From & To Sathish #5 - Page 67

Avan, Aval Adhu 219

Shy, totally embarrassed and not knowing what to say and how to react after being caught out by Daksha, Gayatri fled, vanished from their cottage and ran out and ran right into Ravi who stood there looking all confused and nervous.

Seeing her come running out, he tried to turn and act as if he was staring somewhere else, but Gayatri caught him and demanded a reason why he had left so abruptly.

' You ran leaving me to fend for myself and that too with your friend who began to sing songs about ...' and she gently punched him in his rock-hard gut and exclaimed, ' How the f..k does she know songs from the 1930s and then top that by picking the right song for our moment.'

She stopped and glared at him, ' Forget her, how do you know songs about birds and bees?'

Ravi spluttered, ' Lest you forget, I am a human being, after all, Miss Gayatri and to top that, I also happen to be a teacher and Headmaster to hundreds of children.'

She raised her left eyebrow in a beautiful question mark and deliberately folded her hands across her chest and fixing him with her beautiful eyes, said, ' Human being, yes. But, why mention your work, Headmaster and that too in context about birds and bees?'

Ravi smiled and sighed and asked, ' How many social platforms are you on and use regularly?'

' Well, I mostly use, Facebook, Whatsapp, youtube, Gmail and Instagram for both my work and personal communication. I am also active on Twitter and Linkedin but mostly for my professional work only.'

' You are a professional photographer and journalist and so your use of several social platforms is not only vital but also justifiable. But, how do you justify school kids in fifth and sixth standard having Instagram and Facebook accounts. How do you handle them?'

Gayatri's eyes revealed her understanding as to what Ravi was alluding to and looked away uncomfortably and feeling distressed.

' Gayatri, Gayatri' Ravi called her name gently and she turned to him.

' The world today is very different from the world that I came from and maybe even from where you came from and by that I mean your Bombay, that is Mumbai now and honestly, I mean no offence. The spread and reach of social platforms are all-permeating today and this has increased the awareness in people of many important things concerning many subjects of knowledge. But, at the same time, they also have increased and heightened sexual awareness in our youngsters.'

Throwing his arms around her, he gently hugged her and said, ' I and my other faculty members are doing all that we can to prepare our children for puberty and other related topics. But, still, there crop up problems that are beyond our control and when that happens, I talk to the family members and remove the children from our school. They get home tuition and also get all the privileges that school kids get and luckily almost all of them pass out with good to decent marks and go on to do their graduations.'

Gently kissing her lips, ' So, that's my take on the birds doing it and the bees doing it.'

Smiling, he asked, ' Will that do, ma'am or is there anything more?'

Shaking her head, she said, ' No, my man and my new master. Nothing more to ask of my hero.'

She looked at him, ' Can I kiss you? I mean can we kiss for some more time before we head back in?'

He slowly lowered his mouth on hers and covered hers with it and took her breath away and gave his for her to breathe and live on.

“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5h5JrzJMtQ

Avan, Aval Adhu 220

A kiss is not just a coming together of two mouths. It's not just the coming together of two bodies made up of flesh and blood. It is more, much more and can be even more. They stood kissing as if they were doing it for the first time in their lives. They kissed as if it was the last kiss they would ever share again in their lives. They kissed as if they were talking to each other, conveying to the other through their lips, mouths and breath their undying love and devotion and the promise to stay by each other's side until the end.

Ravi heard them first and hurriedly opened his eyes and found both Partha and Daksha standing there clapping loudly and hurriedly tried to pull back from Gayatri who removing her mouth from his shot back a riposte to their hosts.

' Master, please, tell those bored oldies not to disturb us and to go back to their rooms and do what we are doing.'

Daksha shot back her repartee, ' Not to disturb whom, young lady. I can only see to people trying to choke and asphyxiate each other in the name of kissing.'

Gayatri turned back and winking her eyes shot back a sharp dart, ' Asphyxiate. No, ma'am. We are only trying to resuscitate each other back to life by kissing each other.'

