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".

A stylish beauty with courage

It was closing time for the college, all the staff and students were filing out, the portico was busy.

With a small twist of the neck, the tuft of hair hiding the beautiful face was shifted, sending waves of magnetic attraction to all those

around who could notice.

There was this graceful one with a blue and pink costume hugging her petite figure , she carried herself with grace, aware with each

 step like a precious vase pregnant with fragrance , not to be spilled.

The high heels of a shade of chocolate carried her sweetness across the large hall which was belittled with her presence, more could be typed by her fan.

But these are enough to let an artist know she is noticed, admired adored and appreciated for her style, grace and courage.

Mother Nature would have come down to see her creation if she knew, and so these words......

                                                               V

A crucified rose seeks a resurrection

It was just another of those bright mornings with the early shoppers to the market, gaily moving from shop to shop with a look at the distant exhibits.

The roses in bouquet were a blossom to the heart, after a long gap of the misty gardens failing to bring them to bloom.

With my short sight of colors, as we all men are when in comparison with our beauties, i picked up a different shade of each.

Each rose found a promising place, and there was one left after all the vases were filled and hearts melted, hmmm with a small thought a place on the wall was cellotaped with the thorny bloom.

I went on with my work at the desk below it.

It was more of a call from the flower, begging to be released, i turned and felt myself suddenly a bandit ,pilfering a creation to be taped.

Down it came and a magical cup was found and there it was on the table top, spreading its beauty to those who could notice. 

Tearing away with tears

A date was fixed for the parting and postponed, and timing fixed and lengthened, i was wondering why, until i saw the farewell.

It was the final day for our kid at the college and the batch was dispersing,it seemed just like a shift to another home, until all the things were packed and it was time for the waving.

There was a moment of jealousy in the mind when I could see how he has been won over by many a rugged one with soft hearts and cool eyes.

They had been together for 4 years and they must have shared many a struggle and moments of euphoria in closeness we can imagine like ours.

It was too dark and Mother Nature too was very solemn and shared her part in the parting with a slight drizzle.

These are the ones who are going to carve the world of tomorrow,for themselves and for the future.

Wishing them all a bright future,with togetherness and understanding.

A page for Paige

It was a spur of a thought on the week end, for a trip to Ooty, an invitation from a cousin, which was irresistible, but the Monday morning class was a hurdle, taking the clue, the timing was changed, and there we were on the ghats to Ooty, drinking the blue mountain air, and clicking away the rest on the mobile.

Mother Nature seems to hide some of her secrets, from our normal senses, but which gets stripped with the inventions of man on the cell and celluloid, wow those infra and ultra violet rays.

Following all those oooo’s and aaaahhh’s in Ooty we were climbing down through the Kothagiri road due to an obstruction in the regular route, what pleasures, when suddenly we crossed an Alsatian breed with his rich fur and royal looks standing at the entrance to a home.

My cousin and I must have both had frames and frames of long lost thoughts of a pet they once had named “Mani”, the car came to a stop, and there we were both , talking in rapid sentences, one making and stopping and the other continuing the lines, with similar thoughts.

The cousin decided to adopt an Alsatian young one if they had a pup.

Nearing the dog with little or no caution, my cousin was smelt and soon was being happily pounced, my cousin had fallen and so was i,both of us still firmly on our feet on the ground.

I was next for the happy Alsation s pouncing for the intrusion of his territory.

His name being Paige, i repeated it and could see his ears and attention turning , three hearts were beating as one.

They had no pups, and the carer was away at work, we all grounded to Mettupalayam, and reached Home, but a space of the heart is still there, and running in this page for Paige.