AAYIRATHIL ORUVAN

Discussion, chats, debates are order of the day,even order of the minute when friends get together..from politics to parrot astrology…from those sites to this sights…the topic will fly back and forth, and these three friends are no exception… Raja,Kumaran and Gopal- three close friends from childhood but with contrasting characters and thoughts towards life. To put it simple- Gopal likes T20, Kumaran likes ODI and Raja likes Test match cricket..that sums the story. All three happened to watch recently released tamil movie- Selvaraghavan’s AAYIRATHIL ORUVAN…and just after the movie in food court


AAYIRATTHIL ORUVAN
- A Discussion



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Gopal: shabba !! torture da….. what does this man think ?? I actually feel sorry for the producer. He just catches hold of a producer..gets his money and
does some bull crap …and we the sufferers along with the producer…first half was good –second half nonsense!!

Kumaran: Hey chill ! Just don’t totally throw him into pit….. I agree with you but not fully..you gotto give it to him for the sheer grandeur..and his imagination…don’t forget the amount of hard work went . Dei Raja, who is the cinematographer..he just rocks man……. I never know cinematography can be at this best in tamil cinema- he just gives you the feeling that you are one of the voyagers..simply superb.

Raja: He is Ramji da- Parutthiveeran, Raam are his previous notable works.Guess he got the real opportunity to prove his mettle here. Thambi Gopal, just don’t go over board like you normally do… you people want intro song..punch dialogues… panchaayat trees…heroine falling in love with hero’s style of brushing the teeth…hero will jump from statue of liberty to Eiffel tower, and you guys clap - you simply have to watch Vijay movies then…. People like him are the real virus for tamil cinema- neither he moves forward, and seeing him nor people like Barath and Vishal are coming up…these people must change or get eradicted if at all tamil cinema should grow up.. and because of these guys you people just cant appreciate great work

Gopal: Dei Dei gimme a break. First case don’t ever tell i’m fan of Vijay movies…my taste is not that worse…but can you just tell me what was selva trying to say in this movie??..its not that you just imagine something , and show that..you have to make some sense… what was he trying to tell in second half….seri first case tell me whats this story all about…why this story ??

Raja: that’s what man….you people amaze at a foreigner, but if you have your own men matching them you either say it’s a crap or say he is amateur trying to match him.. dei kumara, you have watched TROY right ?? what does the TROY Prince, Hector, do to his wife Andromache and kid at the end, fearing of attack from Achilles..he sends them out in a secret way out of Troy and no one knew what had happened to them. If some one takes a movie now called TROY RETURNS where Achilles’ 12th generation and Hector’s 13th generation fight for their good old vengeance, you guys would go gaga over it…If a person thinks on same lines on Cholas you ppl say “hey what crap logic !!” you won’t appreciate our own talent….. Guys,the problem is this - we people know and appreciate about Illiad, Troy, Rome and Greece……. We don’t care about Thanjavur, Madurai,Cholas and Pandyas which is far superior and older civilization then all those… we were having process and norms then when those people were nomads.

Gopal: Hmm..agreed ..all fine till just before interval block…after that why those lunatic actions by the three…. Then what was he trying to tell in second half…. King and crew all fine, but so much confusion….confusion…..dei we take a break from software not to get more confused !!

Kumaran: ha ha ha…. Dei if you say you don’t understand the story…you are nothing short of sodium lamp man…

Gopal: sodium lamp ???

Kumaran: Yeah tube light just takes seconds to glow……… but sodium lamp.. (kumaran and Raja laugh at loud much to make gopal angry)

Gopal: dei dei wait…answer me..i can understand first half very well… last Chola king in 13th century, sends out his kid with care takers, out of Thanjavur to some safer place along with a big crew to safe guard from enemies,the Pandyas. And their where abouts become unknown unless an archaeologist , father of andrea, finds the place of chola prince. And upon getting no news from him, the Indian govt.team goes there..headed by Reema along with coolie gang of Karthi as helpers …. Have to agree first part is racy and superb to watch till interval block… Karthi just amazes me…just second film and even his eyes speaks a lot… tomorrow’s super stars must learn a tip or two…all is fine dude..confusion starts in interval block…

Raja: Yeah let me explain…. The crew that goes to the island after setting so much traps, then live in the same for generations…just imagine..a group of inhabitants living in an island sans any info from outer world for generations…all that they can feed is on few animals and grass….all that they have in mind is the info passed by their ancestors for generations and some stone arts …that there is a place called Thanjavur which was their heaven..strict instructions that unless you get a messenger you gotto stay in this island only…. Just imagine ! hats off to selva just for this imagination…. So what will their life style be- nothing short of chaos…ofcourse with little hope and passion towards their native land…also they live pure with respect to their culture , language….. yeah coming to your interval block confusion- we have seen and heard in history that their will always be a guru/sage in every kingdom..and his blood lines or followers would do the same for the royal family…. If you had ever studied tamil’s sangam literature or even ponniyin selvan or udayaar you would get some ideas….i know you would have never have…

Gopal: okay okay..then..whats your point here

Raja: you are believer of god right…you would have heard about Naayanmars and Aalwaars- if you belive in god you gotto believe their existence as well… haven’t you heard them doing some magics..saving a dead child…etc etc..all those were said to have wandered in Tamilnaadu during the Chola, and Pandya periods only…a guy or a group of people like that- I mean who are closer to god had also travelled along with the crew…his blood line would have been the old man , who hallucinates the three in interval block….he is kind of religious-guru for the islanders.. he has instructions from his ancestors..and he is the one who takes care of the blood line and also finds the one who will save the blood line in future..that you can see in climax!! One problem with directors like Mani ratnam and Selva are they expect too much from people to understand…you have to think those things on your own else director needs atleast 8 hours to tell full thing.

Gopal: hmm.. adhaan mattera…… but still blue colors some gas flying…. Kaali goddess – blood attack…man I couldn’t understand what was happening..that was bit too much..gotto have some logic man…. Some stress busters as well- bullet vs stone shield.. ha ha

Raja: I gotto ask you guys…if some stories on a magic school and a boy fighting with some all kinds of logic less things, you go gaga over it….. LORD OF THE RINGS – must have heard of a movie like that……… if black magic and things are shown in Hollywood its amazing ..and if its shown here is it awful ?? what guru and Reema did was witch-crafty.. which people in the past have excelled in and has come along to them..Selva even clarified this in the Press Meet..And what you expect tribe peoples to defend themselves with against bullets ?? it was told that it’s a fantasy adventure..now out of the blue you guys want out and out logic here….you don’t ask logic where your hero jumps from water falls in style or jumps for a kilometer and catches a train running at top speed….im gonna bash you da idiot !!

Kumaran: ha ha… thats all fine da……im not taking anything away from selva and team…… Everyone has done their part..Parthiban simply rocks on screen..his attire, body language, makes you glued to screen- his intro scene with all those bled shed- is kind of a killer imagination…. Andrea is multi talented no doubt- guess if talents are ranked, then her acting must come last, still selva gets the best out of her…. Azhagam perumal- he does stunner infact shows his presence only in every selva movie…. Not to forget about hundreds of junior artists… habba so much hard work…and GV,this kid is real real talent….the BG rocks..scenes of king arrival, the scene when the three first see the village, open arena scene, climax everywhere his stamp…… oh forgot Reema- man she is just awesome… a character she can’t get a whole life….

Gopal: yeah Reema’s character is top class..its like she acted in two different movies…. But again..dei Raja, the dialogues between her and Parthiban either makes no meaning or gives a bad meaning..oh and some other scenes!!..how can I take my family along ??

Raja: Dei what is the purpose of giving a clear instruction that it’s a ‘A’ certified movie….we are adults man..and obvious that you can’t tell about a King’s life of the past without all these……. Two major things most of our Kings did in their time was, that is their thought process had been these two…building architecture and human production…(laughs)… its all in the history man….. ofcourse there is a different view point to everything..the scene where young mother signifies the king that she is devoid of milk to feed her kid..was it sexy according to you ? those are scenes which will make your heart heavy man…’pemmaney’ song vairamuthu would have almost wept with all these...was the movie apocalypto looking obscene to you? This is similar…may be those who feel they are faint hearted for all these, better stay away…. Weak audience like you better stay away, rather than stopping tamil cinema moving forward.

Kumaran: Raj cool cool..thats all right..still not convinced about many things…….

Raja: what are they ?? shoot ! one by one !!

Kumaran: okay dude..what about the mobile phone…how can you speak from desert??..first case if helicopters can come with so ease, then why all these struggle earlier for the team ?

Raja: dei common..havent you heard of satellite phones….didn’t you see in jurassic park- third part?..forgot movie name ….then ….helicopters came in there only after these ppl have found their destination …… logically to a place unexplored will you go and explore in chopper ??? see these are excuses !! atleast not from you kumara !!

Gopal: tell me this….why is the name ‘aayirathil oruvan’??…. May be for the remix song ?? (laughs) actually it was cool watching that,., ofcourse I miss ‘maalai neram’ song

Raja: dei didn’t you notice Karthi just singing this line couple of times from that mgr’s movie ..may be Selva gives a hint here “naadalum adimaigalil aayiratthil naan oruvan”…….. see you can either assume that Karthi comes as one of those 1000 islanders…or one in the thousand years to carry forward the blood line to different place as foreseen in the stone-arts.

