From & To Sathish #5 - Page 55

Avan Aval Adhu 164

All three stood drowning in the silence of a foggy Kodai morning and all that could be heard were the sounds of birds and the steady wind blowing through the trees.

Daksha eyeing his empty cup asked him if he wanted it filled and Ravi nodded and thanking her took a sip from his brimming mug and settled for silence and hot coffee.

Placing the coffee pot back in the machine, Daksha remarked, ' and you have been carrying all of this stuff in your head and in your heart and have been doing it all on your own. Well, Ravi, that ends today. For, from this moment on, we are with you and I am certain that we can take on this mad woman and put her in place. Finally and once and for all.'

Partha agreed, ' Perfectly said' and then raising his hand,' Although I don't understand why Meenakshi's cruel and creepy promise should be worrying you now in the present.'

Ravi shook his head as if he was thinking about a mistake that he had inadvertently made or as if he was rebuking himself for being careless and mumbled, ' I wish I had been more alert and recognized the vehicle and should have kept on moving on. But, I did not. Although I am sure, she would have eventually heard about Gayatri's presence here in Kumarapalayam.'

Partha flicked his fingers loudly near his face to get his attention and when Ravi looked up, asked him whose vehicle he had not recognized.

' Meenakshi's vehicle. It was parked on the way with a rear flat and I was in the tractor with the kids and Gayatri next to me and I stopped to help out and...'

Daksha scoffed, ' But, Gayatri is just a visitor and is here on her journalist work. So, why is that a problem for that weirdo?'

' Both of them exchanged a few words but the look on Meenakshi's face was proof enough for me that Gayatri had in a roundabout way told her off.'

Partha whistled loudly, ' And here we both were living out our lives thinking you were safe and all and yet so much has gone on in your life ' and glanced at Daksha for her thoughts on the matter but found his wife staring at Ravi who tried to stare back and then hung his head like his school students did when they had erred and erred badly.

In a soft voice that did little to mask the disappointment that she felt, ' I think our friend here has only shed a little light on what transpired between him and his cousin Meenakshi and that there is a lot that he has left out.'

Parthiban did not know how to react to his wife's words and so joined her in staring at Ravi who slowly lifted his head and confessed that she was right in saying that there was a lot he had not said and looked away saying, ' I am sorry but it involves two other people and I cannot divulge more without their consent.'

Partha grabbing Ravi's arm, shook him and said, ' More important, than me, and Daksha?'

' Yes da and more importantly at this point of time, I prefer to leave them buried secrets, to stay buried and hidden from the world. It has nothing to do with this current problem that we are facing.'

' Fair enough, Ravi. But what about Gayatri? Are you going to tell her that she might be in danger?'

Yes, Daksha. I am going to tell her. For it is only fair that a person is in full knowledge of what is happening around her.'

' Are you going to tell her all that you just told us or what you have not told us, Master sir?' Partha asked him in a slightly sarcastic way and this forced Ravi to turn and look at him sternly, and after a few moments his face softened and he asked in his own sarcastic way, ' Feeling jealous are we.'

Parthiban realizing his mistake, nodded in embarrassment, ' Yes, jealous and insecure about my best friend who I think the world of.'

Ravi smiled, ' I know and I also know how much both of you love me and I love you that much and more in return. There is a reason why I am not going in deeper into things that have stayed buried for many decades for it involves one who has gone forever and for one who will never return and even if.....'

Daksha clapped her hands and announced happily, ' A mystery, a prophecy, a sordid love story and a tragic hero character right in the middle along with his best friends for support.'

Parthiban's eyes stayed glued on his best friend and Ravi looking into them realized that his best friend knew who he had just mentioned and signalled very slightly and subtly not to talk about it and then moved his head towards the door and walked out carrying his mug of coffee, saying that he was going to try and talk to his former student Inspector Sargunam.

Avan Aval Adhu 165

Machiavellianism in psychology refers to a personality trait that sees a person so focused on their own interests they will manipulate, deceive, and exploit others to achieve their goals. Machiavellianism is one of the traits in what is called the ‘Dark Triad’. The other two in the triad being narcissism and psychopathy.

The term itself comes from a reference to the infamous Niccolò Machiavelli. A diplomat and philosopher in the Renaissance, his most well-known work became ‘The Prince” (Il Principe). This notorious book shared his views that strong rulers should be harsh with their subjects and enemies. It suggests glory and survival were justified by any means, even ones that were considered immoral and brutal.

The Metallic black Mercedes S class pulled into Dharmalinga Thevar's ancestral house and once it came to a halt, Meenakshi raised her left hand and her husband Pandiyan stayed still. Their driver Angamuthu quickly got down and rushed to the rear of the car and stood near the door and outside Meenakshi's side. For, he, like everyone else was wise and well versed with the functioning of the family.

He stood with his hands folded and watched as the tinted glass window hushed down and disappeared into the void of the door and stepped forward as his boss Meenakshi nodded to him to come closer.

' Please inform amma about our arrival but tell her that I am on an important call and so will come in only after ten or fifteen minutes ' and turning to her husband Pandiyan, ' Ennanga, will that be enough time for our conversation?'

Pandiyan's face which was already as pale and nearly white as a ghost ( methinks that a dead person will have no blood and hence, pale or white sans the red and cheery effect of live people) turned even chalkier as he nodded.

Angamuthu nodded and slowly walked away thinking, ' The sly jackal has been naughty and looking at both their faces, it looks like he is in for hell from the devil herself.'

The window pane rose from its cradle and sealed itself shut and shut them both from the outside world. The car hummed softly and the adaptive air-conditioning kept them comfortable with whispers of cool air from all around them. This is what a few crores can get you. Luxury. Premium Luxury.

Meenakshi did not turn or look at him and instead stared straight ahead and asked her husband Pandiyan, ' What is going on? What have you been up to? Leave nothing out and tell me everything.'

Pandiyan quickly explained everything. He told her about the temple thefts that he and his manager Raja were involved in and seeing Meenakshi turn slowly to look at him, he smiled slightly and then smiled no more for all he saw was a flash of her right hand that sped with the speed of a striking cobra as it landed on his left cheek and he squealed like a frightened puppy and wet himself.

