From & To Sathish #5 - Page 93

Avan, Aval Adhu 308

Birds of a feather flock together is an English proverb. Yes, it's obvious that birds of the same breed will stay and flock among each other. For it would be foolish and folly to think that birds that have different food habits will come together. Simply put, Eagles don't flock with pigeons.

We humans flock together too and by stating that I am not inferring to the obvious examples such as civilizations, towns, cities, and nations. I am talking about that gravity that invisibly draws like-minded people to each other.

The immediate reasons for humans to band together as one flock would be vested interests and ties that bind, in blood and bone. But what about those who come together, pulled together for reasons that are based purely on light, and love, and who rally to arms against evil and darkness? What do you call them?

Inspector Sargunam's face reflected his incomprehension and he looked at Partha and Daksha and then whispered into the satellite phone, ' You mean he is awake and fully conscious? Are you telling me that my Master is back to his true self and can walk and talk?'

' He is telling you just that and yes, I can walk and talk Guna and I am as I was.'

The deep voice of Ravi Kumar's instantly filled the vacuum, the emptiness that had taken root in all their hearts when he had fallen and served to banish the darkness and fatigue that had been plaguing them from last night.

' Master, Master, a miracle. You are a miracle. I don't know what to say or how to say it, master.'

Parthiban unable to control himself grabbed the satellite phone from Guna's hand and yelled into it. ' Dei, Ravi. It's you, right? But how da? How is this possible?'

Daksha unable to take it any longer grabbed the satellite phone from Partha and screamed happily, ' I don't know what miracle it is or which God made this possible. But, I am grateful that it has happened.'

The high of hearing the news was like a drug, a timely fix for the craving addict, and once its effect is over the high crashlands to a low and the same happened to Daksha and the others.

She began to sob uncontrollably and her mumbles were incoherent to all of them including her and yet Ravi said nothing and remained quiet and let the pent-up flood of emotions run its course.

Why do we cry and why do we become so overwrought with emotions? Why do we break down in great joy and great sorrow?

Ravi's deep voice filled their world and their minds and secretly each of them felt the same thing and in the same way. They all felt the dried-up pond of their souls slowly filling to the brim with the return of their favorite person.'

' Guna, the Sub-Inspector informed me that you are in the hills and that you are last stop will be at Whispering Rocks.'

' Yes, master. We have to bring the bodies back for an autopsy and also search for those two men who fled the scene. I have my doubts about nabbing them for I am sure they must have somehow made their way back by now to Madurai or whichever hole they crawled out from.'

Ravi's voice was clear and precise in its intent, ' Partha, Daksha, I am getting discharged in a few hours and will be sent home. I think my body and mind will recuperate faster once I am back on familiar grounds. Anyway, it is just a simple stab wound and there is nothing to it. They have stitched it up and am all patched up and ready to leave. Just waiting for my uncle Dharmalingam to arrive for he is insisting that I travel in his car.'

Then Ravi asked Guna, ' Inspector Sargunam, it is okay if I get myself discharged and return home.'

' Master, please, just call me Guna.'

' Guna, You are the head of this Investigation. So, there are certain protocols that have to be followed.'

' I agree master. But, why now? We are among friends and family here.'

' Thank you, Guna.'

Then all three of them heard, felt, and read his thoughts as he spoke in a slightly different tone, ' Please don't misunderstand me for what I am about to request from you. This situation is not going to be easy and somehow my instinct tells me that the worst is yet to come. Don't ask me why I am feeling that for I myself have no clue.'

They heard him sigh sadly and then he spoke again, ' Guna, Inspector Sargunam, I want you to promise me that you will follow my advice and fulfill my wish.'

' Master, you are everything to me. Whatever I am today is because of you. Ask of me anything master and I will do it and make you proud of me.'

' Guna, I have always been proud of you and the way you have lived your life. Honestly and with the utmost discipline.'

Clearing his throat, ' Guna, this case is going to place heavy demands on you and your integrity. People from all sides will beg, threaten, and will do their best to place stumbling blocks in your investigation. Maybe, people, even those who you respect and owe a lot will request you to botch the investigation and close it by making false arrests with false evidence.'

His tone changed as it suddenly growled intensely, ' Don't falter and don't give up until you have brought everyone involved in this case before the law. Go boldly where this case will take you and finish it.'

' Master. But..'

' No, if's and but's, Guna. You keep asking me if I need your help or if there is anything you can do for me. So, do this. Do what I am asking of you. It is a request and at the same time, an order to my favorite student.

Then he spoke to Partha and Daksha and told them that in case they were coming back, they were free to come and stay with him in Kumarapalayam.

The satellite phone fell silent and yet all three kept staring at it hoping to hear Ravi say more about what was going on in his head.

Avan, Aval Adhu 309

Guna looked at Parthiban and Daksha who tried their best to look at each other and everywhere else but him and asked them if they had any clue to what Ravi had been alluding to.

He looked at them with a sad and disconcerted look and asked, 'Does my master doubt my honesty? Does he not know how much I love him and that there is nothing I would not do for him or sacrifice for him?'

Daksha laid a maternal hand on his shoulder and said, ' That is exactly the reason why he said what he said. He knows there is nothing you would not do for him. Hence, his usage of the word's request and order in the same sentence and in the same vein.'

She looked at him sadly, ' Once this case comes out, and it is going to eventually, for there is no way such evil can be covered up. Then all your trials and tribulations will start and there will be no place to run and hide or cover-up. You will stand all alone and at the head of this investigation.'

Parthiban smiling sadly and with an introspective look on his face said, ' Guna, it is not what your master told you that you should be thinking about. But what he did not.'

