A Step - Sorry, a hop at a time

“Come on, Ma, just thinking is not going to help you get anywhere.” My daughter said, calling me to a game of shuttle. I was just not in the mood for it but not wanting my burden to become her burden I agreed and played so badly that my daughter suggested we go for a walk instead.

Three cases. All the three companies I had invested in had come tumbling down. I thought dividing my investments into three would avoid such a disaster. How could I make it up now? Would it affect my husband and daughter?...

 "Pa is calling, Ma” my daughter said, giving me the phone.

“I have good news for you," he said. "We are going to Kallanai dam tomorrow. My boss is taking us to celebrate our company's success.Three other families are coming.”

‘Promise me you’ll enjoy the day,’ was my daughter’s only request.

“Wow! A beautiful place to spend the day,” my daughter said as we got down from our van and went to peep at the water glittering in the sun. We walked through the traffic jam and reached a shady island like place.

Being a holiday, the historical dam (it was built by a Cholan King,Karikalan Chola in the 2nd century and then developed later on by a British Engineer) was packed beyond its capacity. Vendors made good business, as if to make up for all other working days when people could hardly be sighted. The centre of attraction was a rotating plastic bull with just a small strap on its back which a rider could use to balance himself. The crowds cheered as rider after rider tried his luck. Finally a small boy won everyone’s applause as he seemed glued to the bull. His size and weight seemed ideal to fool the centrifugal force of the bull.

After playing some games, we settled down to have lunch. Fried rice, chappaties, eggs and vegetables. After some more rest and entertainment, we continued exploring.

                           Photo: Google image

                            
The dam looked like a square opened up on one side to let the water in. The other three sides had shutters to control and distribute water in three different directions.

The side opposite to the opening was most beautiful. Built in step-like structures made the water gush down, each drop glistening like gems in the sun, showing off their beauty before falling down partly as froth and partly as spray. Further down was a line of weeds where cranes, storks and other water birds sat, perhaps to catch fish that got trapped in the weeds. Only one or two cranes stood along the edge of the steps balancing themselves effortlessly like acrobats, concentrating only on the fish they could get.

One crane in particular caught my attention. It was standing on one leg – just like the cranes in Chikibio’s story, I thought. Just how could it choose this of all places to sleep, I couldn’t help wondering. All around it the water thundered and flowed. One wave seemed enough to make it a pack of feathers and distribute it the next moment. As if to answer me, it put down its foot but pulled it up immediately – obviously in pain. Looked like it had an injury. I wondered who or what could have caused it. After a while it bent down and held up a small shiny silver coloured fish in its beak. Hey - What luck! Or rather, what grit of the little bird.

 Wasn’t I too standing in deep waters like the crane?  Could I also hop my way to success? I felt a surge of hope.