A Festive Morning at Ashiana Shubham

 

Last Friday, 12 June 2026, a festive mood prevailed at our senior living community in Maraimalainagar, Chennai. A few residents were dressed up and ready as early as 5:30 a.m., and the reason soon became apparent: an advertisement shoot for the Ashiana Senior Living projects in Chennai was scheduled for the day.

 

 

The theme of the shoot revolved around the various activities and amenities available within the community. During the morning walk session, there were two male walkers, three female walkers, and a resident on a bicycle, all repeatedly rehearsing their movements for the cameras. Similar scenes were being staged and refined at the swimming pool, gymnasium, and dining areas. 

 

 

 

 

 

The production team spent considerable time perfecting each sequence in preparation for the arrival of the main presenter and anchor—a celebrity guest. At around 9:30 a.m., we finally saw Dinesh Karthik, the former Tamil Nadu and Indian cricketer who is now well known for his commentary assignments around the world. He arrived on campus and quickly got ready to complete his part of the advertisement.

 

 

 

 

Only a select group of residents had been invited to participate in the shoot. Naturally, those appearing in the advertisement would be expected to highlight the positive aspects of Ashiana Shubham and generate interest among prospective buyers, particularly for the upcoming phases of the project in and around Chennai.

 

 

 

I am merely recording the observations and thoughts shared by various residents for my blog, without any malice or prejudice. As with any residential property, there are both advantages and disadvantages, and opinions can vary from person to person. Personally, I chose to buy a flat in Maraimalainagar because of its abundant greenery, parks, and excellent walking spaces.

 

I was informed that the entire shoot was completed by about 1:00 p.m. It will be interesting to see the finished advertisement when it eventually appears on social media and other platforms.

 

Mysterious door bell ringer

 

Over the past few days, several community WhatsApp groups at Ashiana Shubham, Maraimalainagar, have been discussing a disturbing issue: doorbells being rung at odd hours of the night—typically around 2:00 a.m.—with residents finding no one outside when they open the door. What makes the matter particularly concerning is that similar complaints have reportedly been made to the help desk over the past several months, and many of the affected flats are occupied by women living alone. Residents are understandably worried that such incidents are occurring within a gated community that is expected to provide a secure living environment.

Unfortunately, the available CCTV infrastructure appears inadequate for investigating these complaints. Most towers have CCTV coverage only at the ground floor level, and the quality of the footage is often insufficient for identification. As a result, security personnel have reportedly been unable to determine who is responsible.

Naturally, residents are asking whether this is merely a prank targeting senior citizens and women living alone, or whether there is a more concerning motive behind these actions. Whatever the reason, the repeated nature of the incidents warrants serious attention. Several residents have expressed frustration over the response they have received when reporting these occurrences. Some have been told that no such incidents actually took place and that the complaints may be based on misunderstanding or imagination. In one particularly upsetting instance, a service provider reportedly suggested that ants inside the switch box could have activated the doorbell. Such explanations have understandably angered residents, who feel their concerns are not being taken seriously.

 

 

It is important that these complaints are addressed proactively rather than dismissed. Residents should not have to wait until a more serious incident occurs before meaningful action is taken. Strengthening CCTV coverage, reviewing security protocols, and thoroughly investigating reported cases would help restore confidence in the community's safety measures.

There is also a separate but related issue during daytime hours. Residents frequently report unauthorized vendors entering the premises to sell fruits, vegetables, and other goods by going door to door and ringing bells. Despite repeated complaints, this problem continues. Some residents believe that these vendors are being allowed entry due to personal connections with security personnel or local contacts outside the community.

Both issues raise important questions about access control and security within the gated community. Residents hope that the management and service providers will take these concerns seriously and work towards a prompt and effective resolution.

The Ashiana Shubham community eagerly waits for the day when this case is finally solved and the identity of the Bell Ringer is revealed. Until then, the legend of Ants ringing the bell lives on.

 

 

Tea Kadai conversations – Episode 17

These days Chennai has been scorching and sizzling, with temperatures hovering around 40°C and the "feels like" temperature touching 45°C. At such temperatures, even stepping out of the house feels like volunteering for a tandoor experiment. Unsurprisingly, very few residents of Ashiana Shubham venture out at around 4 p.m. in the evenings.Yet, almost like clockwork, I get ready every day to walk to the tea kadai and spend some time with regulars such as Doctor, Senthil and Sundararajan at our favorite bench. Whether the sun is blazing mercilessly or the clouds are threatening to flood the city, my attendance at the tea bench remains remarkably consistent.

My wife never misses an opportunity to tease me about this habit. She says I get ready every afternoon as though I am a schoolboy preparing for class, complete with the same enthusiasm and sense of duty. According to her, if there were a prize for punctual attendance at a tea kadai, I would have won it several years in a row!

