மேற்கு திசையை நோக்கி நடந்தால் இரவு கொஞ்சம் சீக்கிரம் வருமா?

மேற்கு திசையை நோக்கி நடந்தால் இரவு கொஞ்சம் சீக்கிரம் வருமா?

I like solitude.  Just keeping to myself and doing things I like.  Like, for example, listening to music or reading or pondering over Sudoku, or, occasionally, drawing.  In the past, pets also shared this space (of spending my time alone, but then, well, you can’t call that solitude, can you?).  After Rishi and Chotu departing suddenly, I have more time left alone now than before.

With the powerful Dell woofer connected to the PC at home (thanks to Ballu), listening to music is one of my favourite pastimes, particularly digging old songs and latest hits through Youtube.  When I like a song, I have a habit of listening to it repeatedly several times again and again.  Involuntarily, my mind goes into the lyrics of the songs too, which sometimes throw a puzzle or two at you.

One such song was “kelaamal kaiyile” from Azhagiya Thamizh Magan.  Set to fast paced rhythm by A R Rehman, this song sung by Saindhavi and Sriram Parthasarathy is a treat to listen to.  As I was listening to this (and viewing it too), there came this question with a mischievous look by the heroine Shreya, “மேற்கு திசையை நோக்கி நடந்தால் இரவு கொஞ்சம் சீக்கிரம் வருமா?” (will the night advance fast if I walk towards the west?)

Obviously, she does wish so, but I am not sure if the lyricist knew the answer.  This certainly prompted me to ask this question to almost everybody in my circle who liked or listened to film music.  To my surprise, almost all knew only very well why she is asking that, and explained the logicality of that query and therefore-it-must-be-true kind of opinion, but only very few answered it right.  This also led me to think how frail women, particularly those in love, are depicted from time immemorial, as believing more in their dreams than the reality which they don’t want to accept.

The reality, in this case, is that the earth always rotates in one only  direction, i.e. west to east; so, day or night, will always start from the east.  So, theoretically, if you want the night to advance, you should move towards the east, and by moving towards the west you would only be delaying the onset of night!  I wish someone would have told her by now!