In an earnest voice, Partha warned Guna, ' I know you are a cop and all that. But, this case will ripple away to all dark corners and corridors and ricochet and strike back hard and with grave consequences. So, it is better to have your eyes looking both in the front and in the back and if possible all around.'

Inspector Sargunam thanked Parthiban and Daksha. ' I think it will all turn out okay in the end. Things usually do.'

He peered over the edge and looked down below and yelled, ' Jayaseelan, take some rest and guard the body for a few more hours. I am going up to Whispering Rocks.'

Head constable Jayaseelan yelled from down below, ' Saar, no saar. Body here. We go make arrests and close this case by afternoon. Job over sir.'

Parthiban looked at him with surprise, ' Guna, you have a decapacitated body and a crime scene and you want to leave now?'

' Exactly, Parthiban sir. This crime scene can wait for there is nothing to be found here and moreover, the dead man is not going to speak ' and pointing to the hills above them, ' The answer lies up there and if my assumption is correct, then we will find our proof and connection to this man at the entrance of your resort.'

A light blinked weakly and then gathering strength powered up and Partha yelled excitedly, ' You are correct ' and then slapping his head with his own hand cursed himself, ' I am such a Dodo.'

He looked at Guna, ' Please, tell me how you arrived at your conclusions about this murder.'

Daksha's advocate instincts were piqued and she too requested Guna to explain to them his thoughts about the crime scene and what led to the murder of the cab driver who now lay down the slope in two pieces.

' Guna, the main reason I am not too keen on watching crime scene shows with Partha is that I don't have the stomach for grisly and morbid stuff. But my legal brain is always curious to know the whys, hows, and whats about criminal and murder cases. So, please, expand on what you were telling us while coming here and expound in detail as to what you are thinking.'

Inspector Sargunam nodded and then quickly whispered into his satellite phone. ' Both of you proceed to the resort and I will follow you in a few minutes' time. The moment you reach Whispering rocks, throw a security perimeter around the place and let no one enter without informing me. Understood.'

The two Sub Inspectors who had been assigned to him from the Madurai crime branch replied that they did and the two convoys that had been accompanying them left without further ado.

Pointing to the edge of the road with his finger, ' It drizzled very slightly last night. You can see that from the tracks left behind by a four-wheeler that entered this empty space as it turned up and came to a halt here.'

Then pointing to the tracks, ' Look here, and see how deep the tracks are here and they are of the same depth until they reach the road ' and then without another word ' Guna ran to the edge of the road and Partha and Daksha saw him standing watching the road leading up towards Kodai.

Partha and Daksha joining him asked him what he was looking at and Guna pointed to black tire marks running away from them.

' Sometime late last night, a cab driver pulls over here to answer nature's call. But he is murdered by someone and is thrown over the edge and falls down the slope. The accused then gets into the vehicle and takes off towards Kodai.'

He looked at them, his eyes seething with anger, and said, ' These are dangerous people. At least, I am sure that the one who murdered the poor cab driver is a bonafide killer. He has killed before and God only knows how many lives he has taken and how many families he has destroyed with his actions.'

Daksha looked at him confusedly and asked, ' Guna, why can't this man have been murdered by someone he knew? A passenger probably or by someone close to him.'

' No, ma'am. When a person is killed by someone he knows or is murdered by a family member, it is usually because of some existing problem between the killer and the dead. In those kinds of murders, the killer always stabs, pokes, and slices away at his victim and does that out of rage. The dead man's body does not have any wounds of that kind and there are also no defensive wounds on his arms and fingers which would have surely been present for he would have put some semblance of a fight before dying.'

Pointing to the tracks left behind by a vehicle, ' The cab driver pulls over here and is going about his bladder business and is surprised and turns around and is murdered. The killer and his men then quickly throw the body and the head over the edge and get into the vehicle and then proceed towards your resort.

The driver unaware of the weak clutch of the car stepped heavily on the accelerator pedal over-enthusiastically and that is why the wheels have spun all the way up onto the road and a few feet up the hill.'

He looked at them, ' The owner of the car would not have done it ' and pointed to the tracks of the vehicle, ' See how smoothly he has entered this sandy wet spot off the road for obvious reasons. But he has not done that while leaving. Why? What was the hurry? Nothing.'

Taking a deep breath, he held it for a second in contemplation and exhaling his pent-up anger, continued, ' Motive, means and opportunity. The killer's motive was to reach Whispering rocks but their journey was cut short by the landslide. They then walked up the hill and seeing an opportunity present itself, ambushed this driver and murdered him for they had the means to do that.'

Both their hands began to clap unconsciously and once they realized that they were clapping, Partha yelled, ' Wow! Simply wow, Guna! ' and Daksha gazing with total admiration, ' That was a masterclass. Simple and yet so neatly and beautifully done. Bravo, Inspector Sargunam.'

Partha then did something surprising that left both Daksha and Guna speechless.

Partha removed a silver chain that held a small dollar with Lord Muruga in it and placed it around Guna's neck.

When Guna tried to protest, Partha smiled and said, ' Please, accept this gift from me and my wife. It is just a small token of affection from us and from your master.'

Guna looked at the locket and gently examined it, ' from my master? How can that be, Parthiban sir?'

Daksha stared at her husband proudly and threw an arm around his waist, ' because that was a gift given to him by Ravi a long time ago. It's supposedly a talisman and is said to bring good luck to the one who wears it.'

Guna shook his head, ' I cannot, how can I take such a precious gift from you, Parthiban sir? This was gifted to you by master sir. It belongs to you.'

' Correct. It belongs to me and so, I can do what I want with it and gift it to whoever I want to.'

' Keep it Guna and wear it for who knows there will come a time when you might need its protection ' Daksha told him and Guna humbly thanked both of them and replied, ' It is my master's gift and I have always believed that a student benefits and is protected by his teacher's blessings and good wishes. That is enough for me.'

