From & To Sathish #5 - Page 59

Avan, Aval Adhu 186

There is a reason why in yesterday's chapter I shared my dilly-dallying with the dripping tap in my kitchen sink that ended with a new one being put in. If I had not protracted on the issue, I could have saved myself a few hundred rupees by calling in the plumber and asking him to look into it. At the most, it would have meant changing a tiny washer or worse, with a twist of the spanner I could have got it tightened and stopped the dripping that later became a trickle.

I am sure all of you would have heard even in passing the proverb "A stitch in time saves nine." The phrase basically means it's better to solve a problem right away, to stop it from becoming a much bigger one. That is why I alluded to the dripping tap tale which ended up with me installing a new one. I am sorry but it does not end there for I have more serious and graver issues to talk about today. A dripping tap means one with a problem. But what about a beating heart? How does it tell its owner and the world that it needs a service?

A few days ago, I tapped on Whatsapp and read with dread the several messages that informed me that our makeup chief Kalaimani had passed away due to heart failure. He was 59 or 60 at the most.

Lowering the phone, I stared out of the window as most people do when they get shocking news that usually freezes their thoughts and body movements. I sighed sadly and called David our director who directs both Pandiyan stores and Baakiyalakshmi for our Producer Ganesh.

David in a sad voice narrated what had taken place. Apparently, Kalaimani had complained of some tightness in his chest and a feeling of breathlessness and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where he was admitted. An ECG was taken and some emergency treatment was given. The doctor informed Kalaimani that the ECG report showed irregularities and requested him to stay back in the hospital so they could monitor him.

But, after an hour or so, Kalaimani decided that he was all right and turning a deaf ear to the doctor's protests walked out of the hospital and getting into the car told our unit manager to return to the shooting spot.

Minutes later he held his chest and then passed away from a massive heart attack.

A stitch in time saves nine

For a few months before his passing a few days ago, I had begun to notice and I could not help noticing that Kalaimani had become very quiet and was always in his own thoughts and both in solitude.

I knew that he was suffering from High BP and maybe even diabetes and that he was under some duress due to some family problems that I or the others knew very little of and to be fair to the rest of the world, he, Kalaimani was not very forthcoming or willing to talk about his personal stuff.

Kalaimani lived in Mandaiveli which is just down the road from my area. So, over the past two years, whenever my work was wrapped up earlier than 8.00 pm, we used to leave together in my car and I would drop him off at Adyar traffic junction before heading off to my house.

Apart from that, I used to share my vegetable upma with him for breakfast and we also used to catch up on films and Tamil film history. Kalaimani was a senior makeup man and had entered the field as a novice when he was in his late teens. He had worked with and as a personal makeup man for the movie legend and my favourite film personality, the one-man show, Mr K. Bhagyaraj.

The dripping tap. A heart that is failing you and yet is wailing and telling you about its frail condition and impending doom by fluctuating pressure-wise and leaving you breathless. Maybe, Kaliamani heard it and ignored it or maybe, he did not care about it at all.

One thing is certain, he drank heavily every night and smoked heavily day and night and voila, you have a recipe that spells disaster. Some previous Karma must have tried fighting to save his life by taking him to the hospital but Fate, time and Mr Death cannot be defeated and managed to convince him to walk out of the hospital on his own accord and then took him while he was in the car and far away from any emergency treatment.

Drippy tap and failing heart notwithstanding, A stitch in time does save nine and not ignoring your body's symptoms will save your lives. Hopefully.

Ravi was a very observant and cautious person by nature and a man who never took threats lightly. Regardless of the nature of the threats.

Even though he was a practical man he knew in his heart that Beedi man Devathoothan was gifted in some weird way and so believed him when he mentioned the danger that was coming towards Gayatri and those around him.

The moment Gayatri left the room to make her calls, Daksha asked Ravi if he had said spoken to her about what Devathoothan had told him and if he had warned her about the dangers that she was in.

Ravi shook his head, and then taking the piece of paper that had the fish drawn in it with an arrow sticking out, tapped it and said, ' his wife Malli gave it to me.'

