It is a Bright Monday Morning. To be precise 8:54 am, August 11th,2008. 11 days prior to the 369th birthday of Madras. Automobiles are tailing behind one another like a disturbed ant family in Ananth theatre signal. It is just another day like any other day for the bread winners and it is gonna be tiring day too for them. Near the Ananth theatre signal beside city union bank a man about 50 years was standing with a leather bag in his right hand. Wearing blue full sleeve shirt and black trouser, more than 40% of his brain out growth in grey, with a flat nose, mysterious eyes he was totally unpredictable. His facial expression are more mysterious than his eyes.This is how the story begins of this old man, and he is Mr. Anantha Kumar a retired Head of Dept.(HOD) of Commerce, Govt. College, Mumbai. This man had lots of dreams about his life & lots of dreams about how to live his life.
Flashback- 1980
Mr. Anantha Kumar M.Com, from a typical orthodox family, Chennai joined Govt. College, Mumbai as an Asst. Professor who had experience working as accountant in a few offices(part time) to support his big family of 3 brothers & 2 sisters.
Mumbai(Bombay-1980) was the place where he met Swapna, a final year UG student of Chemistry at their College's small Library Hall. Love at the first sight towards a Bombay settled Tamil girl, Swapna. Its an usual thing that we search for our people when we are new to a place. Thats how he started his relationship and it was more easy for him since he was an Asst. Professor. Swapna as her name says she was a dream girl of many guys but Ananthu(Anantha Kumar) was the luckiest handsome guy to get her. Of course both were lucky enough, made for each other as it is said in the begining part of all love stories, love is always beautiful.
August 11th,2008
Ananthu was waiting to get an autorickshaw that will take him to the railway station so that he can pick up his daughter, Reshma who is a B.E graduate currently working at Infosys, Banglore. Reshma is a cute, naughty girl. Above all she is her mom's girl. Anathu's family settled in Chennai, his wife Renu, son Ravin & daughter Reshma. Yes, Ananthu was Married to Renu on 01/29/1982.
Now it is 9:04 am, Ananthu took an autorickshaw to chennai central. After 15 minutes, ananthu reached the railway station. Trivandrum - chennai superfast was scheduled to arrive at 9:50 am. Ananthu knew there is still 30 more minutes for his daughter's arrival. After paying hire charge to the autorickshaw man, ananthu walked in a slow pace, he was so tired. After a couple of minutes he took Platform ticket for one and sat on waiters bench on Platform no:5. It is now 9:32 am, and the speaker in the platform screeched. Digital woman voice annouced, Trivandrum - chennai superfast is expected to arrive at 9:55 am.
Some says "Your Entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die" and some other says "When you see your death running ahead of you - you are a complete man". For Ananthu his entire life didnt flash before his eyes but his death ran before him. When he thought about what happened yesterday night - his face turned pale, his body became chill and his hands started to shake. Everything before his eyes became milky white, a man was running befor him. Nothing is there except white, white everywhere but the man still kept running. Suddenly his mobile phone beeped, the screen on the mobile said - Renu calling.... Ananthu Picked up the call and Renu said "Hello". he didnt reply, again she said "Hello", no reply from ananthu. After 30 seconds Ananthu said "Hello". Renu "What happened". "Nothing, Signal Problem, tell me" Ananthu.
"Where are you, did she arrive?" She asked.
"Train will arrive in 10 minutes, will call you as soon as she arrive" he replied.
"Did you eat?" Renu.
Ananthu didnt reply.
"Did you eat? answer me" this is authoritarian and Decibel has gone up.
"Yeah. three idlis, i think the train is arriving, am gonna hang up". without listening to her reply, he hanged the call.and it is 9:50 am.
Train arrived at exactly at 9:54am and Reshma jumped out of second tier AC to hug his father Warmly. "Hi papa, how are you". "I am fine my princess, everything is ok, u took all your belongings?" - Whatever happens, even if Man settles in Moon, Fathers are always Fathers. "Ha ha ha" reshma laughed loudly and then she said "come on paps, lets go". After 45 minutes doorbell at Ananthu's house in adyar screeched. Renu opened the door. "Hi mama" reshma hugged her tightly. Renu "How was your journey?" "Mommy what is this , you called me just couple of hours before, dont bore me, common am hungry , lets eat" throwing her bag over sofa reshma moved to kitchen. Renu turning back to ananthu asked " You want anything to eat?". "Nope, i am going to bed, wake me up for lunch" ananthu went directly to his bedroom. Ananthu was so exhausted, he retried to his bed.
Flashback- 1981
There must be an end for every begining. Likewise Swapna's part came to an end in Ananthu's life when she was out of her college as an UG graduate. Ananthu became busy with his college, he could't find time for Swapna silly fights became serious & Swapna finally decided to leave Ananthu & marry the guy her parents suggest. Swapna with no guilt happily married Babu, a Bombay settled Bussiness man on 21/07/1981. And as it happens in everyone's life, Ananthu was consoled by his good friend & colleague Renu.