Then they all quietly walked back and got into the vehicle which started up and drove quickly up towards Whispering Rocks.

DON'T DIE WITH YOUR DEAD.

Did you know that when you cry for your dead, you cry for you and not them?

You cry because you “lost them”, because you don’t HAVE THEM by your side. You think it all ends in death. And you think they are NOT anymore.

So if your dead are gone, where are they?.

Yes they have left, or they are now in another place, Is that place better than this?.

Yes, definitely that place is better than this; so Why do you suffer for their departure?.

When you have finished accepting that they are no longer "NOT here", but they are still in another place even better than this, for there where they are no longer sick, or suffering.

Then you'll stop mourning them and you'll get them back in memory so they keep accompanying you with the joy of all that you've lived.

If you truly loved them LOVE them AGAIN and this time with greater strength, with greater purity, with greater delivery.

Today, there will be no more reproach of any kind.Only LOVE, will be the essence between you, between us, between them. I respect your pain, and the way you express it. I know you cry and you will cry without comfort.

But .. Today I say to you: Don't die with your dead.

Remember we are only seeing one side of the coin.We are not looking the other way; we are not seeing the wonderful place of light where they stand.

What if we start seeing “death” as a Second Birth? Second Birth we ALL will go through.

Don't die with your dead, honor them by living your life as they would have wanted you to, let them transcend. And you keep living.

- Author Unknown

Avan, Aval Adhu 310

“There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.”

Ravi sat on the bed with his back erect and with his hands clasped and resting on his thighs. His eyes were clear and without doubt, for his mind was clear about what he was going to do or what he had to do.

' Ravi, Iyaa. Are you sure you want to go ahead with this plan of yours to meet Meenakshi? ' Rasaathi Ammal enquired and he answered silently with an imperceptible nod and then looked up at her.

' Amma, I have to try. I have to try and talk some sense into her.'

' Ridiculous idea. Nai vaala nimutha mudiyuma. Mudiyuma ( It is impossible to straighten a dog's tail ). You are just going to waste your time and energy by going to meet her.'

Ravi looked at her, ' It's only time and energy amma.'

' Ravi, use your brains and think logically and wisely.'

Then she quickly pulled a chair that was against the wall, and placing it in front of Ravi, plonked herself in it, and glared at him. ' Have you given any thought as to what her reactions might be when she sees you? What if you end up antagonizing her instead of placating her and what do we do if her fury increases and breaks its present boundaries?'

Ravi looked at her and after contemplating whether to tell her all that was in his head or not, slowly turned away and mumbled sadly, ' I have no options left. I wish I could tell you more but I am unable to do so.'

Rasaathi Ammal smiled, ' Is it just unable or do you consider me unfit and unqualified to understand your thoughts?'

Ravi smiled and looked at her and Rasaathi Ammal's face instantly revealed the guilt and shame that she felt for hurting her already wounded and hurting son.

But, he spoke before she could and spoke what she had been about to speak.

' There is no need to apologize, amma. You and I are one. You and I are not only family but best friends and we share so much. But....yet we inhabit different bodies and different souls. So, it is the norm, and rightly so for you to disagree with my thoughts and feel displeased with my planned course of action.'

Taking her hands in his, he kissed her palms and looked at her and begged, ' Let me give it one last try. I don't know why I feel so, but I owe her this amma. Don't ask me to explain myself and the reason for me saying this but it has to be done before it becomes too late.'

' Owe. You owe her. What do you owe her, Ravi? How can you say that you owe her after all the havoc she has created in all our lives and is still doing that to this day ?' and looking at him with frustration, ' Too late. What else is there for that monster to destroy? You, my only son, have been living a solitary life of self-imposed confinement for more than 25 years, and yet here you are proposing a meeting with her.'

Her face turned dark with rage and her voice was cold and deadly in its curse, ' She is the one who owes us our lives. Your life. All these miserable years that you have spent living with a ghost and it has made you a ghost yourself.'

The door opened and a tired and worried-looking Dharmalinga Thevar walked in and stopped after taking in the dressed and ready to leave Ravi sitting on the bed and said, ' I am no doctor and my knowledge about hospitals and medicine is very limited. But, even I know that a person who was critically wounded and poisoned stays put in the hospital for a minimum of a week or more until he is recovered and the doctors tell discharge him.'

Sitting next to Ravi, ' and here you are all dressed and ready to leave and my guess is that you would have left already if you had known I would not be coming to visit you.'

Rasaathi Ammal frantically waved her hands and getting her brother's attention, yelled ' Aiyo, Dharma. The problem here is not about him getting discharged and going home.'

Dharmalinga Thevar blinked several times and stared at Rasaathi Ammal and then looked at Ravi vaguely and realizing that mother and son had been arguing about something, politely observed, ' If Ravi going home is not a problem then I guess there is nothing else to worry about.'

Rasaathi Ammal looked like either she was going to suffer a seizure or seize somebody and bang their heads against the wall until......well...' and Dharmalinga Thevar hurriedly tried to placate and but ended up using the wrong words and ended up aggravating her even further.

' Its okay, Rasaathi. Recuperating at one's home is good. He will recover faster in that familiar ambiance and he also has his garden for company.'

' Dharma ' she screamed loudly and that did the trick for Dharmalingam hurriedly looked at her and asked her what was going on and what had upset her so badly.

' He is going to meet her. Meenakshi. Your Meenakshi and he plans to meet her as early as possible.'

Not saying a word, Dharmalingam slowly rose to his feet and then proceeded to walk and pace for a few moments lost in his thoughts. Then he slowly turned and facing both sister and nephew said, ' Maybe something good will come out of this meeting.'

