Article on me in Kalaimagal

 English version of my answers in Tamil to 10 questions from the editor of Kalaimagal monthly, which has appeared in the June 2026 issue of the magazine.

A glimpse into my life story

A few words about your parents?

My father was the eighth child and fifth son in a family of 9. Due to family circumstances, he did not complete his college education. ,He was a 100% domesticated man concerned only about his office and family. Though he may not have achieved great heights professionally, as a family man, he excelled himself. He had a tough exterior, but had a kind heart and a great soul, ever helpful to people in need. He ensured that all his children were well settled in life.

My mother was the eldest of a family of seven siblings and was 4 years younger to my father. Though she had studied only up to 4th standard, she made up for it with her common sense and charming personality. She was very popular both among our family members and the Community in the one-room tenement in a chawl in Matunga, Bombay, where our family of six was staying. She was also a fantastic host who would not allow any guest to leave our home without partaking of a simple meal she cooked with love. I was my mother`s favourite because not only did I extend whatever physical help I could, but also because she knew that I was a very ambitious and would do well in life. While my father was against many of my bold decisions ( though he never stopped me from taking them), my mother would support me, saying that her favourite God would help me to succeed in whatever risks I took in life. I owe a lot to my mother.

I learnt the following values from my parents;

Being honest & straightforward: Unshakeable faith in God; Constantly seeking the Divine Grace (Kadvaul Anugraham) and Elders’ Blessings (Periava Aashirvadam); Being helpful to others in need; Valuing relationships.

Interesting incidents in your marriage

My marriage was held on 26th January 1972, Republic Day, at the Sivakami Kalyana Mandapam, on Radhakrishna Salai (where the Saravana

Bhavan Restaurant used to function for some years). I had some trouble getting leave as I was in the midst of getting ready for the launch campaign of ‘Ricory’ instant coffee. My boss reluctantly agreed to give me a week’s leave on the condition that I should supervise the recording of the Ricory Radio Spot scheduled at a studio in Chennai the day before the wedding! I agreed! But that decision was the cause of a lot of tension in the wedding hall, as I was held up in the recording. Everyone was asking about the missing b,ridegroom. With great difficulty I managed to extricate myself from the recording and landed at the wedding hall at 6.30 pm, much to the relief of everyone!

A few words about your wife

Though a reluctant starter, Prabha was a fast learner. Once she got onto something, she would put her heart and soul into the job. Whether cooking meals for a small family of 5 or a party of 40 people, maintaining her garden with hundreds of plants with love and care, attending music classes, or handling any assignment given to her by the neighbourhood Ladies Club or the Inner Wheel Club, she proved to be a very dependable and dedicated worker. Her soft nature and her passion for doing things perfectly earned her a lot of admirers.

Her multiple talents were hidden from me for the first sixteen years of our marriage when she was bringing up our children while I was very busy building a successful career and very active in social organisations. While I thought everything was going well with Prabha and me, an explosive letter she wrote to me in Tamil, opened up my eyes to the reality. What I did with the letter and how it became a turning point in her life and our relationship is a story well documented in my autobiography.

Post that event, Prabha became an accomplished writer in Tamil. Prabha`s transformation, from an introvert with low self-esteem to a person who became self-assured and confident, was complete. I was truly proud of her progress in life

When she passed away in 2013 of cancer at the age of 61, instead of mourning her death, I decided to celebrate her memory by starting Prabha Rajan Talent Foundation (PRTF), which has been helping talented female writers to come to the limelight for the last 13 years through various activities. I am happy to say that the very first short story contest sponsored by PRTF in 2013 was held in association with Kalaimagal magazine.

An unforgettable experience during your life in Bombay?

There are many unforgettable experiences I have of my life in Bombay. Though I have won many awards and recognitions over the years for my involvement with professional and voluntary bodies, the one that stands out is the very first award in my life- ` Best Student Award` from R.A Podar College of Commerce in 1961

when I was studying in the Junior B.Com ( 3rd Year), I was neither a brilliant student nor a successful sportsman but very actively supported many professors in their projects. Even then, I had the reputation as a good organiser of programmes. I was equally delighted when the news of the award appeared with my photograph in the Free Press Bulletin belonging to the Free Press group of Papers.

