Vanakkam Chennai !!!

'Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh'
The first cooker whistle from Malathi aunty's house. Unwillingly opening my eyes from my dream, I knew the time was 5:45. Malathi aunty's husband Raman uncle's shift is at 630 so cooking happens early in the morning. By the third whistle it was time that I had to get up. Dragging myself out of the mat I put my phone to charge and switched on my radio. Vande Mataram was playing on Madras 1. So I knew I needn’t rush.
taking my own time, I was doing my early morning prayers, when I looked up the watch and noticed mani annan was late. At that stroke I heard his voice - 'IDIYAPPAAYE' ' SOODA IDIYAPPAM'. Gave him a cursory salute through the window and went about.
Kept everything and checked my male version of thali - MY ID CARD - hanging around my neck. Just as I headed out Retd prof Krishanmurthy was sitting in the chair outside and reading the Hindu. The Coffee tumbler was lying on the ground. As usual I had a quick word with him on cricket. He had just started reading the paper and got engrossed in the 3rd last page left hand corner - reading obituaries.
Bright and sunny it was for the morning; as usual I did my cursory 6 ft jump at my gate as rani akka was just putting the kolam. She was late by ten mins. I was a January morning and was a fair bit chilly and was nice.
Happily I started my walk on the busy street to board my bust for the ever long journey to chengalpet. 10 steps into my journey I had to cover my nose as rowther had just parked his chicken vandi and it was stinking like hell. Crossing over again I met my regular early morning hello friends. Ramesh and babu from Onyx. Come what may they are in my street at 6:30 in the morning.
By this time nair at the far end noticed I walking nd waved a hand to indicate he was on course with my tea. In that space.. I was busy exchanging my good mornings to the maamas and maamis on the road.
standing at the nair stall with a group of people , I also tried to get my hand on dina thanthi to catch the main headlines as I sipped my coffee. Savitha kumar had already started with her 6:40 bulletin on AIR. By that time, our Olli mama at the temple had finished the early morning alangaram and MS was almost finishing her Vishnu sahastranamam. Aaahh was so devine. Quickly checked my watch I had a minute for the bus. Rushing, I told nair to add tea to the account and rushed although the stop was hardly 20 ft away.
entering the road I just peeped on the main road to see if my schumi had turned on to the 7th avenue from bust stand. he was just turning. So I quickly helped my self with my Hindu from the my corner nadar shop.
'Skreeech' my schumi comes and stops the bus in front of us with a sharp break much to my irritation. I as usual give him my daily gyan asking him to go slow and not knowck anyone of the road.
I go towards the end of the bus and catch hold of a double seater and say my short prayer - no female should come and sit beside me. Simple yar they have this nakra of - COULD YOU PLS CLOSE THE WINDOW. MY HAIR IS FLYING ' and I need to pick up a fight. why to do all this in the morning. I don’t want to close my window. I like fresh air.
So all done settled, well into my Hindu , I say my salutations to - Periya payathu amman @ adyar depot as the deeparathani is on there. I get a wonderful ariel view from my seat. all boarded suddenly I find somebody jumping on to the bus. SK useless fellow as usual missed his bus and jumped into mine.
all done .. we are on SP road I switch on my radio waiting for Suchi to come. and there she is oozing with energy on mrich saying ' semma hot machi' and starts of the proceedings with endrendrum punnagai . what a start.. by this time my schumi is in full throttle and hit guindy. crossing trident I noticed the Bangalore Kingfisher was just touching down.
Suchi was at her usual best playing fantastic songs one after the other. gradually I dozed offf...
Suddenly I hear sharp noise of the siren. Blaring in full volume. I dint want to open my eyes . again another followed . Sensing some problem I opened my eyes. Where was I. Lying around in my bed. I checked the time , it was 645. looking out it was still pitch dark. I was looking out confused what had happened then realised what a wonderful dream it was.
Cursing my luck started off again in the dull boring weather in London. Heading out at 730 it was still dark and I had 4 layers on to protect me from this stupid cold.