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 tell me what you see outside?” Said BB, ” that will help me to decide whether Ammamu madam’s assessment is accurate or not”
“Meadows and mountains have vanished BB,” I told her, ”even floating clouds have gone. I see nothing but a vast expanse of space, ‘bahiraakasham’
“Meadows, mountains, mannankanti ” Ammalu expressed her exasperation, ‘chandeelai rentu killu kudukkanum- he deserves nothing but pinches at his back ”
”Fine, that is a good progress,” BB encouraged me, ” your panchapatram has slipped form your hand, you have forgotten your mantras and as a tortoise withdraws its head within, you are pulling that ‘bahirakasam’ towards your inner self, towards your ‘hridayaksam’. Is isn’t so ?”
” Parasu, intha rintulae ethukkuda baadhai jasthi ? Of these two, which one is more influenced by alcohol ?” Ammalu asked my cousin.
“Both are in the same boat, manni, ” he replied.
“So, they are in sea, not in air?” Asked Ammalu with a twinkle.
” Sa ya eshonthar hridaya aakasa: Thasminnayam Purusho manomaya : Amritho hiranmaya:
In the stillness and silence of my inner space, shines a dazzling brilliance, to describe I have no words ”
That jewel from the Thithiriyopanishad brightens my mind whenever it becomes cloudy.
“Are you sorry now that you could not perform your sandhya or Gayatri ?,” enquired BB.
”No”
“Are you sorry now for all the troubles you gave to your wife, all these years as a disobedient husband . Are you prepared to apologize to Ammalu?” That was Ammalu’s jocular query.
” Ammalu- who is that Indian elephant and Chinese dragon?’
”He has fully recovered !” Ammalu sighed and told BB, “Let us give him some food “‘
“Chukku vellam ” I demanded. ‘Plainiae okkanthu, kallaem kutichuttu, chella petty, chukkuvellam nnu ellam kettal, nan enke poavaen, Parsu- from where will I get him betel casket and spiced warm water ?’ Ammalu asked Parasu.
”Don’t worry, Manni, I have both” He consoled her.
Parasu’s chukku vellam, medicated warm water, brought back my brain almost to its normal state.
“BB, story please” I demanded.
” Eat first ” Ammalu commanded.
BB continued her life story, after I had some food.
“Two decades rolled on after we became an inseparable part of Appa’s family. Amma used to say, ‘ we should be like ‘mor’ buttermilk and ‘neer’, water and never be like ‘mor’ and ‘milakai’ chilli ”
”But chilli adds flavour, ma ,’ I used to argue. ”yes, it does, but you remove it before drinking the liquid. I do not want anyone to be separated from this group ”
But that separation did happen; unavoidably, unexpectedly.
Appa selected a girl for Raja anna . The horoscopes were agreeable, the family background of the girl was verified and found good. What was left was a meeting between the two families and the boy and the girl. We all went to the girl’s village, were received well. While the discussion was going on, the girl’s mother asked Appa, who Muthamma was.
”She is like a member of our family, though not blood related” Appa replied..
”Just out of curiosity, I asked that is all,” said the host and continued, ” I just wanted to know your relationship with her”
”She is like a daughter to me,” Appa replied.
”Will she continue to live with you even after our children’s’ wedding?,” was the next question ” just out of curiosity, I asked that is all”
Appa lost his temper. “She will live with us till our last days, if that is what you wants to know”
Amma tried to get up but Muthamma asked her to be seated and turning towards Raju and Gowthami, that was the girl’s name, asked,” you like each other ?”
They both said ‘yes’. ‘Then go ahead with the arrangement’ Muthamma told the girl’s mother. ”I will not stand in your way”
Appa and Amma were furious. They were not prepared to severe Muthamma from their family, come what may. Raju also supported them fully.
But Muthamma was firm. She told ”Appa, if not today, tomorrow this problem will arise. Now children are growing up. One by one, we have to get them married. New relationships will open up. A tribal woman in an orthodox Brahmin family kitchen is not something acceptable to many. I will stay in another house close to you. Easwary , after her education and marriage will anyway be separated. Till my last breath, I will serve you, whether I live with you under the same roof or in your cowshed or in your neighbor hood .
