Monday, August 26, 2019

FROM THE MEENAKSHI SUNSHINE HOTEL, MADURAI


                          GODDESS MEENAKSHI’S GRACE







Meenakshi - a housemaid working at 'Meenakshi’ s Sunshine Hotel' at Madurai for the last five years, never had the ghost of a dream that her 19 year old twin sons will also join her in the same hotel. Sheer providence...Goddess Meenakshi’s grace...what else!

   


For the last five months, Vel Pandi and Durai Pandi are working as Stewards at the 'Sunny Platter' restaurant of this hotel located at the lobby level. After work, Meenakshi goes back to her home, while Vel and Durai are staying in the hotel accommodation. Her home is an hour by bus away from the hotel.


Both Vel and Durai studied in the same school till Standard X. Vel passed Standard 9th and started working at a restaurant as a full time Steward in Madurai in 2017. Durai on the other hand had to discontinue his Hotel Management course because of paucity of funds.

Tragedy struck the family when their father Pal Pandi, a construction worker suffered a fall at the site. He could not go work for the next four months. Disabled Pal Pandi found it difficult to work with his original cheer and vigour. Family earnings got affected ...and Durai had to discontinue his studies.

Believe it or not, Durai used to work in a restaurant while he was studying. He would attend his college in the mornings and work in the restaurant in the evenings and night. Even then, things looked very difficult.

That said, for the last five months, the Pandi brothers are wedded to the restaurant 'Sunny Platter' now. Both are working in different shifts. Always. 
Both are die-hard fans of Tamil Actor Vijay. Both will go to the theatre together. Always for the very first show. At 05.00 am. Both brothers have already applied for leave to watch the new Vijay starrer that will be released on the Diwali Day.

“Vel remembers the preferences of the guests and listens attentively. Durai is very nurturing and hardworking. But, both are very guest centric” says         A.Vigneshwaran, Assistant Manager.

Meenakshi working in the Housekeeping department of this hotel is known for her generosity and abundance mentality - a silent worker with compassionate honesty aplenty.

All three are humble in their aspirations and resilient in their hardships.

I am of the belief that Goddess Meenakshi will always look after them. After all, the name itself suggests- 'Meenakshi’s Sunshine Hotel'.


Text and Pictures: R Kesava Mallia in Madurai 






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