How did you become a pioneer in the advertising world?

Though I was in the advertising business for 45 years, I earned the reputation as a Rural Marketing Specialist only after my shift to Chennai in 1974 at the age of 32. Since there were not many consumer product clients, I used my knowledge of rural marketing acquired in handling Madras Fertilizers ( MFL) account, to get other agri input clients like Shaw Wallace, EID Parry etc. The tie up of my agency with Madison Communication of Bombay to start Anugrah Madison as a rural division helped us get a variety of clients because of our ability to think of rural campaigns in specific languages. My reputation as a pioneer in the field of rural communication got me the `Lifetime Achievement Award` from Rural Marketing Association of India ( RMAI), of which I was the Founder President for the first four years.

Did you have any Guru who helped you in your career?

My choice of advertising as a career was a planned one, and I made the decision on my own. Right from my student days, I was creatively inclined. Besides writing short stories in Tamil, I would also write plays in Tamil, in which I would also act. In addition, I was also attending special drawing classes. So when I scored the highest mark in the subject `Salesmanship and Publicity` in the first year of my B.Com course, the seed for considering advertising as a career choice was sown in my mind. Immediately after getting a B.Com `( Hons.) degree. I did a PG DiplomaAdvertisingcourse in Advertising and Public Relations and landed a dream job in Clarion McCann Advertising as a Management Trainee. As they say, rest is history. Though I was shaped by good bosses in the initial years, I can`t say that I had any single Guru in my life.

Have you ever regretted missing something in your life?

Yes, one of the biggest regrets in my life is that I did not get a PhD in the subject of my specialisation- Rural marketing. I always wanted to be known as Dr R.V.Rajan. Though some friends suggested that I could easily get a doctorate from some American universities by paying a fee, my conscience did not allow me to take that route..

What made you take up writing in English and Tamil post-retirement?

I was a writer in Tamil during my student days. Once I joined the demanding advertising profession, I had no time to indulge in any hobbies, including writing. However, I wrote for English business magazines on my profession. My new Avatar as a writer/ author in English, started at 65, when I retired as the CMD of Anugrah Madison Advertising and wrote my autobiography.

The success of my autobiography titled ` Courage My Companion` in English, published in 2009, made me take up writing seriously. I started writing on various topics. Many of my articles were also published in both local and national media. I am happy to say that in the last 16 years, since the publication of my autobiography, I have published 14 books covering eight genres of writing. I revived my interest in writing stories in Tamil only 2 years ago, when I learned to key my stories in Tamil on my laptop. However, I write my stories in English first and then do the Tamil versions myself instead of getting someone else to do it.

How did you get involved in the audiovisual medium?

I was around 13 years old when I received `Gevabox` camera as a gift. That was the beginning of my love for photography, and later as a person with an abiding interest in the audiovisual medium. I kept shooting pictures initially in black & white and later in colour. When the use of slide and tape presentations became a popular audiovisual medium, I took to it like a duck to water. I not only used the A/V medium for client presentations but also to produce short 10 to 15 minute presentations to promote the service projects of several voluntary organisations I was associated with. I am proud to say the scores of my project promotional presentations have helped the institutions to get several crores, as donations., I thoroughly enjoy sitting in a studio and producing short video films paying tributes to people. After the video film on my good friend, (late) `Charukesi` that I had produced seven years ago, I had the privilege of producing a six-minute video on Rtn Ramakrishna Raja on his death Anniversary two years ago.

How is life in Nana Nani, Coimbatore?

Nana Nani, where I live now, has not only got the best infrastructure and services but also a vibrant community. A lot of talented people here keep displaying their talents in different fields through programmes organised regularly. My reputation as a writer/ author, who helps other writers and talented people to come to the limelight, got me an award as an `Inspiring writer of Phase 4`. Besides, my policy of `detached attachment` towards my near and dear ones helps me in not missing anyone. At 84, I am leading a stress-free and very happy life, waiting impatiently for the final departure call from my maker, constantly praying that the Lord above takes me with my shoes on.

