Moonru Lamp to Kovilkulam via Ambai - 566

  VK PURAM TO KOVILKULAM VIA AMBAI 

Subbiah was very tired and perspiring profusely even as he was trying to put on stand his rickety bicycle in front of his house . His wife Velammal was quick to  notice the Bulging package on the cycle's carrier .

She enquired as to what was inside the parcel . Subbiah hesitantly informed her that he had just bought the GROCERY for their daughter Sivakami from the Rs 2000/- that he had  recieved from the Government as part of the COVID ASSISTANCE.

Velammal was immediately upset . She wanted to know if they both themselves did not have a stomach to fill .  Their own long list of Medicines and which included the Asthma Inhaler had been pending from a long time .

With a heavy heart he informed her that he would surely get all the Medicine etc from the next Installment of the Govt Assistance .

Right now their Daughter Sivakami  who was residing at Kovilkulam with her two kids were having a rough time because of the various restrictions in force because of the Pandemic  . Their Son in Law was not doing much of a business as an Autorikshaw Driver because of the same .

Velammal was quick to retort that she was always against this marriage . She had to agreed to the same only because Sivakami was adamant and also because Subbiah himself did not have any opinion on the issue .

She wanted to know as to how he was going to travel from Moonru Lamp to Kovilkulam as there was no transport of any sort on the roads . She further added that the Police were maintaining a very strict vigil and were also giving  punishments to those not following the Lockdown rules .  Being asked to do  pull ups or made to stand in the Sun for hours together were increasingly finding their way as the mode of punishment . 

He informed her that it was hardly  a problem  as  being healthy , he would cycle it to Kovilkulam and hand over the much needed items to their Daughter and also meet their Grandsons . He even refused to have his lunch at home saying that he would do the same at his daughter's place. 

Velammal was not very amused to hear this and remarked that if was hell bent on foregoing the cycle plus the groceries and willing to spend the night in the comfort of the Police Station with mosquitoes for company , he was welcome to do so .

It was almost noon and the scorching sun had left him perspiring profusely even before he had reached Agasthiarpatty . His tattered cotton shirt clung to his body even as he paddled  his way to Kovilkulam .

 It was only at the Ambai Railway Level Crossing that trouble awaited him . The road was barricaded and a few constables were questioning a group of youngsters , some totally drunk , all without masks or riding the motorcycles with 3 in the back seat . Velammal's elaborate warnings came to mind .

The constable waved Subbiah aside and asked him to park his cycle , keep the parcel open for his inspection and wait for him .

After inspecting the parcel , the constable asked Subbiah to go and meet the Inspector who was seated in a Jeep just outside the Rani High School . The Inspector was a smart young man . The dark glasses and the walrus mustache added to give him an ominous look .

The first thing the Inspector wanted to know was , what was an old  man of near 65 years doing in the heat of the scorching Sun and riding a cycle when a total Lockdown was in force and what was he carrying in that parcel of his . 

Subbiah visualized himself being asked to do  the sit ups or pull ups , his cycle being confiscated by the police . Even more scary was prospect of the music he would have to face when he got  home and face  Velammal .

The Inspector gave a patient hearing to all that Subbiah had to say .The none too soft tackling of the 4 youngsters on a single Motorbike made Subbiah even more nervous .

Nonetheless he was surprised when the Inspector asked the constable to hand Subbiah a packet of food and a bottle of water . He then instructed Subbiah to sit under the shade of the huge Banyan tree in front of the Rani School  and wait for him .

This really surprised Subbiah . The Inspector aferall seemed a very nice man . He asked the constable to return the cycle and parcel and asked Subbiah to proceed to Kovilkulam and also presented him with a POLICE VOLUNTEER T SHIRT which he asked Subbiah to put on immediately . Subbiah was totally dumbfounded.  He did not know what to say. He cupped both his hands and expressed his thanks.

The Inspectors reply surprised Subbiah even more . People were using the Govt Assistance of Rs 2000/- to get drunk or to gamble .  Subbiah was using the money to help his daughter. 

Sivakami and the Grandsons were very happy to meet Subbiah who handed over the parcel to his daughter. 

The first question Sivakami asked was why he had come all the way from VK Puram to Kovilkulam in the heat of the scorching Sun and that too on a cycle and why Velammal had not accomplished him .

Subbiah recounted everything that had happened from that morning in a sequence and added in detail his experience near the Ambai Railway Crossing . She seemed even more surprised than Subbiah at the treatment handed out by the Inspector. 

Subbiah asked about Saravanan , his Son In Law and was glad to know that the things had taken a turn for the better and that the Auto was now being used to deliver Vegetables on a regular basis .

After lunch and just as Subbiah was getting ready to take leave , Sivakami thrust Rs 2000/-  in Subbiah's new T Shirt Pocket and added that it was Saravanan's token of love . She further added that they both felt it was  their duty to help elders in the family .

Subbiah's return journey to Moonru Lamp was a lot happier and contended than the one that he had  embarked upon  on his outward ride to Kovilkulam .

THREE THINGS STAND OUT 

THE LOVE OF A FATHER FOR HIS DAUGHTER AND HER FAMILY .

A DAUGHTER AND HER FAMILY'S LOVE FOR HER PARENT/GRANDPARENTS. 

AN INSPECTOR'S HUMANITARIAN HELP TO AN ELDERLY AND ORDINARY MAN  FROM THE STREET.

( THIS FROM THE VERY SAME AMBASAMUDRAM WHOSE INSPECTOR IS IN THE LIMELIGHT NOW, FOR RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY BEING IMPLICATED IN POLICE EXCESSES )