Renu was also from Chennai. Renu was from a well settled family & was moved to Bombay by her family for loving a guy. Do you believe? Yes, she was forced to stay at Bombay with her aunt Leela(Miss. Leela) 36yrs old, yonger sister of Renu's mom. Leela is unmarried just because the guy she loved did not have guts to elope with her & since their family did not accept their relationship she decided to stay alone.
Meanwhile Ananthu decided to visit his parents during Semester holidays just because he thought it will make him feel better.
For the first time in Ananthu's life, he heard a girl saying that she will accompany him during the journey. They were about to board train on 17/12/1981.
August 11, 2008
Half past one, ananthu was already in the Dinning table for Lunch. Renu came out of the Kitchen with handful of potato chips. Ananthu and renu didnt speak during the lunch, after having good meal after 3 days ananthu asked "Where is Reshma", "she was tired, so i didnt wake her up" Renu replied. Afternoon was damn boring for ananthu, no one to talk (renu and reshma were asleep), nothing to do. He tried hard to kill the time. Finally it is 5 in the evening, both Mrs and Miss Annathu came out of their wonderland. At 5:30 ananthu was sitting in the sofa with a cup of hot coffee and Reshma sitting opposite to him and Renu beside him. Dead silence for about 15 minutes, silence like as the place is gonna be hit by deadly storm. Finally it was Reshma "Everything in Kerala was just awesome dad, Truely It is god's own country paps". "When lavanya is gonna leave for Germany" - ananthu. Reshma "may be around 20th dad",
"I always wanted to go to Germany, Europeans are truly Highly civilized people of the World, I always think how they did it"
"ok, ok , it is enough of your world knowledge, Resh you didnt say anything about her Reception saree?"
Ananthu didnt involve in the conversation after that, he just sat as a silent watcher. The conversation went on about everything and anything about the marriage. Even the small detail "______".
Ananthu started wondering , 'What did they do while i was asleep', 'they didnt talk anything about this'. The best thing about women is they Talk Always and the worst thing about women is they always Talk. 6:14 pm Ananthu is standing in the verandah, it is a cool breezy evening as it is only couple of kilometre to reach Bay of Bengal. Sun was too sleepy and in few minutes it gonna fall asleep - ananthu thought. After Retiring last year life seemed to slow down for Ananthu. Although he was born and brought up in chennai, after tiring 35 years in Mumbai waves chennai breezy tides looked different for him. Comparatively chennai was not hectic and busy city like Mumbai. Ananthu started chewing golden old days, how he started his career as Asst. Professor, then Swapna and Renu. Everything went before his eyes like a speeding Traffic.
August 12th, 2011.
7:25 am, another day started Quietly. Ananthu is sitting on bench in Theosophical society. Its been a routine for Ananthu for the past 10 months. Theosophical society is only about a Kilometre from his home. Theosophical was Started in the year 1875 and after 130 years its serenity has not gone. Solitary at the park was his morning timepass. Suddenly some rustling sound behind him. In a jiffy something crossed his leg. Ananthu is taken in Fright, he pulled his legs above the ground. After a Minute something in the size of his fist fell from the tree. Ananthu didnt recognize it first, he looked deeply and it was a Squirrel. He looked up - nothing is there, round and round still nothing. In a splash came another Squirrel , it looked his companion with Fright. Shook him(her), no use. It did everything to wake his(her) companion up. 10 minutes passed latter squirrel got fed up and moved away, in matter of seconds it went deep into the city woods. Ananthu the silent spectator watched everything in AWE! Suddenly to his amazement, dead squirrel rose to life exactly after 1 minute his/her partner went. Ananthu is Dumbstruck now. Squirrel looked in all the possible 8 direction and ran exactly away from his partners way. For ananthu everything started to rotate. What happened day before yesterday came before his eyes. His Face started to fill in Horror.
Twomo was deep in thoughts, it walked forward and backward beside the little pond. Twomo is distracted from his thoughts by a long distance yelling, it came closer and closer. Finally Twomo found it was Cogey Who is yelling " Two MO, Two MO"...
"What happened?. Why the hell are you yelling like this?" Twomo asked.
"They are coming!" Cogey said.
"Who?" - Twomo the Hyrax(a small mammal almost looks like a Rodent) said.
"Theyyy, Themmm" now Cogey(also a small mammal closely related to rabbits and hares) started to Scream.
"Who they, what them?" - Twomo.
"Munu and Tung are coming" - Cogey.
Twomo started to pee and yelled "run, run, run"...
Suddenly Twomo turned back and saw Cogey standing in the same place, "Why the heck are you still standing?"
Cogey turned opposite side and started to run and said "Two Mo you are running in the wrong way, they are coming in that way"..