Gopal: hmm..but lot of un necessary things also.. I can just go on naming them…. Un necessary song sequence for this movie….that open arena – collosium like fight …….

Kumaran: this is limit…we have no right to talk about song sequence after making crap masala movies run for 100 days.. in this movie songs didn’t look bad at all..’un mela aasadhan’ may be just to satisfy crowd like you…didn’t look odd man…. Open arena fight ? what you expect those tribes to do…. Java programming ?? they find the best fighter among them by having like this – throwing their prisoners to fight.

Raja: well said kumara…. On the whole AAYIRATTHIL ORUVAN is movie to watch…. Im afraid people might get carried away by bad mouths and crap reviews just to win their bread..or from some bloggers who want their hero movies to be called better……. Agreed man- our parents might be not be okay with some scenes which they cant accept to see on screen..agreed- their generation is different….but we guys must appreciate Selva and team for his sheer effort, planning and process. He even confessed that he stuggled so much and needs so many more departments in FEFSI to make film more world class. Infact still wanna watch this movie again- I must have left some more important hidden messages converyed by selva. See guys you gotto accept that we are still in india..when nothing else, may be most other things aren’t matching US and other big economies, how do you expect a movie to match it over night. We have long way to go, but I can tell you we aren’t far behind. Directors like Selva ought to be given due respect……. Proud to have him in our midst. no matter im a cholan or Pandyan.. Im proud to be a tamizhan.

(Kumaran and Gopal in unison): true da.


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Let me catch you guys in another discussion of these friends sooner.

A WISH

Couple of examples which are seen often :-
** The kid grows up sucking up the parent’s blood….later on goes elsewhere and blames the parent for their faulty character and for not providing more better facilities. The parents who were everything when the kid grows later on become nothing!
** We grow up using all resources of country…….then later on work for a foreigner..Blame the country for spoiling your childhood, for giving an unhygienic environment. The country which was needed from birth till filling the space against ‘Nationality :’ in the visa form, is not needed going forward.

In the first case you blame the kid , and in the second case will you blame the country ??

India is the India today , and its not the Singapore or Japan in hygiene and economy because of the freedom it has given to its children……..it is like a parent who had given so much freedom to his kid assuming that the kid deserves it, but later on the kid misused it. Now will you blame the parent for imposing faith on his kid or Will you blame the kid for cheating and betraying his parent’s faith?

What we are today is because of our mother land…. How many times we have told ourselves,,, after seeing the draughts in africa..the typhoons in Taiwan… bomb blasts in Pakistan..forest fires in Australia…heavy snow in US....earth quakes in Japan..tsunamis in Indonesia… racial deaths in South America…etc etc,,, that ""THANK GOD WE ARE SAFE""" . What have we done so far to give it back to a country which has allowed you to do anything you desire ? which has kept you safer than most of the places in the world ?

No matter how many faults we find with our mother in our life time, don’t we throw all those aside and show the same love and affection towards her? don’t we try our best to change those faults which she possesses…?.. then why a different yardstick for the mother-land alone ?

There are two ways of living life :
1. Just exist ….allow things to happen around you…don’t bother about anything..you just live for you and your family…often blame the society around
2. Live a life which is helpful to you and your society/neighbors….no one is born as super star, not all can become a gandhi or periyar , but rather than existing do something for the society’s upliftment ..idhu perumai illai, KADAMAI

When you see history, it will tell that people who fall under (2) are only called human beings !

What we are giving back to the country is simply nothing when compared to what the country had/has been giving us!

Rather than sending an independence day wish with colorful posters and telling ‘Mera Bharat Mahan’, I thought quickly a few lines from the inner thoughts is better!

Ofcourse, no matter what, MERA BHARAT MAHAN

Wishing you all a wonderful independence day…… Lets be truthful children to our parent… lets give a wonderful place for our younger brothers and sisters who will follow us…

A Proud Indian

NAAN KADAVUL

This movie doesn’t need a full length review…
-Don’t watch this movie for checking your ideology on Gods and his creation...thats perception.. you gotto self realize
-Don’t watch this movie for checking the logical aspects of the movie….because the one portrayed is real world
-Don’t watch this movie to check what is Bala trying to convey and what message you can get..after all one movie cant change any one’s mind completely..
-Don’t watch this movie for the superb performances of Arya and Pooja..that you will any how get to know from the accolades they receive…
-Don’t watch this movie to see Maestro at work…. The world knows about him and his wonders……….
-Don’t watch this movie pre-assuming that scenes are gory, and you will not be able to eat for next few days….nothing like that…
---Do watch this movie to know… how a director can make each and every matter on the screen to act to their best………
---Do watch the movie to know….. where TAMIL CINEMA is flying?….and what a great bunch directors we have got…….
AHAM BRAHMAASMI !!!

VAARANAM AAYIRAM- For the Heart to Cherish !!!

I’m starting to write this review after I had watched this movie for the second time in a span of three days !
Well, twice in three days !! – is it a masterpiece to go that crazy about it ?? hmm you can’t wait for master pieces to stand up and appreciate; something whose impact stays within you for a longer time, then you really got to appreciate it ! This is on those lines !
So another review…aah...my mail box knows the count… the same thought made me to stop writing reviews and it has been so many months since then, but this movie I feel I should let my near and dear know, the things that you can get from- Harris jayaraj musical starring starring Surya, Simran, Sameera reddy, and Divya spandana, and ofcourse its Gautham Menon’s master-piece VAARANAM AAYIRAM !

The one line

Script- Its one thing which happens in every other door ..an autobiography of a mulish young man who built his life getting inspired from a very fine gentleman his father. Surya’s auto-biography whats new in the story ?? I just can’t understand when people argue time and again, about this … do you need a story line revealing multifaceted chromosome technology linked with nano tools (or) rocket science and life at 9th galaxy (or) action on the lines of star wars….do you need all these when there are still unexplored beauties buried inside human mind, and still undiscovered wonders in a monument called HOME- this script subtly touches them which is more remarkable.
There would be so many reviews going around, and on the first case, I don’t want to reveal the main knots, so I wouldn’t be touching on those for obvious reasons !
But this movie has good food for your senses, and I would like to brief some here…

Visual treat

Gautham Menon- this name guarantees you that, and he has combined with Ratnavelu here (his next is Robo with Shankar-that’s sums it all). Refreshing lightings , and delicate angles are the highlights. The color shades used too is highly commendable – a refreshing look to the USA episode, a melancholy feel to the second half, and a dreary lighting to the Kashmir rescue..everything is commendable ! Critics would need to break their heads to find some flaws in the periodic locations. Songs have been picturised with only one motive in minds- Lets please eyes ! and they have done it more than they had wanted !

Musical extravaganza

I would be the 548th person in your life, If I start appreciating about the songs of this movie, but I would carry the guilt longer than anything else if I miss out on the music and lyrics- which are the soul of this movie. Songs are heavenly numbers- if nenjukkul peindhidum is a tribute to a lover, mundhinam is a joyous cry, adiye is rock melody, and anal meley is mesmerizing …..
Songs are a run way hit and you would have seen romantic romeos humming “sattendru maarudhu vaanilai..penney un mel pizhai…..” and few getting inspiration and courage from “hi malini..im Krishnan…naan idha solliye aaganum....”. Due credit ought to be given to the lyricist as much as given to the composer. Few stunning lines which touch upon every one’s life and soul…hats off thaamarai..few spills of that Amirdham…

“ennodu vaa veedi varaikkum,en veetai paar ennai pidikkum………kadhaal ennai ketka villai, kettaal adhu kaadhal illai “

“vinaa nooru..kanaavum nooru..vidai solladi”

“mazhai kaalatthil sariyum -mann tharai polavey manamum- unai kandathum sariya kandeney “

“sandhithomey kanakkalil sila muraya ? pala muraya ? andhi vaanil ulaavinom-adhu unakku ninaivillaya ?? iru karaigalai udaithidavey perugiduma kadal alaye ! iru uyir thatthalikkayil vazhi solluma kalangaraye?”

“enai vandhu urasum kaatrey..avalodu kanavil netrey..kai korthu nerunginen- kannaditthu -nee yenga ! ”

Can just keep on writing on these…… not to miss out the BG score…. Apt and measured BG score- harris spells magic if he does it for Gautham….alas! it seems that they would never be joining again ! Please reconsider your decision folks !!!

To Admire

I admired- infact admired must be a lesser word if I got to tell about this man- SURYA. The amount of hard work he has done to this movie cant be measured with any yard stick! Be it, a brave lover, or a dreaming father, teenage romeo , bubbly college goer,a friendly father, handsome protagonist , a dying drug addict , a fearless major or a suffering patient….oh man ! this guy is not the same person who was looking childishly at camera in ‘nerukku ner’..he has come over places, and would still go places….. gone or days where we had fallen only to kamal or maniratnam for quality stuffs..now we have plenty…tamil cinema flying high! This man can dance, can do romance, can cry, can feel, can express , he can do everything that you ask for…..Surya you shine as your name ! many scenes can be said as example, but I just want to mention the two best scenes- when he calls his parents from America and tell about the tragedy….and when the father and son get into a tangle on the drug issue….just take a bow surya ! you have rocked !!!
Simran another notable artist..this woman once a dream girl of tamil cinema, and there is a saying that her place is still irreplaceable and you would know it why if you watch this portrayal ! If surya takes your attention with all his wonderful dialogue delivery and expression , this woman’s eyes just speaks for her !
For eg- when her husband narrates some story to both kids as a true father, she just expresses her pride by just her looks on her husband.
Sameera reddy does what she could and Divya spandana surprise surprise- kudos to Gautham, we could also know that Divya can act !

