From & To Sathish #5 - Page 9

Vaanathai Pola 326

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking. His works focus much more on alternatives to battle, such as stratagem, delay, the use of spies and alternatives to war itself, the making and keeping of alliances, the uses of deceit, and a willingness to submit, at least temporarily, to more powerful foes. Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and East Asian culture as a legendary historical and military figure. His birth name was Sun Wu The name Sun Tzu by which he is best known in the Western World is an honorific which means "Master Sun".

"To win 100 battles is not the height of skill, to subdue the enemy without fighting is."

In observation of the fact that warfare is extremely risky, Sun Tzu proposes that the best tacticians are those who are able to defeat the enemy by diplomacy or other means. He proposed generals should try to take cities without laying siege, possibly by forcing the inhabitants to surrender due to psychological warfare. Sun Tzu argues that for any situation, man has more than one tool at his disposal, making it sometimes necessary to engage the enemy in a conventional manner. The concept of being resourceful applies to real-life even more than it does to military conflict, as not a zero-sum game, and there can, in fact, be multiple winners. The example of Apple's "Think Different" campaign illustrates how companies can become successful not by direct competition, but by differentiation. Similarly, in personal life, you are much more likely to succeed if you create your own job opportunities than if you follow normal, more established career paths. Develop a skill (or combination of skills) that nobody else has, and you won't have to compete with anyone. Want to get hired? Figuring out how to get companies to seek you out rather than you having to seek them out will save you a lot of time and effort.

Raman had applied many of Sun Tzu's teachings in his practice as a lawyer but importantly had also applied them in his daily life. Like the saying, practice makes perfect, this constant application of ancient wisdom and teachings into his daily life and in his every thought had had a very desirable effect and mirrored what the great master Sun Tzu had taught with his thoughts.

Raman had tried the carrot and seeing that had not worked had proceeded to reveal the stick. But, he only revealed it and did not use it for he knew that war and violence were for the endgame and should be used only as a killing blow delivered with overwhelming force.

Flashing a warm smile to Commissioner Viswanathan, Raman explained that one of the reasons that he had rushed back was to be with Jeeva for the delivery of their children.

Commissioner Viswanathan's eyes filled with tears of happiness and his emotions could be clearly heard in his voice as he delivered his blessings to the twins.

' I give you my best wishes and blessings, Ram.'

Wiping his eyes, he looked at Raman with joy and pride, ' Ram, I have not thanked you properly for being there with me and the department when we faced such a nightmarish situation. You single-handedly saved so many lives in the general hospital and in my own office. No wonder, Modi himself came to see you and pinned the Param Vir Chakra medal on your bandaged chest.'

Raman raised his hand to his forehead and saluted the Commissioner, ' sir, I just did my duty and I bet you would have done the same.'

Commissioner Viswanathan suddenly cursed and then hurriedly looked at Raman, ' Ram, I need to speak to you about something very important and as soon as possible. When can we meet up?'

Raman realizing the importance from the urgency in the Commissioner's voice asked what was on his mind.

' Ram, it is not what but who is on my mind' and wearily smiled and said, ' Sorry Ram but this concerns Minister Durai Pandi Arumugam's family and to be more precise, his daughter, Minister Kavita.'

Raman knew what was on the Commissioners mind and who he was alluding to but decided that he would remain silent for now and speak more after he had met with Kavita's parents who he was supposed to meet up with later in the day.

' Sir, my plate is full as of this moment and for the rest of the day. Will it be all right if I meet you sometime tomorrow morning?'

' No problem, Ram.'

Seeing Raman hesitating about something, Commissioner Viswanathan prompted him, ' What is it, Ram? Anything I can do for you. You know very well that you just need to ask and I will do my best to help.'

' Sir, I am right now at Global hospitals as a legal consultant for their lawyers are in Delhi attending some important case.'

' Global hospitals, Ram. But, one of my very good friends is in charge of their security. His name is Mr Jayaprakash, although we call him JP.'

' Sir, I know JP sir very well for both of us are old sparring partners from DGP Devarajan's judo school. But, this matter is beyond him and being the honest man that he is, he has left the matter to the department.'

Commissioner Vishwanathan looking very puzzled asked Raman as to what matter he was alluding to and why it concerned Global Hospitals.

Raman quickly explained the bloodstains found by Jayaprakash and how he had immediately reported it to the nearest Police station.

Commissioner Viswanathan spat a curse and looked away, ' Ram, No need to explain any further for I understand what is going on there. That police station comes under the control of AC Paul Prabhakaran, one of our most corrupt officers in the department. That said, he must have ordered the Inspector to handle this in such a threatening way so they can make the most out of the situation. A classic shakedown and sadly, even such a reputed hospital like Global is not spared from these rats that call themselves police officers.'

Raman had placed his mobile phone in such a way that only his face was seen and now pretending to look away he glanced at Inspector Rajarajan who had at some point in the conversation had got up and now stood with fear and worry written on his face.

' Ram, what do you want me to do in this situation?'

' Sir, I don't want you to do anything but transfer this case to your best officer in the CID Department. Let them do their duty and let the law take its course. That is all the hospital authorities are asking for and that is all I am asking for.'

' Done. I will see that the case is transferred to the CID department immediately and I will also request them to be discreet in their investigation.'

' Thank you sir. I will call you tomorrow morning and we will fix up a time and place to meet up. Bye for now sir.'

