From & To Sathish #6 - Page 134

Avan Aval Adhu 661

Gayatri came down the stairs that opened into the foyer as it is otherwise known as Lobby in USA and as the reception area in namma India. The place was crowded with people from all over the world who had come to Paris to revel in its celebration of the Son of God and it took a little bit of searching before she spotted Dhana standing outside the entrance. Then as if on cue, he turned and stared right at her as if he was aware of her presence and in her heart, she knew he was aware of her every movement.

The Doorman known as a Portier in France wished her Merry Christmas and opened the door and Gayatri stepped out into the cold air of Paris in December and squealed like a little girl and hugging herself, observed warily, ' I thought I could brave it but this is beyond cold'.

Then before she could think of something to say, Dhana removed the thick woolen coat that he was wearing, and placed it around Gayatri's shoulders and observed, ' It will get worse as the night wears on.'

Gayatri thanked him and said, ' I do have a coat but I could not bring myself to wear it for I happened to purchase it from the woman who tried to poison me. It was creepy and not normal at all and that is saying a lot for I have seen a lot of weird things in my life.

Slanting his head, ' That would have been a bit creepy and disconcerting indeed. You were right in not wearing that coat for it would have surely ruined your evening out in Paris and that too today being a Christmas day'.

' What about you, Dhana? ' she asked him with concern

' I don't know why but I have never been too bothered about the weather and temperature'.

Gayatri looked at him in wonder and wondered her observations, ' I doubt if anything bothers you or upsets you ' and then cautiously looked around and seeing her do that, Dhana told

her that she was safe and there was nothing to worry about.

' I am here and I am not alone for there are others watching over you'.

' Thank you. But I was not thinking about my safety. Frankly speaking, I have never been majorly concerned of my own well-being and have coasted through life with a devil-may-care attitude.

Dhana looked at her with melancholy and told her that he knew the feeling for he too had experienced that a couple of times in his life.

' That was a long time ago. When I was a lot younger than now.'

' You, Dhana. I don't believe it.'

' Why not? I am like you and no different.'

' Mr. Dhanashekara Pandyan, You are nothing like me.'

Shrugging his shoulders, he asked what she meant by that and Gayatri turning around and finding what she was looking for, glanced at him and said, ' Dhana, do you see the Eifel tower?' and when he nodded, she said, ' I am flesh and bone. But, my friend, you are like that tower.'

Smiling, ' Okay, ma'am. But, towers rust, develop cracks and if neglected will eventually collapse to the ground.'

' Maybe. But, my heart tells me, that the tower will collapse but not you, sir. '

She looked into his coal black eyes with her big brown eyes and said, ' I sense a kind of strength, power that I don't sense even in that mighty metal tower. '

Suddenly, she turned and cocked her head like a dog and seeing her doing that, Dhana asked her if she wanted to visit a church and she looked at him with surprise, ' Yes, please. I would be grateful if you could accompany me to the church whose bells we just heard. I hope I am not inconveniencing you by asking you this favor. '

' Gayatri, I am here to serve you. So, no more talk about favors and inconvenience ' and raising his hand ' Come, the church is that way.'

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I hate the world today

You're so good to me, I know, but I can't change

Tried to tell you but you look at me like maybe

I'm an angel underneath

Innocent and sweet

Yesterday I cried

You must have been relieved to see the softer side

I can understand how you'd be so confused

I don't envy you

I'm a little bit of everything all rolled into one

I'm a bitch, I'm a lover

I'm a child, I'm a mother

I'm a sinner, I'm a saint

I do not feel ashamed

I'm your Hell, I'm your dream

I'm nothing in between

You know you wouldn't want it any other way

So take me as I am

This may mean you'll have to be a stronger man

Rest assured that when I start to make you nervous

And I'm going to extremes

Tomorrow I will change and today won't mean a thing

I'm a bitch, I'm a lover

I'm a child, I'm a mother

I'm a sinner, I'm a saint

I do not feel ashamed

I'm your Hell, I'm your dream

I'm nothing in between

You know you wouldn't want it any other way

Just when you think you got me figured out

The season's already changing

I think it's cool, you do what you do

And don't try to save me

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Avan Aval Adhu 662

Pointing to the cross on top of the spire that shone in the distance, Dhana informed Gayatri, that the distance to the church was nearly two km, and it would take them twenty to thirty minutes to reach it and looking worriedly at the road and the thousands of people milling around in all direction, he added, ' I think I spoke too soon. I fear it is going to take a wee bit longer than thirty minutes.'