The Sleeping Beauty

  The importance of sleep in a human being`s life can never be underestimated. It is a vital activity—shall we say, inactivity —without which a man can feel miserable. Those who can embrace beautiful sleep every day without problems are blessed!

“I could not sleep the whole night yar!” is a constant refrain from a good friend who is always walking around with red eyes from lack of sleep. On the advice of friends, he tried to count sheep, silently chanted Ram Nam, concentrated on body parts from the toe to the head, tried to read a book before going to bed or watched the comedy channel. Nothing worked! Finally, on medical advice, he started taking a sleeping tablet every night to go to sleep. Though he gets sound sleep, he says he always feels too lazy to get up in the morning, feeling heavy & drowsy because of the tablet!. A bad start to a working day!

I know of a legendary ad man–may his soul RIP–who was a chronic insomniac. A handsome six-footer who was a workaholic, admired and respected by his colleagues, he never slept at night throughout his life. Neither could he sleep during the day. Every morning, he would be the first to arrive at the office as fresh as he could be and start the day by distributing handwritten memos that he had prepared working at home all night, addressed to staff members.

Surprisingly, he was a very healthy man who lived a king’s life and saw over 1000 moons during his lifetime! Not everyone can be as lucky as him!

I had a boss who worked in the office during the night to avoid facing his quarrelsome wife at home, but slept during the day while she was away at work. The weird habit eventually cost him both his wife and his job! Some friends attributed this habit of my boss to his wife`s weird passion for collecting miniature Owls!

There was another boss who would invariably fall asleep while attending a meeting in a boardroom, but suddenly wake up to make a relevant point or raise a question befitting the ongoing discussion and go back to sleep without waiting for the response. Obviously, his sixth sense was at work.

Many others in the world suffer from temporary bouts of insomnia. Often caused by excessive worry, leading to acute stress, eventually resulting in sleeplessness. Dishonest or scheming people who are forever plotting someone`s downfall cannot sleep! Some lovers don’t get sleep because they are fantasising about their heartthrobs the whole night.

Many people cannot sleep at night if they sleep in the afternoon. Or if they consume coffee after 6.00 pm or don`t consume before 3.00 pm. I have no such problem. On any day, even now, I can have a 2-to 3-hour nap in the afternoon and still go to bed by 9.30 pm- my customary sleeping time.

Unlike the adman who led a normal life despite being a chronic insomniac, most of the others who suffer from sleeplessness – temporary or otherwise – are often highly irritable and restless. Making life miserable for their near and dear ones!

More than any sleeping pill or other forms of sleeping aids, I feel that if you have a clear conscience and lead a healthy life without malice towards anyone, embracing sleep whenever you need it should never be a problem! 

SAMBADKUMAR @ Samji -A Sakalakala Vallavan

Sambathkumar @ Samji, a writer, author, poet and a self-taught A/V Expert, in Nana Nani, Phase 4, where I stay now, amazes me with his enthusiasm, energy and his hunger for learning new and challenging creative pursuits. He has been producing entertainment programmes regularly to delight the residents of Phase 4. Even a function to launch his new book is accompanied by a variety of entertainment programmes, which invariably include a short film written & produced by him. Except for acting, he dons all the other roles required in making a film. He conceives the story, writes the screenplay, identifies artists who will perform different roles, and trains them in advance by having rehearsals individually and later as a group. He identifies different locations to suit the story, gets the necessary permissions and sources the props required for the shooting. On the shooting days, he is the cameraman, camera assistant, production assistant and above all, a  Director looking for perfection. Post shooting, he also dons the role of the editor.

When he offered me a small role in the film `ISAI`, I readily agreed. I don't like acting on stage because of my inability to remember long dialogues, but playing character roles in front of a camera is okay with me. I was excited because I was going to act in a film after a six-year hiatus.

