Photo Courtesy: Siddharth Siva

It was yesterday Shaz a.k.a Ravi Shastri completed his 50th birthday and my blog had maximum number of visitors, especially for my previous post on Shaz.

So here I am, writing more about my birthday boy, if I could still call him mine.

For those, who know Shaz only as an international cricketer and commentator, I want to add that he is a poet too, just like me.

Read this if you can.....

 "An ode to the feeling"



A Feeling - What Is It?


That which I feel is the Feeling


Can you feel what I feel? Do you even know what I feel?
No you cannot for that which I feel is the Feeling that no one else feels


Where would the Feeling be without my Feeling of it?
It would merely be something unfelt,
Completely unfelt until I feel it. 
It is only after I feel it that it becomes felt leading to the Feeling I feel...


I have always felt the Feeling no one else has ever felt and no one will ever feel the Feeling or feel about the Feeling the way I feel the Feeling for I am the Supreme feeler of the Feeling.


Feeling is not easy, it takes years of Feeling to feel the Feeling the way I feel  it and it is my Feeling of the Feeling alone which can be considered to be the real Feeling. 


Every other Feeling felt and unfelt by anyone else capable of Feeling is not a true Feeling because the feelers of the Feeling are incapable of getting the Feeling that I have felt…


If Sidhu is noted for proverbs, Shaz is noted for his Cliches... As his great fan, I wait for every match to end and I can exactly tell you what would be his next words, and that would be, "Cricket is the real winner".

Oh! God! he tries to make even the toughest syntax and complicated ideas easy with his simple yet powerful sentences.  As an English student, I can't help, but admire Shaz and I truly truly wish, I had him as my professor during college days.

1. "Dhoni  goes for the big one". 
2. "He flashed and flashed hard", 
3. "we could be in for a crackerjack of a game", 
4. "The batsman is rotating the strike nicely", 
5. "MS that's great performance from the boys", 
6. "under Dhoni, you can never write off...". 
7. "And up goes the finger", 
8. "He's got a good arm", 
9. "It's not easy to ball, ball after ball",
10.  "makes good use of his heights"
11. "getting the odd one to nip back"
12. "lands the ball on the seam, more often than not"
13. "Playing the natural game"
14. "under light the ball move around, zip around"
15. "Going all the way down to the wire"
16.  "the ball passed like a tracer bullet"

For the previous part, visit here

When Kaesav returned, the house was silent and he heard Aakansha crying softly, at the sitout.

He went and stood before her and said, "The photograph was taken before we got married. If you could remember, I told you on our first meeting itself, that I loved a girl, but she left me after we got engaged. There was no reason, no explanations and she just disappeared and I tried to locate her but with out any success. Few months back, out of blue, I got a call from her, telling me that she is back and she was sorry to have left me like that. I was furious and told her that, I don't wish to see her and I am married to a girl, who thought that the world begins and ends with me."

Aakansha stared silently at Kaesav's face. She had questions for which she hasn't got her answers. She really wished Kaesav had plausible answers and if he gives one, one part of her was willing to accept it, while the other waiting to search for gaps.

Kaesav continued... "Ahalya insisted that she wanted to meet me once. 'For old times sake', she said. I wanted to go to and meet her too, out of curiosity to know, why she disappeared the way she did. Little did I expect the shock waiting for me. When I reached the restaurant, I scanned all the tables, couldn't find her. I sat on a corner table and waited. A middle aged fat woman, with dark shades who sat across the room, stood and started to walk towards me. The world spinned before my eyes and I cried out, "What the fuck happened to you?"

"Lots happened... I knew that we don't hold a chance with all those people, waiting to kill us. I wanted to save your life, if not mine" said Ahalya.

"To kill us... Come on! there wasn't anyone waiting to kill us.", said Kaesav

Ahalya insisted, "No, they are still lurking out there.  After all these days, they still follow me wherever I go and I had been travelling round the country and wherever I go, they too follow."

Kaesav slightly uneasy, told her, "Ok.  We will discuss about this later.  Tell me what you'd like to eat".

Ahalya said, "Not now.  Let's escape through back entrance".  Her eyes wandered here and there and dragged Kaesav out through service entrance.