Rasaathi Ammal's anger finally crested over the brim and boiled over. Ravi grabbed her hand and tried to restrain his mother as she got up but Rasaathi Ammal flung it away and stared at her first cousin Dharmalinga Thevar and yelled and vented her heart out.

' Brother, you happen to be one of the most powerful and influential men in Madurai and your name and fame stretch far and wide and everyone respects you and listens to you. Everyone but for one. That one person happens to be your daughter.'

Dharmalinga Thevar had no answer and Ravi noticed how his uncle's usual larger-than-life persona had vanished, and instead, he saw a weak and frail old man who looked lost and at his wit's end.

Turning to her son, ' Ravi, the person you so desperately want to meet and broker peace came here. Into this ICU and do you know what happened? Do you want to know what happened?'

Pointing to Dharmalinga Thevar, ' She threatened him. She threatened her own father standing right here. If she has the guts and will to do that, to her father who all fear and respect, you think she will listen to you and to your appeals.'

Ravi got up from the bed and slowly walked towards his uncle and looked into his eyes and felt his thoughts.

He saw how scared and worried his uncle was and how lost and lonely he was feeling and did what came naturally to him.

He hugged his uncle with fierce emotion and Dharmalinga Thevar's false composure finally cracked and shattered as he broke down and began to cry like a small boy on Ravi's shoulder.

' I don't what to do, Ravi. She is too far gone for me to reach out and pull her back from the mad world she is living in. I feel ashamed and sorry for having brought such a monster into this world. I wish she was gone. I wish she had died instead of my son.

Avan, Aval Adhu 311

We all live under the same sky, but we don't all have the same horizon.

' To wish for the death of one's own child is not only painful but one of the harshest punishments that a parent has to endure. But, I seem to be doing that more often these days.'

With slumped shoulders and with eyes that had no life and looked dim and lost, Dharmalingam looked sadly at him and asked, ' I, her own father have washed my hands off her, and yet here you are wanting to reach out to her. What do you hope to achieve by meeting Meenakshi?'

Ravi looked at him and said in a reluctant voice, ' I don't know the why's and the wants behind this thought. But, trust me, I am as worried and desperate as both of you are and if nothing is done about it, then it will be too late.'

' Too late for what, Ravi ' Dharmalinga Thevar asked and all he got was a cautious look from Ravi.

Rasaathi Ammal's voice was drained and weak when she spoke her mind. But, the words and the questions she formed through them were not.

' Why? Why now? Why do you want to go and meet her after all these years? What is the necessity for that? What has changed suddenly?'

Ravi's silence was enough proof that he was withholding something from both of them and this only made his uncle Dharmalingam urge him not to go and meet with Meenakshi.

' She is not sane and has not been sane since the time you refused to marry her. The Meenakshi that you knew and grew up with is dead and gone. Something else has taken up house in her soul and it is evil. It is similar to a person dying and coming back as a ghost. An evil and vengeful ghost.'

Rasaathi Ammal raised a hand angrily and said, ' Dharma, wait, There is no point in talking about something which cannot be changed. It is futile. One does not ask why it rains or why it does not rain. Some things in nature just are and beyond our means of understanding. All one can do is take shelter when it rains and save water when one feels that the rains may fail.'

Fixing Ravi with an angry look, ' similarly, one does not put his hand knowingly and deliberately into a termite mound that houses a poisonous snake.'

Ravi looked at his mother tiredly and said, ' Believe me, I know and understand very well what both of you are saying. But, right now, I have no choice but to go and meet her.'

Rasaathi Ammal's frustration finally broke its walls. It did not spill over like boiling milk but exploded like a volcano instead.

' Ravi ' she yelled and raised her hand in anger and violence and lost it.

It took her a good few seconds to realize what she had done even though she had not done it.

She turned and stared at her raised hand as if she was seeing it for the first time in her life. In a way, she was seeing her hand for the very first time in her life. She slowly brought it close to her face and only then realized that it was her own hand and that it was the very same hand that she had raised in violence against her own son.

Ravi's face was calm and set as usual in a Buddha Mode. All of us are familiar with Buddha and are even more familiar with that gentle ghost of a smile that always is dancing on his lips. Even though his eyes " Windows to our soul " are closed in meditation his face reveals his state of mind. A state of bliss.

' Amma, here you are standing with your hand raised and ready to strike me. Strike your only son who is a grown-up adult. Why, mother?

Rasaathi Ammal stood frozen in shock and looked at Ravi who smiled and said, ' Love. It is with that same love that Meenakshi is living her life. You raised your hand to strike me down but held back in the last moment when you realized your mistake.'

He looked at her sadly and then turned to Dharmalinga Thevar, ' Meenakshi too will realize her mistake. At least I hope she does. It is with the hope that there is something good left in her heart and that I might be able to convince her to back off that I proposed to go and meet her.'

Rasaathi Ammal nodded, ' Okay, Ravi. Go, meet and do what you think is right for you but just answer this one question and then we can go home.'

Ravi sighed and smiling sadly looked at his mother and let his eyes do the talking and asked her to ask her question.

' What if she does not listen to your advice and does not back off? What then?'

' I don't know the answer to your question at this moment. But...'

Dharmalinga Thevar in a confused voice asked Ravi what he meant by stopping with that one word.

' But... what, Ravi Iyaa. Accept your fate and our fate and live in fear. I am sorry, son but I will not stand by and do nothing. I promise you this, if Meenakshi makes another mistake then it will be the last mistake of her life for she will not be alive after that. I will kill her and be done with this curse that has been the single cause of all our sufferings.'

Rasaathi Ammal shook her head and said, ' Dharma, brother. You have said and completed what my son wanted to say. But I am curious to know what my son is thinking right now and what he had been about to say.'

Her goading words did nothing to Ravi and it was like talking to a deaf person.