The stench of his urine and his sweat filled the cabin with its sulphurous odour but Meenakshi ignored it and asked again, ' I said, tell me everything.'

Pandiyan slowly told her everything. He told her about his friend based in Chennai who had hatched the plot.

Meenakshi smiled and then slowly rested her hand on his thigh and squeezed it firmly, ' Obviously, for my sweet and docile husband knows better than to get himself involved on such stuff on his own.'

She looked away and thought aloud, ' You mean your best buddy Kulothungan who runs an antique gallery in Chennai.'

Pandiyan nodded and Meenakshi once again turned to him and asked in an ominous tone, ' so, what's the problem?'

' I, sorry, we have been running this racket for the past two years with the help of a Delhi-based gang who are masquerading as workers on our sites.'

She glared at him, ' Keep it brief and tell me what has happened now that has got you all panicked?'

' The job at the temple near the foothills went wrong when two of my men ran into a tourist and her cab driver. They stabbed him and attacked her but by that time it was too late to finish the job for people started running towards the spot and they had no choice but to flee from the place.'

He cursed softly and said, ' Our bad luck that it was that very same woman who saved those two kids from drowning in Kumarapalayam.'

Meenakshi's eyes lit up and a terrible smile filled her eyes as her mind raced to connect the dots and find an answer to both her and her husband's problems.

Her left hand that was gripping his right thigh slowly rose up and towards his genital area and Pandiyan squirmed both in fear and in lust as Meenakshi's strong hand gently began to stroke his bulge.

She looked at him and asked, ' do you want me to?' and he nodded painfully.

She glared at him and smiled and he slowly parted his legs and wriggled out of his underwear and freed his hard penis. Meenakshi stroked it and whispered, ' Do exactly as I tell you and do nothing else' and looked at him and he nodded and closed his eyes and moaned loudly as she dipped and closed her lips around his erection and began to move her head up and down on his small cock.'

It did not take very long and in just a few seconds he came and filled her mouth. Taking a few tissues from the box, she spat into it and looked at him and said, ' Listen carefully and do exactly as I tell you to do and nothing else. '

Pandiyan nodded and listened and heard her say, ' Carry out this plan and you will be rid of your witness and I will be rid of my competition. Understood.'

He nodded and then his eyes opened wide as she lifted her saree and said, ' All this planning about that bitch's murder has made me horny. So, go down and do what you can and don't stop until I tell you to.'

Pandiyan had seen her naked just a few times until she had become pregnant and was seeing her now after nearly 18 or so years and his eyes went wide in shock and pleasure at her clean-shaven C..t and how pink and wet it was and even though he knew very well that she was hot and horny thinking of her lover Ravi, he went down on her for like her he too was an animal in body and soul.

He did not mind that she whispered his enemy's name, again, and again, and every time she erupted with her orgasm. He lost count of her orgasms and all he could think of was her sweetness as she poured herself into his mouth, and then unable to control himself, he brutally turned her over and took her from the back and f..ked her for a long time.

Avan Aval Adhu 166

Inspector Sargunam looked up from the file that he was reading and was told by the Sub-Inspector that the IG was ready to meet him. Standing up, he thanked the SI and placing his cap on his head walked towards the conference room of the newly appointed Inspector General of Police, South Zone Mr Asra Garg, IPS and entered, pushing the glass door open.

Placing the file on the oval-shaped table, he whacked out a stiff salute to his new boss and with that done, smiled respectfully and greeted him.

' Good morning sir and congratulation on your appointment as the new IG of South Zone.' Then Inspector Sargunam saluted and greeted all the other superiors gathered around the large oval table.

' At ease, Mr Sargunam and please, sit down and make yourself comfortable' IG Asra Garg told him and glancing at his secretary, ' A bottle of water and a cup of coffee for the Inspector ' and then looked at Sargunam, ' will coffee be okay or would you prefer tea instead.'

' Coffee will do just fine, sir. Nothing like a cup of strong brew to get the juices flowing, sir. If I may say so.'

IG Asra Garg smiling pleasantly said, ' You may and I hope your thoughts and opinions are not limited to just a cup of coffee, Inspector. For, I expect you to speak freely and openly and without any fear of repercussions.'

Inspector-General of Police, South Zone Mr Asra Garg, IPS was an Indian Police Service officer from the 2004 batch of Tamil Nadu Cadre and was born in 1980 and was one of the youngest IG's to take office in the history of Indian Police service. He had risen quickly from his first posting as Superintendent of Police, Tirunelveli district to his current posting of IG, South Zone and with 10 districts under his jurisdiction.

IG Asra Garg was famed for his discipline and zeal but was even better known for his kind heart.In 2008, Garg was appointed as the Superintendent of Police of Tirunelveli district (Rural), where he held office until 2010. During that period, Garg played a proactive role in managing the usury menace, and played a vital role in saving the people from the money lenders who were charging exorbitant interest rates; he formed a special force to track down and curtail the activities of moneylenders who used goons to collect loans. Rather than wait for complaints against any kind of crime, Garg made his team go out and find willing complainants. Garg was also appreciated for curbing other criminal operations and maintaining the peace in the communally sensitive area.

In 2010, Garg was posted as the Superintendent of Police in the Madurai district, where he set out to fight against corruption and money distribution during the election. The conduct of elections by him was appreciated by the election commission of India. He also helped to resolve a major, long-standing communal conflict. He initiated peace negotiations between the warring Dalits and non-Dalits in the village of Uthapuram and ensured the entry of Dalits in the temple. Madras High Court has placed on record the "untiring efforts of the Superintendent of Police, IPS, in not only helping the court in arriving at a proper solution of the dispute but also for brokering peace between the two warring groups".

Garg also filed several cases against teashop owners in Tirunelveli, Madurai and Dharmapuri districts practicing the discriminatory two-tumbler system, wherein non-dalits are served tea in stainless steel tumblers, while dalits are served in disposable cups.

Garg is known for being humane and innovative in dealing with crimes. One such instance was the release of a woman who had murdered her husband. During the probe, police found out that the man was killed when he attempted to rape their daughter. Following this, Garg ordered her release under section 100 of IPC, holding that the woman, acted in self-defence. This brought national attention on the case as an instance of law being not blind after all.