"She demanded that I meet her everyday.  We met couple of times and she behaved perfectly normal.  Third time when she asked me to come to her place, she seemed to have forgotten that I was married and asked me if we could get married that Friday.  It was the fourth time,  when I saw her lying on the floor, covering herself with mattresses and rugs.  She told me, waving her hands, that if only those men knew waiting outside, knew she is hiding beneath the mattress, will pull her out and rape her.  It was then I understood something was really wrong with Ahalya and discussed about her condition to a doctor friend of mine.  He paid a visit and when Ahalya started being abusive and threatened to kill him, he told me, that she is dangerous to be left out.  He added, that she suffers from a mental disorder called Schizophrenia.  People who suffer from Schizophrenia starts hallucinating and live in that world and forget that a world exist around them.", recounted Kaesav.

He continued, "There were times when she recognized me, there were times when she didn't.  When she recongnized, she acted as if we never parted.  She wrote mails, she chatted and I had to go with the charade, as she was undergoing treatment. The doctors felt that, if otherwise, she might try to kill herself or even harm others around her.  Aakansha, there were times, when I wanted to tell you all this, but it was hell for me and I didn't want you to suffer too.  The photo you saw, was taken when I was dating her.  I need not justify myself to you, for I was not married to you then, but nothing happened after that kiss."

Aakansha her eyes wide, knowing what to believe and what not to, asked Kaesav..."Where is she now?"

Kaesav looked at Aakansha and said, "She's dead.  She killed herself."

Aakansha stared at Kaesav and started to apologise and Kaesav stopped her and said, "Hope you atleast believe me now, if not I can take you to the doctor right away and you can check for yourself."

Aakansha said sorry and she sobbed with relief, Kaesav gathered her in his arms and kissed her forehead.  She said, "wish you had told me everything at the beginning itself and you need not have faced it alone."

Aakansha and Kaesav stared at each other for a while and Aakansha slowly started walking towards Kaesav.

After 8 years of being incredibly busy, I recently quit my job and had lots of time in my hand and no clue how to handle it responsibly.

My typical mornings starts with a cup of sugarless coffee and newspaper in my hand. Exactly 30 minutes later, my cousin Sowmi would join me for a chat.  To introduce Sowmi to you, he is a synthetic organic chemist, who did his Ph.d in Synthetic Organic chemistry from IIT Mumbai.  Why am I giving you such an elaborate intro for Sowmi?  Coz from the same family hailed "me" whose nightmare is Chemistry and if someone asks me what an atom is, I would say an atom is a bomb. So, for me Sowmi is God's incarnation, who understood what actually molecules, atoms, compounds and elements are and still has his brain intact.

I still don't understand why copper can't be called CO instead of CU and Iron IR instead of FE;  I used to be confused between the difference of 2H and H2(the two is subscript). My teacher explained 2H is two molecules of Hydrogen and H2 indicates two Hydrogen atoms (still not sure).  I stood confused before a huge green board, and the teacher who was less than 5 feet, loomed before me like Goliath.  She ?guided me to balance an equation.

1. Balance an element that has one reactant and product
2. Once you balance an element, proceed to the next and next until all elements are balanced.
3. Balance the chemical formulas by placing the coefficients in front.
4. Don't add subscripts, as that would change the formula itself.

*Blink* just like when Spike hits Tom's head with a club, and Tom's eye balls, like a fortune wheel circles fast and rest....I understood it's better to leave the equations the way they are and not to mess with them.  It was then I decided to opt for English as my major in college, which later turned out to be a nightmare for my lecturers.  That's another story.

Now back to where I left, listing my conversations with my geek bro.

Day - 1 :

Sowmi:  "Reverend Jim Jones, was a self proclaimed prophet.  He had 1000s of loyal followers, who donated their entire life savings to him to join his commune.  When the authorities smelled illegal activities, investigation began and to avoid facing the charges, Jim Jones committed suicide and convinced all his followers to ingest cyanide and commit suicide.  This led to mass suicide of 909 members out of which 200 were Children."

He didn't stop there, he started to talk about Cyanide and also this conversation led to the death of Napolean Bonaparte by arsenic poisioning and the properities of arsenic.  I cut short and asked the details of Jim jones and mass suicide and I came to know that it happened in the year 1978, when I was 7.  I was in class 3, Mukundh was my best friend. Mukund happened to be our school correspondent's son and because I was the best friend of Mukund's, I was every girl's envy. While I remembered all these details, it's unbelievable that either I forgot or not aware of the Mass suicide that happened at Jonestown.  I was shocked and spent close to 3 hours reading about this mass suicide in net.