To forget the hand which fed me is to forget the womb which housed me ”
To continue
Category: A02 — SEQUELS
Oh! Parama Sukham – Chapter 09
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 temples. My posting at Trichur was only for six months but that short period was one of the happiest in my life. We were a small team of physicians, social workers in specialized fields and Lab.technicians and our task was to visit the peripheral villages before the residents go for work, study their physical condition, collect blood, urine or fecal samples, collect family statistics, treat them for minor ailments or take them to the city hospital for treatment, if necessary. I had to get ready by 6.30 when the Jeep comes to pick me up. The Muthi, the granny of the sharam, used to wake me up by about 5.0 in the morning: ‘Smaikkutty, Samikkutty, eneekku, panikkukku pokandae’ get up, my child, you have to go for work’ She had placed a photo of Guruvayoorappn and would take me towards it and ask me to look at the God first. Then she would hand over a packet of umikkari ( home made tooth powder made out of burnt paddy husk mixed with some herbal ingredients ) along with a kindi ( a brass vessel with a long nose filled with water and an earkala ( thin rib of the leaf of the coconut tree ) for cleaning the tongue. She would then give me a hot cup of tea, hand over my thorthumundu (bath towel ), soap box and a small pack of vibhoothi (holy ash to apply on the forehead etc after bath ) and escort me to the nearby pond, vadakkae chira and wait on the steps still I finish my bath and go to the temples. I used to visit every morning three main temples in the town and those visits, walk around the ‘Thekkinkadu’ central plateau, after a cold water bath used to inject tons of freshness into the system. Lovely maidens, in snow white dress used to visit tbe temples, early morning every day , although that alone was not the cause of my happiness. This is just a casual remark. The Malayalee women of Trichur have a divine aura around them! This also is a casual remark. But believe me for an youngster, moving out of home for the first time, leaving behind the petting of affectionate parents and padding of siblings, there could not be a better platform than the sharam life, for take off. I became nostalgic and Ammu too, when she whispered at my ear asking me to go for a jogging, soon after we finished enjoying the night feast. Like me, she too felt, the crowded marriage ambiance unfit for our celebration of a much-awaited union. I could guess that the memory of the evenings we spent together at the vast thekkin kadu ground, around the temple was blooming in her mind. I used to carry her on my shoulders though she preferred to walk, to establish her freedom, move around , fall twenty times and cry loudly every time she falls.“Appa, we will just go for a walk around the town ” I pleaded for my father’s permission.” In this late hour ? ” he admonished, “you have to get up before sunrise tomorrow” “Atchaa, please; anju nimisham, five minutes ” Ammu too pleaded and obtained Appa’s permission . Every one looked at us with widened eyes. It was, however as usual, given to Lalitha to express the disapproval of the family to our innocent action.“Again the vedalam has climbed upon the tree,” Lalitha mumbled initially and later, asked her sister in a louder tone. ” how, you a relaxing star, are you going to spend your life with this restless sea? Akka, I am warning you, you are going to carry too big a load on your tiny head ”Ratnam just smiled.‘Athai, will you please put this Lalitha genie inside your pepper- powder bottle and close it firmly?” I asked athai, “and don’t release her till I return to Palakkad.”
“How do you manage to convert every opportunity into a problem, whereas my sister carves an opportunity out of every problem,” Lalitha got up from her chair and asked me.“It is just eight hours since you have landed here, but every minute, you create a new problem, that too with the speed of light.”
“You, yourself are a problem for me, Lalitha!” I replied in a soft voice ” And your main problem is that you are meeting an intelligent man for the first time in your lifetime”
“ You are meeting an intelligent woman for the first time ” She chided, “Your abysmally low IQ level was perhaps the only attraction for my sister. For that matter, every girl wants the boy she chooses, one step below her in all respects, of course except in financial status. No sensible girl would like to marry an intelligent man. He will neither live his life nor allow his wife to live hers. For me also that was the attraction in you. Otherwise, when you proposed to me, near the well…..”