In 2013, Garg was commended for preventing the marriage of an HIV-infected man to a young girl in Devadanapatti in Theni District of Tamil Nadu a few minutes before her marriage.

Garg also played a key role in the first conviction in the state in a case of land grabbing which was a very pertinent issue at that time. Besides, in Dharmapuri, Garg busted a kidney trade racket in 2013 by making several arrests and nabbing the kingpin, Garg brought an end to the organ grafting racket, which was one of the crimes with the highest gravity.

IG Asra Garg leant forward and resting his elbows on the table, clenched and unclenched his fingers a few times and the message was loud and clear for it was known that he was prone to do exactly what he was doing when angry or upset.

' I am known to be a very fair person ' he declared in a tone that was neither soft nor hard but one which sent a shiver down everyone's spine and informed all the officers sitting around the table that he meant business.

He looked at his DIG's and SP's and then resting his eyes on Inspector Sargunam, ' I can understand when a crime is committed in the name of hunger and poverty. I can even understand if a person kills another in the heat of the moment. But, there are a few things that I can never understand and don't want to even try understanding them. One is Rape, and physical abuse and the other are crimes involving temples and places of worship.'

He nodded his head purposefully and then slowly resting his palms on the table, pushed himself up saying, ' All of you will remain seated. I listen, understand and think better when I am on my feet and walking around.'

Taking a sip from the bottle of water, he told Sargunam to start talking. ' Inspector, please, go ahead and tell us about this case and leave out no detail.'

Inspector Sargunam quickly laid out the case that had taken place in the ancient temple of Lord Sadaya Perumal and how a person had been stabbed by the criminals before they had made their getaway.

He stopped seeing IG Asra Garg raising his hand and waited for the question.

' What steps have been taken since then?'

Superintendent of Police, Prabhu spoke up, ' sir, we have placed inspection blocks on all major roads leading in and out of Madurai and special teams from both the Law and order and Crime branch have been mobilized and are on the lookout at all the bus stops and Railway stations. Photos of both the men have been circulated and I am confident that they will be soon taken into custody.'

IG Asra Garg remained silent and then glanced pointedly at Guna and asked, ' Yes, Inspector. You have something in mind. Out with it, sir and let's hear what you have in mind.'

Inspector Sargunam looked at his immediate superior officer SP Prabhu to whom he reported on a daily basis and his senior nodded as if to convey his permission was granted for Guna to speak his mind.

IG Asra Garg noticed this subtle exchange and said cheerfully, ' Guys, this is not about us and our positions but about what is right and what is wrong and our boss in Chennai, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr Stalin himself. So, please, put aside our petty positions and postings and let us solve this crime together.'

Superintendent of Police, Prabhu spoke hesitatingly, ' Sir, I am sure you are aware of my track record and so you will know that we stop at nothing when it comes to solving a crime. But this case is not a solitary one and we in the department feel that there are several powerful people behind this and other crimes of similar nature.'

IG Asra Garg smiled, ' well said and honestly said. It is obvious that there will be a few politicians and powerful people behind these sorts of crimes for only they can plot and carry out such complicated jobs. But, what are we going to do about it? Just sit back and let them go on doing these crimes?'

SP Prabhu shook his head, ' No sir. All I meant to say was that we need to tread carefully before.....'

' Before what, sir?'

Then he sat back in his chair and pressed a button on the intercom and said, ' Connect me to DGP sir.'

A few seconds later, the deep and majestic voice of DGP Sylendra Babu, IPS and head of the Tamil Nadu Police Department filled the room.

' Good morning Asra. How are you doing?'

' I am fine sir.'

' How can I help you?'

' Sir, this is regarding the temple theft case that I spoke to you about yesterday evening.'

' I thought we were clear about what we had to do.'

' Yes sir. But, I want you to please repeat what your orders for me were once again. I am sorry sir but there is a reason for my request.'

The loud laughter of their head DGP Sylendra Babu rang through the conference room and his words were heard loud and clear.

' IG, I know the reason for this call. So, it's okay. Better now than later.'

All of them around the oval table heard their boss clear his throat and heard his deep voice speak.

' I want this crime and other crimes that may be connected to this solved and I want it solved regardless. I mean that. Nothing and no one will come between you and your duty. If they do, arrest them and if there are problems, then act freely and act boldly.'

' Am I understood?'

' All of them roared. ' Yes sir.'

' Okay, Asra. Proceed as you wish and all the best young man.'

' Thank you sir' IG Asra said and disconnecting the call stared at all his officers.

' We will meet here tomorrow evening at 6.00 pm. At, that time, I hope to see all of you with files that are related to temple thefts in each of your districts. Dismissed Gentlemen.'

Raising his hand, ' Inspector Sargunam. Please, sit down for I need to clarify something with you.'

Avan Aval Adhu 167

Even though the tree was barely visible as he approached it, he felt its presence and its pull on his mind. He had realized this strange connection when he had walked up to the tree, several months after he had been struck by the lightning on that fateful day. Devathoothan had laid his hands on the dead part of the tree wondering how both he and the tree had managed to survive the deadly strike.

Beedi man had once been a talkative man. But that was before he had been struck down by that bolt of lightning that had come out of the blue and out of nowhere although in his head he knew that it had come from a power source that powered all life.

Beedi man had dropped out of school in his fifth std and had gone to work in a nearby tea estate alongside his mother and elder brother. His father was an alcoholic and a man of few actions and many words. His actions consisted of waking up from the previous night's drinking and start beating up his mother and brother for money. With that over and with a little money in hand, his next action was to go in search of the dealer dealing in arrack aka Illicit liquor and then stumble back home late in the afternoon and fall dead in a deep death-like sleep. Over time, all the participants of that four-member family fell into the groove and life went on until Devathoothan had his first drink when he was 16 or so.

That changed everything and changed him and his life forever. But, one good thing came out of his tryst with drink and that was his confrontation with his father. It was a week after he had first tasted and had taken a liking to arrack and had let it run amok, both in his blood and in his brains. Father and son were like two trains on a collision course for they were journeying towards each other on a track called booze or destiny.

