his head and he enquired hurriedly, ' Alpha, what is it, my friend. What is that beeping noise in the background?'

Alpha, Dr Wang Wei's voice remained calm, poised as always as he answered, ' That beeping noise my friend is the end of me.'

' End? End of you?'

' Yes. It means that my people have zoomed in on our call and which means that we have but minutes left before they are at my door to question me about it.'

Sighing, he whispered, ' Dr Raja Rao, this means that you are the new Alpha.'

' But, Wang Wei, What about the person who has been giving you orders till now?'

' Don't worry about him my old friend for I am sure he will contact you at some point in the near future.'

' Alpha, you are scaring me. What do I do now?'

' Beta, you carry on the mission and see it through. It has been a good run for the Sons Of Gaia until now. In the end, that is all that matters. We come to go and what is left is what we did while we were here on this tiny blue planet called Earth, the third rock from the sun.'

' Alpha, wait. What is this man? Does he have a name, a codename?'

Dr Wang Wei smiled softly and answered, ' He is one of you, my old friend. He is from your land and your blood. His name is Rajadurai.'

Azhagan heard the name and smiling in realization said, ' Rajadurai. So, this is the face, the man behind the Sons Of Gaia. This is the man who surely must be the root cause for so many deaths all over the world.'

A subtle voice whispered and he listened as The Ancients spoke to him informing him of what lay below ground in Level Four.

' My lord Azhagan. Even we have limitations and even with all our advanced technology, there is only so much we can see that far below. Level Four has been fortified with an alloy of strange metal and our eyes and senses cannot see through them.'

Azhagan smiled, ' Just like Superman cannot see through lead with his X-ray vision for lead blocks X-rays.'

' Yes, my lord. So, that means they are prepared for us and for any other eventualities that may come in the form of us.'

' I hear you but I have no other option but to go down and rescue Raman.'

' My lord, Raman is important but if the outcome means that both of you will be destroyed then it does not make sense for you to go down there knowing that fully well.'

Azhagan shook his head, ' what do you want me to do now?'

' Return. Let things play out and we will take it from there. Surely, another man or woman carrying Raman's genes will pop up.'

' You mean we have to wait for another 800 odd years?'

The Ancients fell silent and Azhagan stood up with his mind made up and declared, ' I am sorry but I am going down. This is not just about me and you and the unique and sacred genes that Raman carries in him. It is also about my promise to him to protect him and I aim to do so. I am not worried about dying for I know that it is going to happen one day. That day might be today, right now, but I don't care about it. I care about Raman and that is the end of the matter. Understood.'

' Yes, my lord. But, I hope you know what to do if things get really bad for the last thing we want is you being captured and handed over to Rajadurai.'

' I know. I know. I will do what is necessary when that moment comes although it will be good to face Rajadurai whose ancestor Rajendra Cholan I defeated on that battlefield, 800 years ago. But, all that was lost to memory and that bit of history was wiped out from memory and yet it is alive and kept alive. By whom I wonder?'

' My Lord, are you forgetting the fact of your paintings and how they were put up for sale and were brought back by Rudran.'

' No, I am not forgetting that and I hope you are not forgetting that important fact of Rudran being attacked by clones like us and who carried the same mark like me. Who made them? Who created them and sent them after Rudran?'

' Yes, my lord. That someone is the one we need to find out and destroy before it all gets out of hand and unmanageable even for us.'

' All right then. These are my orders. If things don't go well then get in touch with Rudran and make him the new Father and let him carry on with what needs to be done.'

Azhagan walked as Dr Sathya towards the single elevator and stared at the large pad. He knew that Dr Sathya's privileges to descend further down to level four had been revoked and stopped at level three. Thinking that he would face that when it came to that moment, he entered the elevator and pressed three and quickly descended down. He had been informed by Dr Sathya that level four now had a separate elevator and was guarded by armed security men who answered only to Dr Raja Rao.

The elevator doors opened and whispered, ' Third, floor ' and Dr Sathya stepping out saw nearly a dozen guns aimed at her and then she heard, rather felt a vibration and from the shadows of the dark corridor, she saw with fear two giants walking towards them.

Each one stood nearly eight feet tall and Azhagan thought to himself, ' This is going to be interesting ' and looked at his watch sadly, ' Just seven hours have passed since I injected Raman. He needs another minimum of ten hours for his body to recover and transform' and looked at all his captors, ' There is going to be a lot of killing and yet all that will take minutes. If I kill everyone then it is okay but if I am killed, then all is lost and it will be up to Rudy to manage from then on.'

One of the giants saw Dr Sathya shake her head and in a booming voice said, ' You were told to stay away and despite the warnings, you have dared venture down throwing caution to the wind. So, come along and face the consequences for Dr Raja Rao feels he needs a test subject for his new experiment.'

Azhagan forced tears through Dr Sathya's eyes and whimpered softly, ' I am sorry but I was only worried for the patient, Raman.'

