Monolith

Unplanned trips do really make you feel that you are still living life. Last sunday, Hari wanted to have lunch outside (escape from my cooking). After lunch, we found the Chennai weather exceptionally good. Hubby dear wanted to ride on ECR in bike. Tired of saying no to his chinna chinna aasais, I said ‘yes’ for a change, and off we left, without even our two wheeler papers, to ECR. Without a camera or handbag, dressed up only for the neighborhood lunch, we rode on and on, filling petrol for a lump sum 500.

After we had gone a while, I thought we’d go to muttukkadu and take a boat ride before we return. Hubby dear said yes, but decided to ride past it, only to suggest that Mahabalipuram was now just 20 kilometers away. I nodded naughtily, and the journey continued. It was 4 PM when we reached Mahabalipuram. We had planned many times to visit this place, but never made it. I remembered school days, and the only tour I had made to Mahabalipuram earlier. I recollected how we covered ourselves from foreigners’ cameras, as someone warned us. At that time, I had no clue I would ever get married, get settled in Chennai and come back to the very place on a Sunday evening on a random picnic!

Our first stint was to sit on the lawn and chitchat on memories and passing tourists. What else would we care for- casual tourists with neither a schedule, nor a camera. Then, we explored the five rathas, marveling at the the monolithic sculptures and life-sized elephant statue, and giggling at the variety of tourists posing non-stop in front of the elephant. After buying icecreams for a huge price, we ambled to the Mahisasura Mardhini rock, only to give away our icecream to an eager monkey. Monkey was not as eager though, to share photo space with hari on our mobile camera.

Wind was amazing as expected, at the top of the hill. We climbed down the rock to visit the lighthouse. I was stung on the way by a red ant, or a beetle maybe. Hardly did I imagine that the little beast would hurt and itch me for the next 72 hrs! The visit up the lighthouse was not exactly interesting, though we could get some view of the city. We had to wait our turn to come down the narrow passage following an old, not-so-abled aunty.

We had a cup of buttermilk, only to find out we didn’t have enough change. We passed our Rs.7 instead of Rs. 10, grinning at the indirect curses from the vendor woman. Next we went to what was marked as a temple, although we didn’t find anything like a temple. At about the height of the first floor, there was a pillared construction, with the width of a “othayadi paadhai” (Imagine the edges of a rectangle). Hari walked it up promptly, inviting me to join. I took the first few steps on the structure, before fear gripped me. I didn’t have much choice, now that I was on the way already. The more I got scared, the more I felt like slipping down and vice-versa. Being adventurous naturally, I don’t remember having many such scary moments in the past. Perhaps marriage has done damage to my guts. I finally walked back to the starting point, dutifully holding Hari’s hands, as though that would save my life!

After a little more wandering in the rocks, we got ready to leave the place. We stopped when we saw a crowd gathered around a hill. What held their attention were a mom goat and her kid, struggling to reach out to each other. The kid goat had strayed off and somehow slid down a slope. It was now trying to rally back. Mom was making desperate sounds, not knowing a way to help. As we were watching, a few more goats ran to the place, as if to show their support. Hari positioned himself down the hill, to catch the little one just in case she fell down. The kid balanced herself by bending her fourth leg, and after a few tense minutes, she magically reached up. All of the gathered crowd encouraged her with applause and dispersed with smiles. She stays on in memory though, as if a symbol of nature’s desperation as well as its own grace and self sustainability.

On the way back, we admired some beautiful humongous sculptures kept for sale. We then saw a cow killed by a passing vehicle and sympathized . The animals have learnt to cope up with nature, but probably not yet with man’s endless inventions.

what an effortlessly eventful day it had been- a lot of encounters with animals- some bad and some good. But what stays is the nicety of the memories, the freshness of new lovers we found in ourselves that day.

Song of passion

There’s a song in me
which sets my rhythm
and keeps me on track

It tunes my blood
to get set ready
for the first ray of sunlight

When I get wiped out
It stirs my spirit;
vibes “Just don’t give up!”

When moments get tough,
It soothes my soul;
Whispers “Wait for your time”

A small win here and there
I hear it melody
“Way to go!”

I stare at the blank wall
It breaks the monotone,
hums “What’s in store next?”

The world gets dark,
as I shut my eyes;
the song never dies

It sings lullabies
into my ears
“Dream big. Rock the world”

Now, that’s my song
I’ve turned on loud
You tune it in, let’s resonate

“One day, we’ll make it big”
“One day, we’ll make it big”!