From & To Sathish #5 - Page 92

Avan, Aval Adhu 301

“Because God is never cruel, there is a reason for all things. We must know the pain of loss; because if we never knew it, we would have no compassion for others, and we would become monsters of self-regard, creatures of unalloyed self-interest. The terrible pain of loss teaches humility to our prideful kind, has the power to soften uncaring hearts, to make a better person of a good one.” Dean Koontz, The Darkest Evening of the Year

Rasaathi Ammal raised her head and sat up and Ravi, seeing the mournful look on her face, ' I am okay, mother. Everything is going to be okay hereafter. So, stop looking so sad. It breaks my heart to see you like this.'

' I am sorry, Ravi. It's just that you are conscious and have come back to us from the coma..... But'.

' But what mother?'

' An old man. I mean a really old man appeared out of nowhere like he was an angel sent by god to protect you. He was the one who saw your clenched fingers and told us that you had used some ancient varmakalai mudra to lock yourself and to stop the poison from spreading further from where you were stabbed.'

' Where is this gentleman right now? Please, amma, take me to him. I have to meet him and thank him personally for saving my life.'

Rasaathi Ammal smiled, ' It was not the old man who saved you from certain death. But, Kandhan, Pottu's father who saved you from certain death.'

Ravi's face grew grim with anger and his eyes cloaked themselves in confusion and pain. He looked at his mother, ' Murugan tries to kill me and Kandhan saves me. Paliyan vs Paliyan and the God who all of us worship becomes both my Yama and Shiva.'

Gently holding his mother's shoulder, Ravi requested her to go bring the old man and also bring Kandhan so that he could thank them both for saving his life.

' Why the old man, Ravi? I am sorry but nothing turned out the way he said it would. He spoke about your fingers and Sanjeevani mudra and spun a tall tale that included the girl from your past making a sudden appearance to save you. But, where is she? Nowhere.'

Taking both his hands, she stared at his fingers and mumbled, ' I feel so stupid and silly for believing that man and honestly, I don't think he is 104 years old like he claims to be and I am sure that he was a story writer when he was younger and probably a bad one at that.'

Ravi tried to muster a smile but was unable to fake one. Instead, he looked tiredly at his mother. Rasaathi Ammal knew what that look meant and getting up she looked at him and complained loudly but with tact and poise.

' You should be resting rather than talking and straining yourself ' and then suddenly remembering something, ' I wonder where that doctor ran off to, leaving you all alone and unattended. I requested her to stay by your side until I returned. But she was nowhere to be seen when I came back into the ICU.'

' pff! Well, I guess being a doctor she had some other work more important than my son to attend to.'

' Amma ', hearing her son calling her, Rasaathi ammal looked at her son.

' Please, ask Gayatri to come and meet me right away. I need to talk to her. Also, please ask Partha and Daksha to come and meet me, but after a few minutes. They must have been traumatized seeing me hurt and unconscious.'

' They were, Ravi and I am sure once they get the news they will rush back to Madurai immediately.'

Ravi absorbed the news and smiled, ' They have gone back to Kodai, I guess. To pack some clothes and other stuff that they will need when they are here with me and also to delegate someone to watch over Whispering Rocks.'

Rasaathi Ammal nodded ' That too but only after Guna is finished with them.'

' Guna ' Ravi said pleasantly surprised and his eyes full of pride, ' My boy will do a great job ' then his eyes lost their luster as he said, ' Then again that will lead to a lot of complications, and heartaches for all of us.'

' We are aware of that, Ravi. But sometimes we need to let the law do its duty.'

Mother and son stared at each other sadly. For both knew the ramifications if the law ran its course.

Ravi Kumar shook his head, ' Enough damage has been done. Blood has been spilled and people have lost their lives.'

His face suddenly appeared as if it had turned into stone and with eyes glittering like diamonds, ' I will take care of it, Amma. But, please, I need to speak to Gayatri. Find her for me. Poor thing, knowing her, she must be more traumatized than all of us.'

' Yes, son. She was, and the poor soul fainted at one point in time.'

' Why did you use the word " was " and why are you talking about her in the past tense? What is going on, Amma? Is Gayatri hurt?'

' No, Ravi. She is not physically hurt. But her hurt and her pain were so great that she went away unable to see you in the condition you were in.'

Ravi's eyes filled with sorrow and regret and he mumbled angrily, ' Stupid girl. Stupid woman. She keeps blaming herself for everything that happens around her.'

The anger in his eyes vanished suddenly and then as if remembering something he hurriedly looked at his mother, ' Maybe it is for the good and maybe it will all turn out okay in the end.'

Rasaathi Ammal sighed, ' This feels like the end, Ravi. Gayatri has flown away and here you are, awake and fully conscious. But the one who is in your heart and who was supposedly supposed to bring you back never showed up. So, here you are. Back to square one and with a broken heart.'