Partha grabbed the drawing and said, ' fish, eye, Meenakshi' and looked at Ravi who nodded and said, ' he knew that I would follow him and so left a message for me with his wife Malli.

Daksha blurted ' To Malli. But, she was born deaf and mute.'

' I know that ducks and that is why Devathoothan pointed to the sun and told her that I would be coming and to expect me and to hand over the drawing when I did.'

' pointed to the sun' Daksha said softly and then yelled, ' Sun who is also called Ravi. Correct.'

Ravi shrugged his shoulders, ' and I thought that I knew a lot and had seen a lot and today Devathoothan showed me what an ignorant fool I really am.'

Taking the paper with the drawing back from Partha, Ravi folded it carefully and placed it back in his pocket.

' I spoke to Guna and he told me that he is sending two patrol jeeps to watch over Whispering Rocks and at the same time monitor all those who are using the two roads that give access to our place.'

Parthiban clapped his hands in relief and in happiness, ' f..k, thank God this problem has been taken care of. I doubt if anybody would dare try to venture into our area with the cops around us.'

' If they do, I will put a few bullets in both their backsides ' Daksha declared and Partha completed her. ' And I will willingly bury their bodies in our garden. Dead or alive.'

Both of them laughed at their own words and then fell quiet seeing Ravi's unsmiling countenance and Partha asked him what was eating him.

' Dei, the cops will soon be here and to top that, we are armed and I have already informed the estate managers to maintain a strict and constant vigil and to keep an eye out for strangers trespassing our lands. I think that will cover whatever threats that we are facing.'

Ravi shook his head and said, ' If Devathoothan's predictions are true then my understanding is, that no matter what precautionary measures we take, the coming danger will somehow manage to reach us and maybe even touch us.'

Daksha took his hand in hers and asked if he was scared or worried.

Ravi nodded, ' Yes but not for me but for you both and Gayatri.'

Partha stood up and gently held Ravi's head against his chest and said, ' I will die before I let anything happen to you. But, I swear to kill all those who will dare to harm you or the others.'

Sitting on the table, he looked down at Ravi, ' You were just a teenager when you carried me for more than a mile across those muddy fields and saved my life. You are now an adult and a long way from that kid who showed what a man and hero he was even back then.'

Ravi smiled, ' I worry and I become weak when it concerns those whom I love and cherish. I will take on and fight both God and Devil if it concerns my friends but sadly, I cannot fight for myself. I become weak and impotent when it concerns my own health and safety.'

Daksha smiled and kissed his hand, ' Don't worry baby, We are there to take care of you and fight for you.'

There are some songs that get stuck into my head like burrs sticking to your pants when you walk through a forest or a wild patch of land.

I sometimes look back and try to glean more information about myself and how music and books wormed their way into my lonely and solitary realm and see that the world is a lonely place. Always has and always will.

It is not about physically being there and not even about mentally being there. I think we humans have perfected our own version of loneliness and solitude vis a vis our needs and greed.

I find solace for myself and fill my voids and chasms by listening to music and drowning in books. Fiction. Sorry, Non-fiction did not and will never work for me.

I get drawn to music by its tone, mood and when it comes to songs it is always the lines. the lyrics and to a lesser extent, the voice itself.

Maybe, I try to connect with the songwriter through the lyrics and try to understand where he is coming from and where he is going with the song.

Here are some of my favourite songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZfj2Ir3GgQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt3Ggo1CE3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV7daJ8J2jM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sThaCXe1eJU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sThaCXe1eJU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlqI5MvkYvE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZPfsu7K9Ao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXrjMaVoTy0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClVpeheHOI4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0596L_5n-S4

Avan, Aval Adhu 187

' Will that be enough, da?' Partha asked Ravi who looked up at him and nodded and just sat staring at his hands.

Daksha took his hands in hers and holding it tightly, ' Don't you think she should know everything about this situation? After all, it concerns her?'

' No, guys. Not now' and leaning forward after casting a quick and furtive glance at the window and not seeing Gayatri, he spoke softly and quickly.