He came home to give me the gist of the story and also highlight the role I will be playing. This time, he had decided to introduce some new faces in his film. When some of them said that they had never acted before, he said, `Don`t worry, I know how to make you act`

He formed a WhatsApp group of all those involved in the film and started sending regular messages about the progress. I was impressed with the meticulous planning he had done for every aspect of the film. Once he was satisfied that the Team was ready for the shoot, he sent us a detailed schedule indicating the venue, what scenes were being shot on a particular day and which artists would be required. In the meantime, he had already identified the locations, got the necessary permissions and briefed every artist about the make-up and costumes that they should wear so that they come to the venue, fully prepared.

On the sets, he was a demanding director and also a cameraman, looking for ideal positions for the camera. He would not accept any suggestions from anyone, saying, ` I am the director, and I know what I want` or `Are you the director or am I the director?` Someone quipped, "On the sets, he is a dictator and not a director". He goes for several retakes until he is satisfied with a shot.

The longest shot for the latest film was on the day he was shooting the cutcheri sequence featuring Padmanabhan as a Vidwan singing 3 songs at the meditation hall, with Mrs Uma Maheshwari appearing as a chief guest to honour the Vidwan. She not only came on time but also mouthed the dialogue which Samji had given her earlier, resulting in the sequence being filmed in one take. Considering that she agreed to perform a role in spite of her busy schedule indicated her great regard for Samji and his capabilities. For this particular day of shooting Samji had the help of Revathy Natarajan acting as an assistant director, monitoring the scenes and acting as a prompter, helping the artists refresh their dialogues. Namagiri was busy shooting the audience in action. Most importantly, Samji, with help from a few volunteers, had managed to get over 40 residents to participate in the sequence as a live audience for the programme. I must say that the attendees responded with applause spontaneously whenever it was called for and were very disciplined. Hats off to Samji for shooting this long sequence without any hitch.

Since I was not required for scenes shot in other venues, I did not attend those shootings.

After all the shooting was over, he started the laborious process of editing the film. This is when a film really takes shape. It involves choosing the best shots of each scene from several takes, arranging them in sequence,  adding appropriate titles, superimposing music and doing everything required for what is called post-production work. It is a daunting task.

Once the first cut of the film was ready, he had to go through it carefully, trimming and fine-tuning the film to get the desired impact. The film was now ready to be shown.

In my long life as an adman involved with hundreds of different genres of films, I know what is involved in making even a short advertising film. There are scores of people, each a specialist in his field, to assist the Director in the making of a film. It is always teamwork. Samji prefers to be a one-man army when it comes to filmmaking.  He does it because he is passionate about what he is doing and doesn`t mind the physical and mental stress he goes through in making a film.

 

Samji (82), was a corporate honcho who worked in a very senior position in a multinational company when he had no time to discover his hidden talents while in service. Settling in  Phase 4  after retirement, he realised his penchant for creative pursuits. Starting as a writer and film-maker later, he has proved that age is no barrier to creativity.

Within seven years of his stay in the community, he has published eight books ( six of them thrillers), written more than a hundred poems,  thirty short stories and produced eight films. A remarkable achievement indeed.

He says that he can do all these because of the total freedom he enjoys to do whatever he wants to do. Besides, being healthy for his age allows him to be very active both physically and mentally.

Samji, you are truly a `SAKALAKALA VALLAVAN`. Thanks for giving me a role in your film. It was a pleasure working with you. May you continue to enjoy good health so that you are able to cross new milestones in your journey as a creative person. God Bless!

An edited version of this article has appeared in the May 26 issue of Dignity Dialogue.

 

 

 

 

 

Out of Sight – Out of Mind

`Out of sight, out of mind` plays a major role in relationships. When a friend moves to another city, we solemnly vow to stay in touch. “We’ll talk every week, if not every day”, we say. Weeks turn into months, and before you know it, the only interaction you have is through social media posts. I have realised this after moving to Coimbatore. Not only with friends, but it also happens with family members. You may be out of sight, but you are not out of the minds of friends and relatives because of the opportunity to connect with them through Social Media, WhatsApp being the most popular medium of communication across age groups. I prefer it to one-on-one verbal communication through mobiles. There is a reason for it.