Daksha winking wickedly at Ravi, ' Oh, you mean that CPR techniques that our master here is said to have administered on you at that lake where you nearly drowned and by doing that, saved your life.'

' Exactly Ducks. But a small correction. Back there on the banks of that lake, my man breathed life into my body. But, right now he is breathing life into my soul, into my heart.'

Daksha clapping her hands, stopped and exclaimed loudly, ' in the same way as he breathed into you in the forest.'

Ravi growled in a fake voice, ' Excuse me, ladies. You might not have noticed it but there are two very vulnerable and highly impressionable youngsters here. So, please, I humbly request, you ladies, not to talk in such a lewd and bawdy manner in front of us.'

In the dim light of the dark foggy afternoon, they bantered on for a long time exchanging friendly barbs and darts through words and then the mood was broken by Ravi's soft but deep voice.

' Guys. I think it is time.'

All three of them looked at him tentatively and felt a huge wave of relief wash over them when they heard his reassuring words.

' It is still light. There is time still to plan and be ready to face any situation that might be forced into and that too I say with a big " What If " for this whole situation is a huge question mark.'

Daksha looked at her watch and said, ' It's nearly 2.00 pm. I think we better eat and then sit and work out what to do and how best to do it.'

They quickly demolished the Phulka rotis, butter chicken and the vegetable salad and then Daksha came back and placed a large bowl on the table in front of Ravi who yelled loudly, ' Custard pudding. My favourite vanilla custard pudding.'

He pulled Daksha down and plonked a loud kiss on her cheek and thanked her several times.

Turning to Gayatri, ' Ducks here makes the best pudding in the whole world. Period ' and served himself several large scoops and much to their amazement it all vanished in seconds.

A gentle burp escaped his lips and he looked at them totally mortified and apologized, ' Sorry, it's been a long time since my last great meal and that too in the company of all the people that I care and love so dearly.'

Partha got up and announced, ' I think it is time I switched on the generator for it is getting really dark now.'

Meanwhile, Daksha cleared up the table and placing a large pot of freshly brewed coffee sat down next to Partha who had returned and looked at Ravi who said, ' okay, I want to start off with what our local Nostradamus, Mr Beedi man meant with his warnings of Northies and also by that fish eye drawing.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBQM7SuKmZ4

Avan, Aval Adhu 221

Ravi looked at the three of them and hung his head and stared at his own fists that he had placed on the table. The three of them stared at his fists that he clenched and unclenched and kept on doing it.

Partha had seen this habit in Ravi but only when he was nervous or unsure of himself and that itself was a rare occurrence. Placing his palms on Ravi's fists, ' Dei, what is it? This is neither the time to dawdle and doodle nor keep your cards close to your chest.'

Ravi glared at him angrily and Partha leaning back looked at Daksha who immediately came to his rescue. ' Ravi, he is right. So, no need to get upset with him.'

' Ducks, I am not upset with his thoughts or intentions but just the choice of the word doodle at this moment ' and glaring at Partha, ' Bloody Pumba. Dawdle was good and you should have stayed with that and not gone on to doodle with the word doodle. For, Doodle means to scribble' and pointing to his hands, he asked, ' am I scribbling now?'

Partha's face went red and both Gayatri and Daksha for a moment thought he was going to burst a vein in his face or worse, launch an attack on Ravi.

But, Partha's red face broke free with a huge smile and he began laughing his guts out.

' Help, help. Someone help me from this Royal borro left behind by one of our colonial masters.'

Then he fell to his knees and prostrated in an exaggerated way before Ravi and kept repeating, ' Hujambo Bwana. Nisamahe Bwana. Samahani Mufasa.'

Ravi continued to glare at him for a few seconds and then his face too creased in a huge bright smile and he said, ' futa wewe, pumba.'

Gayatri unable to control herself, yelled, ' I know those words. I am sure that I have heard it before. Sounds very familiar ' and looked at Daksha, ' Ducks, you too have heard them before, right?'

' A million times, girl ' and slapping the table, she yelled, ' Both you, mbwehas. Enough of your cackling. It is time to be serious and not time to play around. Grow up for god's sake, It's more than 28 years since that film was released. But, both you borros are still living in that silly world.'

