Nurungukal..2......

       Chromepet and its adjacent areas, in 1970 were set in for transformation. The process might have been commenced since the laying of a sub urban electric train service,I presume. Earlier to this so- called development activity it was an agriculture belt providing produces to Madras city. Slowly industries like the chrome leather factory emerged. Central ware house was the latest when I was there. Then came many housing schemes and the area gained the status of a satellite township.

       The ware house was located in Chitalapakkam, a few minutes walk from Chromepet railway station. In those days it had the look of a village aspiring for urbanisation. Accommodations for outsiders were very rare. Those available were built in the typical Tamilian style, having the rooms one behind the other ,connected by a common corridor. I managed to locate such a one, considering the rent which I could manage. It was a portion of a house where the owner lived. My wife had some problems to adjust with the hard water. She complained about the loss of her luxuriant plait day after day. Water was sticky and ordinary soap did not form bubbles. But over a period of time we got adjusted to the taste and hardness of the water. To our relief a water supply system was commissioned  after a few months. For shopping we depended on either Thambaram or Mambalam markets. We spent our weekends in Adayar  with my brother and family. Adayar beach provided a perfect setting for a just married couple, unlike Mrina which denied privacy. Gazing at the sun emerging slowly in the morning  from Bay of Bengal piercing a red hole on the horizon provided warmth to the onlooker. Many couples in various shapes and styles from the nearby government quarters used to enjoy a morning stroll on the silky sands, where as we could see a few fishermen heading for the shore, strenuously rowing their catamarans full with the night’s catch. 

Our routine life was interrupted when my wife showed signs of expecting our first child....contd....