In the last few years, I have found that I don`t enjoy receiving calls, nor do I enjoy making them, for two reasons. As I age and experience temporary memory lapses, I often interject a caller while he is still talking. I am in a hurry to convey something I feel I might forget if I do not convey it to him/her immediately. This obviously irritates the caller, besides the loss of continuity of the conversation. Because of the same problem, I find I am groping for words and fumbling to convey what I want to convey. Hence, these days I try to avoid one-on-one conversations and use WhatsApp for typing most of my communication.

I have also stopped making routine calls to enquire about the health of friends, and also don`t expect others to call me for the same reason. Unless there is an emergency and the need for urgent communication, I don`t call friends or even family members unnecessarily for a friendly chat. So I am not complaining that I am `out of mind` of many near and dear ones because they don`t call me in person.

`Out of sight- out of mind` syndrome also happens when we lose some close friends or relatives, like parents or life partners. In the case of close friends, the memory would remain for a month or two after a mandatory condolence meeting organised by well-wishers. However, in the case of parents or life partner, there would be regular opportunities to remember them thanks to the rituals that are conducted till the first Anniversary. After that, a framed photo of the near and dear ones, duly adorned with a plastic garland, would be prominently displayed on the wall of the house. People who consider their parents as gods are likely to place their photos in the puja room.

In my case, I had placed the garlanded photos of my parents not in the puja room but in a prominent place at the entrance of the house so that I have an opportunity to remember them occasionally. A photo of my late wife, Prabha, was placed in a prominent location in the main hall, which I can never miss seeing every day. Though Prabha passed away in 2013 and has been `Out of sight` for more than a decade, she is not `out of my mind` because of the activities I undertake through the Prabha Rajan Talent Foundation, started by me in her memory 13 years ago!

In the case of friends, though many of them may be out of my mind, the next time I see them, memories of our association come flooding back, and we enjoy going down memory lane!

With the increasing role of social media in our lives, which also helps us connect with long-lost friends, I wonder if the old saying `Out of sight -out of mind` is relevant today.

 

 

A RELAXED TRIP TO CHENNAI

Meeting old friends, making new friends.

As I came out of the Coimbatore Airport yesterday ( 30th March) afternoon, after a relaxed 25-day trip to Chennai, a hot blast of air hit me, unlike the pleasant weather that greeted me when I stepped out of the Chennai airport on 6th March. I was lucky that I experienced pleasant weather right through my stay in Chennai. I had gone primarily to sign a Release Deed in connection with the redevelopment of my Home in Sastri Nagar. While the date for signing the Deed was getting delayed, I took the opportunity to stay for a few days with my sister at Asiana Shubham, daughter, brother and finally in my own home with my son`s family. I must thank all of them for looking after me well during my stay.

The long stay also allowed me to attend meetings of many institutions with which I was associated in Chennai - Tamil Puthaga Nanbargal, 41 Club, Rotary Club of Madras South, Sharan group of senior citizens, ending up with a meeting on 29th March, at Tag Centre, where my friend S.R.Madhu made an excellent Video presentation on Asha Bhonsle. While staying in Adyar, I also visited Bessy, where I met my walking friends- both the larger Elliot group with families and the smaller Elite group, which meets for a cup of coffee after the walk. I also met a couple of my schoolmates based in Chennai and visited Rally Point, a sports complex, a dream project of Bina Boaz, a Past President of the Rotary Club of Madras South, where I was a member for 47 years. The trip gave me a chance to meet all my old friends and go down memory lane with some of them, justifying my long stay in Chennai this time.

Among the many events I attended, I would like to single out the following for special mention: The first event was the 5th Birthday celebration of my granddaughter, Bakthi Balaji, at the Madras Boat Club on 7th March. She was so delighted to see me that she went around telling everyone that “Rajan Thatha has come to Chennai to specially attend my birthday”. The second event was the dinner meet of the Tamil Puthga Nanbargal, at the Madras Boat Club on 8th March. Attendees were Mr & Mrs J Bhaskaran, A doctor cum writer, Mrs Girija Raghavan, editor of Ladies Special magazine and Bombay Kannan, a legend in the world of Tamil audio books, plus the Team behind the Tamil Puthaga Nanbargal -R.T.Chari of Tag group, Kizhambur, editor of Kalaimagal magazine, and Ravi Tamilvanan, Director of Manimekalai Prasuram, and I. It was a pleasant evening. I was also delighted to attend the 108th episode of `Kalangalil Avan Vasantham` based on the songs of Kannadasan, hosted by the multitalented Isaikavi Ramanan at Vani Mahal. The programme is so popular that the hall was packed half an hour before the meeting started. I am a fan of Ramanan.