Gayatri's head felt like it was going to explode into a million pieces and then she recognized the word Mufasa and excitedly screamed, ' Lion king. Lion king. Mufasa is the father of Simba.'

Then she looked at Daksha, ' who was Pumba in that film?'

Ravi gleefully answered her query, ' Who else but that dim-witted warthog friend of Timon the meerkat.'

' So, what did you mean when you said, futa wewe, Pumba and what did Partha mean when he equated you with a royal borro?'

Ravi gulped and swallowed empty air and looked at Daksha who looked at Partha and then all three of them broke into a cacophony of laughter.

Gayatri looked at all three of them and went ' What? What do they mean and why are you guys behaving like kids or should I say, Pumbas?'

Hearing her say Pumba, only served to increase the intensity and decibel levels of their laughter and all Gayatri could do was glare at them and at the same time laugh along with them for their laughter, their love, and their bonds were so highly infectious.

Daksha gasping for breath, squeezed in a few words, ' Borro in Swahili means " Testicle" Gayatri and unable to talk resumed her laughter.

Hujambo Bwana hello sir

Nisamahe Bwana excuse me sir

Samahani Mufasa I am sorry , king

futa wewe, pumba f..k off you idiot

mbweha jackal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzABW42AIhM

Hakuna Matata!

What a wonderful phrase

Hakuna Matata!

Ain't no passing craze

It means no worries

For the rest of your days

It's our problem-free philosophy

Hakuna Matata!

Why, when he was a young warthog

When I was a young wart-hoooog!

Very nice!

Thanks!

He found his aroma lacked a certain appeal

He could clear the Savannah after every meal

I'm a sensitive soul, though I seem thick-skinned

And it hurt that my friends never stood downwind

And oh, the shame

(He was ashamed!)

Thought of changin' my name

(Oh, what's in a name?)

And I got downhearted

(How did you feel?)

Every time that I-

Pumbaa! Not in front of the kids!

Oh... sorry

Hakuna Matata!

What a wonderful phrase

Hakuna Matata!

Ain't no passing craze

It means no worries

For the rest of your days

Yeah, sing it, kid!

It's our problem-free philosophy

Hakuna Matata!

Hakuna Matata

Hakuna Matata

Hakuna Matata

Hakuna

It means no worries

For the rest of your days

It's our problem-free philosophy

Hakuna Matata

The Tv serial Baakiyalakshmi that I am acting in crossed 600 episodes yesterday. I thought I would share the very 1st promo of this serial that was released back in July 2020.

It has indeed been a great journey and I hope and pray the remaining part will be just as good as the first part. Thank you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKY9l6zhIgY&list=PLsSTkBgqx7osxL8vetgTg0I4RMIX536lL&index=141

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkuPCM1Ucps&list=PLsSTkBgqx7osxL8vetgTg0I4RMIX536lL&index=123

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMtT_cLyIVE&list=PLsSTkBgqx7osxL8vetgTg0I4RMIX536lL&index=116

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QTUCvcY15c&list=PLsSTkBgqx7osxL8vetgTg0I4RMIX536lL&index=87

AN OLD WOMAN WALKED UP AND TIED HER OLD MULE TO THE HITCHING POST.

AS SHE STOOD THERE, BRUSHING SOME OF THE DUST FROM HER FACE AND CLOTHES, A YOUNG GUNSLINGER STEPPED OUT OF THE SALOON WITH A GUN IN ONE HAND AND A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY IN THE OTHER. THE YOUNG GUNSLINGER LOOKED AT THE OLD WOMAN AND LAUGHED, "HEY OLD WOMAN, HAVE YOU EVER DANCED?"

THE OLD WOMAN LOOKED UP AT THE GUNSLINGER AND SAID, "NO,... I NEVER DID DANCE... NEVER REALLY WANTED TO."

A CROWD HAD GATHERED AS THE GUNSLINGER GRINNED AND SAID "WELL, YOU OLD BAG, YOU'RE GONNA DANCE NOW," AND STARTED SHOOTING AT THE OLD WOMAN'S FEET.

