From & To Sathish #5 - Page 61

Avan, Aval Adhu 194

The black BMW flew out of Madurai like a missile unleashed from the moorings of its Silo once it had left the city and its traffic behind.

Pandiyan pressed the button that isolated them from the front portion and the driver of the vehicle by raising the partition that had lay in its own secret compartment behind the front seats.

Their privacy ensured, he looked at Meenakshi, ' There is no need for you to be there. Your presence will only place you at more risk. I could have handled this by myself along with Raja.'

She looked at him and nodded slightly conceding to the point that her husband was making and said, ' I know but I want to see these men that are going to Kodai to do what has been asked of them.'

Her beautiful black eyes were full of thought as she spoke. ' I want to see their eyes and decide for myself if they are capable of this task for the repercussions that will come our way if they fail will be catastrophic in the least.'

' That is why I asked you to stay out of this. This is my doing and if anything goes wrong then I will take the blame for it.'

Meenakshi's beautiful lips lifted in a snarl as she spoke, ' too late for that now for even if you take the blame and which is right as this is all your doing, my father, I and the entire family will be dragged through the mud for what you and your gang have done.'

She stared at him like a hooded cobra that is ready to strike at the rodent that has dared to venture it, ' You are a useless bas.ard and also a useless husband. But, the fact remains you are that and who also happens to be the son-in-law of one of the most powerful men in and around Madurai.'

Pandiyan looked warily at Meekshi's right fist which was clenched in a fist and slowly leaned back to stay out of its reach and from another round of slaps or worse. Punches whose marks would remain visible for days.

She looked at her husband, ' Have you given thought to what will happen to you if my father finds out that you are the one behind all these temple thefts?'

She chuckled, ' He will have you killed and pass it off as a suicide. But not before he has made you write a letter stating that you took your own life out of guilt and then he will most probably strangle you with his own bare hands and hang you from the nearest tree in our own garden.'

Pandiyan's eyes clearly reflected the fear that he was feeling and he mumbled, ' That idiot, Kulothungan was the one who planted the seed a few years ago. He was the one who made all the plans and all I had to do was get the job done and send the stolen temple goods to Chennai where he hands it over to a ready buyer.'

' It is obvious that your Chennai pal is the brain in this crime for I and the whole world know you neither have the brains nor the balls to carry out such a dangerous crime.'

Then flicking her fingers several times, ' What about Dindugul Raja?'

' Kulothungan was the one who sent him to me and he is the one who handles everything.'

Meenakshi stared hard at him not in anger but with sad and sympathetic eyes and then her hand flashed and lashed out with the speed of a striking mamba as she backhanded him and the squeal of his pain and fear was heard by driver Angamuthu in spite of the thick partition that separated him and his employer.

' That makes it twice already and it is not even 10.00 am and still early in the day ' he thought to himself and smiled as he drove the large luxurious BMW towards the Granite quarry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJY7ok6dqXQ

*WEDDING IN RUSSIA:*

By Sudha Narayan Murthy,

Wife of Mr Narayan

Murthy, Infosys )

She writes:

"Recently I was in Moscow, Russia.

The Day I Went to the Park, it was a Sunday.

It was Drizzling and Cold, though it was Summer.

I was Standing under an Umbrella and Enjoying the Beauty of the Place... when Suddenly, My Eyes Fell on a Young Couple.

It Was Apparent that They Had Just Got Married.

The Girl was in Her Mid-Twenties, Slim and with Blonde Hair and Sparkling Blue Eyes. She Was Very Beautiful Indeed.

The Boy Was almost the Same Age and Very Handsome. He Was in a Military Uniform.

The Bride was Wearing a Pretty White Satin Dress, Decorated with Pearls and Pretty Laces.

Two Young Bridesmaids were Standing Behind Her Holding up the Hem of the Wedding Gown, so as not to let it get Dirtied.

One Young Boy was Holding an Umbrella Over Their Heads, so that They Should Not Get Drenched.

The Girl was Holding a Bouquet and the Two Were Standing with Their Arms Linked.

It Was a Beautiful Sight.