The last nine days I spent in my own house were memorable for two reasons- the good time I had with my grandchildren, Thavam and Bakthi. It was a pleasure watching them indulge in so many creative activities. Bakthi was particularly charming with her endearing and caring ways to make me happy. While she has started learning dance and music, Thavam ( 8 years) is learning to play the keyboard, besides attending tennis class. I must compliment my daughter-in-law, Tulse, for the time she is spending with the children to keep them busy with creative activities. She is supported in her challenging job by my son, Balaji and her parents, Naresh and Nandhini. The children are lucky that they have their maternal grandparents to not only keep pace with their energies but also teach them values. God bless them all.

The second reason is the realisation that this was probably the last time I stayed in my own house before it goes under the bulldozer in a couple of months. What were my feelings? More about it in a post which I intend to write closer to the date when I have to say goodbye to my dream home of 44 years.

After a lot of suspense, I signed the Deed at the Registrar`s office on 27th March and returned to Coimbatore, which received me with a warm (hot) welcome. Looking forward to my daily routine at Nana Nani and enjoying the company of my friends here

A new short story from me

  Since the publication of my book ` A Difficult Choice`- a collection of 15 short stories by me  published in 2017,​ I had not written a short story for a long while. That spell was broken when I tried my hand at writing a short story in Tamil after several decades. Titled, ​`Anmaneya Kadhal ( Platonic love), it was published in a recent issue of Malar Vanam, a monthly e-magazine in Tamil edited by Ramki aka K.R.Ramakrishnan. I am now happy to report that my new short story in English, titled ` Solitude by design`, has been published in the March 26  issue of Mixed Bag, another monthly e-magazine in English published by Ramki.

​I was inspired to write this story based on the life of a resident in a ​Senior ​Citizen ​Home, who has two wives and families, and yet has chosen to live alone in a Senior Citizen Home. I must state that this is not his life story but a fiction based on the idea of a man with two families choosing to live alone in a SCH.

                         

          Solitude by Design- An independent life without responsibilities.

 

Raman , a widower  was staying in  a well known senior citizen community  in Chennai . The facility had  a dining hall  where many residents would come to partake their meals three times a day, providing an opportunity for the residents to make  new  friends. Oneday  he met Rajendran, a newcomer to the community. He was surprised to learn  that Rajendran had moved into the community in spite of having two families- through two wives. One staying in Chennai and another in Coimbatore.

Having two wives and still staying in a senior citizen home alone? Raman  decided to probe Rajendran  who was more than willing to share his interesting life story.

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Rajendran`s  father was a school teacher in a government school and they lived  in a  modest home in Saidapet.   Only child to his parents he grew up to be a handsome young man. After school he got admission  in the prestigious Engineering college in Chennai.  After getting a degree,  he joined a well known  automotive company as a management trainee. Since he was doing well in his job, his parents decided to get him married to a distant relative , 20 years old Sita, when  he was only 25.

She  was  not a graduate and  turned out to be an introvert who preferred to stay back and build a beautiful home,  contrary to Rajendran`s  penchant for social life. The couple was blessed with a boy and a girl within five years of the marriage and his wife got deeply involved with the children. Though she was a good homemaker. Rajendran realized that Sita was not the dream girl that he wanted  to marry.

 It was almost 10 years after  his marriage, his company decided to post him to Coimbatore,  as Manager in charge of a new project that the company was setting up in that city. Sita decided to stay back in Chennai with the children as she  was not sure of managing the household by her self in Coimbatore in the absence of Rajendran who would be away on tour, 20 days a month.  Besides she was confident of getting her parents`support  in Chennai .

In Coimbatore,  Rajendran  started missing his family and particularly his wife who knew how to make him happy whenever he visited Chennai to meet the family.