Ravi stared at the door and the empty space that his mother had left behind.

He touched his lips and ran his tongue on them and felt his heart flutter in fear and pain.

' Madhu, you are here. I know it because I know the taste and scent of you. My heart feels better and stronger than before for it senses your presence.'

Placing his right hand on his chest, ' But Madhu, 25 years have flown by. You are a married woman now, Jaanu. You belong to someone else. I, meanwhile have given away my heart to a woman who needs it along with my promise to love her and protect her as long as there is life in me.'

He banged the bed with his clenched fists and swore, ' This is not square one but square hell multiplied by a billion times.'

Closing his eyes, he filled his mind with the image of Lord Muruga and prayed, ' God, I am not worried about my heart or my life. But, I am worried about Madhu and Gayatri and yes about Meenakshi too. Help me, Lord. I am lost. More lost than ever.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYpi1MQn3v4&t=2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqut8J9Ui-4

Avan, Aval Adhu 302

The destruction left behind by the landslide that had slid away from the Kodai hills was being solved and sorted out in a very methodical manner. It was an " All hands on deck situation " and hence the entire state Government machinery around Madurai had been pressed into service. The whole of Kodai hill was swarming with Government employees belonging to various departments ranging from the fire department, state highways department, Medical services and the Police department.

The central Government had joined hands with the state government and had pressed into service their local battalions of forces from CRPF, BSF, and the Army that were stationed all around Madurai and even as far as Coimbatore and Salem.

The first order of business had been the miles and miles of traffic that had piled up in and out of Kodaikanal. It had taken several mind-numbing and head-splitting hours but the traffic pile-up had been sorted out and was being cleared out in a smooth manner.

This had been possible only because of the army and CRPF forces who laid down emergency bridges and makeshift roads along with the help of state workers.

Inspector Sargunam had left Madurai and was travelling in a convoy made up of three vehicles and all of them were heading to Whispering Rocks in Kodaikanal. The large letters in Red that screamed " Police " in the front of the vehicles ensured that no other vehicles got in their way or slowed their progress as they raced towards the hills.

His satellite phone crackled and announced that the roads were slowly being cleared out. The person on the other side was Sub-Inspector Bharathan and he informed Inspector Sargunam that he had placed sentries all around Whispering Rocks.

' Sir, as per your orders, our men are in place. No one goes or comes out without us seeing them. Over.'

' Thank you, Bharathan. As things stand right now and if the traffic thins out by the time we start climbing the hills, I will be there in three hours' time. I will see you there. Over.'

' Okay, sir. Over and out, sir.'

Guna who had been wearing a sad and mourning look from the time he had learnt about the attack on Ravi, exhaled all his tiredness and frustration so loudly that the fluffy Ganesha hanging from the Rear-view mirror swung about wildly as if it had been assaulted by a hurricane.

It swung wildly and Guna reached out and stilled its motion for it was distracting and highly irritating to watch it swing around.

Partha who was seating along with his wife Daksha in the rear seat comforted him by saying that Ravi was going to get better and soon.

Guna turned around and looked at both of them and smiled and said, ' I know, sir. My master is special and he has all of our prayers and wishes by his side for support. So, I know that he will recover soon and completely. But, my anger and my frustration are that a great soul like him has been hurt and laid down. I don't know why God does all these evil experiments on good and kind souls.'

Daksha exhaled her anger and acid in words and it was a verbal assault and a different one to what the tiny fluffy Ganesha hanging from the mirror had felt.

' Don't blame God for this, Guna. Instead blame that silly woman Gayatri for it was her atrocious behaviour that led to this sad situation.'

Parthiban nodded, ' True, it's been nothing but trouble from the moment that woman entered Ravi's life. God only knows what all she has in store for our Ravi.'

' I am sorry but both of you are forgetting one important fact.'

Partha and Daksha looked at Guna who bent his head and stretched his neck a couple of times and then slowly turned away from them and stared at the road that was vanishing behind them along with time and with life.

As if sensing that no other words were forthcoming from Inspector Sargunam, Daksha asked him what was the important fact that they had forgotten.

Guna turned around again to face them but this time he made himself more comfortable and rested his right hand on the top of his seat, ' If it had not been for Gayatri then there would have been no emergency evacuation by helicopter. Have you given any thought about that?'

Partha grunted angrily, ' Fair enough, Guna. But, if Gayatri had not come into Ravi's life then there would have been no need for a Helicopter or emergency evacuations.'

Guna touched his forehead with four fingers in a mock salute and whispered, ' Touche, Parthiban sir. But we know our master very well sir. He would have stepped out and risked his life in the same way not just for Gayatri or his close friends but even for a total stranger.'

A sad smile filled his eyes, ' Forget a stranger, my master will risk his life if a tree is being chopped down without a valid reason.'

