[ My Wife.]

I got engaged to a girl in Bangalore who was selected by my parents. My mother told me that it was in the interest of me and the girl to see each other before we were married when I told my mother that I would come on a day prier to my wedding she advised that meeting the girl is important as it is the custom and tradition of the family. It went as per my mother's wish. I got married on 13th June, 1964

Soon I moved from Bangalore to Coimbatore with my wife and mother who had to come as per tradition to look after the girl and help her to do all work that she was not used to in her parents home. She was just a teenager in her final teens and she did impress my mother very much. She treated my wife as her daughter both were pleased with each other and I was busy in my work.

The house that we lived was vacated from a known Mill Manager it was on first floor ( myself and my friend occupied the house as bachelors and it was the understanding that even after our marriage we will live together ) and in the ground floor lived the owner who was a rich congress MLA.

My mill was very to the mill that I worked as a supervisor and left on account of the distance that it was nearly 6 KM. Now I had a Mill Car to pick me up and drop me every day in all shifts. It was a good and secure job. The Mill Manager was known as a tough guy. Actually the mill needed a Man like him. He had worked in Ahmedabad and was a LTM holder and a spinner. He was religious he never terminated any one from the mill. Even most of the workers respected him. WE technical staff admired him. No technical person would disobey or talk any thing unless he questions.

I worked in this mill very hard. My work was not equal to any and I was also tough.

[ My New Home - Yet unfinished .]

Pending Works:-

01 - Painting Out Side.

02 - Electrical Work.

03 - Plumbing Work.

04 - Carpenters Work.

05 - Water Sump & Pump.

06 - Kitchen Works.

07 - Granite Polishing.

08 - Bath Room Fixtures Fitting.

09 - Store Room Construction.

10 - Garage Construction.

11 - Fitting Electrical Fixtures.

[ Memories of my daughter.]

I had taken a creative writing class where the last week's assignment was non-fiction and we were supposed to in as vivid detail as possible capture some local, historical newsworthy event. So I wrote about when we were in Quilon and driving thru mill workers had a stone get thrown on the car. Thought it was exciting enuff to write abt.

Some edits are required, but no time....God, give me patience...BUT HURRY!
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It was yet another strike by the union members. Hundreds of textile mill workers were protesting against a decree, which withheld a part of their wage that had already been paid to them in the form of advances –over and above their yearly bonuses. In Kerala – a state in Southern India – where the Communist party is always in power, such strikes are a common occurrence and always garner media attention. In fact, on many occasions, I had noticed these strikes from a safe distance while playing in the balcony that overlooked a huge courtyard, where at the farthest end, adjacent to the main office, the workers usually gathered and voiced their protests. This morning, however, was different. The strike had begun very early and I had to be dropped off to school. To reach the school, one had to travel on a well-paved road that wrapped around a huge courtyard and then ran off for about half a mile till it reached a massive iron gate. Beyond the gate and the walls that enclosed the textile mills and the General Manager’s residence, was the main road. I would not call it a highway, as it would denote something orderly and methodical. On this street or main road, as it is called in India, lorries, rickshaws, ox carts, street peddlers, who often cruised it, ensured it was noisy and busy from morning till night. On entering the main road one proceeded to make an immediate right only to face another huge gate, which was the entrance to St. Paul’s High School. Though the distance from the mills to the school was nothing more than a mile, I was still driven to school every day, since being the General Manager’s daughter came with its privileges.

