I am listening to a song from a Tamil Movie that I watched recently and enjoying my first night of freedom from the half way home on my own! Though I tried to get my life back together twice, I failed miserably! Finally I decided I will do it my way and take my chances.
I went for a walk to the beach late in the evening and had a dip! I have a body guard who wants to learn about computers in return for his services to protect and take care of me! I have posted elsewhere that I love this village!!! This is one of the reasons why!!! Oh Boy was it refreshing to have a sea bath at dusk. I came back and had a bath with well water. Now that’s what I call living!!! The last time I did that was at my Aunts place (Fathers Sister) when I was a kid. I had rested in the afternoon and wanted to see the new day in at midnight. The air is sultry, my room is a mess but I feel very much that I am at my home now and feel a sense of belonging that had been missing for some time in my life. My mattress is comfy and my sound system is up and running. My Landlord who is ten years my senior dotes on me and has assured me of fried fish every evening to supplement my dinner.
I was to leave the home tomorrow but the need to get out of the home was so compelling I packed my worldly possession (a lot of it junk that I have accumulated over three years) and left to greet the 26th of June from my new residence. Before my late evening loaf I was getting acclimatized to my new place, finding out where light switches, power points etc. It was fun to go buy my dinner in the night and have some coffee before eating. Subsequently it was entertaining to sit on the porch and gossip with my neighbors about subjects ranging from politics to personal issues. The way the conversations were conducted were hilarious with my Landlord making it very clear that nobody should come and disturb me unless he gives them permission. I am technically supposed to only have a room here but I have the whole house to myself. He is right now sleeping outside while I am sitting at the dining table listening to Mika and writing!!!
It is almost midnight now and its pleasant, I am contemplating a cup of coffee and a snack when I thought of a person I considered an elder brother to me, the late Rajan Bala. In my opinion, he was probably the most well informed Journalist as far as Cricket, Cricketing and Cricketers were concerned. Being a voracious reader he was also very knowledgeable and one of the most interesting characters I have had the privilege of knowing. I have spent many a memorable moment especially during cricket matches when he used to stay with me, while on assignment covering them.
He once remarked how Jawaharlal Neru, Independent India’s first Prime Minister, treated Members of his Cabinet when he wanted to make a point. Apparently these meetings were held in a room in the Prime Ministers Residence and they all used to sit on the floor, I am sure on luxurious carpets, and the great man used to throw a cushion at any member who showed signs of disagreeing with him. How true this is I don’t know I am just quoting Rajan as narrated to me by him!
Recollecting this ended up by my thinking of Nehru’s famous speech, a Tryst with Destiny, when India gained independence. An extract came to mind; “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.”
I can’t and don’t want to wake up anybody, not even my Landlord, or for that matter anybody in my village, forget the Country, at this ungodly hour. Its so quiet and everybody is a sleep!! All I know is I have got my freedom in the real sense of the word and after so long I feel alive and content!!!!
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