I have neglected you guys long enough. Well, that always
happens when you are stuck in a mind as lazy as mine. So here goes, I will
attempt to narrate the roller coaster ride months I've had.
This is just the first week. There is a whole solid month coming at you...
Until then, Happy Pongal guys...
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Well where do I start, well i’ll introduce you to P&R
and narrate their visit which well in all fair sense is where it all began. So here’s
to a P&R and their visit home after three long years. Well like every other
relative you have in the US, the quickest way to make those blissfully ignorant
siblings visit is to get someone in the family married. And there it was a wedding,
so P&R finally decided to visit. After a session of prodding and poking
they extended their trip to a month and a half. D’ day arrived and I managed to
squeeze a week of leave thanks to ma boss (couple of the perks of working in a
travel industry.. u get to travel, well at least rarely).
So after the initial pleasantries and the startling traffic
in the smelting heat of Chennai, it began. A general warning to all those poor
little younger siblings who play chauffeur to the US returned, no matter how
used to Indian roads they were, don’t let them be your pillion rider (or be
prepared to get your shoulder clawed off every time an auto overtakes you,
seriously!).
Off we went to Tiruchirapalli, for the wedding. Having been
there numerous times, we expected the same old hot messed up township. I could
not have been more off. As we got off the railway station which was bearably
clean, a crisp cool morning breeze wafted through the trees carrying the smell
of the jasmine. And as if that wasn't shocking enough, the auto drivers were
being civil, and the roads were pristine.
The wedding was a frenzied greeting of relatives and as we finally reached the reception hall, a red carpet had rolled out greeting the guests. We were greeted like royalty, a traditional salute with Indian drums and horns that seemed
befitting the kings. And if that wasn't enough to raise our heads to the skies,
there was this guy with his charming salutes...
Well, we were to travel to Chidambaram. It was a shame to
miss the brilliant climate and travel in the crammed car. We relived ourselves
of the luggage and decided to ride the train. We got ourselves tickets for the
three hour journey. We ended up standing for most of the journey, but what a
journey... i’ll tell you this if you are going to take the train, take the
local train and go standing. Endless fields of emerald greens, grey clouds
baggy with the promise of rain, a horizon of palm trees, and a bunch of wild
brats running to keep up with the train waving at us. As if this weren't blissful
enough, it began to drizzle. The clouds parted with just enough rain to raise
the dust with that distinctive aroma of wet earth and a welcoming home. It
seemed like the whole scene was welcoming P&R home.
Do keep commenting.. :)
Cheers