Before she could complete the sentence, every one enquired, ”tell us what he proposed?”
“What will he propose ?” Her sister intervened to rescue me again, “he proposed a literary debate and Lalitha readily agreed. Both are good in literature”
I looked at Ammu and winked, as if to tell her, ”look, how she saved me!” This, along with her sister’s support to me enraged Lalitha. She changed her strategy. Addressing none in particular, she said,” that sweet little one, Ammu is going without eating payasam ”
“I will eat after we return ” Ammu said and I added, ” please ask the cook to keep three tumblers filled, on the table, before they go to sleep”
“May I know sir, who is that third person, me?” Lalitha enquired with a mocking humility.
“No way; you will be inside the pepper powder bottle, when we return. Your sister will give us company’
“You expect your bride to wait for you, like a heroin in Tamil serials, when you return after dancing into small hours?”
“Isn’t she a star?” I asked her, “that is what you told me, a while ago”
“You are impossible, athimbar”. She surrendered herself.
Ammu was becoming restless. “Good night, everybody!” I wished and disappeared from there along with Ammu.
We didn’t go far. The ‘thekkin kadu’ would be empty at night and we didn’t want to go there. We sat below an adjacent tree and spent an hour or two, recalling our sharam days.
We had much to talk about.
My maiden visit to USA – Chapter 09
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 of another song:
” Kathukuthi thakkai pottu kuriparpaen ammae
காதுகுத்தி தக்கை போட்டு குறி பார்ப்பேன், அம்மே! ”
“Wait!,” I yelled.” I’m seeing a kurathi holding a basket close to her middle left and a small magic stick in her right hand ready to move it over my palm. She is sitting by my side”Ammalu looked at me amusingly. “What else, do you see, Perias?” Enquired Parasu.
“A khaboolivAla woman, silver ornaments hanging from neck and ears in abundance. During my childhood a number of such nomads used to visit our small town” I looked at BB and continued, “standing on the street corners of Olavakkode they used to sell clothes by auction after the sky and land turned dark, in the light of stick- torches with kerosene fuel. The powerful flames used to project the cheap quality cloth as royal apparel attracting the low- wage earners”
“Do I look like a Kabhooli woman selling cheap clothes in the street corners, for you, Perias?” BB asked with a mock anger.
“The credit goes to———-.” I said and we all had a good laugh.
The cocktail was still working havoc in my brain and Ammlu asked me to sing her favorite lullaby, a four -liner. I was literally in high spirits and sang that moving song, slowly, in a melodious tune:
Siruvanithanniyile sernrndhuvandha sempavizhom,
Sevarkkodiyazhakan thernthedutha senkathali,
Maanagar Mathuraiyela malarnda kaodaimallikappoo,en
Marodu sernthuranghu mazhalimozi marakathamea.
சிருவாணித் தண்ணியிலே சேர்ந்து வந்த செம்பவிழம்,
சேவர்கொடியுடயோன் தேர்ந்தெடுத்த செம்கதளி,
மாநகர் மதுரையிலே மலர்ந்த கோடை மல்லிகைப்பு
என் மாரோடு சேர்ந்துறங்கு மழலை மொழி மரகதமே!
“Fantastic, Perias, what a song!” BB was excited, “I want to see my mother”
Overwhelmed by emotion, she rubbed her eyes. Ammalu tapped her back affectionately.
“This was the only song, I composed in Tamil, but it came up well,” I told BB.
“At times, a single line or a single verse or a subtle smile speak volumes”
“Where am I now, Ammalu, in kasi or Kalpathy ?”
I blabbered.
“In Kishkintha! ” joked Parasu. “You are leading a great army of monkeys towards the ocean.
Now, you are over the mountain ready to fly,” joked Parasu.
“But Parasu, how will he fly?” Ammalu too was in high spirits, though with no spirit inside. “There are no cockroaches in his seat”
“Hey, Parasu uncle, what is that cockroach story,” .BB was anxious to know.
“Shall I tell her what you did on the precious night of your wedding , Anna ?” Parasu threatened to reveal a secret but I was not in a position to say ‘yes’ or no’
“You are sure that the adventure you are going to narrate is about the previous night of his marriage?” BB asked with a naughty smile.