' We know what Meenakshi is capable of but we don't know what Gayatri is capable of when she is roused and that is what worries me the most and also scares me a lot?'

' Why should Gayatri scare you ?' Partha asked in confusion and then turning to Daksha, ' baby, what's gotten into our master? Why is he scared about someone who is on his side and who is also madly in love with him?'

Ravi cursed under his breath forcing Partha to protest loudly, ' dei, dei. Why are you cursing me for stating the obvious da?'

' Obvious. What is obvious, you, you idiot? God help you when you fumble around like a bloody headless chicken.'

Daksha tapped the table and said, ' Guys, please. Gayatri could return any moment. So, let's, sort this out right now.'

Ravi looked at his best friend, ' On one hand, you have that mad cousin of mine who will stop at nothing and on the other hand, you have Gayatri who is just as headstrong and probably just as much a badass as her. But, you have to take in Gayatri's temperament and what or how she might react when told about Meenakshi being a threat to her and all because of me.'

Smiling sadly, ' Tell me Einstein's left ball. What do you think will happen if both go at it and at each other?'

Partha nearly choked in anger and shame and looked at Daksha who was using both her hands to squeeze her mouth shut and was doing her best not to die laughing.

' Left ball ' Partha mumbled and then added, ' At least you had enough sense to call me Einstein's left ball and not someone elses....'

Looking out of the window, Ravi saw the heavy fog slowly dissipating as the sun began to finally exert its authority on its dominion down below.

Turning to him, 'Idiot, use your grey matter. Gayatri did not hesitate, did not think before she jumped into the lake to save the kids who had fallen in. She did not hesitate for a second before taking on and attacking those two criminals who were both armed with knives and were swinging away.'

Then falling silent for a moment, waiting for what he had just said to take effect, Ravi continued, ' Partha, you just said Gayatri is on my side and that she is in love with me. Imagine, what it will do to her and what that will do to her.'

' What will it do, da?'

' It will give her wings to fly. It will give her motivation and courage to take on Meenakshi and I bet she will do that head-on and one on one. She will not think or operate like the slimy and reptilian kind that Meenakshi is and will instead charge right into war and we will be stuck with a bull in a china shop or worse with a maddened and angered elephant in a china shop.'

Partha and Daksha quickly envisioned the scenario that Ravi had explained to them and he quickly blurted, ' Ravi, right. In hindsight, I think you are right in choosing to not tell Gayatri everything and especially about Meenakshi.'

Then tentatively and in a soft voice, ' How do you know what love will do to her or what it might not do to her?'

Daksha raised her hand and gave her husband a loud whack on his back, ' Master was wrong when he called you Einsteins left ball. For, my dear husband you are worthy of being just a single strand of hair on that great man's left ball, I fear.'

Ravi could not help it and he burst out laughing and Daksha joined him leaving Partha fuming under his breath and then he spoke up.

' Albert Einstein was a great man. He did such great things and I am proud to be even that single strand of hair on his scrotum.'

Then unable to control his own laughter Partha joined them and their laughter rose happily spreading warmth all around Whispering Rocks.

Gayatri who had been trying to reach a person stopped hearing the laughter that reached her ears and in it, she heard him laughing, she felt his soul and it gave her wings to fly and act.

Angels are given wings to fly, hover and swoop and protect their wards. Angels have wings so that they can ensconce their wards with love and care.

Gayatri smiled and pressed the number again and heard it ring and heard the familiar voice of the person she had known from the time she was a child.'

' Gupta uncle'.

' Gayatri Beti. Wow! Is that you, really you calling me and after all these years?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhkIEXi2KD0

Avan, Aval Adhu 188

The full name of Gupta uncle who Gayatri had called was Nirmal Gupta. She had known him from the time she had begun to walk and talk. But, he had known her from the time she had come into this world. He was her late Dad's close friend, and confidante and also had served as his manager and legal counsel.