Both Twomo and Cogey reached the end of the cliff. Bolsh river is running quietly below some 400 feet. Hyrax and Pika both saw each other and said "jumppppppppp" in coheres. The screen went black as they were about to touch the water.
HASTA LA VISTA. Ananthu Switched of the TV and the clock ticked 10. It is 10:00 am.
Flashback- December 1981
Ananthu & Renu started their journey on 17/12/1981.Mumbai(Bombay)-Chennai Mail(11027) Departs @ 23:45 from Mumbai and reach chennai after 2 nights @ 04:55 approximately 29hrs 10 min travel. Isn't 29hrs 10 min long enough to know more about someone whom we knew already. They boarded into their Compartment S4 seats 25 & 26. They had 8yrs old pretty twins Adhithya, Aadhithi and their parents in the same compartment who were moving to Chennai. Non identical twins with exactly opposite nature. Aadhithi talks a lot where Adhithiya very silent. Since it was late night nothing much happened during the journey other than sleeping.
18/12/1981 - Train reached Daund Junction, Ananthu woke up hearing Aadhithi's voice, she was asking her mom to turn on the lighs. Ananthu looked at his watch it was 4.50a.m. He came down from his upper berth, looked at Renu she was sleeping. Ananthu smiled at her sleepy face and Went to refresh before the wash room gets busy. It was around 5.05a.m. Coffee/Tea... Coffee/Tea.. Sir Aapko Chaieya aur Coffee Cheiye?
August 12th, 2008
Ravin was eating his Idlis, Renu was busy serving him.For Ravin its gonna be another Hectic day. After 10 Minutes, Ravin left for his work. Ravin, a Mechanical Engineering Graduate from NIT Trichy, now working as Department head in BGR energy limited. After Ravin's Departure Renu went to Reshma's room to wake her up. "Reshma, Its already half past 10 get up you idiot". After 15 minutes of renu's shouting, Reshma finally got up and went to bathroom. Now it's 10 40 am, Ananthu was still in Sofa trying to recall what all happened on that night. Who ever sees him can easily judge, he was Deeply Disturbed. When ever renu talked with him he tried his best to be normal. Renu was not so clever to read some one's face. At 11:14 Renu served breakfast to Reshma. They started to talk and talk. Ananthu is thinking - Swapna after 27 long years - in train - unsual reactions and expressions - a trap - finally - he was made an idiot.
After Lunch Renu and Reshma went for shopping and ananthu stayed back in Home, Saying he is felling dizzy. After they left Ananthu was restless. After so much of thinking suddenly everything went clear. There goes a Saying "A man who thinks he is a Genius always goes for a Payback". In the mean time, in Tv Twomo and Cogey were running like they had fire on their back. A voice said "Twomo and Cogey Tales - Monday to Friday - Only on your Unlimited Fun" and suddenly Twomo stopped Cogey and said "Lets Play a Game" ananthu switched off the Tv the screen went Black.
Flashback- December 1981
5 rupea sab.
dhanyavadh.
Aadhithi asked uncle aapk aunty ko chai kareeth dhey diya ho?
Ananthu: nahi beta! aunty sogaya he na..
Arjun spoke(Aadhithi's dad): tamil la peasu uncle ku tamil theriyum
Ananthu: Are you tamilian Sir?
Arjun: yes, we are gonna settle in Chennai with my parents.
Ananthu: Tats great. Like wise Ananthu self introduced to Arjun & finally Arjun asked so is Renu, your wife???? Thats how Renu wake up, hearing the question is Renu your wife. Renu thought it was a voice in her dream, but she realised its not her dream when Ananthu replied, smiling at her. No we are colleagues, we are Professors from Govt. College, Mumbai. We are visitng our parents & its semester hoiday for us said Ananthu having his last sip of coffee.
Oh great Mr.Ananthu said Arjun. Ananthu smiled back & said if you could excuse me Arjun seeing Renu getting down from her berth. It was 05:38 a.m train reached Sangamwadi, Maharashtra where train halted for 2min & started to move again. Ananthu said sleep for a while if you want Renu, she smiled back & went to refresh.
August 15, 2008
0630 hours: Chennai was getting ready to celebrate India's 61st Independence day. Everything was perfect on that day. Theosophical Society, Ananthu was doing his daily routine, he just crossed the largest Teak tree in the Society. His walking pace started to increase, a few minutes later it again increased. After Some time he started to jog, then jogging become running. He gave all his energy to run as fast as he can. Everything has an end so was anathu's run. After some 10 minutes he suddenly stopped near a banyan tree, supporting his body weight in knees with his hand. He Breathed Heavily that frightened small birds that were nesting in the Society's tree. After a couple of minutes ananthu walked slowly to the near by stone bench. Sat - breathed - looked up - stretched his arms and legs. Same thing what was haunting him for the past 5 days started to occupy his mind.
Everything unfolded before his eyes. It was his friend Sri ram's 60th birthday celebration (