Rajendran  started feeling miserable. His secretary Neela, a 25-year-old single woman staying in a Ladies Hostel, was an understanding soul. Whenever she found Rajendran  in a disturbed mood , she would encourage him to talk about his problems and offered him whatever solace she could.  

 Rajendran was greatly touched by her compassion and understanding.  She was truly the dream girl that  he  would have liked to marry. She  was willing to lend more than her shoulder to help Rajendran  face his hopeless situation. Though they were discreet in their relationship during office hours, they decided to meet every Saturday afternoon at a nearby resort hotel to spend the weekend.

These secret outings resulted in Neela becoming pregnant. After one rendezvous, lying exhausted in bed, Neela spoke to Rajendran,  “Raja, I went to a Gynaecologist yesterday since I missed my periods. She confirmed that I am two months pregnant “

 Rajendran  who was on Cloud Nine after a hectic session, landed on Earth with a thud.

“Will you marry me Raja, to give legitimacy to my child… our child?”  Rajendran  did not know how to react. “Are you sure… we have been taking precautions… I mean...” He was fumbling for words. Yet he said, “Leave the problem to me, Neela, I will find a solution.” He did not have to find a solution because of what Rajendran`s wife told  him during his next visit to his home in Chennai,  after  the rumour about  his affair had reached her.

Rajendran went about his chores for the day and anxiously  waited for the night when he would be alone with his wife. The night came and when the door of the bedroom was closed, his wife resisted him trying to embrace her. She got out of his clutches and sat on the bed and asked him to sit next to her.

She said, “I have come to know about your affair with your secretary. I am not upset. I am happy that you have found someone who loves you and makes you happy in every way. I will have no objection if you take her as  your second wife.”

Rajendran was shocked. She continued, “ But I have one request. While you are welcome to visit this home whenever you want, You must not force me to satisfy your physical  needs. I am tired and am unable to cope up with your demands. I have done my job of producing two lovely children for you. I will do my best to bring them up well so that you feel proud of them” So saying she broke down. Hugging him tightly she started crying.  For the first time  in their married life Rajendran  did not force himself on her .

 

“ So you decided to take Neela as your second wife?”quipped, Raman.

“ Yes, with Sita`s  permission I married Neela and set up my second home in  Coimbatore. I have a girl through Neela . She is a management graduate,  who owns a private company.  Neela helps her running it.  Sita  is also happy staying with her daughter in Chennai looking after my grandchildren. My son is in USA with a multinational company, doing very well.  I found that  neither my services nor advice are  required by both my families. Besides I find that if I stay with one family, the other family gets upset. So I decided to   move into this senior citizen home to lead an independent life without responsibilities”

What he said next floored Raman. “ You know I did not have to feel guilty about having two wives.  My grandfather had three wives.  My father had two wives. When his first wife could not bear him a child,  he married her younger sister- my mother.  I am their only child` so saying he broke into his trade mark throaty laughter.

AN ACTION-PACKED SECOND YEAR IN COIMBATORE

I completed two years of my stay at Coimbatore on 25th February, 26. Since I have already written about the Pros and Cons of my stay in Nana Nani, Phase 4 (NNP4), I will restrict this article to the activities that kept me busy during the second year in Coimbatore. And there were plenty of them!

In the last 12 months, I attended more than 30 variety entertainment programmes arranged by groups of talented residents in the community at the Meditation Hall in the Club House in NNP4. Besides these, there were Music and Dance Festivals arranged by Hari Om Mama (96 years), featuring talented artists not only from Coimbatore but also from other cities. I also made an appearance as an actor in a short film produced by my good friend Samji, @ Sambadkumar, as a part of the entertainment programmes he organises regularly. I had the opportunity to watch over 35 films ( Tamil, Malayalam or Hindi) shown free to residents in the plush Ananaya`s Cinema in the clubhouse this year. Considering that I used to watch just 2 or 3 films in a theatre in a year in Chennai, this was a record
Apart from continuing to write my reviews of some of these programmes, this year I took on the additional responsibility of writing the `Curtain Raisers` for all the programmes arranged by Hari Om Mama, which appeared a day before each programme. These articles were shared by me only in the WA groups in Phase 4. I also did some interview-based articles about a few talented residents, which have appeared in magazines like Ladies Special and Dignity Dialogue. I continued to write my essays on various topics, which I share on all my social media handles like Blog, Facebook, WhatsApp and email. Some were published in magazines like Dignity Dialogue, Madras Musings, and Mixed Bag, an online magazine edited by K.R.Ramakrishnan.