Nirmal Gupta stayed on and served their company after her Dad had passed away and had served and worked with even more diligence. If that was even possible. Gayatri shared a very close bond with Gupta uncle who she thought of as a father figure and go-to person when drowning in deep shit which was often and frequent between the ages of 16 to 23. For at 15 she had lost her mother and then much to her disgust and shock, her dad had remarried and brought home her step-mother Madhurima who had been a year or two older than her. Gayatri who had already been devastated by the loss of her mother began rebelling and to extremes. She began to drink, smoke and do drugs and then she went even further in college and began to sleep around and that went on until she met Siddarth aka sid and married him. Well, we know how all that fared.

But, Gupta uncle had been there from the time she could say his name and till the time she had kind of turned her life around and had finally landed a photo-journalist job with a popular national magazine that came out as a monthly issue. Madhu, her stepmother and Gupta uncle had stood by her and protected her through hell and fire. They had finally let go of her when she had looked them in the eye and had told them, ' I am okay now. I will be okay now on my own.'

It had been nearly ten years since she had met him and nearly two years since she had spoken to him or messaged him and yet they connected and bonded like two old friends who had just met the previous day.

' Gayatri Beti. How are you doing? So, at last, you remembered this old man and old friend of yours?'

' Uncle, I am sorry but I have been travelling a lot and hardly spend any time in Mumbai. I am really sorry.'

' Beti, there is no need for you to apologize to me. Not now and not ever. I am glad that you are doing great. I am really proud of all your achievements. If only Prem had been around.'

' You are still here and in a way like my dad. So, it's okay, uncle.'

' Beti, what about Madhuji? Sorry. Please forgive this old man for crossing the line and asking personal questions.'

' Please, allow me to quote my friend and uncle, Guptaji and repeat his words. " There is no need to apologize to me. Not now and not ever" and let me remind him that what is good for the goose is good for the gander.'

' Touche, beti. Forget me, even your dad had a tough time when it came to putting one past you and here I am an old fool, bandying words with a young one.'

' Young one. Who are you talking about? I turned 41 a few months ago. I know you are nearly 70 now for my dad would have been that if he had been around.'

' 72, beti. I am two years older than Prem.'

' So, just 31 years difference between us Uncle.'

' 31 years. Beti, that is more than just one generation and in today's times and at the rate that this world is changing I wouldn't hesitate to classify it as two generations.'

They spoke, shared, bonded, and reminisced about old and new.

A brief lull fell on the conversation that had taken them back into time and then Gupta asked in a soft and caring voice, ' Beti, what about your personal life, Are you still....'

' Single. Yes, I am. But that may change or just might not change...'

' I am sorry beti but I am unable to understand you.'

' I mean to say that I have met a person and I have fallen for him but unfortunately he has not fallen for me.'

' What, why? is he married by any chance?'

' worse. He is in love.'

' Beti, sorry for asking this question. But how old is he? is he younger than you I mean a lot younger than you?'

' No. In fact, he is a year older than me. '

' You say he is single and not married and is in love. Does that mean he was married once?'

' Nope. He has been single all his life and has been in love with the same person all his life.'

Sitting in his comfy leather sofa, Nirmal Gupta scratched his head searching for an explanation and finally popped a question, ' Who is this guy? Is he for real? Is he some kind of monk or saint that you have stumbled upon in some lonely cave?'

' He is that and a lot more than both a monk and saint, Uncle. He is considered a hero by his people and I too share their thoughts. But, above all that, he is a kind, gentle and honest soul.'

Nirmal Gupta smiled and said, ' Beti, reminds me of your mother, Madhuji. For all your descriptions that you used for this person suits her too and perfectly.'

' That is the reason that I have called you and not Madhu for I don't want to unnecessarily cause panic by asking for help in this situation that I and my friends are in.'

Nirmal Gupta's attention hit maximum and he sat up straight On his sofa and whispered, ' What situation? Are you in any danger? Please tell me and please don't leave out any details.'

Gayatri told him everything that had taken place from the time she had stepped into Kumarapalayam and had met Ravi and everyone else.

