As the thoughts flow -08

Well, loss of a friend has to be taken in its strides - I keep on telling myself. After all I did not stop eating or performing other daily chorus despite loss of someone close. So why refrain from writing a few things which may ease the contrite feelings.

Another childhood memory is travelling by steam engine train from Madras Central station to Ponneri.

Unlike these days, window seats were available, especially for children. Trains were moving tortoises when compared to the speeds today.

I would wait impatiently for the train to cross Ennore station so that I would be able to see the sea.

There used to be a lot of salt pans (உப்பளம்) around Ennore. Used to think the street vendor pushing a hand cart with a sack of salt would be picking the stock only from this place.

The sea I remember in its full glory was at Rameswaram. I naively folded my legs from its dangling positition as I saw the sea beneth the Pamban bridge. I was four then.

How the emerald green water changes into a dark blue colour near horizon-I wonder even now.

In those days, present day Rameshwaram Express used to be called as "Boat mail".

People whose destination was Colombo used to board this train. They were allowed on board a waiting boat at Dhanushkoti. They would enter Ceylon( now Srilanka) and continue their journey to Colombo by another train. A single ticket was issued for the entire journey.

But 1964 cyclone changed things for ever. On the night of 22nd dec waves of over twenty feet high destroyed the entire Dhanushloti including a passenger train. Watery grave for all with no exception. One never know how the end comes. Since then Rameshwaram is the terminus.

Now, are we crying for those who lost their lives NO. Why ?

A tamil proverb says it succinctly.

கண்ணில் பட்டால் கரிக்குமா புருவத்தில் பட்டால் கரிக்குமா ?

For the benefit of non Tamils, meaning of this Tamil analogy is : is there not difference between a drop of salt water touching the eye brow and the eye ball ? Only near and dear effectively affect us.

C U later. bye.