Another important development on the writing front is my new ability to type my essays and short stories in Tamil. A couple of my stories in Tamil have appeared in Ladies Special, a monthly edited by Girija Raghavan and Malar Vanam, another online magazine in Tamil edited by K.R.Ramakrishnan.Since I am unable to think in Tamil, I write my stories first in English, based on which I write the Tamil versions.

While the year witnessed me becoming more than a prolific writer, sadly, my reading has come down drastically due to eye-related issues. Whereas I used to read two to three books a month, I am sad to say that I have not read a single book in the last 8 months. Though my vision is good and I have not undergone Cataract surgery so far, I had to undergo a short but delicate surgery for my entropion problem in the left eye. These days, I am unable to read more than 10 to 20 pages at a time. I have to be content with reading newspapers and a few magazines. This has also resulted in my keeping on hold the draft of a self-help book, which is ready but requires more editing before it is sent to the printer.

In my first report, I had mentioned the lack of imagination in menu planning by the catering department in Nana Nani, resulting in my taking dining breaks on days when I don't like the menu. Since I enjoy cooking, I manage to cook my own meals, sometimes shared with my friends here. Besides skipping my meals at the dining hall in the evenings for the last 20 months ( though I am paying for it), I also miss my lunch service at the dining hall for 10 to 15 days a month. I am also known in the community for my cooking abilities.

My visits outside Nana Nani are restricted to visiting the Naga Sai temple in Saibaba colony on every Thursday and the Perumal temple on Saturday mornings. I also visit my daughter`s home once a month and have visited specialist doctors outside the campus for my health-related issues. This year, I attended a couple of dinner meetings of the 41 Clubs in Coimbatore and a Rotary Meeting where I was a speaker, giving a talk on my favourite topic, `Biography as History`. I have consciously avoided keeping in touch with all my old friends in Coimbatore, lest I become too active socially and expose myself to the risks of potential accidents. The traumatic experience of being involved in a road accident ( when I was knocked down by a speeding cyclist) during one of my visits to Chennai last year to receive the `Inspiring Senior Citizen Award` from Tag Group & Ramu Endowments, has resulted in my developing an acute anxiety syndrome. The fear of a fall resulting in avoidable fractures has made me content with participating in programmes within the NNP4 campus, which is always buzzing with activities.

I have made lots of friends in Nana Nani who make me feel completely at home here. It is like a big joint family where I feel very secure and happy. Last year was certainly an action-packed year. Praying God to keep me in good health so that I continue to enjoy my life in Coimbatore. I have become 100% a `Coimbatorevasi`.
The good news is that the owner of my apartment has allowed the extension of the lease agreement of the apartment for two more years. Om Sai Ram!
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Only for those who are interested in my daily routine in N & N

I get up at 5.00 am. I start the day doing Chair yoga for 45 minutes, spend a few minutes going through messages on my smartphone and then go for a walk ( 25 minutes). Come back, take a bath & complete the morning puja rituals. Have my breakfast, followed by reading the morning newspapers. I have a pre-lunch siesta for 60 minutes, after which I spend about 90 minutes on my laptop working on the articles or stories that are in progress. Before or after lunch at the dining hall, I spend some time with friends gossiping outside the dining hall; Come back to my room for some more reading, and post lunch siesta for 60 minutes. If I have no programmes to attend in the evenings, I get into the kitchen to experiment with new dishes. I have an early dinner of a simple meal cooked by me or ready-to-cook items, before 7.00 pm, watch the News ( nay Views ) channels on TV for about 90 minutes and go to bed latest by 9.30 pm. Needless to say, like all people, I keep browsing through my smartphone from morning till going to bed. So there is no question of feeling bored or lonely.