20.11.2016 இந்த வார நாட்குறிப்பு

20.11.2016 இந்த வார நாட்குறிப்பு

கடந்த வாரம் முழுவதும் எங்கே திரும்பினாலும் பழைய 500 ரூபாய், 1000 ரூபாய் தாள்கள் செல்லுபடியாகாததின் தாக்கத்தைப் பற்றியே இருந்தது. பல இடங்களில் சகஜ நிலை கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமாக திரும்பிக் கொண்டிருப்பது போலவே தோன்றுகிறது. சராசரி மக்களுக்கு ஒரு வாரத்துக்கு எவ்வளவு பணம் தேவைப்படுமோ அந்த அளவு பணம் பொதுவாக கிடைத்துக் கொண்டிருந்தது என்றுதான் தோன்றுகிறது. அடிமட்ட மக்களுக்கு அதுவும் கிராமப் புற மக்களுக்கு, அதிலும் குறிப்பாக வங்கிகளின் சேவையை அதிகமாக பயன்படுத்தாதவர்களுக்கு சில சங்கடங்கள் இருந்திருக்கின்றன என்று நினைக்கிறேன். இந்த வகையைச் சேர்ந்த மக்களை வங்கிச் சேவைக்குள் கொண்டு வரவேண்டும் (inclusive banking) என்ற அரசாங்கத்தின் அடிப்படை எண்ணம் மோடி ஆட்சி வந்த பிறகு எல்லோருக்கும் தெளிவாகத் தெரிந்திருக்க வேண்டும். அப்பொழுது தூங்கியவர்கள் இப்பொழுது அவஸ்தைப் படுகிறார்கள். அரசாங்கத்தின் பல நடவடிக்கைகளால் பாதிக்கப்படுபவர்கள் இந்த அடிமட்ட ஏழை மக்கள் தான்.

இருந்தும், பழைய 500 ரூபாய், 1000 ரூபாய் தாள்கள் செல்லுபடியாகாது என்ற மோடியின் அறிவிப்பிற்குப் பிறகு பொதுவாக எந்த வங்கியிலும் ரகளை நடக்கவில்லை. (பல அரசியல் கட்சிகள் முயன்று வருகின்றன போலத் தோன்றுகிறது) ஒரு சில சங்கடங்களுக்கிடையே பெரும்பாலான மக்கள் கிடைக்கும் பணத்தை வைத்துக்கொண்டு சமாளிக்கத் தெரிந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள் என்றுதான் தோன்றுகிறது. இருந்தாலும், கீழ்மட்ட மக்களிடையே கொஞ்சம் தேவையில்லாத பீதி இருப்பதும் தெரிகிறது. பெரும்பாலான தொலைக்காட்சிகள் எதிர்மறையாக கருத்துக்களையே பரப்பி வருவதாகத் தெரிகிறது.

தங்கள் வங்கிக் கணக்குகளை பதுக்கல்காரர்களுக்கு வாடகைக்கு கொடுத்த பல சாமானிய மக்கள் கொஞ்சம் சுதாரித்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள். அதுவும் பணப் பரிமாற்றத்துக்கு விரல்களில் மை வைக்க ஆரம்பித்த பிறகு பல வங்கிகளில் நீள வரிசைகள் மறைந்துவிட்டன.

வட இந்தியாவில்தான் அதிகமான எதிர்ப்புகள் இருப்பது போலத் தோன்றுகிறது. அங்கேதான் படிக்காதவர்கள் அதிகம் இருக்கிறார்கள் போலும். முக்கியமாக பின் தங்கிய மானிலங்களான உ.பி, பிஹார் போன்ற இடங்களில். அங்கேதான் படிக்காதவர்களையும், ஏழைகளையும் வைத்து அரசியல் செய்வது இந்தியா சுதந்திரம் அடைந்த நாட்களிலிருந்து வழக்கமாகத் தொடர்ந்து வருகிறது.