' Bye Ram and please place a kiss on each of your babies cheeks.'

The conversation ended and the screen went blank. Raman turned to Dr.Subash Rao and Jayaprakash, ' well, I hope your problem is sorted out for now.'

' And as for our Inspector Rajarajan here' Raman said and slowly stood up and facing him, ' Inspector Rajarajan, we have not been properly introduced. I am Major Raman and I work with RAW and report directly to Prime Minister's office and answer directly to the defence minister. I am also a Madras High court Bar council member and a sitting member of the ethics committee and I report directly to the chief justice himself.'

Inspector Rajarajan began to mumble apologies but Raman stopped him, ' There is no need for your apology. Your work here is done but I feel that your problems are just about to begin and my advice to you is, Go and apologise to Minister Kavita immediately and to the other ladies. I mean it for if you don't do so and right now, I feel that you might face a lot of grief and suffering.'

Inspector Rajarajan stared at Raman totally perplexed and before he could conjure some more apologies, his mobile phone rang and Raman smiled sarcastically and said, ' I bet your partner in crime, AC Paul Prabhakaran is the one who is calling right now.'

Stepping closer, he growled, ' put in on speakerphone and talk to him.'

Seeing him hesitate, Raman, shook his head and repeated, ' I said, answer it, and put it on speakerphone or else I will have to.... and raising his own mobile, showed it to Inspector Rajarajan whose face drained of all its blood and went pale in shock but more out of fear and then he looked at Raman,' How, How is that even possible?'

' It took me just ten minutes. Think what I can do and how much more information I can gather if I had more time to spend on a..eh... like you.'

Pointing to the phone, ' answer it.'

Inspector Rajarajan nodded and answered the call and also placed it on speakerphone.

Raman, Dr.Subash Rao and Jayaprakash, all stood hearing the filthiest of curses being throw at the Inspector by his superior officer, Assistant Commissioner Paul Prabhakaran.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDgk5LPnMIE

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

Vaanathai Pola 327

Try and imagine the worst and the filthiest curses that you can conjure up and then try harder and I bet you will lose if you try comparing it to what Inspector Rajarajan was hearing and that too from his Superior officer, Assistant Commissioner Paul Prabhakaran who also was a partner in his crimes and corruption.

' What have you done, you fat Bas...d. I was just informed by the Commissioner that the Global hospital case was being shifted to the CID department. He did not tell me the reason but I know for sure that he is upset with me.'

Taking a deep breath, AC Paul Prabhakaran continued his angry tirade and then he finally ran out of breath and steam and curses and asked in a defeated voice, ' What happened? For god's sake, what happened there, Rajan?'

Inspector Rajarajan looked at him tentatively, his eyes seeking permission to talk and also in a way pleading his way to get out and flee from their presence.

Raman nodded and whispered softly, ' I think we are done here, Inspector. Not unless you have something to say or ask from my client Dr.Subash Rao here.'

Inspector Pigrajan shook his head desperately and whispered back, ' I want nothing, and the only thing that I want right now is to go home and lie down and not wake up for a few days.'

He looked at Raman, ' Sir, please, don't do anything with those pics.I promise you, I will repent and turn a new leaf.'

Raman nodded, ' I think you will keep your promise and that is up to you and your conscience. But, I want just one thing from you and that is your promise that you will treat Constable Velu with respect and kindness. If I happen to hear otherwise, I will hand over what I have about you to him, which means, your b..ls will be in his court to slice, swat, or smash. I will leave that choice to Constable Velu's whims and fancies.'

He stood watching the Inspector open the door, and leave, gently shutting it behind him, taking care not to rouse and raise Raman's anger anymore.

So, with that Inspector Rajarajan known to us, as Pigrajan leaves the story and us, hopefully forever.

In case, you are wondering why there was no big drama or actions in this situation, then I beg you to think again. For, quietly and discreetly, I have converged the lives and paths of Raman and Radha Krishnan to meet at a junction.

The road forked and diverged as roads always do and run away into the distance taking different paths.

Here, roads, paths, lives converged to travel and to move ahead as one.

Why? How? where?

Soon.......

Avan, Aval, Adhu 24

“She didn't know whether she was running away from something or running to something, but she admitted that deep in her heart she wanted to go home.”

Gayatri and Ravi's mother, Rasaathi Ammal stood watching Ganesan's autorickshaw putter away into the distance. Then silence. Gayatri's feet slowly made their way towards the entrance and she stood there leaning against the dark remains and bones of a once alive and youthful Teak tree and stared out into the distance.

She saw that the morning fog was refusing to let go of its earthly domain in its struggle with the almighty sun, and was slowly losing. The sun's rays were heating the fog and piercing their way through the heavy ethereal-like layer made up of air and water and had carved what looked like a gateway between the skies and the earth.

'Silence. This is one of the biggest differences between a city and a village. Silence' Gayatri thought to herself and her soul seemed to step out of its body and float away into the morning air of Kumarapalayam.

Her body stood bewitched, staring at the golden-tinged columns that slanted from the easterly horizon, unaware that the woman of the house had come to stand behind her.

The beauty and the peace of Kumarapalayam along with the kindness and generosity shown to her by Ravi and his mother suddenly overwhelmed her senses and unable to quell her tears, Gayatri slowly slid down the door and softly sobbed her pain out as tears.