So, on this particular day, owing to the strike, I was to be accompanied my dad, mom, the math tuition teacher, Miss Millu, and the driver who had the unfortunate job of driving the group safely and securely, through the throngs on angry men. My dad and mom were in the backseat and I was ensconced between them. I was in my usual white uniform, my hair in side-ponytails – each held together by a white ribbon. Miss Millu was in the front seat next to the driver. The tension was palpable in the car that day. What was a routine and dull exercise of driving from within the walls of the compound for a mile outside where the school lay was now tinged with delightful possibilities and excitement for me. My parents were normally concerned, but not overtly worried. Miss Millu, however, was something else. She clutched her bag and the sides of the car and as frail as she was, though always attired in a matronly stiff cotton sari, she looked like she had seen death hanging from the edge of a cliff. As the car drove towards the crowd, I could see some familiar faces. All of them were raising their fists up and down and crying slogans of justice in MalMalayalamthe local language. By now the car was in the midst of the mob and from the back seat, I could see poor Miss Millu completely overcome with fear, cowering in the front seat. The driver assured her that there was no cause for concern and my father was just wondering the soundness of his decision to install Miss Millu in the front seat, when I saw a large jagged object the size of a fist come flying out of the crowd and land straight on the windshield directly in front of Miss Millu, who screamed so loudly that the driver gasped just as loudly, and no one paid attention to the mob or heard their cries for a few seconds. The only other sound that I paid attention to at that moment was the glass shattering and the beat of my heart.
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Best,
Dishaa

[ My Home a Lagacy.] - [ My Wish.]

Yes I wanted my home a legacy,a home of ancestors of people whom you have never met but can see that they existed centuries ago.You may feel whatever you do feel on a man who has a fancy for such a thought.My self or my wife will be here till our end and that's final come what may.I had left my blog to rest after a grueling task of finding a place where myself and my wife could live since my son and daughter do wish to stay in a country that has many more advantages for a happy life and the way you want that happiness.Here in India we do have happiness which is on every wall of the city or town or village written in huge banners.That is known as Vote a thrill to all unemployed.Money and Masti make them happy with our full police force looking at them and doing nothing.

The country being named as the capitol of corruption and the Chief Minister of the State ( that I am being compelled to stay ) was named as constitutionally unbeatable corrupt minister things were moving from bad to worse.If I left home by any means of transport including by walking I could see a accident or involved in one,such was the traffic and life was going day by day basis.

I was getting old and my finances were limited and health insurance expenses had gone up by over 100%,security was a major problem as the area which was quite peaceful was now a slum with a slum by the side of my home which had a temple,a room for rent and a old sanyasi women of over 80 years old.Daily she would get up in the morning and come clinging to the railing of my compound wall and as she approached the middle of the wall take a deep breath and spit inside my compound.She would than stand at the end of the wall where my Main Gate to the home was and be there standing till she would satisfy herself that the city was alive and go back to her hut.In the evening it was another headache.

The other side of my home we had a vacant site which was home to 3 Cobras.

This was for sale and people would come and ask me who was the owner and could by any chance if I had their telephone number.I could sense that they all were land brokers and even part of a mafia working in the area.The risk of my being in the spot was getting hotter by the day.Few of my relatives suggested that I sell the house ( alone with my wife who was a very fragile lady )and move to a Flat in a good secure apartment.

Going to a Flat was easy but selling my property was my big risk.It Involved lot of negotiations and a trust in the person who was buying my home which was my "LEGACY" and involved some big mental and physical work which I had to do alone with big help from my wife.My children would never have agreed for the proposal,so they or anyone were never informed.

It so happened that a rat in my car garage tore up my seats one fine night and to catch the clumsy rat I had to vacate my garage fully and keep a lorry load of junk I had to keep which partly belonged to my children.Passer's by the road had been watching this high drama and one person indeed had the guts to ask me if I was vacating mu home.I told him if he is willing to buy I would certainly vacate as I was only trying to catch a rat in my garage.He said he will come back to me and disappeared and I also forgot the conversation.To my surprise he returned one day and said that he had a buyer for my home and wanted to know my price.I had no idea what was my rate,so without blinking an eye lid I asked him what would he accept.He told me a number and I again had no idea as to what that number meant,but had to tell him I would consult my friend and would call him.He gave me his cell number and left.In the evening I went to a Marwari business man who had seen my home while delivering a TV set and had told me if I ever think of selling my home he would purchase it or would get me involved in his build and rent business.That had prompted me to go him and discuss the money I would get if I sell my home.This looked so good that my wife who knew all my worries showed me an advertisement in a local paper about Flats pictures being exhibited in local Palace grounds by various builders.That was the starting point and after we went there we were told by the builders that free transport would be provided to those who wanted to see Flats on location ready in mock up show of would be the flats we would live.This was another bonus for us.We started going in A/C cars all over Bangalore to see the Flats.They looked awesome in mock up condition and the price for that condition for buyers would be extra.All this was going on for over 3 months.

