ExpertDabbler

Back after yet another trip this weekend. It was all the more strenous this time since I traveled to Trichy (Thurayur) and thereon to Madurai and returned, all in two days flat and half the journey was in our govt. buses. Truly blessed are those who never got to travel in that adventurous GST road stretch from Tindivanam to Madurai.

The special train in which I returned was late by a small matter of 7.30 hours. As is always the case with railways, they announced the delay in seven installments of one hour each. Those who are mathematically inclined would be wondering about the balance thirty minutes, that is what we fondly call ‘Gandhi Kanakku’ i.e. that was not declared at all. This delay also reminded me of my maiden and only abroad trip. More on that later.

One unmistakable trend in all these visits is that Ilayaraja still rules the hearts of most of my brethren in tier two towns. Be it Maatuthaavani bus terminus at 2.30 AM, the private town bus in Trichy at 4 PM, the tea stalls in Virudhunagar at 5 AM to quote just a few, its overwhelmingly in favor of IR. I feel there is more to it than sheer coincidence. Not sure if the small town folks are in a time warp or ARR is just too sophisticated in his music. We are not talking about the Sathyam cinema going, Mani- Kamal admiring, Landmark-ing Madrasi but proper interior Tamil Nadu folks after all.

I sincerely hope, pray and wish I need not take travel to south Tamil Nadu for the next six months. And certainly not take the GST road for the next two years.