' wow! Headmaster! You have fallen in love with a teacher. Good for you beta. I am so happy for you. I am going to pray to God and ask him to grant your wish to be joined with Ravi sir and that you both live a long and happy life.'

' Gupta uncle, promise me that you will not broach this subject to Madhu. Please, I mean it.'

' Beti, I promise. Now give me a little time to contact a few people and I will get this looked into. Okay.'

' Thank you, uncle. I owe you one.'

' No, beta. You don't owe me anything. In fact, I owe a lot and my very existence to your dad and to both your mothers. All the best beta. I hope things work out for you. Now, just relax and let your uncle take care of your situation.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REtP2uCiKTI

watch from 4.45 to 6.16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLTkSwK1Tmw

watch from 11.35 onwards. Smile please

Two prawns were swimming around in the sea. One called Justin and the other called Kristian.

The prawns were constantly being harassed and threatened by sharks that inhabited the area.

Finally one day Justin said to Kristian, "I'm fed up with being a prawn; I wish I was a shark, and then I wouldn't have any worries about being eaten".

A large mysterious cod appeared and said, "Your wish is granted".

Lo and behold, Justin turned into a shark. Horrified, Kristian immediately swam away, afraid of being eaten by his old friend.

Time passed (as it does) and Justin found life as a shark boring and lonely. All his old chums simply swam away whenever he came close to them. Justin gradually realised that his new menacing appearance was the cause of his sad plight.

While swimming alone one day he saw the mysterious cod again and he thought perhaps the mysterious fish could change him back into a prawn.

He approached the cod and begged to be changed back, and, lo and behold, he found himself turned back into a prawn.

With tears of joy in his tiny little eyes Justin swam to Kristian's home.

As he opened the coral gate, memories came flooding back. He banged on the door and shouted, "It's me, Justin, your old friend, come out and see me again".

Kristian replied, "No way man, you'll eat me. You're now a shark, the enemy, and I'll not be tricked into being your dinner".

Justin cried back "No, I'm not. That was the old me. I've changed..."

"I've found Cod. I'm a prawn again Kristian"

Breaking free

God, I f..ked up. God, you f...ked up. God, you are everything to me. God, you are useless and good for nothing. God, I believe in you. God, I don't believe in you.

In the beginning, God and religion to me were like those tiny bits of prasadam dished out by priests in the temple. At home, God and Religion to me were more like pickles that you use a little when the food is not palatable or with curd rice. Like the konjam pickles, I used to use God very sparingly and only when Maths and Physics exams came around. That was when I was a Kid.

Then came the twenties and the same God that I had used konjam, konjam became nearly a dish in my life. Well, adulthood does bring in more problems than that squint causing Maths and Physics subjects.

I have to admit here that the only thing about Physics that I still remember is from my 8th std and that is ewings theory of magnetism. See, grammarly is reminding me in Red that it should be a capital e. F..k grammarly.

Well, like I was saying, adulthood brought with it matters of the heart and matters of the soul and yes, body and work excreta. Sorry, couldn't help it. Etcetera

I began to frequent temples and began to speak to God on a constant basis. Behaviour that seemed to elicit long, hard and fill-in-the-blank looks from passing strangers and a few friends.

Fill in the blanks ' Mad bas.ard. Nuts. Bonkers. Sad f..ker. Ot.a loosu. You get it.

I stepped away from temples and Gods and then realized that I did indeed have someone to talk to in private. A go-to person, who is awake and waiting at the help desk, 24/7 and 365 days of the year. Every year.

I closed my eyes and found myself in myself and discovered my old self. F..k all those f..kers who tell you ' Lose, the I. Lose the self.' Okay, lose that and become you, follow you and then what.'

True, when all those questions like I, YOU, ME, SELF began to echo in my soul, I heard a whisper. Okay, me whispering to myself

" Otha, Paarthukalam."

Holy Ulaga nayagan, that is your line, from the film Vikram. Right, boss. Sorry, I am Indian and so I do plagiarize and pass it off by declaring nonchalantly, " imitation is the best form of flattery."