I Wondered why They Had Come to the Park in This Rain Soon After Getting Married.

They Could Surely Have Gone to a Merrier Place.

I Watched as They Walked Together to the Raised Platform Near the Memorial, placed the Bouquet, Bowed their Heads in Silence and Slowly Walked Back.

By Now I was Curious to Know as to What Was Going On...

There was an Old Man Standing With Them.

He Looked at Me, My Saree, and asked-

‘Are you an Indian ?’

I replied-

‘Yes, I am an Indian.’

And We Began Chatting Amicably.

I Decided to use the Opportunity to ask some Questions.

‘How Do You Come to Know English ?’

‘ Oh, I Worked Abroad.'

‘ Please Tell Me Why that Young Couple Visited the War Memorial on Their Wedding Day ?’

‘ Oh, that is the Custom in Russia.

'The Wedding takes Place Normally on a Saturday or a Sunday.

'Irrespective of the Season, after Signing the Register at the Marriage Office, Married Couples Must visit the Important National Monuments Nearby.

'Every Boy in this Country Has to Serve in the Military for a Couple of Years at Least.

'Regardless of His Position, He Must Wear His Service Uniform for the Wedding.’

‘Why is That ?’

'This is a Mark of Gratitude.

'Our Forefathers Have Given their Lives in Various Wars That Russia Has Fought.

'Some of Them We Won, and Some We Lost, But Their Sacrifice Was Always for the Country.

'The Newly Married Couple Needs to Remember That They are Living in a Peaceful, Independent Russia Because of Their Ancestors’ Sacrifices.

'They Must Ask for Their Blessings.

'Love for the Country is More Important Than Wedding Celebrations.

'We Elders Insist on Continuing with this Tradition Whether it be in Moscow, St. Petersburg or any other Part of Russia.

'On the Wedding Day They Have to Visit the Nearest War Memorial.’

This Set Me Wondering about What We Teach Our Children Here.

Do We Indians Have the Courtesy to Remember Our Martyrs on the Most Important Day of our Lives ?

We are Busy in Shopping for Sarees, Buying Jewellery and Planning & Preparing Elaborate Menus and Partying in Discos etc..

My Eyes filled with Tears at the Thought.. and I Wished that We Indians Could Learn a Lesson From the Russians in This Noble Thought and Custom..

And *We Too Could Respect Our Martyrs Who Sacrificed Their Lives For Our Nation and For Our Today and Tomorrow Too...!*

Avan, Aval Adhu 195

Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu, Dr C Sylendra Babu, IPS, saw the red led light flash on line 1 and immediately answered it for it was the Hotline and the connection between him and the Home Ministry. Specifically, to the Home secretary.

DGP Sylendra Babu was a man who believed that actions speak louder than words and applied that to even polite and friendly conversation.

He greeted his immediate boss warmly and immediately came to the point and purpose of the call, ' Good morning sir. How can I help you?'

Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, IAS who was quite familiar with the DGP and his traits, smiled and came to the point and said, ' Mr Babu, I am calling regarding this temple theft case that took place outside Madurai the day before yesterday.'

DGP Sylendra Babu's eyes flared into action instantly as he recalled the conversation with IG Asra Garg, Madurai and remembered clearly the gist of the conversation.

flashback excerpts from chapter 166

' 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.'

' 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.'

DGP Sylendra Babu's attention was totally roused now. He had met several thousand politicians in his long career and but for a few most of them were tainted in some way and if that was not enough, they managed to taint the people around them and those who worked under them.

He sat erect and thought quickly, ' No arrests have been made as yet and the two perpetrators are at large and yet the big man himself is calling me and wondering what it was all about he replied, ' Sir, it is an ongoing criminal investigation. FIRs have been filed and witness statements have been taken. The hunt for the criminals is already on and I am confident, that they will soon be brought to justice.'

' Very good going, Mr Babu. But the reason for my call is not about the case and the investigation although it does concern one of the witness in it.'

' Witness ' DGP Sylendra Babu repeated the home secretary's word and feeling relieved that his boss was not calling on behalf of the criminals, asked, ' Which one sir?'

' Miss Gayatri Prem.'