THE OLD WOMAN PROSPECTOR -- NOT WANTING TO GET HER TOE BLOWN OFF --STARTED HOPPING AROUND.

EVERYBODY WAS LAUGHING.

WHEN HIS LAST BULLET HAD BEEN FIRED, THE YOUNG GUNSLINGER, STILL LAUGHING, HOLSTERED HIS GUN AND TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK INTO THE SALOON.

THE OLD WOMAN TURNED TO HER PACK MULE, PULLED OUT A DOUBLE-BARRELED SHOTGUN, AND COCKED BOTH HAMMERS.

THE LOUD CLICKS CARRIED CLEARLY THROUGH THE DESERT AIR, AND THE CROWD STOPPED LAUGHING IMMEDIATELY.

THE YOUNG GUNSLINGER HEARD THE SOUNDS, TOO, AND HE TURNED AROUND VERY SLOWLY. THE SILENCE WAS ALMOST DEAFENING. THE CROWD WATCHED AS THE YOUNG GUNMAN STARED AT THE OLD WOMAN AND THE LARGE GAPING HOLES OF THOSE TWIN BARRELS.

THE BARRELS OF THE SHOTGUN NEVER WAVERED IN THE OLD WOMAN'S HANDS, AS SHE SAID, "SON, HAVE YOU EVER KISSED A MULE'S ASS?"

THE GUNSLINGER SWALLOWED HARD AND SAID, "NO M'AM... BUT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO.

THERE ARE FIVE LESSONS HERE FOR ALL OF US:

1 - Never be arrogant.

2 - Don't waste ammunition.

3 - Whiskey makes you think you're smarter than you are.

4 - Always make sure you know who has the power.

5 - Don't mess with old people; they didn't get old by being stupid.

😀😁😆

*I Love this Japanese Doctor.. You too will love him for sure...* 😄. Now on ... NO DAILY WALKS! 😅🤭😋

*Q*: *Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?*

*A*: Heart only good for so many beats, and that's it... Don't waste time on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; its like saying you extend life of a car by driving faster. Want to live longer?

Take nap.

*Q*: *Should I reduce my alcohol intake?*

*A*: Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Fruit very good. Brandy distilled wine, that means they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Grain good too.

Bottoms up!

*Q*: *What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?*

*A*: Can't think of one, sorry.

My philosophy: No pain...good!

*Q*: *Aren't fried foods bad for you?*

*A*: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food fried in vegetable oil.

How getting more vegetable be bad?

*Q*: *Is chocolate bad for me?*

*A*: You crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable!

It best feel-good food around!

*Q*: *Is swimming good for your figure?*

*A*: If swimming good for figure,

explain Whale to me.

*Q*: *Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?*

*A*: Hey! 'Round' is also a shape!

Well... I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:

*Finally the Japanese Doctor summed up: Look mister, Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Beer in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride my life was" !!!!!*

Eat whatever you like because you will still DIE, don't allow motivational speakers deceive you.

1. The inventor of the treadmill had died at the age of 54

2. The inventor of gymnastics died at the age of 57

3. The world bodybuilding champion died at the age of 41

4. The best footballer in the world Maradona, died at the age of 60.

BUT

5. The KFC inventor died at 94.

6. Inventor of Nutella brand died at the age of 88

7. Imagine, cigarette maker Winston died at the age of 102

8. The inventor of opium died at the age of 116 in an earthquake

9. Hennessey inventor dies at 98.

How did these doctors come to the conclusion that exercise prolongs life?

The rabbit is always jumping up and down but it lives for only 2 years and the turtle that doesn’t exercise at all, lives 400 years.

So, Take some rest, Chill, Stay cool, eat, drink and enjoy your life 🤪

Avan, Aval Adhu 222

They had walked up the Kodai road for more than twenty minutes but there was no end in sight to the traffic that had piled up and now stretched on and on before them like Hanuman's tail. The Paliyan shook his head in despair and remarked to the Northies' It never fails to amaze me how humans panic and create chaos when calm and order is the need of the hour. Forget that landslide, for it will all be cleared eventually but it is going to take time and much longer time than what it might have taken.