Things to be cherished by heart

All the above said things would make a movie good……. But what I’m gonna express below are the things which had taken the movie beyond that..did I say express? Yes..express ! “express” this word has a major role in wrapping this script together…when I say express its is not Rajdhaani express or New Indian Express..don’t think Rajagopalan has gone nuts…what I mean here is the verb express- to convey, put across etc, which divides fifth sense beings with sixth sense ones. Yah this movie touches a wonderful aspect- express your love, express your affection, etc.
How many times in our day today life a father had told his son- “tragedy ? for you ? you are my son ! you should be happy with love”…. “you are on your own now…lead a life of your own”….. “darling let him live a life which he is interested…son just pursue what your heart desires”
How many times a husband expresses his love to his wife infront of others which becomes an inspiration for the kids in future ??
How many times you have seen a mother tells his son about his father “ we fell in love madly…we are still in love(with a proud smile) “
How many homes have become so transparent where parents have treated their kid in such a way that there is nothing under the sky that kid won’t share !
How often a boy relinquishes his past thinking “you allowed to lead my life on your own daddy….you were such a friend to me”…”maa..every time you tell about father I could find the love you have for him”…
It is not that parents are not loving and trusting their son and the vice versa but they seldom express it and many a times it doesn’t come out at all till the end ! this movie exactly tells that !
Few scenes are inspiring, Few brings you happiness, few brings out a sense of jealousy and few even pull out a tear from your eyes- that’s vaaranam aayiram…that’s gautam’s script ! we discover many things buried within ourselves through some dialogues..viz
lover says “i want you in my life..i cant let you go.” ..” I don’t wanna impress you..i came here coz of my selfishness just to see you…. ”
husband says to wife “till now anything for you..now on anything for my kid too..i don’t know what is written for him in future..but if anything bad is written, I will change it “
father says to college joining son “we both are two grown up men now, you are no more in my shadow…take care”
father says to crying desperate son “ don’t mistake me for poor comparison..if you remember, once in school days you felt very bad about being given out wrongly, but you came out in your turn to bowl and took a match winning 6 wkt haul…you made your desperation into positive energy ..do that now !”
lover when proposes “I don’t even want you to react for what im saying “
mother says to son “we didn’t even have penny then..but we had the confidence that we can face the world..those were the happiest days”
etc and etc…there are so many similar to this….these aren’t mere words….these are testimony for the statement that -words can make or break a castle !
you will learn to overcome tragedy..you will learn to treasure love..you will learn to fight with your bad luck..you will learn to live…. Vaaranam Aayiram would quench your thirst a in each pertaining to your perceptions……

I have found and seen people to have disliked the film for the monotonous story and slow script- alas I’m sorry for people who always expect rapid moving action thrillers,or bone tickling comedies or out of the box concepts..after all some time has to be given to the delicate testament called ‘home’ which is built on hearts !

As a last word, “those who think cinema is only for entertainment please don’t go near the theatre”- if you expect I would say these to wrap it off, sorry I’m not gonna do that….

hope everyone has a heart, and have atleast traces of emotions and love for your parents, and your sweet heart…and if so, you got to watch this movie….
To learn more to respect your love and emotions ,
to learn more to respect the love and emotions on you by your loved ones,
and ofcourse
to learn more to respect yourselves !!!

HOW TO NAME IT ???

Prelude : A mix of real experiences and fictious imagination based on a one line taken from a ‘very short story’ that I had read long back

“ Dad !! Dad !! D…a…a…d !!”
“…..“
“oh..ok ok…sorry..appa1 ! “
“hmm tell “
“continue….”
“continue what ?”
“dad !! u forgot ? u left ur marriage story in mid way…you and your gang- thaatha2, appaayee3, meesa-thaatha4 etc ..all went to that place ..the place was wonderful-u guys were seated near a small falls, then…”
“haan…people there, were seeing me as if I’m some alien jumped into their groove….”
“ha..ha..ha”
“clock went on ticking but bride doesn’t look like coming out…..just then a man shouted – ‘how long will you ppl keep talking ? someone ask the bride to come’…I realized, tamil films are not at all telling fictitious stories..”
He continued…. “the bride came at last…hmm she was looking good..my mother whispered -‘if u want to speak to her alone, go ahead, I can ask..’ ‘ no ! no need’ I interrupted ……..then as usual all formality talks happened….other than the two most concerned, everyone else were talking all kind of craps………”
his mobile rang “just a minute da….. hello..yes speaking… oh ok ok…no no not today….today ?? where ?? ok..o..k..will be there…”
abimanyu realized that his father had to leave somewhere “sorry my son….i hav ”
“ok ok dad” after a stare from his father “oh shit…it just comes….ok appa you just carry on..i also need to finish some assignments, else that professor will bash me tomorrow”
“oh ok ..then we shall continue tonight..”
“no no ! tonight I have appointment with mother..she is also narrating, and her narration is on a different scene, I’m listening to both simultaneously “ this line ended with a proud smile from abimanyu
“oh okay..you are not leaving her either..is it ?? but don’t bother her too much da…she “
“hello Mr. ! I know you love your wife more than anything even at 51, don’t worry I will take care of her…..”
Saying this he ran away giggling before his father could try to catch him !

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“Heartiest Welcome to All the First year students “ the huge display board was the center of attraction in the packed AC hall….the crowd was a mixture of juniors and seniors……. She couldn’t wait for the function to get over….
“dear students, needless to say the pride history of this…….. “
“that was awesome singing by suha and group………”
“guys did you guys notice this rocking dance, we expect the same from you next year and……..”
“Dear students……our institution”
The stage couldn’t even breathe for a min , and so her watch ”I will kill that preethi …not able to escape from here , im standing here because of her..where is she? “ her angry eyes searched for her friend, but it found something else just to get terrified !
She saw a person staring awefully at her amidst a group of students, she couldn’t believe her eyes, and tears readily popped out as if they were waiting to see him !

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“dude you know what ? with this 18th it has been 15 months da since I saw her first”
“great achievement da ! my project is far better !! I still can’t understand why she hasn’t complained about you to the HR…sooner or later it will happen”
He was a very friendly guy , and there is no one in the IBU who doesn’t know him, but he was orthodox to his own, in principles, life style, and choice of girls to sight as well. It has been 3 years out of college, but no girl has impressed him like her , even in the college days . He knows almost everything about her, and one of his prime time hobbies is to somehow find time to see her. He did his mechanical engg. in Karaikudi AC Tech, and his parents hail out of Trichy. She is a conservative, typical south Indian girl and actually a rarety to see such kind of girls in the software industry. She is a civil engineer, out of MEPCO-sivakasi which is her home town as well. Both are passed outs of the same year, underwent training in mysore and Bangalore respectively, and got postings to Chennai . His eyes couldn’t find her for the first 10 months, but since then she became part of his life. He was hesitant to take any other step other than seeing her daily. His conscience many times had laughed at his silly deeds just to see her. Even some of his close friends who were aware of all this, would sometime terribly make fun of him, but nothing stopped him ! But reality had something else in store for him….

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“Mom…. Its already 11.30…any plans to sleep ?? “ abimanyu came out of his room giving his laptop a breather….
“hey I know da..waiting for your dad…he should be joining soon..
“ma, did you have your dinner? “
just a smile came as reply…
“ufff…. I seriously can’t understand this….to my living memories , I don’t remember an instance when you had dinner without dad !! no matter whatever the time might be…I got to know that three days back, you had been to hospital with prema aunty and had come back only by 2am…and poor dad didn’t have dinner till then, and he says this to me with pride..ridiculous ! you guys might be the best lovers but remember you are not just married…your body should yield to these kind of things……..mummy, are you listening ?? “
A much broader smile was the reply this time !

“hey abi…haven’t you slept ?? its 1 o clock…. “ abimanyu looked at his puzzled mom !
“this bugging assignment left me only now….so finally you both have finished dinner??…..clap ! clap !! “
“so has dad slept ? “
“no way..he is checking some mails…what about you ?? “
“me.. ?? leave that….you continue the story…you guys have been telling for a long time now…….”
“hmmm….ya..from…….?”
“the engagement function….”
“haan..the engagement function- it was the first day of the three day festival, I mean the marriage..i never know that there were so many relatives and friends to my father…as you know, he is a well known personality with so many contacts, so I expected good crowd for marriage but not 2 days in advance …. Dinner was served for around 1500 people…the actual”
“you ppl must be crazy…. So much money on food…..rather”
“listen..the actual function, took place in a small stage though, with only very few close relatives on either side….i couldn’t find the groom there, and everyone were busy at their own crap chats, and no one bothered what is running in the bride’s mind….”
“ha ha ha, I wonder even the usage of words is similar between you both…..then “
“I could only weep….”
A voice came from a distance, “abi..its getting very late..sleep”
“did you hear?? We can continue tomorrow..sleep sleep “ she whispered and almost started running out of the room !
“ma ..just finish this part alone….maaa”
Abimanyu could see the room turn into dark in a moment !

