Chapter 1

“Ananya! Ananya! Where is this girl?” asked Janaki Amma, calling out for her granddaughter.

“Amma, Ananya is taking a shower. What do you want, Amma?” asked Lakshmi.

“Look at this, Lakshmi! She has littered the entire room with the dolls. When is she planning to set up the golu? Why don’t you help her, Ma?” asked Janaki Amma.

It was the time of Navarathri, a nine-day festival, celebrated in South India, worshipping the divine trinity of goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. The “golu” being the most significant feature of the festival where homes are decorated, sporting a colourful display of dolls and figurines of Gods and Goddesses, animals, birds, thematic display of life, culture and stories from scriptures. The dolls neatly arranged in steps of odd numbers, resembling the structure of a temple that’s unique to every home. With homes abuzz with divinity and festive spirit, friends and family invite each other to visit their golu and partake in the celebration and the offerings made to the Gods and Goddesses. The nine-day festival, celebrating womanhood, where the real-life goddesses, young and old, clad in their best traditional outfit, swarm in and out of houses, singing, feasting and exchanging gifts with the menfolk behind it all and as their vital “driving” force!

Janaki Amma’s voice reverberated through the house. This woman in her 70s was the backbone of the house. Having gone through a great deal of pain earlier in life she evolved to be a woman of grit and grounding. Janaki Amma lost her husband at a very early age and was left with her only son Krishnan who was 12 when his father passed away.

With the support of her parents, Janaki Amma stood strong and determined to raise her son to accomplish his dreams.

Krishnan, now in his early 50s, a renowned lawyer based in Chennai was married to Lakshmi, true to her name, the most valuable wealth of the family.

Ananya was the life of the house. The little girl of the Krishnans was their precious princess, their purpose, their happiness, a treasure dearer than their lives.

A very compassionate child, she inherited the cream of the virtues from her parents and her grandmother. Strong-willed yet shy. Studious, yet playful. Soft-spoken yet quick-witted. She was everything they could ask for and more.

Ananya was still blissfully in the shower, mellifluously singing a heart-rending Meera bhajan “Baso More Nayanan mein Nandalal” where Meera prays to Lord Krishna saying “Oh beloved son of Nanda, pray, never leave my vision! The lotus-eyed Lord in your enchanting dark form, the flute on your lips spreading the nectar-filled music, divine, with the colourful “Vyjayanthi” garland adorning your chest, Oh! Beloved son of Nanda, stay in my vision!”

Janaki Amma who had stormed into Ananya’s room to chide the girl stood there stupefied by the sweetness of the voice and the devotion it exuded.

Ananya, a natural singer was undergoing formal training with a reputed teacher in Chennai for over seven years now. She knew music was her life and Lord Krishna, her muse. Her bathroom was her private music studio.

The sound of the water gushing was her unfailing accompaniment. She indulged in a long shower every Sunday, immersed in devotion, singing to her heart’s content, eyes shut, oblivious to the world outside. To her, it was an experience, unparalleled!

Taps closed! The concert was over!

Ananya stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel and jumped on seeing her grandmother sitting by the door, her eyes closed.

“Patti, what happened? Why are you sitting and sleeping!” mocked Ananya trying to whack her grandmother’s thoughts out of the song she would have heard.

Janaki Amma knew better than to take any notice of the song and said, “I am waiting for you. Is that the way you spread the dolls in the room and go for a shower, so long?”

“Come quick and set the golu” commanded Janaki Amma.

“Rani and Pachai are waiting there to help you. I will also help. You have to set the golu before lunch, remember,” she added.

“What is the hurry, Patti? I will do it at my pace over the day. I have a theme in mind and I will definitely take more time,” reasoned Ananya.

Janaki Amma put up a stern face and said, “Whatever! Finish the theme today and no meddling with the dolls once you have placed them on the steps” and she walked out of the room saying, “Come! Come! Start the work soon!”

Ananya, wary of her grandmother’s concern, started on it right away and much to her surprise and relief, the golu was all set in lesser time than expected.