By googling:

Act: 5
Scene: 3


10 years later...

Manickam: "Enaku edhuku ungala pidikanum?  Neenga yaro naan yaro"
Malar: Nee adi vaanga pora... idhayae evlo naal soli kindal panuva?
Manickam: Chumma sonnaen... ovoru thadavai naan idha solrapo, unnoda siripu enaku pidikum.
Malar: Romba mukiyam.  Ippo thaan pudhusa kalyanam aana madiri.  rendu pillaingaluku appa ngaradhu appo appo nyabaga paduthanum.

Manickam's cellphone rings...

Manickam: Solunga annachi.
Other end: chatter
Manickam: Naan ippo vandhudaraen. Pesi mudichudalam  Indha idam mattum fix aayiduchuna, ennoda pala naal kanavu nenavaaiyidum..
Other end: chatter
Manickam: Unga sol palichudanum. Innum oru mani nerathula anga irupaen, neengalum vandhidunga
Malar: Enna vishayam
Manickam: Kasi theatre pakathula oru land vikaradha sedhi vandiruku.  Naan poi pesi, edatha paathutu vandhidaraen.  Nala prime area, nalla velaiku vithu kudutha, super a commission therum.
Malar: Seri nga.  Naan kuzhaindangala kootitu namma driving class office ku poraen.  Neenga varapo anga vandhidunga. sendhu vandhidalam.
Manickam: Seri ma.  Naanae unnai vittutu poidaraen.  Kuzhandaingala thookitu kashta padadha.

Manickam drops Malar at her driving school.  She stands as usual for a minute to look at the board in front of her office. The  board read, Vijaya driving school, which was named in memory of her mother.  4 cars, 8 bikes and employed 5 male and 3 female drivers.  If not for her husband, this wouldn't have been possible. She and Manickam wanted to start a travel agency too, it had been there dream for quite sometime now.


Manickam left Malar at her driving institute and started his bike and in ten minutes he was at the customer's place and checking various details.  The moment he saw the house, he knew it was made for one of his customer who visits his tea stall time to time.  He knew Naveed for close to 12 years now and because of his guidance and encouragement, Kuppai is now doing veterinary science and in less than a year will become a veterinary doctor.  The first doctor in his family.

Manickam: Hello naan tea kadai manickam pesaraenga.  Neenga nalla irukeengala?  Unga kitta sollitirundhaen ileengala ippo real estate business um panraenu.
Naveed: Chatter
Manickam: Ileenga adhukelam innum neraya varusham pudikum.  Mediator thaanga.  Mudhala thozhila therinjupom apparam kalathula kudhikalaam.
Naveed: chatter
Mancikam: Kasi theatre pakathula oru veedu velaiku vandiruku.  Neenga enkitta soli irundhadhu nyabagathuku vandhudhunga.  clean document.  Eppo vara mudiyumnu sollunga.  Ungaluku pidicha mudichudalaam.
Naveed: Chatter
Mancikam: 2 solraanga.  1.8 ku mudikalaam.  Mudhala veedu pidichirukaa paarunga.  Vayasanavanga, pasanga ellam foreign la irukkaanga, periya veedu maintain panamudila.  Vithutu oru flat vaangitu, meedhi kasai bankla pottu kalaathai ottalamnu paakaraanga.
Naveed: Chatter
Manickam: Pesi paakalam neenga vaanga.  En manasuku ennavo neenga idhu madiri veeta thaan theditu irundheenga nu thonudhu.
Naveed: Chatter
Manickam: Seri nga.  Naalaiku kalaila 10 maniku seriya anga iruppaen.

Manickam enters the driving institute and was told that Malar left for home already.  He started to his home and found Malar cooking and the smell of payasam greeted him at the door.

