Coast to Coast: Across the Plain
'Trains from Chennai usually leave on time" cautioned Adarsh, though he had turned up late as usual the Suburban station. We were on the last train that could safely take us to the Mangalore express on platform 3. Parktown suburban where the local left us, is across the road to Bangalore. The late-comers Anupam and Adarsh after having enough of the adventure, decided to take the safe subway. Negotiating the twisting barriers and narrow steps they found themselves ahead of the rest of the gang, so much for the five o clock rush in front of Central.
Finding the A2 coach was not some much trouble as getting us to find a place to sit together. We were allotted side berths throughout the coach, was it that computers had finally decided to avenge developers. Not to be outdone, with the TTE on their side the gang won the coup.
It was a game of cards that got them started with the festivities, but soon graduated to 'Thief'. A wonderful mind game, salute the creator. Rounds upon rounds went on brilliantly conducted by Dennis.
Of the four villagers, three theives and an all knowing god, the crafty thieves always won much to the frustration of many time god Gaja. Raja's indecisiveness complicated the already muddy waters drowning the poor villagers. The thieves who knew each other through Dennis' open-eye close-eye ceremony at the beginning of each round managed to weave strategies that no hapless villager could see through. Loud but veiled revelations by the all knowing god were of no avail. This brilliant game mirroring human behaviour kept them engrossed late through the night until exhaustion got to them.
The train left them at Coimbatore from where they went to Udumalpet at the foothills of the great Sahya. Gaja's and Suren's houses played host to the group which had now swelled to twelve, counting Celestian who had arrived by the Thiruvandooram express. Morning under the cool shadow of the Annamalai hills was made tasty by the endless plates of paniyaram that came of Suren's kitchen. Adarsh made a point not to miss any set, not out of obligation, but the novelty of home-made paniyaram !
With idlis and chappatis the 12 primates set out to monkey falls across the windswept plains of Udumalpet under the watch of tall windmills.
Finding the A2 coach was not some much trouble as getting us to find a place to sit together. We were allotted side berths throughout the coach, was it that computers had finally decided to avenge developers. Not to be outdone, with the TTE on their side the gang won the coup.
It was a game of cards that got them started with the festivities, but soon graduated to 'Thief'. A wonderful mind game, salute the creator. Rounds upon rounds went on brilliantly conducted by Dennis.
Of the four villagers, three theives and an all knowing god, the crafty thieves always won much to the frustration of many time god Gaja. Raja's indecisiveness complicated the already muddy waters drowning the poor villagers. The thieves who knew each other through Dennis' open-eye close-eye ceremony at the beginning of each round managed to weave strategies that no hapless villager could see through. Loud but veiled revelations by the all knowing god were of no avail. This brilliant game mirroring human behaviour kept them engrossed late through the night until exhaustion got to them.
The train left them at Coimbatore from where they went to Udumalpet at the foothills of the great Sahya. Gaja's and Suren's houses played host to the group which had now swelled to twelve, counting Celestian who had arrived by the Thiruvandooram express. Morning under the cool shadow of the Annamalai hills was made tasty by the endless plates of paniyaram that came of Suren's kitchen. Adarsh made a point not to miss any set, not out of obligation, but the novelty of home-made paniyaram !
With idlis and chappatis the 12 primates set out to monkey falls across the windswept plains of Udumalpet under the watch of tall windmills.
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