The Sound of Silenced Letters.

We know the letter B doesn't

belong in subtle

But what has the letter C got to do

in a muscle?

The role of the D in Wednesday we

can't define

Why should G be present in a gnat

or in a sign?

To be honest, does the H in rhyme

ring a bell?

And can the J in marijuana

anybody smell?

Who knows why the K in knee

won't knock

And why the L in walk or in calf

would not talk

The first M in mnemonic is hard to

understand

Would the damned N in the column

ever stand?

We can't say the P in psalm or in

psychology

And S alone gets tossed out from the debris.

Is the T heard when you listen to a

whistle?

W is not write, it's wrong, don't try

to wrestle

X is the mistake in a faux pas, get

the clue?

Hush, no rendezvous with Z,

good bye, adieu!

Tailpiece.

Got up around a quarter past 6 to see Dr Sodhi's message asking us to meet her at a half past 9, at the clinic. The chores and we were ready by a quarter past 9, when we walked down to the clinic. She arrived at the dot and saw us; prescribed medicines. Lekha had gifted a chocolate that was bought from South Africa. And wasn't she happy?

Off to the bank and got the nefts through; Subha was there, bought the Pril and then, the Raamacham.

Stephen had come by for the last time during his course. He has been appointed at the same place in Thrissur wef 13 Oct. Both of us wished him well.

Arnab Goswami has the last laugh!

Arnab Goswami and his channel - The Republic TV - have been vindicated in the so called 'TRP scam' and he has been putting out the details of the report, into public domain, all through the day.

Let's see the guys on his opposing side who, rightfully, need to take the bashing because what they all did was to get after a guy who brought out their misdeeds out in the open. Let's take a headcount of those creeps :-

1. The Now-disintegrated MVA Government of Maharashtra.

The Shiv Sena headed by the egoist, Udhav Thackeray along with his immature and vindictive son, Aditya Thackeray, the NCP headed by the disgustingly corrupt, Sharad Pawar and the Congress headed by the shameless, Sonia Gandhi. They formed the 'Maharashtra Vikas Agadi' - whose 'vikas' thrived during its governance is already out in the open.

They had an axe to grind when Arnab Goswami reported details of the Palghar murder of Hindu sadhus, The murder of Sushant Singh Rajput, the Bollywood actor and many other facts. So, he was slapped with a fabricated 'TRP case where he was supposed to have paid Rs.500/- per household to raise his channel's TRP and put in jail!

2. The Corrupt Officials

And who had fabricated the case? An idiot of an IPS guy, Parambir Singh and his crony, Sachin Vaze, the scum bags of professionals who gave a series of 'press dramas' to drive home their false narrative. They're already cooling their heels in the doghouse! Wonder how the Maharashtra State Police would be able to wash their sins away?

3. The Cabal Of The Lutyens' Media

The vicious of them all. Being jealous of the Republic TV as it gave us quality fare - day in and day out - the Lutyens' Media cabal found this cheap and malicious manner to demean and bring disrepute to the channel. They must be made to answer for the misdeeds - perhaps go to the extent of naming and shaming them.

As I saw Arnab celebrating his hard earned victory on prime time TV, I felt glad for him. Another example of the truth having won, ultimately!

Tailpiece.

Got up about half an hour late, the chores but was ready on time. Washing machinex of the bed linen was accomplished.

A quiet Thursday as Lekha and I went about doing our work.

Our new acquisition, an Ostrich's egg from South Africa, has been put at its display point in our sitting room! 

The new CDS.

1. India Gets A New CDS

The Government of India has appointed Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He will also function as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs.

In a career spanning nearly 40 years, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (Retd) had held several command, staff and has extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and North-East India.

The development comes almost nine months after India lost its first CDS, General Bipin Rawat, who died tragically in a chopper crash in Tamilnadu.  

       *      *      *

One Song

Every war and every conflict

between human beings has

happened because of some

disagreement about names.

It is such an unnecessary

foolishness because just beyond

the arguing there is a long table of

companionship set and waiting for

us to sit down.

What is praised is one, so the

praise is one too, many jugs being

poured into a huge basin. All

religions, all this singing, one song.