The Giant's laughter boomed all around level three and he said, ' Good for you little one for now you can watch over that patient as you are laid down right next to him.'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encryption#Modern

https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/features/story/explained-whatapp-calls-end-to-end-encrypted-but-what-does-it-mean-for-you-1696989-2020-07-04

https://www.dw.com/en/modern-spy-satellites-in-an-age-of-space-wars/a-54691887

https://www.aerosociety.com/news/eavesdropping-from-space/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udZU0zdtPWo

Vaanathai Pola 443

The saying " “All's well that ends well ” by William Shakespeare appears in his play that is the saying. Read it again and read it again and ask yourself, does the end justify the means. Is the end of the journey everything?

I guess one can argue the case of a wicked man who in his final moments of life redeems himself by an act of charity or something on those lines. But, what about the beginning and what about the middle part of the man's evil life you may be forced to ask and you are right in asking that.

So, we now have " All that begins well does not necessarily end well and all that did not begin well do sometimes end well."

I think beginnings and endings are as important as that journey, that distance, time that spans and connects both that start and finish. I know it is a bit disturbing and morbid but look at the above sentence after reading these sentences.

Two people fell madly in love, got married and a child was born to them. But sadly, differently-abled and died after a few years. In the same hospital, at the same moment that child had been born, a woman had given birth to a healthy child but she had rejected it and given it up for adoption. Why? Because she was a rape victim by one of her family members and had hidden it far too long and it had been too late for an abortion.

Beginnings, endings and even the middle part of our lives stand for nothing unless they mean something to this world. I am not advocating anything here and even though I kind of sound preachy, I leave moral decisions to the will of each individual. But, all those who are blessed with a conscience know deep down that they have to return the favour to earth and life for all favours received from them.

The word Vigilante entered English in the 19th century, borrowed from the Spanish word of the same spelling which meant “watchman, guard” in that language. The Spanish word can be traced back to the Latin vigilare, meaning “to keep awake.” The earliest use of the word in English was to refer to a member of a vigilance committee, a committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily, as when the processes of law appear inadequate.

Dr Raja Rao and the other members were all vigilantes in the truest sense for their plans to protect the planet and its inhabitants had no official authority and they were hatched outside the purview of law and justice of the land.

The Sons of Gaia were not evil men and certainly not in the league of sadists, murderers and other criminals who kill and maim for the sheer joy of it. The members of Gaia were all accomplished scientists in the field of medicine and had all sworn a solemn oath to protect life at any costs.

So the decision to save the planet by an act of mass genocide was not one that had been taken easily and quickly. It had taken a good many years for all of them to come together as one and stand as one. But, the six were totally unaware of the fact that their first member whom they addressed as Alpha had somehow been manipulated by someone who had been their guiding factor in all their plans and through him had been controlling all their actions.

Dr Raja Rao who was very fond of Dr Sathya and who had always treated her like his own child, stood watching as she was brought before him. He glared at her and said, ' Your rebellious nature that defines you is a trait that I have always admired in you. But, it has now forced my hand to act and act forcibly.'

Stepping closer to her, he looked at Dr Sathya with sad, old eyes, ' I gave clear and specific orders for you and the others to take a break for a few days and not to come down here to level four and yet you have disobeyed my direct orders and now you must pay for your reckless action.'

Dr Sathya worriedly and in a frightened voice, ' Sir, I don't understand you. This is a Government organization and not your private castle or company where you can dictate your commands and expect them to be obeyed. I am fully authorized to go anywhere I please and just in case you have forgotten I too report directly to the Prime Minister's office and the Health Minister.

Dr Raja Rao smiled slightly said, ' Child, either you are a fool or totally blind to where you are and the dangers that surround you. But, I have to admit that you are indeed a brave woman and that you would have made a great successor for me after my departure.'

Clasping his hands behind his back, he stepped back and proceeded to stare at Dr Sathya as if he was trying to remember something. Azhagan reading his thoughts stood his ground as a defiant Dr Sathya, all the while thinking, ' Time, I need time for Raman's body to complete the process.'

Dr Raja Rao's thoughts were spoken by him in a loud voice, ' Sathya is it just my imagination or is there something different about you today ' and scanning her petite 5ft 2inches form, ' You look the same and yet there is something different about you. I wonder what that is?'

His forehead in a frown, he glared at her, ' Has someone from Chakravyuh been in touch with you? Have they been telling you stuff about me?'

Then the whole situation went south when the new team of doctors who had arrived at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology as per Dr Raja Rao's request to assist him joined him and Dr Sathya and Dr Raheja recognizing her asked his colleague what the problem was and why she was surrounded by armed security men.

Choosing the best and only option left to him, Dr Raja Rao explained to his colleagues that Dr Sathya was behaving suspiciously and he feared that she might be a traitor.

Dr Sathya smiled, ' Me a traitor' and turned to Dr Raheja, Dr Indumati and the others, ' the patient's name is Raman and is a personal friend of The Prime Minister himself. Modiji himself called Dr Raja Rao here and requested him to save Raman and at any cost.'