***********************************************************************************
She wasn’t in a mood to give a damn about any one inside the hall….her legs sprinted…tears went down in a hurry , nothing stopped her till she reached her room. She just couldn’t believe what she had just seen. Anxiety, anger, shock, surprise, everything was pricking her.
“was it he ?? “
“how ?? “
“how did he know that I’m here? “
“how could he stand in that group ? “
“how did he come here ?”
……. For None of her questions she could get any answer !
She closed all the windows, the door as well…..she took the remote in her hands and lied on the bed…music system slowly gave out the divine voice of MS –‘kurai ondrumillai…marai moorthy kanna…. ‘5…….Kannan ! Kannan ! this name started hurting her…she felt like she was on some burning furnace…. ‘kannukku theriyaamal nirkindraai kannaa…..’ she felt as if even the song was pointing to her ….for the first time ever, MS’s voice was hurting someone…

She switched off the system, and threw away the remote- the only thing which can take her anger now….she closed her eyes hard, tried her best to sleep, but that was close to impossible….she suddenly felt that she needed some fresh air…she got up and opened one window… he was standing down outside under the banyan, with a crooked smile….

***********************************************************************************
“dei ….dei”
“hmm tell da” his friend managed to say these from the poori filled mouth..
“stop eating and listen to me”
“hmm speak out”
“you know what, she came in saree the other day…sky blue…awesome is a lesser word….. “
“you know what, today is the last day to finish CCS e-learning…stupidity is a leser word….”
He was dumbstruck !
“have you gone mad….you know how many people are dejected because of their visa applications getting rejected !! you are one of the few of the lucky lot but rather than taking it forward you are doing all kinds of craps here….”
He put his head down…..
“ask sunil, he has completed all the related formalities for the same….do it right now ! don’t mess up anything….the other documents were “
“dei she is coming towards FC da…great” he giggled and blushed !
That evening his friends had a serious discussion
“ machan he is going deep day by day da..first I thought its just for fun but this is getting nowhere …”
“ dei this idiot is not brave enough to take the next step as well….he had put him into some bloody complex”
“dei leave it da….will get wiped off soon… or”
“no ..no way man..even I could see…he has done so many things for us..we must do something to get him out..can’t leave him like this da “
“ha ha ha..you ppl are not talking sense..the only good thing for him in this matter would be to convey this to her…and I hope we aren’t dumb enough to do that”
the very moment one of the guys’ eyes lit up “that’s a great idea bala”…

***********************************************************************************

“Hello…yes.. Kamal here ! oh that’s great ! thank you ! sure sure !yup…sure sure ! ok..ya bye”
“appa ! what a surprise !! you now ?? so soon to home??? “ abimanyu’s eyes lit up when he saw his father coming in..
“yes man…. Just to spend some time with my dear son !!! “ he almost giggled.
“appa..these kind of fabrication your lovable wife might believe..nah ! she knows you better than any one else, so neither she would…..hmm yes, now I understand …IPL semi finals today- Chennai super kings match, that should be the reason for your kind visit so soon.. ! “
Kamal’s giggle grew bigger !
“My dear Son..(opening the refrigerator) let me quickly make some chilly bajji and hot green tea before the match gets underway…mmm for your mother I shall make it when she comes back home…should serve hot for her…”
Abimanyu was watching him with a smile that couldn’t be defined….
“bajji ready !! hot green tea…have it “
Kamal switched on the television..the two captains were out there in the middle for the toss.
“ufff…god !!!”
Abimanyu couldn’t control his laugh..his loud laugh must have been heard by the people next door….”daddy..i pity you…” kamal too started laughing a bit.
“power doesn’t seem to come now…..(abimanyu was still laughing)…yeah this is the right time…continue continue the story..”
“hmm ok (with the tea cup in hands he started)… I used to wonder my son ! where these relatives were there all these days ?? they never come, or even know that were we alive these days, but just for the marriage, they involve themselves as if its their birth mission without even knowing the fact that bride and groom are happy or not..needless to say, just after marriage they vanish… exactly such kind of things were happening…people asked me –‘maapilla6 ! do you like upma or pongal ?’ but no one bothered to ask me –‘ do you like the bride?’… people were at their best doing arrangements….i didn’t call many of my friends as well, only very few close friends came, and they know that this marriage meant nothing to me , and I have accepted only because of the emotional torture by my parents…”
Abimanyu could feel the his father’s situation then. “But I made sure that, i should give a wonderful life to the new girl, and I won’t show any of my hatred to her, if at all. On that day, I somehow tried to sneak out of the marriage hall with my brother and few others….went straight into a theatre nearby. next day morning marriage- groom was in the cinema theatre…..god forsaken theatre it was, and it was the worst movie I have ever seen… that summed up my situation… mid way through the movie, my friend stood up and kept his hand on my shoulder “lets go to hall..come”

***********************************************************************************
She decided not to come out of the hostel at all ! but a question arose within her as well “for how many days i can stay inside? “
The rest of the day she spent inside the room. She knew she must go to class the next day. she woke up early and she must be one of the very few in the world to enter class room at 5am in the morning. She got fixed herself in the bench. Students started coming in,her bench mates pricked her, classes started, lecturers were at the top of their voice but nothing moved in her..she was in her own world. She didn’t make a note of the time at all. She felt some known voice calling her somewhere…a tap on the bench…couple of taps a bit harder this time…she came to her senses…just to get the shock of her life…he was just standing there before her.
It was lunch time then, and only very few were there in the class. With a feel of insecurity ,and shivering body, she stood up.
Kannan’s stare looked as if it will burn her there itself. After quite a few seconds of dangerous silence
“I want to talk to you..i expect you in canteen today evening 5pm….i repeat, you must be there !! “
In a fleeting moment, he disappeared from that place.
She didn’t eat at all since the previous day afternoon but more than her body, her mind was the weakest. She stood there perplexed. Sat down, thought for some time, took a pen !

***********************************************************************************
“you just doesn’t seem to understand the seriousness…I’m afraid that we will lose that idiot ….you know what ? the day when we were discussing what to do with him, he had seen a guy talking closely to her…that’s it ! he started building his own stories… he is not talking properly since then…on the other hand, you are one the damn idiot I have ever seen…you gave some dialogues then that you will make sure that he talks to her, etc etc what happened ?? “
“that’s what I was trying to tell you….all arrangements have been done…. Today 2.30pm @ foodcourt… she will be there..now its our duty to take our hero there… “
“what !!! I don’t believe this !! how did you do that ? “
“hmm quite some work..my project mates’ close friend’s lover is vaishnavi’s friend-colleague..i lost quite some hair before I could find this…..i could contact that girl and spoke everything …she was kind enough to lend a ear and she understood about our hero..suddenly just sometime back she called me up and said to come to fc”
They somehow made him realize that he is no more in dreams. His mind was as crowded as ranganathan street. With all the instructions from his friends, he entered FC. Arrangements were in such a way, that vaishnavi was sitting at a corner with heads down, where there would be hardly any people at that time.
His legs slowly moved towards her..he had plans to run away any time as well..never ever in his life he was tensed that much, and people who had experienced this before, can understand the feeling. At last he reached near her. He stood there. Heads down..No response still. He dragged the chair back and sat infront of her in snail pace..no response whatsoever. Actually one should appreciate his grit. He even looked around for any cameras as well. After some provoking silence..
he stammered “hel.ll.llo.”
she looked at him, with tears rolling down “when are you planning to talk to my father? “

***********************************************************************************
“mummy….. you know what ? today evening dad was telling the most interesting part of the story….just then Sulthan mama came….it was heights of desperation for me….my wait continues….. “
She laughed.
“atleast you complete mummy”
“engagement function right….. ya I didn’t have any of my friends around as well..i don’t want them to be there as well… I could just weep to myself on stage…after all the formalities I was taken back to bride’s room…I right away went inside bathroom, and I had the cry of my life….i wanted the sky to fall down immediately…I know its all in vain”
“ finally the day had come….the day of marriage…. It was electrifying atmosphere to say the least… before I could realize what was going around, marriage had got over…everything got over in a matter of few days….you won’t believe me, I was having lunch with the groom right after the marriage, but I didn’t feel like having a look at his face at all till then.”
“As usual advise river flowed across all directions, and even I started to believe that life is like that ! I could see that my parents were the happiest on earth, and I made up myself to dump me into this relation. “
“the next day we went into the new house that was bought specially for the married couple, and the marriage life began slowly. He was very kind to me, and something said in me that why should I punish him for my fate. Days rolled on… time was at its best to heal things…”
Abimanyu exclaimed “ what an entry to marriage for both of you……… who would have thought then that you both would be the best couple on earth down the lane”
She blushed. It was sweet !

