Ahila

Temple Tiger - Jim Corbett in Tamil

2023-04-28T02:28:00.003+05:30

Jim Corbett Book

'Temple Tiger and more Man-Eaters of Kumaon'

in Tamil

கோயில் புலியும் குமாவுன் ஆட்கொல்லிகளும்

[தமிழில் : அகிலா]

Jim Corbett's 'Temple Tiger and more Man-Eaters of Kumaon' Book is now translated by me in Tamil and published by the renowned Kalachuvadu Pathippagam.

It is available in Amazon as well as in Kalachuvadu Pathippagam.

Links are below:

கோயில் புலியும் குமாவுன் ஆட்கொல்லிகளும்

[தமிழில் : அகிலா]

Jim Corbett Book, 'Temple Tiger and more Man-Eaters of Kumaon' in Tamil

Spring in UK

2023-04-28T02:08:00.003+05:30

Spring Season in England

Nearly for the past six years, except the pandemic period, I am visiting UK once in a year. I had penned my travel experiences in Tamil, as a book, 'Englandyil 100 Natkal' (இங்கிலாந்தில் 100 நாட்கள்) in 2019. Those visits were mostly during winter season in UK, falls between September and February. I almost numbing chill during last year's frosty winter. This time I planned to visit UK in Spring & Summer. So I did now..

Spring here has colourful flowering plants like Daisy, Dandelion, Tulip, Daffodil, Primrose, Periwinkle, Birch flowers, Grape Hyacinth, Lily of the Nile, Pineapple Lily and much more. They started sowing/planting seeds/saplings from the February month itself across all grasslands, roadsides and front & back individual gardens. They rightly bloom at the spring time. Spring season is a prelude for Summer. The warmth of sun slowly increases its span. Sun's rays starts as early as 5am and darkens around 9pm. Here they are expecting sun to set around 10.30 or 11pm in the coming months. Its a different experience for me, who is a visitor from India, to view and feel sun around the night time. Long day-time. In winter times, I had already seen the day closes by 3pm in the early evening.

While walking we could smell the grass's scent and the flowers' aroma around. The green colour has a magnificent role this time. The leaves are so small in size that I guessed the chlorophyll level from the sun reached its limit. Most flowers are very tiny. And most greens are of grass variety.

Gardening works like pruning, trimming, lawn moving, weeding, raising garden beds are done during these months. The garden waste could not be thrown on a vacant plot, land, roadside like our cities. Here the council collects the waste on every alternate weeks on the given green bag. The grass cut, plants and shrubs pruned are packed up in the garden bag and kept outside. The garden trash truck removes the waste and keeps back the garden waste bag. Its a good system indeed.

During the winter times, I hadn't seen insects like house fly, ants, bees, wasps, mosquitos, snails and others, which we accounted with a high hand with electric bats, repellent, trappers through out the year... I wondered on those times, what a life without the pestering of flies and all. But this time in Spring I noticed the insects one-by-one crawling in the garden. And the carpet beetle, the name beholds it to the carpets are not actually originate from the carpet, but it crawl from the garden into the house and well-settled in the carpets. So pesticides, insecticides are needed ones in these cold countries also. The difference is we in India, the tropical country people need these things round the year, but here in UK, they need at this period of season, as the insects themselves hived themselves inside the soil during the other seasons.

We have to note one thing here.. that there is no specific rainy period or rainy season here as in our India. So the rains would be there on any season. during this spring season the garden was sometimes wet with the 31% rain or get slushy with 65% rain.

Some captures of flowers during my walking & in our garden:

Periwinkle

Daisy

Yellow Birch Tree

Dandelion

Elephant Corridor Book available

2021-07-21T18:47:00.005+05:30

Elephant Corridor Book

Is now available on Amazon

Its a book of short stories

Elephant Corridor Amazon

Grab & Read

Suggest a Review, if possible

~ Ahila..

Grab & Read

Thank You

2021-07-07T11:01:00.000+05:30

The Revelation

Short Story By Ashapurna Debi

Full Audio By Ahila

The Revelation is a story about a retired senior citizen, who wants to hold the key control of his house after his wife's demise. The conflict rises with his daughter-in-law. The story revealed what the man has in mind keeping the postbox key to himself.

After I finished the story reading, put a few comments from my side.

Listen the audio

The Revelation

Kindly Subscribe to the Youtube Channel

Story Reading Channel

Releasing Soon - Short Stories Book - Elephant Corridor

2021-06-17T10:53:00.007+05:30

My Book Release

Elephant Corridor

Soon..

Title : Elephant Corridor
Publishers : Authorspress, Delhi

I am so glad to inform to my readers that my next book in English is going to release by next month. Its a collection of short stories. Ten short stories are there.

The stories mostly subjects the intertangling life of people and animals in the southern India and spin around the relationship patterns that exist between people and their dependability on emotions, feelings and sentiments.

I will update soon on the book release..
thank you for your continuing patronage as a reader..

Ahila..

Author

Girl who Glees - Short Story

2021-06-07T12:34:00.001+05:30

The Girl Who Glees

~ Ahila

When she was walking along the side of the river Pachaiyar, the bus, she and her father got down went past them. Its going to kalakad terminus. They got down from that bus in Devanallur to visit the Pilikinathar samiyaar.

She was born and brought up in Mukkudal, which is 30 kms from Devanallur. Her mother left her and her father for another man when she was very young. She and her father lived in content with their small house, farming land and cattle. They seek solace from their sorrow by not talking about the woman who left them. But on sometimes they both burst into arguments, quarrels about why they are living a life like this, why she had not got another mother.

While growing up, she is not like other girls of her age. Not playful, no giggling and no ornaments wearing. Her father used to call her as, ‘Onaai’ that is wolf, as it hunts in the night separately and mostly looks with a cunning glee. Usually, it picks up a goat from his sheep-pen. After hunting silently, it moves into the forest nearby and howls in glee. He thought it as a bad omen.

He used to compare his small girl to that wolf, as she also had a glee when a bad thing happens in the neighbourhood. For a short span of three years, he left her in his sister’s house in Palayamkottai. He wanted her to study well. On one day, after visiting her, he started for his hometown. She asked him to take her back home. But he insisted to stay and study. She made angry remarks towards him and vehemently glee like the wolf, squinting her eyes. He felt an uneasiness within him. After a week of return, his sister complained to him as his daughter was not sleeping in night and sat up, starring at her. Within two days, a telegram announced that his sister was dead.

After that she somehow her school studies and came back to him by telling she would not like to go back to that house again. So, he let her stay with him. She did the household chores in a swift way and sat in the backyard on a stone and sang songs of sad note. Couldn’t bear those songs, he planned to send his girl to work in his friend’s printing press.

There she learnt the proof-reading work in two days. But that does not last long. After a few months of work, her employer complained about her starring. When he asked about that she told him that she unknowingly did that. Following that, in that weekend the employer suffered heart attack and died. That frightened the people in that press. They asked her father to stop her from coming to work. That time also she glee like the wolf. Her father was so depressed of not knowing what to do.

He then put her in his school friend’s house for household help. His friend’s son, who had returned from his foreign studies, desire to marry this girl. She refused that offer. But her father persuaded her to marry as this is a good omen for her. They fixed a date for the engagement. On the previous day, the boy asked her whether she had liked him. She glees and answered, “you are not for me..”. He could not understand the statement and asked the girl’s father about that. The father scolded the girl for her unresponsiveness in life’s good moments. For that also she replied a glee, like the one he saw in his sister’s house. He was afraid of what would happen next. On that night, the bridegroom died of choking while having his dinner.