' The bold one from Mumbai who did not hesitate to attack the criminals and in fact injured one of them.'

In a voice full of pride and admiration, he added, ' Sir, she did not stop with that and in fact had the presence of mind to click dozens of pics of the criminals and also of their getaway vehicle. Her brave actions have given us several leads and I can say right now, at the onset, that she and her statements in court will be enough to put away those two men and hopefully, those behind them.'

' DGP sir, from your own words of criminals and those behind them it is obvious that this case will lead the department right up to the doors of pretty powerful and dangerous people.'

' Your assumption is absolutely spot on, sir. But, what has that got to do with the lady, sir?'

' DGP sir, that lady is not an ordinary person and is the director of Premji Associates. She is the only daughter of the late Mr Premji who is survived by his second wife who is is none other than the current Chairman of Premji associates.'

DGP Sylendra Babu's forehead frowned in three as he tried to make sense of the information that the Home Secretary was giving him.

' Mr Babu, Premji Associates sounds very innocuous and harmless. But it is a vast company that casts a very small shadow and yet its worth runs into thousands of crores. Sorry, tens of thousands of crores.

DGP Sylendra Babu let loose a soft whistle that was very uncharacteristic of him and it made the home secretary smile.

' Yes, boss. Big time money and her connections run right into the current ruling party.'

Laughing loudly that was again rather uncharacteristic of him, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla added, ' Mr Babu if you think Miss Gayatri is bold and brave, wait until you have met her step-mother for she is ten times bolder and tougher than her daughter.'

' Okay, sir. Tell me what you want me to do and I will do it and in this case, Gladly.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55_M1m31pU0

Avan, Aval Adhu 196

Ravi Kumar was not in his cottage. He was not there near the drop that dropped into that place called Wailing rocks. Partha and Gayatri looked at each other and turned and headed East. They walked towards the tree that was both alive and dead.

' Partha ' she said his name and when he turned to her, ' I am scared.'

He looked at her and she looked at him and distress looked at each other and shared each other. Partha feeling clueless and lost asked Gayatri what was scaring her and looked away for he knew exactly what was scaring her.

Then he looked at her and really looked at her and a soft friendly smile began to dance on his lips.

' Gayatri, I met you just yesterday. But, I and Ravi go a long way back.'

A smile filled with desperation began to dance on her lips. Sadly, those two flaps of flesh called lips are limited in their range of movements. Maybe, that's why Mother Nature wisely decided to let the eyes do all the speaking in a language that is unique to the soul and is spoken all over the universe.

Fear and pain of rejection began to fill Gayatri's eyes and seeing them, Partha said, ' But, that is of no consequence when it comes to saying and doing the right thing.'

They stood looking at each other in the thick grey fog that crept closer and closer to them in strange and eerie shapes. If one had seen this scene from far, they would have thought that the fog was really ghosts and spirits of ancient lives who were cloaking themselves with the fog in an attempt to hear what Partha was going to tell Gayatri.

' You are a beautiful lady. I mean it as a compliment and when I say beautiful, I am talking about what makes you, really you and the beauty that I am talking about right now can come only from inside' and patting his chest, ' from the heart and from the soul.'

Stepping closer, ' does it really matter what happens between you and Ravi? Okay, it will be wonderful and I will be the happiest person in this entire universe if both of you at some point become one. But... if it does not work out, please let it go and don't blame yourself for that. There is only so much any one person can do. If it does not work out with Ravi, then I think there must be a reason for that and that kind of knowledge is the privy of that power called God.'

Gayatri smiled and hugged him. ' I know Partha. Those were my exact thoughts when I arrived here and met you and then went in search of him. I saw him standing there, talking to himself but talking to her. I knew then, at that exact moment that Ravi's heart would always belong to her and nothing would change that fact. Nothing.'

She walked a few feet away and stood staring at the dark hills that loomed all around them like ships on the high seas and said, ' But, I have fallen in love with him. Just like he cannot forget that ghost of love and continues to exist, I too will exist, at least learn to exist with him in my heart.'