Okay, God and religion were behind me but I had unknowingly stepped into quicksand thinking it was just soft sand and found myself sinking and drowning in stuff that was traditional vomit. Peer pressure.

Hold on please, before you swing away. I believe.

Yes. I believe but what I believe and that Power I believe in, is different.

Forget our human eyes that can see twinkling stars that are many million light-years away.

Ennadhu! Dei, machaan, satishu, Ennada, kalaiyiliye sarakku potta mathiri pesare.

Adho, street endla varra super mami kannukku sariya theriyala, O..a, million light-years away irukkura stars and galaxies theriyuma.

Yes. Not clearly but you can see the light of those distant stars and even the Andromeda Galaxy that is 2.5 million light-years away and is heading towards us and will collide with our our own Milky Way galaxy in the very distant future. Adhukkula all will happen and a lot will happen.

Anyways, coming back to the nearly infinite universe.

So much is happening around us and around in all corners of this universe. Surely, there must be a reason or at least a power that set things off.

Remember, back in our kutties days when we watched with open mouths as one of our packs alpha male lit that 10,000 walla with his cigarette and coolly sauntered away. ( I bet he was shitting crackers and embers. F..k., didn't check for he vamoosed and disappeared.'

Like that 10,000 walla, some power decided to start off all this that we call the Cosmos, The Universe and Creation.

I sat stretching my legs and calves and a busty woman on top and behind walked past me and I went ' WOW! and immediately looked away cursing myself. Sinner. Sinner and imagined God typing " 6.15 am. Satish ogled with open and drooling gob at a well-stacked woman. I, God admit that she was indeed that but still satish has sinned. So, add another 10 years in hell where his balls will be roasted for five years and then turned over and have his arse grilled for five years.'

Well, that is religion and God for you.

I sat stretching my legs and calves and a busty woman on top and behind walked past me and I went ' WOW! God is indeed beautiful and then a dog came and gently nuzzled me and I scratched its ears and said, God, is indeed beautiful and merciful.

I sat stretching my legs and calves when a couple of very young girls came up to me and said, ' Gopi sir, can we take a selfie with you.'

I smiled and said, ' sure.'

They sat on either side of me and the one to my left whispered, ' can you throw your arm around my shoulder?'

I did but did not give her my phone number but I am sure, she like many others will message me through Instagram.

Too much. Yes. God is too, too much. But, religion is also too much.

I know some power created me. I bow my head in respect to it.

But I am not going on my knees for that power.

It is okay to have once been blinded by symbols of power but symbols are for the simple-minded and for those who are still living in the caves and forests of their minds and beliefs.

https://www.quora.com/How-many-light-years-can-the-naked-eye-see-into-space

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY2euCvZ_F4

Last thing I remember, I was

Running for the door

I had to find the passage back

To the place I was before

"Relax, " said the night man

"We are programmed to receive"

"You can check-out any time you like"

"But you can never leave!"

Lines from hotel california by The eagles

Comic Wit to Tragedy in Less than 300 words

A girl selling books and saw her lover coming towards her... Meanwhile, her father was standing near her and she said to her lover: Did you come to take the book entitled "Is the Father at Home" by the German writer Shakespeare? . The young man said: No, but I came to take the book entitled “Where Should I See You” by the English writer Thomas Hernaner. . The girl replied: I don't have that book, but you can take the book "Under the Mango Tree" by the American writer Patrice Oliver... . The young man said: Well, but can you bring to school tomorrow with you the book “I will call you in 5 minutes” by the Belgian writer John Bernard. . The girl replied: Yes, with pleasure, and you do not forget to bring a book with you, “I will never let you down.” For the French writer Michel Daniel.... After that, the father said: These titles are many, will he read all of them?! The girl said: Yes, Dad, he is a smart, clever and diligent reader. The father replied: Well, my love, I understood, but he should also read the book “I am not stupid, I understood everything” by the Dutch writer Frank Martinez. You, my daughter, should also look at the book I brought you and find on the table entitled “Get ready to marry your cousin tomorrow” by the Russian writer Maurice. ??