The pain and the betrayal that she had suffered at the hands of the one she had loved and married and that she had pushed and buried deep in her soul now came rushing out, tearing their way through the very place in which they had lain for many a year.

They came back with a vengeance and all the scars that she had thought were ghosts of bygone and healed wounds now opened up and bled as fresh wounds. But, as life dictates to strong souls, she cried her heart out with dignity and in silence.

She did not realize Ravi's mother Rasaathi Ammal slowly sit behind her and only knew it when she felt her motherly arms close around her and pull her into a loving embrace.

Gayatri cried until she could cry no more and Rasaathi Ammal did nothing but hold her gently in her frail but strong arms.

Gayatri slowly raised her head and Rasaathi let her go and both women looked at each other and recognized each others pain and scars. Scars that resembled bones that had fused themselves but had improperly.

Like beacons of light from lighthouses on lonely islands, Gayatri's eyes lit up, and seeing them, Rasaathi Ammal asked her, ' What are you recollecting? For, whatever they are, they are surely good and beautiful..'

' Yes ma... ma' and Gayatri stopped and looked at her and Rasaathi Ammal with a smile, ' Mother, ma, amma, mum, ma'am or just Rasaathi.'

Gayatri smiled and looked away and then taking her time with he gaze averted away from Rasaathi, she said in a very soft and low tone, ' He held me just the way you held me.'

Now, she turned her eyes back and looked at Ravi's mother, ' Ravi, your son, held me in his arms and consoled me while we were coming back in the auto.'

She did not offer any words but instead offered an understanding smile and a nod of her head and Gayatri opening her eyes wide in amazement said, ' He held me as my mother and father used to do before they passed on. I feel the same love and protection in your arms and in his arms and more importantly, it reminded me of that sacred place that we call....'

Unable to speak anymore, Gayatri looked at Rasaathi Ammal with such sadness in her eyes that it nearly broke her heart.

She gently reached forward and wiped the tears that were streaming down Gayatri's face with the edge of her saree's mundhanai and completed what had been left incomplete.

' Home. It reminds you of home. A home which you seem to have turned your back on and instead have elected to walk the earth in search of that illusion which is called peace.'

Gayatri's eyes opened wide and she exclaimed in shock, ' Such, profound and complicated needs, and wants of life, and yet, here you are, explaining it to me in simple words.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV0j_kpXYQg

Vaanathai Pola 328

The moment the door closed on the man who had threatened to destroy all that he and Global hospitals stood for, Dr. Subash Rao exhaling his tension loudly, plonked his butt into the sofa and sinking into it, closed his eyes in peace and began mumbling his thanks to all the Gods he could remember at that very instant.

Raman looked at his friend and judo sparring partner, Jayaprakash, and bowing his head, winked an eye and then turning to the MD of Global Hospitals, ' Dr. Subash Rao, I am sorry but I have to leave now.'

Dr.Subash opened his eyes and looked at Raman with wonder, ' Leave. Now. No way.'

' Why, sir? Is there anything else I can help you with?' Raman asked tentatively.

Dr.Subash Rao jumped out of the sofa that he had been sitting in and waving both his hands in denial, ' No, no. No problem. I... was just wondering what happened and how it happened, although I understood this much.'

Stepping closer, he looked at Raman with pride and wonder filling his eyes, ' You are a magician, a miracle worker. No, No, strike that out, for you are a miracle yourself, sir, and I am privileged and honored to have met you.'

Raman smiling gently, ' It was no big deal, Dr.Subash. The person you should really be thanking is my mentor, Krishnaswamy Iyer who delegated me to this case.'

Flashing a smile at Jayaprakash, which was filled with more warmth and respect and that which obviously comes from years of friendship, Raman turned and was about to leave them, when Dr.Subash Rao, grabbed his hand and said, ' Raman sir, your fees. You have not said anything about your fees.'

' Fees. For what, Dr. Subash Rao. For helping out a friend and for doing what my mentor requested me to' Raman said and shook his head and then his eyes twinkled in a strange way.

This went totally unnoticed by Dr.Subash but not by Jayaprakash who knew Raman very well and realized immediately that he was on to something and was also planning something.

Raman's next words, cryptic in nature were proof enough.

' Coming here to this hospital is payment enough and that will do for me.'

Raman nodded and said, ' JP sir, good to see you. Be well' and then he looked at Dr.Subash Rao, ' There is one thing you can do for me' and Dr.Subash Rao eagerly asked, ' anything Raman sir. Anything for you. You just have to say it and it will be done.'

' Please take good care of Brigadier Rajashekar sir, and his family ' and with that Raman exited the room leaving behind an astonished MD of Global hospitals to mumble loudly, ' What a man, Raman sir is? A gem. A rare gem indeed.'

Raman closed the door and flashing a sweet smile at the secretary thanked her for the coffee and cookies and saying bye went out into the belly of the Hospital but his feet walked unerringly towards the cafeteria and finding an empty table in the corner of it, sat down and waited.

He did not have to wait for long for the person that he had been expecting to show up, showed up. Raman looked up at the person and said, ' Please sit down, Mrs. Shinogai Ahmadi or would you prefer that I call you Angeline Connors.'

Vaanathai Pola 329

' Please sit down, Mrs. Shinogai Ahmadi or would you prefer that I address you as Angeline Connors.'

Shinogai nodded and sitting down looked at her watch and then looked at Raman expecting more and she was both disappointed and surprised by his words.

