Bessi beach 'n Broken bridge...

For a long time i wanted to get up early (means real early) and venture out to beach and breathe some fresh air and watch the sun rise in Chennai. Also, have heard so much about the broken bridge in Besant Nagar and wanted to hit it. After couple of false starts over the last 1 month, today me and my cousin(yeah! yeah! the same newly married cousin. His wife has gone to her home for a week.So, he obliged to join) decided to hit the road. I had kept alarm sharp @ 4:30am and never had a clue if it rung.

My cousin being a sincere guy (thanks to his wedding, he has been well domesticated) woke me up around 5. We both got ready and started in his bike by around 5:30am. The almost full moon was still wandering on the west, slowly trying to hide itself giving way to the more majestic partner - the Sun. We had a tea in a roadside tea shop near besant nagar on the MG road. Once we hit the beach, i was surprised to see the sheer number of people sleeping in the open beach under the roof of sky. Do cops allow this?? not sure...

As we walked to the waters, i was shocked to see the "Schmidt memorial" a.k.a Karate statue (raised in the memory of dutch sailor Karl Schmidt) in such a dilapidated condition. More so one citizen was in fact attending his nature's call right on it. Being a chennaiite i was so pained to see this but couldn't do anything. Then clicked few snaps and walked to the waters.It's always a pleasure to see the sea and waves with the blue sky as background. The sky was pink as in a artist's canvas and the waves were hitting the shores as if it's filtering the white foam from the bluish green water. Fishermen started off on their catamarans for the first catch of the day(tough work they have). Started clicking few snaps of the sun rise, though i was totally disappointed not to see the big red ball of fire floating in the horizon.

Early morning in the beach is always a fresh feeling, with joggers, kids in their roller skates, guys playin cricket, frisbee, kabbadi, young fellas working out in the bars, old folks sitting and exercising...oh boy...whatta feeling...

Then my cousin started getting little restless and hence we started towards the broken bridge. Broken bridge was a small stretch of bridge built long back connect the fishing hamlet of Adayar and Foreshore Estate. A part of which was supposed to have washed away by monsoon and the tidal waves couple of decades back. Now the bridge stands as-is as a mute spectator of the passed by time. It's definitely a photographer's paradise. But the low point being the "kuppam"(slum settlement) that comes between the Besant Nagar beach and this particular spot. Also, little lonely and not so safe place for anyone after dark or before dawn. Once, there is light it's a pretty safe place with people movement around.

The high rise buildings on the MRC nagar, Theosophical society, Aamir Mahal (palace of the Nawab of Arcot) and the slum tenements in the background with the Adyar river merging with bay of bengal gives an ample clicking opportunity. The place was so nice far from the mad city noise, all you hear is the sound of waves hitting the beach and few birds(crows inclusive)...

I was happy that i finally saw this place in Chennai, worth visiting.

Find some of the pics clicked today...

Life imprisonment...

Then...

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Kumar was angry, his eyes were red, couldn't control his anger. Tears were falling instantaneously, he was biting his lips so hard that a streak of blood started coming...He could not believe what he was seeing right in front of his eyes. how could she, was all the love fake, why me. He was feeling so ashamed of himself....his mind was lingering with the sequence of events in the last few years..

Few years back....

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Kumar was working in the factory that had recently come up in his village. The factory was a boon for many youngsters like him that it gave the much needed employment opportunity, with the rains failed and agriculture stopped. He was a nice young fellow with lot of dreams in his mind. Everyday when he goes to the factory he used to see Ranjini working in the village medical centre. Ranjani, having studied till 10th standard was working as a helper to the village doctor in the medical centre. She used to come out to the verandah everyday when Kumar crosses. Kumar and Ranjani used to exchange few glances on each other with a shy smile. This went on for quite sometime until one day Kumar mustered all his guts and followed her in his cycle while she was going home. In a turn, he saw no one around and it was dark as well, he went near her and told "Ranjani..Do you like me..I like you very much." She didn't answer but gave a smile and ran away. From that day their love grew slowly but steadily. They used to meet near the sugarcane fields and the old well and talk to each other.