Years of tea picking had given him stamina and strength in his body and that day booze had given him wings to fly and Beedi man Devathoothan came home to see his father beating up his mother.

Something broke in him and so, broken he rushed to his father and broke him too. He proceeded to dish out such a beating to his father that it made him disappear from their lives. Eventually, he surfaced, rather his dead body was found in a nearby forest as it lay in a pool of blood. They were informed that some major blood vessels had burst either in his tuberculosis-ridden lungs or from his cirrhosis-ravaged liver.

But, " Good Riddance " were words bandied about by everyone in their area. Then life happened and Karma cycled around recycling old with new.

Devathoothan spent his time in light working with a single-minded purpose. His purpose was to make as much money as possible so it would buy him more to drink. During that time when he worked in light and drank in the dark, his Karma crossed paths with the Karma of Malli.

Malli was a fat, short, ugly woman whom fate had f..ked over properly in the very first moments of her arrival into the world and just as she was departed from her mother's womb by also making her a Mute and deaf from birth.

Fat, short, and ugly were already in her genes but mute and deaf were caused by the forceps that were used by a makeshift doctor in a makeshift dispensary. The quack doctor used too much force on Malli's large head in an attempt to pull out her from her mother's small Va.ina. So, God and fate F..ked her nice and proper and then gave her an even proper f..king by making her life tangle and mingle with Devathoothan.

In the dark and totally drunk and high, Malli looked like a fine piece for him and she obliged him and fulfilled her obligation to Mother nature and evolution which is all geared towards procreation.

The Creator, creates all creations, for Procreation. I guess God soon tired of Mastur..ating wanted a change and thought of another to jerk off with and thus created the sexes.

In the dark and drunk all things look nice and beautiful and it's only when you wake up in light and use your full sight that one realizes that they had not done the f..king but rather that they had been f..ked over nice and proper.

Devathoothan and Malli stared at each other and then both had walked away and then both had come together after a few days in the night and then poor Malli got loaded with a baby. A natural process that is bound to happen as you fire again and again at the target and is guaranteed to happen even if you are shooting with your eyes shut.

Karma had brought them together to F..k in the dark and now Karma decided to f..k both of them in light. Reluctantly, Devathoothan decided to marry Malli and so they did, and a few days later Malli suffered a miscarriage and her obligation to nature's wish of procreation was over.

He raged, ranted and began to drink heavily and soon his visits to his newly married wife began to wax and wane like the dead moon and both went about their lives picking tea and picking lice and picking fights.

Malli grew fatter, uglier and stronger. Her body could take the beatings from her frail husband who became weaker and weaker as the days passed and as more and more arrack passed through his body. Her deaf ears now became her gifts as all his filthy cursings about her looks and useless womb were nothing but silence to her.

Ironically, the forceps used by the quack doctor maybe did do her a favour for in the end she lived a comfortably numb and deaf life.

Then, the lightning bolt had struck him and nothing was the same after that moment.

After months of hovering between life and death, Devathoothan came back fully alive and fully recovered and came back with the powers of prediction.

Devathoothan stood in the fog with the tree and whispered, ' Dead or alive. We still have a purpose, an obligation towards life.'

They whispered in voices and in a language only he could hear and understand and he knew then what was coming and what had to be done.

His feet gained new purpose as they walked towards Malli and once he reached home, he took a paper on which he drew a crude fish and marked an arrow in its eye and gave it to his wife and gently squeezed her hand and said, ' He will come ' and realizing that she did not understand what he had said, pointed to the sky and pointed to the sun and then pointed to the paper with the crude fish drawing.

Malli's eyes opened wide for even though she could not hear and hence speak, she could understand emotions and so she understand that something was going to happen.

She grabbed his hands and said, ' aah, aah, aah.'

Beedi man smiled and then gently patted her cheek and walked away with tears in his eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56hqrlQxMMI

"Eye In The Sky"

Don't think sorry's easily said

Don't try turning tables instead

You've taken lots of chances before

But I ain't gonna give anymore

Don't ask me

That's how it goes

'Cause part of me knows what you're thinking

Don't say words you're gonna regret

Don't let the fire rush to your head

I've heard the accusation before

And I ain't gonna take any more

Believe me

The sun in your eyes

Made some of the lies worth believing

I am the eye in the sky

Looking at you

I can read your mind

I am the maker of rules

Dealing with fools

I can cheat you blind

And I don't need to see any more to know that

I can read your mind (looking at you)

I can read your mind (looking at you)

I can read your mind (looking at you)

I can read your mind

Don't leave false illusions behind

Don't cry cause I ain't changing my mind

So find another fool like before

Cause I ain't gonna live anymore believing

Some of the lies while all of the signs are deceiving

I am the eye in the sky

Looking at you

I can read your mind

I am the maker of rules

Dealing with fools

I can cheat you blind

And I don't need to see any more to know that

I can read your mind (looking at you)

I can read your mind (looking at you)

I can read your mind (looking at you)

I can read your mind

I am the eye in the sky

Looking at you

I can read your mind

I am the maker of rules

Dealing with fools

I can cheat you blind

And I don't need to see any more to know that

I can read your mind (looking at you)

I can read your mind (looking at you)

I can read your mind (looking at you)

I can read your mind

An engineer in a car manufacturing company designs a world class car. The CEO is impressed with the outcome and praised him a lot.

While trying to bring out the car from the manufacturing area to the showroom, they realised that the car is 2 inches taller than the entrance.

The engineer felt bad that he didn't notice this one before creating the car.

The CEO was confused on how to take it outside of the manufacturing area.

The painter said that they can bring out the car and there will be a few scratches on top of the car which could be touched up later on.

The engineer said that they can break the entrance, take the car out, and later re-do it.

The CEO was not convinced with any ideas and felt like it is a bad sign to break or scratch.

A Watchman was observing all the drama & slowly approached the CEO. He wanted to give an idea if they had no problem.

They wondered what this guy would tell them that the experts could not give.

The watchman said "The car is only a few inches taller than the entrance so, simply release the air in the tyre, the height of the car will sink and can be easily taken out"...

Everyone clapped!!!

Don't analyse the problems only from an expert point of view alone.