But Ravi was not deaf or dumb for he knew that she would know what to do and rightfully so. Every step and move would involve her and her present family.

He had suffered and would willingly suffer more for Madhu and her present family.

😇😇😇😇😇

Even *GODS* have problems..

I have been just sitting at home for the last 3 years since I retired from job... thinking of all problems……

Last week, my friend dragged me to a Satsang ...

I went reluctantly, since I had not slept well last few days ...

The Saint was really good and humorous. He broached the topic of human problems ...

He said:

We are all complaining all the time; but, even the Gods have their own set of problems .... much more than us ...

------------

When Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu were sitting together one day, Shiva was complaining to Vishnu about his problems...

Shiva said:

I have two sons Ganesh and Kartikeya .……. Ganesh sits on a mouse, Kartikeya sits on a peacock and I have a snake around my neck...

Kartikeya’s peacock eyes my snake {peacocks eat snakes} and my snake eyes Ganesha’s Mouse...

Worse is, I sit on the Bull Nandi and my wife Parvati sits on the Lion...

Now the Lion is eyeing my Nandi ...

I have so much trouble balancing these things about...

Worse still, Parvati does not like her sister Ganga to sit on my head...

Worst, it is so cold on Mount Kailash...

With all these problems and very little clothes on me, I wanted to kill myself ...

So I drank poison but, that got stuck in my throat, and I can't even die...

Vishnu after hearing all that said, your problems are nothing, listen to mine:

I have one son Kaamdev, the lord of lust...

He has created havoc in the cosmos... I am ashamed...

My wife is Laxmi... everyone prays to me, but want her to come to their house and

no one wants to let her go...

Shiva, your wife is with you; whereas mine is roaming all around the world, with no one wanting to leave her...

How would you feel, if you were in my place???

Also, my Vahaan, the vehicle of travel, is Garud, the big bird...

I have no seat belt and it’s so cold up there... One swish and I am dead...

You are sitting in one place, Kailash and, look at me I am sitting in the ocean, on the head of Sheshnag with multiple heads, and if one head goes wonky and bites me, I am dead...

-----------------------------------

I was laughing all the way, sleep disappeared, and I came to realize saintly teachings are not bad, and that I should have listened more in my younger days, but never mind...

*Yes, we all have problems...*

Each human being is having his or her own set of problems, but they have to face them and get along...

Avan, Aval Adhu 312

“Time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life.”

It is true, the above statement spoken by John Kennedy, former president of the USA although they are and will remain forever tinged with tragedy. A tragedy because JFK was murdered while still in his prime and while still in office and because his words are true.

Time does not stand still and neither does the world. But there are some smaller worlds inside our world, that exist and function on their own personal laws of time and change and continue to function beautifully.

But overall time, Universal time does not stand still and so while Mother and son were exchanging thoughts and views about their lives inside the ICU, Madhurima who was sitting in the office of the Dean Dr. Muthukumar smiled politely and said, ' Thank you for the wonderful Coffee. I am on a very tight schedule and have other places to visit. So, kindly excuse me for I have to get going.'

' Ma'am, Please stay a few more minutes for I need to talk to you in detail about some of the hospital's requirements that require the government's immediate attention.'

Madhu aka Dr. Sathya Deepak smiled politely and wondered what she would need to do to get away from the hospital since what she had come to do had been done. She did not want to linger around for she knew that there existed a possibility of someone recognizing her. Even after 25 years had passed by.

She did not have to wonder anymore for the phone on the desk rang with a shrill noise and picking it up Dean Dr. Muthukumar spoke into it.

' How is that possible? All right, All right I will be there and I will try to convince him to stay put in the ICU for a few days.'

He looked at her and said, ' Ma'am, I am really sorry but I have to go and meet a patient who is in the ICU and try and convince him not to leave.'

' ICU. But, how is that possible, Dean?' Madhu enquired politely although her heart was racing at maximum revs and her mind was spinning madly with wild and happy thoughts.

Dean of Madurai Medical College, Dr. Muthukumar stood up looking crestfallen and said, 'Miracles, ma'am. Miracles concerning a higher and mysterious power.'

Madhu stood up and after taking a quick look at all the walls of the large office space, asked the Dean, ' By higher power you mean God? But your office is devoid of such indications.'

' There is a reason for that, Ma'am. Most people adorn their houses, rooms, and office space with paraphernalia concerning God and their religion. I consider them symbols and symbolic in nature and as such belong to simple-minded people.'

He slowly walked towards the door and opening it looked at her and said, ' God is like love and very personal and I believe that all personal things belong inside a person's soul and mind.'

Raising his hand and pointing out, ' After you ma'am. Maybe, when we meet again I will tell you more in detail about this miraculous case concerning this patient Ravi Kumar.'

He did not for it was not a protocol that you need to shake hands with a woman. But he did now for she broke protocol and put out her hand and taking it shook her hand and instantly thought in his head, ' WTF, I wonder what this woman had for breakfast? Should ask her and follow the same.'

He felt that way for his hand felt like it had been placed into a meat grinder.

He hurriedly retrieved his hand before her grip turned his bones to jelly and grimaced politely, ' You must have been an athlete or something?'

Madhu smiled and said nothing and Dean Muthukumar added, ' That is some grip and power you possess ma'am for it belies your, I mean your persona. '

Smiling, he hurriedly said bye and walked, ran nursing his right hand and at the same time wondering if he should go in for an x-ray of it and see if it had any hairline fractures.

Madhurima quickly walked out of the hospital and towards the lodge where she was staying and the shadow of her bodyguard joined her shadow.

She stopped, turned slowly, looked, and asked the bodyguard that had been provided by her friends in Delhi, ' I hope you know how to drive a vehicle.'

