shivam “Sleep like a child ” said my dad to Sharada teacher. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/A_Child_Sleeping.jpg/300px-A_Child_Sleeping.jpg ”Continue,” teacher said, without opening her eyes. I continued reciting a few more slokams, but mind got fully immersed with their poetic beauty and it was my turn to close the eyes. Many time it happens . Undergoing hundred problems, climbing the steep steps, … Read more
A human form was there under a chenkathali vazha, a type of plantain.! ” I could learn many things about you in two hours, Appu chetta ” Ammu boasted, unconcealed happiness flashing as a benign smile on her face, while entering the gate of our house. ” You didn’t say a word about your parents though you talked a … Read more
” Oh, no. I never wanted you to break away from your family ” the bride’s mother assured Muthamma” the children will anyway, live separately and we will not be visiting sambandhies every alternate day , but at the most, once or twice a year . We will eat and come, then or eat in … Read more
I became like a child in a dreamless slumber. Don’t remember how long I remained like that. “What happened to him, madam, any help ?” inquired Pushpa. “Don’t worry Pushpa,” consoled Ammalu. “20 % effect of intoxication and 80% drama. Anyway, get some black tea with no sugar, please” “Look through the window and … Read more
Too big a load to carry My thoughts went back. Soon after I left the college completing my studies, I got an assignment in a WHO project at Trichur and Dr.Vaidynatha iyer, my relative, asked his friend Sharodi, to accommodate me in his house, as a tenant. ‘Sharodies’ basically are ‘ambalavasies’ , serving the Kerala … Read more
My maiden US visit. Chapter. 9 Not a single cockroach in Hyderabad “Your impromptu songs are innovative and infectious,” Big Ben complimented me albeit with a caveat,”though the credit goes to the cocktail of Pushpa” “Big Ben, why don’t you sing one more song of your tribal days,” Ammalu requested. She sang the first line … Read more
Soma juice “Searching for soma juice, again,” asked BB, while I bent my head down and searched my handbag. “No BB, looking for a companion for the Pushpa product” “Chutta pappadam- baked Pappad ?” Enquired Ammalu. “Cheedai, Ammalu. I removed a few balls from the packet you had stocked deep below your clothes in your … Read more
The Vadkkumnatha Temple at Trichur The lavishly decorated Ambassador car in which I was made to sit, for ‘mappilai azappu’, the procession on the wedding eve, got packed within no time by enthusiastic children, encouraged by their parents, leaving hardly any space for me to move my limbs or even breath evenly. Sweating profusely, wrapped in a black … Read more
Sitting in a corner, sipping and talking. Pushpalatha came to our seat pushing the cart of drinks and BB asked me what I would like to have, ”wine or whiskey?” “SambAram , oru peria tumblerle ” I replied showing her, the size of the tumbler I would prefer, completely forgetting my daughter’s instruction that no … Read more
Is she a cow or a Kangaroo ? My father’s shrewd eyes made a quick survey of the interior of the house where the wedding was to take place and noticed that there were sufficient bath rooms and bedroom facilities for the womenfolk . For men, it matters little as they would go and sleep on the thinnai or frontage of any … Read more