Life issues are also the same....

Think Simple...

Do Simple and Live Simple

Release *some Air* ... It could be our 'anger' .... our 'disappointments'... our 'egos'... Our 'confusions' ..

In the end it's all about "Adjusting The Height" ( *Attitude* ), to make things easier in life and uncomplicate the things in life.

●A conscience does not

prevent sin. It only

prevents you from

enjoying it!

●Living on Earth may be expensive but it includes

an annual free trip

around the Sun.

●Best way to prevent

hangover is to stay drunk.

●Doesn't expecting the

unexpected make the

unexpected become

the expected?

●A bus station is where a

bus stops. A train station

is where train stops. On my

desk, I have a work station.

What more can I say!

●If it's true that we are

here to help others,

then, what exactly are

the others here for?

●How come _abbreviated_

is such a long word?

●Sometimes I need what

only you can provide:

your absence.

●Your future depends

on your dreams.

So go to sleep !!

●Can you do anything that

other people can't? Sure..

I can read my handwriting.

●I'm a nobody,

nobody is perfect,

and therefore I'm perfect.

●I've got to sit down and

work out where I stand.

●If I save time,

when do I get it back..???

●I am free .... of all

prejudices. I hate

everyone equally.

●Take my advice,

I don't use it anyway.

●Statement below is true.

Statement above is false.

😉

Avan Aval Adhu 168

The Police department comes under the Home Ministry portfolio which in a state is invariably held by the Chief Minister of that state. It is a given and an obvious and easily understandable one that the Police department and all its powerful resources is always held firmly by the Chief Minister. Arrests, be it false or vaguely true can be done only through the Police department.

The incident of a former Chief Minister and that too the leader of the Opposition being arrested in the middle of the night is proof enough of what the police department can do and will do to even the most powerful people on their own whim or at the behest of someone else's fancies are enough. The police department is the end of the arm, the fingers that grip anything and which is the first to be used by Law. After an arrest is made, then it is up to the courts and judges who will or will not follow the letter of the law or will secretly follow the letter and instructions that come from the corridors of power.

There is a strict heirarchy that is followed in the Police department. A junior officer will obey implicitly the orders of his immediate superior officer or face the consequences. The consequences are being transferred to a God-forsaken place or worse. Worse here means injuries or death by murder.

The police system works in such a way that information passes from down to up starting from the Police station and in a police station, the Inspector is the boss and the big daddy. Yes, a person can go over him and make a complaint to a higher ranking officer like the areas Assistant Commissioner or the Districts DIG, Deputy Inspector General of Police but even he will have to take in the Inspector's word as gospel and by then things will be very sticky and messy for the complainant.

Inspector-General of Police, South Zone Mr Asra Garg, IPS sat down and pointing to the chair next to him which had just moments ago had been filled by Superintendent of Police, Prabhu said, ' Please sit down, officer.'

His big brown eyes sparkling with zeal and virtue scrutinized Inspector Sargunam and yet Guna could not help noticing a hint of a smile playing on his Superior's lips and his own smile echoed in his coal-black eyes and not on his lips which were mostly under the shelter of his thick moustache.

IG Garg smiled and raising his head glanced at the Glass doors through which all the Superintendents could be clearly seen standing making small talk but it was obvious that all their senses were trained on what was going inside between the IG and the Inspector.

' Their heads must be spinning with a million questions and I am sure your SP is not going to be fun to be with anymore.'

Guna smiled, ' I will survive sir.'

IG Garg's eyebrows came together briefly as he asked Guna, ' A double graduate and an officer still in his twenties, and yet here you are, an Inspector. Why is that?'

Leaning back, ' My instinct tells me that you would have aced the IPS exams with your eyes closed.'

' A family situation and a lack of ambition, I guess sir.'

IG Garg looked down at the file, ' I see you have made many requests over the past five years to be transferred to Madurai and more importantly to be posted in a small village town called Kumarapalayam.'

Looking up, he smiled with understanding, ' You are from that village?'

' No sir. My village is about twenty km farther away from Kumarapalayam.'

IG Garg slapped the table, ' Matters of the heart, then?'

Inspector Sargunam nodded, ' Yes sir. You are correct. It is a matter of the heart but not in the way you think. But more the love and respect that I have for Master sir.'

' Master. You mean your school or college, faculty member.'

' Our school headmaster, sir.'

IG Garg looked at Guna with disbelief that slowly graduated to wonder and pride and he clapped his hands and said, ' Bravo. Bravo ' and politely enquired, ' is he old and is he ailing?'

Inspector Guna could not help smiling and said, ' No sir. He is neither old nor ailing. In fact, he is one of the strongest men in our area and also the kindest and gentlest soul that I have had the privilege of having known.'

IG Garg smiled and said, ' Sounds like an incredible person.'

' He is that sir and much more than that. The word incredible alone will not do justice to him and all that he has done and is doing.'

' Inspector, if it is possible, I would like to meet this gentleman and make his acquaintance.'

' Okay, sir.'

IG Asra Garg nodded and pointing to the files that lay open on the table before them, ' This is a very sensitive case and I am sure that there will be a lot of repercussions by the time this case is solved and closed.

' Tell me what you make of this case and please I insist that you speak freely and openly.'

Guna nodded, ' Sir, like SP Prabhu sir said, this case will definitely lead us to some very important and powerful people and politicians without whose protection these crimes cannot be carried out. Money, hundreds, maybe even thousands of crores surely means people and people well connected and in high places. So...'

' I get that but I want you to endure it all and bring the culprits to justice. We need to make an example of these rich and powerful criminals and show the public that the police department will do its jobs no matter what obstacles are placed in our paths. Can you do this? Can you see it through, Inspector?'

' I will see it through sir. I promise you to see it through to its end.'

IG Asra Garg pointed to Guna's mobile and said, ' take down my number. It's unlisted and only a few have it. Call me regardless of the time or place and I will answer it.'

Then both began to discuss the case and their discussion went on for a long time.

Not far away, Pandiyan's mobile phone rang and he looked at Meenakshi who said, ' speaker phone' and Pandiyan did that and said, ' hello.'