This time, the father lost all the hope in life. Took the step to see the Pilikinathar samiyaar. Pilikinathar samiyaar was famous in dealing people having horrified memories of past.

~~~~

The mut was filled with fragrance of ‘Thazhambu’ flowers. A small mud lamps those were lighted in the corners and near the Peedam graced the room. Being in that room, gave him a divine pleasure. He saw his girl, who stood next to him. She was in awe.

He saw the Swamiji sitting on the peedam upon a tiger’s or some other animal’s skin. The light was not enough to prove that. Both went near him. Swamiji opened is eyes and looked at him. He told his woes in a saddened tone. She stood next to him without showing any gesture.

Swamiji again closed his eyes. A disciple touched and held him by shoulders and took him along to the next room. It had some wooden chairs. He asked the father to sit. The girl also sat and waited. After a half an hour, Swamiji entered the room.

“Leave her with me.” Swamiji’s words made the father shocked. He looked confused, “What Swamiji?” asked as if he was misunderstood what he told.

“I told you to her leave her with me. I and my twenty-eight disciples are leaving in two days to Varanasi and thereafter to Badrinath. We will take her with us. Will she cook?”

He was still in a shock of leaving her daughter with these men. Stumbled and answered, “yes, swamy.. but..”

“What..” Swamiji’s tone raised in a little way.

“she.. she is a girl. How can I..” he mumbled in a lower voice.

Swamiji laughed whole heartedly and spoke, “You.. very good father..,” laughed again and said, “leave her and I will look after her as you do. Go and get her things by tomorrow.”

He blinked his moistened eyes and wiped using his towel, “it is my pleasure swamy,” saying this he turned to the girl and told, “come my girl, you are leaving with Swamiji day after tomorrow. You will have a good fortune hereafter. now we will go home and get ready for your travel.”

Swamiji made a noticeably sound that made the man to turn towards Swamiji. He told, “Leave her now itself. You go and get her possessions by tomorrow. She will be get used to us.”

The father got a little shock on hearing this.

Swamiji continued, “Stop worrying, my son. He will be alright soon.”

He half heartedly obliged to his words. He saw his girl. She smiled as usual the same glee. He got confused that whom he got to worry, whether his girl or the Swamiji. He staggered a little while walking.

Swamiji turned towards the girl and asked, “what is your name, my child?”

~~~~

III

While ploughing his field, he was pondering over the thoughts about her girl. She went with Swamiji and his disciples two years back. They did not return yet. On leaving, Swamiji told, “forget the worries about your girl. She will make herself great when you see her next time. Come back after two years.”

His relatives scolded him on doing this to his only girl who was in a age of marrying. They told him that the Swamiji would turn her as his disciple and made her also a Sanyasi. After that he would not be able to get his daughter marry off. He was also worried a bit on hearing all these.

Its almost three years now. He asked to the disciples in the Mut. They informed that Swamiji would be there next week. He was overjoyed to see his girl. He packed some eatables the girl liked and went to the Mut.

Swamiji sat on his peedam in a relaxed mood. More disciples were seen here and there. The Mut looked busy after days of his absence. The father searched for his girl. Nowhere she was seen. He worried. Went near the Swamiji and asked about his daughter.

Swamiji saw his concern and laughed. The father asked again in agony about his daughter whether she was with him or not and what happened to her.

Swamiji calmed him and told, “She is quite well, normal like other girls of her age. No glees, stares or songs as she had previously. And you must know what she is doing now.. she is studying Law in Banaras University,” stopped and looked at the surprised father.

“Is my daughter studying.. that too law?” laughed and cried at the same time. Got the Swamiji’s feet and cried, “All her curses and bad omen are relieved by you only Swamy.. Thank you for my life time.”

Swamiji lifted him up and said, “She is going to finish it next year. After that only you can see your daughter.”

He was overwhelmed by this and asked, “ will she be back by this time next year?”

“No.. you are going to her university by this time next year and bringing back here..” saying this Swamiji laughed.

“ya. Ya. Its a big boon for me swamy. Sure I will go and bring her here victoriously.”

He immediately went out and bought sweets to everyone and also distributed to all in his village and waited there to see his small girl’s happy glee this time.

After the father had gone, one disciple who stayed at the Mut for these two years asked the Swamiji, “how swamy she turned like that? It is like a magic..”

“yes.. while we all started our journey, she was so quiet and normal. But after days in journey, she started staring each one in a separate way and glee occasionally. But we all stayed firm in not to fall prey for activities. We ignored her starring and went on with our usual routines. She had to drop that habit of staring and gleeing at one point.

She became completely normal after a year. The life which we led make the changes in her. She felt the intense of the sufferings of the people who comes to meet me. Its a hard phase of herself. Then only I made her join the Law course in the university through my contacts over there. Its a blessing from God. The father at last had God’s grace,” by raising his hands upwards as if seeking the blessings of the God, Swamiji closed his eyes to meditate. His laughter stayed in his lips as a simple smile.

~*~

The Great Indian Kitchen - A View

2021-04-05T17:39:00.000+05:30

The Great Indian Kitchen

It had been so late to put a review upon this movie. But due to the pandemic, I waited for the movie to be available on an OTT platform. So that I can be able to view and pen down my view.

Movie’s storyline is mostly known to all, as this had a huge audience view. Anyhow I must do my part.

It represents the typical Indian Kitchen, most preferably South Indian kitchen. And as I am from TamilNadu, the film makers did a grateful job of taking the movie in my neighboring state language, Malayalam.

My feel about that kitchen has the same interception as far as the movie shows, like.. after seeing the film, had dinner, washed utensils keeping a keen ear for any water dropping sound coming from the sink’s outlet pipe.

Story starts with the marriage of a girl to a boy. Being a good housewife, from morn till night, she works and works in that kitchen tirelessly, with the night shift regularly carried on with her umpteen unspoken words, except the one, ‘foreplay’. Her male chauvinist / bigot type husband surprised for such words, from the film being taken on this era, and we had guessed he is the Next Gen man. He never ever peeks into the kitchen, same as his father.

Women during the menstrual periods are spent separately in a room, not to touch or see anything or anyone. Washing and drying of the blood-stained clothes or pads are not seen by the men. Its a tradition followed in remote villages and towns now also. So, when the girls come to a city for work after their studies from small towns, they enjoy their freedom from these clutches. And in this film, the girl moves from a bigger town to smaller town, not for work, but for the married life. From her liberated brought up, she faces problems against these odds. To parallel these, the director induces the Sabarimala issue, as it stood unattended in the film, except a scene where she shares a video relating to that in her fb page.

Lets finish off the story.. The girl vexed about the household work, which her foremothers, grandmothers & mother and mother-in-law carried on with small grunts here and there, left the house and her husband. When she arrives in her parents’ home, she showed her anger to her brother for not being able to fetch a tumbler of water by himself. After that she joins as a dance teacher, leads her life ‘peacefully’, not so.. we can use the word ‘happily’, that also wont set.. ‘satisfactorily’, is the right word.

The more pitiable scene shown in that film is, where her husband got married to another girl, and the same old kitchen and its works, same old dialogue continues.

Nimisha Sajayan's working mode, expressions is remarkable in the film. Adapting well into the roll, she captures every women's drudgery and toiling mood in the kitchen.

Lets go through the film..

What is the film’s ultimate move achieved? She leaving / He remarrying / Society not bothering? Nothing. Its more than that..

They had shown their point of slides of the patriarchy system, how a man’s behavior varies between his house and the workplace, how the older women adjust against these odds, how some are somehow supportive to the other suffering women, but others are against those girls doing opposite of the traditions.

Director Joe Baby of this movie had well knit the core of the issue and set the scenes as such that we, womenfolk, could see ourselves in that mirror. The film makers are not in a haste to change the society’s face or making the woman stature bigger than the life size image and projecting as a deity beholding men’s heads under her legs. They just put some questions before us.

If you are going to marry / if you are a obedient girl to your parents / if you are brought up and pushed on into a Patriarchy social system / if you are against the odd habits about the daily, monthly dues of our body like sex, menstruation etc.. / if you are interested in taking up a working role of non traditional / unsafe / men’s’ job / if you are liberal to talk, write or post issues regarding womenfolk / ...

Like these, there are many more ‘ifs’.. If you are aware of these ‘ifs’, I wont like to frighten you with cautions.

But consider these points before getting married..

Before we talk about the marriage, husband, and in-law’s household, first study your house.

You are the girl of the house. Observe how your mother treats your father and brother. How she differs in treating you than others, Is the menfolk in your household give importance to the womenfolk in your house? Try to point out the things to be clarified in your house.

Most of our Indian households are on the same lines. Patriarchy system still prevails in most homes. If you are not able to solve the problems in your house, at least speak out problems to them. If you can’t do a single change in your parental home, then what is the point of talking it in another household.

The film takers must consider this view at first. You cannot blame a grown-up man who is about to be married. And what is the exception you can find against the girl’s household than in a boy’s household. Projecting a view that the girl is not facing the domination of the system in her own home is a bad example. Wont there be another girl, who would come to the girl’s house as her brother’s wife? Does she find it difficult to adjust the dominating menfolk (her father and brother) like she has?