Manickam: Enna iniku special? Payasam vasanai oorayae thookudhu?
Malar: Va Va unnai thaan aavaloda edhir paathutirundhaen...
Mancikam: Enna kural la keli thookudhu?
Malar: Kalailendhu neeya wish panuvaenu paathaen.  Ippo payasam edhukunu vera kekara la... unnai ellam enga poi adichikaradhu?  Namma kalyana naal inniku.  Pathu varusham... onu ila rendu ila.  avanga avanga ooty kodaikanal nu veli oorku poi kondadaraanga, inga ennadanu thedhi yae nyabagam ila.
Manickam: Sorry ma... edho velai tension la marandhutaen.  Payasam mudinja varaiku podhum adupai off pannu.  Naama velila poi saapidalam.  Appadiyae nee romba naala vanganumnu nenaichitirundha velai kallu thodum vaangiralaam.
Malar: Romba thaan paasam. Kuzhandaingala kilapunga, naan 5 nimishathula ready aayidaraen.  Appadiyae koil poyidaalaam.
Manickam: Neeyum kozhandaingalum kovil ulla poitu vaanga, naan velila wait panraen.
Malar: Enakaaga indha oru thadavai kovil ku vara koodadha?
Manickam: Ellam therinjum kekariyae?  Nambikai illama naan kovil ula varadhu, nee kumbidara deivatha avamadhikara madiri.  Naan manushangalukula kadavula paakaraen.  Neenga silai ku ulla kadavula thedareenga avlo thaan.
Malar: Enamo ponga....

Malar dressed herself in their wedding silk sari and to her neatly plaited hair, weaved the fresh jasmine flowers.  She had an idea how the day would end and she smiled to herself...

Act :5
Scene: 2




10 years later....


Prad's Mom: Pradeep, innuma thoongara?


Silence...

Prad's mom: Indha vayasana kaalathula, ippadi maadi padi era vaikariyae? keezha vandhu coffee eduthuka koodadha?

She opens the door to find Prad sitting at the corner of the room immersed in thoughts.

Prad's Mom: Ennada? Yaen ennamo madiri irukka? pazhasayae nenaichitirundha mudiadhu...ippovavadhu naan solradha kaelu.  Enakaaga illenaalum Prernah ka ga un manasu maathiko.
Prad: Ayyo! thiruppi unga lecture aaramikadheenga, amma... please
Prad's mom: Illada naan edhuvum sollala... sona mattum nee naan solradha keka poriyaa enna?

Prad's mom, shrugs and leaves...

Prad's mind rewinds to the day, four years back, when Vipra woke him for the last time.

Vipra: Praddy get up... get up
Prad: Vip... it is Saturday, let me sleep for some more time.  You too sleep na rather I have another idea, why can't we start the process of making another baby, a brother or sister for Prernah?
Vip: (blushing) Nalla iruku nee solradhu... un ponna paathukavae ennala mudila, ava adikara attagasam thaangala, idhula innonu vera ya... thaangadhu da samy...
Prad: (Smiling) What's my princess up to..?
Vip: Open your eyes and see for yourself...

Prad rolls to his left and opened his eyes to see, Prernah, his daughter yelped and gurgled and shouted  Dada... Prad for the millionth time thanked God, for gifting him with such a lovely wife and beautiful and healthy child.

Vip: Will you take care of your daughter for half an hour, I will wash her clothes and dry them and come.
Prad: Sure dear... now you run and finish of your chores. (Pulling a straight face) But, I wish she is not disgustingly cheerful early in the mornings... I need my dose of caffeine to wake me up...

Picking his daugher and tossed her high on the air and caught her and Prernah screamed with delight....


For the next half an hour, Vipra heard Prad whistle, sing and Prernah's giggle.  She smiled at how blessed her life is. She still can't believe her luck.


Her mind rolled back to the day when Prad told her that he needs her counselling.  Vipra messaged saying that she will call him the next day.


The next day, Prad came to Vipra's house.  Vipra was taken by surprise as Prad never felt comfortable visiting others house.  She invited him in and told him that her parents had gone to a nearby temple.

Prad:  Vip, we need to talk
Vipra: Tell me... Have you come to tell me that yesterday was a mistake?
Prad: Yes. But the mistake was between me and Sheerine, not between you and me.  Listen, Vipra.  You know me more than anyone else.  I am no good with fancy words.  You are my best friend.  You had always been there, whenever I needed you.  You had been a pest at times, but lovely pest, whom I missed when not around.  I loved the chatter, when we meet in person, I loved the chatter when you message or call...It was incredibly silent after you left and I don't ever wish for that silence again.  You need to hear anything more?
Vipra:  You call me a pest and chatter box and you expect me to be happy with that?
Prad: I told you that you are my best friend. Do you have selective memory?
Vipra:  Oh! yeah! with your other girl friends, it is sweetheart, honey, dear and when it comes to me, lovely pest, dear chatterbox, best friend... I feel like a dear old comforter.
Prad: I am telling you this for one last time.  You are one friend I trust my life with, you are the only person, to whom I am myself and I don't hide anything from you.  Vip, you are important to me.  I think, I am in love with you.
Vipra: You think!?! Wow! I am honored.
Prad:  What do you want to hear from me, Vipra?
Vipra: Nothing Prad... sorry for being little curt.  I have to go for my music class now.
Prad: I will drop you.
Vipra: No prob Prad.  I will take my scooty, it will be easy to come back.
Prad:  Can you take a break from class today, Vip?