' I have ordered coffee for both of us and it should be here any moment.'

She was mildly disappointed that he had not immediately broached the subject of her presence in and had instead elected to offer her coffee. She had come prepared for this encounter and armed with full knowledge about the man who sat before her.

The moment Raman had left the room, Shinogai had done two things. The first thing was to call The Old Man and alert him to the danger Raman posed and the other thing was a phone call.

Shinogai had hesitated just for a few moments before calling Bill aka William Bradley who was her colleague and junior in the CIA's top-secret Spartan program. Not that she did not trust Paul Smith but she did not trust his overwhelming patriotism which sometimes came across more as fanaticism.

Being the head of the Spartan program, Shinogai had many tools at her disposal. Some of which she had used to disappear from Washington and reappear in Chennai. Shinogai had called Bill using a number that only she and a few others were aware of and Bill had answered on the second call.

' Shinogai, Angeline. I am sorry Ma'am. I meant no disrespect by calling you by your name but I and the others are totally worried. The Director (CIA) is climbing the walls and has all of us climbing along with him.'

' Bill, it is okay to call me by my name. I am really sorry that I have all of you so worried. Obviously, it goes without saying, that all of you are really mad at me and my son and I guess I should not mad at all of you if you have imagined the worst of me and my son. Which is......'

' Ma'am, you better believe it when I tell you that most of us including the director are more worried about your's and Adam's safety than worrying about you both defecting and turning traitors. But, protocols have been broken and I guess at some point you will be held accountable for them.'

William Bradley heard her sigh loud and clear across oceans and continents and worriedly enquired, ' Ma'am, are you okay? Are you safe? Is there any pressing danger you are in and that requires our help?

' I am okay Bill. Just a bit tired.Both mentally and physically.'

' Ma'am. Where are you right now? Is Adam with you? Is he okay?

' Both of us are fine, Bill. I am sorry that both of us are right now incognito. Trust me when I tell you that the situation demanded us to take such a drastic step and that too so suddenly.'

She heard his chuckle and his curses and felt a jolt of electricity rush through her body when Bill muttered more in appreciation than in anger, ' Son of a bitch. That magnificent B..t..d Raman was right after all.'

Shinogai's senses went on full alert the moment she heard William Bradley utter and mutter the name Raman and composing herself and bringing a semblance of normalcy in her voice and tone, she asked casually, ' I am sorry Bill. what or who were you cursing right now?

' Not cursing ma'am but singing praises about a man that I and Paul happened to meet a few days ago in Jerusalem.'

Shinogai saw the opening but was wary of using it but was forced to do so since she had no choice left in the matter.

Again in a very casual manner, she pressed on with her gathering of information about Raman.

' Bill, this is surely one for the books for this is a first. I am surprised to hear you sing praises about another agent and that who belongs to Mossad.'

' No ma'am, he is not with Mossad but with RAW and his name is Raman.'

Shinogai closed her eyes and swallowing her sigh of relief, jokingly remarked, ' Raw. Our Indian Counterparts. God is great for it must be a time for miracles if William Bradley is praising an Indian spy.'

A mastermind of hundreds of missions, Shinogai slipped the gear and hit over-drive, ' Okay. I am all curious now. Who is this old Fart of an agent that has impressed you so much and how has he done that?'

' Ma'am, This man Raman is not an old fart but a young man and of Adam's age. But trust me, when I tell you that he is as good as Adam and in my opinion, probably a wee bit better.'

Her worst fears about Raman were confirmed and now all that was left was to find out how much he knew about her and Radhu.

' Bill, you have seen for yourself how Adam's mind works and how he connects the dots when the rest of us are still groping around and yet you dare to tell me this upstart of a cub called Raman is as good as him.'

' Ma'am, you have known me for nearly 10 years. I have worked with you and Adam in the field. So, trust my judgment when I tell you that this gentleman called Raman is good and I will not be surprised if he takes over Raw after V.K.Singh finally succumbs to his lung cancer and that I fear is just a matter of weeks if not days away.'

' I hear you William and I trust and respect your opinions. But, this Raman being better than Adam is what I find hard to believe....'

' Ma'am, you remember Adam and Dr.Otto of Mossad going at each other and their epic sparrings over the years.'

Shinogai felt a sense of dread beginning to creep up her mind and she recollected and spoke from memory, ' Otto and Adam have sparred at least a dozen times and it is still undecided and they are tied in victory and defeat at 6 each.'

' Ma'am, hold on to your horses for what I am about to tell you is a bit shocking and unbelievable.'

' What is it, William?

' Ma'am, It seems Dr.Otto challenged Raman who accepted it and the word is that Otto went at Raman three times and lost all three times. Our Mossad friends say it is not that Raman won the three bouts but the manner in which he won it and the time he took to do the same. But, what takes the cake and the plate is Otto bowing to this Raman and accepting him as his master.'

Flashback from Chapters 75,76,77

“Inside me, there are two dogs. One is mean and evil and the other is good and they fight each other all the time. When asked which one wins I answer, the one I feed the most.”

The human species is at once both good and evil and also blessed with something more than that. In, no other species do we see this capacity to help, protect and nurture more present than in that of the human species. We call Mother nature God and worship it in all its basic elemental forms, such as fire, earth, sky, lightning, and water, and have also gone further than that and given God human forms and have raised him and her along with ourselves to a higher level. Yet, today, in the 21st century, man, stands in the court of nature accused of several crimes, both against nature and himself.