The system must bring forth the problems the girls face since their childhood. About menstruation, sex, menfolk’s domination, womenfolk’s premonition that they have to manage a burden in a new house setup after marriage, need for sharing the cooking, household works by both the genders, boys and girls must be equally brought up.. so many things to open up.. Movies must talk all about that.

As these questions are not being worked out, the questions the movie left would be hanging there.

My Days In England - Travelogue Book

2020-12-26T16:51:00.003+05:30

100 Days in England

Book in Tamil

இங்கிலாந்தில் 100 நாட்கள்

(பயண இலக்கியம்)

Travelogue in Tamil written by me, Published by Emerald Publishers, Chennai.

Foreword given by Subrabharathi Manian, well known writer in Tamil.

Book will be available in Emerald Online.

Kaattidaiveli - The Glade

2020-11-16T11:10:00.007+05:30

The Glade

காட்டிடைவெளி

New EBook on Mind & Thoughts in Tamil

My new ebook about the mind's travel

Thought process is the major concerns of our daily life. It wanders, hops, cries, exclaims, enrages, calms, lingers and all. When we are sitting in solitude or amidst of a large noisy gathering, we let out our thoughts to wander and return back. It is a pleasurable and sometimes gratifying experience.

When I do this, I enjoyed myself within that cocoon. While walking alone, I experience these feelings as my inner self. Kindly walk alone. It gives you a chat-free atmosphere and a time to rejuvenate yourself in leisure. Travel with me and my mind, nonetheless varies from yours, through this book, 'Kaattidaiveli' (Tamil Edition), which translates into 'The Glade' in English.

The Glade always has the vibrant and air-filled space amidst the forest. It smoothens over feet with grass and fills our thoughts with fragrance of good.

Grab the book from Amazon Kindle. Enjoy Reading !!

Link :

https://www.amazon.in/காட்டிடைவெளி-Kaattidaiveli-மனநலம்-மன்னுயிர்க்கு-ஆக்கம்-ebook/dp/B08MVY6D5P/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&qid=1605503467&refinements=p_27%3AAhila&s=books&sr=1-11

Author Ahila

Thappad - A View

2020-05-25T19:49:00.000+05:30

Thappad

Slap. Slapping a woman. Slapping a woman by a man. Slapping a wife by the husband. That's the story line.

When someone asks you to tell the story line, we can have versions of going through the story.

'A man slaps his wife in a bit of anger and there she goes to court'.

'A husband has the right to slap his wife. What's big in that?'

'For a slap, shall you move to court? Its overreacted.'

'Sorry.. No Comments.. These Women !'

Like these, the Slap reacts as a Boomerang here in our Indian society.

A Slap is not as simple as this. A husband's right is proclaimed, more pronounced in the weaker sect of our society. This weaker sect is more in middle class strata of the society, whether its lower or upper middle class. The Slap is beared by many women. When a 'Husband' is drunk or in rage, he slaps his wife, pulls her by her hair, stomps in her stomach and breasts. So here, the Slap is the least physical violence that a 'Wife' can accept with ease.

Mark the word 'Wife'. To that word, you could tone anything that fits in.. as a slave, servant, taken for granted creature or a lovable pet. But not a woman. For men, definition of a housewife is a woman, who has to look after his house, makes it a home to live, rears his children, loves his parents and at the least being a woman in bed.

This story is not a different one. For slapping in anger for which she is not the cause. His office work tension makes his anger to take a bypass route and that's where she gets the reward, a Slap. Its not the story line that makes the mark. It is the underlying rotten root of the society that is exposed in a well knit way.

The value based, added characters are the other women, not some, but all the women characters shown in that film, have their say. Somewhat illogical and compromised one is the husband who slapped, had left the job, the London work and starting a new life from the scratch as a repent action. These materialistic things are woven in way that men will lose everything for the sake of his love to be back. Or otherwise to show his remorseful feeling. That is not so important.

Women are always or somewhat compromisable to the norms of the men's society. Whether she is financially independent or dependent, the backdrop of 'slap' remains there. Each woman has this slap in her heart, like a mother in that film compromises her singing.

Singing, dancing, cooking are not so profitable professions in this society. Its all a waste of time, as many men think. So women's household chores are not appreciable, not valuable, not profitable. Why womens' feeling are not so important for men? Is it their design, of being like this? Is this the way the men and women are there in this world to adjust to live? Somewhat these type of thoughts are biblical in nature.

Respect must be earned, goes the saying. Are her deeds not so worth to earn that respect. Maybe the deeds are not monetarily profitable for men. But they are so worth that they earn him a good value as a family in the society. Respecting a woman for her loyalty towards the family is the stressed message underlain here.

So this slap is not a physical assault. Its an internal injury, the permanent mark, which marks the story line.

'Ahilas Kitchen Cook Book' is now available as EBook !

2020-05-23T11:41:00.002+05:30

Amazon Kindle EBook

My EBook

'Ahilas Kitchen Cook Book'

Part 1 (Rice & Curry)

is now available for your perusal in Amazon Kindle.

Also in Kindle Unlimited.

Read & Taste the food of South Indian peninsula..

Link :

Ahilas Kitchen Cook Book

EBooks on the Go

2020-04-20T18:03:00.000+05:30

Ebooks on Read

EBooks are somewhat convenient form of reading. It has a comparative platform with the traditional paperback books. But not equal. While travelling, books form a kind of binding with our hands and eyes. Just half-closed, a finger thrusted in middle of the book, we can see, chat and return to the book where we left. Space occupying in the handbag is the only concern. This is where ebooks play their role. Somewhat I am not fully accustomed to this format.

My English Book as EBook :

As I am a writer in both Tamil & English, I am in need of converting my books to the Ebook format. Somewhat I succeeded in converting my Tamil books.

My English poetry book was published by the Emerald publishers, Chennai. During these Corona Lockdown times they did the ebooks conversion of their published works. On that line, 'I Named The Village' book gets its slot and now for sale in Amazon as ebook also.

Link : I Named The Village

My Tamil EBooks :

Links :

1. Milakai Metti (Short Stories) மிளகாய் மெட்டி

2. Manalil Neenthum Meengal (Feminine Poetry) மணலில் நீந்தும் மீன்கள்

3. Mazhaiyidam Mounangal Illai (Rain Poems) மழையிடம் மௌனங்கள் இல்லை

4. Sammugam (Short Novel) சம்முகம்

These ebooks are available in Amazon Kindle. My other Tamil books are getting ready in Pustaka website. After completion, I'll post..

Enjoy reading books, regardless of their forms.

My Days in London - Day One

2019-12-28T18:27:00.000+05:30

First day London

London is a beautiful and very different city. Like weather report, actual and feel like situations differ with much note. Metropolitan is a less value word for the city. Its much more than that.

People move around you, run over you with no extra sorrys, spill a little latte from their cups, suddenly stop at the bus stops and you feel you are in midst of a noiseless street brimmed with people.

When I arrived on LNER Azuma train from Leeds to London on a pretty rainless afternoon at King's Cross station, it gorgeously welcomed in an airport style with the boards announcing 'departures' & 'arrivals'. People stand in front of the big screen which is nearly to the top of the ceiling. They stand and stand up to their time comes.

The breakfast, egg & cress, Wensleydale & chutney, oranges, cookies, large cappuccino served in the first class filled the 'no more hunger' thought.

Little stop over at Stevenage station as a lady being sick. The waitress asked for apology several times. And also asked, if we wish to go in a hurry, catch the next train in five minutes. But we stayed. A delay of forty five minutes is bearable, as we experience several hours of delay in our country without any excuses.

Already the Azuma train we had to catch at 9.45 am in Leeds got cancelled and they asked to catch the next train for London at 10.15, get down at Doncaster station and get in our scheduled London train which is about to start from that station instead of Leeds. We asked the ticket checker to make us comfortable to catch the train from Leeds itself as we are new to the London train lines. He made the arrangements and we are in the train 10.45am.

On arriving at the King's cross, as instructed by my son, we came out and followed the display 'underground'. To the right, down the stairs, go thru the boards 'circle line, Hammersmith & City line, Metropolitan line' and followed the Metropolitan line. There two trains east & west.. Got in the aldgate train, rightly arrived in seconds. Farrington, Barbican, Moorgate, Liverpool street, Aldgate at last. Got down and walked out in the rain with jacket and hood.