Turning around, she smiled and the joy, and the clarity of her soul revealed itself in that peaceful smile and to Partha's eyes, it was like the distant sun had sliced itself and had placed it in her face to radiate brightly and beautifully through her eyes and lips.

He clapped, ' Bravo, ma'am. That is the spirit for who knows what our future holds in store for all of us.'

Throwing his right arm around her, ' whatever the future may hold, I and Daksha will always be there for you. That's a promise.'

Avan, Aval Adhu 197

In an effort to create safety and self-reliance in your life and relationships, you may have built walls around your heart and accumulated tension in your body. Although sometimes these walls of protection are useful, they can, over time, act like shells of fear that block your true love. These shells can keep in the love you want to offer fully, and keep out the love that your heart yearns to receive. David Deida

The path they were walking on went up and down and was covered with green of trees, plants and shrubs interspersed by the dark rock of Kodai hills. The one constant was the fog that seemed oppressive in its intensity and somehow seemed to be gathering strength. It lay like a thick cloak all around them making the ambience appear creepy and alien.

Both the trees and rocky hills looked like sentinels in some science fiction film as they stood amidst the Fog.

Gayatri stopped suddenly and when Partha asked her if she was okay, she nodded and said, ' I am okay. I just need to share something that I felt with Ravi before he left us.'

' What did you feel?'

' I am not sure what it was but I am sure of one thing, Partha' and looking at him, ' I felt. Ravi felt different.'

' Maybe, he was a bit stressed and a bit more withdrawn than he usually is.'

' No, Partha. It was the opposite. It was as if he was on the edge, the verge of something for I could feel his anxiety and fear.'

' well, you will know soon for it is just another km to that Tree.'

Gayatri turned and looked into the distance, trying in vain to spot the tree that they were heading towards but her eyes that sought the tree and Ravi found nothing but empty fog.

' Will you....?'

Partha smiled and shook his head and said, ' No. I am going to leave you both to your time and to your thoughts. I have to get back for regardless of this unknown threat, life goes on and I have this place to tend to.'

' But, Daksha is there and I am sure she has everything under control.'

' Correct. But, someone has to physically go around the estate and check on everything and everybody and that means me.'

' But surely boss, you have managers who must be doing that for you.'

' Yes. I have not one but two managers and four assistant managers and all of them live on our plantation in large houses with their families. But, I prefer to go around my entire plantation at least once every day. And today...' he paused and Gayatri asked him, ' Is today some kind of harvesting day?'

' No, Gayatri. By the way, we don't use the word harvest in our world of tea in India and regions around our nation. The right word is Flush.'

' Flush ' Gayatri said it with interest and Partha dived in uninvited with all his knowledge.

" Each growing region has special terminology for referring to their tea harvest periods. In India and Nepal, each harvest is called a flush, a term that refers to a period of growth in the tea plant. In China, Taiwan and South Korea, the terms used to denote tea harvests relate to dates in the traditional East Asian lunisolar calendar.

When there is a dormancy period due to cool weather (usually winter) in the tea field, the first new shoots after this period are said to be of the highest quality because they have been building up nutrient reserves over the dormancy period to produce the new leaves. Because of this, the first harvest of each year is often the most sought after and usually the most expensive. Many growing regions have special names for this first harvest. In India and Nepal, it is called the First Flush. In China these teas are known as Pre-Qing Ming teas, in Japan, they are referred to as Shincha, and in South Korea, they are called Ujeon."

' Our first flush picking is over. But, today there is a specific reason why I am planning to go on my rounds.'

' Because of this problem that I have dragged up from Madurai and have now placed you all in danger along with me.'

' Don't worry about it, Gayatri. You did not plan on any of this and what you did was incredibly brave and takes a lot of courage and nerve.'

His eyes slowly roamed around them, ' The reason why I want to go around the entire estate is to inform everyone that they should keep an eye out for strangers who might be trespassing on our estate.'

' Don't you think that is dangerous, Partha? What if your people take matters into their own hands?'

' I thought of that too. I am not going to tell them the exact nature of the problem. I will ask them to keep an eye out and call me the moment they see anybody new and moving around suspiciously.'