Smiling sarcastically, ' yet here is the good doctor completely ignoring the Prime Minister's direct orders and has brought the patient to level four and has placed him under armed men' and pointing to the dozen giants who stood watching them, ' have you wondered who those giants are with those scary-looking swords? Who are they and who authorized them to be here? I can understand these security personnel who belong to the army but who and what do those giants belong to?'

Dr Indumati stared at Dr Raja Rao, ' Sir, what is going on here? Dr Sathya has asked a valid question to which I am confident you have a valid answer. Please Dr Rao, what is happening here and why all this secrecy and security?'

The light at the end of the tunnel seemed very distant and Dr Raja Rao smiled thinking, ' This is what a Blackhole must feel like. No escape for anything that is trapped in its gravitational pull. Gravity gone wild and so strong that even light cannot escape it and here I am in a hole that has been in the making for many years.'

Looking at all of them, ' Of course, I do have a valid answer for Dr Sathya's question but sadly none of you will be able to hear it ' and flicking his fingers growled his orders to the giants, ' take them all away and place them in that room with the patient while I deal with this pesky junior of mine.'

One does not say much or have the gumption to even try when you have a dozen eight-foot giants hovering above you and that too when they are armed with deadly weapons.

Dr Raheja looking at Dr Raja Rao told him, ' Dr Sathya is not the traitor here for it is obvious who that is. I don't know what you hope to accomplish with this attitude of yours but I promise you that action will be taken as swiftly as possible.'

His words fell on deaf ears for Dr Raja Rao has tuned all their protests out from his mind and instead now concentrated on his subordinate Dr Sathya. ' I am Godfather to your five-year-old son but I fear that my duties will increase once I have solved this problem.'

Nodding his head, ' yes, I will kill you and the others and make it look like an extreme case of a deadly disease and the root cause for that will be Raman' and turning to look at him through the large glasses of the ICU, remarked casually, ' I am good and in this centre, I am more than good. I am God.'

Azhagan knew it was time to act for now he stood burdened with the additional responsibility of saving the doctors too.

Dr Raja Rao hearing a sudden and audible gasp turned around and found a tall man standing in front of him and before he could even blink and gasp in shock, the man's right arm shot forward and grabbed his throat and then in a display of incredible strength, lifted him off the ground and held him there.

Dr Raja Rao squeaked as much as he could squeak, ' who, who are you?'

' I am Azhagan. I am that you and your secret society have been seeking all these years' and Dr Raja Rao saw the flares of orange fires rage deep in the stranger's eyes and mumbled, ' You are not human.'

Azhagan smiled, ' Maybe. But I am certainly more human than you and your kind that are plotting genocide on a scale that even deadly viruses and bacteria have tried and failed over the years.'

Meanwhile, the Giants who had caught sight of Azhagan roared and ran towards him with their swords raised and Azhagan growled, ' stop. stay and drop your weapons or else I will break the doctor's neck.'

The largest of the giants roared loudly, ' the doctor is of no consequence for he was just a means to an end. A bait to capture you.'

Azhagan smiled and looked at Dr Raja Rao who hung like a mouse in his mighty arms and said, ' I hope you heard that loud and clear, Dr Evil.'

Turning to the largest of the giants, ' I bet the bait and trap was cast by your king, Dr Rajadurai.'

Dr Raja Rao squeaked, ' Rajadurai. Alpha told me his name before our connection was cut off.'

Azhagan shook his head, ' not cut off Dr Rao but chopped off. Your leader Alpha, Dr Wang Wei must be in prison by now or must be dead after committing suicide for I know for sure that traitors are not very welcome in China.'

Dr Raja Rao's eyes began to roll as Azhagan squeezed his carotid artery and soon was unconscious. Placing him on the ground, Azhagan whispered, ' sleep a while Dr Evil while I take care of some business.'

The dozen giants surrounded Azhagan and the largest one telling the armed security men not to shoot or interfere with their prisoner, turned to Azhagan and said, ' you are right in using the word business for we have some unfinished business pending between us.'

' You are talking about the leader of your clan, Moorkan, I presume.'

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

To know more about the encounter that Azhagan had with Moorkan, please visit this page and read chapter 54 of the boy who went into the dark and came back with light that I wrote 6 years ago.

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/other-topics/4327334/from-to-sathish-thread-3?pn=20

Avan, Aval, Adhu 137

“Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,

Tears from the depths of some divine despair

Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,

In looking on the happy autumn fields,

And thinking of the days that are no more.”

...............................................Alfred Lord Tennyson

Standing still as a rock showering in the ice-cold water from the shower, Ravi issued a challenger, ' you have to do better than that, Kodai, for I have known cold far worse than this. Not on my skin but in the folds of my heart and soul.