Myself and my wife went from Flat to Flat in the same Apartment and in different locations looking for a Flat which is ready for occupation.whichever was ready was not suitable or very far off without basic amenities in place.Few were out of our budgets and out of our way of life with facilities such as swimming pool.gym.outdoor sports and clubs with indoor-games,bars & restaurants which we hardly use in our life as senior citizens.

We left our Flat hunting and went on Villa Hunting.

Our home was also on hunters list.

News from one broker spread like wild fire and several persons who were total strangers were knocking our doors to inquire if we want to sell our house and if so could they see the house.

To many we refused to say we want to sell and for some we did say but told them to come at a latter date and not inform anyone.

As our time to select the Villa had come when one Land Developer told us to come and visit his Villa,we asked for transport and it was on special orders from the Boss of the builder the car a Maruti Van was sent to our home with a sales man a young boy.We went all the way a 67 kilometer to visit this Builders Layout about 5.5 kilometers from Hosur NH 7 the place looked cool and the Villa which was standing half built had caught our attention.We told the sales man that we would be interested only if that half built Villa was given to us.He said it was a personal Villa of the Boss and that he would tell us after consulting his Boss.The next day there was a phone call that the Boss wanted to see us.We both went to his office and met him.He saw us and informed that we should once again see the half built Villa and see if any changes are needed.We took the opportunity to go again and noted the changes and informed him on return that we would take it after the changes.

We were told to book the site first on a small deposit and get the deal confirmed.

We paid and booked the site.

Since it was a small amount we thought it would be returned in case we went after another Villa,we thought was not correct in case we refused to buy the Villa our deposit would be lost.My wife wanted this place as it suited our budget.as per our plan to buy the whole thing with an advance from the sale agreement of our house.

I had a broker who was once working in local mills where my father worked and I worked in that mills sister mill.He held some trust in me as he knew me and that I was a respected Manager of his local sister mills.

I asked him if he could get me a buyer who would pay my rate and an advance.The next day the person came with his wife saw the house and were heaven bent on buying the house.They took the documents paid the advance and said that they would register the house as soon as they disposed of their extra property.

Our Villa which was not even half finished as shown above was soon taken up for full construction activities and the sales person was asking us to visit and see the construction,advise on any changes and select the fixtures for plumbing and bath room.My wife and myself visited several times and though we wanted to supervise the entire construction it was impossible to do so.We had no option but let things go as fast as possible and be happy seeing pictures of the house taken during our visits.

The purchaser of our house came back to us asking for documents relating to the purchase of my house from the previous owner who had sold me his house purchased from the BDA authorities.I had told him earlier that it was not given to me but he said he will have problems if the document of BDA was not given and that he would try to get it from BDA and only my co operation was necessary.I asked him if it involved any financial co operation he said yes and that he would pay 50% of the expenses.I had to agree as it involved lot of physical work and he was young and was willing to do the job.The Job went on for 3 months to secure 30 year old document from the files of BDA where millions of documents were stored.There was a tout who helped him to get the document and after 3 months of running around the BDA offices and paying a very heft price he got the document.With out this document I had no authority to sell my house.I realized this only when I finally went to get the document from the authorities who told me the error I had made which cost's were in millions.Any way it was good that I sold as otherwise no one could have sold my house.

Our Villa was getting ready as per our plans and I had paid some amount also.We wanted to do GRUHUPRAVESHA on VIJAYADHASHAMI DAY.

It was done on the day of VIJAYADHASHAMI.It needed further 7 months to be fully ready for occupying.