His eyes glinted and his voice was full of steel when he spoke his mind and what he felt in his heart.

' I think this incident is just the tip of the iceberg. Something tells me that Gayatri is in master sir's life for a purpose and a reason. We might not be able to see it right now but.......................'

The vehicle started to slow down as they neared the foothills of Kodai Kanal and Inspector Sargunam pointed ahead and said, ' Can you see that temple tower on the right side? That is Sadaya Perumal temple and that is the place where Gayatri intervened and saved herself and her cab driver from being attacked or even murdered by boldly taking on two knife-wielding thieves.'

Turning slightly, using the corner of his right eye, Guna said, ' At least Miss. Gayatri and our Master sir share one common trait?'

The traffic began to increase in volume as they began their climb up the hills. Guna observed loudly, ' At least we are moving and at a decent speed. I think all the people involved in this work of clearing and cleaning up this destruction created by the landslide have done an incredible job in such a short span of time.'

His satellite phone crackled and Inspector Guna answered, ' Hello, over.'

' Iyaa, naan Head constable Jayaseelan speaking. Over.'

' What is it now? More complaints about your working hours.'

' No sir. I am ok, and happy sir. I am calling to report a murder, sir.'

' Murder. Where?'

' Just after the Moolayar waterfalls hairpin bend sir. A tea estate woman below found a head and called us.'

' When did she call you?'

' An hour ago sir.'

Guna cursed and through gritted teeth, ' Why did it take you so long to call this in?'

Head constable Jayaseelan's relief in the knowledge that he was safe for he had a valid answer was clearly audible to all of them in the vehicle.

' Iyaa, nobody else to go check it. Everybody else is at the resort and a few of our staff have gone down to the site of the landslide to take care of traffic and other duties.'

' Okay. Go on then.'

' Sir, I found the body nearby sir. Upon my kind and humble request, a worker climbed up and brought down an ID card that was in the dead body's shirt pocket.'

Winking his right eye naughtily, he asked in mock anger, ' Why didn't you climb the tree where the body was and do the dirty work rather than torment and torture members of the public? That is what you are getting paid for, isn't it?'

Head constable Jayaseelan squealed in a timid and whiny voice, ' Sir, I was ready but the members of the public volunteered to do the job for me. They said they were friends of the police. I did not want to hurt their kind souls by refusing their help. So, I let them do this simple job for me.'

The lies were so blatantly spoken and so honestly spoken that it left Guna in total shock and he looked at his driver Constable Joesph who unable to contain his laughter, began to giggle like a kid.

Inspector Sargunam shook his head and placing a finger on his lips asked him to stay silent and then Head Constable Jayaseelan spoke again, ' Iyaa. All okay.'

' Yes. All okay but for one small doubt. How high up was the body in the tree?'

They could all visualise the man trying to do the math and then they heard him whisper to someone who clearly whispered back that it was about fifteen feet.

Inspector Guna cleared his throat loudly and Head constable Jayaseelan answered with great and growing enthusiasm that it was about 15 feet.

' The body is still up there right.'

' Yes sir.'

' Okay then. Great job, Jayaseelan. Now listen to me and follow my orders carefully.'

Head constable Jayaseelan's voice was full of pride and arrogance, ' I always following orders of you sir. I do sir. I do what you want sir.'

' Thank you, Jayaseelan. You are a credit to our department and I only wish there were more hard-working men like you around me.'

Driver Constable Joesph unable to take it any longer covered his mouth with his hand and laughed silently.

Inspector Guna glared at him and shook his head and then in a very serious voice, ' Jayaseelan, I will be there in an hour's time. Meanwhile, I want you to tell people to stay away from the crime scene or else they will contaminate the ground.'

' Okay, sir.'

' Once that is done, I want you to climb the tree and go near the body and take as many photos as you can for they will be vital for the investigation. Take photos of all the branches nearby, and carefully check for any evidence that might be useful to us in our investigation.'

' Sir, not clear sir. You mean I go up the tree? But sir..'

' Yes, Jayaseelan. One more important thing. Request one of the members of the crowd to take a photo of you near the body on top of the tree. This will increase your chances of getting some merit from the higher ups and who knows they might even promote you.'

' Sir. But, how sir?'

' Okay. Over and out ' Guna said and ended the call and Constable Joesph unable to contain himself laughed and nearly choked on his own laughter.

Up and above them Head Constable Jayaseelan looked up at the tree and the branch where the body lay and then looked at his huge stomach and wondered how he was going to go about carrying the orders of Inspector Sargunam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utxwfW5vkhY

Avan, Aval Adhu 303

Inspector Sargunam realizing that he was not alone in his vehicle told the driver to concentrate on driving safely and turning slightly to face them, apologized to his passengers.

' I am sorry but it was too good an opportunity to pass on.'