He muttered, ' I don't know. I just don't know if it will be enough.'

' Why do you say that, Partha?'

' This place is huge, Gayatri. There must be dozens of passages through the forest and hills around our estate. It's like a maze. I myself am certain that there are still undiscovered ancient paths that might lead danger right up to our door.'

Gayatri smiled, ' No. It's not going to come to that.'

Partha looked at her questioningly and asked why and then slowly his forehead that had furrowed in question released itself in answer, as his mouth answered his own question, ' Ah! Those calls you made.'

He grinned and asked casually, ' Who did you call?'

She smiled and said, ' A dear and old friend of our family who is more like an uncle and father to me.'

https://youtu.be/s0usSYOHgzQ

Avan, Aval Adhu 198

Time-the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues: duration. b: a nonspatial continuum that is measured in terms of events which succeed one another from past through present to future.

Top 15 Things Money Can’t Buy

Time. Happiness. Inner Peace. Integrity. Love. Character. Manners. Health. Respect. Morals. Trust. Patience. Class. Common sense. Dignity.

It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.

There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn the sound of it. Otherwise, you'll never understand what it's saying.

Time doesn’t heal emotional pain, you need to learn how to let go.

Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases and the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting.

I began shaving many decades ago and I guess when I was 15 or 16 years old. I am not exactly sure how old I was when I started standing before the mirror when brushing my teeth. Three, Two or maybe four. But, I can safely tell you that I have been looking into the mirror for a long time and it is that reflection that tells me that time is indeed moving and has been moving on a personal one-on-one basis.

The fuzz that would soon turn dark and turn into hair made its first appearance on my upper lip and then slowly spread to my cheeks and then boldly on my chin and down onto my throat region. I don't do that every day but do that once in a while and so have seen time progress on my face makings its statement by marking my face with wrinkles that we pass off as laugh lines and crows feet.

Time made its presence felt in its passing of yesterday and in the present and in the promise of tomorrow when I caught sight of the first white strand of hair on the right side of my crown. It was slow but steady progress, but one that soon multiplied into two and so on.

Outside my house, I see the city has changed along with the people and their styles in flesh and in soul and have seen standards slip and fall in all walks of life.

Out in the cosmos, in the known and visible Universe, Edwin Hubble discovered nearly 100 years ago that the visible edge was expanding faster and gathering more speed as it moved away.

I see that same gathering of speed as I watch today's world gathering momentum in its crazy drive towards fulfilling its needs. Using the World would be wrong but then our human species defines all that is good and bad on this planet that they have come to dominate and destroy in the process.

Time oh time. How do you move through everyone's lives? Do you move, bound and governed by the same laws and in the same manner through both good and bad souls? Or do you slow down to let fate and Karma, your siblings do their work?

What you sow is what you will reap? Tell me, Mr time, does your partner, The Grim Reaper know the difference between good timing and bad timing or is there a higher power that watches and intervenes when things get tricky and dangerous for the people whose lives time is passing through?

Like Partha had predicted, Ravi was indeed sitting near the tree that had survived the lightning strike. He was sitting there after having searched in vain in many places for Devathoothan and after having run out of places to search. He had returned to the half-dead and half-alive tree to wait there for a little time before returning to Whispering Rocks.

Ravi sat staring at the tree with a cynical look on his face and after a few minutes had passed by, he spoke to the tree.

' It's not possible. I mean it is nearly impossible to have survived such a massive bolt of electricity and still stand in survival. They should name you a miracle tree.'

With gentle, soft and empathetic hands, he caressed the root that was near him and thought, ' Just like this tree, Devathoothan too is a miracle.'

Getting to his feet, he looked at the tree and said, ' Okay, miracle. I am sorry but I have to leave. I am not sure what the reason is but I kind of sense that it has to do with me being here and meeting both you Tree and Man and both of you who have survived miraculously.'

Patting the tree's trunk, ' Take care. Bye for now. I have things and people to take care of and cannot leave them on their own for too long. I will see you again soon.'