Aldgate Bus station

Next to Aldgate bus station, Motel One hotel, where we booked for three days stay stood there with colourful glass panes. Placed our luggage in the room hit the street for sight seeing. Planned to go to the nearby Tower Bridge, Tower hill.

As we stood on the hotel side road, showed Minories street, the junction shows so many hands before me to walk on. Just in confusion, a lady caught me right as Indian, no guess wanted, she being an Indian also. She just lift and showed the tower just on the right opposite of the road, the big Tower hill castle. I blushed. No regrets in defeat with my countryman.

She asked, 'Tamil?'

'Yes..'

'I know Tamil..' She said.

Exchanged byes and thanks, she hurried away.

What is the meaning of 'I know'? Isn't her mother tongue Tamil? If its, she would said, 'I am also Tamil'. No more lingering. Walked & crossed for the pedestrian's Wait signal.

The Tower hill and the Tower bridge appeared near in spite of crossing the junction in a criss cross way. Lot more enjoyment in the drizzling rain and chill wind.

There are many bridges over river Thames, like Cannon street railway bridge, Southwark bridge, Millennium bridge, Blackfriars Railway bridge, Blackfriars bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Hungerford bridge, Westminster bridge, Lambeth bridge.. the list goes on upto the river Hampton Court bridge to Tower bridge.

The Tower bridge and the London bridge are different ones. We as an outsider, mostly think they both are same. but tower bridge
The famous rhyme goes like this, "London bridge is falling down.." So hence we remember the words as London Bridge and the picture of bridge in the postcards with the beautiful twin towers, closed high level walkways with side hanging rails, and the Victorian engine room. We are not aware of they both are different in real. The beautiful one in the picture cards of London is the Tower bridge. Just opposite to that the London bridge is the oldest one across the river Thames. And not so ornamental like the Tower bridge, simple in design with 'spike' sculpture on the south side of it. There are 30 such spikes representing the severed heads of traitors against the crown.

The Tower bridge is the one that was built in 1894 and its bascule and suspension bridge. In good olden days, the bridge staff watch out for the big ships to cross and opened the bridge, stopping the vehicles and people. But nowadays, they book the ships to be crossed in advance and post in their website Tower Bridge regularly. Visitors to London can check and see the wonderful sight. We are not that lucky as our timetable and bridge timetable went hand in hand.

Some photographs at the lovely evening time..

My most favourable photograph in London is this one. As I am standing on the backdrop of the river Thames. Its my dream of good old childhood days. My schooling was in St. Joseph Convent, Nagercoil. The nuns, sisters or mothers, whatever they call, every year or so, some of them visit London and tell us the stories about the river Thames and the cathedrals around there. So it stayed for so long time, that I was once asked to come over by my son naveen, when e started working there. And that time I was not able to go as my husband was then working as govt. official. There I left that dream. But its there in the destiny to be there now. So this one is my favourite, no doubt. I stand there for sometime watching, listening to the river's music as it got ringing as the same as in my childhood days while hearing the stories from them, murmuring 'Atlast I am here..' I would thank my son for this.

Under the bridge, the old flat stairs lead to the shopping malls, river pier and the eating spots like Vapiano. Caramelised peanuts hot from the pot are on sales on selected spots. Tempting, we had one cup for 2 pounds. Its like our 'Verkadalai' on our Indian beaches. Its salty and spicy, but this is sweet and cinnamon caramelized. Yummy ! I hadn't took any picture of it. Here I am posting pictures taken by myself, so you can search in the internet.

Tower Bridge at night.. Spectacular sight of the bridge and the river.

Dinner at Vapiano. They make the order from what we choose to have. There are Pizzas & Pastas. I choose to eat Pizza. Went to that section and ordered my favorite Garlic Bread Pizza and a Verdure Pizza. Waiting in a table with hungry stomach and tired legs made me to click the photo.

Lovely hot steamy garlic bread pizza arrived and its seasoned with mozzarella cheese, chopped ripe tomatoes and it already had freshly chopped parsley leaves.

Traditional Italian Verdure was colourful, seasoned with mozzarella cheese, Capers and Olives.. Delicious !

It costs around 24 pounds for the two. Garlic being 4 pounds and 19 pounds for Verdure. No money conversion please !

And the day ends here.. On the way back, we had some buns and chocolates and cut fruits for the night. Because its only 5.30 pm then. Around 4pm itself the darkness starts as its winter's first leg.

By

Ahila

Travel To England From Tamilnadu

2019-10-28T19:48:00.001+05:30

Flight, At Start..

Ahila

Planes appear small, when we see from the ground, when we are little girls and boys, when we are not having a single chance of seeing the plane in the airway, taking off or landing down. After we had grown up, we see, feel how big it is, travel, walk within that, hand shake with the pilot, smile, chat with air hostesses, stewards, but still we awe or urged to come out of our work or study, whenever we hear the sound of a plane flying outside or when we look the trail of smoke from a jet plane.

Myself also sit in the same position of all. While I was in school, I ran out of my class to see the aeroplane flying. I peek with my slanting neck, through the kitchen window when I was cooking. I imagine the plane which is making sound 'zinggg..' over the building while I was occupied in work. These things come naturally to everyone as we are addicted to our interests. It wont change as we ages. Habits which was formed or developed during early years of life mostly not able to change.

When I flew for the first time from Madras to Bangalore, its a big endeavour. Then it becomes 'normal', after that 'more normal'. After my heart bypass surgery was done a year and half before (I posted posts about that earlier), I moved around the cities by road or by train, as I am an orator and a writer as well as a critic, I attend conferences and meetings often. But afraid of travelling through air. I had bitten by the fear of what happens if I have an attack while flying. Purposely I avoid it until my son, who is living in United Kingdom with his family, called me to stay with him for atleast three months in the six months tenure of tourist visa, to give a break in my work and giving my physical and mental health an uplift. I decided to give that idea a try.

Packed rightly, 23 kg checked luggage, 5 kg (for 7 kg) cabin luggage and a handbag, set off from Coimbatore by road. My husband's repeated dialogue is nonetheless keeping safe of my documents, as he shooed off my fear easily. Still I am gripped with fear.

On the evening of my journey to Manchester from Chennai, with a stopover at Dubai, I insisted my sister to accompany me to the airport. When we were at the terminal, the visitors pass section was closed, due to the usual threat of terrorists. I was in the verge of tears. My DIL's father was also there to see me board. They both consoled me that they will stay there as long as I'll tell them that I cleared the security check. They aren't in sync with my fear as its not with the normal airport checks but with flying high. I was left alone in that highly lighted building.

Chennai

Before entering the immigration check, the airlines staff asked me to hand over the cabin baggage to him as there is a little space left in the plane. There are many passengers with cabin luggage alone for Dubai drop. So he asked the connecting flight passengers to convert their cabin to checked luggage. So I depart from my small trolley, taking my jacket out. My sister who was there outside signed me what and I called her said this, this. We Indians are used to talk this blah, blah stuff and narrating in full gives us a soul sharing.

Now in the cafe inside the airport that costs your life I had two idlies and a coffee. It did some magic of coolness in my mind. Food, that too our Indian palette, always relieve us from sad or any bad mood, tantrums etc. Not-so-frequent travellers' sitting postures and the wary looks, gave me Good-Like feel. I boosted myself by asking me to think at a bigger ground. I am going to UK, Great Britain, London and all.. I'll visiting such exotic places, going spend my time with my children. This thought gave me an inner strength to the long lonely bored to-be-travel of 14 hours plus ahead.

Boarding announcements heard for my flight to Dubai. First for the business class, families with small children, disabled passengers. This zone-wise calling alerted the passengers. All searched their tickets. I checked mine and waited for my zone call. They announced that the passengers other than Called Zones to sit on their chairs. But our people are so clear of not listening to that. So they stood, but formed a line.

One little girl with her mother in the line, sang, 'I am going to see my papa' sort of this thing. Her mother smiled and said, 'I also.' She showed face and said, 'I only.' Then the mother said, 'I am going see places in Dubai. I am not for Dad alone..' The girl thought a while, 'I am also, going to see places..' Mother laughed and said, 'Both are going to see dad and hug him..' Little girl's face brightened up. This is the world of children. Sometimes the conversations we overhear unknowingly in a bored period cheer up to a level.

Inside, I got my seat right, and inserted me there. That's the right word, I guess. There is a little space between the seats. And literally less leg space. I kept my handbag on my lap and putting on the belt with the jacket on the handle is very much a talent. Now my hours old fear was back as the plane started its engine.

