A trip to Chennai is always hectic. The two weeks I spent from 25th September to 8th October were packed with activities. I went primarily to attend my new book launch on 27th September and the Shraddhams for my mother and father, scheduled for 4th & 7th October. Once in Chennai, I got roped into other activities.
I couldn't have asked for a better audience than the one I got for my book launch at Tag Centre, thanks to my good friend R T Chari. More than 180 people were in the hall, all senior citizens eager to know what I have written in my new book `Life in a Senior Citizen Home`. Not surprising that 80 copies were sold out at the meeting. Similar responses I got for my book at the 41 Club meeting held on 3rd October at the Cosmopolitan Club and the Sharan meeting on 4th October. Before the end of the two weeks, I found that the first print order was exhausted, and I had to order a reprint to supply my potential buyers in Nana Nani.
I also took the opportunity of my stay to visit my sister Prema, staying at Asiana Subham, who was turning 80 on 29th September. A small lunch get-together at a restaurant in Mahendra City. And good food with a surprise cutting of a birthday cake made her happy. On 2nd October, I attended the wedding reception of the daughter of Subramanian, an ex- employee of my company, Anugrah Madison. He had converted to Christianity to marry his lady love without changing his name. He surprised me by inviting me to hand over the first copy of a booklet on Saint `Emi Carmichael` to the priest who had conducted the wedding. She had inspired the family to name his daughter `Emi`.
The next day I had the privilege of witnessing a feature film on Radhakrishna Swamiji – Sai Padananda , an ardent devotee of Shirdi Saibaba who became a saint himself. His spiritual journey continued until his Mahasamadhi at the Sai Spiritual centre in Bangalore in 1980. As an ardent Sai devotee myself, I enjoyed watching the film, sponsored by Krish Kumar, the CEO of Pepsi. I thank my good friend Satyen Bhat, who was the Production Controller of the film, for including me in the invitation list for the premiere show of the film in the theatre at Prasad Labs.
Meeting family members and friends at Bessy, invading the Registrar's office a couple of times in connection with the redevelopment of my house in Sastri Nagar, and visiting my favourite temples kept me busy the rest of the days. A short time spent with Thavam and Bakthi, my grandchildren through my son Balaji and Tulse, was made memorable by 5-year-old Bakthi, chatting away nonstop using big words like `Camouflage` and explaining the meaning to me. I understand she has already become a voracious reader. So also Thavam, with whom I played a game of Chess and lost!
Out of the two weeks, for 8 days I enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of my brother Seshadri and his wife Mythily. Staying in their beautifully maintained home was a pleasure.
On 8th October, a Thursday, I had the privilege of being dropped at the Chennai airport by my elder daughter Kavitha, after the mandatory visit to Shirdi Saibabs temple in Tiruvanmiyur and picked up from the Coimbatore airport by my younger daughter Sowmya and her husband Sathya. I am blessed.
After suffering hot and humid weather in Chennai for two weeks, I was hoping to experience pleasant weather in Coimbatore. It was not to be. On landing at the airport at 3.15pm, the temperature was 34 °C, and it was sultry. Such weather is an unusual phenomenon for Coimbatore. The bad weather is continuing. Blame climate change! Fortunately, I am comfortable under the fan in my room at Nana Nani- my home, sweet home!
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