அதிக மதிப்புள்ள ரூபாய் தாள்கள் செல்லுபடியாகாமல் போனதிலிருந்து பல எதிர்க் கட்சிகளுக்கு ஏழை பாழைகள் மீது அதீதமாக கருணை பொங்கி வழிகிறது. பா.ஜ.க அரசாங்கத்தை அடி, அடியென்று அடிப்பதற்கு இன்னொரு ஆயுதம் அவர்கள் கையில் கிடைத்திருக்கிறது. வழக்கம் போல நாடாளுமன்றம் செயல்படாமல் செய்திருக்கின்றனர். காங்கிரஸ் கூட்டணி ஆட்சி நடந்த பொழுதும் எதிர்க்கட்சியாக இருந்த பா.ஜ.க பாராளுமன்றத்தை வேறு பல காரணங்களுக்காக ஸ்தம்பிக்க வைத்திருக்கிறது. இனி எதிர்காலத்திலும் இந்தக் கலாச்சாரம் தொடரும் என்று  நம்புவோமாக.

இவ்வளவு ரகளையிலும் பீஹார் முதலமைச்சர் நிதிஷ் குமார் ரொம்பவும் அடக்கி வாசித்து வருகிறார். ஓரளவு நேர்மையாக ஆட்சி நடத்த வேண்டும் என்று முனைபவர்களில் அவரும் ஒருவர் என்று நான் நம்புகிறேன். துணிச்சலாக மதுவிலக்கை அமல் படுத்தியிருக்கிறார். ஆனால், லாலுக் கட்சியுடன் கூட்டணிதான் நெருடலாக இருக்கிறது.

மதுரை ரயில் நிலையத்தில் தென்காசி வருவதற்கு நான் வரிசையில் நின்று கொண்டிருந்தபோது எனக்கு முன்னே நின்றிருந்துவர் பழைய ஒரு 500 ரூபாய்த் தாளைக் கொடுத்து விருதுநகருக்கு ஒரு டிக்கட் கேட்டார். டிக்கெட் பத்து ரூபாய்தான் இருக்கும் என்று நினைக்கிறேன். டிக்கெட் கௌண்டரில் இருந்த பெண்மணி எந்த எதிர்ப்பும் சொல்லாமல் டிக்கெட்டையும் கொடுத்து மீதிப் பணத்தையும் நூறும் பத்துமாகக் கொடுத்தார்.  விருதுநகருக்கு டிக்கெட் வாங்கியவர் கண்டிப்பாக விருதுநகருக்கு பயணப்பட்டிருக்க மாட்டார் என்று நம்புகிறேன். யாருக்கு உதவி செய்யவோ அல்லது கமிஷனுக்காகவோ 500 ரூபாயை மாற்றிக் கொடுத்திருக்கிறார் என்று நம்புகிறேன்.

ஆங்கிலத்தில் நான் எழுதி வெளியிட்ட “THE PATH” என்ற கதைப் புத்தகத்தின் முதல் பிரதி www.pothi.com-லிருந்து என் கைக்கு வந்து சேர்ந்தது. புத்தகத்தின் அட்டை மிக நன்றாக வந்திருந்தது பற்றி எனக்கு மிகவும் மகிழ்ச்சி. தென்காசி சுந்தரம் பிரஸ் ப்ரகாஷ் அவர்களுக்கு மீண்டும் நன்றி. THE PATH நூலை நீங்களும்தான் படித்துப் பாருங்களேன்.

                                                            … மீண்டும் சந்திக்கலாம்.

"The Outsider" - A book review

The Outsider

-          My Life in Intrigue

By

Frederick Forsyth

Frederick Forsyth is one of my favorite authors. I have read some of his earliest books like The Day of the Jackal, Devil Alternative, Dogs of War, and Odessa File during the early and late 1970s, if I remember correctly. While working in New Delhi, I had lived in Karolbagh and Old Rajender Nagar. There were a couple of old books, pavement shops on the corner of Arya Samaj Road and Ajmalkhan Road. Many second-hand books by popular authors were available for throwaway prices and I was one of their regular clients. As I was on a transferable job, my biggest challenge was to transport my book collections, which took away most of the transport allowance I received from my employer.