He turned and walked away but stopped after having taken a few steps and turning back looked at the tree that he had christened Miracle and said, ' Devathoothan left a drawing with his wife to warn me about her. In case he comes back here and in case you talk to him. I don't know how he goes about predicting stuff but I am hoping that you might know it. So, tell him that I will not let her interfere in my life again. Not now. Not ever. '

Hearing dry and dead leaves and twigs crackle as they were stepped on and crumbled to dust, Ravi turned and saw Gayatri walking towards him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9srmft6STc

Avan, Aval Adhu 199

She saw him do his shepherd thing. She saw him do his guardian thing. She saw him for the protector that he felt he was and wore the same mantle with pride and dignity. She saw all this and more from the way, he gasped in shock and fear and whispered her name worriedly. She saw how much he cared about her safety and knew in her heart that he would have done the same thing if it had been any other person. Be it human or be it animal.

She saw all this just from the way his eyes searched behind her to see and confirm if she had indeed come alone.

' Master, Partha left me with you in sight of my sight.'

' Oh! Thank God' he said and then asked, ' why did he leave?'

She knew it was not the moment to tease him or play games with his already worried head and said, ' He told me that he was going to go around the estate and inform everyone to keep an eye out for strangers or anybody suspicious who might be trying to get into our property.'

She looked at him and he saw her eyes travel past him to stare at the tree that stood burnt to death but alive and asked, ' what are you doing here?'

' I came here in search of our local Nostradamus after searching for him all over the place in vain. Thought I might find him here since this is the very spot where I met him yesterday.'

Gayatri's laughter sounded like the gurgling of water as it ran its course down a stream and it rang all around them.

' Why him, Ravi? Hasn't he given enough for us to worry about? What if he predicts another problem or danger for us?' and waving her hands in mock fear, ' I don't want to meet him, at least not until this current problem is solved and hopefully solved peacefully.'

Ravi shook his head and looked away and stared right into the thick fog and through it into the past and stood staring through the mists of times as Meenakshi slowly advanced towards Madhu with the large blood-stained knife.

The blood that coursed through his veins seemed to slow to a stop and his bones began to freeze in fear and his eyes filled terror as he recollected the feral and wild look that had darkened her face and had become unrecognizable even to him.

He heard her loud and clear in the present as her fingers clenched hard around the handle of the knife and heard her growling madly like a rabid dog, ' He is mine. He is my life and all that I have. Once you are gone he will be mine once again.'

' Ravi, Ravi' he heard Gayatri calling out to him and turned to her.

Gayatri saw his eyes refocus his sight and then she saw him quickly recompose himself. But, not before she had seen the fear and horror in his eyes as they vanished and receded back into the farthest reaches of his brain.

She did what any normal human being would do if they happen to see another human being suffering in fear and pain. She did what any woman would do when she sees her man, her mate in the grip of some great turmoil. She did what she felt and she hugged him and held him in her arms.

She felt his heart slow down as she held him close to herself and to her straining chest and she whispered, ' I will die before I let anyone harm you. I will kill them if they even think that.'

Ravi closed his eyes as his mind once again whirled and swirled and through the mists of the past, he saw Madhu advancing towards them with a large rock in both her hands. He saw her raise it and bring it down on the head and then the past vanished and he slowly he swam back to the surface of reality and came out breaking the waters of the present moment.

' I am okay. I am okay now, Gayatri ' he said in a soft and thick voice and once she let him go, he stepped back and looked at her.

He saw her with new eyes and with new sight. He saw her in a new light and with a new perspective and then he smiled at her.

She smiled back and their smiles shone brightly like two newborn stars in a Galaxy.

' Ravi, I heard you talking to someone. I heard your voice but did not hear the person you were talking to' and she turned to see if she could spot the person who he had been talking to and finding no one, returned her eyes to his.

He looked at her with shy eyes and with a slightly embarrassed smile and raised his left hand and pointed to the Tree and said, ' I was talking to Miracle, The Tree.

She chuckled and asked eagerly, ' What were you talking about?'

Ravi slanted his head and rolled his eyes a couple of times and said, ' I asked the tree how It and Beedi man had both survived the lightning strike and continued to exist and continue to live on.'