Now...

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Kumar was not angry, a sense of calm prevailed in him. His eyes were dry, he was very composed but once a while he wetted his lips that was dry. He was sittin inside and looking at the doorstep.His mind was filled with all the thoughts of the years so far...

Then...

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When his friend Suresh hinted him this, he got angry with him and slapped him. He thought Suresh was jealous of him. But, deep inside he was slightly shaken, but still he could not take it as truth since he loved Ranjani so much...But, today when he is seeing it right in front of his eyes...He hurriedly kept his hands on his waist checking something...

Few years back...

=================

After few months of this hide and seek romance, Kumar and Ranjani decided to marry and their parents agreed too and they both got married. Kumar was a happy man, his dreams of having a small family with a cute little daughter whom he would educate well to make a doctor was goin in the right track. Their simple life was going on like a dream itself. When Ranjani was crying in labour and everyone were saying it'd be a boy. Kumar was restless that the baby should be a girl child, and when the baby's cry was heard someone was talking far away that it's a girl. Kumar held Ranjini's hands and told "i know..that you know me so well and give me a daughter"

Now...

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Kumar got up and started walking across the room slowly, his age was catching up with him. He gave a look around, the room was shabby, things scattered everywhere, cow webs and dust covered all the corners. He saw the almirah and went closer to it and opened and saw the bundle of money one more time. He slowly touched his waist to check something...

Then...

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He jumped right on front of them with Ranjani and Dharma shocked totally. Kumar was crying, looked at Ranjani he was feeling totally let down. Dharma was casual, Ranjani started "Forgive us. you know that off late our relationship has soured..you have no time for me always playing with our kid or do overtime in factory to earn more and more. You do not take care of me like before, i feel i was used only to give a daughter as it was your dream and nothing else. You never cared for me. But, Dharma takes care of me understand my problems..that's why..leave us we'd go somewhere and live a new life..." Hearing this Kumar felt so embarrased and had an aversion on himself as if he was nothing but shit covered by flies...His tears were getting more and more and anger got into head took the wrinch from his waist and went towards Ranjani.

Few months back...

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Kumar started to live for his daughter, he used to take up part time work, work overtime in factory, do everything to get money and save for her daughter. Meanwhile Ranjani started to feel neglected, she used to cry to her neighbor Rani telling he saves money for kids studies, doesn't seems to understand her or even spend time with her. She understans his emotions but she wants him to understand that she needs support too...They used to have petty fights which would end up big. But then Kumar deep inside loved her so much that he would pacify her and continue with work...

Now...

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As the door opened and he saw Ranjani and her daughter enter. Ranjani was startled to se Kumar but managed to gain compsure and aksed "did you eat something". Kumar walked near Ranjani and her daughter took the screwdriver from his waist and....

Then...

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Looking at Ranjani's face he simply could not hurt her, he immediately jumped on Dharma and hit his head with the wrinch and amidst the shouting of Ranjani, the crying of baby, Dharma was kicking his legs while taking his last breath. blodd was all over the floor..Ranjani fainted...Kumar walked slowly towards police station....

Few hours back...

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Kumar had his own doubts off late about what Suresh said about his wife Ranjani and the guy working with her in themedical centre. He was in love with ranjani somuch that he could not imagine her with someone else. Bt then decided to check himself and went to the medical centre. He was told that Ranjani and Dharma went in cycle towards the old well near sugarcane field. Kumar followed them their and saw the most aweful sight he had ever seen.

Now...

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Kumar saw Ranjani and her daughter with the screw driver in his hands, he thought is this the lady i loved so much till yesterday. He had no emotions this time around..Stabbed hard on her neck, then the daughter's stomach...saw them both falling in the floor with a pool of blood and slowly started walking towards the police station.

Then...