Daksha smiled, ' We kind of got the gist of what was going on and I guess I won't be far from the truth when I say that this head constable will never be the mascot of your department and will never win anything in way of service. Both to the public and his department '

Constable driver Joesph unable to control himself, observed loudly, ' I am sorry, ma'am, sir but he has won and will win more in the future.'

Taken aback by his constable's words, Guna wondered loudly, ' What do you mean by saying he has won and will continue to win? Win what, Joesph?'

' In all matters that concern eating, drinking and not to forget sleeping ' Constable Joesph said and tried his best not to laugh but lost it totally and Guna joined him for he too lost it.

Their laughter and the subject of their laughter were highly infectious and unable to stop themselves, Partha and Daksha joined in and soon all of them were exchanging notes and examples from their own lives.

Inspector Sargunam's satellite crackled again and the whiny voice of Head constable Jayaseelan filled the interiors of their vehicle and all of them heard him clearly.

' Iyaa, Jayaseelan here. Over.'

' What is the problem now? Have you finished with the photos of the headless body on the tree? Over'.

' Not yet sir. But we have identified the person as Nalla Muthu. Sir, he is from Kodai and he is a cab driver, sir.'

Inspector Sargunam's face grew grim as his mind began to trace out the events that had taken place last night. Then just to make sure that he was on the right track with the investigation, he asked Jayaseelan who although lower rank had more years in service than him.

' Jayaseelan, what are your thoughts about this case? Who would have wanted to murder a man in such a brutal manner and then throw his body down the hill like he was garbage?'

The whine and squeal vanished from Head Constable Jayaseelan's voice and instead it was full of pride and arrogance.

' Sir, I respect you greatly for taking my advice. I am many years in this work and see many murders.'

' Good for you, Jayaseelan. Now, please share your wisdom and experience with me so that I can solve it quickly and close the case.'

' Sir, in my opinion, and from my years of experience, I think this man was murdered by someone he knew and someone close to him. So, it must have been about money or love.'

Inspector Sargunam nodded and looked seriously at the others and then spoke into his satellite phone, ' So, what should we do now?'

' Arrest everyone from his family and beat the S..t out of them and keep beating them until one of them confesses to the crime.'

Guna frowned on hearing these ruthless words and said, ' But, beating them and torturing them is wrong. Okay, we do that. But what if one of them confesses to the crime even though he or she is innocent? What if a person confesses unable to bear the pain of our torture and beatings?'

Head Constable Jayaseelan's voice was clearly sarcastic in its tone, ' Sir, how does it matter to us, sir? Our purpose and duty are to close the case successfully and hand over the accused to the legal system. It becomes their headache.'

' Fantastic work and great detective work, Jayaseelan.'

' Thank you, sir. I have more sir. Lots of experience. I help you to get a promotion and maybe you help me to get one too.'

A few silent moments later, Head constable Jayaseelan asked in a pleading and pleasing voice, ' Sir, shall I proceed up to Kodai town and start arresting this man's family members?'

' No, Jayaseelan. I want you to proceed and climb the tree and wait for me on top of the tree. I will be there shortly. Over and out.'

Then he quickly added, ' Jayaseelan, I want you to send me a selfie of you sitting near the body immediately. Considering your body, ten minutes should be enough. Even for one such as you who is so badly out of shape. Over and out and don't you dare call me again. OUT.'

Sargunam took in deep breaths and then apologized to Partha and Daksha.

' I am sorry but sometimes people like fat F..k just ruin it for me. The Bas.ard refuses to take VRS and then there is his caste and other sick connections. Half of the Police department is filled with these kinds of useless pigs and all they ever do is tarnish the good we do in spite of the varnishing these useless scum do with their barbarian and sick tactics.'

Daksha in a polite voice asked him if it was okay to speak about the case.

' Sure ma'am.'

' Guna, What was wrong in Jayaseelan's train of thought about the headless body?'

Avan, Aval Adhu 303

There was no hesitation in Inspector Sargunam's answer to Daksha's question as to what was wrong in Head constable Jayaseelan's train of thought and after taking a look at his watch, he looked up and said, ' Everything ma'am.'

He glanced at Partha and asked, ' Sir, why are you in Kodai and in the tea business?' and then turning to Daksha, ' What about you ma'am? Can you tell me why you live your life the way you want it ?'

Partha and Daksha both looked at each other, startled and confused by Guna's questions, and warily Daksha answered, ' I guess both of us are living our lives because we want to live it that way and are following our dreams and desires.'

Partha beamed happily, ' I might have left behind Ravi and Kumarapalayam behind when I left Madurai. But, in Kodai too, I continued to surround myself with green and nature and also married a beautiful person who is also my best friend.'

In a slightly bewildered voice, Daksha asked Guna for the reasons behind the questions that he had posed to them.