Bahadur, the Northie gang's main man asked him why he felt that way.

The Paliyan beckoned them all with just a downward nod and standing at the edge of the road, pointed down the hill and said, ' Do you see all the traffic piled up and stretching away and I am sure that by now the jam, will have reached the bottom of Kodai.'

Then he pointed up and said, ' It is the same situation here and above us, like it is down below.'

Ajay and the others stared at him funnily and Bahadur assuming an air of wisdom and understanding attempted to be very articulate.

' I don't see why you need to be so bitter about this unexpected situation and why you feel the need to put down members of our species' and looking casually, ' anyway, these situations are pretty common around hills and I guess the government will move as fast as possible.'

The Paliyan Murugan's face hardened visibly and now really appeared to have been carved from stone. Nothing in his face moved, not a flicker of expression, no blinking of the eyes as he stared at Bahadur and asked without even moving his lips a question that was heard clearly by all of them.

' Were you born stupid or did your mother drop you on your head when you were a kid. Maybe that scrambled your brains and hence this display of stupidity and that too constantly.'

From the few hours that they had been travelling with him, the Northies had realized and understood one fact very well and which was that their guide was an highly intelligent man and one who was well versed with the jungle and the hills of this place. So, they stood like students shuffling before their teacher and looked everywhere else but his eyes that bored into all of them.

A sound escaped his closed lips. They knew it was a bitter and angry sigh but to their collective ears the sigh sounded more like the hiss of a hooded cobra that is about to strike.

Ajay, second to Bahadur winced and with a grimace on his face mumbled, ' There is no need to make personal attacks on us. Like I said earlier, we are from the plains and so know little about the hills or landslides and far less about traffic jams. In fact, this is the first landslide that we are all seeing in our lives. So, please Bade bhaiya, cool.'

The Paliyan tribal man named Murugan glowered angrily, ' It does not matter if it is here in these hills or down in the plains from where you all come from. Human beings always end up messing up and creating chaos and further destruction.

Pointing down, ' Do you see how both the lanes are full of vehicles?' and then pointing to the road they were standing in and up to the roads that curved around the hills, ' Nearly 30 km of highway jam-packed with vehicles and that too both up and down. Now, tell me how can heavy vehicles called excavators that are required to clear the landslide are supposed to make their way to the spot. Either from down below or from up above us. How can they make their way to work if both lanes are jammed like this by people who in my opinion are worse than cattle.'

Bahadur and the others knew that their guide was a cut above them and several classes above them when it came to playing the game that they were all in. A game of death and a game of killing.

The Paliyan tribal man looked up and said, ' I can walk and keep walking for the next 24 hours and not break a sweat. But, you will be dead on your feet and useless when the time to finish our job is close at hand.'

Ajay already looking spent and drained asked in a very soft and humble tone, ' What do you have in mind, bhaiya?'

The Paliyan's dark stone face creased and said, ' we need to be on wheels. two or four. It does not matter. So, keep your eyes peeled and stay alert not only for a vehicle but for cops who will soon be swarming this area.'

He looked at Bahadur, ' better we split up into two or three groups and maintain a distance from each other for that will make us look less threatening and suspicious.'

Ajay mumbled something and glaring at him asked, ' You disagree with me? Do you have a better idea?'

' No bhaiya, you mentioning cops kind of spooked me for I have had a couple of bad experiences with Tamil Nadu cops.'

The Paliyan guide nodded and turning away began to walk and they all heard his words.

' It is pretty obvious from the way you walk and from that crooked left arm that you have had some bad experiences with cops. But, you are alive and here and hopefully you will stay that way.'

Then he stopped and whispered, ' Stay behind the others for Tamil Nadu cops see everything and they will see your injuries and recognize their department's handiwork.'

Then he turned and spoke ominously, ' I don't know what you did but be thankful that you are on your feet and walking for there are many criminals who cannot do that and even if they do, it is more of a shuffle and with the speed of an ant.'