As always, my thoughts, my reflections before a chapter are but my decipherings of life in its daily, mundane form and also in its vast eternal cycle.

There is I, us, and them. But which dog do you feed first, the I dog or them dog. Confusing, not really. Think of only yourself, then I dog. Think of that and those outside your body and soul, them dogs.

That is the question, my lord, that fine balance between good and bad and that scarier path that is neither good nor bad but dark and murky. Many walk that path out of choice, some for want of choice, and many step into it and retreat out of it sensing its potential for evil and crime.

Crime against humanity, no, but a crime against your conscience and that we call the all-seeing eye, God.

' All warmed up and ready, Raman' Dr.Otto yelled as he entered the Gym and Raman replied without even turning or opening his eyes, ' ready for what Dr.Otto?'

' Ready to test your Judo against my krav maga style?'

' No,I am not and not today and not ever.'

This was an answer that Dr.Otto had not come prepared for and he had not the faintest idea how Raman's advocate brain worked and was working now.

His polite challenge had ricocheted off Raman like a bullet would bounce off a wall and headed directly back at him and his mood changed and he lost his composure.

The advice and in the end warnings that he had been given by V.K.singh back in their room now felt more like taunts to him and he forgot the golden rule of fighting and that is to lose your cool and to fight with anger.

He slowly walked across and standing in front of Raman who still sat in his lotus position and said, ' So, you accept that our style of fighting is better than Judo in which you are a champion and that I am better than you.'

Raman opened his eyes and Dr.Otto saw that they were different now and wrongly assumed that his taunts were hitting home and finally getting under the skin of the young man.

But, Raman's eyes really only reflected the torment and worry that had gripped his soul from the moment Jeeva had told him about the attack on Kavita and them at Crowne Plaza hotel.

Raman closed his eyes and tried hard to contain his irritation and said, ' Yes, I accept that you are a better fighter than me but I refuse to accept that Krav maga is better than Judo for both the styles are different and it is a futile attempt to match them in a fight.'

Then everything changed with Dr.Otto Hauptmann's words, taunts to be exact and I request you to go back to the first lines of this chapter about the two dogs inside us after you have read them.

' Well, in my experience, I can usually tell what kind of man, the master is from his student and seeing you, I can judge that your sensei Devarajan must be that kind who hides behind peace and non-violence.'

Raman opened his eyes and asked ' What are you inferring to by the word, that kind?'

Dr.Otto smiled for there was no mistaking the fires that now blazed in his opponent's eyes and went for the kill' isn't it obvious, the weak and cowardly kind.'

V.k. Singh, Aaron, and the other Mossad agents who were watching the whole thing on a large screen, gasped in shock at the cruel and harsh nature of Dr.Otto's words, barbs and taunts.

' Damn you Otto' a deep voice whispered and all of them turned to see a tall bearded man standing there and V.K.Singh immediately raise his hands and saluted him and said, ' Sir, I had no clue that you were here.'

Rudran smiled and replied ' At ease, Mr.V.K and there is no need for all this formality between friends and moreover, you are my senior when it comes to your work.'

V.K.Singh looked at Rudran with respect and affection, ' That may be true sir but you outrank me and as a career soldier, I am duty-bound to salute my superior officer.'

Rudran smiled and headed for the door and V.K.Singh asked him ' sir, our friend Otto is going to fight, don't you want to watch it?'

Rudran turned and shaking his head said, ' No, I don't want to watch that old F..t get his ego and sorry a..s beaten down. But, he deserves it for hurting Raman.'

' Sir, you met him. where, when?'

' I met him and also requested him to go easy on that stupid old man. So, don't worry, Raman will toy with him, and then it will end with that. Bye, V.k' and with those prophetic words spoken, Rudran left them and they all slowly turned back to the screen and at the same time, Raman got up and stood facing Dr.Otto Hauptmann, head of Mossad.

“Never respond to an angry person with a fiery comeback, even if he deserves it...Don't allow his anger to become your anger.”

Dr.Otto Hauptmann knew very well that his words were unfair and yet he had spoken it deliberately and knew that it had hit home for Raman slowly rose to his feet and stood staring at him.

Raman's face that was clouded with anger and pain slowly relaxed and he said, ' Dr.Otto, if it was a fight, that you wanted with me, all you had to do was just ask me and I would have obliged. There was no need for all these taunts and insults and that too at my sensei who I think of as a father.'

Dr.Otto knew that anything he said now would be seen as a sign of defeat, decided instead that he would wade in deeper and continued with his taunts, ' Maybe, it is not about you and your sensei and maybe it is just about what you are good at, Judo which you have realized by now is not equal to my Krav Maga style of fighting.'

Raman as was his nature, lifted his left hand and pointed to the middle vacant of the gym and said, ' Please' and walked towards the large empty space where the floor was cushioned and on which the Mossad staff practiced their fighting skills.

A small crowd of nearly 20 people had by now gathered around the large screen and one of the technicians began to pivot the cameras that were in the gymnasium and slowly zoomed in on both the men.

V.k. Singh leaned into Aaron and said ' I hope this is being recorded for I promise you that it will come in handy for future references.'

Both men stood facing each other and then Raman slowly bent his upper body in a bow but with his eyes firmly locked on the man who stood before him and said, 'I salute the one from whom I am going to learn.'