' I am sorry but I don't see the connection between your questions and the case of the headless body. Living and the dead. Those states themselves are separated by a dark and deep abyss.'

Inspector Guna's eyes shone brightly as they bored into the eyes of his passengers. ' Whether living or dead, nearly everyone, and everything is governed by a principle. Let me explain it to you by using your marriage and your love as an example so you will be able to better understand the reason why this cab driver was murdered.'

Pointing to both of them, ' You guys met up at some party thrown by common and like-minded friends. That is, Means. Both of you saw something that attracted you to each other. That is motive' pausing for a moment, he looked at Daksha, ' ma'am, you were single. A divorcee and so there was nothing to stop you from going ahead with your romance and the same applies to Parthiban sir, here. He too was single and your love finally ended in marriage.'

A casual smile still lingered but was now overshadowed by the seriousness in both his tone and in his eyes as he declared.

' If your marriage is a crime, then it happened because you had the means, motive, and opportunity to do it. In the same way, when we investigate a crime, we apply the same laws and rules that are the bedrock of all police investigations all over the world and probably all over the universe.'

Turning around, he quickly took a look at the area that they were passing, and seeing this, Constable Joseph who was driving, said, ' Another twenty to thirty minutes, sir.'

Turning sideways he continued, ' So if I apply those fundamental rules to this case of the decapitated body, I will be able to deduce instantly a lot of facts which will aid me in my investigation.'

Parthiban looked at him curiously and then uncertain if he was allowed to even ask a police officer turned and looked at Daksha who unlike him had no such uncertainties and she asked Guna in a very frank manner.

' Guna, please forgive my silly and impertinent question. But, do you have any thoughts about this murder, and by that I mean have you made any conclusions already?'

Guna aka Inspector Sargunam's smile was cryptic in nature and it somehow served to remind Partha and Daksha about somebody very familiar to them. They did not have to strain themselves to deduce the identity of who he reminded them with his way of speech and certain mannerisms. For, the man himself revealed it.

' My master constantly instilled in me that more bad came out of assumptions, preconceived notions, and forming opinions without any evidence. But, he also told me that in certain cases and individuals, the evidence is so overpowering that makes an assumption possible.'

Parthiban's eyes glistened with pride and love for his friend and his student in form of tears. In this case, the tears were emotion. Liquid oozing from the soul and not from any physical glands. I say that just to emphasize my thoughts.

Daksha eagerly patted Guna's arm and asked, ' So, is it safe to assume that you have made an assumption about this case concerning the decapacitated body?'

Guna smiled and nodded, ' Yes, ma'am ' and then before he could say more, the vehicle pulled over to the side of the hill road and Constable Joseph announced, ' Iyaa, we are here.'

Guna looked at Partha and Daksha, ' Do you want to stay here or do you want to join me while I take a look at this headless body? My assumptions will be better understood if you see the crime scene for yourself.'

Avan, Aval Adhu 305

Ravi felt his lips and tried to connect with Madhu who with her kiss and breath, had willed him back to life.

' But how did you know about me and the condition that I had voluntarily locked myself in' Ravi asked the room and the walls nearby. For, right now they were the only witnesses to her arrival and to her departure.

' But you are just walls made up of stone, cement, and wood. Maybe you see and sense everything but sadly I don't speak your language. So, you are of no use to me.'

He wanted to scream in joy and announce Madhu's return to him but at the same time, he wanted to rip his heart open for he knew that she was a married woman and belonged to someone else.

Burying his face in his large, powerful palms, he cursed his fate and life and complained loudly. ' If you were not going to stay then why did you come back and release me from my own prison? At least there I would have been in the dark with you in my dreams.'

Suddenly sensing something, he looked up and saw an old man standing there with a smile on his face.

Ravi looked at the old man with surprise and slowly got up to his feet and stared at him for a few moments in total disbelief. Then he slowly sank to his knees and placing his head on the old man's feet whispered, ' Guruve Saranam.'

The old man gently lifted Ravi up and both stood looking at each other.

' Master, I was told that you....'

' Died and that too twenty years ago. It is true that your old master Kesavan Varma is no more for now I am just an old man named Ananthan Namboodari.'

Totally perplexed and yet to recover from the shock of seeing his supposedly dead master once more, Ravi whispered, ' I was there. You knew that and yet you did not reach out to me.'

Anandhan Namboodari who once had been the world-famous Kesavan Varma, a master in ancient fighting arts smiled sadly, ' No. The situation in our Gurukulam became unbearable. My two sons tried to kill each other and even tried to kill me. Realizing that it was time for me to leave, I faked my own death and left Kottayam.'

Gripping Ravi's shoulders, he stared into his student's eyes and said, ' Ravi, my child, you, your life is my legacy, and in you and around you is my Gurukulam.'