Bahadur's face displayed his uneasiness as he asked, ' Bhaiya, I don't understand your words.'

The Paliyan Murugan answered him and then Bahadur understood and very clearly.

The police department will usually refrain from beating criminals very harshly. But when certain criminals become very notorious and unstoppable the cops have no other go but do what is necessary and what cannot be done by the courts and by the law.'

Ajay squeaked weakly, ' what do they do?'

' They beat the accused in such a way, that he can never walk properly again in their lives, leave alone climb a wall to commit a crime. They deliver a beating that ruptures the Achilles tendons and in some cases, they break the ankles and that is that.'

He began walking and talking at the same time. ' So, if you spot a cop, try your best to walk normally and try to look fit and active for predators eyes pick out the sick and the weak immediately in a group and as far as you are concerned, they will spot you from a mile away.'

Pointing to the darkening sky, ' tomorrow morning, the sky will be full of birds circling around.'

Bahadur and the others looked up and when all their eyes returned to him, he whispered, ' You will not see parrots and pigeons but scavenging birds and birds of prey that will be ready for the dead and ready to hunt the dying.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGMGF59Bq4w

https://www.news18.com/news/india/arunachal-pradesh-massive-landslide-snaps-road-connectivity-in-itanagar-causes-traffic-jam-5414419.html

https://youtu.be/RqgbuMeWTuo

Avan, Aval Adhu 223

Gayatri stared at Ravi as he sat laughing with his friends. She sat staring and enjoying the various degrees of laughter that rose and fell in their intensity. He smiled, guffawed, chuckled, snorted and roared his laughter and it was obvious he was doing all that from his soul.

She sat overpowered and totally mesmerized by his infectious happiness and laughter. She knew that she was smiling seeing him and his friends drown in happiness but she was totally unaware of the tears that were streaming down her cheeks.

Ravi gasping for breath happened to glance at her and was stunned to see her eyes and her tears, and then he saw her beautiful smile and gently placed his right hand on hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Partha and Daksha averted their eyes so as to give Gayatri and Ravi some space in which they could share and spend their personal and private moment.

Gayatri smiling happily, slowly wiped away her tears and said, ' When I was a kid, maybe three or four, my dad kept threatening me on a daily basis to eat me up and swallow me up. This used to scare me and I used to run to my mother and complain about my dad. Then one day, I was sitting between them watching tv and I suddenly remembered my dad threatening to eat me up and so I asked him and my mum about it.

My mother instead of taking my side to protect me and rather than answer my question, declared loudly, ' Mr Prem, I don't mind you eating up our child but please, keep some for me or else I will have to swallow you in revenge for not sparing me a little of my juicy and chubby daughter.'

I looked at them and yelled " cannibals, cannibals " and that was that.'

Partha asked her if she had ever asked her parents what was all that about and Gayatri looked at Ravi and turned back, ' Yes, they told me all about it. But, I never did understand it completely. Not until now.'

Turning to Ravi, she gently raised his hand and kissed it. ' Seeing you laugh, seeing you happy made me realize how much I love you and what real happiness is all about. For a moment there, I wanted to swallow you and keep you safe inside my soul, my body and protect you from all dangers that lie out there in this mad and sad world.'

Wiping her tears, ' I know now why mothers say that to their babies. I know now why lovers say that to their souls. I know now for I feel the same about you, master for I am hopelessly and totally in love with you and I am willing to even die for you if it what is required to keep you safe and happy and I would do all that with a smile on my face.'

Daksha put her hands together and clapped slowly and softly and with tears in her eyes said, ' Beautiful. Just beautiful, sweetie.'

Ravi smiling shyly, thanked her and looked at her thoughtfully for a few moments and then slowly turned away without saying a word.

Gayatri did not show it but both Partha and Daksha knew that she was a little disappointed that Ravi had not said anything.

His words sounded righteous and appropriate to him and to Daksha.

' Ravi, WTF is wrong with you? Here is a lady, your lady, your woman tearing open her soul and laying it open before you and all you have to offer in return is a thank you.'

