vetti...

Its two weeks since we left college. I haven’t done anything substantial since I left college yeah one could ask if we did anything better back in campus? But I would argue I at least had a routine. Back there in Nehru Nagar I would get up latest by 9:30 -10 run for my breakfast; if there were some class scheduled, show up the face and be back for lunch. Try to escape the heat by running back to the room or get into the AC of NNAC or the library. Then wait for the tea time. Run from room to room to check if there are enough people to play football. The best time at the campus was being spent in the ground playing footer.
Then get cleaned to eat the night dinner. In-between these busy schedules have time to have the brief mokkai sessions (couple of hours).

Contrary to such a planned and scheduled life it’s now a chaos. Can I call chaos? Everyday after get up late at 10 I really start thinking how the day will be spent. There are a lot of thought of how my future will be, that takes a lot of my time!! But still I don’t know what is next in store for me.
I switch on the computer and get online to check if some known face is online. At the same time the TV is on. Though India is out of world cup I find a reason to spend at least 4-5 hours on the cricket match. Yeah in-between Rooney helped me in spending some good time with his wonderful one touch.

At last I have heard from my company and my manager wants me to join a bit early than others. So it might be May 7th THE DAY ill be joining office. It’s my second stint in my life as a working professional. Have mixed feelings, can’t wait to join but experience says don’t expect too much so not that very anxious as well. I am as confusing as ever I guess. Next on year will be critical in my life I know this fact for sure.

Yesterday was a break from the order in the chaotic life that was there since 14th April. I went to my native village, its 20 kms from Thiruvarur. For those who haven’t heard of the place it’s called the Tank City, Famous for Thyagaraja Swamigal (one of the great composers in Carnatic music) and temples. I was there after 10 years and it was a great feeling. My amma tells me proudly that their city is where the present Chief Minister is from. This is obviously visible with the development that has happened over the years. I say “their town” for the simple reason that I have grown in Chennai all my life doesn’t seem to be my town. Still I feel connected to the place.

While I walked on one of the streets of the native village one old lady recognized the family tree I belonged to then said, “Where ever you people are now, you belong to this soil”.
“Cliché” one would say after reading this line but I realized how much people feel for their native place, the place where they really belong to. I felt guilty a hundred times for not having gone back to my village all these years.

I have always wanted to get settled in a village after retirement (early retirement by 40). But I know it won’t be easy. I realized how tough talking to my cousin who takes care of all our farm land. The whole village depends on the water which comes from the canal. The canal is fed by the river cauvery. When I managed to muster enough courage I asked my cousin how many of youngsters of my age (if you people would only agree being 26 is not that old) are still in the village. He sadly said hand few. Most of them either have left after graduating and finding greener pastures or finding it tough in the village went to Thirupur (where Nike t shirts are made) as working labor. So if people in Karnataka Assembly are listening I did see how dry the lands were. This is after good rains last year.

Good thing is the people have not lost all their hope..

Reason we went to our native place was to pray for the family.
We went to three temples : in Ettu kudi – Murugan(Son of Lord Shiva), Thirukovalai - “Kula deivam – Angalamman “ (Kula deivam is family deity) and Mohanoor – Mariamman. I now know where their hope comes from - their faith that GOD has not left earth.