The voice was familiar to both of them and it said, ' Iyaa, the case has reached the new IG. Sir, this is now out of my hands. Please, cut off all your ties and erase all the links if any and lie low.'

The call was abruptly cut off leaving Pandiyan to stare at Meenakshi with fear and worry.

' I am going in and inform my parents that you are not well. Meanwhile, you will go home, change and then take the car for a wash and call me once it is done. Inform your man, Raja to wait at the construction site and we will meet him and finalize the plans there in your office.'

She quickly did her face with a little makeup and then smiled sweetly and Pandiyan smiled back happily and then her hand flashed faster than before and the slap was as loud as a thunderclap and still smiling, Meenakshi said, ' That is for putting my family and father's reputation in danger.

She raised a finger and wagged it and warned, ' the next time you do this, you will not be alive for I will personally cut off your stupid head and feed it the wild animals in our forest lands.'

Pandiyan trembled in fear and sat watching his wife as she walked into her father's domain.

He did not see her make the call and would not see her issue a request that the person on the other end knew very well as a direct command.

All he said was, ' Okay, amma. I will call as soon as it is done.'

Avan Aval Adhu 169

Partha and Ravi were clearly visible to Daksha through the kitchen windows and although she could not hear them clearly, she knew what they were talking about.

' Silly kids. They think I did not hear them and their thoughts and have rushed out to play on their own. Boys, remain boys, even when they have grown up to be men and old men to boot' and, placing the washed coffee mugs on the table, she stared at Ravi and Partha and thought, ' One who has gone and might not return obviously mean his love Madhu and the one who is gone forever again obviously refers to someone's death and the only death these kids have ever spoken about is that unsolved mystery about Meenakshi's elder brother who went missing at about the same time as Ravi and Madhu's separation. '

Outside, Partha glared at Ravi, ' you think Daksha will not understand your cryptic words?'

' No. That would be foolish of me and I would be the worst kind of fool to underestimate Ducks ' and turning his gaze towards the fog, ' Dei, I am going to go and try and find this Devathoothan and see if I can learn more about what he meant by his prophecy.'

' Okay, da. Give me a few minutes to get into some warmer clothes and we will go together.'

Ravi glared at Partha, ' Did they replace your brains with some metal stuff? What's wrong with you? You want to leave Daksha and Gayatri on their own and unprotected?'

His words as always made perfect sense and reluctantly Partha agreed and then quickly gave him directions to Beedi man Devathoothan's place which was on the northeast corner of the estate and nearly two km from where they were standing.'

Partha grabbed Ravi's arm and said, ' what about your student, Guna? '

' what about him?'

' Are you going to tell him about Beedi man's predictions?'

' I am not sure da Partha. But one thing I am sure about is that I am going to request and strongly at that for the presence of a few policemen around this area where our cottages are and where we spend most of the time.'

Partha winked slyly and whispered, ' Ravi, you forgot that both me and Daksha have gun permits and that both of us have our own handguns in the safe.'

Ravi cursed and shaking his head looked at Partha with worry and said, ' I hope it doesn't come to that. I am really praying that the situation is not that grave and am hoping Guna will come here and help put an end to the problem.'

Partha gripped Ravi's shoulders with his hands stared hard at his friend and said, ' I know in my heart that there is a lot that you have left out from that incident. I am not bothered about that for I know there will come a moment when you will be ready to share them with me. My only question and the only thing that confuses me and confound me is Meenakshi. Is she really such an evil person and is she capable of more evil after all these years?'

' Partha, I have known her from the time she was a kid since we all grew up together. Forget her being evil, and all that, for that is not something that scares me about her. Instead, it is her intelligence, courage and the relentless pursuit of her goals that scare the daylights out of me.'

Sighing he looked again at the Fog that lay like a dark grey blanket around them and said, ' I am afraid that she will not stop and will not stop until she is stopped or her opponent is stopped.'

' This is sheer madness. Doctors will call this an extreme case of pyscho behaviour and label her as being dangerous to society and pack her off into some asylum and forever.'

Ravi smiled, ' That might happen if she is treated or counselled by a Psychiatrist. But, I am sure she will wipe out all of us before she allows that to happen to her.'

He looked at Partha with love, ' Dei, I am not kidding here and yes, you are right. There is a lot that I have left out from telling you and Daksha but maybe the time is fast nearing for all of those buried secrets to be revealed. My only concern right now is Gayatri, Daksha and you. Lets' handle that first and then we will talk more.'

Pointing to the cottage, ' You carry on. I will go check on Gayatri before I go and meet Devathoothan and will catch up with all of you in a couple of hours' time. Bye da.'

Gayatri all fresh from a shower and dressed in slim-fit jeans and turtle neck sweater came out of her cottage and caught Ravi walking towards her and smiled and thought, ' they should have said " Think of an angel, a god and they will come instead of think of the devil and the devil is here?" and smiling at her own thoughts, thought again, ' Ravi in my case is both angel and devil?'

The thick dark fog heard a whisper, an order from a higher order and reluctantly gave in to that power and slowly scattered their spirits for a brief time and the light of the sun poured bright through the space and maybe since I am a dreamer, poured from the universe itself.

Both stood looking at each other and for the second time in his life, Ravi felt that call, the pull and the gentle tug that he had once felt a long time ago with Madhu.

He gasped in shock and thought to himself, ' I have fallen in love. I am in love with her. But, how is that possible? ' and unable to handle his thoughts and emotions that were threatening to drown him with their power, he slowly started to turn away from Gayatri and stopped hearing her voice.

Hearing her call his name felt like she was calling out from another life with another meaning and it felt like a doorway, a passage opening in his soul, and in that moment he knew he had indeed fallen in love for he felt that same familiar magic that had happened with Madhu.

*_THE FALLEN FLOWERS 🌺_*

Running is a usual affair. The beauty about running is, I see life happening around me. And every morning I will see an elderly gentlemen picking up flowers fallen under the tree and neatly keep in a basket, meant for temple visits. His activity was making me curious.

One fine morning I saw him again, and decided to quench my curiosity, “why does he pick up fallen flowers, while I see a whole other elderly crowd, plucking fresh flowers”.