“Of course,” he too laughed and continued, “I took the whole family for a movie at the nearby theater, Where the Ramayanam story was screened. There was a scene of monkeys playing ‘kabadi’ game, which the innovative director had inserted into the epic story.
Kabbadi was his favorite game, which Anna learned in Hyderabad,” Parasu continued. “He was so much involved in the game on the screen that he raised from his seat, bent his arms and folded his palms, fiercely focusing his attention on the screen as if he would be joining the monkey-players any time.
Had I not pulled his hands and made him to sit, he would have jumped to the front, over the heads of those sitting there and made a big scene, much more enjoyable than the one being shown on the screen. Remember, we were not alone. There were elderly men, women and children too from both families.
The bride’s family was shocked ..”Ee kazhuverida mon entha koratchu vattundo, illa avan oru vaanarano ? ” The perplexed chami pattar, Ammalu’s grandfather, abused in his crude native dialect. “Is he an eccentric or a monkey, by birth”
”He is after all, your grand nephew ” commended a mischievous boy in the group, reminding the old man of his relationship with me and surreptitiously his own behavior.
“Am I plunging my daughter into a well?”
The bride’s father expressed his anguish and anxiety, seriously doubting the mental stability of the person who was to become his pet daughter’s husband in a few hour’s time.
“Perhaps, the Anjaneyaswamy’s spirit has occupied his body for a short while ” pacified his pious wife, who had vowed to place a garland with 1001 vadais, Anjaneya’s pet food, on the idol in the temple next to her house.
“Wish that spirit leaves his body before he enters the wedding hall,” commended her husband, krishna Iyer, the prospective father in law.
“And certainly before he enters the nuptial chamber for the first night ” exclaimed an enlightened and experienced elderly woman, Pitchu pAtty.
‘Why didn’t the bride walk-out? How did Ammalu manni agree to marry a cranky fellow like PERIAS ” Commended the ultra -modern- society bee, BB.
“That is the problem with the Indian women,” Parasu continued his narration.
“The fiancee, instead, rescued her husband- in- waiting:
‘the bench on which he is sitting is full of cockroaches. He is allergic to them”
In one stroke, Ammalu manni, dismissed the whole affair as unworthy of mentioning. And added a proverbial line which is still remembered by the whole family.:
“fortunately, there is not a single cockroach in Hyderabad, you see”
Pitchu patty, the old lady who had seen the world, remembered that single line worth a sovereign and bought a matching wedding gift – an insect- sprayer!
While handing over the gift in a glittering wrapper, the grand old lady whispered to the bride, “you can use this appliance to get rid off cockroaches in your bed room here . Dispose it off, however, before you leave for your husband’s place..”Because, there is not a single cockroach in Hyderabad, you see!”
To continue
“Big Ben, why don’t you sing one more song of your tribal days,” Ammalu requested.
She sang the first line of another song:
” Kathukuthi thakkai pottu kuriparpaen ammae
காதுகுத்தி தக்கை போட்டு குறி பார்ப்பேன், அம்மே! ”
“Wait!,” I yelled.” I’m seeing a kurathi holding a basket close to her middle left and a small magic stick in her right hand ready to move it over my palm. She is sitting by my side”Ammalu looked at me amusingly. “What else, do you see, Perias?” Enquired Parasu.
“A khaboolivAla woman, silver ornaments hanging from neck and ears in abundance. During my childhood a number of such nomads used to visit our small town” I looked at BB and continued, “standing on the street corners of Olavakkode they used to sell clothes by auction after the sky and land turned dark, in the light of stick- torches with kerosene fuel. The powerful flames used to project the cheap quality cloth as royal apparel attracting the low- wage earners”
“Do I look like a Kabhooli woman selling cheap clothes in the street corners, for you, Perias?” BB asked with a mock anger.
“The credit goes to———-.” I said and we all had a good laugh.
