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Monday, December 29, 2014

Home, People!

After a long time, I made it a point to visit my hometown. Going home is one thing, going to hometown is something else. அது வேறு இது வேறு! You can go and settle down in some city or the other; build a house there, rent, beg, borrow, steal, stay... but hometown is something different! You feel you 'belong' there.
Chennai is big, cool and awesome; but it's not home!


சித்தியுடன் தாத்தாவை காணச் சென்றேன். He gave us snacks to eat, seeing a lot of it we asked him...
"இன்னும் பல் இருக்கா?" என்று கேட்டோம்.
"பல் இல்லை,
சொல் இருக்கு!" என்றார்!
அடடா! வயசானாலும் Style குறையவில்லை அவருக்கு!

Then I went to அத்தை பாட்டி வீடு! I informed that I was doing MBA and blah, blah... She said, Good good, நல்லா படி!
Position'um இருக்கணும்,
Possession'um இருக்கணும்... (after some years)!

Also heard this story, which gives us some insights on the intelligence of public servants around this town. There was a TTE (Travelling Ticket Examiner) in a passenger train some years ago. In that train, the common practice is to charge some money if people carry vehicles (cycle, motorcycles, etc>) however some parts of those like bell, seat cushion, etc. were allowed to be taken for free; the TTE was a very experienced man. One guy wanted to be too clever - he dismantled  a bicycle and put the parts in a gunny bag and covered it. When the TTE saw it, he asked him to pay. The guy said he's not carrying any vehicle. The TTE told him,
"I know the difference between
Parts of a Cycle and
Cycle in Parts!
Pay or get out!"

I was dumbfounded on hearing these. நாம் நினைத்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறோம் நாம் தான் 'gethu' என்று; அது உண்மை அல்ல! ஊர் சென்று பாருங்கள், அப்போது புரியும் யார் உண்மையில் பெரிய ஆள் என்று! கோட் சூட் போட்டு நுனி நாக்கில் ஆங்கிலம் பேசினால் மட்டும் பெரிய ஆள் ஆகிவிட முடியாது. கொஞ்சம் அனுபவமும் வேண்டும்.

Every time I go to native place, I am amazed by one thing or the other. It never ceases to surprise me, and I come back enlightened, refreshed and with a new perspective on life.

"Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave
 And grow old wanting to get back to!"

மீண்டும் சந்திப்போம்!
அனைவருக்கும் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

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