Summer holiday time is the longest period of leisure for Nandu. No need to go to school and no need to write exams. Nandu and his friends roam around the village disrespecting the scotchy sun. The exploration began at the riverbed. Vaigai use to have waters then. Otherwise, it is hard to cross the river as the sand will be burning hot. Nandu has seen that local vendors use this fine sand to heat up on fire to fry the lentils, locally called, "pori kadalai". The heated sand will give an even temperature for the hard lentil to get fried. Imagine, one would walk on those sand. It will burn even if you have sandals as sand will overflow on your feed when you hard press the sand while walking.

On the other side of the river, one finds mango gardens and berry trees (naval or jambu). While the fallen Naval pazham or the berries are free to pick up, mangos are not. You need to steal them. It is a question of luck. If the security was sleeping under the shade, boys could silently walk in and steal the low-lying fruits. Otherwise, the security will catch you and punish you.

Construction of a temple must have been a huge task, if the construction materiall is especially granite. Carving a statue in granite must have been much more difficult. Around the temple one finds broken sculpture of Gods or mythological figures. There is a belief that it is not nice to be around these wounded sculptures. Some are purposely broken by Islamic invaders and those statues might be hurt and angry. Unfortunately, one has to cross those dilapidated statues in the noon time. The demigods, devils and demons like noon time either it is a day or night. Nandu used to cross those figures with respect and fear. There is the stench of urine every where. Urination could...