Ananya, excited over the outcome, called out to her Mom and grandmother to come and see the display of the dolls on the nine steps of the golu stand while singing the song “ Kandadhundo Kannan pol”.

A famous Tamil song of Bharath Ratna M.S. Subbalakshmi authored by the renowned writer, Kalki Krishnamurthy, where the devotee asks her friend “Have you ever seen another like Lord Krishna in this world?” as she fondly recalls the charm and playful ways of the “Cowherd Lord”.

As Janaki Amma walked in, smiling at the festive mood around, Ananya showed the beautiful village of Gokulam brought alive in their own house, the cows, the great mountain Govardhan, the patch of Yamuna River, the Nandan House and outside a little Krishna crawling with Yashoda beside and the rows of houses around the village.

Janaki Amma beaming with pride over her granddaughter’s creativity, called out to Lakshmi, “Come here and see! Ananya has brought Gokulam to our house.” Lakshmi smiled in admiration at Ananya’s passionate work before her.

Ananya was 16 now, yet every bit a child at heart and to them, she was always their precious little Ananya.

Giving instructions to Pachai and Rani, their loyal helpers, on the decoration of the nine steps of golu with festoons and lights, Ananya rushed to her room to get ready for the first golu visit of the year.

One of her music teacher’s friends had arranged a group sit-down concert at their house and Ananya was one of the singers in the group. Clad in a yellow saree borrowed from her mother and accessories matched to perfection, she looked every bit a deity herself.

She along with her friends left for the concert, in her friend’s car. A grand golu on display and the concert for over an hour went without a hitch. Soon after the concert the guests and the group singers were served with sweets and savouries, offered during the puja.

A beautiful traditional home, it was! The dolls on the golu, dating back to many years behind, aged with grace and passed on over generations, with many a tale to tell on the craftsmanship, the culture and the times they stood testimony to.

While Ananya and her friends were still devouring the snacks served, she was distracted by a particular conversation from outside.

The little one of the house, a girl of five, speaking to her adult friend.

“Come inside! Come, see the dolls,” said the girl.

“Let’s go in a little later. You have a lot of guests inside and boys are not allowed to go in,” said a sweet male voice.

“Why? My father and grandfather were inside!” she reasoned.

“No, they aren’t. They are all here,” said the male voice again.

The girl came running inside asking her Mom “Hari cannot come and see the dolls, Amma?”

Her Mom said he could and called out “Hari! Come in and see the golu” and with that, the little girl ran out to drag her 6-foot handsome friend inside, clad in shorts and T-shirt.

“Come, Hari,” said the girl’s grandmother and asked him to prostrate before the golu.

With the concert group on the left side and the golu on the right side, this tall friend of the little girl, prostrated in between facing the kitchen before him.

The inmates of the house laughed saying ”Hari, the golu is right here; why are you facing the kitchen”

He smiled and replied “Is it? I didn’t realise! I thought there were dolls on all sides,” he said with candid innocence and darted a quick look around as everyone laughed.

Ananya couldn’t take her eyes off this charmer as he sat beside the five-year-old showing him every doll on the golu stand.

He then asked the little girl to sing a song for him. While the little one was hesitant, turning towards the concert group, he asked the little girl, “Can we ask them to sing first?”

The girl replied, “They have all finished singing. You came very late,” she complained.

“Oh! That’s very sad. So, shall I sing for you then?” he asked sweetly.

The girl said, “No, only girls can sing.”

“Then you sing. If no one sings, I will sing,” he teased the little girl.

The girl’s mother said, “Hari! She has practised five songs to sing for you. Sing now, Mekhala!”

As she was still shy and looking at the concert group, her friend tried to clear his throat to threaten her to sing and she pounced on him closing his mouth shut and slowly started to sing a song in praise of Goddess Lakshmi, “Vara veena mridhu paani” with one palm on his mouth.

Laughing, he took the little one’s hand from his mouth and made her sit by his side. As Mekhala was singing, her friend was served some sweets and savouries. Relishing the song and the goodies on his plate, swaying his head to his little friend’s feat, he casually turned to his right, when his eyes met Ananya’s staring at him. Holding the gaze for a little longer, he smiled at her, like he had known her for years! She smiled back while she froze.