Picking up the tiny bottle that contained just about enough shampoo for one decent wash, he whistled his appreciation as the fragrance of the shampoo announced in a subtle way that it had been handpicked not by a man but by a woman.

' Catch Partha appreciating fragrances and flowers and that too when it comes to shampoos and soaps' Ravi muttered and then sided his friend, ' but he did choose her. He chose Daksha and for that, he does score some points, that smart dog.'

He remembered the days when they had bathed in small ponds, streams and in water gushing out of pump sets near the fields with soaps that cost just 25 paise.

Towelling himself, Ravi thought, ' When was the last time I saw a 25 paise or a 50 paise coin, I wonder. Must be a very long time ago for now even beggars had stopped dealing with such currency denominations and thought it beneath their dignity to accept them coins.'

A sudden thought struck him and laughing silently, he announced to the cottage, ' Now I know why 5 rupee and 10 rupee coins are made in the colour of Gold. Just to make it easier for the beggars to accept or reject coins that do not glitter like gold.'

Sighing tiredly, ' The world has indeed changed. But I wonder if it has passed me by while I was trying to cope with its changes. Must have. I am sure of it otherwise why do I still live in old times, in my own world with old memories and yet content to a certain extent.

Rubbing deodorant under his arms, he picked up a denim shirt and slipped into it and then pulling on black denim jeans stood before the mirror to comb his hair. His mind without his permission wandered towards Gayatri and staring at his reflection in the mirror he wondered about her and her arrival at Whispering Rocks.

' It is going to be an interesting evening and an interesting few days, I suppose ' Ravi told himself and shutting the door of the cottage behind him slowly walked towards the main center cottage that served both as the office, reception and living quarters for Partha and Daksha.

In his hands, he held a small cardboard box that contained a gift for his friends and he was sure that they would love it. He had found the artefact on their family property along with a few others that he had given away to the Madurai university's Archeological department.

Those who are dead are not dead

They're just living in my head

And since I fell for that spell

I am living there as well, oh

lyrics from 42, a song by Coldplay

“For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain.”

Contentment and Peace are lovers and sing the same song in a duet and in sync. They are two peas in a pod. Now, put that popular craving " Happiness " into them and see for yourself that things just don't jell. Agreed, that happiness and peace are nearly the same looking damned states of existence. But, look more closely and you will see that they are not identical twins but dizygotic twins or in simple words, Fraternal twins.

From my own life, let me share with you some pages that will better explain what I am going on about. God help me for even after 23 years of being in television and the field of illusions, people still come up and tell me that I should have done better, tried harder and should have reached even higher goals.

I am not sure if it was my 6th or 7th when my report card started carrying the message, a personal message from my class teacher written in red ink that declared, " needs to work harder. Has the potential but not putting in enough effort."

' But, teachers, what about the worlds of books, bees and trees and what about that world called daydreaming?" I do all that and also do a little in my education and pass by and at the same time also passing by dabbling in sports.

True. Very true. I never ever felt that burning sensation to be the best, to come first or second or the top and never ever felt jealous or any other such devious stuff when a few of my classmates did well. Exceptionally well. I don't know why but I have been like that from the time I can remember. Books, music, solitude, eat and sleep.

Except that all of them in the last sentence were done out of sync with life and the expectations of the adults in my tribe.

I remember a cousin brother of mine, much older than me and who was given the task of overseeing me and the other kutties while we were growing up. He caned us a lot, knocked our heads with his knuckles and whacked our butts with slaps from his bare hands.

Today, he is in hiding. Well, the poor sod, should have knocked his own skull and whacked his own butt a few million times. Gambling has sent him into hiding. All the eating and drinking has given him a bad ticker.

I myself have remained the same from then. Content with the content that God blessed me with and in peace.

Yet, I rage, rave and rant with the content of the world at large. Why you ask and my answer is that I wish the world of Utopia and peace that I feel in me, created by my mind exists outside me too.

Sadly not and this quote will prove my current mindset.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” Rumi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0xfWCDLoCU

Avan, Aval, Adhu 138

Ravi left saying that he needed a bath to wash away the grime and dust after the motorcycle ride from Madurai. Those he left behind remained staring at the point where he had disappeared from their sight.

Gayatri's forehead was furrowed with several questions about Ravi and Partha seeing her predicament told her that the best way to go about it was to leave it alone and let the matter come to her.

She smiled and turning to him, ' You make it sound like it is some weird science problem. It is not that Partha. It is just a matter of the heart.'

Daksha nodded, ' Very true Gayatri. But..' she paused and taking a sip from her glass, ' matters of the heart are weirder and confounding than any problems that science can throw at a person.'

Gayatri disappointed that Daksha had taken an abrupt u-turn with her observation grudgingly ceding her acceptance, ' Yes. Very true, Daksha. But, it is obvious that Ravi is nursing a broken heart and in the end, it is always about love and emotions.'

' Gayatri ' Partha said her name and when she turned to face him, ' If it is just a broken heart why hasn't he fallen in love again and healed his heart with another love. If it is just love then why has he remained single all these years.? 25 bloody years.'

