Xyz puzzles and other stories: People at cross roads

Born in 1959 in the still obscure village Melmuri at the western end of Palakkad district in Kerala, South India. Father Karunakaran Nambiar was the head master of the primary school in the village and mother Kalliani kutty Amma was a housewife. They are no more. Father expired in 2016 and mother in 2021 leaving behind the author and his two siblings, a sister and brother. After lower primary education in the village school successfully completed the school education in Janatha High School in the neighbouring village Naduvattom. Then studied for the pre-degree course at the government college, Pattambi and for bachelor’s degree in Physics at N.S.S.College, Ottappalam both in Palakkad district and under Calicut University. After graduation worked for a brief period as quality control chemist in a chemical factory in Mumbai. Then left the job to join the Accounts and Finance department of Southern Railway in 1983. Retired as senior section officer (Finance) in 2019 and stays in Palakkad. Wife Sujatha is working in the divisional head quarters of Southern Railway in Palakkad. Their daughter is a bank employee in Chennai, son in law an IT Professional and son a pediatrician in Palakkad. Post retirement he has acquired an additional qualification as Author Biography vi communication English trainer. Besides his interest in reading and travel he has been an ardent practitioner of reiki who can vouch for its healing power showing a long list of patients healed.