Vipra wanted to say "No", but she said "Yes" instead and it turned out to be the loveliest day in Vipra's life.  Prad was very considerate. He pampered and wooed her.  This was a prad, she never met before.  At the end of the day, Prad proposed to Vipra and Vipra accepted..


Six lovely years passed... there were fights, reunions, loads of love and while Prad became a budding entrepreneur, she took care of his daughter and taught music.
Vipra finished her chores and went up to Prad's room to watch Dad and daughter playing.  It was then, she felt severe pain on her shoulders and chest... She called out for Prad and asked him to take her to the hospital.  Prad rushed her to the nearby hospital, only to hear the doctor say, it was severe cardiac arrest and fatal.

10 years later....

Ana saw Rachel playing with her straw and blowing the Strawberry milkshake...a small drop of the milkshake landed on the tip of her nose and Ana reached to wipe it from Rachel's nose.

Rachel: (Swinging her legs) Mummy, if I pray to Santa, will he give me the gift I want?
Ana: Sure. Only if I pray along with you.  What do you want, Baby?

Act: 4
Scene: 3




Manickam:  Annanagar varaikum ponam nga.
Malar: (Looking at the driver, who was first in the queue) Anna neenga Annanagar savaree poreengala?
Auto driver: illa neenga ponga. Enaku koncham college road varaikum poganum.
Malar: Seri vandila ukkarunga
Manickam: Enna veyil, mandaiya polakudhu...
Malar: Kathiri veyil, namakena pudhusa...
Manickam: Unga appa apparam edavadhu sonnara, anniku?
Malar: Illa naan avara edhuvum kekala. Kaeta sandai thaan varum.
Manickam: Oh...seri
Malar: Naan andha kaasai mudhal thedhi thandhudaraenga. Innikum neenga kaasu thara venaam, kazhichukalaam
Manickam: Ayyayo naan adhuku sollaleenga.. avasaram illa porumaiya kudunga.
Malar: Enaku kadanaaliya irukka pidikadhu.
Manickam: Nalla pazhakam thaan.  unga virupam... ungaluku annan, thangachi  yaarum illaya?
Malar: Annan irundharu, cancer la moonu varusham munnadi erandhutaaru.
Manickam: Yennaku unga kitta onnu solanum.
Malar: Sollunga
Manickam: Life la enaku oru pidipum ila, Kuppai, avanoda padipu, ennoda tea kadai nu vaazhkai oditu irukku.  Koncham naala naamum yaen kalyanam panitu life la settle aaga koodadhu nu thonudhu.
Malar: Hmmm... seekaram kalyanam panunga. Nala vishayatha thalli poda koodadhu nu enga amma adikadi soluvaanga
Manickam: Enaku suthi valaichu pesa theriyaadhu.  Unga nermai pidichiruku, unga dairiyam pidichiruku.  Naama yaen kalyanam panika koodadhu?
Malar: (Braked) Enna solreenga? seri varadhu.
Manickam: Yaenu therinjukalaama?
Malar: Seri varadhu na varadhu. Karanam ellam kekadheenga
Manickam: Naan oralavuku padichirukaen, decent a sambadhikaraen, chinnadha oru veedu iruku, ungala kan kalangama paathupaen.  Idhuku mela enna venum? yennai ungaluku pidikaliya?
Malar: Enaku edhuku ungala pidikanum.  Neenga yaro naan yaro.
Manickam:   Unga mela love nu ellam naan poi solla virumbala aana pidichiruku. Neenga koncham porumaiya yosichu paarunga, apparam ungaluku pidikalena, neenga yaaro, naan yaaro nu poitae irukkalam... (Smiles)

Auto stopped...

Manickam: Enna aachunga, vandiku?
Malar: Vandi la edho prachanai nu nenaikaraen.  Neenga vera auto eduthu poidunga.
Manickam: Naan vena mechanic kootitu varava?
Malar: (irritated)  Vandi ottarava naan,  naan paathukaraen, neenga kilambunga. 50 roova aayiruku.  meedhi 450 roova naan kuduthudaraen.