' I don't know what to make of him, Partha.'

' Like, we said, Ravi's mind is weird and far more weird than the problems that science can throw up. So, just leave him be and let time and destiny take their course.'

' Time. So much time but so little of it and it becomes even more unbearable as the very same time passes us by never to return ' and she looked at Partha, ' 25 years. Even time, life and destiny have lost against him and you want me to wait for them.'

She wanted to know more about him for that would help her to better understand him and maybe get through to him and through all the barricades he had put up around his heart.

' It is not going to help ' Daksha said and Gayatri looked at her questioningly. ' How much ever we talk about him, share about him, it is not going to help. For, Ravi is Ravi and he will do what he wants to do. There is just no way around that mountain.'

Her eyes filling with tears, ' I know. I know that very well. But, I just cannot let it go. Not now for I am head over heels in love with him.'

Hugging her fiercely, Daksha told her, ' Don't let go. We don't want you to let go.'

Partha with a caring smile, ' Gayatri, I don't know what you will make of it but I need to tell you this ' and leaning forward, ' you are the first woman in 25 years that he has touched, hugged and spent time with and that too happily.'

Daksha nodded her head, ' yes. yes. That itself is a great sign and which means that Ravi cares for you greatly and in his own way.'

Gayatri smiled, ' I will take that. I will take anything that is even remotely a good and positive sign.'

' I am sorry if my thoughts and observations offend or hurt you in any way, Gayatri' Partha said and she immediately replied, ' It might hurt but I am sure it will not offend for I trust you both. So, please, speak freely.'

' All right' Partha said and Daksha who was also curious to know what he was going to say knew from the way her husband began to chew on his lower lip that he was going to say something serious and significant.

She was about to tell him to stop chewing on his lip but instead stopped herself and let him be for she knew that he was the one who in the end would always come up with some brilliant idea or observation and all that followed his lower lip chewing episode.

Partha looked at Daksha and said, ' Why, Ducks?'

' What do you mean that why, Partha?'

' I mean why now and why her' Partha asked pointing to Gayatri and not waiting for an answer, continued, with his train of thought.

Daksha realizing that he was just thinking aloud and using her as a sounding board fell silent and let him be, and catching Gayatri's eyes, shook her head and conveyed the message. ' Don't disturb him.'

Partha kept vigorously chewing on his lower lip and kept repeating the question and then he suddenly looked up and repeated the same sentence, ' Why now. why after all these years and why Gayatri?'

Shaking his head as if he wanted to shake loose that thought that refused to bloom into an idea, he mumbled, ' Ravi is not one to give in to looks or other cravings. Not that anyone would really grudge him and then again it is nobody's business but his own. Yet, from what I know of my friend, he does look different and that is possible only because of her' and pointing to Gayatri, ' Something about her reminds him of her, the one he still pines for.'

Gayatri funnelled air upwards through her lips in an attempt to blow away the few strands of hair that had fallen on her right cheek and then irritatedly flicking them away, leant forward eagerly and asked Partha, ' You were all in one class and studied together for a few years. Please, tell me more about her. Who was she and what was she like?'

Her questions would remain unanswered, at least for now for all of them heard the ringtone and realized that Ravi was just outside the door.

They could hear his deep voice talking to his mother, telling her that he was okay and that Gayatri had arrived safely.

Far, far away in Mumbai, Madhu stood staring at the night sky above her head and with the nightlife of Mumbai below her feet and frustratedly blew at the strands of hair that fell on her left cheek and then angrily flicked them away, muttering threats. ' Keep doing that and I will shave my head and be rid of you forever.'

Ravi too stood staring at the night sky that lay over Kodai and he remembered the very first thing about Madhu that he had observed, which was her constantly blowing the strands of hair that kept falling on her face, taking turns with her right and left cheeks. He smiled as he remembered that one time when she had suddenly appeared in class with her hair cut really short and had winked at him and said, ' Your saloon guy and now I am free. Really feel free.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfL6dhfZW38

Vaanathai Pola 444

Azhagan closed his eyes for a moment without any fear of being attacked by the dozen giants who he knew were all descendants of Moorkan. Slowly he opened his eyes and remembered Moorkan and the other giants he had slain in battle and thought, ' So, once again it all comes down to this moment. The moment that decides what shall endure. Right or wrong. Good or Evil.'

His eyes flickered slightly towards the ICU room where Raman lay and knew that it was too late now for thought and the moment had come for action.

Azhagan's mind raced through the countless battles over centuries and then his mind centred on her. On his blind mother. The one whose lap had been his bed and whose breasts had nursed him. That was the only regret, a constant source of pain in his soul that plagued him. All this power and all this strength and I could not protect her and watched her helplessly as her life and blood gasped their end.

He opened his eyes fully and opened his mind all around him and sensed everything around him. The 12 giants felt the air vibrate all around them as if they were being summoned by a wizard or a demon and all of them raised their swords for they knew it was their enemy who was gathering all his strength around him.