Back on the office floor, most of the Mossad agents began to place bets as to who was going to win and how long the fight was going to last.

One of the Mossad agents turned and asked V.K.Singh, ' how good is your agent's judo skills ?'

V.K.Singh looked at him, ' His Judo is very good but so are his other styles of fighting too.'

Aaron and the others turned hurriedly and looked at him and Aaron asked V.K.Singh, ' what other styles, sir?'

V.K.Singh shrugged casually, ' I know that he nearly became a national champion in Judo but could not take part in that championship for he fractured his leg just before the contest. I also know that he went to Japan for a world tournament and placed second. I am also aware that he is highly skilled in a few secret South Indian styles of fighting. But..?'

' But what, Mr.V.K?'

V.K.Singh looked at all of them, ' That is all I know about Raman, but stop and think as to what we don't know about him.'

Down in the gym, on the mat, both men slowly circled each other.

Dr.Otto Hauptmann knew himself very well and knew perfectly well that at 62 years of age, he would not last as long his 32-year-old younger foe who was considered one of the best by his own dear friend, V.K. So, that meant, he had to finish this fight quickly and take Raman down and make him accept defeat.

Raman, on the other hand, was slowly purging all thoughts away and was emptying his mind, and was entering the essence of what martial arts were all about.

A good fight is when a fight is not fought at all.

A good defense is not fighting at all.

The best win is not fighting at all.

But, when a fight does happen, engage without emotion, particularly anger which is a wall that a true martial artist will never do.

Like in life, everyday life, Preconceived notions in martial arts are taboo.

So, Raman did what all the masters over 4,000 years had taught him and which was ' be still and be like the five elements.'

The syllable gu means darkness, the syllable ru, he who dispels them,

Because of the power to dispel darkness, the guru is thus named.—?Advayataraka Upanishad, Verse 16

The name in Hebrew can be translated as "contact combat". The root word Krav means "combat" and Maga means "contact".

Krav Maga is a military self-defense and fighting system developed for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli security forces derived from a combination of techniques sourced from boxing, wrestling, aikido, judo, and karate along with realistic fight training.

It was derived from the street-fighting experience of Hungarian-Israeli martial artist Imi Lichtenfeld, who made use of his training as a boxer and wrestler, while defending the Jewish quarter against fascist groups in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, during the mid-to-late 1930s. In the late 1940s, following his migration to Palestine, he began to provide lessons on combat training to what was to become the IDF.

Krav Maga has a philosophy emphasizing aggression, and simultaneous defensive and offensive manoeuvers. Krav Maga has been used by the Israel Defense Forces' special forces units, security forces, and by regular infantry units. Closely related variations have been developed and adopted by Israeli law enforcement and intelligence organizations. There are several organizations teaching variations of Krav Maga internationally.

Dr.Otto Hauptmaan raised his hands in a classic boxing position and edged forward with his left foot leading his attack and with his left hand leading to jab and probe while his right hand was ready to deliver the knockout punch.

Raman knew that Dr.otto was testing him out by changing from his krav maga style and coming to him with a boxing style and decided that he too would mimic his older foe and wait and watch patiently as to where this fight would lead them both.

He knew that this was just a matter concerning Otto's ego and had even forgiven and forgotten the taunts that the man had tossed at him about his master and his art.

Raman's very nature and his essence rebelled at this petty and unnecessary display of male egos but his teachings also reminded him that when called upon, it was his sacred duty to not only learn from life but also be ready to impart, share and spread what he had learnt if the opportunity arose.

Standing at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing about 80 kilos, Dr.Otto looked supremely fit and mean as he shuffled forward towards Raman.

Standing a bit over 6 feet and weighing about 82 kilos, Raman had not only a height advantage but a reach advantage both with his long arms and legs.

The left-hand jab thrown by Otto spat at his face like a snake and was followed by a tremendous punch to his jaw and Raman expecting this simply shuffled to his left and otto just found air.

Huddled in front of the screen, Aaron screamed loudly and the rest of his colleagues groaned and threw their hands up in frustration, and V.K.Singh wondering what the fuss was all about asked ' What's going on?'

Aaron hurriedly, ' My boss just left his right flank open and Raman who shuffled to his left could have delivered a crippling kick using his right leg at the exposed right side.'

V.K.Singh nodded with a smile, ' Maybe, that is what your boss wants but Raman refused to take the bait.'

That was exactly what Otto had planned when he left his right side open and after throwing first the jab and the punch had immediately gone to rest his weight on his left foot so as to kick with his right leg, but Raman did not oblige and only shuffled away.

Dr.Otto wondered, ' Did he do that on purpose or did he just move away trying to evade my punches?'

The sudden crinkle of doubt that creased Otto's forehead did not go unnoticed by Raman who pretended as if he was unaware of what had taken place and stood breathing calmly waiting for the next move that his opponent was going to make.

Dr.Otto Hauptmann crouching low as to offer as little a target as possible slowly began to move forward with his left leg sliding, seeking maximum grip and then he threw a few quick punches which Raman blocked with his arms, and then Otto suddenly threw a straight kick with his right leg at his opponent's midriff, a kick that had it connected would have put him down for sure. But, as before, Raman had already moved and shuffled backward and out of the reach with the grace and agility of a ballet dancer.