The cocktail was still working havoc in my brain and Ammlu asked me to sing her favorite lullaby, a four -liner. I was literally in high spirits and sang that moving song, slowly, in a melodious tune:
Siruvanithanniyile sernrndhuvandha sempavizhom,
Sevarkkodiyazhakan thernthedutha senkathali,
Maanagar Mathuraiyela malarnda kaodaimallikappoo,en
Marodu sernthuranghu mazhalimozi marakathamea.
சிருவாணித் தண்ணியிலே சேர்ந்து வந்த செம்பவிழம்,
சேவர்கொடியுடயோன் தேர்ந்தெடுத்த செம்கதளி,
மாநகர் மதுரையிலே மலர்ந்த கோடை மல்லிகைப்பு
என் மாரோடு சேர்ந்துறங்கு மழலை மொழி மரகதமே!
“Fantastic, Perias, what a song!” BB was excited, “I want to see my mother”
Overwhelmed by emotion, she rubbed her eyes. Ammalu tapped her back affectionately.
“This was the only song, I composed in Tamil, but it came up well,” I told BB.
“At times, a single line or a single verse or a subtle smile speak volumes”
“Where am I now, Ammalu, in kasi or Kalpathy ?”
I blabbered.
“In Kishkintha! ” joked Parasu. “You are leading a great army of monkeys towards the ocean.
Now, you are over the mountain ready to fly,” joked Parasu.
“But Parasu, how will he fly?” Ammalu too was in high spirits, though with no spirit inside. “There are no cockroaches in his seat”
“Hey, Parasu uncle, what is that cockroach story,” .BB was anxious to know.
“Shall I tell her what you did on the precious night of your wedding , Anna ?” Parasu threatened to reveal a secret but I was not in a position to say ‘yes’ or no’
“You are sure that the adventure you are going to narrate is about the previous night of his marriage?” BB asked with a naughty smile.
“Of course,” he too laughed and continued, “I took the whole family for a movie at the nearby theater, Where the Ramayanam story was screened. There was a scene of monkeys playing ‘kabadi’ game, which the innovative director had inserted into the epic story.
Kabbadi was his favorite game, which Anna learned in Hyderabad,” Parasu continued. “He was so much involved in the game on the screen that he raised from his seat, bent his arms and folded his palms, fiercely focusing his attention on the screen as if he would be joining the monkey-players any time.
Had I not pulled his hands and made him to sit, he would have jumped to the front, over the heads of those sitting there and made a big scene, much more enjoyable than the one being shown on the screen. Remember, we were not alone. There were elderly men, women and children too from both families.
The bride’s family was shocked ..”Ee kazhuverida mon entha koratchu vattundo, illa avan oru vaanarano ? ” The perplexed chami pattar, Ammalu’s grandfather, abused in his crude native dialect. “Is he an eccentric or a monkey, by birth”
”He is after all, your grand nephew ” commended a mischievous boy in the group, reminding the old man of his relationship with me and surreptitiously his own behavior.
“Am I plunging my daughter into a well?”
The bride’s father expressed his anguish and anxiety, seriously doubting the mental stability of the person who was to become his pet daughter’s husband in a few hour’s time.
“Perhaps, the Anjaneyaswamy’s spirit has occupied his body for a short while ” pacified his pious wife, who had vowed to place a garland with 1001 vadais, Anjaneya’s pet food, on the idol in the temple next to her house.
“Wish that spirit leaves his body before he enters the wedding hall,” commended her husband, krishna Iyer, the prospective father in law.
“And certainly before he enters the nuptial chamber for the first night ” exclaimed an enlightened and experienced elderly woman, Pitchu pAtty.
‘Why didn’t the bride walk-out? How did Ammalu manni agree to marry a cranky fellow like PERIAS ” Commended the ultra -modern- society bee, BB.
“That is the problem with the Indian women,” Parasu continued his narration.
“The fiancee, instead, rescued her husband- in- waiting:
‘the bench on which he is sitting is full of cockroaches. He is allergic to them”
In one stroke, Ammalu manni, dismissed the whole affair as unworthy of mentioning. And added a proverbial line which is still remembered by the whole family.:
“fortunately, there is not a single cockroach in Hyderabad, you see”
Pitchu patty, the old lady who had seen the world, remembered that single line worth a sovereign and bought a matching wedding gift – an insect- sprayer!