Gayatri's face that had been like a radiant sun in its happiness and laughter now slowly slipped and fell into a new light of contemplation.

He saw her eyes reflect, search, understand and realize and then he saw her eyes slowly mist over in happiness.

Gayatri placed her right hand on his chest and said, ' You are right in choosing that title miracle. But, don't you realize that you too are a miracle. One does not need to survive lightning or other near fatal and life-threatening situations to be called a miracle or having had a miraculous escape.'

Steppin back, she removed her hand and said, ' You are a miracle too master. You got hit by life but have stood strong and have stayed alive like that tree. Like that tree that provides shelter and safety in its branches and roots for many insects, birds and animals that live in it. You to have provided the same and more for all those who live under you.'

Pointing to the tree, ' The tree survived and yet all its actions are involuntary and dictated by nature's rules. Your life on the other hand has been voluntary in full.'

She stepped closer to him and cupping his face in her hands, whispered, ' You are more than a miracle to me. You are what I aspire to be and what most of us aspire to be but sadly fall short by a long margin.'

Time concepts and time travelling -1

“In all our searching, the only thing we've found that makes the emptiness bearable is each other.” Carl Sagan

I have realized and am continuing to realize and understand that time although a great concept, a measure of the past, the present and the future, in the end, is really just a term of measurement. A means to measure the moments of time and how it happens in each and every one of our lives.

Time is but a gathering of moments of our actions, thoughts and all the happenings in our lives and in all lives on this planet and out into the cosmos.

Time is happening and it is happening right now and all around this universe. Both in visible and in that which is beyond our visibility range.

It is 3.18 am in the morning and I am writing this and I bet it must be night somewhere else on this round planet and people must be doing all sorts of things and indulging in all sorts of actions.

Thousands must be kissing and making love. Millions on the other side must be glued to their phones and tv sets watching their favourite shows on their large screens. At this very moment, in this passing second, nearly five babies have come out from the darkness but in the safety of their mother's wombs to start their time as their stopwatch starts ticking away.

You start hearing them tell you at a very early age and it begins from home, through school and on to work and yes on to love and life too.

Don't waste time playing. Study. Do your homework.

Stop wasting your time and stop wasting our money by reading books that are not related to your studies.

Stop wasting time daydreaming and concentrate on the board.

Stop staring at me and kiss me already.

Stop wasting my time and say yes or no.

Stop wasting our time by coming to work late and we don't care about your problems.

Spend your time doing good, thinking good a living good life.

I don't know for sure if I was born a rebel or if a rebel streak chanced on me as it went about its streaking. Middle age and the transition into Old age are like curtains that are slowly being drawn on the days when we toddled, gurgled, ran, flew and did more and did all that with a soul brimming with youthful exuberance and innocence. But, above all that, all of us step into our adulthood with hopes and dreams and in full faith in God and destiny.

I am sure all of you are familiar with double curtains, lighter ones and darker ones. Makes life easy, methinks for when in need of light in the room and in you, all you have to do is push the dark curtains aside leaving the lighter shade curtains to give enough light coupled with enough privacy.

Okay, the point I am trying to make is that those my memory is just about done with those lighter shades of curtains and is ready to draw the darker ones and cover up all the remnants of memories that are somehow still clinging on for dear life to my soul.

Oh yes. I still remember a few things, happenings starting from the age of three. I remember Kodihalli, Bangalore, my mother's village, the sugarcane fields and those small red-tiled houses.

I remember them so clearly for they are seared, burnt into my head through my bums.

WTF! Bums. Yes. My grandfather was feeding me and I was running around like Bal Hanuman sans tail and stumbled and sat in a large bowl of burning coals.

kebab ki K..di. sorry, Kebab me haddi and in this case, the large iron bowl with its burning coals played spoilsport.

Correct question. what was that bowl doing there?

Answer. To ward off mosquitoes. Sambrani was being scattered on the live red coals and.. and what. end of the story.

So, here we are travelling, passing through these times of our lives.

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

Hey, just in case you were not aware of it. Patrick Swayze passed away in 2009 due to pancreatic cancer.

To be continued