***********************************************************************************
Kannan was very prompt in timings. He started waiting for her in canteen way in advance ! Clock showed 5…5.30..5.45 no traces of her coming ! Kannan expected this to happen !
When he just decided to start, a girl came towards him !
“Kannan ? “
“hmm yes”
“take this “ and she just vanished from that place handing over him a note book !
Kannan, sat down and started reading it…it went for many pages….the big story ended with “I can’t do anything opposing my father..sorry”he finished reading it
“idiotic girl..i know all these craps before..thats why I had come here ” his anger grew wild.
He felt its no point in wasting time here any more.
He took the next train, went to his home.
His mother greeted him “hey ! surprise ! you are here ?? no college ?? any vacation ?? “
He sat on the floor and his mother followed. He fell on her lap and just burst into tears. He said her everything ! she realized !
“maa..i cant live without her ma, and none other than me can give her good life “ tears poured down !
Soon after that, his father came inside.
He spoke with his father with greater control. His father listened to all this.
“paa…I’m talking to you !! are you listening ???“

***********************************************************************************
few hours before vaishnavi came to foodcourt-
two of her friends had called her up near coffee machine and had explained her in detail about everything. With wet eyes vaishnavi started “I know… I know…but one thing which none of you know is I love him more than anything else. It all started 2 years back, I saw him first in a lift, and my very first experience with him was very memorable, as his comment to one of his friend made everyone of us in the lift to burst into huge laughter….then I got to know about him through malathy ..and then …and then….” When vaishnavi finished her friends were absolutely stunned , it was bullet out of the blue from their conservative friend. She continued “ many a time when he looks at me, I would love to go and tell him everything , but but my family stood in front of me. You can’t see an orthodox family as mine. My father is deeply respected in that part of the world. He is very strict and I know how hard I pleaded to come to work. I could only cry to myself. Even when he met with an accident last year, I almost decided to rush and see him at his home, I couldn’t . Even couple of days back when my college mate had come to see me, I could find a sense of shock in his face, I could understand why, but I was helpless.” The girls looked at each other in severe shock, but vaishnavi’s eyes doesn’t look like stop pouring.

It was pouring still, and she again repeated “when are you planning to talk to my father? “ and wiped her tears.
He felt like someone was pulling him towards the skies, his eyes glowed, he wanted to run now to his favorite vinayagar temple, hug the idol and cry for hours !
She started describing about her 2 year old strong love, and just when she was about to complete it, he caught hold of her palms with both hands, took near his eyes….when maximum joy reaches your heart, drops of tears would pop out, and that is the ultimate happiness, nothing can replace that !

Months sprinted by….when you get to see a person who loves you more than anything in the world, you would feel you are the strongest in the world. He felt that along side vaishnavi. They weren’t like normal people who talk over phone for hours together, or go together to each and every place in the city , but they had started living together by heart. Time and again , she would fear about her family, their aachaaram, anushtaanam7 etc and he would bring all the words in the world to console her. One weekend vaishnavi started to her home town and so he to his. Both decided to open up the things with their parents. That Sunday when his father was alone , he opened up everything to him. After some pause “ dei will our relatives accept all these ?? “ frowned his father. He was silent. “will first case the girl’s family accept this ?? “ he got a glimmer of hope! The conversation ended there. Monday morning , he rushed to tell her the hope he had got from his father.

***********************************************************************************

Abimanyu exclaimed “ what an entry to marriage for both of you……… who would have thought then that you and Dad would be the best couple on earth down the lane”
She blushed. It was sweet !
“hmm ok mom continue…”
“Days rolled on , just more than 3 weeks had passed since marriage, but we were still treated as bride and groom. This new life was very new to me, and my life before marriage was still afresh in mind. In the mean time, he got to leave for pune for a short term project – 6 -9months, both our parents insisted on taking me with him as well. No one asked my concern, is a different issue ! though he was first hesitant, before he left he assured that he would first see a home for us there and then would take me before. But in pune…”
“may I come inside? “ it was Kamal with a sluggish smile
“yes please…but a wrong timing dad!”
“what happened !”
“nothing ….(she continued with a broad smile) I was just telling about our story…. By the way, freshen up..i will get some coffee for you”
“no no need ma..you continue , I shall make myself… I will get one for you as well “
“hey no way !you must be very tired, we were just chatting I can continue later….you “
Abimanyu yelled “hey hey ! excuse me ! will you both keep your romance some other time?”Both had a heavy laugh.
“now I want someone to finish off the story..i’m getting restless”
“kamal, you continue your part with abi,..heard that you are just out of cinema theatre (she smiled)..i shall be back soon with coffee and a surprise snack…also continue with my part of the story as well..hey abi ! no issues, appa can finish it off….will join you guys soon “
“ok dear I will take care…hey wait, where are you now ? “
“abi tell appa about it” she almost ran from that place.
“ya dad….you continue yours first..i will tell about that later” abimanyu has decided that he is gonna get the story completed today by any cost !After a reminder from abi, he started “the dejected walk by my friends towards marriage hall from the theatre told me that there is something wrong”
“Even after repeated questions from my side, those guys had their mouth heavily shut ! we reached the marriage hall, and it didn’t have the same festival mood it had earlier..one can understand that it was close to mid-night then but even the crowd had reduced to a greater extent. Almost everyone who saw me gave me an expression which was exactly similar to what even that legend kamal8 was given in the classic movie naayagan9 when people were hesitating to tell about the demise of his son” Nothing moved in Abimanyu…he could understand the metaphor.
“no one gave me a proper answer. When I felt it was crossing the limit , I shouted out with frustration –‘will someone break the ice?? ‘ “

***********************************************************************************

Kannan repeated “paa…I’m talking to you !! give me some answer ???“
Just then his mom interrupted
“please look here. We are not going to do any good to our son in bringing him a life on which he has no interest. He feels she is the right person for him.”
His father has never seen his wife talking so boldly to him.. he couldn’t believe what was happening before him.
She continued “ Please don’t give a damn about our relatives, they are not even going to come near our children after marriage. It finally boils down to the two most concerned ones-the children. If they are 100% satisified their life would be great ”
Kannan hadn’t gone through Bagawad Geetha or Bible, but those lines looked to him on those lines. His mother looked like a goddess to his eyes.

With a sweet green signal from his parents, Kannan wasted no time, took a bus to her home. Continuous journey didn’t make him tired at all as he had a purpose before him. He reached her home. Kannan thought that she would be in college by then, but to his surprise she was there. She had a terrible shock on seeing him there as well, and she at once ran into the home. After a thought, Kannan too went inside.

***********************************************************************************
Monday morning , he rushed to tell vaishnavi the hope he had got from his father. He found that she hadn’t come to office yet. Infact she didn’t turn up the whole day. He found her mobile to be switched off as well. Tuesday, Wednesday, even Thursday same case. Friday morning, he went upto vaishnavi’s place and enquired about her with her team mates. No one had clue. Just when he was about to leave, her PL said “vaishanavi ?!! she called me up yesterday night pa ! she said that her marriage got fixed suddenly , so she wont be coming again to office. She said that sometime later she would come back to finish off final formalities if any !” thunder struck him right on his head. He just couldn’t believe what he had heard. He did all possible ways to contact her, but everything went in drain.
The Days that followed were the worst of his life. Nothing went right for him for the next few months. His parents and friends knew very well about what had happened and they did their best to bring him out. Luckily, he got an onsite opportunity and that was the best the healer TIME can give him. He flew.
***********************************************************************************
“no one gave me a proper answer. When I felt it was crossing the limit , I shouted out with frustration –‘will someone break the ice?? ‘ “
The bride’s father came running towards me and fell on my feet. Soon after I realized, what had happened to me is exactly the same which will happen to ‘America mappillaigal’10 in tamil movies. And ofcourse I was one. Heroine had run away with hero, making the groom a comedian. Infact everyone around me was trying to console me thinking that I had become a comedian there as well…but, though it was a great humiliation in one’s life, I didn’t get affected like how a normal person would’ve got. Family members on either side were dejected. Days rolled by and we all needed a change. Shifted the family to Chennai, and I went back to where I belong.”
***********************************************************************************

