kennar

as little ant

and kannan

share

their little grain..

in the

space

beween them

silence reigns..

..

gently filled

by

pitter patter

of continuous

rain..

kanna

the little ant..

calls out

then..

the multiple worlds

within this one

itself..

what about

them

..?

kannan turns

the eye

on the friend

seated beside

it..

what about

that..?

the voice asks

cautiously

..

dear kanna..

i do not

know why..

but i wish

to take you

my friend..

to show

you around

my world

..

the little ant

speaks

trying to return

its friend’s

favour..

..

Sure..

kannan replies..

where

should we start

?

the wind

hears..

kannan sigh..

just here..

round the corner..

the little ant

tugs

at the arm

of its friend..

kannan and ant

are

walking now..

on the soggy path..

wet from the

rains..

now..they have

turned

the bend..

there..

the little one points

there lives..

my friend..

kannan looks..

kanan knows

who

and what..

quiet and calm

kannan

looks on

a hut..

the roof

of

coconut leaves

a patch

of land..

where

nothing grows..

except of course..

a lone

banana plant..

..

..

the father

has just

returned..

dripping wet..

eye wonders..

is it rain

or sweat

..?

after gruelling

work

at the landlord’s

farm..

kannan sees

kannan knows

the father has

nothing

in the stomach

nothing

in the palm..

as ant

and kannan

stand

and look

the father

gulps down

some

plain water

from an

earthen bowl..

a child..

comes running

then

holding onto

the father’s arm..

a finger

pointing

at the banana plant..

is it ready

now..

father?

the father..

looks

the other way..

the same

question..

everyday..

the same

everything..

why..

why

why dont

things

ever change

??

then as

the child

looks wondering

at the

ripening fruit..

along comes

the landlord..

velaa..

the grand one

calls..

from the path

meant

for landlords..

you can

come

and

leave that bunch

at my

villa..

it is evening

now..

but kannan

and ant

have not moved

from where

they stand..

they look

as

the wife..

sings

the child

into an

early sleep..

the father..

looks on

at the

dear child..

sleep

is a good cure

for

all ailments

gently the father

whispers

to the wife..

as he

sets out..

in evening gear..

he wonders

at his steps

with each passing

day..

they seem

to get heavier..

we follow

the father

walking in near

rags..

we reach

the front yard

which in the

morning

we had left..

the father

strings

an instrument..

for everyone

and no one..

it is his job

to sing..

this day..

is the beginning..

of

the season..

when ills

are sent out..

good

is welcomed

in..

on this

good occasion

dear everybody..

for

the gods

we sing..

so today..

i bring

this song..

for you..

may happiness

bring you

many blessings

..

..

..

the gentle mothers

of the house

have now

appeared

at the

wide door..

the landlord

can be

seen

fast asleep

through

an open window

..

..

as the

ladies wait..

the

dark one

is playing

on the string..

the song

now

begins..

..

..

..

hara hara

shiva shiva

thuugil unnaru

naadhaa..

thuugil unnaru

naadhaa..

thuugil..

unnaru..

..

..

..

hara hara

shiva shiva

thuugil

unnaru

naadhaa..

..

thuugil

unnaru

naadhaa..

..

thuugil

unnaru…

..

..

..

..