Too late. A second too late for Azhagan had already moved and he moved fully knowing that his every move, every blow had to count and had to be a killer blow. He moved at the speed of light to his left and at the same time flicking his right arm and the ten-inch knife that had stayed hidden inside his right forearm dropped down and his mighty fingers gripped the hilt and Azhagan pirouetting on his left foot like a dancer sliced at the giant and cut him in two and before the others could react, he stopped and swung his right hand backwards slicing the giant near him and cutting in two the man's right leg and he had just got started.

Azhagan had not planned any moves and had not planned for any eventualities for it was too late for all that and so had decided that speed was the deciding factor. In his heart, he knew that if all 12 giants had attacked him at the same time, he would stand little chance of defeating them and there was that chance of him dying too.

It had taken Azhagan half a second or so to take down two giants and then he pirouetted again on his right foot and moved and the first spear entered his body.

' Wake up Raman. Wake up, please. It is your time now' the voice wailed loudly and Raman's eyes flickered open and once again saw Avini, the blind mother of Azhagan standing before him.

He looked at her with worry and concern and asked, ' what has happened that makes you cry so, mother? Tell me so I can help ease your pain and troubles.'

Avini looked at him with her dead and blind eyes that were full of tears and said, ' Raman, I cry for my son who is fighting to save your life. If you don't rise now then it will be all too late for him.'

Raman's heart raced like the storm and he roared, ' what, Azhagan is going to die? How?'

Avini with tears pouring from her sightless eyes wailed, ' It is a long story and there is little time to tell it. They had been lying in wait, in hiding, planning and now they have my son surrounded and they will kill him and then they will kill you too and remember Raman, there is no telling what will happen after both of you are gone. For then, they will go after each and every one of you, including Suja and Vijay.'

The doctors looked at each other and Dr Raheja asked Dr Indumati, ' did you feel something? like the ground shaking.'

Dr Indumati nodded, ' Yes. I felt it like a vibration, a ripple that comes with a mild earthquake.'

No sooner she had finished saying that, all the machines in the ICU suddenly screamed and beeped into life and seconds later exploded in a huge surge of sparks. The doctors screamed in fear and ran outside with the armed security men following them.

The leader of the giants, the biggest of them screamed loudly and in anger and told two of his fellow giants, ' Go and see what's happening while I and the others finish this mutated B..tard of a creation.'

This brief time, the few seconds that they took to talk was all Azhagan needed to slice off the spear that was sticking out of him. Both in front and from his back.

A spear is a fearsome weapon that is about 7 to 9 feet in length. It is similar in shape to javelins that are thrown by athletes in competitions but the similarity ends right there.

Javelins that athletes use are typically 8ft 2 inches in length and weigh about 800 grams for males while female competitors use javelins that weigh 600 grams and 7ft 2inches in length

Now, a spear is an ancient weapon that is hardly used anymore but by tribals who live deep in the forest and who are nearly untouched by modern culture. The spear used in ancient times was nearly 10 feet long and weighed nearly 3 kgs and the one that had just pierced Azhagan was nearly 12 feet long and weighed 5 or more kgs.

If the same spear had entered the body of any other human being on this planet it would have killed him instantly. If the spear had entered a large bull or a buffalo, the chances are that the animal would have sunk to the ground taking its final breaths.

Azhagan took the full force of the spear and in the same breath leapt backwards with great force impaling the giant who stood behind him with the spear tip that jutted out from his back and then quickly ran forward.

The spear tip came out of the giant's stomach dragging his entrails and spilling them on the ground. The giant screaming in pain collapsed to the ground and then all the giants roared in anger and ran from all sides towards Azhagan.

Azhagan had realized the moment the large spear had pierced through his body, that his time was drawing to an end. But this only helped channel all his power and rage and he launched his attack. But, the 9-foot long spear was a liability and a huge disability and now all that was left was to kill as many giants as possible and try to give Raman a fighting chance if he indeed had any.

Then fate intervened and gave him the chance, the seconds he needed when all the doctors ran out screaming their heads off and Azhagan saw sparks fly all around the room and soon it began to fill with fire and smoke.

In an incredible display of flexibility, Azhagan twisted his right shoulder behind him and sliced off the spear that was sticking out of his back and then quickly rotated his shoulder cut off the spear that was sticking out of his chest and launched himself at the leader of the giants.

In any fight and even when the odds are stacked heavily against you, what is most important and what gives you a fighting chance to survive and triumph is the speed of thought and speed in execution of that thought. When combined with incredible strength and power, a person becomes a mighty force that is both immovable and irresistible.

The irresistible force paradox, also called the unstoppable force paradox or shield and spear paradox, is a classic paradox formulated as "What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?" The immovable object and the unstoppable force are both implicitly assumed to be indestructible, or else the question would have a trivial resolution. Furthermore, it is assumed that they are two entities.

