Thangam and Venkatachalam are retired bank officials.Having served several stints in different parts of the country,post retirement , the couple decided to make Chennai their home.The couple's two sons are Computer engineers , well settled in the USA.
While in service , Venkatachalam had invested in a compact double bedroom flat in T.Nagar ,Chennai ,where most of his and Thangam's relatives lived.Having been provided with Bank accomodation during their serving years ,the couple moved into their own apartment only after retirement.
Coming back to the topic on Chennai and a life line that keeps the city moving , here I have to mention the contribution made by the auto drivers .Many of them are reckless drivers , some are drunk most of the time and ofcourse the entire lot,save a few never operate the meter.Inspite of all this , they are indispensable and they are well aware of it.
Every alternate street in the main residential areas of Chennai have an auto stand,which are dominated by the auto drivers residing near the two streets.
The elderly couple lived on the third floor of an apartment on Malony Road.Thangam Mami is an active woman,involved in Rotary activities.She is a good singer and is sought after as the lead singer in Bhajans.She confines her activities to a few places and attends Bhajans regularly.
About five to six auto stands operate on Chevalier sivaji Ganesan Road which extends from Venkatanarayana Road upto Thyagaraya road in T.Nagar.
The advantages of hiring an auto from an auto stand are 1) the drivers are familiar and one feels safe while travelling in them, during early morning hours or the late evening hours.2)They usually charge flat rates but also give concessions to the frequent travellers and also do not mind waiting at places.3) Once a rapport is developed,they jump into the auto and start it as soon as they see a familar face walking towards them and 4 )most importantly they behave well and drive properly.
Thangam Mami is one such frequent Auto traveller. Inspite of travelling quite often,Mami like most of the travellers in a hurry , never bothered to find out the names of all the auto drivers in the stand.
Suresh (name created) was one such driver ,who used to chaffeur her quite frequently. Suresh was a young man in his late twenties,married with a son two years old.(Mami came to know of these details only much later)
It was a Thursday. Mami used to attend the Sai bhajans at Sundaram on Greenways Road.She was a volunteer there too and she would leave home early in the afternoon and return late by around 9PM.
As she walked towards the auto stand that day,Parasuram was the lone auto driver waiting.She had called him on his number and Parasuram was waiting for her.She got into the auto and she did not have to say anything to him.Thursday travel with Parasuram was a weekly routine.
As the auto sped on South Boag road,she spotted posters stuck on the walls.The posters carried the photograph of a familiar face.Requesting Parasuram to slow down,she looked out of the auto to get a clearer view of the picture and she was shocked beyond words.It was an obituary notice.
Isn't this person , the fair skinned auto driver from your stand , she screeched !"" Shell shocked and deeply saddened she again repeated....Isn't this the young auto driver ?""
Parasuram nodded in the affirmative and went on to say that Suresh was an alcoholic and had died of liver cirrhosis just the day before,leaving behind a young wife and a small child.
Thangam was deeply disturbed.She was moved to tears and wanted to get back home.But ! she was a committed volunteer and so she decided to proceed to Sundaram....