‘The Day of the Jackal’ is about the assassination attempts on the then President De Gaulle of France. ‘Odessa File’ was about the secret files maintained by an International German organization - ODESSA, established before the defeat of Nazis in the Second World War, to protect the former officers of the SS after the War. ‘The Dogs of War’ is about the secret mission of some British, colluding with a few African mercenaries, to depose one of the African nations. I currently do not remember the theme of ‘The Devils Alternative book.’

I didn’t read any of his subsequent novels.

After nearly, thirty or so years, I stumbled upon “The Outsider – My Life in Intrigue” by Frederick Forsyth in Sunset Library, Chandler, Arizona. This book is, in fact, his own personal story – a compilation of his memoirs from childhood till writing the book. All his earlier novels are suspense crime thrillers. Many of them are inspired by the intrigues of his own personal life. This book is about those personal experiences.

Frederick became a pilot of the British Royal Air Force, when he was only nineteen. However, he couldn’t be a regular Air Force pilot. He became a correspondent for Daily Express, a British daily and then in Reuters. Even during his studies, he had developed sufficient skill in French, German, Spanish and Russian languages that helped him to get into the desks of overseas correspondents. By a stroke of luck (or ill-luck) he was posted to East Germany. He had escaped the wrath of an arms dealer in Hamburg, Germany. He had narrowly escaped being torn apart by the bullets from the machine guns from below, tearing through the small gap between his thighs as he was hitchhiking, lying down on the floor in a cargo flight during the horrendous Nigerian War. He had smuggled a package for the Firm (read: the British Secret Service Organization) from East Germany to West Germany in the middle of the night. He had landed in Guinea-Bissau, a West African country in the middle of a bloody coup. The Stasi, the State Security Service of the erstwhile East Germany had arrested him. He was saved from the turmoil in Ireland while living there for nearly five years, by some top leader of IRA. And many more perilous personal experiences, mind chilling to read about.

Frederick has a powerful story-telling talent and this book, though only a collection of several personal memoirs, reads as thrilling as his earlier thriller novels. I am happy reading his book after a long gap. He is currently aged more than seventy living in England. Many of his books have turned into successful movies too.

T.N.Neelakantan

www.tnneelakantan.com

.........................................................................................................

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Hornet Flight by Ken Follet

"Hornet Flight" by Ken Follette

Just finished reading Ken Follett’s HORNET FLIGHT. (2002)

The story centers round the World War II, during 1941, the low point of the war. England throws wave after wave of RAF bombers across the English Channel, but somehow the Luftwaffe, the Nazi Germany’s Air Force is able to shoot them all down at will.

On a small Danish island across the North Sea, a bright eighteen-year-old boy with a talent for engineering, stumbles upon a secret German installation.

With England preparing itself for its largest aerial attack on Germany, they are looking frantically to find out the secret about Germany’s capability to guess England’s air attack in advance.

How the Danish teenager’s discovery is connected with the ultimate success of England’s war effort against Germany is the crux of the story.

When I started reading the book, initially I felt the story was dragging. However, as I kept reading the novel it began engrossing me all through, till the final page.

The story is a suspenseful depiction of what a teenager can accomplish despite all odds.

One appreciable feature about many English novels is that a lot of research goes into while writing them and this book is not an exception. (I had tried to emulate this practice while writing my novel: WHAT IF OUR DREAMS COMETRUE! I had traveled to several towns and villages along the banks of the River Tamirabarani, and I had read a number of books, reports, blogs, websites about the river and its plains, while writing this novel.) There are elaborate descriptions about the Hornet Moth plane of those years and about how the flight could be repaired and operated by someone who has sufficient inquisitiveness about the engineering aspects of an air-plane. I had continuously visualized every scene clearly as I kept reading the book.

The broad descriptions about Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark and its islands kindles in me an interest to visit places like Denmark, Sweden and Norway. During the earlier years, reading Dan Brown’s INFERNO spurted a sudden interest in me to visit Florence in Italy, and eventually, in the next few months during early 2013, I landed in Italy on my way from India to USA. I had a wonderful eight days sight-seeing trip inItaly hopping from Rome to Naples, to Florence, to Venice and back to Rome. Let me hope, I get to visit Denmark too, soon.

