Took a 45 minute fast walk with Bl & Harish. After breakfast, we sat upstairs - "penance" - as You came down, ate, sat with elders - VS, CS, R, BNN, Ruchir sir +G sir - till 8:30. Then You called us down for a session. Initially, You were in a wheelchair, next to the kitchen door. Again some food complaints - "Pongal baaga ledu, oil ledu" (Pongal was not good, it didn't have oil) and so on. When You came and sat in the drawing room, I started recording. Shifted to chair - "Nannu statue valle adjust chestaru!" (They adjust Me like a statue). Asked for a Meera song. "Sing like Meera!" Then some conversation about MS, other actors, actresses, singers ...
At 9:30, You sent us outside for bhajan, with us sitting outside the bhajan hall. 9:45 to 10:30, You went around in the golf cart, giving darshan, going all the way upto the gate, taking letters. You created a ring for a Tamil Nadu district President. After sitting for a few minutes for bhajans like yesterday, then came up to where we were seated, walking up the ramp so that all could see. After accepting Arati near us, You walked in through the front entrance of Sai Shruthi. The ladies had a session with You, and lunch, while we were parked in the bhajan hall. You gave them sarees and umbrellas.
The dining hall at Sai Shruthi. There are sinks for hand washing on the side of the room behind the photographer.
Your table is seen at the far end.
Our lunch with You at Sai Shruthi was at 12 noon. Bl and I removed the used plates, then sat with the others. Our lunch went on till 12:30. You also sat and ate with us. We - the somewhat older members - could understand the concern for Your privacy which made the decision-makers build the separate "Canteen" - it seemed that if we were not present there, Satya and others could have done a better job of giving You food. Since we were there, You were "obliged" to eat by Yourself, dropping some stuff and so on. Just as we were finishing, You came around. "Payasam Achcha Hai?" (Is the rice pudding good?) "Nidaananga tinu" (Eat leisurely.) After You went upstairs, the serving boys, drivers and others had their food, and I helped with serving them, later cleaning up with DV and An.
In the evening, You asked for songs. The songs session outside went on for 90 minutes! Then, a session inside till 7:40! Finally, Mrs. Ratanlal had to come and say, "It's late..."
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