After a thought, Kannan too went inside.After an hour of animated conversation, her father said “will this be accepted by society ?”.
“sir, fear of society is like ghost inside castle. No one knows about it but everyone fears about it. I’m there for her, and she is for me. My parents are fine, and if you are okay, then lets not give a damn about any one else.”
Her father gave a deep sigh “fine ! If god’s will is that, then I abide by it. Let the studies get over. I shall talk with your parents then and do the necessary arrangements. This should have happened then… “ saying this he turned towards her daughter , and that look threw a question “are you happy ? “
A drop of tear answered “I’m blessed”
Kannan started back soon, and she accompanied him till bus stand.
She held his hands and with moist eyes “thanks ….thanks”
“podi loosu! 11 Meet you in college, and the coming year would be the most delightful after all those black days”
***********************************************************************************
Soon after he came to onsite from a forgetful vacation, he received a mail from a girl named Arasi.
“hi, this is M.Arasi. I’m vaishnavi’s close friend in sivakasi. She has told everything about you to me. After you both had decided to tell about your love to parents, when she came here, only shock and desperation was in store for her. Her orthodox father had arranged almost everything for marriage without her consent. When she arrived there it was just few days to go for the marriage. She did tell her parents but emotional tortures, frightening etc was the response she got. She had no other choice and she had to abide.
But after that so many things had happened, and she had got promise from me to never open anything to you. But my conscience could withstand the pressure of guilt only till now. She is a widow now. Yes she has lot her husband. Her husband met with a tragic accident just after three weeks of her marriage in Pune. Total family came to a standstill. She was shattered but soon she recovered..atleast tried to..she wanted to come out, so she studied for entrance exams and she has joined TAPMI, Manipal to pursue management studies now. Even her family has shifted to Kanchipuram. I have been trying long to get this id of yours, and hope I have got the correct one finally. I just wanted to tell you this. Do acknowledge. Bye !”
Shocks are not new to him and now he just knew what he should do. He somehow pulled out of this onsite assignment , came rushing back to india, and started preparing hard for the entrance exams.
***********************************************************************************
Abimanyu had no words to interrupt in between and his parents narrated everything that was left out .Kamal concluded,”….. and in this way finally the wedding of R.KamalaKannan and K.Vaishnavi held in a grand manner on the 14th of February,2011 at Vijaya Sesh Mahal, Chennai. “ Both Kannan and Vaishnavi clapped in unison.
Abimanyu’s reaction was different for both of them as he looked stunned because till then he had thought that his parent’s were just an arranged marriage and to confirm that the couple narrated the office and college episode only at the end. Both went near their kid who was facing the floor, and in a flash abimanyu gave a tight hug to both of them with a hand over each of them. He was sobbing. “you are great. You both are simply great. I’m blessed to have parents like you.”
“hey hey stop these senti” blushed vaishnavi.
“why you didn’t tell me all these years ?”
“You never asked man ! and we too felt its just the time to tell you”
It took some time for the couple to bring their kid in ground state.
“Dad… I want to write this as a story in my college magazine and portal, with all the suspense that you both gave while narrating ….(both were smiling)…haan..i will take care of that…but but I need a wonderful title for this wonder…tell me one…tell a short and crisp name…HOW TO NAME IT ?? “
“name it as ( Kamal walked near vaishnavi , put his hands over her shoulders and said )

LOVE “


(Kamalakannan & Vaishnavi’s experiences ENDS )


Appa1 - father
Thaatha2 - Grandfather
appaayee3 - Grandmother (Dad’s mother to be precise)
meesa-thaatha4- Grandfather with moustache(normally a bigger moustache)
MS –‘kurai ondrumillai…marai moorthy kanna…. ‘5- M Subbulakshmi- a legend in carnatic music, and this is one the most popular song of her on lord Krishna !
maapilla6 - son in law or bride groom
aachaaram, anushtaanam7 -sacred principles and beliefs followed
legend kamal8 - Legendary Indian actor Kamalahaasan
classic movie naayagan9- A Classic Kamalahaasan starrer Maniratnam’s movie (Tamil)
‘America mappillaigal’10 - Bridegrooms who have their base at USA
podi loosu 11 - idiotic girl

A Mystery Called Life

“ passengers attention please…….train from Beach to Chengalpet will arrive at platform number 2 in a few moments….payanigalin kanivaana gavanatthirkku…….”

Even the railway announcement was stinging him…kabilan was furious about the lady who was announcing so loud……

….he stood totally away from the speakers…..he started thinking deep..he didn’t bother about anything around him….

“ayyya…….saaptu rendu naal aaachi ya”

“just shut up man..i have sent him the doc last night itself….hmm ..what ?.. no way..you see……..”

“hmmm…sollu ma….hey sollu ma….kovama..then? nana, standing in nungambakkam station… ? “

Whatever the passers-by were uttering he didn’t give a damn about it………

everything was not going well for him……his heart was heavy..infact heaviest….his future looked bleak to him… he has just finished scolding vinaayagar, big time, at the temple adjacent to the station…

just then something strange happened…everything looked clean around him, he heard a strong voice “friend ! ask me whatever you had wanted to..you can talk to me just through mind, need not open your mouth”
he tried to speak out, he couldn’t..just lips moved…. “I told you right ? just speak to me through mind…you will be able to “

“who…who are you ? “

“some people worship me, some like you scold me, some try to tell me and as well as others that I don’t exist, and very few thank me…people think that I have numerous shapes….in this part of the universe, people call me as ‘God’ “

“w..h..a..t ! oh my god..have I gone mad ? I could hear some voices…I’m not able to speak..am I alive? “

“you are very much alive my son ! listen …. You just seem to be completely worried..the whole night you were scolding me, and even just before..so I just want to speak to you directly….”

“ufffffffffff….. I couldn’t get what is happening ?? hello..u there ? are you God…. ?”

“I don’t call me so my son..you people only call me so…..”

“which god ? vinaayagar ? oh are you lord shiva whom I insulted when mother asked me to go to your temple? “

(laughing hard) “ha…ha…ha”

“oh no ! then you must be jesus..i was commenting you bad after reading Dan Brown’s novels…..have you come to punish me ? “ his agony and despair grew hard .

“all that you have told are mere names my friend…. Just words! which you people had coined to address me….”

“we people ? I never coined……..”

“I see all of you as one……..okay now tell me , what is wrong with you? “

“you tell yourself as God..so don’t you know my problems?? Were you deaf all these times? “

“ha ha ha……. I was hearing my son…but I didn’t find anything to be a problem…”

“what the hell ! do you think I have no problems at all..i find problems any where…. My parents are not well..they have diabetes and pressure..my father didn’t see considerable profit in business…me? Nothing going right for me…my US visa didn’t get through the lottery twice now…L1 visa seems a rarity …. My project manager sucks me daily…. He is not giving me good ratings as well…my family condition is not allowing me to quit or take risks as well.. my friends too are not true to me….all my trainee mates are now in US…. The guy whom I helped to pass in engineering is now in Australia…I have no sights of improvement in my work life…wherever I go I meet failures……I lost my 15000 rupees mobile yesterday….my personality ? I’m not fond of girls but I’m not as normal as my friends are….. I have one of the worst personalities around and even the girls whom I like see me as something next to shit……..whereever I go people see me as a thing to make fun of…even last weekend the guys literally made me to cry when I didn’t perform well in the match..my father always finds fault in me…. Even the autorickshaw man is scolding me for no reason on my way now…what do you think will motivate me to live in this world ?? “

“hmmm…so you feel you are the most wounded ! okay….now it will take around 75 minutes for you to reach SP kovil station….get down there, and talk to me…we can talk about this in detail...just call me, I will talk to you in the similar…. Till then I will give you something interesting to carry…..just focus your sight on any of your fellow passenger’s forehead-you will be able to know their inner thoughts….see you son……..”

“hmmm…o…k”

Kabilan sensed everything is normal now..just looked around….platform was almost empty …. A person with shabby clothes was looking at him..he asked him “yellarum yenga? “ (where are the others?)

“enna sir ? ippo dhaan train vandhu yellarum ponaanga…nee ninnu kitte kidandhey? “ (what sir ! just now all of them boarded the train, and you were just standing?? )

Kabilan realized…something said him and he just saw that person’s forehead

“aaalayum mogarayum paaru..night adiccha mappu innum irangaama penaatthinu keeraan” (idiot ! seems the overnight hang-over hasn’t gone from him, he is blabbering something)

Kabilan just moved away from that place immediately…..he was thinking about what he had just experienced minutes back…

Soon people started coming and much to his relief, the train came…….he got into it….

The train was packed…he somehow got some space to stand.... he wasted no time, and focused his sight on the forehead of a cute sobby girl standing infront of him in a half-saree..she looked beautiful to him..

“I should have started a little later….i don’t know how amma is gonna take care of paati alone…..did she has enough tablets for today?? I just cooked in a hurry, I don’t know how it tastes too…the food cooked will be sufficient only for breakfast…for lunch ? for dinner ?..…did I switch off the gas ?..the supervisor told that he would speak to the manager today on my salary advance……appa shouldn’t come today also drunken..god you just take care of appa, I will take care of others……amma is suffering because of him……malathy... “

Kabilan took his eyes from her and sighed “ poor girl…. Her story looks much worse than mine……. “

He could sense a bad smell of sweat beside..he saw a middle aged man clinging on to the bars with a look facing the roof of train….he was carrying a typical ‘manjal paiy’ of tamilnadu(a yellow coloured bag which is used common in this part of the world)… though kabilan scolded that man for his hygiene, but out of curiosity he moved on the opposite side to face him…

“bhagavaaney ! naarayana ! I can’t bear this..how am I going to tell my wife ? how am I going to tell my child kaavya ? her heart will not take this…this is not the first of times…this has been the story for the past seven years…grooms coming and seeing her had become routine..but this groom wasn’t like that, after convincing a lot I made her to agree....everything was falling in place..kaavya also developed a wish towards him… now how will I tell to her that he has rejected …my heart feels like exploding… Seshadri too told.. “

Kabilan just felt ashamed of what he thought about that man..he felt very sorry for him, he again looked at him“aaathula thedindru irupaaley…should I tell them that I pleaded the groom’s parents for hours together ? should I tell that out of frustration when I went to the beach late night, the police took me in remand, and just now they released me….oh no, that would be suicidal to tell…maragatham will break down….kaavya will never ever accept again for marriage ……kadavuley…….”