Overall, quite a captivating novel by Ken Follett.
******************************************************
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Lonely
What If Our Dreams Come True!

Look for them in www.pothi.com for print version
"What, If Our Dreams come True" is also available on www.amazon.com for kindle reading

My other works:
Short Stories for Young Readers - Book 1
Short Stories for Suceess for Young Readers - A New Lexicon Unfolded
Short Stories for Young Readers - For Personality Development - Book 1

Write to me for availability of my books: neelkant16@yahoo.com

What, If Our Dreams Come True! An Uncommon Meeting with Lord Siva

Over the past several weekends, I have released the first full episode of "What, If Our Dreams Come True! An Uncommon Meeting with Lord Siva" through my other blog: www.tnneelakantan.blogspot.com

For the sake of operational convenience, I have since decided to shift the 2nd and subsequent episodes and chapters through my regular blog: www.neel48.blogspot.com, One chapter will be releaed over every weekend.

I have since received good reviews about the first episode and I thank everyone who had sent in their comments. There are 6 more episodes to come. I hope readers would continue to enjoy reading the remaining episodes too.

To read the entire book online, click: What If Our Dreams Come True!

To buy the print version, click: What, If Our Dreams Come True!

Greetings to everyone.

T N Neelakantan

Why we in Tamil Nadu are still unable to eradicate begging in public places?

I was returning from Madurai by train, a couple of days ago. At Thiruthangal station, an adolescent boy, his hands crippled somewhat, came begging window after window, with very little success. When he knew that I was about to take out my wallet to offer him some money, he made a request to give him ten rupees so that he could eat something for the day.....................http://neel48.blogspot.in/2014/11/why-we-in-tamil-nadu-are-still-unable_8.html

Here you go with:"What If Our Dreams Come True! An Uncommon Meeting with Lord Siva" - Chapter 37

Chapter 37

In the last three months, I had no thoughts other than being with Ambalam. By the grace of Lord Siva, my visions came true. Ambalam miraculously recovered from his stroke. His movements were free now and his speech very intelligible.

“Shall we make a move?” I asked him one day.

Without raising any further question, he said, “I am ready now!”

I had a feeling that I needed Ambalam much more than he needed me. Lord Siva had shown me a project and Ambalam would be an asset.

Radhika gave us a tearful farewell. What a magnanimous girl she was! Single handedly, she had managed Ambalam for a few years without any expectations. We assured her we would soon come back to her for a purpose.

When we reached the bus stand, Mallika was waiting for us there, with tears in her eyes. She knew we were leaving. She had frequented Ambalam more often, when I had stayed with him. Once I asked her whether my talking to her ‘demon’ would improve things and she said the demon was incorrigible. I didn’t know what really was going wrong between them. May be the time had not come for a solution or they had still not learnt anything from their life. ‘Mallika akka was very nice to me, no doubt. Was she equally nice to her husband too?’

We were waiting for a bus to take us to Cheranmahadevi. Somewhere in the background, we heard the voice of a woman singing. We turned around and saw a small crowd in another corner of the bus stand.

The three of us silently exchanged a curious look and slowly walked to the corner from where the music was coming. At the centre of the crowd there was a young mother sitting on barren ground and singing an old Hindi film song. She was holding a baby on her lap. She was fair, tall and looked agreeably beautiful. A worn out cloth was spread in front of her. Though Hindi language was rarely spoken and understood in our State, people in the crowd seemed to relish her Hindi songs. Her voice was very melodious.

“It is from the film ‘Awara’ by Raj Kapoor and Nargis  in 1951 and the music is by Shankar Jaikishen.  Have you not heard the song ‘Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi’?” asked Ambalam excitedly.

How could I know? I had not watched a movie for years. Ambalam was in the army and might have known Hindi. He must have heard this song earlier.

