Paddayana - 2 (As narrated by Vasu Kaka)

The Young Man

Growing up in the type of environment has its own problems. He had to break the shackles that bind him to the earth through lower middle class surroundings to rise up and counter the force of gravity to fly in the sky. He had also to overcome orthodoxy and myths and beliefs; Associated with the rise was the fear of fall which led to a sense of insecurity at the top. His father perhaps like any other possessive parent wanted to protect this precocious child from the evil eyes of other parents and started giving him private attention by isolating him from the rest of the crowd by ruthlessly removing some bad elements which might pollute this young mind. This had twin effects on the young lad –the boy himself resisting the loneliness it created and the other that the parent was expecting higher performance levels. Both these characteristics developed into specific personality traits which in later years proved somewhat of a handicap in his career as he would not fit into a team although individually a brilliant performer in any given area of work. The self belief that he can do anything spurred to great heights almost to the extent of believing that he alone can do it, .but it was labeled by peers, superiors and the subordinates alike as arrogance –Yes one of his primary school teacher had once remarked the initial A in his name stood for Ahambhaava. The other effect was from lesser endowed people, sheer jealousy about which he himself could not do anything except to under-perform but how long and for whose sake! But the parent had subconsciously not prepared the young boy for management of such difficult management issues to crop up in later years.
Yet another factor was his moving from the mediocre levels in a vertical unidirectional line – excellence in scholastics. Scholarships, awards, degrees were all his but he was not much inclined to out door games and sports. In later years, he would try his hand on Tennis and thereto he measured up well – volleying and serving well but soon would retire due to fatigue and rigorous physical standards expected by a player of his age. But where is the Mayavaram Municipal High School where he studied and the expensive sport like Tennis. But the short stint he had, helped to shape up to a more rounded personality. Probably such games and sports should have started in his early childhood and so in his old age, he enjoyed the sight of Anjan and Akshi doing dive board exercises, perhaps his unfulfilled dreams of childhood materializing in the next-to-next generation
We move on to analyze the development of his charming romantic personality of the boy from his early childhood to the adolescent age. As a infant he was the darling of the household and as he grew up, he had a few fans mostly girls from the family and the small neighborhood because of his fair compulsion, sharp nose and sparkling eyes. His obsession with studies and the strict parental controls had kept his flair under check for a while and he really blossomed into a most-eligible-bachelor when he finished his studies. And he had moved to Delhi for a job in N P L. In Delhi away from the prying eyes of his elders he would extend his charm on quite a few sophisticated girls. Some had their eyes riveted on his charming personality and tried to talk to him often with a captivating smile and words like ‘excuse me’ etc. Here too his father was quick to act and lined up a few girls from South India and from our own community. He obliged the parents but would settle for anyone until one day he visited a Radiologist of repute in RS Puram, Coimbatore. In the early hours of one morning there was knock on his door and after a while a young girl in Pavadai & Davani – Petticoat with frills and Pallu a half sari to cover the upper portion opened the door and retreated into the spacious house thinking he was one of those medical representatives with dark trouser and white shirt with a tie and brief case. She went school in the morning and returning for lunch noticed the Medical Representative stull sitting in the bench talking to her father. What other business he has than giving free samples of medicines; isn’t he attractive? – she thought. Her father soon came inside and proclaimed to the household and this boy had come to see his friend’s daughter for a marriage alliance but due to some technical hitch it could not proceed and some good Samaritan had directed him to their house. This chance visit soon became a boy-meets-the girl interview. The boy asked a few questions in English and the girl replied them in Tamil. Then he asked ”Can you sing?”. She blushed for a while and started a Tamil song “Pannaga Sayanane Unadhu .. “ in praise of Ananta Padmanabha of Thiruvanatapuram in the Raga Kambhodi. He was pleased with a reference to him indirectly and in a raga which he liked most and the needless to say he was bowled over. Listen to the music by the girl