Manickam half heartedly leaves...

Malar waited till Manickam got in to another Auto and then turned and left.  She thought about what Manickam said and she chided herself for over reacting.  It was 7.30 PM when she reached home and found Manickam talking to her dad....

Thousand drums hitting in tandem,
Nymphs and satyrs dancing random...
Horses galloping from left to right,
Elephants trumpeting and running wild...

A kettle whistling non stop,
Hot water boiling down; scorching sharp...
Sirens sounded impatient,
Mom's mumble apparent....

Holding my head with my palms,
Drugs doesn't heed to soothe my qualms...
Hammer is what I wish to hold.
Raise it and ram my skull with force...

Act: 4
Scene: 1


Naveed: Maybe I am not explaining it well.  But, I can't afford to have relationship with anyone.  I am still a software engineer with a moderate salary and I can't even think of settling down for another 5 years or so.  I have plans.  Wanting to do my MS.  I don't believe in going round with a woman, when I am not planning to get married.  Not that I am immune to women, I'd love to spend and roam around with a girl but I control myself from doing it.
Ana: But, why?  When you love something, you should indulge.  When you find the right woman, then she should be willing to wait for you.
Naveed: That's exactly what I don't want her to do for me. Now, let's talk about you. What's your plan for future.
Ana: Almost similar to yours.  Not planning to settle down. "once bitten twice shy" they say.  Burnt my fingers once by falling in love and I don't want to repeat the same mistake again. Atleast for another few years.  I want my boutique to grow in to chain of boutiques all over India.
Naveed: Hmmmm....
Ana: Hmmmm..... (laughs awkwardly...) I am known for talking not stop.  But, when it comes to you, I am tongue-tied...
Naveed: (Smiles....) Any idea what I am feeling right now?
Ana: No... you should tell me
Naveed:  I wish I am like any other guy, flirting with you, taking you out on a date, quite intense and not like today.  Several dates if possible, kiss you  if you allow me to and enjoy life like other men do.  But, I am Naveed and I won't allow myself to do that.
Ana:  This is not a date. Come on!
Naveed:  Define a date...
Ana: When two people who like each other...
Naveed: Smiles.... continue...
Ana: seen together in public

Naveed smiles again

Ana: Get to know more about each other (Ana smiles)
Naveed: And?
Ana: and evaluate each other if they are compatible couples.
Naveed:  We are on a date, but not as intense.  Except for evaluating each other we fit in the date definition well.  Maybe mentally we are evaluating too.  But, I have to tell you a truth Ana.  From the day I met you, I can't help but think about you frequently and if I had met you after 5 years, maybe I would allow myself to fall in love with you.
Ana: You know you are arrogant at times... "allow yourself to fall in love"?  Love is spontaneous, you will not have any control over it.  That's why its generally termed "falling" in love.  You can't control the feeling.

Ana takes her pen out, hastily scribble something in the paper napkin and pushed the napkin to Naveed.

"Love" is blind; "love" is vile,
"Love" is everything, difficult to describe.
It makes us want; can't take "can't".
It rush through the veins, and refuse to stay calm."


Naveed: Hmmm..mmm... looks like you write poetry too... you never cease to surprise me...

Signs for the waiter and asks for cheque....

Ana: Are we leaving?

Hurriedly hides her disappointment and gets ready to leave. When they headed to Ana's car, Naveed offers to drive and Ana agrees to that.

Ana muses on how the character of a man, comes out while he drives.  She learns that Naveed is cool, composed and carefree yet careful and considerate driver.  She feels comfortable and she slowly relax.

Ana:  So you can drive a car and I won't be surprised if you know to fly a plane too.
Naveed: ha ha ha.... I used to drive car, back home.
Ana:  Though I hate to spoil err... our half date, wanted to know where we are heading that way can give you the directions.
Naveed:  I am taking you to my favourite spot.  Never taken anyone there till now.  But, felt like going now. Ofcourse, if it's ok with you.

Ana mentally does a "Yipee" and try to keep a calm face.  She started to read Naveed little by little.  Whenever she gets excited about something, he puts an end to that and walks off.  So, she learnt to hide her excitement and have a matter of fact look.

Ana: Hey! that's cool

Ana settles back comfortably and closes her eyes.


