70

Grandfather held the pottery shard, his weathered fingers trembling. At seventy, he finally visited Keeladi, where ancient Tamil civilization emerged from earth. The excavation teams uncovered what his hero Kannadasan once celebrated in verse—proof that common people's voices had always mattered. He thought of his own life's modest contributions, suddenly validated. The artifact whispered of legacy. His grandchildren gathered close, eyes bright with wonder, understanding finally why their lineage ran so deep. In that moment, among strangers and scholars, he felt the warm recognition of belonging to something timeless. Community, heritage, and hope became tangible.