“this is still worse…hmm I again stress my point, gods must be crazy ! a kind looking sadist ! why the hell they make fun of people like him..where is he ? I will see him in SP kovil “ fumed kabilan…..

He saw a school girl standing in the corner…he could guess that she must be in her higher secondary
“ today I escaped from that rascal..will I be able to do it in the evening ? daily that rascal is giving me torture standing at the street’s entrance..if I complain to amma she will stop me from going school..poor amma, after appa passed away, she is toiling hard for me and my sister…..i have to get earn more and more for her…how can I face that rascal ?........”

“ufff….. I feel I’m just standing in a place where people are much worse than me…..” he just moved still in the crowd and started scanning..

“naan enna di thappu panninen?(what wrong I did ?) …why aren’t you talking to me ?...is it wrong to tell….feel like dying”

“idiots…can’t they increase the train frequency…this crowd sucks me “

“why this fellow is looking at me like this ? has he never seen a girl ?...s”

“interesting..all living things in the world are respected and ofcourse not insulted if they are bigger in size..except for the human race…..ha ha ha”

“if he didn’t accept today, he will not see tomorrow…he should not see.. let me inform sulthan before hand so that he can keep his men and tools ready …..”

“toiled inside globus and have bought this sleeveless tops… #$%% these guys are not even looking at me..then whats the use in wearing tight clothes, and exposing ones?….let me see in office”

“operation scheduled tomorrow….25000 more needed….what will I do ? “

“kangal irandaal, un kangal irandaal, ennai katti izhutthaai…….”

“will she get into this compartment…..o god..please…….”

“very hungry now…shall I open the tiffin box and eat..no no..it won’t be nice..too crowded…..yendha aathulayum yaarumey illayo..yellarum inga dhaan irukka?”(no one at their home ? everyone in the train ! )

“I don’t want to go home..i’m gonna run away from office to somehwhere….. she doesn’t like me..like me at all…. How many times I would have pleaded my amma not to get me married….now my whole life is big question mark………..”

“hayyo” Kabilan literally shouted much to get the strange looks of the crowd…. still moved away…had a deep sigh ”is the whole world like this ? full of problems? “...he saw a young lad with bright facestanding with some file in his hand, eyes closed…….. “ hmm how his cry gonna be ?”

“today HCL…tomorrow Iflex…..Saturday Scope…… I will definitely get into any of these…errrr.. I have to..i must….i have to make my father sit at home.at this age he can’t work like this...first I will ask amma to stop going to that maami’s house….no need to go as maid anymore…soon I have to bring groom for mary…hayyo, next month have to pay fees for Sebastian…..hmm ok ok…today there will be a GD round..i have to speak well in english..for the same reason I’m not getting through in any company for the past so many months..this time I will do…coming from a tamil medium school I have improved a lot..i will still improve…..”

Kabilan dropped his head down…..

Pallavaram : an old couple entered the train….they looked like people from the slums…the man hardly had teeth up front and the woman full of silver hairs.. and they right away without bothering any one sat on the floor near to the entrance….. kabilan’s face took a different shape but he wasn’t ready to do the same mistake which he did earlier with the bride’s father…. Both of them seem to be smiling at each other....he started with the old man

“ indha vayasulayum azhaga dhaan pulla irukka….. ye pulla unna mudhal mudhala kovil la vechu paarthathu innum nenju kuzhi kullaye kidakku ! yendha kashtatthilayum un sirippa mattum nee vidavey illaye pulla…kaattu layum mettulayum uzhaichittu vandhaa kooda un mugam podhum pulla, uzhagatthai ondiyuma jeyichiduven !“
(you are gorgeous even at this age dear…even now heart remembers that remarkable moment when I very first saw you at temple..in any kind of troubles you have never dropped your smiles..even after so much of hard work, just your face is enough to regain all my strength back and to conquer the world)

Kabilan was rather amused….. the old man’s happiness and his love for his wife even at this age, made him awestruck …he turned towards the old lady…

“…pongaama kidakku..indha manushanukku sirippa paaru……. Yembuttu pracchanayilum enna kalangavey vidalaye machan nee….. kanji yo koozho nee enakku oru naal kooda oottthama irundhadhey illaye…. sandhoshama saapitrukken… veeran ya nee..madurai veeran “
(look at his smile !….no matter whatever might be the problem, you have never let me down dear…you have never left me hungry.. I have eaten anything with pleasure…. You are my super man ! )

Something deep inside had started bothering kabilan……a cloud of shame has just creeped up….. he turned that side

“oh no…today certifications, I have to clear….all my friends are in onsite…..”

“chee ……. Our case……..” at a flash kabilan pulled his face

Mean while train had reached tambaram… some distortion at the entrance, and ironically many people tried to move away from the entrance to their best to give way to someone..kabilan peeped to see whats in store..

A small girl, around 10 years of age entered with a ring which as big as a scooter’s wheel, even less than that..she was actually accompanying, in fact she was guiding her blind mother…that lady had a bag in her hand….poverty had written its signature on all places and it was eminent on the looks and the clothes of the girl…the girl made her mother sit , thanking the person who gave seat for her.. kabilan was cautiously watching these things..he murmured “why did this little girl took all pains to come in this crowd? She could have taken that lady in the ladies compartment……..”, just then kabilan started witnessing something he never expected..the girl started doing some’ impossibles’ with that ring in her hand…she penetrated through that small ring, stood upside down on her single hand..then in the same posture rotated the ring on her legs..and many more of these kind..…and the whole crowd were witnessing something they had never seen…..this went on for minutes..one could notice a few mouths open out of shock, and many faces turn the other side trying to stay away from giving money…

kabilan now knew that he is actually getting to know new things from each and every person…he went near that girl and tried to see her forehead…

“mom will be hungry..have to get her something to eat at chengalpet”

“ufff”..he wasted no time, much to the surprise of the others around called that girl near..”hey..take this 10 rupees”
“thanks uncle”
“don’t you feel pain in doing this ? you can do something else na… “
“no uncle…I learnt it from an uncle who came to our place..it has become now easy for me...even the people get entertained and I get money for our livelihood…..most importantly I don’t beg….i give some entertainment and they give me money….okay uncle I have to start again” kabilan felt a slap on his face
“hey wait wait…..you..errrr.. I mean sschoool… “
“ya uncle I go… I go to the corporation school..i study sixth standard…..mosa uncle gave me books and pen….on school days I do this after school hours..and weekends I do it all day…I study early morning…”
Nothing moved in kabilan….still managed to “today…school”
“today I’m taking my mother to my aunt’s place..so no school today(she giggled) …so I thought on the way I can do this…. have to save money for my mother’s eye operation….”
Tears peeped out of kabilan’s eyes….. he took a 100 rupee note out and tried giving to that wonder ..(without seeing the money) “you have already given me..wait uncle, I will do this again and get it from you”
Kabilan was just imagining the size of that little wonder’s challenge against his………. “how ridiculous I was ! I just thought I had problems more than any one else…how stupid I was..but… why ? why is this difference….one set of people struggling hard like this for livelihood and one set spending in thousands for a small party…..? “
“I will ask that man today..i will blast him….why is that different yard sticks for different people ? is he a god or BCCI board member ?...” a cricket fan in kabilan stoop up there !

People came in and went out, but kabilan had no plans other than watching that girl…but the girl got ready to get down, and she was clever enough to know that the train halts for a longer time in potheri station..she got down and went inside the next compartment……..

Kabilan got a place to sit….sat infront of a boy and girl..they looked like his breed…but the manner in which they were talking to each other, and the enormity of the closeness they had in the public place did embarrass him… “this has been the order of the day for many….what is the purpose of behaving like this in a public place?...... uncivilized people in the name of professionals ! “..but curiosity is never down, he tried looking at the girl “somehow I had to tell him sooner that this can’t progress longer….i’m gonna abide by what my parents say”… in a flash kabilan almost ran out of that seat and stood near the entrance…

MM nagar :he was no more prepared to look at any one…. his thoughts traversed all along “so many characters…..so many wishes…so many problems…a difficult design, and a confusing one too…..if at all he is god then why he wants to give problems..why he wants to make people struggle……” he just had a quick recap of all the characters he has met infact he had sailed inside through them…..

The all important SP kovil arrived…… a mix of excitement and hesitation surrounded him and he got down…..

With many questions lined up, he called “‘sir……sir……u there”

“yes my son..i was with you….i’m with every one, but most don’t realize that……okay go ahead”

‘hmm…I agree..i agree that problems are with everyone….but why ? you are a god…then why did u show partiality ?.......”

“son did u ponder why the old couple and the little girl were a lot happier than the rest of them you had seen…… ?“

Kabilan was just thinking…

“son…okay….just look at there…the new construction site over there .what did you see ?’

“what a stupid question ! what can one see there….mason is working to elevate the building…..”

“(laughing hard) hmmm…. Okay just tell what exactly are they doing now? “

“they are taking bricks from a pile and placing it where they fit the best….”

“exactly….to the mason all the bricks are one and the same…he takes it from the same place, and fits the same where he knows it will suit the best…some bricks he keep it full..some he changes the shapes..even some he crushes to fit…..some even gets burnt…but he knows which is good for the brick..and hence good for the building….”

