A Kongu feast at its land

 It was a quarter to two pm, and the stomach had just started to grumble, by way of its sound, and burning with emptiness.The message was clear, and the choices on the highway were immense, with all the billboards advertising their presence, and the cuisines available.

We finally selected and settled in on Annapurna, on entering koyambath oorunga.

Opposite to KMCH, this hotel was well located, attracting a mix of customers,

Having our temperatures checked, and de-sanitising our sensitive hands, we chaired to a lavish spread of a thali without a name, cheating our senses, it was going to be a simple meal.

It was a large circle of a plate, with a banana leaf cut to size and fit, inlaid with nine cups arranged at the rim, filled with
1) Dal
2) potatoes and peas, pasted with spice
3) drum stick, beans and radish, avial
4) keerai kootu
5) drumstick sambar
6) vathal kulambhu
7) rasam
8) thick curd ( adjective, specific)
9) payasam.
Out of the cups and in the centre was an appalam, and hiding beneath it was a small finger more molaga.

With multiple servings of steaming white rice, the lovely food was chewed well and relished in slow motion.

It was wonderful while it lasted, leaving a digested memory for times to follow on road.

Godman

 God is an hypothesis and man is a reality, it is a false hope to a real crisis to tap inner strength.

The quicker we get to realise this the safer we are from con artists at every level, from a poojari priest to a Godman at an ashram, robbing money from people with donations, and people from family as volunteers.

One day at the campus I work, a rich community had their gathering on their passing way in caravans, I went to see the caravansary.

One leader prophesied, one day you will be a Godman like this one, I said, " no I will not, " he must have been surprised, as he would not have been rebuked,  "then you will be a good man".

Looks like there was a lesson from that episode in various angles, then and for later times, I rushed back to work.

Safe and secure, me from people and people from me.

learning to say "NO"

 In these days of everyone accepting the single rule " the boss  is always right", thinking for yourself and acting with dignity is something for the unreal.

The word "no" is considered as unruly, rowdy, bad, and more.

I once had an elderly paternal uncle who one evening said " I will tell you one thing, but no talking back", I said " then do not tell me".

I am an odd one when addressed with conditions, " sorry, not my style".

Respect yourself, gather courage, see where things, people, situations are worthy of understanding, take a chance, say " NO".