For the last three or four days, there have been repeated predictions of rain. Every time dark clouds gathered, we confidently declared that rain was imminent. Unfortunately, the clouds seemed to be following the modern trend of making promises and not keeping them. They arrived, posed dramatically for photographs, and quietly disappeared without delivering a single drop of rain.The relentless heat is beginning to show everywhere. Even the flowers in our gardens appear tired and exhausted. The Ashanti Blood (Red Flag) bush, which usually stands proudly in full bloom, now looks as though it too is waiting impatiently for the weather forecast to come true.

 

 

The intense heat took its toll today, the 6th of June. At around 4 p.m., one of the housekeeping staff members who was sweeping the roads within the community suddenly fainted, apparently due to dehydration. Fortunately, Doctor happened to be passing by on his way to the tea kadai. The tea bench may be our regular destination, but on this occasion the journey itself became important. Doctor immediately attended to her, checked her condition and made her drink ORS, which helped revive her.She was then taken to the Care Home for observation and any further treatment that might be required. Later, her supervisor informed us that the fainting was due to a combination of dehydration and blood pressure-related issues. Everyone was extremely grateful for Doctor's prompt action. We were subsequently informed that she was doing well and was later taken home by her son.

Today was also a special day for us personally—it was our 43rd Wedding Anniversary. We were married on 6th June 1983. Looking back, our married life has been something of a roller-coaster ride, though at our age we would probably prefer a slow-moving battery-operated vehicle with good suspension! There have been ups and downs, challenges and happy moments, but together we have managed the journey reasonably well and ensured that the family was looked after.

Normally, our daughters take charge of the celebrations and make sure the day does not pass unnoticed. Since they are not around this year, there were no cakes, decorations or grand events. We simply exchanged wishes with each other and carried on with the day.After forty-three years of marriage, perhaps that is celebration enough. We no longer need elaborate surprises. The fact that we can still sit together, remember the journey, and occasionally tease each other about tea kadai attendance records is itself a blessing worth celebrating.

As for tomorrow and days to follow, unless the temperature reaches the surface temperature of the sun, I fully intend to report for duty at the tea bench at 4 p.m. sharp!

Our Kula Deivam Temple at Neervalur – A Visit to My Ancestral Village

 

My wife regularly visits Kanchipuram for temple darshan and visits to the Sankara Mutt. On her recent trip, she could not find anyone to accompany her and, as she was not comfortable managing the journey alone, I decided to join her. After completing her visits in Kanchipuram, we travelled to our ancestral village, Neervalur, located about 15 kilometres away. It is here that our Kula Deivam (Family Deity), Sri Veetrirunda Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, is worshipped.

 

Since my wife was not very familiar with the exact location of the temple, I relied on Google Maps for directions. Unfortunately, the navigation led us to an open piece of land with no temple or buildings in sight. We then sought help from some local residents, who informed us that the temple was actually located on the opposite side of the highway, beyond the L&T industrial facilities and offices near the village. After several detours, we finally reached the temple.

This experience prompted me to write about the temple and provide directions through my blog. I hope this will be useful to members of my extended family, cousins, and future generations who may wish to visit our ancestral temple but are unfamiliar with its location Google Map Direction. Interestingly, this was the very first time in my 68 years that I had visited both my ancestral village and our family temple, although my wife has been visiting the temple regularly for many years.

 

 

The Veetrirunda Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple has a fascinating history. The presiding deity, Lord Vishnu seated majestically with Goddess Lakshmi, is believed to be nearly 500 years old. The temple is thought to have been built or patronized during the Vijayanagara Empire around 1520 CE. According to the temple priest, the idol was discovered in the bed of the lake adjoining the temple. While the temple structure itself appears relatively recent, the sanctity and antiquity of the deity remain deeply revered. There is also a dedicated shrine for Sri Jwala Narasimha within the temple complex.

The village was once known as Sri Bashyapuram, a name associated with the celebrated Sri Bhashya written by the great saint Sri Ramanuja. Even today, the temple comes under the administration of the Ahobila Mutt. My grandfather, on my father's side, served as a trustee of the temple, as did my father's youngest brother. The temple is presently maintained by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Until this visit, I had never realized the rich history associated with my ancestral village. Like many others of his generation, my grandfather migrated to Madras (now Chennai) in search of better opportunities long before India's Independence. Most of his relatives followed a similar path, and visits to the village gradually became infrequent. Nevertheless, some of my father's cousins continue to reside in Neervalur even today.

The village is also notable as the birthplace of Vai. Mu. Kothainayaki Ammal (1901–1960), a distinguished Tamil writer, novelist, journalist, freedom fighter, and one of the first women to serve on the editorial board of a Tamil magazine. She was a powerful public speaker and a prominent figure in the Indian National Congress. Eminent leaders such as Rajagopalachari, Kamaraj, and Sathyamurthy frequently invited her to address public meetings.

I hope that the maps, directions, and information that I have shared will be helpful to family members and others who may wish to visit the Veetrirunda Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple at Neervalur in the future. My visit to Neervalur was much more than a temple visit, it was a journey into my family’s history and heritage. Discovering the historical significance of both the village and the temple made my experience particularly meaniful