Nearby seat lad was curious about, what for I turned off the screen before me. I hadn't responded to his look. The screen before the zone I am sitting showed off the elevation, speed and angles the plane and the pilots intend to do or not intend to do, oxygen mask, dos and donts in the plane. I just sat there gulping saliva, as I think this would save my heart from an instant attack, instead of old fashioned saying of clearing the airway and thus the ears. The plane stabilised and nothing happened to me.

The air hostess started supplying the trays and I had a doubt whether she could provide me the right Indian Vegetarian meal that I insisted my son again while he reserved the ticket. The lad near me, got a tray and she asked him, if he wants any drinks. He immediately asked 'one glass of orange juice and a glass of water.' I got another doubt, were they won't give water with the food. I peeked over his plate. It had food foils rolled up all over and one small bowl at a corner which housed another small bowl within that which is covered by food foil again. I guessed it to be a dessert. He got his cups those he asked.

I got my tray and I clarified her about my option of Veg meal, specifically Indian one. She said 'Yes' in a strong and polite manner. I clearly understand the fact how strong and politeness go hand in hand. So I controlled myself from asking her for a glass of water. I asked her lemon juice for the question of any juices.

Now I opened to see what's inside the little bowl. It a liquid. I couldn't see clearly in the dim light. I tasted it. By default, its simply WATER ! Ho!

I ate a little. Decided to sleep. Decisions of the mind are not always welcomed by our own body. It needs comfort, that it is enjoying up to the previous moment. Deprived of sleep, little leg space to move and the small seat space made me irritable and uncomfortable.

Before getting into the plane, I waded through the internet. It says, the bypass patients must take a little walk in between the long flight duration. So they better prefer for the aisle seat as its convenient to stand and walk without disturbing the adjacent passengers. Without knowing this, I insisted on the window seat as I usually do so in Shatabdi train which is my sole travelling mode, I enjoy the most. But this Chennai to Dubai is a four plus hours travel and I told to myself one time break of going out to 'loo' is enough. After two hours, I shook that lad sitting next to me and instead of showing the 'pinky', I told 'Rest Room.' He passed the word to the next woman, who was bulky enough to out thrust herself from the seat and made the way for me with a smile. I thanked her.

When I finished off and opening the door, the lad, next seat is standing in front of the toilet door. This is the opportunity for him also. So I shooed off the guiltiness of disturbing two people from their sleep.

The landing time is nearing said one announcement. I saw the screen up there. It showed the connecting flights terminal numbers. I quickly went through that, but I missed mine. I waited for the next time that screen to prompt. I kept my body language in minimal as my inner tension wasn't be showed off. It came and prompted 'B14' for Manchester.

Displays

Getting down at the Dubai airport, I saw the buses standing here and there. Men stood there with placards for connection flights. I searched for the word that I mugged up for the last half an hour. No such words. I asked one man of African origin carrying one such placard and he prompted a bus by using his right hand. There are two buses on that side. I moved and got into the first one and promptly verified with a nearby standing man in sixties whether its for the right bay. He nodded. I learnt so many sign languages since I boarded the plane. I guess, this is mostly enough instead of learning languages.

The bus I got in crossed B10, B11, B13, B14, B15, B16... no, its still going.. When I got the ticket at first, my daughter in law, who travelled alone this same journey, a year back, with her five month old baby, luggages and stroller, but in daylight, told me we have to walk a lot for the connecting flight. After seeing my arriving and boarding gate in Dubai being same, the number three, my son said 'no problem, mom.. Its near.. there is free wifi. you can connect and message in whatsapp.. dont worry..' 'Don't Worry' are the coin words that makes anyone to go into the mode of worrying.

The bus stopped in terminal B 27 or something. My stress level is in the verge of a break. Travelling alone, no mobile connectivity, stayed back after-effect of heart bypass surgery's consistent leg pain all made me tired of running through adventurous maze. There showed a sign board 'Connecting Flights'. There is a security check point. They asked us to remove our shoes also. We ladies sat on a long sitting chair like structure and thoughtlessly scolded the security people.

The dimly lighted path way after that ended in an escalator. A man stood there like our Indian traffic policemen at the road junction, with one hand stretched and other hand 'Go..Go.. Jarugandi..' style. We all elevated by the escalator and again a maze.

At last a counter stands on the side of the pathway. Some people crossed it and hurried. One phrase in Tamil came to my mind, 'aattu manthai, maattu manthai maathiri..' (Moving like a herd of cows or goats). So I decided to stop and ask. She directed me vaguely and again I am in search of 'B14' board. Its not India like, I thought. Hundreds of people are moving through this way to so many terminals. They are mostly used to this airport, I murmured. Europeans, Africans, South Asians are the most. Most of the Indian people who travelled with me to Dubai are the working population. They got down there.

No place to sit there in that terminal. Fully occupied. I went and asked one man, about the vacant seat near him, 'Is there someone coming?' 'Yes..' was the most polite answer, I heard, without moving his eyes out of the mobile. Most of them are busy with their mobiles at that time of the night, around 1. I stand there, changing my legs in turn to bear my weight. Some people sat on the floor near the walls. I tried to connect the wifi, got it right, and messaged my son and husband. You couldn't make calls from that wifi, but messages worked well. My son was happy that I crossed one part of my journey successfully and thumbs up for the next leg of it. Mmm.. Bad.

Being a woman writer and feminist, I honestly accept the fact our Indian women are double sided. Not more on feminism and not less on family dynamism. Each woman has her own views about feminism and makes it suitable according to her life. Common phenomena is that being a woman writer and forward thinker, that you are supposed to be capable of travelling alone, meet anyone, dare not to think what others will say. But reality is little bit different. Boldness somewhat backlogs when we are brought up in a true Indian male dominated family. Girls are grown with some restrictions. Dependability is the main handicap. Women, in spite of their boldness, expect some dependence to lean on men. Thats the 'I am travelling alone', 'No one is here with me' phrases repeat in a woman's mind. Myself is not an exception. I come to terms for every other instances are not to be like that and I have to do it alone by any means.

After the security check, all passengers awaited on a big area. A man on his sixties, started coughing and it seemed not to end. Coughed severely, he simultaneously started searching his bag. I was intended to help him, but my son's advice after tickets were booked stopped me doing so. He told me not to look or watch someone keenly that is 'paraakku paarkirathu' in Tamil. Neither try to make a casual unnecessary talk with others nor help others without their consent. No one went near him.

He is coughing and gasping at the same time. He took a bottle from the bag and drank that. Then he felt some solace. He sat quietly after that. The man sitting next to him smiled a little by seeing him and returned his head to the mobile. Is this the world of decency? Is the civic way of behaving? Or we, Indians are over reacting? Are we people all are drama queens and kings? Without someone asking for a help, you must not interfere to do that is a practical way of not disturbing others. But if he is serious, how can he ask for a help when he is unable to talk? Then they are taught that situation as emergency and help arrives immediately. Still I can't accept this type of civilization, till I had experienced one during my stay. I'll come to that later.

When the boarding call heard, I was glad to board. My body's sleepy cells pleaded my eyes to close. I decided to sleep, once I boarded the plane. But it always wont happen as I said earlier. Its a big double decker jet, having more leg space, comfortable viewing and all. I got the seat on front of the ground floor and first floor steps started little nearby to me. My next seat was occupied by a young girl from Tanzania who is for higher studies in Manchester. Mostly Europeans filled the plane, as I cant recognise or split them up as Britishers, Scandinavians, Germans or Polish people. All are alike at that time. But during my stay period, I learnt somewhat to recognise people by their accent and physique.

Fear of surgery was not now with me this time. So at first, I switched on the screen in front of me. Have the headphone on my ears. Search for some music. In the Asian sect, A R Rehman music, some kajals, carnatic music like MS were there. ARR's songs were not the regular ones we listen in our houses. Searched Indian movies, particularly Tamil. 'Merku Thodarchi Malai', I already watched that one, but somehow watched a quarter portion while I finished off with the little snack that was supplied, which contains sandwich and pineapples and had a black coffee. My sleep was driven completely. My next seat girl, cuddled herself within the blanket provided and was in deep sleep. Next seat was occupied by a lad, who still seeing the movies with half eyes closed.