His eyes became moist in emotion and he looked at Ravi, ' Hundreds of people. I saw all of them standing outside these hospital gates praying for you. I saw kids, teenagers, and dozens of adults who studied under you braving hunger and cold and anxiously waiting to hear about you.'

Remembering something, he hurriedly said, ' Child, let me and let our bond remain a secret. Now and forever. You have your hands full with powerful enemies ' and pointing to the bandaged wound on his chest, ' That poison would have killed an elephant. Yet, you survived using the knowledge that I passed on to you.'

He turned and quickly looked at the entrance of the ICU and catching sight of Rasaathi Ammal in the corridor turned to Ravi and said, ' Your mother is here. I think you know what to do.'

Then his old but powerful eyes flared like bolts of lightning as he said, ' Don't search for me, and don't come looking for me. It will put me and you in grave danger. One more thing, I sense something in this hospital. A presence and who or what it is and what its purpose could be is beyond my knowledge and reach. So, stay alert until you leave this place.'

' But master.'

' Ravi. I could have used the Sanjeevani mudra to bring you back. But since you had used it for a specific purpose, I decided to wait and watch before intervening.'

A smile spread like a rainbow on his face and he said, ' You know and I know the reason why you slipped into your mind cage.'

Ravi's eyes opened wide, ' So, she did come for me. I did not dream it.'

' No. You did not dream it. But, she is gone now.'

A swooshing noise reached their ears and opening the ICU doors, Rasaathi Ammal came in and with a loud gasp of shock looked at Ravi's master Kesavan Varma aka Ananthan Namboodari, and said, ' I went around the whole hospital searching for you and here you are.'

Looking at Ravi, ' Iyaa, this is that old man who was here a few hours ago and who spun a tall tale and had us all going gaga over him.'

Turning to the old man, she glared at him and said, ' My son woke up all by himself. Nobody came to help him like you said they would.'

Turning to Ravi, ' He had us all believing that he is 104 years old. Look at him for it is obvious that he must be somewhere between 75 and 80 years old. What lies.'

The old man's eyes twinkled and folding his hands, ' I will take leave of both of you now ' and was about to turn away and leave when Ravi called out to him and said, ' You might be just 75 or 80 years old. That still makes you older than me and my mother. Please, can you do me a small favor before leaving us?'

' I will do anything that you want of me, child. Just ask it and it is yours.'

' Please bless me and my mother before leaving us. My mother is here. All I need now are the blessings of a Pitha, Guru, and Deivam. You sir look old enough to do all that for me.'

Ravi's master smiled happily, ' I can do that. I wish I could do more than that to a student who is now a Master himself.'

Coming closer to both of them, he placed his hand on Ravi's head and chanted his blessing, " Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu."

Avan, Aval Adhu 306

She stood quietly, watching her son interact with the strange old man, and even flashed him the cursory smile that one, reserves for total strangers. She stood staring without any thought even while he blessed Ravi and then without any hesitation turned and blessed her too. It was only then and in that moment of close proximity that Rasaathi Ammal saw into the old man's eyes. They seemed so full of joy and radiating a strange aura that it made her wonder about the man's age.

She heard him say, ' Your son is a blessing and so are you, Mother of our master ' and then just like that he turned and walked out of the ICU. Seeing his master leave was painful but not as painful as it had been when he had left the Gurukulam in Kottayam.

Ravi closed his eyes and remembered his master's words. ' Child, coming, going, being are all parts of life. Different entrances, exits, and stages. But they matter very little in the overall picture of God's creation. What decides your karma is what you do with the little time that has been given to you?'

Hugging him like a father and mother, he had whispered, ' What matters is the light that you carry inside you, Ravi? Protect it, nurture it, cherish it, and shine on it so others can see from the darkness they are in. You are not leaving me and I am not leaving you.'

Placing his hand on Ravi's heart, ' We are one now. You are not a student anymore. You are a teacher. A master ready to lead. So go in peace and leave in the knowledge that I travel with you wherever you go for I am in your heart and I am in your soul.'

Hearing his mother say his name, he slipped out of the past and looked at her, ' Amma, what is it?'

Rasaathi Ammal looked at him with frustration, ' Is there something you are not telling me? Who was that old man? Why do I get the feeling that you know him from somewhere else?'

Ravi never lied. The times when he did lie it was more to protect the person who had asked him something or had confronted him with some painful truth about themselves. But when it came to his mother, Ravi did even lesser than what he usually did and would just smile and look away with a dramatic shake of his head.

But this time he knew he was not going to get away so easily with just a smile and a shake of his head and resignedly looked at her.

' I just asked you three questions, and all I get in return is that Buddha looks of yours, and I know what that look means, Headmaster Ravi Kumar.'

' You know. So, you understand. Anything else.'

Rasaathi Ammal was human, mortal, and all. Yet, living with Ravi had changed everything. That change had come from the time he had been eight or nine years old. His calm demeanor had been addictive and she had imbibed all that and more from him.