' I do ma'am and there is a vehicle ready and on standby.'

Madhu smiled and said, ' Thank you. You and the ones who have sent you to help me are really kind and helpful people. I owe you a lot.'

The man smiled and said, ' Ma'am, this is nothing when compared to what you have done these past twenty years.'

Madhu looked at him, ' That's surprising. I thought people in your position are not privy to personal details and those that are part of the public domain.'

' Correct ma'am. But, things are a bit sketchy right now and so I was supplied with a little bit of information. I mean no offense and also, please I don't mean to sound impertinent when I say that I was busy with another subject and assignment and felt irritated when I was asked to rush here to be with you.'

Madhu shook her head in confusion, ' I am sorry but there must be dozens of people with your qualifications in and around Chennai and Madurai. So why, you, sir?'

' Ma'am, No formalities and no sir please.'

Madhurima smiled, ' Okay. So, how do I address you, mister....?'

The man smiled and waited in silence and watched Madhu sift through words and names.

His smile grew larger as she looked at him and said, ' Spartan. Apt and befitting a man of your assignment.'

She looked at him, ' Mr. Spartan. The lone agent sent to do a job that requires many men.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo6MCg8kb9I

Writer Sujata writes about love and Valentine's day

இந்த வாரம் காதலர் தினம் வருகிறது என்று சொன்னார்கள். சுமார் ஐந்நூறுக்கும் குறைவில்லாத மோசமான கவிதைகள் தமிழிலேயே எழுதப்படும். வாலண்டைன் அட்டைகளில் இதயங்களின் மேல் அம்புகள் தைக்கும். எல்லையற்ற நேரவிரயம் காத்திருத்தல்களிலும், மூத்தவர் மறுப்பிலும் நிகழும். ஓரிரு தற்கொலைகள் நடைபெறலாம்.

காதல் தேவையற்ற ஒரு எமோஷன் என்பது என் அசைக்கமுடியாத நம்பிக்கைகளுள் ஒன்று. என் வாழ்நாளில் நான் பார்த்த காதல்கள் எல்லாம்

சந்தேக கேஸ். அவை நிஜமாகவே காதல்தானா, இல்லை இன்ஃபாச்சுவேஷனா என்பதே தெளிவில்லை (ஒரே ஒரு உதாரணத்தைத் தவிர. அது பற்றி இறுதியில்).

சிறுவயதில் காதல் எங்களுக்கு ஏறக்குறைய கெட்ட வார்த்தையாகத்தான் இருந்தது. அந்தக் காலத்தில் அரு.ராமநாதனின் 'காதல்' பத்திரிகையில் சீனிவாசனின் கதை வந்தபோது எல்லோரும் அவனை ஒரு மாதிரி நாய் கொண்டுவந்த வஸ்துவைப் போலப் பார்த்தோம். பள்ளிக்கூடத்தில் ஏதேனும் மாணவன் பெண்களிடம் காதல் செய்தான் என்று தெரிந்தால் பிரேயர் மீட்டிங்கின்போது அவனை ஒரு மேஜை மேல் நிற்கவைத்து பிரம்பால் அடிப்பார்கள். இவ்வகையிலான அபாயகரமான சூழ்நிலையில் காதல் பற்றிப் பேசுவதற்கு அசட்டு தைரியம் தேவைப்பட்டது.

ஜனோபகார சாசுவத நிதியின் கேஷியர் பெண்ணுக்கு கோபாலன் ஒரு காதல் கடிதம் எழுதி அதை எங்கள் 'நாம் ஐவர்' சர்க்குலேஷன் லைப்ரரி புத்தகத்தில் வைத்து என்னிடம் கொடுத்துவிட்ட கதையை (ஸ்ரீரங்கத்து தேவதைகள் தொகுப்பில்) எழுதியிருக்கிறேன். சம்பந்தப்பட்ட தகப்பனார் அதைக் கண்டுபிடித்து "இனிமே மாதிரி கடுதாசி எழுதினா முட்டியைப் பேத்துருவேன்" என்று அதட்டியதும் "சரி மாமா" என்று அக்காதல் அக்கணமே கைவிடப்பட்டு கோபாலன் தெருவில் சடுகுடு ஆடுவதற்கு சென்றுவிட்டான்.

ஓவர்சியர் பெண் மாலா காதல் செய்து ஒரு நாள் ஓடிப்போய்விட்டதாக வந்த செய்தி கீழச்சித்திரை வீதி முழுவதும் பரபரப்பாகப் பேசப்பட்டது. இத்தனைக்கும் அந்தப் பையனைப் பார்த்தால் சாதுவாக அவள் தம்பி போல இருப்பான். "வீதியில் இத்தனை பேர் இருக்கச்சே போயும் போயும் இந்தக் கறிவேப்பிலைக் கொத்தை பிடிச்சு இவன்கூட ஓடிப்போனா பாருடா ... அதாண்டா எனக்கு ஆத்து ஆத்து போறது" என்று ரங்கு ஆதங்கப்பட்டான்.

"காதலுக்கு கண் இல்லைங்கறது இதாண்டா."

அந்தப் பெண் ஓடிப்போனதும்தான் அவளை பற்றி தீவிரமாக யோசிக்கத் துவங்கினோம். இவளா என்று ஆச்சரியப்படும்படி சாதாரணத் தோற்றம் கொண்ட பெண். மாநிறமாக இருப்பாள். ஒல்லியான கைகளுக்கு பஃப் வைத்து ரவிக்கை. டி.எஸ்.ஆர்.சந்தனாதித் தைலம், குட்டிக்யுரா வாசனையுடன் தன் தோழிகளுடன் பேசிக்கொண்டே தண்ணீர் பிடிக்க வருவாள். நாலைந்து பெண்களுடன் சாயங்கால வேளைகளில் சைக்கிளில் குரங்கு பெடல் பழகுவாள்.