Naveed feels that, if it's any other girl, she would have cried with delight on his plans to take her to his favorite spot. He felt that he kind of losing and wants to see her excited reaction.  If she is like every other woman he had met, that would be an easy job.  But, Ana on the other hand is a cool customer and Naveed is intrigued.


Naveed stops the car, and turns to look at Ana sleeping like a baby with a small smile on her lips.  He hated to wake her up and continues to stare at her.  After 5 mts, he gently nudges Ana and Ana opens her eyes.  It takes a minute for her to realise where she is.  Naveed led her out and guides her forward to his spot, at ECR and Ana stunned, her greedy eyes moving this way and that way and her hands reaches for her mobile and she starts clicking pictures.

Ana: Thanks a lot for sharing your spot with me.  This would be my favourite too, here on.
Naveed:  Finally I see you are excited with something I shared.
Ana: (Smiles) Yes and I know now that you found that I am excited, you are going to bundle me in the car and take me home.
Naveed: Nah. If you have time, we can go to Pondy. What say?
Ana: Am game. Let me know if you are tired and I can drive.
Naveed: Will tell you

For another one hour the car was filled with music, laughter, silence and when Naveed took Ana's hand, it was natural.  She loved the feel of Naveed's skin on hers, rough yet soft. Once, he took her hands all the way to his chest and held it there for a minute before releasing her hands.  He was tempted to kiss her hands but something stopped him from doing that.

While gazing at the Matrimandir,  Naveed turns to find sunlight playing on Ana's face and the warm breeze playing with ana's strand, he started to think, if he was waiting all these years for Ana to happen.  Ana staring at Matrimandir, wondering if she is really in love with Naveed.  Naveed notices the slight flush on Ana's face and knew for sure, she was thinking about him, while Ana felt though not sure that Naveed is warming towards her.

Act: 3
Scene: 3






It was at the Police station the Auto finally stopped...and the two men sitting occupying the back seat, jumped and tried to sprint off... Malar yelled at the police men and public standing outside, and they caught the two men and took them in to the station.


Constable: Enna ma prachanai? Enna sacharavu?
Malar: Sir, ivanunga en auto la yerinanunga... vayila vandhapadi kana binaanu asingama oru ponna pathi pesitu vandhanunga, kadhae koosuchu... avanunga pesuna varthaiyellam thiruppi solla kooda mudiadhunga.  Ivanunga enna pathi pesalenaalum, naanum ponnu thanae....poruthu poruthu paathaen... ellai meeri pesa aramichapo, porukamudiama inga vandiya konandhu nipatitaen.  Neenga thaan nayam solanum nga.
Constable: Ennanga da.?? Pozhudhanaikum ponungala kevalama pesaradhae pozhapa vaichirukeengala??? inniku ungala vangara vangula ponunga irukara disaikae poga mateenga...

Two men their mind still reeling, not able to believe what was happening.  They didn't expect that Malar would stop before police station.  Usually woman give disgusted look and move away, when they talk in an obscene way. Every grimace, they considered as their personal victory.  Though they knew that they cannot be punished serious for talking obscene, they started to fear the way they were being handled at the police station.
.
Constable: Umai kottaan madiri nikareenga, athanai paechu pesineengala, dairiyam irundha ippo pesaradhu? Neenga oru complaint ezhudhi kuduthu veetuku pongama, naanga eve teasing case la book panni ulla thalidarom....evanungala mutti ku mutti thatina thaan seri varum...
Malar: Seringa Sir, naan complaint kuduthutu kilambaraen

At auto stand, malar's dad...

