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

Tea Kadai conversations – Episode 16

 

Mrs. Subbalakshmi, mother of Dr. Manjula and Dharani, celebrated her 100th birthday on 5th May 2026. Since the family has been residing within our community for many years, almost every member of the community conveyed their wishes and sought the blessings of Amma on this remarkable occasion. The Ashiana maintenance team also celebrated the milestone with a bouquet of flowers and a birthday cake, while the Managing Director of Ashiana issued a special letter of appreciation. Living up to 100 years is truly a rare achievement, especially when the person continues to remain active and mobile without being bedridden. Amma’s centenary stands as an inspiration to all of us.

We are now nearing the end of May 2026, and the heat has been absolutely relentless, with temperatures touching nearly 40°C. In Tamil Nadu, this period is known as Kathiri Veyil, popularly referred to as Agni Nakshatram, which usually spans around 21 days from early May to the end of May every year. It is considered the hottest phase of the summer, when the sun appears almost directly overhead.To help people cope with the scorching weather, our community temple committee has been distributing chilled spiced buttermilk every morning to workers, staff, and residents. I believe this thoughtful tradition has now been continuing for over three years, bringing much-needed relief and goodwill during the harsh summer days.


 

 

On the personal front, due to the removal of an entire section of my teeth, I have been unable to eat anything solid for the past two weeks. It may take another three weeks before my dentures are ready, and only then will I be able to enjoy proper bites and snacks again at the tea kadai.

Today, 24th May, my daughter’s in-laws visited us along with her mother-in-law’s mother. Since they had been regularly reading my Facebook posts and blogs, they were keen on visiting the tea kadai and experiencing it firsthand. So, along with my wife, I took them there. Interestingly, despite living within the community, my wife herself had never visited the tea kadai before.They thoroughly enjoyed the snacks, tea, and coffee, but more than that, they enjoyed interacting with the regular patrons with whom I spend my evenings every day. They were deeply impressed by the warmth and atmosphere of the place. As always, Dr. Mohandas graciously clicked photographs of the family, and I remain thankful to him for his thoughtful gesture.

Life keeps moving on, and time seems to fly at breakneck speed. Soon, my daughter and son-in-law will be arriving in Chennai for a short visit towards the end of June. I am certain there will be many more memorable moments, photographs, tea sessions, and snacks at the tea kadai by then — and hopefully, my dentures too will be in place by that time!

Tea Kadai conversations – Episode 15

 

May 1st being Labour Day, the housekeeping staff and horticulture team in our Ashiana community had a holiday. However, for the security personnel and the kitchen/dining staff, it was business as usual since their roles fall under essential services for running a senior living community. I assume they would be given a compensatory off or overtime, though I’m not entirely sure.

Early this morning, we were lucky to have a slight drizzle accompanied by cool winds. It made my regular morning walk especially pleasant, and I noticed many residents enjoying the weather just as much as I did. At the tea kadai yesterday evening, an interesting (and slightly scary) story came up. Apparently, a snake had entered Senthil’s scooter, and he rode around for quite some time without realizing it. Only when the snake peeked out near the handlebar did he become aware of it! He tried to get it out, but each time he attempted, the snake slithered back inside. Eventually, he drove back into the community and made another attempt, this time successfully removing it. I’m not sure whether it was poisonous or not, but the thought of a snake so close to your hands while driving is quite unsettling.

Another topic that everyone is talking about is a reported robbery in one of the flats. An elderly lady is said to have lost her gold chain and diamond earrings, and a police complaint has been filed. The culprit has not yet been identified. Interestingly, a similar incident happened about a year ago, which later turned out to be a case of misplaced jewellery rather than theft. Given that the lady is around 80 years old, it is possible that this could be a similar situation, as age-related forgetfulness cannot be ruled out. However, it’s best to wait for the police investigation to conclude before forming any opinions.

Today, the tea shop remained closed, which meant no tea or snacks for the regular evening crowd. Yet that did not stop us from gathering in front of the shuttered shop, spending time together and chatting away as usual. Sometimes, it is not the tea that matters most, but the companionship that brings people together.

This was the third consecutive day that the tea kadai had not opened. The reason given by the owner was that two workers from his flourishing main shop at Maraimalainagar had taken leave, and the staff from our little tea shop had been sent there to manage operations. We were told that hopefully by tomorrow or the day after, our tea kadai would once again spring back to life. The residents of Ashiana are eagerly waiting for that moment.

We also had a new face joining our informal gathering today — Mr. Shankaran, an ex-banker from Canara Bank, who moved into the community on the 1st of May. As always, it did not take long for him to become part of the lively discussions that naturally flow within our group.

And then came the fourth consecutive day without the tea shop opening. But once again, the absence of tea did not prevent the regulars from assembling and spending time discussing happenings within the community and around the world. The main topic of conversation today was the counting of votes for the recently concluded Tamil Nadu elections.

The discussions grew animated as results showed actor Vijay’s party, TVK, performing strongly and eventually securing 107 seats. Both the DMK and AIADMK did not fare particularly well, and many felt that the people of Tamil Nadu were looking for a change from decades of Dravidian politics. Though TVK still requires around 12 more seats to achieve a majority in the Assembly, there was widespread speculation that support from others could help the party form the government.

For many of us seniors, the political developments brought back memories of another actor-turned-politician MGR. Comparisons between Vijay and MGR became the highlight of the evening discussions, with people pointing out several similarities between their journeys from cinema into politics. Social media too has been flooded with memes and comparisons.

Naturally, the conversations then wandered further, with some jokingly speculating that actress Trisha might one day enter politics and perhaps even become the future Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, drawing parallels with the late Dr. Jayalalithaa and her association with MGR.

Well, we seniors may not have much else to do in the evenings, but these conversations, speculations, debates, and laughter keep our days lively and interesting. After all, life does go on.