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
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