Avan Aval Adhu 697
late Middle English humaine, from Old French humain(e ), from Latin humanus, from homo ‘man, human being’. The present spelling became usual in the 18th century; compare with humane.
The word human was first recorded in the mid 13th century, and owes its existence to the Middle French humain “of or belonging to man.” That word, in turn, comes from the Latin humanus, thought to be a hybrid relative of homo, meaning “man,” and humus, meaning “earth.”
“We're so self-important. So arrogant. Everybody's going to save something now. Save the trees, save the bees, save the whales, save the snails. And the supreme arrogance? Save the planet! Are these people kidding? Save the planet? We don't even know how to take care of ourselves; we haven't learned how to care for one another. We're gonna save the fu.kin' planet? . . . And, by the way, there's nothing wrong with the planet in the first place. The planet is fine. The people are fu.ked! Compared with the people, the planet is doin' great. It's been here over four billion years . . . The planet isn't goin' anywhere, folks. We are! We're goin' away. Pack your sh.t, we're goin' away. And we won't leave much of a trace. Thank God for that. Nothing left. Maybe a little Styrofoam. The planet will be here, and we'll be gone. Another failed mutation; another closed-end biological mistake.” George Carlin
Gayatri wanted to scream out in frustration but did not. Instead, she leaned forward and exclaimed softly, ' My son! Spartan, what do you take me for? An imbecile, a moron and a dimwit. How the hell can my baby talk to me when I have been pregnant for just a month? Is this more of your Alien bull shit?'
Azhagan had seen fear and panic fill her senses and pour out of her eyes and had also seen it fade and vanish as quickly as it had appeared and thought, ' Fear, panic and anxiety always open the door to anger and that leads to violence. This is a common trait and a trademark of the human species. Yet, Gayatri is changing and is learning not to give in to her impulsive anger which she is famous for'
Having vented her frustration and confusion, Gayatri looked at Spartan and waited for his answer. Then, hearing weird rumbling noises, she slowly looked at the source of the noise which was her tummy and then hearing even louder noises, she looked at him and Azhagan who pointed to his tummy and said, ' Gayatri, those rumbling sounds are the protests of our empty stomachs. Let's eat and talk and I will do my best to answer all your questions. Okay.'
She stared at the waiter who politely enquired if anybody else was going to join them at the table.
' Monsieur, je vous pose la question parce qu'il n'y a que deux chaises à cette table, mais vous avez commandé suffisamment de nourriture pour six personnes ou plus. Dois-je placer quelques chaises supplémentaires autour de cette table ? ( Sir, I am asking because there are only two chairs at this table, but you have ordered enough food for six or more people. Do I need to place a few more chairs around this table?).
Azhagan smiled and replied in impeccable French, ' Non, merci. Il n'y a que nous deux. ( No, thank you. It is just the two of us ).'
' Spartan, so much food for just the two of us?'
' I am sorry to correct you, child. But it is four and not two ' and pointing to her womb, ' It will take at least fifteen to twenty minutes for our orders to be prepared and served. So, please feel free to ask me anything and I promise to answer them to the best of my knowledge.'
' Spartan, Me and Ravi....you know what I mean..Its' not even been a month since we.. So, how is it possible for my child to talk to me when I know for a fact that a human brain is only at an embryonic stage until the eighth week of pregnancy.'
' Good question, Gayatri ' and saying that, broke a baguette in two and after painting it with golden yellow butter took huge chunks of it and sighed with pleasure, ' One has to admit that the French know their way around breads. But, I wonder who conjured the name " baguette " for this delicious bread'.
The ecstasy that he exhibited as he finished his portion of bread after plastering it with butter was highly infectious and Gayatri quietly broke the bread roll that was placed in the basket and did the same with the butter that Azhagan had done and taking a bite of it, " oohed and aahed " ecstatically and declared, ' You are right spartan, the French know their breads very well ' and pointing to the butter with the butter knife, ' although I think Irish butter tastes much better'.
' You are right, Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter is the best. No debate about it ' Azhagan concurred with her opinion and smiled and prompting Gayatri to ask him for the reason behind his smile.
' Nothing to do with you. All this talk of bread and butter made me remember the saying about bread..'
' What is that saying?'
' Breaking bread!'
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Gayatri stared at him and asked, ' That's it. That is all you remembered about bread. All I can remember is " Breaking Bad " and Bryan Cranston's epic performance in that tv series.'
' I am sorry, Gayatri but it has been a long time since I watched anything on Television. But knowing you, I am sure that this tv series and the actors in it were really good ' and stopped and looked curiously at the entrance and Gayatri feeling a kind of vibration from him, turning slightly saw the man who seemed to have captured Spartan's attention.
The man stood rocking on his feet and then stumbled to a table and yelling loudly for immediate service, sat down and in the process nearly falling down to the ground.
Gayatri and Azhagan watched quietly as the man yelling out his room number demanded to be served alcohol and when the waiter hesitated, the man stood up threateningly and growled, ' I am going to the bathroom and I will be back in two minutes. If a bottle of my choice and a glass is not here on this table when I return, I will destroy this hotel and all of you in it....'
Saying that, the man stumbled towards the bathroom but not before nearly falling into a table and stopping to abuse them, somehow managed to reach the bathroom.
Azhagan observed sadly, ' This is a day to enjoy the spirit of Jesus Christ but this dim wit is high on alcohol ' and getting up, told Gayatri that he would be back in a moment and made his way towards the bathroom.
Gayatri watched as Spartan returned a few moments later and the moment he neared her, she knew he had done something to the drunkard.
' Spartan, what did you do yo him? Did you break his neck, hands or legs? ' and looking around nervously, ' Omg! Please tell me you did not kill him'.
' Kill him. No way, Gayatri. What do you think I am, child?'
She looked at him with her big brown eyes and asked, ' You did something. I am sure of that for I can somehow sense it from you'.
Shrugging his shoulders casually, ' I did not break him or kill him. But..'
' But what?'
' I kind of reset his memory and I am sure it will work out well for him and the poor lady who was being stalked and terrorised by this drunkard.'
Totally confused and astonished by the man in front of her, she looked up and remembered seeing the face of a frightened woman peeping out of the room to see if everything was okay.
' Yes, I remember that lady. But what has this idiot got to do with that lady?'
' This man was stalking that poor woman and has been terrorising her for more than a year now with intentions that are best described with one word. Evil.'
Leaning forward, Gayatri placed her hand on Azhagan's and squeezing it gently, said, ' You were saying something about breaking bread.. Please, complete your thoughts.'
Udne Ki Aasha
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