In life, sometimes it pays to be aggressive and to use rage as a tool to achieve your goal but it is a dangerous game to play with anger and the power it brings for they never fail to cloud your thoughts, judgment and you become narrow-minded and your vision is now just that of a tunnel at the end which lies your goal.

If Raman had expected Otto to calm down and come at him with more thought than aggression, he was wrong for his foe instead charged directly at him and began to rain punches, kicks at him.

Raman absorbed all the punches and kicks that Otto threw at him using his upper arms and shoulders and his thighs and withstood the onslaught barely breaking a sweat.

The seed of doubt that had planted itself in his mind now bloomed into a tiny shoot and his eyes again flared with them and the fear that came along with it.

Aaron and all the others who were watching this along with V.K.Singh realized that their boss was out of his depth and that all the aggression and rage would not be able to beat Raman.

Dr.Otto took a deep breath and growled, ' are you going to strike me or not? or will you just keep playing this defense game of yours.'

Raman smiled, ' Otto, I don't think at all when I fight and I just move. I don't dig deep and draw up anger and other violent emotions without a good cause for them for they do more damage than good in the long run.'

Dr.Otto snarled like a wild beast, ' you and your Buddhist philosophies. The world outside is not a playground or a place for a picnic but a deadly game of life and death.'

' Exactly, Otto, and you being a doctor and a martial artist should know better and also realize that everything is not about life and death, not even in this business of espionage.'

' Then, what is it about, Raman?'

' You tell me, sir, for it is you who wanted this fight with me?'

' I have nothing to tell and I just want you to stand still and fight me.'

' But, that is what we have been doing these past few moments, Otto.'

Dr.Otto smiled sarcastically, ' fight, what fighting have we been doing? It is me who has been doing all the attacking and it is me who is doing all the fighting and wasting my energy and time, while you are just dancing around the mat.'

Raman slowly folded his hands across his chest and stared into Dr.Otto's eyes and said, ' exactly. So, finally, you have realized what is going on here?'

Otto nodded wearily and then dropping his hands to his side, mumbled, ' Me, it is me. I was not fighting you but fighting myself, my own ego, and my arrogance.'

Aaron, V.K.Singh and the other Mossad staff members watched silently as their boss slowly bent to his waist and whispered to Raman, ' Master, teach me for I am ready to learn.'

Avan, Aval, Adhu 25

“Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?”

' Where is your home?' Rasaathi Ammal asked her and Gayatri looked at her lost for an answer to a very simple question and said, ' I am not sure, anymore....'

' If each one of us is a stream, a river, a spring, then surely we have a source from where we well up to the surface and begin our journey from.'

Gayatri nodded and smiled again but unlike the previous one, this smile, Rasaathi Ammal noted, was full of bitterness and anger that she immediately apologized.

' I am sorry Gayatri. Please forgive me and please forget that I asked you that question.'

' It is okay ma'am. There is really no need for you to apologize and honestly I am the one who has a lot to forgive and forget.'

They sat in the morning glory, two women. One who was just stepping out of her prime and the other a long way past her prime of life.

Leaning back and resting her head on the door, Gayatri began to speak about her life, and from the way her voice changed, Rasaathi Ammal could understand that life had not been easy on her.

' I guess, I should say, both Kolkotta and Mumbai, are my homes. But, to be specific, Mumbai is really home but is not. For, I turned my back on home many years ago.'

Her eyes stared out into the distance as if they were trying to seek out memories of yesteryears and of better times and continued.

' I was a single child born into a really wealthy family. The beginning was all good, really beautiful' and then unable to hold back the tears that flowed out from her eyes, she smiled through it in anger and looked at Rasaathi Ammal, ' They don't last. They never last, do they, ma'am.'

' No, Gayatri. They never last and sometimes I tell myself that God or whoever is up there or where ever he or she is has a weird and crooked sense of humor. For, I have never seen their point of view or what forces them to do what they eventually do to us and our lives?'

Looking at her, Gayatri nodded, ' me too ma'am. I have screamed out my questions many a time and have asked God, " Why, why make us, give us, bless us with all that is good and beautiful and then snatch it away and that too without a hint of a warning?

Rasaathi Ammal smiled, ' any success with that screaming?

' No. Not even a peep or squeak of an answer that might shed light on my life's questions.'

' Gayatri, Don't your parents miss you?'

She smiled and the pain that it revealed was like the shimmer and glimmer of a sharp knife reflecting light and shaking her head, ' No, I don't think they miss me and I doubt if it is even possible.'

' Why, have they abandoned you, or have they migrated somewhere abroad?

' yes, they have abandoned me and they have migrated but not abroad but up and into the other side of life.'

Rasaathi Amaal saddened and moved by Gayatri's words, placed her hand on her arm and said, ' Child, I am here, and so too is my son. Treat me as your mother. Treat us as your family.'

' Thank you, ma'am. I am sorry but I am unable to elaborate more about me and my family at this moment. Maybe, I will someday.....'

Leaving the sentence unfinished, Gayatri turned her back on her own life and left it behind as a ship would do as it slips away from the harbor.

Little did she know that eventually, the ship has to return dock, drop anchor at some port for it cannot go on drifting on its own without being cared for and lovingly tended to.

She looked at the mother and enquired about the son.

' Ravi, Ravi sir' she said it, and just from the way she said her son's name, the mother understood but as always she remained neutral.