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The court convicted him of murder and sentenced him with a life term. Kumar closed his face with hands and sobbed...with everyone around him talking "His wife slept with someone and he killed tht guy". Hearing these words, his aversion on himsef started to grow without bounds". He felt more like a garbage and started to have nausea.

Few years later...

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After spending almost a decade and half in the jail, Kumar was released on the grounds of good character. Over the years he became a very silent man, talking to no one except Ramu who he befriended in the jail during his tenure. Kumar would do his work, eat his food, talk only to Ramu and go to his cell and sleep. This was the routine he followed for all these years.

When Kumar came out and went straight to his village, he saw the village had changed a lot. Ponds had become even drier and small huts in them. He manged to find some old folks and enquired about Ranjani and his daughter. He was told Ranjani was thrown out of the village and his daughter had been sent with his old parents who moved out of the village as well. Kumar roamed aorund the nearby villages for sometime and somehow managed to find Ranjani's whereabouts. He went to meet her in her. Ranjani was in a different town and she had a small lone hut for her just outside the village near the forest. Kumar walked across and knocked the door, that was opened by a young girl in her teens. "Who is it.." Ranjani came asking and was stunned to see Kumar. they both were fixed on each other for sometime as they could see both had grey hairs, wrinkles on both their faces and time had completely taken their youth. After, sometime they both started to discuss about the life and their daughter. Ranjani cried and said she delivered another girl child and that's when the village threw her out of the village and took their daughter and handed over to his parents. She continued that she went around nearby villages and the next few years she had become a easy prey for local bigwigs in the pretext that she had cheated her husband. They use to throw money with which she could feed herself and her kid. She could not end her life as she did not want to see her daughter die left alone and she could not kill her too. She accepted this life as her fate and continued to live on and now that she have become old no one is behind her and she is struggling to make ends meet. Kumar asked about his daughter, all he got as reply was "She must be happy somewhere and i never searched for her". Kumar felt shattered for a moment, Ranjani said "What else i can expect from life for my injustice to you..Hope you have forgiven me even though my sins are unpardonable". He held her hands assuringly and gave her some money that he had earned in the jail. The next few weeks he used to frequent her and talk with her make her feel better, get dresses for her daughter while continued to search for his own daughter.

Now...

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The court convicted him of preplanned murder and gave him death penalty. He went back to the same prison from where he was released couple of months ago. Ramu was still there and was in tears to see Kumar back. Ramu asked Kumar, "So you kept all the vengence in your mind went searching her after all these years just to kill her and her poor daughter." Kumar was silent. He drank a glass of water and went to his cell and lied down. Few days went by like this and Ramu could not bear this silence, he pulled Kumar one day and slapped him on the face and was asking "tell me why...you could have killed her then itself atleast you could have been spared with one life sentence". Kumar slowly started..."because i still loved her then....". "Now..what happened???" Ramu asked in a stunned tone..."Nothing, i killed them because of the same love...". Ramu could not comprehend what kumar was talking...

Kumar continued and started narrating - after i found them and met them, i was searching for my own daughter. At the same time i could understand what Ranjani had gone through in her life for one mistake of hers, along with her the girl whose father was killed by her mom's husband. He felt very sorry and guilty on seeing her daughter. Couple of days back he went to her place near the forest, he heard Ranjani talking with some landlord about her daughter. The landlord was bargaining with Ranjani for her daughter. He was shocked. Landlord promised her that he would take care of them and write 5 acres of land on their name. Ranjani agreed and promised to bring her daughter to him the next day. Kumar felt thatthe ground was shaking below his legs..he walked to her and asked her what was it all about. Ranjani answered "What else i could do..no money to eat one meal..everywhere i carry a label of a whore..every man wants a piece of my daughter for no mistake of hers". Before Kumar could say anything, Her daughter intervened, "Who are you to ask these..she is no more your wife..I only asked her to do this.It's better to do this and live peacefully in one corner instead of rotting with such names and tortures by everyone.

