காம தகனம்

When I travelled in a crowded bus

What’s in a name?

It was a summer evening I was travelling in a crowded bus from Adyar to Mylapore. Crowded bus is not something unusual. It’s a regular affair. I was travelling with a friend of mine. My friend is a stocky girl and she carries a back pack which is bulkier than her all made up to three tickets. The three of us found place only to place our feet.

There were families who were going back from beach, people back from a busy day’s work, out for a shopping and the sort. By now both of us forced our self into the bus and we were standing safely. There was the cry which made us defocus from the problem on hand- crowd. Somebody shouted “Asin careful”. Also advised her to stand or sit erect. I tried to find out who is Asin. I just squeezed through the crowded to reach the place of Asin to catch a glimpse of Asin. I tried my level best but in vain.

This attempt to see Asin made me recollect an old bus incident. It was in 1993. There is a small little village called Thirupudaimarudhur in Tirunelveli district. This village has a beautiful Sivan temple of the Pandian Era. The presiding deity is Narumpoo nathar. Lord siva who is an abishek priyan loves to adorn flowers in this place. Thirupudaimarudhar and the temple is almost abandoned. Justice Ratnavel Pandian who hails from the village decided to bring back the glorious days and organised committees to do the kumbabishekam. Finally all pontiffs assembled to perform the kumbabhishekam it was a weeklong event. Our family also decided to participate in the event. The main reason being we had a VIP pass.

It was a beautiful function. People from various places thronged the temple and kumbabhishekam took place in a grand manner.  The government had organised for special buses which were available for few hours. The moment we heard of the return bus to Tirunelveli, we jumped out and somehow made us stand in the queue then the crowd drove us in.

Now the story starts. The bus was tightly packed and was about to leave for Tirunelveli. Somebody from the bus shouted baby is missing. Everybody resonated “Baby is missing”. Some volunteers jumped out of the bus to search baby.  Somebody demanded all of us to get off the bus because they wanted to search underneath the seats. This went on for some time until when we heard a shrill voice saying” I’ m here”. There was pin drop silence in the bus. There was curiosity amongst everyone to see baby. The one who saw baby said “Baby aachima leI” meaning Baby is an Oldie.  The whole bus broke out laughing.

Now I have reached Mylapore. I made it a point to see Asin once I get off the bus. I walked to the first few rows from outside. I saw Asin. Asin is a beautiful girl child 5 years old. Somebody has shown their grudge on the kid by naming her Asin. They could have given her a better name.