அந்தப் பையன் சம்பத் தூரத்து உறவு போலும். திருவானைக்காவலிலிருந்து வாராவாரம் வருவான். வீட்டுக்கு ஒத்தாசை செய்வான். ஒட்டடை அடிப்பான். எலி பிடிப்பான். ரங்கன் கடையில் சிம்னி விளக்கு திரி வாங்க வருவான்.

"மாலு எப்டிரா இருக்கா" என்று நக்கலாக கேட்டால், பதிலே சொல்லமாட்டான்.

"சம்பத்து... நீயே கணக்கு பண்ணா எப்படிரா? ஒரு தடவை அவளை எங்கிட்டயும் விட்டுப்பாரேன்" என்று பாச்சா கேட்டபோது ஆக்ரோஷமாகப் பாய்ந்து இரண்டு பேரும் புழுதியில் புரண்டார்கள். சண்டையில் பாச்சாவின் இடுப்பு வேஷ்டி கழண்டுபோய் அன்றைக்குப் பார்த்து அவன் கோவணம் கட்டாததால், இடுப்புக்குக் கீழ் ஒன்றுமில்லாமல் உள்ளே ஓடியது மறக்கமுடியாத நிகழ்ச்சி (அவனைப் பிற்காலத்தில் ஏ.ஜி. ஆபீஸில் பெரிய ஆபீஸராக நினைத்துப் பார்க்க முடியவில்லை. அந்தக் கணத்தின் வேடிக்கைதான் மனசில் தங்கி இருந்தது).

ஒரு நாள் மாலாவையும் அந்தப் பையன் சம்பத்தையும் காணோம்... என்ன என்னவோ வதந்திகள். இரண்டு பேரையும் - திருச்சி ராஜா டாக்கீஸில் பேக் பெஞ்சு டிக்கெட்டில் பார்த்ததாக சிலரும், தூத்துக்குடி எக்ஸ்பிரஸில் ஒரே சால்வையை இரண்டு பேரும் போர்த்திக்கொண்டு பயணித்ததைப் பார்த்ததாக சிலரும் சொன்னார்கள். ஓவர்சியர் எதுவும் போலீஸ் கம்ப்ளெயின்ட் கொடுத்ததாகத் தெரியவில்லை. 'எங்களை யாரும் தேடவேண்டாம்' என்று எழுதியிருந்த கடிதத்தைக் கண்ணால் பார்த்தேன் என்று ராமன் சத்தியம் பண்ணிச் சொன்னான். ஓவர்சியர் வெளியே தைரியமாக இருந்தாலும் உள்ளே மருகிப்போய்விட்டார் என்று சொன்னார்கள். மாமி இந்த அவமானத்துக்குப் பிறகு வெளியே வருவதே இல்லை.

இந்தக் காதல் கதை சட்டென்று சப்பென்று முடிந்துவிட்டது.

ஒரு நாள் மாலை, மாலா எப்போதும் போல கையில் பித்தளைக் குடத்துடன் தண்ணீர் பிடிக்க வந்தாள். எதுவுமே நடக்காததுபோல் என்னைப் பார்த்து 'சௌக்கியமா' என்றாள். முகத்தில் ஒன்றிரண்டு பருக்கள் புதுசாக வந்திருந்தன. நான் காதோரம் சிவந்து அவசரமாக பாட்டியிடம் "பாட்டி... அந்தப் பொண்ணு வந்திருக்கு" என இதை அறிவிக்க, "ஏண்டி, நீ ஓடிப் போயிட்டேன்னு எல்லோரும் பேசிண்டாளே" என்று பாட்டி கேட்டேவிட்டாள்.

"இல்லை பாட்டி... லால்குடில மாமாவுக்கு சீரியஸா இருந்தது. பார்க்கப் போனேன்" என்று சொன்னாள், அறியாத விழிகளுடன். சாயங்காலம் அவள் வீதியில் வழக்கம்போல் குரங்கு பெடல் பழகுவதை நாங்கள் ரங்கு கடையிலிருந்து பார்த்துக்கொண்டிருந்தோம்.

"ஒண்ணுமே நடக்கலை போல இருக்கா பாரு... என்ன நெஞ்சழுத்தம் இவளுக்கு?"

"மாமாவுக்கு உடம்பு சரியில்லையாம். அதுக்குத்தான் போயிருந்தாளாம்."

"டேய் பித்துக்குளி... இவளுக்கு மாமாவே கிடையாது. தெரியுமா?" என்று ரங்கு அடித்துச் சொன்னான்.

சம்பத்தைக் கொஞ்ச நாளாகவே காணோம். அவனை மணச்சநல்லூரில் ஆள் வைத்து அடித்துப் போட்டுவிட்டதாக பேசிக்கொண்டார்கள். மாலா நிஜமாகவே லால்குடிக்கு போனாளா, ஓடிப் போனாளா என்கிற மர்மம் விடுபடவே இல்லை.

உண்மையான காதலை நான் சந்திக்கவே இல்லையா? காதலர் தினம் என்பது வாலண்டைன் கார்டு விற்பவர்களுக்காக ஏற்பட்ட மாயையா ?

என்னுடன் மீனம்பாக்கத்தில் பணிபுரிந்த மார்ட்டின் என்கிற ஒரு ஆங்கிலோ இந்திய கம்யூனிகேஷன் ஆபீஸர் ஒரு பெண்ணைக் காதலித்தார். அந்தப் பெண் அவரைவிட இளமையும் தகுதியும் பெற்ற மற்றொருத்தரைக் காதலித்தாள். அவரிடம், "ஸாரி மார்ட்டின்... நான் உங்களைக் காதலிக்கவில்லை" என்று சர்ச்சில் வைத்து சொல்லிவிட்டாள். மார்ட்டின் மனம் தளராமல், "அதனால் என்ன... நான் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கிறேன். அது போதும்" என்று சொல்லிவிட்டார். அவள் கணவனிடம் அவளுடன் கடிதத் தொடர்பு வைத்துக்கொள்ள அனுமதி கேட்டார்.