“She sings flawlessly. The same tune, same voice, same energy.” Ambalam was full of excitement.

We went closer. People were moving in and out of the crowd. Hardly anyone seemed to be dropping money for the girl. The little baby was dozing, listening to her singing.

When the song was over Ambalam went closer and told her, “You sing so well. You have a very melodious voice. May Lord Siva bless you! How old is this baby?”

“She is just going to be two now. Please give us some money. No one seems to take pity on us. The baby didn’t have any worthwhile food in the last two days.”

Ambalam looked at me as I put my hands into my pocket. There was some money for our bus tickets. Nothing more.

Understanding our predicament, Mallika immediately withdrew a small purse from inside her blouse, removed a ten rupee note and gave it to that lady. Those days, ten rupees was a big money for Mallika.

“Can you come with us to Cheranmahadevi?” asked Ambalam, without even consulting me.

Mallika gave an assuring look to that lady.

Without second thoughts, the lady bundled her small cloth and was ready to go.

“Can I get some milk for my girl before we go?” That was the only question she had. “You may call me Ambika, Right!” She went to a small tea shop turning back every now and then as though she wanted to make sure that we waited for her.

So, when we boarded the bus, we were a small team of mendicants that included me. Mallika waved her hands emotionally as the bus left. “Keep in touch!” we heard her shouting from behind.

*****
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LONELY - My new novel just published - Chapter 5

I have already published three of my books through Amazon.com:

1. Short stories for young readers - Book 1

2. Short stories for success for young readers - A new lexicon unfolded

3. What If Our Dreams Come True! - An uncommon meeting with Lord Siva

"LONELY," my new novel is just self-published in www.pothi.com. I have ordered my first copy from www.pothi.com and awaiting delivery.

I intend blogging the first few sample chapters of the novel for everyone to read. Every alternate day, a new chapter will be released through my blog. Avid readers may please read and send me their comments.

I would appreciate if readers can indicate their preference about using their comments as part of the book

Readers who are interested in reading the entire novel may look for it, at www.pothi.com. The entire sale proceeds from all my books go to support the charitable and social activities of our L.N.Charitable Trust. The Trust focuses its efforts on Training and Development of Youth. For more details, you may look at www.tnneelakantan.com

Here you go with the chapter 5.......

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Chapter

5

A fortnight passed by. Gopi visited the Mani Shankar’s place more often, taking time off from the restaurant. He didn’t seem to mind anymore. Apparently, his interest in Sharmilee was growing. Sharmilee too responded, acknowledging his presence every time. She laughed too, when Gopi cracked some jokes, whatever she understood from them.

“I must take her to a good doctor.” 

“You must go to Haridwar or Roorke,” Gopi suggested. “I can help you with a few contacts. They may help you,” he volunteered further.

Everything changed one day. Sharmilee had vomited in the morning and fainted. Savithri Devi, the old lady in the lodge had now become very understanding and rushed in to help. Her initial apprehensions had now disappeared. She held Sharmilee’s hand and felt her pulse. She arched her brows, with concern. She suspected what it could be.

She pulled Mani Shankar aside and whispered to him, “You must take her to a lady doctor. I suspect something more serious.” She didn’t elaborate. Sharmilee was resting in her room.

“Do you know anyone?”

She didn’t.

Mani Shankar telephoned to Gopi.

“Give me some time. I shall find one and bring her over there.”

In the next about an hour, he came in a taxi, accompanied by a lady who looked like a doctor. The lady examined Sharmilee, who had regained her consciousness and was feeling better.

‘She is a midwife,’ Gopi commented on the sidelines.

When the lady came out, she confirmed, “Yes, the girl is pregnant. May be a couple of months into it! She doesn’t seem to know anything. How do you connect with her?”

Mani Shankar briefly told her about Sharmilee. “She was on the streets. Some army men seemed to have done this mischief. What should we do now? Sharmilee is not in a mental state to determine many things on her own. She is still a child, mentally. Only her body had grown up.”

Mani Shankar was now really worried, while Gopi was rudely shocked.