The differences are just illusion

and vanity. Sunlight looks a little

different on this wall than it does

on that wall and a lot different on

this other one, but it is still one

light.

We have borrowed these clothes,

these time-and-space

personalities, from a light, and

when we praise, we are pouring

them back in.

Rumi

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and carried out the usual Wednesday aarathi. Washing machinex of the soiled clothes were carried while earmarking a few for dry cleaning and Rejith, came and picked them up.

Kittu was in attendance but his kids didn't show up, wonder why.

Initiated my project with the second generation as I spoke to each one of them individually.

A quiet evening, thereafter.

Navaratri.

Navaratri had begun yesterday. The real fasting of Navaratri, at the intellectual level, means purification of the soul in the following ways :-

* Prathama. I will leave all my anger

* Dwitiya. I will stop judging people.

* Tritiya. I will leave all my grudges.

* Chaturthi. I will forgive myself and everyone.

* Panchami. I will accept myself aAll is well in my worldnd everyone as they are.

* Shashti. I will love myself and everyone unconditionally.

* Saptami. I will leave all my feelings of jealousy and guilt.

* Ashtami (Durga ashtami). I will leave all my fears.

* Navami (Mahanavami). I will offer gratitude for all the things I have and all which I will get.

* Dashami (Vijayadashami). There is abundance in the universe for all and I will always tap the same and create what I want through unconditional love, sadhana, nishkama seva and faith.

All is well in my world.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 7, the chores without disturbing Lekha in her deep sleep and was ready for Faiyaz, who came to draw my blood samples. Soon after, had gone down to have my breakfast and to give an inkling of the time for the drawal of the post-prandial blood sample. And he'd come accordingly.

Lekha had her breakfast at a 20' to 9.

Joseph and his silver sedan reached us by a quarter to 11. We'd packed our luggage and vacated room 256. The luggage was placed at the reception.

Dropped Lekha at Shenoy care and I'd gone across to Satish Bhat. A quick review and juggling of medicines were done and we said our byes to meet again on 22 Dec for the next review. Returned to the BTH, checked out and after paying the path lab, we returned to Shenoy Care where we'd a long wait.

We left Guruvayur by 5 and reached our destination by 1930 hrs. Kittu was waiting for us and Lekha had fixed him his meal!

    

 

Back at Kochi.

Our flight landed at Kochi at a half past 3. With Lekha being provided with wheelchair assistance, we were the last to get out of the airport and in the process, saw Anil-Radha and Nidhin who’d presented themselves to see us off.

Reached our hotel half an hour later. Once I’d finished with my morning messages to everyone, I’d gone off to sleep.

Just made it for the complimentary breakfast.

Lekha had gone off to Floria for pedicure as her corns have been giving her problems. 

In the evening, we’d gone across to Chellakkili’s office to had over the things that were bought for her.

Thereafter, it was a quiet evening.

Johannesburg to Kochi.

Dateline 25 Sep

Got up at 4, the chores and was ready in time. We cast off on the dot at 6, towards the airport. The checking in and getting Lekha, wheelchair assistance, worked out so very easily.

A short valedictory speech was given by me, earlier, in the bus.

Our flight left Johannesburg at 1000 hrs local time and reached Abu Dhabi at 2020 hrs local time. Traversing from the arrival terminal to the departure terminal’s gate 57 was exhausting and we could pull it off only thanks to an energetic wheelchair assistant, Kaamil  from Hoshiarpur!

The Etihad flight for Kochi took off at 2120 hrs and is scheduled to land at Kochi by 0250 hrs tomorrow morning.

The tour of Johannesburg.

Our day had begun a trifle later around a quarter past 9. Our first destination was a museum that housed an extinct gold mine. Could understand the hardships faced by the natives while working as miners in those mines.

After lunch at a Malayalee hotel, we were taken to 8115, Vilkaza Street nee Mandela House. And also, saw Bishop Desmond Tutu’s residence on the same street.

Drove through Soweto (South Western Townships) and saw the slums inhabited by the blacks, the coloured and the poor during the Apartheid days. Real sad that the present black government has not been able to look after their interests.

Felt nice when our guide Billie had said, “You’ve a good PM. Wish he could rule us for at least a year to put this country back on its tracks.