While handing over the gift in a glittering wrapper, the grand old lady whispered to the bride, “you can use this appliance to get rid off cockroaches in your bed room here . Dispose it off, however, before you leave for your husband’s place..”Because, there is not a single cockroach in Hyderabad, you see!”
To continue
My maiden visit to USA – Chapter 08
Pakkathu veetilae pattasu
‘Everything has to go back from wherever it came,’ I told B B when she enquired, why I put back the note book into my bag.
‘I collect water in my palm from river or pond and that water is offered back to the original source, while worshipping Sandhya ‘
‘Perias, you collect water from the river or pond and while doing Deva tarpanam, start with Adithyam tharpayAmi, not Varunam tharpayAmi. Why?’
‘As it is Adithya, the main source for water. But, the water which I collect from Varuna goes to Varuna first and from there to Adithya’
Then turning to BB, I read the translation of a hymn from the Rgvedam.
1 ‘O, Vayu, come to us with all the thousand chariots that are thine
Team borne, to drink the soma juice.
2. Drawn by the team, O Vayu, come. To thee is offered this, the pure’
In this Rgveda sooktham, first Vayu, then Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Aswins, Viswadevas, Saraswathy, Heaven and Earth are invoked and invited to accept the soma juice, ‘the pure, blent with milk’.
‘Drink you of this delightful juice’, says the Rishi’
‘What a fantastic imagination!,’ exclaimed BB, ‘Vayu, coming down to earth with thousand chariots! And the chariots are not borrowed. ‘That are thine!’
Thousand chariots dropping from the air! What a scene it would be ! Are they yoked to horses and if so, what about the sound of their hoof! Won’t there be a big hurricane ?
‘Our forebears always thought high, spoke high,’ I told , ‘ do you know that the pressing of Soma was associated with the fertilizing rain, the life- giver and life- nourished? And in the post Vedic classical period, Soma was identified with the Moon, which wanes when soma is drunk by the gods but which is periodically reborn?’
‘Yes, I know soma was associated with the Moon, whose name is also Soma,’ replied BB, ‘ I read somewhere that ‘Soma is part of the ancient, yogic and shamanic usage of sacred plants, including tonics, nervines and mind-altering plants of various types as well special preparations of them. Each group, community or geographical region probably had its own Somas or sacred plants. Soma is a transformative substance that can be found in many plants and has corresponding mind-altering substances that can be produced by the brain itself’
‘I’m anxious to hear BB’s life story,’ Ammalu intervened, ‘ will you please close your note book, Perias?’
Big Ben continued her story:
‘One night, Muthmma was signing a tribal folk song to put us to sleep.
“Onga nattilae penja mazhai,
Enga naatuukku varadho, Kuppeekala?!
ஓங்க நாட்டிலே பேஞ்ச மழே
எங்க நாட்டுக்கு வாராதோ , குப்பீகளா !’
Appa, from his study, joined, adding a funny piece.
‘Enka veettu elikal ellam
Onka veettukku pokatho ? Kuppeekala !’
எங்க வீட்டு எலிகள் எல்லாம்
ஒன்கவீட்டுக்கு போகாதோ , குப்பீகளா ‘
Ammalu enjoyed the song and thanks to the activation of my poetic nerves by alcohol , I too added an instant composition :
Renkasaami enkae, pullae?’
Rentu nala aalae illae.
Pakkathu paayi kaliyachu,
Rakkamma nencham pattasu, Kuppeekala’
ரங்கசாமி எங்கேபுள்ளே ?.
