with Sri Ganesh

- 03-04-10:

Just as we arrive, Parthy and I, and I open the gate, Vipul (Kusum’s younger son who lives in the US) arrives too, in an auto-rickshaw. There is just a nod between us, no greetings. He follows us inside and offers a small bag of loose flowers and a single bloom, a kind of marguerite… Then he sits in front of the shrine while I clean and collect fresh flowers, and then he leaves. I do not intend to show him any welcome, beyond the briefest of nods, till he realizes how mean and how wrong he and his elder brother have been. It is not that I crave apologies: I can certainly do without. But in my understanding nothing can ever be right again in their relationship to their own mother and to themselves… - they had gone to extreme lengths to have me hurt and expelled from India… their own mother’s best friend! – till they begin to face their own barbarism!

Sri Ganesh, Born of Her substance, With the knowledge intimate Of Her processes, You seem to descend and advance On the trident held before Her Like a tender pouring Of nectarous fire Finely jeweled and invested With the many distinct attributes, Faculties and powers That are required For the Lord’s Becoming...

- 05-04-10:

When I arrive, I find Manikandan waiting at the gate, along with Duraikanan, and they both follow me inside. Duraikanan does his usual, brief routine of prayers and leaves, while Manikandan stays on and offers a small garland and a stone carving of Shiva’s face in meditation; then he asks whether he can do some watering in the garden, meaning to resume life as it was, as if no disruption had ever occurred...

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