Dhana realising that it was futile to use the main road, told Gayatri that they should cross the road and use the narrow alley that lay in the opposite direction to reach the church.

' Ok, my shepherd, lead and your lamb will follow ' Gayatri quipped and Dhana said, ' But, this shepherd too is but a lamb who belongs to a flock that has its own shepherd'.

Gayatri stopped and after a few seconds spent dramatically looking around, she looked at Dhana and said, ' Where is he, your boss, your shepherd? I don't see him. I see only you by my side. So, please man, you don't have to be so humble and pious all the time. Accept a compliment when it is given with love and respect.

Taking his hands in hers, she gently kissed them and said, ' My friend, I owe you my life. It is a precious gift that you have given me. I don't know how I am going to repay this debt to you and to the others that you have only hinted about. All I can say is that you can ask of me anything that is mine and I will give it to you. I promise you and I am a person who keeps her promises even in the face of death.

Stunned by these powerful and emotional words, all Dhana could do was exhale and wonder aloud, ' Wow! Now, that is a promise ' and then with a smile told her that a gift was something that is given out of love and friendship and not a debt that needs to be repaid

Although, there is something you can do for me.

' What is it, Dhana? Please, ask it for it will give me a chance to do something for you. For the person who saved my life. Nothing you can ask will faze me ' and leaning forward, she whispered, ' I am rich. I mean it. I am really rich. My stepmother once told me that I could buy an African country if I so desired it. So, ask what you want me to buy for you and I will only be too happy to do it.

His smile was like the dawn of the morning sun and his eyes glowed as he told her what he wanted of her.

' Gayatri, the only gift we want from you is your happiness and peace. Our wish is that you live your life, the way you want it and how it suits your needs. There is nothing else we want from you but your happiness.

A silence filled the silence as both walked towards the church and when they reached it, Dhana told her that he would wait for her outside.

' Take all the time you need and I will be here waiting for you and there is nothing to worry about while you are in there for there are others already in place to keep an eye on you.'

Gayatri casually looked around at the people who were busy coming and going out of the church and asked Dhana, ' Where are they hiding, these people? None of the people I see fit the bill and not one of them look anything like you do. '

' What does that mean look anything like me? ' Dhana asked her jokingly and Gayatri tapping his chest with her index finger, ' Even if you were a statue, I doubt if anybody would mistake you for anything else other than what you appear to be?'

' Hold on now, ma'am and allow me to defend myself ' Dhana told her and then did his best to shrink himself and make himself look small and then tried slouching and after watching this for a minute, Gayatri clapping her hands, told him to relax.

' Mr. Dhanashekara Pandyan, you are going to hurt yourself or worse, pull or tear some muscle. Leave the shrinking and disguise business to our amazing actor Mr.Kamalhassan who shrunk himself and played a midget in that movie " Appu Raja ".

' Appu Rajaaa ' Dhana wondered for a second and quickly added, ' You mean " Aboorva Sagotharargal " that was dubbed and released as Appu Raja.

Well, there is no competing with a man of such calibre although one has to admit that his recent films have sucked majorly. Sometimes I get the feeling that he is overdoing things and forgetting the basics of acting and how to tell a story.'

Gayatri clenched her fist and pumping them excitedly told Dhana that talking about movies and music were her favourite things.

' Please give me a few minutes and I will be back and we will chat more about Indian cinema over a glass of wine and dinner.'

He tried to mask it but she caught a hint of alarm in his eyes and realising her mistake, quickly apologised, ' Oh no! You are a teetotaller. God, have mercy. I finally get a friend that I trust and care about and just when I am about to share a drink with him, he happens to be a teetotaller. My bloody luck.'

Sighing frustrartedly, she patted his arm, 'It's okay, Dhana. You can order a juice or something while I down a couple of drinks. '

' Gayatri, You have just recovered from a serious situation.'

' I know, Dhana but I feel.. I feel great and honestly, I have never felt so damn good with myself. Something feels different ' and looking at him, ' My friend, I think it is you who has made the difference and it is you who has created all these changes in my body, mind and life.'

' I will be back in a few minutes. I am just going to light a candle and pray from my stepmother, and.... and for you and, for me, and, for this world.'

Dhana stood watching her as she made her way into the church and raising his eyes, looked at the cross and whispered, ' Help. Jesus, please help.'

“When we put our faith and trust in God, we’ve done the one thing that a human can do to accomplish superhuman things. We have reached past human strength and knowledge. We’ve touched infinite strength and infinite knowledge.”― Henry Cloud,

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