Turning to Daksha, ' Do you believe it, ducks? Here is a highly intelligent and well-read man, a teacher by profession and to top all that a wise and a middle-aged man and all he has to offer in return is a thank you.'

Ravi went still and even though he turned to look at Partha, it looked like he had not moved at all and appeared to them to be still. His eyes did not flicker nor was there even the slightest twinge of a muscle on his face as he stared at his friend but his voice betrayed the hurt that he felt by the words said by him and that remained unsaid by the women.

' What do you want me to say? Tell me, please. What words can I use at this moment, but a thank you? What else can a middle-aged man, an intelligent man say to his woman and that too when they have just begun walking, taking their first steps into a new journey?'

Lowering his head, ' I don't know how things work in your world, in your minds but I need time for everything. I am a man, a person who thinks twice before thinking, thinks several times before speaking and here you are, my best friend, throwing all these accusations at me.'

Ravi looked at Gayatri, ' I repeat, again my thanks and I am grateful for the love that you are showering on me. But...'

He fell silent for Gayatri had suddenly placed her hand on his cheek and when he looked at her in surprise, she slowly placed a finger on his lips and said, ' No buts and no need of any words to make me feel good.'

Ravi sighed wearily and looked at Partha, ' Words are in the end but words. Just words.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVr3jgQMlVU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg3vgoHcXXY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuWAGT9ZkYE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rOiW_xY-kc

Avan, Aval Adhu 224

Ravi looked at Parthiban with eyes full of questions but did not ask them and instead just sat and stared at the coffee that had gone cold. An uncomfortable silence hung around them and Partha realized that he might have crossed over a hidden line, broken an unspoken agreement and in the process might have ended up hurting the one person whom he loved, respected and looked up to, Partha apologized, ' Sorry da. I didn't mean to hurt you or rough you up with my words.'

' Shut up. It's only now that you are saying sorry and apologizing that I am feeling hurt. I did not feel that when you said what you felt but now, now at this moment when you are apologizing, I feel like crap. Don't do that, please. I beg of you. You are my friend and more than that. A whole lot more than just a friend. So, you have all the freedom and liberty when it comes to me and to say whatever you feel about me.'

Both the women glanced at each other for they felt otherwise and Daksha unable to keep her feelings to herself asked Ravi what he felt when it came to her.

' I mean, do I get the same privileges as your friend here or are wives excluded from that club of friendship.'

Ravi groaned loudly and taking a deep breath sighed both his inhalation and exhalation and this silent surrender aroused Partha to rush to his defence.

' Ducks, why ask a question for which you already know the answer?'

' Correct and in the same vein, why deny something that was rather obvious to all of us and that too when seated so close to each other.'

Ravi's smile grew an inch but an inch which was shared in halves by both sides of his lips. Smiling, he told Partha that he did not need him to come to his aid and defence and that he wanted to answer all the questions that were being asked of him.

He flicked his eyes to Daksha and then on to Gayatri and then returned to her, ' deny what, ducks?'

' The obvious disappointment that was sketched so obviously in your eyes, even though it was but for a brief moment.'

Partha's face grew long and sad as he complained timidly, ' dee, wifey. I apologized and it's done, baby. Why do you want to flog a horse that is dead and gone?'

Daksha's eyes sought Gayatri whose shake of the head was so imperceptible that it escaped Partha's eyes but it did not escape his eyes. Ravi saw it. Ravi understood it and was prepared to answer it with a full heart.

' My stupid husband, I am not talking about Ravi's disappointment that he felt and showed when you chided him in your own fashion. But, that disappointment that kind of flared in his eyes when Gayatri was talking to him about how she felt about him.'

She patted his head and said, ' good puppy, good boy. Now stay still and be quiet while the adults do the talking.'

Partha making a whimpering and whining noise said, ' Okay, boss. My lips are sealed ' and zipping them with his fingers, he looked subtly at Ravi, who just blinked his eyes once but with that single movement of his, Gayatri knew that he had just signalled his friend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCtouot15cA