What goes around comes around

This happened over the last week.

We used to live in Jawahar Nagar a quiet  colony in the suburbs of Central Chennai ( Now not a suburb ) and our house was the last on the small 30 feet road. The house was built in 1970 and my father ensured that there was more than  adequate space for a kitchen garden . He liked to work on the garden over the weekends and that was his favourite pastime . In addition to vegetables ,he had also planted coconut trees ( four trees ) in addition to Mango and others and all of them started yielding three or four years later.
Our opposite house was sold sometime in 1990 and we had a new owner .   He started to build a very small Pillaiyar temple , by carving out space from his front yard but some portion most of the temple ended on the road.  We had mixed feeling about this but did not do anything .  The Kumbashibegam was done in 1996 and till we moved out in 2001 , we were regular visitors on a daily basis to see and get Pillaiyar blessings. My father passed away in 1999 and then as we moved out of the colony, our visits to our house became infrequent and finally we sold the house in 2005  ( thanks to my mothers kindness and willingness to do so ) – Post the sale our visits to the colony  just ended .

Last week , the neighbor who built the temple somehow caught hold of me ( phone number ) after nearly 19 years . I was surprised . I had nothing to do with him .. but he wanted to see me and my mother especially. He said the temple has been re built  and Kumbashibegam was done last week ( as per practice , this happens once in 24 years ). He wanted to give a Kalsam with then holy water and ashes from the homam to my mother . We were pleasantly surprised at this divinity and asked to come home at his convenience . He did come but when he gave the background as to why he wanted to see us and handover the prasadams , it was stunning.

The person who bought our house has moved to the US and keeps it locked . The Coconut trees still yield and since it is not plucked , the coconuts fall to the ground . And for homams , coconuts and Coprai are required . He said all the Coconut for the homam and its peels were used from our old house. And he said that by handing over , he will be thanking my father who planted them and maintained them … he did not buy any Coconut for the homam . It took us sometime to get grounded. We chatted for over an hour and the life that we had there and what was Jawahar Nagar like…
Just a moment to relish  of my father and what he did .. small deed but what an imprint it left ..and how it came back !!!

Comments

Venkys Blog said…
If I remember correctly, your house was the last on the street -- Great memories; I met your father first time in the nearby bank (SBI?)

Thanks for sharing Sri
11:10 PM
Mani said…
Sikku....i remember your old house..we used to be gate keeper for many occasions...Many a times, your father used to yell @ me for all wrongdoing those days....in that house only, he gave me Rs.500 to book a flat...my first flat was purchased with his help...Gr8 memories..
12:11 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A chance reconnect -- Heartfulness of Abundant Joy

  This Sunday ( 3/2/24 ) , I was at a Federation that supports the needs of People with Disabilities ( Diverse abilities ). It was their District conference and I went there to make connections for my organization and leverage their federation .  While the meeting went on desired lines   and as it was about to close formally , a young man who had lost both his hands got up on stage – He insisted that he had to speak – I did not recognize him instantly but as I stared at him . a little more intently , i told myself—Wow – I know this   person.   I rushed up on to stage and gave him a tight hug .           now   wind back seven or eight years back ……. ------------------------------------------------ Flash back but no music as in movies--------------- Venkatesan the person who lost both his hands in an accident was the person on stage. I got to know him through a Rotary event.   I took an instant liking for him ....
Read more

40 Years of Employment -- Gratitude Series 1

  I completed 40 years of being employed  continously recently - That was a long period of time and many others  like me would have crossed this milestone in their careers. I wanted to use this milestone to thank so many people who have helped, provided me with opportunities, supported me, trusted me and wholeheartedly wanted me to do well.  My first thanks of course goes to the Almighty for his abundant blessings. My first full time employment started in Aug 1984 enrolling myself as a Articled Assistant to pursue my Chartered Accountancy (CA). Before getting to this point, my whole career was shaped up by one of my mother’s cousins who I took as a role model  and got in to  Commerce Stream - V S Kumar or Kumar Anna to me was the guiding force for me to get into the commerce stream. He spoke to me a lot in my younger days, in deciding what one wants to be and what your liking was and was fierce in advising me to make decisions on my own. ...
Read more

Alert Awards - - A humbling experience always The 7th edition

  The Amenity Lifeline Emergency Response Team   popularly known as Alert   has instituted   The   Alert Awards   honouring Unsung heroes with   Alert Being Award – I get excited to go to this award function every year ( This edition is the 7the edition   ). Reasons for me wanting to be present are : You get to watch and hear about simple people who do extraordinary acts of selfless service These heroes have no or limited access to resources – be it people or money or material—they simply excel in adversity Through the award function as you hear the   heroic deeds, the eyes are always moist and the emotions that   one goes are hard to describe. But it is positive . The award function is conducted in the most efficient way and so you know it will start and end on time ( some delays but does not lag ) The process of selection   -- calling for nominations including self nominations , an eminent jury evaluating each nomination...
Read more