Kabilan had plenty to ask….

“But how can this be justifiable…I remember the incident where 90 odd children who doesn’t even know what fire is, got burnt mercilessly….is this cruelty- your design ?? how ridiculous !! “

“ son you see from the bricks point of view and I see from the whole world’s point of view..just imagine the number of streets and number of buildings for the number of generations….but my son, each and every brick is important to me…I know that even one brick can make a building faulty…..each person has a role to play for the system..every single person’s impact will be felt sooner or later…. ”

Kabilan was still not convinced “But how can a lay man realize that..that he is part of such system..is it not the responsibility of you to teach him ? “

Just when the next train arrived,
“son….three friends will now get down at walk into the station manager’s room..just follow them….i will catch you when it is needed..keep this episode within you..any way even if you want to you will not be able to tell others “

“hello..answer me..hey…”

No reply from the other side…… clock was ticking fast….his PM’s face and the deliverables flashed in front of him…also an important client call was scheduled at 11am..he must be there.. but he still started walking towards the room…

he saw two people trying to bring a person out of train ..that person was looking good, lean but to kabilan’s shock he was without both his legs…they were carrying him… kabilan has never ever seen a person like this…one of the passers by also assisted them ..that disabled person thanked him with a broad smile, infact broadest ….
Kabilan went closer…the two friends carried him into the manager’s room and made him sit on a chair..kabilan peeped through the window..

“dei am I giving so much trouble to you people ? “
“not at all mukundha..why do you say so ? “
“we could have easily come by taxi to SP kovil, but since I wished for a train travel I have made you people to carry me”
“shut up da…what is there in this ? we actually spent no effort to carry you..after all what is the use of having friends?”
Mukundhan gave out another one of his cute smiles …
“mukundha you just sit here, we will see where is manohar’s car…”
“okay da”
After the friends went , kabilan came inside the room…. And managed to smile at mukundhan…

“hi I’m kabilan, working for Infosys..just wanted to say a hi to you”

“hello sir..please sit..no one is here…. I’m mukundhan…. My long time wish to visit the singaperumal temple over here..so we came her…this god is very powerful “

Kabilan was stunned….. “sir if you don’t mind shall I ask you one thing ?”

“sir please”

“don’t you think that god has betrayed you…even after you are put in this state, you still worship him ?“ kabilan was very much furious..his tone said that !

Mukundhan gave out a even warmer smile “no no sir…you are mistaken… u know what a lucky guy iam !.things were really bad but not now…some years back dance was my soul and even now (he giggled..it was a cute one)....i had joined many dance classes, got trained in both bharatanayam and western, but god had something different in store for me….it all happened in fraction of seconds…when I woke up I couldn’t find my legs..nothing was there below my upper thighs….i cried..infact screamed..the whole hospital was taken aback” tears dropped down from mukundhan’s eyes……………..

he continued “I came to my senses after 4 months..my parents were just middle-class, I didn’t have any studies to back me up..then the inevitable of my life happened..i met one of the two most important characters in my life..through a program in suntv-arattai arangam I got to meet Mr.Ezhilan…he is the godfather for all those tamil web pages and tamil scripts..he very first designed a software for that ..but what was important was he had a cruel disease from his boy-hood..you won’t believe it..his intestine would come out when he excretes the solid wastes…even at times when he walks…”

kabilan left out a deep breath “ he wasn’t able to move around like everyone else..he should stay only in a closed room…can’t dress normally…but he never left hope…and he has shown way for a new generation now…when I met him he just said these verses-‘i had that courage to live, any one can die..’………. there are fewer bad people in the world but most of the people here are good people sir… I also felt that if you are motivated and show some initiative, people around you will always help you…we can find good things in everyone sir…life is the way we see it…..”

mukundhan continued with a bigger smile “then god gave me opportunity to meet the second important person ..my master Raghava Lawrence, I told him about my wish..when he told me to practice dance, I even thought that he was teasing me..but I practiced..i practiced everything that I can do with my body..now I’ve succeeded…days in Chennai are lesser as I travel around the world for programmes….” Kabilan just wished that he could listen to mukundhan more and more …mukundhan looked the roof “thank you god ! you have been so kind to me. Wherever I go I will tell people and make them feel that if mukundhan can achieve something in life, you can too.”

The friends arrived ……. “dei this is my new friend kabilan..a very good man!..sir he is ramesh..and he is guna”
kabilan didn’t expect him to be addressed like this !

“mukundha car is ready..we can leave…we will go to temple and then we can go to that home “
“home?....”
“yes sir …..there is a home for the under-privileged here..we will go and see what help we can do to them….(with a glad smile) after all the purpose of life is to live a life of purpose ! “

Kabilan moved out of station……..he felt as if everything got cleared..he felt as if he is in a new world……started walking towards the bus…

Some time later…… in the cube,

“ kabila..where are you ?? it is 10.40 now..aren’t you coming to office? “ kabilan’s PM exclaimed..

“sorry kadhir forgot to inform to you..i’m in SRM hospital now “

“hey what happened? “

“two people near SP kovil bus stand met with an accident..severe blood loss..i have admitted them here….THANK GOD..they are safe…THANK GOD”
he exclaimed in joy !

The Bench !

“Days have sprinted…..months flew and years went running …….. 30 years before”

“sir….sir…”

I just looked at the man who called me with a strange look ..

“I’m manivannan ! I’m an RPF…in charge for this paranur station”

I tried to smile at him but couldn’t

“ what are you doing here ? I have been just watching you for the past 1 hour….trains have been passing by but you don’t seem to get into anything…today is Sunday as well, I hope the companies over here don’t work, and its almost night now…I saw you coming out of that car…sir …sir….you seem to be in some trouble….will I be able to help you ? “

My tear filled eyes looked at him

“sorry sir…let me leave you alone”

I just walked away and sat at the bench…the same bench which she used to sit always…..everything has been changed and removed in all these years, and I thank all those hearts who didn’t bother to change or remove this bench …….

**********

“this is ridiculous man ! you don’t have any work..and if at all, you wouldn’t be working as well…but why the hell you are dragging me, I have deliverables…that man is gonna bash me tomorrow…. “

“come on da..can’t you do this for me…….. “

“#$%#.. same dialogue daily…”

He was almost dragging his friend….up the stairs in paranur station…….

“dei, why the hell you are running ? there is enough time da……….ooops sorry sorry…dei I’m gonna be booked in ASHI sooner or later because of you”

“shut up da…train will come in 5 mins from now..atleast till then I have to see her…. She will get into Ladies compartment da….”

“hayyo rama ! why can’t you follow her suit ?..... “

Both of them reached near the bench……he looked at her, and his friend looked at him in despair…

“thank god ! she is here…I was praying actually……….” (with a glad smile)

(with anger on eyes)”do you think God has no other better jobs to do..is he as dumb as iam?…for all said and done, now you need to go and talk to her…or shall I for u ..?”

“why do you want to spoil my happiness ? nowadays Im not even able to see her often………seri stop…don’t waste my time “

*********

Those were wonderful days…this bench was my favourite companion..though I didn’t have any satisfaction in work, the very fact that I would be seeing her today kept me going…without my knowledge I was in deep love with her..’love’ this should be lesser word if at all I have to define……

*********

“one thing is for sure da machan….either I shall kill you or that girl’s father would…for the torture you are giving… im sure..she would be knowing very well that you are following her…..”

“dei don’t tell like that da…no no she doesn’t know………”

“no way man…(laughed)..did you forget yesterday’s incident in FC2 ? even a dumb person could understand very well…..is she dumb ? “

“dei…….” (in despair)

“ the things you have been doing all these months, is so funny and ridiculous..... definitely she would be burning inside furiously….HR calling you is not far away thambi ! “

“hmm ok I will not try to see her often…..she hasn’t come yet, ok lets move away from here” he moved away slowly though his heart stubborn not to move….his friend followed

Both stood atleast 20meteres away from the bench..and he was facing the other side, and his friend was looking for the train

“dei….machan….dei”

He could find some terror in his friend’s eyes… “enna da “

“anga…anga paaru da”

He turned other side just to witness the shock of his life..she just stood beside him..facing him

“I would like to talk to you “

Nothing moved in him…..

“excuse me..i would like to talk to you “

His friend shooked him…

“hmm ooo kkk”

“not now, let this train leave..we can catch the next train”

Both friends couldn’t decipher what exactly is happening……mean while train arrived…

He turned towards his friend to find that he had already got into train…. He waved hands symbolling “continue..continue”

*********

“Even in sleep someone asks me which is your most remarkable moment, I would say it was that…….. but“ tears rolled down…… he fell on his knees, the sound of his cry was heart shaking..manivannan ran towards him sensing something seriously wrong…just when he neared him, the phone rang………

With trembling hands, and almost dying voice he said “ssssss sol da”

“dei where are you man? I was searching the whole hospital ! “

“hmm sollu”

“dei she is out of danger da….doctor said she will be normal….she will be fine da….dont worry ..dont worry….” His friend exclaimed…

he forgot that he is 54 now…he jumped….kissed the bench numerous times…….gave a pat on manivannan’s chin….then started running towards his car………

manivannan didn’t took his eyes of him till the car perished the station in no time !!!!