I turned off the screen for sometime. I tried not to awaken. So slept for an hour. Its an eight hours journey. Dont go for counting the hours as our mind would wander from time differences between this country and that, where it is now flying (as displayed), what time is it in Istanbul, Munich, Brussels and Amsterdam. Deprived of sleep, I started wading through the movies and found one name new, ' Evening Shadows' a Hindi & Tamil mixed movie with English subtitles. Its about a young gay man from a traditional South Indian family. Little interesting, but with the usual hardcore angry traditional father and an emotional mother and pestering relatives. Stopped it when the breakfast was served.

Our supposed Indian national food is 'Upma' had been served in different names like kichadi, Suji Veg and all. Vada is also served and its a delight to have the South Indian meal instead of a north Indian meal. And then I was mostly bored and couldn't sleep.

The window seat was the solace for me as the Bodhi tree for The Buddha. The view down is absolutely amazing. Canals, small hills, green pastures, fields, wind farms (that too in water) all along the way was amazing. And the Manchester airport is sitting amid a big lawn. At last it landed. And the immigration check and luggage pickup cost an hour or more in Manchester airport. My son waited there to pick me.

Manchester

Though its a long journey and I am so bored and tired, its a new experience of breaking the 'travelling alone' taboo.

- Contd..

I Named The Village - My English Poetry Book Released

2019-09-04T19:12:00.000+05:30

I Named The Village

Book Release

I had been writing for the past fifteen years in Tamil. Poems, short stories, novel, non fiction writing and all. And penned down ten books.

But this is my first English Poetry Book,

that has added a beautiful feather in my cap.

A poem from my collection:

I am not The Buddha

When I rest under the banyan

With closed eyes, folded knees,

‘Look after carefully’

Sounded an owl

Giving her little one to me

And went on its way

‘Keep these with care’

Said the green parakeet,

Thrusted some ripened fruits

In my lap and left

‘Save this pearl necklace’

Ordered the Raven,

Put it around my neck

And flew away

‘Take this also’

Said a beggar who throw

A rupee near me

And moved

Not-Self,

I am not The Buddha !

I mostly listen to the silence, for its shades and nuances that sits over the meadows, mountains, water and even in my kitchen table. The Babblers, Egrets, Daffodils, Chrysanthemums speak out their silence in a varied hues. I listened to them. There from, these poems of mine speak my language.

Sage

Small wonders showers the morning sky

Humming birds fill up the horizon

Daffodils and Roses are in the air

Lilies and Lotuses bloom the pond

All, but one remains silent

The Mountains

None can move it

The wind, The clouds

The sun, The darkness

Remain always a sage

Telling the truth of life

To live and let die

This book has been released in All Ladies League (ALL), Coimbatore Chapter Inaugural Function, held in Dvara Resort, Siruvani Coimbatore..

Ms. Sujani Balu, Past President of Crafts Council released the book. And Mr. Lieutenant. Esan got the first copy.

Great honour to me, as I delivered my speech of thanks to all.

Abundance

Oh !

Morning speaks aloud

About the large grain sac

Of the sparrows in their stomachs

Green meadows and grazing cows

Mowed and said,

‘They fill their stomachs

Till they puffed full’

Indeed !

Evening heard the prayers

Of the sparrows to have much bigger

Grain sac for tomorrow’s

Fill

Yes, Yet to be filled..

My journey in Indian Writing in English had started. Long way to go.
Next one is English short story collection by me.

You can get the book in flipkart.

Here is the link..

https://www.flipkart.com/i-named-the-village/p/itm9acf5e4e83322?pid=9789389080230&lid=LSTBOK9789389080230BPVBFL&marketplace=FLIPKART&srno=s_3_97&otracker=search&otracker1=search&fm=SEARCH&iid=407c7a91-3e6a-4214-a803-e03be11dfed3.9789389080230.SEARCH&ppt=sp&ppn=sp&ssid=rpoiw5nq9c0000001567604249117&qH=3ef07e0789608d15

Angiogram

2018-02-10T11:09:00.000+05:30

Part II

Angiography is a radiographical imaging of blood vessels by injecting a radio opaque dye. When the physician written for a angiogram, I prepared my mind to go through.

I was asked to remove my jewels. Handled all to my husband and looked at him. He was also worried but smiled and said, ' its just a test. Ellaam sariyaagidum.. (All will be Ok).' I always feel a sense of danger behind this type of his statements. I spoke to my son in chennai. Thinking it as a simple test, he asked me to proceed, 'onnum irukkaathu.. (Nothing bad, results).'

Now I am in hospital bed, waiting for the people to take angiography for me. The nurse asked to wear the blue hospital gown. She tried to put razor on my right hand wrist. I asked the reason. Its where the physician will inject the dye which passes through the arteries to show the deformities in blood circulation. 'I have to remove hair from your thigh also, its an alternative,' she told. She did her work patiently and she was used to that, I think.

She enquired about my profession. Her calm face just enlightened. 'I am always eager to meet a person who writes. Are u listen to people to create stories... ' showered questions, that i can't excite more. Just smiled back. I am in a different fix of mind. What in necessary I have to take an angio, what being the result, is the process painful, what is the positive or negative results of that, I am worried.

Table is well set and I was laid on that and lotions are applied for suckers of the machine. Many wires crisscrossed my body. A rectangular monitor machine huge in size is attached to the table and it moved its dark face here and there around me like the head of the Chinese river dragon, Apalala.

The assistant man there, saw the fear in my eyes and asked 'feared?'. Want to tell him its a dragon that he is moving, but feared of his laugh, I ping-pong my head with a big NO.

Doctor came in and I felt an air of activity. My face is the mirror. He grabbed it.

'Nothing big is going to happen. Relax yourself. I'll inject a dye through your vein in your arm. It pains a little when I push it inside. Bearable only. I know you are a bold person (who told? my stories?) So, no worry.' Now I have no other option. Kept a bold face and waited for the prick.

He inserted the needle with dye and had a moving wire having a camera, I guess in his right hand. He moved it over my chest and his eyes were fixed on the screen above the moving dragon head. Last two insertions of dye pained me a lot. He told, 'I know its painful. Your blood arteries are so thin. And we dont want to prick a vein in thigh for the last ones. Bear a little,' in a comfort voice.

Then he finished off. And moving away from me he murmured, 'Blocks are there. We'll clear. Dont worry'. I didn't fully realised his words. The nurses went on changing my gown. Again I was laid on a bed in ICU. Now my mind went back to his words.

Few moments later, one doctor came with a friendly smile. Introduced himself as heart surgeon Dr Krishna Kishore. I vaguely remembered of seeing him walking between rooms during my previous hospital visits. I smiled back.

He explained my real condition is so worse that there were seven blocks, one is in the main artery, near the starting point where blood enters the heart. 90%, 80%, 70% like these he had some mathematics with him. He sketched the heart and its blocks.

'Shall we keep the surgery tomorrow?' is the last straw he added. First time i heard that word surgery. Its a big and frightening thing to grasp. I blankly stared him. Just then my cardiologist who did angio came in. At any sobre circumstances, if you want to break down, a near and dear one or a friend or a known person is enough. Here, my family friend and cardiologist is enough for me. Tears rolled down my cheeks.

I just want to control, but then my husband Puhalenthi also entered. More tears and hospital gown is not suited for soaking. I asked the nurse to get me my napkin, I had with my clothes. She screeched the cover and gave me the napkin.

At that time I stopped my drip irrigation. I have to be bold. Three opposite genders are watching. What they will think, as usual a lady opens her fountain? 'You are a writer, voraciously writing and speaking women's issues in stories and articles. You must not feel weak before menfolk. No way. Stop Ahila', I told myself. Face bold. Then I sit straight and asked about the blocks. They explained everything. Inside I am breaking down to pieces.

Surgeon is little speaking man of good stature. He knew the person's caliber, whom he is speaking to. Some implied meanings in his statements are understood by me. 'Seven blocks are there. Will do bypass for four arteries. The remaining ones we can leave as they are tiny vessels and having calcium deposits only. We will take nerves from your leg for bypassing the block in the four arteries. I'll do my best. You'll get a new heart. No need for immediate answer. Think and tell tomorrow.' Beautiful way of crafting words. I surely believe he is a best surgeon.

He is new to me, so putting my belief on him is important. I saw my family doctor and cardiologist Chockalingam. He said, 'He is the best man for this job. I endorses him.' Totally i agreed to the bypass graft surgery on belief and faith that I kept on those people. I dont have heavenly faith. Always believe people and their truth.

Next Bypass Surgery Day..