“There is a primary health care center here, but no regular doctors. Try there, if you are lucky. Otherwise, you may have to go to Haridwar only,” the lady declared. “I am a midwife and I can take care of the child delivery, when it comes to that. I have helped several women here for their child delivery.”

Mani Shankar thanked the lady and Gopi took her back to her place. Before leaving, she suggested a few homemade remedies for Sharmilee. Savithri Devi appeared to be familiar with what was required to be done.

Mani Shankar had to seriously think and make decisions. He missed Gowri and her sane counseling.

‘Am I getting into more trouble?’

“You must go the police,” Savithri Devi said. She was already apprehensive of trouble for her, obviously.

“It is worse than not doing anything at all,” shot back Mani Shankar. “Leave it to me, please. I shall take the entire responsibility for Sharmilee.”

*****

LONELY - My New Novel - Chapter 4

I have already published three of my books through Amazon.com:

1. Short stories for young readers - Book 1

2. Short stories for success for young readers - A new lexicon unfolded

3. What If Our Dreams Come True! - An uncommon meeting with Lord Siva

"LONELY," my new novel is just self-published in www.pothi.com.

I intend blogging the first few sample chapters of the novel for everyone to read. Every alternate day, a new chapter will be released through my blog. Avid readers may please read and send me their comments.

I would appreciate if readers can indicate their preference about using their comments as part of the book

Here you go with the chapter 4.......

....................................................................................................................................................................

Chapter

4

Thanks to the mobile cellular technology. The Mani Shankar’s cell phone was handy. Gone were the days when one had to wait for long hours to connect a call, out of the town. Mani Shankar talked to Gowri in U.S.A, the next morning and told her everything, without omitting any detail – including the one relating to Sharmilee sleeping on his bed. Gowri was a person of details, as usual, and naturally, she had a number of questions. And, she was very magnanimous and understanding, as usual.

“I know you very well, Mani. Unfortunately, the world is not as magnanimous or large hearted as you are. You can run into problems. So, be careful. Take care. Best thing, take the girl to some Home for the Destitute, and leave her there. We can take care of her expenses there, if warranted. Anyhow, keep me informed,” Gowri said.

Mani Shankar met Gopi in the restaurant. “Can we talk?”

“What about?”

“About Sharmilee, the destitute girl….. You know her…. You have been offering food to her.”

“Yes, what about her?”

“How much do you know about her?”

“Very little. I sympathize with the girl. Whenever she passes by, she looks pathetic. She is very innocent. She is not communicative. Yes, I had offered food from our previous day’s kitchen. My owner is quite strict about the revenues to the hotel. I can’t be seen giving away even the previous day’s food freely. I am accountable to him……. The girl looks repulsive, I am sorry to say, with her dirty clothes and unkempt hair. But, I hadn’t seen her since the day before yesterday. I didn’t get time to check on her, too.”

“Why are you interested in her?”Mani Shankar was direct. He noticed that Gopi showed keen interest in his conversation about Sharmilee. Gopi turned his head away as though he didn’t want to face the truth.

“She is in my custody now,” Mani Shankar continued.

He looked perplexed. “Why? Is there any problem?”

“No, she is fine. You must see her now.”

There was curiosity in his look. “Where is she now?”

“Are you free anytime today?”

“I can go with you this evening.”

Mani Shankar was quite puzzled by Gopi’s interest in Sarmileel.

‘Could he be the one?’

He didn’t appear so.

They met in the evening. Mani Shankar took him to the lodge by walk and they talked on the way. They found enough time to share their loneliness and their stories.