An example of this paradox in non-western thought can be found in the origin of the Chinese word for contradiction (spear-shield). This term originates from a story in the 3rd century BC philosophical book Han Feizi. In the story, a man was trying to sell a spear and a shield. When asked how good his spear was, he said that his spear could pierce any shield. Then, when asked how good his shield was, he said that it could defend from all spear attacks. Then one person asked him what would happen if he were to take his spear to strike his shield; the seller could not answer. This led to the idiom of "zìxīang máodùn" ("from each-other spear shield"), or "self-contradictory".

Another ancient and mythological example illustrating this theme can be found in the story of the Teumessian fox, which can never be caught, and the hound Laelaps, which never misses what it hunts. Realizing the paradox, Zeus, Lord of the Sky turns both creatures into static constellations.

But, I give you a humble explanation for these paradoxes and it is one word. One name and that name is Azhagan.

The biggest of the giants, their leader was warned by the yells of his brothers but it was too late, for Azhagan's aim, attack and execution had yet to fail in all these 800 years and it did not fail at this moment.

But, yes, there is always that, but. But, as Azhagan leapt at their leader, two of the giants threw their spears at him. One missed and scraped past his right shoulder. The other didn't.

Azhagan was in mid-air when the second spear raced towards him and he tried his best to swipe at it with his left hand while his right hand pierced the throat of the leader of the giants.

The spear pierced through his left lung and stood there stuck to his chest.

Azhagan landed on his feet and stumbled to his knees with the second spear sticking out of him.

His lips moved as his mind brought back that fateful night when the same had been done to his blind and frail mother.

' Mother, Wait for me for I think it is not too late now. I am coming and soon we can be one again.'

These youtube attachments will help you better understand what flexibility really is and how incredibly and weirdly some of us humans are blessed by being born with elastic joints and muscles.

Contortionist Twisty Troy James SHOCKED The Judges on America's Got Talent 2018

TOP 7 Best Contortionists WORLDWIDE on Got Talent Global

Vaanathai Pola 445

Where there had been 12 now only 8 remained and without a leader. Four lay on the ground dead and dying. Six giants now stood with their swords and spears raised in anger at him while two of them had been dispatched to the ICU room to see what had gotten all the doctors screaming in fear.

The sparks that had burst out of the machines that had once been monitoring Raman were now ablaze with fire and smoke began to fill the room. Not knowing what to do, the two giants roared to the others and one of them roared back, ' Let that man die. He is of no consequence. Cut off his head just to make sure and bring it along here while we cut off this creature's head.'

It was all that Azhagan needed and again he moved, not as fast as before but still fast enough and the man who had just ordered Raman's head to be cut off felt a sharp pain and then felt nothing again. Ever.

For, Azhagan's knife had just pierced his right eye and entered his brain. Dropping down, he quickly reached to pick up the sword and just as he swung it around, two more spears entered his body and for the first time in his life, Azhagan roared in pain and anger.

Knowing that it was now or never, he opened his eyes and orange flames burst out of them and caught two of the giants right in their faces. Dropping their weapons, they clutched their faces and howled in pain and Azhagan moved back thinking, ' Seven down and five more left.'

The remaining three giants who stood near Azhagan scampered back and threw their spears but Azhagan easily evaded them and with a smile and blood pouring from his mouth, he bent and picked up two spears and holding them, felt their weight and balance and in a blink of an eye threw it at the giants and caught one in his throat and one in his chest and both crumpled to the ground.

The remaining giants yelled to the other two to come to his help and also yelled at the security men to shoot Azhagan down.

Having been wounded by four mighty spears is bad news even for a mighty warrior such as Azhagan and for the very first time in his life of 800 years, he stood weak and vulnerable. Down but not out.

' Not yet, not yet mother for with one last push and gasp, I think I can save Raman and then I will be ready ' Azhagan whispered to himself and then he felt it in his bones and he felt the tingle in his heart.

The two giants joined the other and all three rushed toward him and Azhagan summoning all his remaining strength rose to his legs to meet them in one final battle.

He stood with three spears sticking out of his body and with the first one thrown at him still embedded in his stomach and he stood smiling happily.

The three giants stared at him with mixed emotions for here was their sworn enemy who was about to die and yet he rose to do battle with a smile on his lips and one of them grudgingly said, ' They were right when they described you as a legend. Everything they said about you is real and if we had not seen it with our own eyes, then we would have banished it as another tale. A tall and unbelievable tale about angels and demons.'

All three raised their swords and slowly approached him from different directions and carefully for they knew that there was still life and fight left in his body.

Then much to their surprise and confusion, all three giants watched as Azhagan suddenly threw away the sword that he had picked up and slowly sank to his knees. They saw him bend his head and look up and say, ' I see you my lord, my king and I see you, my brother.'

All three giants wondering who he was addressing, turned around and froze in total fear for there in the doorway of the ICU that was burning away, stood the patient called Raman.