Previous Part I : Me & My Heart Bypass Surgery

Me & My Heart Bypass Surgery

2018-02-08T19:11:00.000+05:30

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)
Part I

Almost everyone have heard about the heart bypass surgery, but not everyone experienced it. Our near and dear ones, went into this traumatic period and lived after ten years with happy smiles.

Just like you all, I also heard the words, 'heart surgery', 'bypass surgery', 'angiogram', 'stent', but not a single time i imagined myself will be into this.

As myself a writer and authored five books (poems & short story collections) in Tamil, I intended to pen down my story in surgery after twenty days of surgery. Almost finished, the book in Tamil will be released in few months.

I am so eager to write it in English, here in my blog I started with this. In this series, I am going to write my experiences, fears, thoughts, myths about the corollary bypass surgery, I underwent. Maybe one or other person can benefit from this.

Moreover, there is another special, I am a woman, who went through this surgery. There are few women compared to men who did bypass surgery in our country, India. We knew many men who had experienced angioplasty, stenting and bypass surgery. Women are least cared about the health in many Indian families. They overworked themselves for the family and got ignored.

Myself also sail in the same boat. I am having hypertension (BP), borderline cholesterol, but not diabetic. Once in a while, almost six months space, I and my husband go to our family cardiologist. This time being most crucial period in my life, as my daughter in law is in full time pregnancy, I have to leave for chennai from my city, Coimbatore in a week.

We went to the Royal Care hospital as early as 7 am, so that fasting test of blood sugar can be done. Near 11am, with results we were waiting for the cardiologist to turn up. As going through my results, my cholesterol had shoot up to 283, newly added culprit is sugar. Fasting sugar is 135. Not yet, I am not serious about these things.

At 2pm, our cardiologist Dr Chockalingam, asked sorry for being late, as he had to attend one emergency case. As he studied my tests and check my heartbeats, he asked me a serious question, whether I am having any gasping.

Yes, I told. I usually walk an hour in the evening with interfering gasps. I stop walking for two three minutes and after becoming normal I start my walk from there. This happened everyday. I thought its due to my GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) problem, I am already having. Told these things to the physician. He already knew my family history, as my father, mother & younger brother all died of heart failures. Immediately he wrote down for an angiography.

Its almost 3 in the evening. They were preparing for my in patient admission in the hospital. Now I was scared. I insisted my husband to return to home. We will take it another day. As like all husbands, he worked against me, said sternly, 'you are taking angio.'

Next Angiogram..

Tamil Literary Forum Inauguration

2017-11-03T10:56:00.003+05:30

Tamil Literary Forum Inauguration

In Coimbatore

Sthaayi School of Theater Arts Inaugurates Literary Forums for four South Indian Languages in Coimbatore. Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam are the four. Ms. Jayashree Murthy, Founder of Sthaayi School of Theater Arts is the person behind this glorious initiative.

Tamil Literary Forum is to be inaugurated tomorrow by Poet Mr. Meenakshi Sundaram, Special Reporter, The New Indian Express, Coimbatore.

The Book to be reviewed is 'Naaraai.. Naaraai..' by the Poet, Author & Counselor Ahila. Author of the book is Attanaththi.

Date : 4.11.2017

Time : 10 am

Place : Sthaayi School of Theater Arts, 18, Govindasamy Naidu Layout, Behind Andaal Marriage Mahal, Trichy Road, Coimbatore

Welcome All..

Secret Chambers

2017-02-06T13:13:00.000+05:30

Caravan..

This dawn speaks,

You are in a caravan

Through the long stretch of coconut grove

And wades into the vastness of sand dunes

You travel the breath of world

Yet I remember you,
To capture

The mountains of Sumerians,

To bring back

The lobes of flowers

That fragrance the forest,

And the painted pitcher

That we loved once upon a time

Remember to pick the fragments

Which subsumed in the secret chambers
Of the fallen hair
And withered flowers

While dusk,

You were in a caravan..

~ Ahila..

Silver Nitrate - Solution & Experience

2016-09-07T13:56:00.001+05:30

Silver Nitrate

Solution & Experience

You have to believe that I had gained a recent knowledge of Silver Nitrate. That doesn't mean, I am an expertise in the subject, chemistry. And for sure I learnt a little from school, with no such big interest in acids, alkaline, salts, solids, elements, addition reaction, Avogadro's number, subatomic particles, pipette, burette, titration, solutions, solvent, solute, valence, thermodynamics etc, etc.,

Ok, Now I'll tell the real thing behind the Chemical, Silver Nitrate, AgNo₃.

Silver salts have antiseptic properties. It is used as a cauterizing agent, for example to remove granulation tissue around a wound. Brief exposure will not produce any immediate side effects other than the purple, brown or black stains on the skin, but upon constant exposure to high concentrations, side effects will be noticeable, which include burns. Long-term exposure may cause eye damage. Silver nitrate is known to be a skin and eye irritant - says Wikipedia.

Experience with AgNO₃

One fine & gloomy evening, I had a fall in stairs, three at a skip, and perfectly landed or made me sit down with a thud on the fourth. No hits, I thought and I walked less perfectly alright with little limping.

Pain started after a few hours and I was in hospital. There the nurse shocked to see a large blood clotted or strained in dark red in my leg. Prescribed with antibiotics, pain killers and pantocid tablets for safe stomach. At last the Medicine man wrote down an ointment named, "Silver Nitrate". He asked me to apply on the blood clotted area twice a day.

My usual habit is to search for the medicines on internet. But this time, I missed to do so, that costs me to get cure for another two long weeks.

Applied over the area, like a gel, for two days with sincerity. Third day I saw the red clad area in my leg had out grown the size that I actually had on the day of fall. It spread its pangs like an octopus. Fear grabbed and now I started my search in net.

I found out from forums, that root cause is the ointment, which we have to apply a little over the area, and after a little time, we have to pat out the extras from the wound with a cotton. If we apply a lot or left it as such, it will pass thru' the unaffected areas of the skin and spread thru the epidermis, but not the inner skin.

No soaps or creams are useful in this case. It will discolour itself in another two weeks. But as a magic, the blood clotted area, where I applied the silver nitrate, worked pretty and it got clear of the stain. The surrounding tissues are badly red and works in a pretty slow way around.

Its better to be my leg, where hiding the stain with clothes. If it had been my face or hands, how would it be. I cant guess of covering me, the whole.

Medicine Men

This is the ignorance part of our medicine men - doctors, nurses. They must have the knowledge of these things.

Some doctors are asking, if we, the patients, are allergic to any medicine. Some wont ask that also.

As this Silver Nitrate is concerned, they must listen, when the drug people inform them. Must instruct us, how to use, what are the major side effects of the medicine.

So, go through the medicine, while the doctor is writing. And verify whatever doubt that arises with him. Be had them with clean mind and get well.

Moms never quit..

2016-02-24T18:30:00.000+05:30

Long Skirts

Little things do magic

Lilies and chrysanthemums

Fold mountains and Hay meadow

Shearing wind whistles around lonely boat

Dashing clean water murmurs along the shore

But the old woman in her hood

Is yet to sing the tranquilizing dream

That bloom with love and life

Whatever happens,

Moms never quit to say

Girls should wear long skirts

Then the children

Never fail to follow the Pied Piper

Palani Ghat Road To Kodaikanal

2015-11-24T23:00:00.000+05:30

Road To Kodaikanal

Three weeks back, we were on a trip to Kodaikanal by road.

Kodaikanal, located in dindigul district, Tamilnadu. This one is near Palani hills. Landmark city is Madurai.

From Coimbatore, our usual road trip is through Dharapuram, Batlagundu and then Kodaikanal Ghat Road.

This time, friends informed about the Palani Ghat Road which is less in distance, so traveling takes less time also.

Road Plans For the Hill

Through Kodaikanal Ghat Road

Coimbatore, Palladam, Dharapuram, Ottanchatram, Sempatti, Batlagundu, Kodaikanal Ghat Road, Kodaikanal.

Distance nearly 300 km

Time 6 h 30 mins

Through Palani Ghat Road

Coimbatore, Dharapuram, Palani, Palani Ghat Road, Kodaikanal

Distance 196 km

Time 4 h 30 mins

We took the Palani Ghat road for the trip. One is through Pollachi, Udumalpet and hitting the hills.
Distance 169 km

Next through, Palladam, Dharapuram and again the hills. Distance 196 km.
Both differ by 20 mins or so.