But here she stood glaring at him, all motherly and all too human and a normal one at that.

' Why do you keep shutting me away, Ravi? Why don't you share your thoughts and feelings with me, your mother? It's been only the two of us all these years. I have nobody else but you and yet, at times, like you are doing right now, you push me away. It makes me worry about you, and I wonder what is going on in that head of yours?'

Ravi's smile was neither a happy one nor a sad one Rasaathi Ammal observed and only one word came to her mind that was best suited to describe his smile. Cryptic. Mysterious.

' Mother, could you please tell me how many students are enrolled in our school? ' Ravi asked her and stumped by this sudden and unexpected question, Rasaathi Ammal's only comeback was to grunt, groan and complain and eventually reply that she was not sure of the exact number and knew it only approximately.

' Okay, amma. You hardly visit the school. So, I will ask you a question concerning something that you are more familiar with and that you interact with on a daily basis.'

If Rasaathi Ammal had hoped to do better than the question concerning the school her hopes were squashed by the question.

' Amma, this question is about our own house. So, you should be able to answer it easily.'

' Okay, ask away.'

' How many varieties of plants are there in our garden?'

Rasaathi Ammal's face lost its luster as she spoke, ' I am your mother and yet here you are playing your mental games with me.'

Ravi looked at her and nodded sadly and then raised his arm and beckoned her to come and sit closer to him.

Once she had sat down, he took her hands and kissed them and looked at her and said, ' I am because of you. I exist because of you. But, there are certain times when other things, other souls take priority and need protection and watching over.'

Ravi gently kissed both her open palms and asked her softly, ' What am I doing in the ICU, mother?'

For a change, the mother did what her son usually did and looked at him stonily and waited.

' I don't want to come back here. Not anytime soon. I also don't want anybody else to come here after being attacked by dangerous people. These are dangerous times right now, mother.'

Rasaathi ammal frowned and said, ' But, Dharmalingam ..' and stopped seeing Ravi's eyes.

' Mother, I know who are and who are not on my side. But, there is a whole lot more going on here that I don't know as of this moment. So, be patient and importantly remain calm and trust no one. Not until we are back home and back among our own people.'

' You are scaring me. Why is this happening to us, Ravi? '

' Because of one person ' Ravi said in a sad and bitter voice and Rasaathi Ammal realizing who he was talking about, cursed bitterly, ' That girl loved you more than she loved herself or anything else. Yet she continues to torment and haunt us. I don't understand this madness.'

Ravi smiled and said, ' It is her love, that madness that is the reason behind all of our sufferings, mother.'

' But why Ravi, why does she persist with this obsession after all that has happened in both our family's lives? She is nearly into her middle age, married, and a mother to a son who is himself an adult now. '

Rasaathi Ammal stated emphatically, ' This is not love. This is a sickness of the mind. This is pure evil and borders on madness.'

' You are absolutely correct in stating that. But..' he paused and looked at her and whispered in a sad voice, ' If her love for me is an obsession, a madness that endures even now in her middle age, what about the love that I have carried for Madhu. How would you describe it and with what words?'

Mother looked at her son and he looked back and said, ' Amma, we are all evil, sick, and mad in our own ways. We are all broken in our own unique ways. Maybe, there will come a day when science proves that DNA is not unique to a person and that two or more people can have the same genetic material. But, love and the evil, madness, and sickness that it brings is unique to each individual.'

Rasaathi Ammal looked at him woefully and lamented, ' so, what now? I am sure you have already worked out a plan in that brilliant mind of yours.'

' Yes, I do. But before we execute it, I am going to give it one last shot.'

' Give what one last shot.'

' To peace, mother. I am going to meet Meenakshi and see if I can reach out to her heart and appeal to her kindness. The one I knew and all of us knew as Meena Kutty and Meena Chellam.'

Then he smiled happily and she smiled back for her son's smile always did that to her. It wiped away all her sadness and gave her wings to fly.

' Amma, do me a favor please, go and find a policeman for me.'

'Policeman, for what?'

' Amma, what's with you and your thousand questions?'

Rasaathi Ammal glared at him, ' When you become a parent, not just a dad but a mother, you will understand the reason behind my questions. For, they are not just questions, but worries, and heartaches about my only son who also happens to be my one and only true friend in this sad world.'

Avan, Aval Adhu 307

Parthiban and Daksha got out of the police vehicle and stood watching Inspector Sargunam slowly walk around the area that eventually led down to the edge of the hill. Partha realizing something excitedly looked at Daksha through the window on his side and catching her attention, asked her to do the same thing what he was doing. When her head too was jutting into the vehicle like his, he looked at her enthusiastically and said, ' You realize what Guna is doing out there?'