Gopi’s father Pandarinath lived in the far off Roorki, beyond Hardwar. He was a mithaiwala and had plans to start a restaurant in Joshimatt, the base camp for the pilgrims to Badrinath, an abode of Lord Narayana. There was no decent vegetarian restaurant in Joshimatt and the potential for a hotel business was tremendous. But Pandarinath had no manpower support to manage a business in two different places. He had a rich father in law, but no issues at home. Pandarinath was growing older and his wife was desperate to have a child. During one of his visits to Joshimatt in connection with starting a restaurant over there, Pandarinath chanced upon a young widow with a young boy, around seven or eight years old. The boy, Gopi, was cute and lovable. Somehow, Pandarinath fell for Sugandhi, the widow and developed a relationship with her. His visits to Joshimatt increased and he spent time with Sugandhi and Gopi. He developed a liking for Gopi who didn’t fully understand Pandarinath’s relationship with his mother. Soon, Gopi took Pandarinath as his father. Pandarinath started his restaurant at Joshimatt and Gopi, at a very young age, became the de facto owner and employee of the restaurant. Unfortunately for Gopi, his mother fell ill with some sudden serious illness. Pandarinath could have easily taken her to Hardwar or Roorke for a good medical treatment, but he was afraid of getting exposed in front of his wife and the rich father-in-law, whose patronage he couldn’t afford to lose. Local medical attention didn’t help Sugandhi and she died. After his mother’s death, the relationship between Gopi and Pandarinath went through some metamorphosis. Pandarinath’s visits to Joshimatt reduced, though Gopi continued to be the trusted employee and a remote son. Gopi couldn’t complain. He had a decent life with some freedom and responsibility to engage himself in. He liked the restaurant business and his association with it 24x7. He never went to any school for his studies. Occasionally, he too felt very lonely, but was helpless about it. He was already wedded to his work. His restaurant and his guests there were his greatest companions.

“I am so sorry, listening to your story.” Mani Shankar empathized with Gopi. He could realize how lonely Gopi should be feeling right now.

‘I am not the only person on this earth, to feel lonely‘…………………………………..

“Did you say anything……?” The Gopi’s question brought back Mani Shankar to their conversation.

“I wanted to say that I was not alone on this earth to feel lonely. In my case, I am the one who had sought loneliness and still feeling bad about it.” Mani Shankar then told Gopi briefly about himself.

Sharmilee had spent most of her time that day, sleeping in the comfort of her warm room, under the blankets. When they reached the lodge she had just got up and was sipping some tea.

“Oh, she looks terrific.” The Gopi’s comment came loudly.

Sharmilee recognized Gopi instantly, with a broad smile. She extended the cup with tea to Gopi. Mani Shankar looked for any unusual expression or body language from Gopi. There was none, except a natural curiosity from a young adult about a charming girl. That was interesting.

“How, uncle? What a transformation? How could you do it?” Gopi had suddenly felt closer to Mani Shankar and started addressing him ‘uncle’.

Mani Shankar explained. “She is going to be in my custody for some time. I need to find a proper place to put her in – maybe some orphanage. She also needs to be treated for her mental illness. She is not a normal girl. I have to find some long term custody for her.”

“Tell me, uncle, what I can do to help you? I really pity this girl. Now, with her changed appearance,……… I don’t know what to stay.”

But Mani Shankar understood what he would have liked to say. The boy seemed to love her.

‘Is she in a position to reciprocate?’

They engaged in some small talk and went for a walk, down the valley, along a narrow path.

“There is a small temple down this valley, an exquisite place, surrounded by a very beautiful garden, full of wild flowers. I can take you there, if you would like. But not now, maybe, in the morning.” Gopi explained.

Mani Shankar, Gopi and Sharmilee appeared to be developing some intimate bond between them. Sharmilee, for the most part, was either silent or responded with just one or two words, but she seemed to be enjoying the company.

“Uncle, for the first time in the last several years, I feel having some company, today,” Gopi mentioned, towards the end of their meeting that day. They ate some simple dhal and roti prepared by Savithri Devi, the old lady, looking after the lodge.

 “What a delicious food I am eating,” Gopi commented. Coming from the hotelwalah, his appreciation of the food was understandable.

After all the small and serious talk, Mani Shankar gained no further knowledge about Sharmilee. He wasn’t yet prepared to discuss everything about Sharmilee in detail, with Gopi. 

Mani Shankar religiously relayed what happened that day, to Gowri, who grew more apprehensive, though she didn’t express it much. This ritual continued in the days to come too.

*****