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

Vaanathai Pola 446

The armed security men stood with their machine guns aimed at Raman who stood framed by flames at the entrance of the ICU. They had been brought in by Dr Raja Rao for additional security and reported to him in their daily duties. But, in the end, they worked and reported to the Home Minister and their immediate superior, a former DIG ( director general of police).

On cue, all of them dropped their weapons and stared at Raman who whispered something. Nodding their heads, they shepherded the doctors towards the open elevator and left level four.

The remaining three giants realizing that Raman presented more of an immediate threat than the wounded Azhagan turned and moved towards him.

They saw the same man who had been brought in as a critical patient now stand before them exuding an aura that their instincts warned them was lethal and the look of malevolence in his eyes confirmed what their instincts had just warned them about.

All three giants knew in their hearts that the man who stood before them was a foe beyond even their combined might and an entity that was far more dangerous than the man they had just fought and wounded but who had still managed to kill nine of them including their leader.

All three exchanged a quiet look of resignation with each other but not out of desperation. They were not cowards or even intelligent ones, who know when to retreat and recoup and return to fight another day. The giants had one purpose and had been specifically bred and conditioned for one purpose. Kill or be killed but do as told and die carrying out the orders.

Azhagan's eyes blurred with fatigue and his knees unable to bear his weight, slowly gave way and he sank forward but did not fall to the ground for the spears sticking out of his body supported him.

With just enough strength left in him, he raised his eyes and looked with wonder at Raman and thought, ' Six hours and a few minutes and he is up and ready. How is this even possible? ' and smiling he thought, ' So, The Ancients were right after all in selecting Raman.'

He began to laugh in a strange manner and yet felt an incredible sense of peace fill his entire body and he looked at Raman, ' It took them all of ten months to create me and it has taken but six hours to create a new Raman.'

Azhagan's eyelids felt heavy in death and they slowly began to fall, shutting vision and light but in those final moments just before they would close forever he saw Raman's arms punch right through the bodies of the two giants that stood near him and pull their hearts right out of their chest cavities.

He saw Raman swirl like a dancer and leap on the lone giant and rip his head off with the same ease that a kid would pluck a flower from a plant.

' It is done. I am done, mother. There is a new king now and I can finally rest my weary bones after all' and, with heavy and bloodied eyelids saw Raman stride towards him. He smiled as he suddenly recollected the words from that famous Poem Kambaramayanam.

தோகையர் இன்னன சொல்லிட, நல்லோர்

ஓகை விளம்பிட, உம்பர் உவப்ப,

மாக மடங்கலும், மால் விடையும், பொன்

நாகமும், நாகமும், நாண நடந்தான்.

In the epic Ramayana, there comes the scene in Balakandam when Prince Rama and Prince Laxmana arrive at Mithila with Vishwamitra and are invited by King Janaka to his palace. Sage Vishwamitra informs the king that they are sons of the mighty emperor Dasaratha. He then announces that Lord Rama was also there to take up the challenge of stringing the mighty bow " Shiva Dhanush" that had once belonged to Lord Shiva.

King Janaka, father of Sita and everyone in the palace are overjoyed to hear the news that Lord Rama was going to try to string the mighty bow, an act that had been attempted by thousands of kings, and warriors, Devas and even demons and all had failed.

All those gathered there desperately want Lord Rama to succeed and marry their Princess Sita but none have any hope that the young prince will succeed, and most of the women there start crying in grief and many women blame and curse their own kind for making Prince Rama face such a mammoth task when mightier men then he had failed at the same task.

Then Lord Rama leaps up to his feet like flames bursting up from a Homa Gundam and starts walking majestically towards the Mighty bow called Shiva Dhanush.

Kavichakravarthy Kamban describes the walk of Lord Rama and says that it resembled a large mountain walking on two legs and goes on to say that the young prince walked with such beauty, majesty and power that would make a large bull elephant and a mighty male lion cover run and hide in shame after comparing themselves with the young prince.

That God was called Raman and this hero is called Raman and not just in name but even in walk and character, this Raman resembles that Raman of Ramayana ' Azhagan thought and then he felt himself being gently lifted up and cradled in mighty arms and Azhagan looked into his face with a smile and said, ' I see you, my lord. I see you as my dying mother Avini saw me before she passed on.'

' I know that my lord and that is why she came to me and it was she, your mother who woke me up.'

Azhagan's eyes opened wide in wonder and in happiness and he asked ' You saw her. You saw my mother.'

Raman nodded, ' Yes, I saw her my Lord, and I promised her.'

' Promised her what, Raman.'

' That I would not let you die. Not now, not ever and certainly not while I stand breathing.'

Azhagan smiled and said, ' There is only so much we can do my brother. If it could be done, then I would have saved my mother.'

' Maybe, but then my brother, you are not me ' and saying that began to pull out the spears from Azhagan's body, one by one and once he had removed all of them, he gently embraced Azhagan and enveloped him in his newfound light.