God's own country. Absolutely. God lives alone. Doesn't he? I saw spanking new mansions, many locked up...glittering proof of new found money, "Gellfff" or "American", uh oh, naaaah, with a Mallu, you just cannot confine him to specific regions. He could have made the stuff anywhere, doing anything.

On my recent trip to Kerala, that's what struck me first. Man, this has become one huge town. Stretching from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod. A town full of lonely people.

Now is this what is called "Success"? Slogging it out in Arabia, Botswana...to Zimbabwe for the best part of one's life...making it...yes...a swank car and a swankier bungalow and coming back at a ripe old age...to live alone?

Somehow, money has that nasty habit. The more of the stuff makes you want more. And you keep on collecting, depositing, making it grow. And as it grows, the ego keeps pace. Till one stage where you are Supreme. Almost God-like. Alone.

At least you have arrived. You enjoy the way people look at your car. And the way they hesitate to be seated in your presence. Maybe they are overawed by all the finery and grandeur. Maybe that is why nobody visits you.

Heck, They better be. You have slogged your whole life for this. Now you have prestige (at least in front of you, they don't snigger). You have enough to live on. And your sons too. And their grandsons. They can all live merrily.

No. Why should they? You have hoarded the stuff, hanging on to every single paisa, never letting go. Why should they enjoy it when you  haven't?

Now you are scared of trusting people. They want your money. They don't love you for yourself. They only want your gifts. You have to be careful.

You must build a high wall. Have a few dogs. Carry a gun for protection. And live alone.

Rich.