1.
Reached Pondy - or, to be more politically more correct, Puducherry – early in the
morning. Did not take an auto rickshaw immediately: closer to the bus station,
you are normally charged more.
Walked till the stiffness of sitting in the bus
all night wore off. Stopped a young autorikshaw driver and told him
to take me to a lodge – not too costly, please.
He took me to Bliss inn, walking distance from Nehru Road. The
receptionist, a young person touching 30, gave two keys to a lean, hungry looking
guy and asked him to show me two rooms.
We went to the first floor and
stopped in front of a door. He was about to open it but
stopped short and told me that I would prefer the other room and promptly walked up to the
second floor. I dragged my body after him. He threw open the door and
declared that it was nice and breezy.
Yes, it was, and there was a terrace to
dry my clothes. I thanked him and got into the act of washing my clothes.
Bathing
and one more savasan refreshed me. I was hungry.
Got dressed and went down. The lean dark guy was there, as if waiting
for me to come down.
“Food?” he asked. I noticed that he had the eyes of a
drunkard. Vitamin 12 deficiency.
Yes, where should I go for breakfast?
He directed me to the street past Nehru road. And ordered me to get
four idlis for himself. I laughed. He looked surprised. I nodded that I'd get him his idlis.
Ate two idlis and got four idlis packed. He was waiting for me and took
the packet eagerly, went running up to the receptionist. While I was going up
the stairs I noticed that they were sharing the idlis. I smiled.
By the time I reached the room, I couldn’t contain my laughter anymore.
Three people sitting in the corridor looked at me surprised.
Laugh with the lord.
I could
not imagine Aurobindo laughing. Never seen a photograph with even a smile. Compared
to Ramana who always had a sweet smile, Aurobindo looks very dour, I thought.
Is it because he was laughing with the lord? Laughter unfit for human ears?
2.
Smoked a cigarette, rested my back. Rearranged my wet clothes drying on
the terrace.
Sunlight told me that it was office time. So off to my parallel work in
this world.
Pondicherry University. The trip back and forth showed off the dark
blue sea, bound by off-white sand and light blue sky split into vertical pieces
by coconut trees.
It was nearly six in the evening when I reached back.
Wandered in the streets, slowly making my way to the beach.
They have extended the beach a bit. Now people can
walk on the beach, instead of on the road. Though the beach was about 15 feet higher
than the sea. To touch the sea, you would have to be a good mountaineer.
I went to the park. The trees looked just the same as when I saw them in ‘90s.
Slowly wandered to Dr Surya’s last residence. It was
locked. The footpath near the house was cordoned off by a metal fence.
The door had a sign which declared that it belonged
to the golden chain. I am not a part of the chain, just a pendant hanging on
it.
I smiled: Express
what you want to experience.
3.
Looked around for a place where I could have a beer
and a cigarette. It would be a shame to leave Pondi without having a drink.
A building painted rose colour. Lazy Jazz caressed
the green surroundings. I sat sipping cold beer.
The last lines of the Savitri
resounded in my head.
I was getting ready. Now the game should begin.
Love all.