Kumar silently got up and walked out...he could not digest whatever be the resoning behind it. Next morning, he decided to put an end to everyone's suffering in the world like this. He did not want Ranjani's dughter to suffer the same fate as Ranjani after few years. He took a small screw driver hid in his waist and walked towards their house...

After few weeks...

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The date of hanging Kumar finally came. Kumar was not scare or worried. He knew in his mind that this was the best end possible for all the years of suffering. His only regret in life was his dream of making his daughter a doctor. He could not even see her once after that fateful night. Whenever he thinks of this his eyes would be in spate..tears would never stop. But he would remain composed, just the tears would not stop. Today, Ramu was the only soul who waas felling for him ans crying. He smiled at his own fate....That's when the jail warden opened the cell and took him for medical check up. Kumar entered the room of the warden where the doctor was waiting to do medical checkup for Kumar. Kumar came forward and sat down on the chair.

"Renuka, please go and check the pulse and temperature on the patient", Doctor instructed to the young girl who was with her. The Doctor continued, "Sorry Inspector", forgot to tell you...she is Renuka, medical student. We sometimes bring our students like this for practical demonstration.

While Doctor was speaking, Renuka went and held Kumar's hands to check the pulse...Kumar started to feel uneasy for the first time about his end. He looked at Renuka and wanted to tell something but kept quiet silently watching her..

"Ok Kumar, what's your last wish..." Inspector asked him...

"Can you call me appa once? My daughter would be like you only..." - Kumar requested to Renuka without looking at anyone....tears running down his cheeks...Renuka was indeed Kumar's daughter

Madurai, Marriage and Meenakshi...

Last weekend had to travel to Madurai for attending cousin's wedding. Started by Pandian Express on friday night. The coach was filled with quite a few relatives of mine, two thirds of whom were senior citizens. That meant lot of musical chair for the lower berth and being the youth (appa youth nu prove pannitom) had to take upper berth. Since the coupe was full of senior citizens had to retire early. Morning got off at madurai by around 8:15am, thanks to the train for running late by over 2 hrs. Had to make sure everyone alighted with all their luggages, especially my perimma who has a problem with her foot that she doesnt have the strength in it to rest it on floor and walk on her own. She has a splint attached to one of her foot and walks with the help of the walker.

Cousin came with the car and van to pick us all up. Went straight to the wedding hall where rooms were arranged for all of us. We straight hit the dining hall and had a wonderful breakfast and then set out to the room settled and got ourselves ready. We wanted to venture out to Pillayarpatti and Thirukoshtiyur but then the train delay spoilt it, so we had to stay put. All we could do was chat, eat, chat, eat...till the evening when the nichyadhartham and jaanavasam started. For the first time for a tamil brahmin wedding i saw band and elephant arranged for the jaanavasam. While returning from the temple on the road we all performed a proper kuthu dance for the band tunes. That night i was made watchman for all the patti's (what a luck) in the wedding hall and hence had to sleep in a room on the jamakaalam(carpet) and a fan @ 25RPH(rotation per hour). To add to the woes, had severe headache as well due to indigestion (pinna ippadi kaanadhadha kanda maadhiri thinna).

At 4am the samayal fellows(cooks) came knocking the doors "Maama coffee ready...Maaami coffee ready". Seriously a special note on these samayal fellows is a must. First thing i noticed, was that they were going around serving the breakfast without shirts asking "innoru vada podata? Dosai podata??". I was like "Modhala poi oru sattaya podu". When we went for lunch "Presto..." everyone were in uniforms. I was thinking probably they heard me. Then all of the 2 days they kept coming around asking "Tiffin saptaacha??", "Coffee ready", "Lunch sapada vanga" reminding me of some Vijay movie where a couple of guys keep coming and asking "Tiffin saaptacha na??" "Coffee saaptachanaa??"

