| There cannot be a lonely soul... | | | | whatever they want." said the shores. The Indian |
| Marina Beach. The famous coastline of 'Chennai' or | | | | hospitality with the Europeans and the Arabians, |
| 'Madras', as the city was known a few years back. | | | | which ruined the country earlier, was clearly visible |
| The beach is an asset for the residents of this south | | | | with these shores also. After all, this is TamilNadu |
| India's largest metro. This second largest beach of | | | | province, 'The dream land for Migrants'. Though there |
| world and the largest in asis, not only attracts local | | | | are many other beaches like Elliots beach, Golden |
| residents, but world wide. The beach sand is hardly | | | | beach, Kovalam, Thiruvanmiyur beach and many |
| visible on weekends and holidays. The sand | | | | other private beaches, Marina's attraction is still |
| accommodates a lot of shops. | | | | immaculate. |
| Lip Smacking 'Soan pappdi' (an Indian sweet) made | | | | With so much happening in the evening, the day |
| from wheat flour, the delicious 'Sundals' (peanuts), | | | | would be very quite. For some one to relax at 12 |
| refreshing 'sukkukapi'(herbal coffee), tasty | | | | noon with hot sun splitting his cruel rays would have |
| bajjis(native snack item), sugarcane juice and the | | | | been highly uncomfortable. But a man was seen |
| addictive 'Bhel poori' and 'pani poori'(chat items) | | | | enjoying his time out there. The 'Anna' Square, the |
| vendors could be seen busy canvassing the public | | | | 'MGR' square, the fisherman's boat, the fishing nets, |
| relaxing along the shore. The rental dynamic horses | | | | the light house, few people moving here and there, |
| powered by jockeys take people for short roams | | | | most of them fishermen, some of them beggars and |
| run helter-skelter along the shores bamboozling the | | | | antisocial elements, and this man - Karthik. |
| children. The frying smell of fish, crabs, lobsters, from | | | | The Vivekananda Illam(formerly Ice House), the well |
| the sea food stalls send hidden signals to sea food | | | | known Queen Mary's College, the Inspector General |
| lovers. The decorative sea shells were simply | | | | office, MRTS(flying metro train station), the |
| deceptive for tourists, both for their eyes and | | | | Presidency College, the old Madras Varsity, the Public |
| wallets. | | | | Works Department building, Ezhilagam, and the |
| The toy shops forced the children to wage mini | | | | British's Fort St. Georges, now the State's secretariat |
| battles with their parents and mostly the kids winning | | | | decorated the opposite side of the beach. Most of |
| at the end. The kites and balloons were involved in a | | | | these monuments were constructed by the British |
| unique competition in scaling heights and almost | | | | during their unspoiled rule. Karthik is a smart, clean |
| threatening to touch the clouds. Some try their luck | | | | shaven, handsome Indian Tom Cruise of mid 20's. |
| in aiming to shoot the balloons fixed on a target post, | | | | He's dressed in a light blue T-shirt and a green casual |
| but with a very little luck as it was a lively hood for | | | | Trouser, bit unusual- but it suited him well. Every |
| the organiser. The fishermen were busy running their | | | | body would wonder 'what's the pleasure he derives in |
| boats into the sea. In spite of this, a lot of motor | | | | relaxing in the beach sand which would be over |
| boats, fishing nets and catamarans occupied some | | | | 40`C?' |
| portion of sand. Astrologers exchanged good news | | | | Both, the sand on these shores and this person |
| for money from customers as they use parrots to | | | | 'Karthik' would certainly be forgotten after a time. So |
| select lucky cards. These 'kili' astrologers (parrot | | | | time rules. They can be great. But even the greatest |
| astrologers) were stern competitors for 'kuri' | | | | of greats relax in grave. It's not only the time that |
| astrologers (astrologers with magic stick in their hand) | | | | rules, it's the Nature- who is the superior ruler. That is |
| to predict the future. 'Kuri' astrologers convince | | | | why man worshipped Nature as God in his early days |
| people that God named 'Jakamma' speak through | | | | and he still does. |
| them. The fate is so strong that these astrologers | | | | Karthik's mobile ringed with a famous Tamil* song's |
| themselves cannot judge what was in store for | | | | tune. The mobile caller id did not display any number. |
| them in the future? | | | | It was almost like a women's mind. The ringing |
| All of them were in the scene with at least 400,000 | | | | continued. Karthik took a little time to find himself |
| love pairs romancing on the sand and shore, dreaming | | | | only in ambiguity. |
| of their futures, some unemployed young men and | | | | He resisted the suspense and attended the call |
| women, happy children leading their families to the | | | | saying "Hello". |
| beach on the evening. | | | | "Hi! What a surprise, Shelvi. How are you?" |
| The energetic joggers, many of them over 60, the | | | | Shelvi "..." |
| young gymnasts, the daring swimmers, the fanatic | | | | "I am fine. I am in India now, on a vacation." |
| wave lovers and many tourists with in and outside | | | | Shelvi "..." |
| the country throng the beach. | | | | "Oh.", he paused. |
| This crowd must be few millions and they cover | | | | After couple of minutes" OK. I'll do it for you, Shelvi." |
| Chennai's 772,151,005 billion sands on this shore. In a | | | | Shelvi "..." |
| city of hot climate, this beach, shore and the breeze | | | | His excitement persisted as he queried "OK! What's |
| are priceless folks. This beach is not only a crown to | | | | her name?" |
| India's intellectual capital, but certainly also to a | | | | His lips moved slowly. He must have repeated Shelvi's |
| country with glorious history of over 5000 years. | | | | utterance. Karthik is innocent. He does not know that |
| The waves invaded the shores just as India was | | | | the person with this name would be the most |
| invaded by foreign rulers. These waves are as cruel | | | | influential thing in his life. He finished the call saying |
| as those malicious British, Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, | | | | "Bye Shelvi - I will mail you. Take care." His lips once |
| French and Mughal rulers, since they never failed in | | | | again murmured the same thing, this time clearly- |
| their attempt to erode the sand from the shore. | | | | "Humairah Fahim". This name must have gone in to his |
| Aren't these sands as precious as 'The Kohinoor'? | | | | heart. After all his heart needs this name - Humairah |
| "We are Gallant losers for a long time since now. We | | | | Fahim. |
| greet everyone, every waves and let them take | | | | |