அந்தப் பெண் கல்யாணத்துக்குப் பின் ஆஸ்திரேலியா சென்றுவிட்டாள். அங்கே அவளுக்கு ஐந்து பெண் குழந்தைகள் பிறந்தன. மிக அழகான கையெழுத்தில் வாராவாரம் ஆஸ்திரேலியாவுக்குக் கடிதம் எழுதுவார். "என் ரோஸி எப்படி இருக்கிறாள். என் ஏஞ்சல் நன்றாக சாப்பிடுகிறாளா... ஜெனிஃபர் படிக்கிறாளா?" என்று குழந்தைகளை விசாரிப்பார். அவர்களை இவரிடம் லீவுக்கு அனுப்பினாள். அவர் அவர்களுக்குப் படிப்பதற்கு பணம் அனுப்பினார்.

பல வருடங்கள் கடந்து அந்தப் பெண்ணின் கணவன் ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் இறந்துபோனான். ஐந்து குழந்தைகளையும் கூட்டிக்கொண்டு பல்லாவரம் வந்துவிட்டாள். மார்ட்டின் தான் காதலித்த பெண்ணை அவள் ஐந்து குழந்தைகளுடன் தன்னுடைய ஐம்பத்தாறாவது வயதில் கல்யாணம் செய்துகொண்டார்.

நான் வாழ்நாளில் சந்தித்த ஒரே ஒரு உண்மைக் காதலாக இதை ஒரு மனோதத்துவ நிபுணரிடம் சொன்னபோது அவர் "ஹி இஸ் நாட் நார்மல்" என்றார்.

Avan, Aval, Adhu 313

Dean of Madurai hospital, Dr. Muthukumar stood wringing his hands nervously and trying to think of words and ways to stop his patient from leaving the hospital.

' Mr. Ravi Kumar, I was just discussing you in my office with this lady doctor and here you are proving my theory about you is right.'

The dean like so many of us was used to people asking questions which in this case would have been, " What have I proved right?" and the dean motivated to answer, would have done so. But, sadly like so many before him, he too now discovered the unique trait that his patient possessed in abundance. It was called Patience.

Unlike many, most, and almost all that never practice the saying, " Patiently hear out what the person has to say " Ravi did that and also did exactly the opposite of that as he had done so on several occasions. He did it for a reason that was reasonable to him.

He said nothing, asked nothing for the simple reason that it was not he who had initiated the conversation and also for that important reason. He had made up his mind and nothing was going to change it.

Ravi said nothing but his mother Rasaathi Ammal spoke her mind, ' Lady doctor. I hope she is not the one who was here just before Ravi regained consciousness. The one whom I so kindly requested to stay near my son while I went to the bathroom but did not. Such rude behavior and they call themselves, doctors.'

Ravi's eyes filled themselves with recognition for he knew in his heart that the doctor had been none other than his Madhu and he smiled slightly and looked at the Dean who seeing his smile, nodded, ' That doctor too smiled when I told her that your recovery was a miracle and that it was just unbelievable and unheard of in medical science.'

Ravi's smile grew larger and brighter and he remarked to the Dean, ' I too believe in miracles, Doctor. Miracles are like God and love. It cannot be seen, touched, or tasted. But, it can be felt here ' and pointing to his chest and tapping his heart, ' I felt my miracle too, doctor and it has restarted my heart once again.'

Getting up, he gripped Dean Muthukumar's hands and said, ' Thank you, doctor, for looking after me so well. Please, I beg of you to do the same for all your patients regardless of their condition, status, caste, and religion. We are all miracles, each and every one of us. But you, all of you who work in the field of medicine are really angels and agents of the Gods themselves. For it is you, people who nurse us, care for us, and bring us back to life even when God has washed his hands of us. You, people, are the real miracles who work your magic through us. Thank you.'

Dean Muthukumar tried to but realizing that his efforts would be futile, smiled resignedly and said, ' Thank you, Mr. Ravi Kumar. Thank you for those motivating and heart-warming words, sir. But, I am sorry and I beg to differ from your thoughts.'

Pointing to all machines, the ICU, ' All these gadgets, medicines, hospitals and people like me, doctors, nurses are all of vital importance to mankind but there is something more vital than even us and a bigger miracle than this field of medicine and all those who work in it.'

Ravi's brows furrowed slightly in question and curiosity and seeing him do that, the Dean of Madurai Medical College, Dr. Muthukumar smiled, ' You sir, and all those like you and in your teaching profession are the real miracles. If I am what I am, then it is because of my teachers and I include everyone, starting from my first std and right up to my college days.'

Dean Muthukumar looked at Rasaathi Ammal and Dharmalinga Thevar,' This hospital has seen its share of VIPs from all walks of life and huge crowds have gathered for them outside this hospital. But all those in the crowds were there for their own selfish motivations and needs and almost all of them were there just to be seen and noticed by the powers that ruled them.'

Turning to Ravi, ' But only today and for the first time in my life, I saw a crowd made up of men, women, teens, and even children stand together and pray with you. There was one thing that all of them had in common and that was clearly visible in all their eyes.'

Gripping Ravi's hands in his, ' The love and respect they had for you. I am a doctor and I tell you this from my heart, ' A miracle did not happen, sir. You are the miracle and you are the one who is going to create all the miracles. God bless you.'