Mentally...

According to a traditional practice of the society that I am raised under, the religion does not allow the rituals in honour of a departed family member to be conducted at the home of a daughter. Since she is married to another family, she loses the said right to host the said rituals; if she has a brother. So, reasons like this prevents my mother to perform such rituals at my home for my departed grandparents.

 

But to honour and celebrate the life of my grandparents, every year on the day of observance my parents prepare food for the needy and distribute them before they have their first meal of the day. And this tradition continues through many such auspicious days throughout the year.

 

As Kanchipuram is filled with Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Muruga, Ambal temples and every coroneted form of the divine around, naturally the needy throng the city's temple and its premises. Once such gentleman is often seen around the streets of Chinna Kanchipuram. This man is termed as a Mentally Deranged person and no one knows his name.

 

Earlier this morning we continued this tradition of handing over the prepared food for the needy in honour of my grandmother. As Tamil Nadu is observing a total lockdown, we felt that the neediness would be even more today. I and my mother went to Kanchipuram Varadharaja Perumal temple to share these food packets and water bottles. We were falling short of elderly needy citizens and on our way back we were left with 4 combos. I noticed this gentleman on the sidewalk sitting in front of a closed bakery shop.

 

I stopped my two-wheeler and as I was taking the food packets out, two vendors on the street approached us. We distributed the food and this gentleman was in no rush to grab the food but instead he waited for his turn. It was like he knew that I will give him that food packet no matter what and as I was handing over the food packet to him, he stood up and removed his sandals, approached me and got only one food packet and a water bottle and quietly walked away.

 

The next time he sees me or I him, He may not remember me. But I count myself blessed to remember him for the rest of my life. In a mad scramble to get the food, I have seen the food being grabbed, trampled upon, even get scolded for handing them rice instead of money.

 

But for the first time I saw someone show such admirable composure, dignity and his pious nature was <DEAR READER, INSERT ANY ADJECTIVE/EMOJI>. As he walked away and I started riding back to my home realizing that this gentleman is not Mentally Deranged as per popular belief,

 

He is rather the MOST Mentally Composed!!