I asked him, Uncle, I always see you picking up these freshly fallen flowers from the ground. What do you do with them?

I use it to worship deities and gods in my house, he replied calmly.

Now this was new. Haven’t heard anything like this before. So, I asked him again, “Why will you put fallen flowers, when there are plenty on the plant itself?”.

I am helping the flowers fulfil their purpose, to be with the God in their last days. They also have life, they also want to be with God like you and me in our last days, isn’t it, he asked me. I just nodded and he continued.

People pluck the buds which have not even bloomed, and some only pluck the one’s which has just bloomed, not even letting them release their fragrance. Everyone takes what’s beautiful and leaves the plant stripped off its beauty. See, how these plants look like, stripped and deserted.

He continued, every flower has a purpose, to be with the God. While everyone takes away what’s there on the plant, I choose to pick them up. It’s not their fault that they fell down. They also deserve to be with God.

You also try it, you will find peace and happiness in doing it. I find it, that’s why I did it. I am too old support anyone, but I can help these flowers meet their destiny.

I could just nod, smile, wished him luck and continued my run.

While I was running, my head was also running. With this new inspiration and thought, I decided that let me also try picking up fallen flowers for worshipping.

I crossed a hibiscus tree and saw few flowers fallen under the tree. As I bent down to pick up, I heard a voice.

“You don’t put fallen flowers to God”, it was my Mom speaking to in my head, and then I stopped for a second.

“God is only looking for your emotion & devotion towards him, so go ahead and pick up”, it was again my Mom speaking to me in my head.

After much deliberation and looking at both sides, I picked the flowers and put it in my palms. I could feel goose bumps and my heart started racing. It was a very different kind of love I was feeling inside my body for these flowers.

I got them home, washed them and placed them where they deserved, at the feet of God.

This entire experience was overwhelming. I felt good and nice about myself. I felt as if I have saved someone’s life or helped someone come out of misery. I had never felt this level of contentment before with flowers atleast. And I feel, I will continue to do this. *Pick up who has fallen down.*

In life, we always want to be around nice and beautiful people. We want to see ourselves with people who belong to our stature, and look down on people below our stature.

But, the real satisfaction comes when we help someone and make their life better. Be it a human, animal, bird or any other form of life.

So, why not flowers, THE FALLEN FLOWERS 🌸

🙏🏻😇🌷

Avan Aval Adhu 170

There are love stories and then there are those love stories that stir your heart and capture your imagination and make you wonder, " I wish somebody would come along and love me in the wonderful and beautiful way."

A generation of young girls and adult women went about their daily lives humming, " TUJHE DEKHA TO YE JAANA SANAM " from the film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and fell in love with Shah Rukh Khan. Although the younger lot abandoned him in a few years and filled their hearts and minds and drowned themselves in the green eyes of Hrithik Roshan as he danced and serenaded them singing " Ek pal ka jeena, phir to hai jaana " in Kaho naa pyaar hai.

I am sure many girls growing up in Hindi India dreamt of Shah Rukh singing to them with guitar in hand or Surya singing " Nenjukul peithidum Maa mazhai " in Tamil India.

I am sure none of the girls or boys had some character artiste or comedy artiste like Goundamani and Vadivelu pinned in their bedrooms and pined for them. Love is different when in teens and the same love is very different in your 40s.

Teenage and young love is full of passion and unbridled enthusiasm but mostly it is of the heart and body. But, old love, mature love is about the mind and importantly about the soul. True and I agree that physical needs such as sex and close proximity comfort do also figure in older and importantly wiser people but it is different.

Ravi stood with his face turned away as the unexpected beams of light that had pierced through the dark and dense Kodai morning fog bathed him and Gayatri with their golden auras.

He had turned away for he did not want Gayatri to see him for he knew that she would sense his thoughts the moment her eyes met his.

He squeezed his eyes shut and pleaded in his head, ' Not now. I am not ready. Please, Not now.'

Then he felt her arms hug him from behind and Ravi nearly collapsed for his knees felt weak and the walls that had held strong around the fort of his soul were seemingly crumbling to dust and were breaking down without warning.

Taking a deep breath, he did his best to calm himself down and asked Gayatri if she had slept well.

' I must have?'

' Why the doubt?'

' No doubt. I am sure I must have slept well.'

' There you go again using must and have.'

She whispered, ' That is because I am still in doubt about what happened last night after I passed out.'

The little tryst of a conversation had given Ravi enough time to return to his normal self and he answered, ' Nothing happened. You slept and I slept next to you for the couch was too small and uncomfortable to spend a whole night in it.'

She slowly but forcefully spun him around and looked at him and said, ' Liar. I know your eyes very well and so I can clearly see that you are lying.'

Ravi had to call on all his resources to come to his rescue and then blurted in confusion and it was well done for that saved him for another day.

' I had no choice...'

Gayatri frowned, ' what do you mean you had no choice?'

' After you passed out, you began to cry and talk in your sleep and it was too painful to watch you in that state and so.'

' So...?'

' So, I got into bed and held you until you fell asleep and which you did soon after that.'

Ravi felt her hands that were hugging him from behind slowly drop away and so worriedly, he turned to see what had made her release her grip.

Gayatri had not only dropped her hands but was slowly stepping away from him and then it was her turn to hide her face and Ravi asked her, ' Gayatri, Are you okay? Did I say something which has offended you?'

' No. No, Ravi. You did nothing and nothing you will ever do will offend me or hurt me. It is me and my problems that are offensive. God, I feel so embarrassed for god only knows what all I was blabbering about in my sleep.'

' You did not blabber and you don't have to feel embarrassed about it. Please, don't be hard on yourself. After all, it was me, your friend that you blabbered to and not some stranger. So, go easy on yourself and don't rush to judge yourself so harshly.'

Gayatri did not reply and stood with her face still turned away from him and just from the way her shoulders drooped, he knew that she was upset and was hurting.

It was his turn to gently hold her from behind and throwing his arms around her, he kissed her head and whispered, ' Gayatri, nearly 60 to 70 per cent of people talk in their sleep and they do because they have no other way to release their pain and pent up sorrow. They have no other path to walk and talk out their thoughts, hopes and broken dreams. It's okay. You spoke about your dad and mother and family stuff. Nothing else. So, you are safe with me and so are your secret sleep talking.'