He made the girl sing all five songs over five different games and tricks he played on her, driving her mad out of her quiet and shy self into a noisy little monkey, singing and laughing without restraint! They rocked the show and once the performance was over, the two walked out leaving behind a dead quiet living room with the hosts and guests, and “the dolls on all sides”, craving for more.

He walked out, telling the hostess “I will be outside with Vinod”, holding hands with his little friend. The two chattered away with the little one chiding him for not wearing proper clothes for golu.

Meanwhile, Ananya and group were ready to leave home. While one batch of the girls left, the rest of them waited. Ananya was one of them waiting. Since Krishnan was not in town she had to wait for her friend’s vehicle to go home.

Sensing that the girls were getting delayed, the hostess asked if she could arrange to have them dropped and they agreed. She went outside saying, “Hari, can you and Vinod drop the three girls at their houses. They all live close by. You can finish your mandatory drive with Mekhala, as well.”

He readily agreed and the little one was thrilled over her drive with Hari and her Vinod Chitappa, this time more special with the girls in the back seat.

As they all were waiting to get into his car, their eyes found each other yet again, held on and again he sealed it with a warm smile. This time though, friendlier than before.

Electrifying and humiliating for Ananya! All through the 10-minute drive, she ensured she never looked to the driver’s side again. The driver was, however, engaged in an engrossing tale he was weaving for his little friend beside, telling her the story of how a deer escaped the lion with all the dramatic effects.

Ananya being the last one to be dropped, thanked Vinod as she alighted from the car while those friendly eyes waited on and he bade her adieu with a nod.

How she wished this drive never ended!

Days, weeks and months passed but not a spare moment without Ananya recalling every little detail of that Sunday evening. The sweet voice, the sweeter conversations, the charming entry, the engaging drive, those eyes that meant no deceit, the smile, so compassionate and warm!

Hari was his name!

Memories so dear! Memories of an absolute stranger with no remote possibility she could think of running into each other, ever!

She could still not brush aside those memories as a casual encounter of no significance, much less an acquaintance!

They were too sweet to be real, anyway, and she thought she could always use them as her respite from reality, if not a mere comic relief!

What a clown that five-year-old had to herself! She thought as she smiled, every time.

Chapter 2

It was Ananya’s last exam before her summer vacation. Ananya and her friends had decided to have a sleepover at Ananya’s place that night.

Ananya was bubbling with excitement over the sleepover plan as she walked into her house from the school van.

As she walked in she was elated to see her father’s shoes at the door, already! Along with it was another pair of swanky shoes. An unusual sight!

Intrigued, she stormed into the house to see who the visitor was.

Krishnan’s loud laughter filled the home. As she walked into her father’s office, Krishnan said, “Come, Ananya! We are all waiting for you. Meet Venkutu Uncle, my friend from childhood. He is from Mumbai.”

Ananya smiled and gently nodded her head as she said: “Hello, Uncle.”

He was a tall man, robust and personable, clad in a white kurta and jeans.

“Hello Ananya, heard your exams just got over? How did the last one go?” he asked with a radiant smile that you cannot take your eyes off.

“It went well, Uncle,” said Ananya smiling coyly, still lost in wonder.

“Good! You must be hungry and tired, run along! I am going to stay with you for two more days. We will catch up,” he said stroking her cheek.

“Yes, Ananya, freshen up and come. We are waiting. Let’s have lunch together,” said Krishnan.

Ananya ran into the house to see her Mom and grandmother, busy fixing the lunch.

“Here she comes, Amma! Let loose for the next two months,” said Lakshmi seeing Ananya walk in.

“What is special for lunch, Amma? Is Venkutu Uncle going to stay with us?” asked Ananya in all excitement.

Janaki Amma said, “Yes! Yes! He will stay. You come and eat. Your father and Venkutu will go on talking for the next two days. They don’t need food or water,” she said in her usual sarcastic tone.

“Venkutu Uncle looks so handsome, Amma” whispered Ananya to her Mom and then asked, “Patti, what is his full name?”