' What about my son, Ravi?'

This simple question that was an answer to her own question that she had kind of very carefully placed left Gayatri in a conundrum and all she could do was blink a couple of times and look lost for that was exactly what she was feeling.

But, she overcame it and broached the topic of Ravi by rephrasing her question that arose more out of curiosity and asked, ' What is his story? I mean has he always been like who he is right now?'

Rasaathi Ammal smiled and looked away and Gayatri could see clearly that her question which she had assumed to be simple and straight forward was anything but that and then Ravi's mother looked at her and replied, ' You will not believe it but I, his own mother have no clue as to what is going on in his mind.'

Sighing frustratedly, ' All I know for certain is that something happened when he was in his high school. At least that is what my heart tells me.'

' But, he is your son. I mean you can ask him, talk to him about what you feel and think, right ma'am.'

Rasaathi Ammal chuckled and shook her head, ' Gayatri, a word of advice. Be very careful with Ravi. He is my son and yet I am warning you as your own mother would do. Don't push or probe him with too many questions for he can sometimes be unpredictable with his reactions. '

Both heard the sound of a large vehicle and realized that Ravi was returning home in the police vehicle that had so abruptly taken him away from his breakfast.

Rasaathi Ammal patted Gayatri's arm and said, ' Coming back to your question. Yes, I did try a few times but failed in getting an answer from him as to what had happened and why he wanted to remain.................'

' Single. You were going to say, single, right ma'am?'

' No Gayatri. I was going to say, Alone.'

“Home is people. Not a place. If you go back there after the people are gone, then all you can see is what is not there anymore.”

Vaanathai Pola 330

They sat looking at each other, young and old. Man and woman. Spy at the other spy.

Raman's senses had always served him well and they continued to do so now as he looked at Shinogai with an open but alert look. Open for anything that she might say or do and alert for anything she might do. But in his mind, he had already seen the outcome and was now only filled with the predicament that his actions might or might not bring on him.

' Mr.Raman, so you know who I am and I know who you are.'

' Yes ma'am. I know who you are' Raman said and before anything more could be said by either of them, coffee was served to them.

There are times when one's focus on the matter at hand is so intense and over-powering that the world outside just falls away, slips away and it is as if you are in your own world.

Both Raman and Shinogai sat in a bubble of their own and whether they knew it or not their intense energy seemed to send out subtle signals to the world outside and people avoided their table without knowing why they were doing so.

Raman's mobile phone vibrated informing him that a message had arrived. He felt the vibration in his shirt pocket and looked at Shinogai and said, ' excuse me for I have to see this message' and taking out his phone saw the message was from his boss, V.K.Singh.

' Raman, the lady in question has made contact with home but has not revealed the reason for her and her son's absence. So, they could already be here. I have requested CCTV Footage from all the major airports in India that have International flight terminals and have requested our team to look out for any Americans who have flown into our country in the last ten days. Call me when you are free.'

Raman's eyes flicked from his phone and into the green eyes and then he slowly pushed his phone towards her and said, ' We have a problem, ma'am.'

With just a momentary flick of her eyes from Raman to the phone, Shinogai read the message and went back to staring into blackish brown colored eyes and nodded and said, ' Yes, we do seem to have a problem. But, then it all depends on you.'

' I am sorry but I have to disagree with you, ma'am. For, this situation depends entirely on you and your son's actions.'

Shinogai smiled, ' Raman, you are not seeing the entire picture here. It is just not me and my son now but also the woman he loves very much. Then, you have the main reason for our arrival here, Rajashekar and his sister who are now family and blood.'

She looked at him and Raman saw her jade green eyes blaze with strength and belief and heard her say, ' Blood means everything to us and our people, Raman. We will do what needs to be done and we will see it out to the end, regardless of what the outcome might be.'

She looked at him and saw his anguish and confusion and said, ' what will you do now, Raman?'

He looked at her, ' Nothing, for now, ma'am' and slowly leaning forward and bringing his arms to rest on the table, he whispered softly, ' Blood and family matters and means everything to me too, Mrs.Connors. Kavita and her family mean the world to me and I will do anything to protect them but there is a line that I will not cross.'

Shinogai smiled understandingly, ' That line is your loyalty to your nation. I respect that, Raman and please believe me when I tell you that I too feel the same about my country and its people for who I and my son have done so much and sacrificed so much.'

Raman's phone vibrated again and this time the vibration was felt through the table by Shinogai and she looked at Raman who said another excuse me and checked the message that had come in and saw it was from Major Param.

' Raman, we think we might have found the exact location where Brigadier Prakash Malhotra might have gone missing. Please come back for we need your eyes that see more than others.'

'on my way, major. I will be there in 30 to 40 minutes' Raman quickly typed his reply and pressed send and sent it away.

Both spies, old and young, man and woman resumed looking at each other, and Raman taking a deep breath, placed his phone in his pocket which indicated to Shinogai that he was indeed leaving and with no other alternative way, asked him directly, ' Raman, what are you going to do about us?'

Raman looked at her, ' Nothing ma'am. Although, I would like an honest answer to the question I am going to ask for it will clear up a doubt that has been weighing on me.'

Shinogai nodded, ' I guess that is the least I can do and will do it. What is the question?'

Raman leaned even closer and whispered his question.

' The blood on the ground behind the hospital. Who does it belong to and who threw down that person from the window of your room? You or Radhu?'