A short ride brought us to the temple, where the abhishegam went smoothly. The rituals were performed for the main deity, Lord Muruga, followed by archanas for other deities. Since we had woken up so early, my wife and I left the temple a little earlier than the rest, taking an auto-rickshaw back to the resort. 

An interesting incident took place during the abhishegam. As the ritual proceeded, a father sang along with his young son and daughter. The boy, no older than 3 to 5 years, impressed everyone with his singing. On our way out, we met the family near the temple’s exit and complimented the children. The boy, lively and confident, casually told us, “I am Muruga.” We were both amused and taken aback by his playful remark. Later, we even met the children’s grandparents and took a photo with the little ones—a heartwarming encounter that added to the joy of the trip. 

After a hearty breakfast at the resort, we visited the village temple. The breakfast featured traditional, healthy dishes in addition to the usual fare. Unfortunately, I had developed back pain and decided to stay back at the resort. While I rested, the rest of the group braved the heat and crowd at the temple. It took them nearly three hours to return, but I, meanwhile, had a peaceful nap. 

With the clock ticking, we packed up and left for Chennai. I forgot to mention earlier that the resort offers a complimentary foot massage upon check-in. Though brief, it was relaxing. Interestingly, I heard that an entire village was purchased to establish the resort, adding to its charm. 

On the way back to Chennai, we stopped for lunch at the same restaurant we had visited the day before. There, we had an unexpected encounter with a YouTuber who reviews hotels and food. We exchanged a few words, and after returning to Chennai, we saw his video about the restaurant. The high praise he showered on the food made me wonder—was the food really that good, or did we miss something the first time? 

The return journey was a blast! After a coffee break, the fun kicked up a notch. The youngsters—everyone up to the age of 60—danced to film music, and we played dumb charades. For nearly three hours, we laughed, danced, and enjoyed each other’s company. I even joined in the charades in my own small way. But once we finished an early dinner, exhaustion took over, and a calm silence descended on the bus. Most of us dozed off, hoping to reach home soon. 

We arrived in Chennai close to midnight. Despite the late hour, I couldn’t resist taking a shower to refresh myself before finally crawling into bed. 

One of the most memorable moments of the trip was the surprise cake my son had arranged. It featured the names of everyone in our group, celebrating their respective age groups. We all gathered in the resort’s dining room to cut the cake, sharing a communal “Happy Birthday” for everyone. The gesture was deeply appreciated, leaving us with fond memories. 

As I write this, nearly a week has passed since we returned, but the sights, sounds, and tastes of this incredible trip still linger in my mind. 

Contd. 331. Meets, Fleets, and Beats