“Venkataraghavan,” said Janaki Amma and added, “He is a businessman settled now in Mumbai. Very well-settled. Your father and he grew up together. Very nice boy. A very kind-hearted human, I have seen. We were all worried about him when he decided to set up a business in Mumbai, all alone and with nothing. All our prayers were answered to see him like this now,” said Janaki Amma lost in her thoughts while frying the plantain chips.

Still gulping in the details along with the fresh hot chips Ananya was intently looking at Janaki Amma waiting to hear more when she snapped at Ananya “Now stop munching the chips. You will not eat your food properly. Go change and come for lunch “

“Patti, I have a lot of time now. I can eat all through the two months. Make more chips, please” said Ananya and kissed her grandmother fondly.

A woman of steel that she was, these affectionate gestures of Ananya would leave Janaki Amma blushing and melting.

To cover up any bit of tenderness propping up, Janaki Amma again snapped at her grandchild saying “Enough! Go change and come. You will go on talking for the next two months, like your father.”

The house was throbbing with the loud chatter and laughter of her father and his handsome friend.

Over lunch Venkutu asked Ananya, “Ananya what do you plan to do during your vacation? Would you like to come to Mumbai with me? Prema Aunty would love to have you there. We can see a lot of places around. What do you say?” he asked with his typical smile.

Krishnan said, “She would have already planned her entire two months’ vacation. Her friends are coming over for a sleepover tonight,” in all honesty.

“Mumbai trip is still a great idea. We can all plan a trip before her school reopens,” said Krishnan looking at Lakshmi.

“My dear friend, do you realise that you have been planning this trip ever since your honeymoon! Lakshmi, I don’t trust this lawyer on this anymore. Tell me, when was your last visit?” asked Vekutu.

“For the upanayanam of the boys,” said Lakshmi smiling helplessly.

“How wonderful! That’s over 12 years back. We have lost all those years of our lifetime, planning. You better take charge from here, Ma” said Venkutu looking at Lakshmi.

Janaki Amma chimed in at that saying, “You and Prema will keep coming to Chennai since your son is here. So, we will see more of you, anyway.”

“That is true, Amma. As much as I would like to come quite often it is not that easy. Hopefully, we will meet more often from now,” said Venkutu.

” This trip is an impromptu one. Just came to surprise my son. It’s been about six months since I have seen the brat. He came for Diwali. That’s all,” said Venkutu.

Still lost in thoughts, Venkutu went on, “That fellow is a tornado, my second one. The house is dead without him around”, he said laughing through his tears looking at Krishnan and Lakshmi.

Krishnan then asked, “When do you want to see him?”

“We will go this evening, maybe? Are you free, Krishnan?” asked Venkutu.

Krishnan said that he would join him.

The two of them went around seven in the evening and were back very late that night when the rest of the house had fallen asleep.

The next morning while holding his steaming cup of coffee Venkutu commented, “Amma, this is the same coffee I had when I was a schoolboy. I am amazed now! How did you manage to maintain the taste and standard over years? In our house, there is a difference between the first and the next one!” They all laughed when Venkutu added, “Don’t tell Prema I said this,” and winked at Krishnan.

“Don’t praise Amma for the coffee. She is buying the same coffee powder, the same blend from the same supplier over two generations. All credits to those guys,” said Krishnan.

“How I miss this coffee in Mumbai! Wondering if I should shift back to Chennai soon” said Venkutu.

“Excellent, do that!” said Krishnan. “Your son is anyway looking for business opportunities here. So, you shift.”

Venkutu, beaming, said “Yes, let’s see. I will dump Mumbai on him and get back to my roots here”, hopeful and proud.

“What is your plan today, Venkutu?” asked Krishnan.

“You carry on with your work. I will be visiting IIT today around lunch. Amma, ask Lakshmi not to make anything for me. I will have lunch with the IIT boys.” said Venkutu.

“I might just have just enough time to take the flight after that, I guess,” said Venkutu.

Janaki Amma said “I will pack some coffee powder for you. Don’t forget to take it when you go. I can supply it regularly if you like it so much.”