Then remembering what he had set out to do, he said loudly, ' Gayatri, there is an important work that I have to do right away and I am sorry that I cannot tell you more about it right now. I will be back in a few hours and then we will sit and talk in detail.'

She slowly turned and looked at him, ' Is everything okay, Ravi? Do you want me to come along with you?'

' No, no Gayatri. The best thing for you to do right now is to go and be with Partha and Daksha and stay with them until I come back.'

He looked at her and asked her, ' Will you do that for me, please?'

Gayatri nodded and thought, ' I will do anything for you.'

Ravi smiled and without even realizing that he was doing it and had done it, embraced her with passion and held her to him for a long minute and then releasing her suddenly, pointed to Partha's cottage, ' Go now and stay there until I come back.'

She stood watching as the fog swallowed him whole from sight and then his light vanished along with the beams of light that had bathed them for the time they had been together.

Her heart raced, thudded and strained against the confines of her rib cage, ' cage, my own body is my own cage for right now, I feel like I have wings that will take me up into the clouds.'

She smiled and kept smiling and remained staring at the very spot where he had walked into the fog and whispered, ' Ravi, baby, why did that hug, that embrace feel different? Why? Is my heart beating true and is the answer true? Do you feel something for me in your heart?'

Feeling someone's presence near her, she turned and saw a thin, terribly scarred stranger staring at her and then he walked towards her and lit up a beedi and began to puff away at it.

He stared at her and Gayatri stared back not knowing who he was and what he was doing in Whispering Rocks.

' Mister, who are you?'

' Nobody for a long time and soon, a nobody forever.'

Pointing to the beedi that was shrinking at an alarming rate, ' At the way that you are going with that leaf, your own prophecy, nobody forever will come true and you don't have to be Nostradamus to predict that.'

Beedi man nodded and lit up another beedi and smiled and Gayatri saw a strange light shine madly in his eyes.

' True, that one does not have to be Nostradamus to predict cancer and other diseases as a result of heavy smoking' and then he looked at her sadly, ' But your mother never smoked and neither did your dad and yet both succumbed to cancer.'

Gayatri froze and only her lips gasped taking in breaths and exhaled words, ' How? what? who are you?'

Beedi man smiled with twinkling eyes and said, ' A diluted version of Nostradamus.'

He looked all around him and it was obvious that he was high but she could not smell any alcohol on him and just as she was wondering if he had smoking pot, grass or had abused some magic mushrooms, Beedi man smiled and said, ' Little one, I am high on life just like you were moments ago when he held you and when you realized that he felt different.'

' WTF. Agreed that you might have seen us but HTF did you realize what went on in my head and what I was feeling?'

Love. One of the most familiar and common words that are used in almost all sorts of conversations and in different settings.

In one's workplace, the boss will say, ' Love your job. Love it with passion and only then you will succeed.'

A religious person will say, ' Love God ' while a spiritual person will say, ' God is love.'

A parent will tell their child, ' I love you so much ' and the child will reply, ' I love you too.'

A pet, be it a dog, cat, bird, or lizard will hear its master say, ' I love you ' and even though they might not understand the language, they respond well to the emotion and the tone.

But, there is that love that blossoms and blooms between two humans that takes precedence over all other loves and in my, your writer's humble opinion is the foundation on which human civilization was built on.

When it comes to science, love is seen as an essential first act of procreation via pair bonding, mating in which the brain, the drug peddler, sells various drugs that make the person high and live out an illusion. But, I repeat the word but that it is not the same in all cases of bondings for like in arranged marriages there is that convenience factor when it comes to two people starting out on their journey.

Okay. Illusion, unreal and just body science and hormones but then life, in all its glory and promises is an illusion by itself for it ends sooner, later but ends when the end comes.

So, if life itself is a means, a purpose, a reason for something then love is one of the tools designed by mother nature for that game.

It's natural to wonder about the one thing that millions of people can't stop thinking about. Songs are written about it, art is done around it, and it's the glue that generally holds us all together. One of the important things to remember about love is that while there are similarities in people's experiences, everyone will likely feel something unique to just them.

Relationship expert and dating guru James Preece says that we experience love uniquely because we see the act of loving uniquely." Love means different things to different people we also experience it in a variety of ways," says Preece. And what some of us don't find important, others value. In other words, we experience love in interesting ways for ourselves because we choose what we do and don't focus on.

"To some, it's the feeling of excitement when you aren't together and are missing them," says Preece. "For others, it's the slightly odd feeling that makes you a bit giddy. Your heart will beat faster or you might find yourself getting jealous over silly things."

Since we all experience love in our own way, it's also important to note that we won't just feel a singular emotion of love.Licensed psychotherapist LeslieBeth Wish, Ed. D, author of Smart Relationships and Founder of Love Victory, underscores that love isn't just one feeling, like some might think.

"The feeling of being in love can range in intensity from exuberance to peacefulness, " says Dr. Wish. In other words, you'll experience lots of different emotions, all wrapped up in the bigger feeling of love. It's also important to note that the feelings of love will change over time.

"These feelings can also range based on when that initial mutual feeling of love happens," says Dr. Wish. "And on how long you have been in that relationship A good analogy is that mutual love is like a car with multiple speeds that range from overdrive to cruising gear, depending on the situation." So it's not only fast and slow, as if speeds on a car. Love can feel like an array of several emotions all at once.As one might expect, love fills you with intense, overwhelmingly happy emotions, leaving you feeling like one giant dose of joy just hit you straight in the brain.

"When mutual love hits you and sometimes it really does feel like a 'wake-up call,' you can experience intense feelings of being 'struck' - in a good way - or sensations of floating or joy," says Dr. Wish.

Despite the roller coaster of feelings you may initially have when experiencing love, over time, the thrill will shift into a sense of peacefulness.

As love evolves, so will your emotions.

"Over time, the intensity does not disappear, but, instead, it becomes one of many mutually positive feelings," says Dr. Wish. "Long-term, mutually happy couples in love say that they feel peaceful, confident, empowered, and other positive feelings."

True love feels like a calming wave that just washes over you.