Then finally was forced to get up @ around 5:15am with severe headache and had to take a tablet with the first coffee. Then got ready for the muhurtham. In tamil brahmin wedding's we have so many rituals, and once upon the thali(mangalsutra) was tied..me and my cousin with his wife set out to Pazhamudirsolai and Azagar Koil. We had booked for a cab and we started off discussing about Annan Anja nenjan and his latest stint as cabinet minister and the effects(ill-effects) on the temple town of Madurai and nearby. Cab driver (guess he follows a different party ;-)) had lotsa stories to share. My cousin being newly married was goin gaga on everything to his newly wedded wife...I was little scared to look at him thinkin will i become like this after marriage..but then consoled myself saying.."no ways, you're practical man"(seri seri vera enna panradhu...). When we reached azagar koil, we decided to head straight uphill to pazamudirsolai (sixth abode of Lord Muruga). Had a very good dharshan(Rs.100 special darshan) and was watching all the monkey's doing their pranks. Trust me the monkeys here have the adocity to come to people and snatch everything they had in their hands..more like highway robbers.It kinda reminded me about politician from that area. From there we came down to see Kallazagar on the foot hills and had a good darshan there as well. Coming out of the temple had the famous "Mapilai vinayagar soda" (panneer soda). Then came back to Wedding hall. Had sumptuous lunch and slept for sometime before heading to Meenakshi temple.

Trip to Madurai without a visit to Meenakshi temple is unimaginable. My perimma wanted to visit too and she was requesting us to take her. So, me and my cousin took the responsibility of taking her safely to the temple and back. We set out in a car to meenakshi temple,got down near mela maasi veedhi where they have the battery operated carts for elders and physically challenged folks. But the cars, autos were stopped at the end of a street meaning we have to walk almost 400 metres with my perimma(she cannot walk without walker). Then i asked my cousin to stay with her walked and explained the battery cart operator paid the ticket amount(yes they charge Rs5 for 60+ and Rs10 for others) and got the vehicle to the place where she was standing. We reached the entrance that takes us straight to portamarai tank(tank with golden lotus) by around 3:15pm. There was a large queue waiting for the temple door to open @ 4pm. We explained a security cop and made her sit in the front and went and picked up a wheel chair. Once the temple opened we took her in the wheel chair and got special dharshan tickets(100Rs) and had a wonderful close darshan of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwar. The walk along the corridors to get to the sanctum sanctorum had so many humps (on the entrances) which meant perimma had to get down everytime there is a hump and walk with her walker and then again sit on the wheel chair. Thankfully the temple staff helped us to go straight to Sanctum sanctorum.We were able to save atleast couple of hours since there was huge crowd waiting in the queue. Here, i really have to appreciate the efforts temple authorities have put up. Be it the battery operated car, the facilities, or the way they help physically challenged. It would be even more great if the temple has ramps for physically challenged that way they dont have to get down from the wheel chairs everytime a hump comes. Overall the service was awesome.

Meenakshi temple always has the aura surrounding it with all those special feeling and energy you get when you see those 4 temple towers and the tank and the goddess in particular with her Green stone nose ring. Thanks to her she obliged to give us a darshan (coz my mom couldn't as the temple wa closed for some mishap the next day when she went. Poor her, she is still cribbing). She was wearing a awesome pink saree with her nose ring glittering and the hazy picture of her holding a parrot in the dark sanctum lit only with oil lamps. Felt so so humble at that moment.

We returned back to attend reception and catch the return train to chennai that night. The return journey was irritating. First i was given a side lower berth right at the entrace of the coach, so i got excellent ammonia fragrance for free and to add to my woes, a security policeman coolly sat near my legs on my berth and started serious chatting with couple of cops. I kicked him 3-4 times (of course with a sorry, ellam oru bayam dhan) thinkin he would get up and move, but he was upto the challenge, accepting my apology with a graceful smile everytime. I had to resign to my fate and manage to catch some half sleep and came back home.

So my weekend trip ended with paprika colored eyes and full tiredness out of the sleepless travel.

Some pics from my trip...
The train i traveled....
Sun rise...

Mundhi mundhi vinayaganae...
Entrance to meenakshi temple...
Gopuram...
Azhagar koil....
Pazamudhirsolai....