We planned to hit the hills by second one, through Palladam, Dharapuram for no big reason. Early morning motor ride was a pleasant one. Stopped at Dharapuram for breakfast in a Veg Bhavan.

In Palani, we asked our local google mapsetters, guess whom they are, our loyal auto drivers, the road leading to ghat road. This road first starts as an ordinary one, and then moves slowly climbs the mountain.

Palani Villages

Palani Hills

Ghat Road..

No big scenery stops in between, but its a pure ghat road, single lane road with bushy side steeps.

Total hairpin bends are 14. And an old tower standing at the first hairpin bend, built in 2009.

More Pictures showing the steep route. Its possible to drive in day time, but not advisable in night. Usually less vehicles takes this route. If there approaches a big vehicle on the opp direction, then we have to stay back. The road is not that much safe for not so experienced drivers.

More Pictures..

Palani Ghat road joins here with the kodaikanal main road..The next day, we started downhill thru the kodaikanal road.

Small stream near this welcome board..

Silver Cascade Falls on the way..

Happy Journey..

Peaceful..

2015-09-08T09:12:00.001+05:30

Small Wonders in the morning sky
Humming birds fill up the horizon
Daffodils and Roses in the air
Lilies and Lotuses bloom the pond
All, but one remains silent
The Mountains

None can move it
The Wind, The Clouds
The Sun, The Darkness
Always a Sage
Telling the Truth of Life
To Live and Let Die
In a Peaceful Way..

We Salute The Nurses..

2015-05-19T08:26:00.002+05:30

Aruna Shanbaug

After 42 years of struggle with life in comatose state, the nurse Ms. Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug died today.

The King Edward Memorial hospital (KEM), Mumbai, where she joined as a junior nurse, kept and looked after, after the sexual assault made by one ward boy, on November 23^rd, 1973.

Authr Pinki Virani wrote the story of Aruna shanbaug and in her book, "Aruna's Story'.

The author narrated the incident and the after’s as such, “Sohanlal Bhartha Walmiki choked her with a dog chain before raping and robbing her, oxygen supply to parts of her brain was cut off, and she became bereft not only of the power of speech but of the power to express herself in any other way. She also became cortically blind, lost the use of her limbs and the control of her muscles, and suffered a kind of emotional disability, which is manifested in a inappropriate laughter and bouts of screaming. Her memory and most of her other mental faculties were also gone..”

The petition filed by Author Pinki Virani to end the life support of Ms. Shanbaug to unbear her vegetative state, was rejected by the court in 1980, as the hospital and the nurses of the KEM hospital pledged to serve her till her death. It’s a humanitarian gift, as the court called the care given by the hospital staff as ‘Iconic’.

On that day of sexual assault, she was throttled with a dog chain and her vital nerves, which supply oxygen to the brain were cut off and there she plunged into the vegetative state.

Really it’s a wonder, when each new batch of student nurses came, they were introduced to her and told that she was one of them and continues to be one of them.

I appreciate their devotion to serve the severely sick with compassion and we can guess how many batches of nurses came in and moved out in these 42 long years. And taking her as one among them and let her live and die on her own, is a huge humanitarian task.

We salute them as they stand for their nobility in their profession.

My Gut Feeling..

2014-09-04T14:42:00.001+05:30

Gut Feeling..

My gut feeling about everything in life is worked out with 90 percent success. I was in wonder when this gut feeling slipped for my gut itself.

We all know about Endoscopy, which is looking inside a body for medical reasons using an instrument called endoscope. Endoscope is a flexible tube, having a lens and light at one end and directly inserted into our body through the mouth. It is used to investigate the stomach ailments.

My gut feelings always talk bad about this endoscopy. First I have to tell my story of why I felt like that and averted this endoscopy test for two long years.

Before two years, when I was food poisoned (as I think so) by eating in an eatery in Nungambakkam, I vomited till my stomach emptied. There the story starts. I went to a famous Gastroenterologist, who always has a battalion of followers, ie., assistants around him.

Preliminary was done by one of his juniors. Then the chief examined the note, not me, that his junior passed to him. Then asked a few questions to my hubby where he is working and discussed his nature of work. Then he checked me with his steth and asked his junior to scribble some medications and referred straight for the Endoscopy...

There the evil lives, I thought. I heard many stories from my friends, relatives and all. All is not well.

My sister told me, 'after endoscopy, a throbbing pain will be there in the throat and you cant eat for two days, but dont worry.. carry on..'

My close friend told me, 'dont do that. its a waste of money. we can manage by holding a diet..' But she took the test a year ago.
Advice !!!..

My Hubby, 'inserting a tube inside the mouth..no way..'

I feared of dreaming in nights as a long tube being thrusted into my mouth and it twirls inside my stomach like a giant anaconda. So I avoid Endoscopy altogether.

Whenever I fell sick in these two years, I just alter my diet plan. And after my stomach gets charged, I will return back to my oily foods. I didnt realise that I am making a grave mistake.

At last, when my stomach rejects anything that I put into my mouth, including coffee (thats my favorite), I stepped into the shoes of Endoscopy.

With open minded, what else I can do, I entered the endoscopy section. There is a child too, whose mother detailed the nearby, that he is not taking any karam..ie., spicy food. Ok, I told to myself. A small boy can take the test, why not I?

In empty stomach, I was said to lay on an examining table. Near to me three white coated men and a nurse present. One tall man with a beard, detailed about the machine that stood like a little giant beside him, in the malayalam ascent.

'It will take only two minutes'
'Dont touch this tube'
'I'll spray a liquid which numbs your throat, that will make the passing easy. And you can swallow'
'Open your mouth and keep this round inside, thru which i can insert the tube'

He just sprayed the medicine into my mouth. Somewhat it tasted bitter. And he is still talking to divert the attention of fear, he saw in my eyes. And I know that and still listening. The nurse inserted the round and I have to bite it. He suddenly thrusted the tube and it enter my throat like roller ball. I thudded a minute. And teardrops rolled down my cheeks.

My involuntary action is grabbing the tube to pull it out. He is saying, 'I told you, not to touch this'. Then I know why that instruction was dictated to me in the first stage. He is asking me to swallow the tube. How can I? But I did. Then no more violence.

He slid it and then told me that he is coming out now and pulled the tube out. Again its a thud, but this time I am used to it. Finished he said. Only two minutes..After that numbness had gone, no pain in my throat and all.

My earlier gut feeling about this test had failed me. Foolishly I waited for two long years to do this test and I severed my illness to an extremity.

Simply I walked out and now I know when & where to allow my gut to speak !!!..

Ahila

Temple Tiger - Jim Corbett in Tamil

Jim Corbett Book

'Temple Tiger and more Man-Eaters of Kumaon'

in Tamil

கோயில் புலியும் குமாவுன் ஆட்கொல்லிகளும்

[தமிழில் : அகிலா]

கோயில் புலியும் குமாவுன் ஆட்கொல்லிகளும்

[தமிழில் : அகிலா]

Jim Corbett Book, 'Temple Tiger and more Man-Eaters of Kumaon' in Tamil

Spring in UK

Spring Season in England

Elephant Corridor Book available

Elephant Corridor Book

The Revelation

Short Story By Ashapurna Debi

Full Audio By Ahila

Releasing Soon - Short Stories Book - Elephant Corridor

My Book Release

Elephant Corridor

Soon..

Title : Elephant CorridorPublishers : Authorspress, Delhi

Girl who Glees - Short Story

The Great Indian Kitchen - A View

The Great Indian Kitchen

My Days In England - Travelogue Book

Kaattidaiveli - The Glade

Thappad - A View

'Ahilas Kitchen Cook Book' is now available as EBook !

EBooks on the Go

Ebooks on Read

My Days in London - Day One

First day London

Aldgate Bus station

By

Ahila

Travel To England From Tamilnadu

Flight, At Start..

Chennai

Displays

Manchester

I Named The Village - My English Poetry Book Released

I Named The Village

Book Release

Angiogram

Part II

Me & My Heart Bypass Surgery

Tamil Literary Forum Inauguration

Tamil Literary Forum Inauguration

In Coimbatore

Secret Chambers

Silver Nitrate - Solution & Experience

Silver Nitrate

Solution & Experience

Moms never quit..

Palani Ghat Road To Kodaikanal

Road To Kodaikanal

Peaceful..

We Salute The Nurses..

My Gut Feeling..

Title : Elephant Corridor
Publishers : Authorspress, Delhi