Malar's dad: (Fully drunk) Malaru malaru, kannu malaru enga irukka?
Auto driver 1: Aramichitaanya...
Malar's dad: En ponna paatheengala...?
Auto driver 1: Avanga savari poyirukaanga... yaen periyaravarae kudichitu veyila suthareenga... veetla poi paduka vendiadathu thaana?
Malar's dad:  Thambi unga kitta solarathukena, enga annan; petha appa madiri valartha ennoda annan, erandhutaanga... karumadhiku kaasu eduthutu ooruku poganum; dhukam thaangama thanni potutaen. (Sobs...) Ponnu irundha kaasu vaangitu polaamaenu thaan vandhaen
Auto driver 2: Ayyo periyavarae, neenga veetuku ponga. Unga ponnu vandha naanga anuparom.
Malar's dad:  Koyametula 5.15 ku oru bus adha vitta nightu 10 maniku thaan. Pora pokka paatha naan ella mudinja apparam thaan povaen poliruku... Annae... (Starts crying...)
Manickam: Indhaanga periyavarae selavuku indha 500 roova vaichukonga.  Apparam porumaiya kudunga.
Malar's dad: Thambi yaaru petha pullaiyo, samayathuku udhavi panra... un kaiya kaala nenaichu kumbidaraen pa.
Manickam: Adhelam paravalinga kasu inaiku varum naalaiku povum, manushanga thaan mukkiyam.
Auto driver 1: Periyavarae neenga en auto la utkarunga naan koyametla vitudaraen.
Malar's dad: Adhelaam venam thambi, naan bus pidcihu poidaraen, innum time irukku.  Neenga unga pozhaipa paarunga...

Malar's dad turns and walks...

After 15minutes, Malar reaches the auto stand.  

Auto driver 2: Ippo thaan unga apparu ungalai theditu vandhutu ponaru. Unga periyayya, avanga annan erandhutaaraam.. Neenga udanae veetuku kilambi ponga sister.
Malar: Ennadhu enga periyayya va?  Neenga yaarum kaasu keesu edhuvum kudutheengala?
Auto driver 1: Namma manickam annan thaan 500 roova kuduthichu.  Karumadhi selavuku kaasu venumnu unga apparu ketaaru.
Malar: Ayyo avaroda annan sethu pathu varusham aachunga.  Thani adika kaasu irundirukaadhu, poi ya solli vaangitu poyirukaaru.  Indha madiri oru appana vaichutu enakaedhu vaazhkai.
Manickam: Avar sonadha nijam nu nambi naan thaan kaasu kuduthaen... sorry nga.
Malar:  Neenga nalla manushan.  Avara thaan solanum.  Inniku thaniya full a pottutu enga vizhundhu kidapaaro. enna panradhu?
Manickam:  Naan solaraenu thappa nenikaadheenga, seekarama oru kalyanam panitu, purushan veetuku poidunga, appo kudika kaasu illama kashtapaduvaru ungappa, appovaavadhu kudiya nirutharara paapom.
Malar:  Aatha illa, appan seri ila.  Enakaedhunga vaazhkai.  Kaalam muzhuka ippadiyae irukka mudivu panitenga.

Manickam, looks at the bowed head of Malar and felt a pang of emotion hit him for the first time all these years. He kept telling himself over and over that it's just sympathy. When he finally lay down on his bed,  he smiled to himself and his mind was thinking about Malar.  There was this slow thought that formed in his head.  It was a million chorus resonating inside his brain, when Manickam's eyes shut down finally and sleep embraced him.

I am sure Chennai (Madras) lovers like me would love the rare photographs taken half or even a century back. Planning to have a series under the label "Madras nalla Madras".
Good ole P.ORR & Sons, then selling jewellery, Arms and ammunition, sporting requisites, silver ware and manufacturer of scientific instruments
 Distance makes no difference.. WOW!!!
 Pharmaceutical Chemists:
Once tired; always used



 Enemy....? Re. 1 only and don't miss the "A scrap of paper with a British, not German, guarantee" part...
 Typewriters survived for quite a long period, it survived at least till I finished my typing course in 1987.
 Cigar smokers... "The best HINT of all"?





 Theatre ad...




New Year Bash at The Taj.... Chinese Ball, Costume Ball and tempting prizes... sounds tempting... 



People who can read Tamil, will be taken aback at a word, which is used liberally, which now is a swear word in Tamil...



 Komala Vilas - Hindu Restaurant; G. N. Chetty & Son - Wine and 'Spirits' merchant; Wiele & Klein's - ? photographic views (Amateur work carefully executed) Kodak film always in stock...



Life insurance ad...  nice pic and nice tag lines to think of a century back...

1. 1 - Japan hand fan
2. 1 -  Chrysanthemum for women to wear on their hair
3. 1 -  Perfume bottle
4. 1 -  Comb
5. 1 -  A chain to hold the watch
6. 1 -  Stone choker necklace (not gold)
7. 1 -  Compass
8. 1 -  Mirror
9. 1 -  Perfumed oil
10. 4 - Shirt buttons
11. 1 - Handkerchief
12. 1 - Ring for you fingers

Buy our medicine and you can forget your fear for scorpion bites...