Ducks looked at him and then throwing a glance through the glass at Guna who was looking at the ground, she turned back and said, ' I think he is looking for some proof, evidence of the crime.'

' Yes. But it is called walking the crime scene, dummy. Have you forgotten all that CSI and countless other police proceduaral shows that we watched together?'

Daksha made a funny face and holding her ear lobes, ' I am sorry sweetie but I have a confession to make. I hate cop and crime shows and more than them I hate all those fantasy shows that you force me to watch with you, again and again.'

Partha's face went pale in shock and he muttered, ' By fantasy you mean, the lord of rings and game of thrones kind of shows?'

Daksha smiled or appeared to smile appeasingly and Partha grabbed her hand and asked, ' Then, how? you sat by my side and watched all those hundreds of shows. How did you manage to do that?'

' I was fast asleep and you were kind of slightly sozzled to notice that. Sometimes when you yelled out, I too yelled out in my sleep and had you believing that I was giving you company.'

Parthiban glared at her and said, ' But, I did not do that. I did not sleep through all the ROM-COM shows that you forced me to watch like that silly Friends, sex and the city, Alli mcbeal and yes that sick, syrupy S..t called When calls the heart.'

He looked at her and said, " Brutus."

Then a loud cracking noise split the air like a gun shot and both of them hurriedly turned and saw Guna run towards the edge of the hill and look down. Then using his left hand he beckoned urgently to come and join him.

Partha whispered something to Daksha and she nodded and Guna stood watching them skirt the area where he had been on walking on and giving it a wide berth, approached him from a different side.

Guna smiled approvingly and thought, ' So, all those cheesy Hollywood shows are worth something after all.'

Partha and Daksha joined him and Guna pointed down and said, ' Take a peek and see for yourself.'

Both of them looked down the gentle slope of the hill that was covered with tea shrubs and trees that stood like towers among them and around them.

The tree that caught their attention was just twenty or twenty five feet away beneath them and it stood injured and lay on the ground with huge man dressed in kakhi uniform beneath it.

Daksha began to giggle uncontrollably and looked at Guna, ' Jayaseelan, I guess.'

Guna nodded, ' You guessed right, ma'am but the answer was obvious. So, no points' he said with a smiled and taking out his phone shot several pics in wide and in close-up.'

Parthiban observed loudly, ' Guna, I am sorry boss. That is not a human being but a small whale masquerading as a cop in uniform.'

Guna nodded and looked at them and said, ' I know but he was not like this when he joined the force. He was trimmer than me and people call me skinny and lean.'

' So, how, what has led to this condition? Is he suffering from some hormonal problem or maybe he has inherited an obese gene from his family.'

Inspector Sargunam's face went dark and serious as he growled his answer to Daksha's question.

' The answer is no to both those conditions, ma'am. If indeed that were the reason then I would empathize with them and not take them to task. There are quite a few in our department who suffer from a thyroid situation and obese genes. But they are only a few and the correct answer lies in two reasons that plagues Jayaseelan as it plagues many in our police department.'

He sighed and then looked down and catching sight of a pebble that lay in the reach of his left foot, playfully kicked it a few feet from him and again it reminded both of them of Guna's master, their friend Ravi and his mannerisms.

' The two reasons are Gluttony and Laziness.'

Slowly raising his head, he looked at them, ' I have no problems if a civilian indulges in his need and greed but I cannot tolerate it when it comes to my department. But, then, I am just a lowly ranked Inspector and there is only so much I can do with my posting. For there is a limit to my display and enforcement of rules and if I cross it I will be transferred to some god forsaken place.'

Shaking his head ruefully, ' and then you have everyone's caste and the power that it bestows on them which runs riot from top to bottom of my department and all through the state Government machinery.'

Then with a loud crackle his satellite phone came alive and Inspector Sargunam answered it.

' Sir, Sub-Inspector Kalimuthu speaking. Over.'

' Yes, Kali. Sollunga. Over.'

' Sir, Mr. Ravi Kumar is awake now and fully conscious. Over.'

All three of them heard the words, felt the words in their hearts and all three of them could not help but shed tears as the full meaning revealed itself.

Guna fell to his knees with his hands folded, ' Thank you God. Thank you. I knew you only through my master and again, just when I was about to turn my back on you, you have proven to me that you do exist and that you do listen to our prayers regardless of them being in anger and in betrayal.'

Then like two angels with their wings wide open, Daksha and partha sat by his side and enveloped him with their arms and with their relief.

' Sir, Inspector sir, Iyaa.'

Guna wiping his tears spoke into the satellite phone in a choked voice, ' What is it SI?'

' Sir, Ravi sir wants to talk to you and also talk to his friends.'

' Talk. He wants to talk to us. You mean he is already talking.'

' Iyaa, he is not just talking but is fully dressed and looks ready and fit enough to run back to his village.'

https://youtu.be/oe6k4Y7oxIk