ரெண்டுநாளா ஆளே இல்லே
பக்கத்து பாயி காலியாச்சு
ராக்கம்மா நெஞ்சம் பட்டாசு , குப்பீகளா—
Pathumassam poyatchu,
Pakkathu veetilae pattasu,
Ranksami rentayi,
santai than po kuppayi, Kuppeekala
பத்துமாசம் போயாச்சு
பக்கத்து வீட்டுலே பட்டாசு
ரங்கசாமி இரண்டாயி,
சண்டை தான் போ குப்பாயி, குப்பீகளா’
Oh! Parama Sukham – Chapter 08
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 suit and semi strangulating neck tie, I would have kicked the kids off the vehicle but a would- be son-in-law was not expected to behave so rudely. ‘Padmanabha!’ I called and sought the help of the presiding deity of the town, who , (God alone knows how) relaxes so enviably on a multi- hooded snake bed, in a wavy ocean, despite being encircled by several celestial celebrities. Padmanabha did hear my cry and His merciful response came in the form an old woman, struggling to join the procession. I leaped out of the vehicle, pushed the old lady it and moved along with the crowd, receiving accolades for my consideration for the aged.
Self-serving acts, at time, snatches awards.
One middle aged woman, clad in starched, bright white sari was walking close to me. “Beware of the cow dung and banana skins, my son,”she warned me with benign smile,” I will arrange for another car ” she offered.I liked her.Don’t know why. some people attract you at the very first meet.
I enjoy walks, but not as the head of a procession, with a garland around the neck, fire works in the front and gas-lamps on the sides apart from a whole lot of curious onlookers, all around.Several people came out of their houses, pushing others to the sides, threw glances at me and withdrew.
The nadsawaram vidwans offered their pipes and encouraged me to play the instrument, “chumma oothunko sami”. I love to handle nadaswaram but a bride -groom was not expected to do that, leading his wedding eve procession!
P.M.S., arranged for another car for the old woman and children, but they refused to get down from the decorated vehicle.
“Ithae porum; ithilae maalai irukkae ” This car is fine; there are garlands around this ” was the excuse of the old lady.
“Nikkada avadea- wait,” PMS detained a mahout, who was leading an elephant, that way.
“Mon chadikko!” come on, son, ascend the animal” he commanded. My parents were worried about my safety, as I had never tried my skill on elephants, though I was an expert in buffalo ride. Many pushed, pushed me up and put on the pachyderm.
The high status, on the elephant, I enjoyed, but not the uneasiness below my seat. I never realized that it was so uncomfortable to sit on the elephant’s back. The fear that the animal under the influence of powerful lights around and the sound generated by fire works could run amok, was also there.
Those who sit on elevated seats might appear to be happy; but that is not the whole truth.
At last, the procession reached the marriage hall. I was helped to get down.. My back was burning as if some one had poured acid.
“Ivadae varu ” come along, commanded that woman who followed me, pulling my hand, took me to the kitchen and asked Athai for some warm water and a towel . “Ratnam, give him a hot massage ” She ordered. Ratnam hesitated and when I was about to call my mother, the Malayalee woman mildly slapped on my face affectionately and said, ” no more Amma, hereafter “. Along with Athai, she applied some balm at my back and gave a nice steam bath. PMS entered the kitchen and seeing my plight surrounded by the elderly women, enquired,”ah, Konthai, Janwasam sukham aayi illae, hope you enjoyed the procession ? ”
“Oh, paramasukham ” I replied , pressing my legs . That was just the beginning of my paramasukham. Much more sukhams were in wait.
After coming out of the kitchen, I asked PMS,” who is that lady, with grey hair, who followed me in the procession and helped Athai to give me a steam bath ?”
“Oh, she is our neighbour, Sharada teacher ” He clarified, “‘a kind woman close to us but pushed far away by the Destiny”
My affection for her, increased. It happens sometimes. An invisible flow takes place within, the moment you see a stranger, about whom you know nothing. The reason will be revealed later.
Those was a formal nitchitarthm, presided by my mother’s uncle who was also a vaadyar and he was strict with regards to the procedures . My back pain was still bothering me. If there was a delay in my getting up from the seat, he would shout, ‘eanthiru’ get up; if I had not bend my body sufficiently while prostrating , he used to yell, ‘porathu’ not enough. When I found his dictation intolerable, I muttered,” if you trouble me like this again I will mount that elephant and return to Hyderabad “
Those assembled in the pandal outside for the music program, came in along with the musicians for dinner.
An young girl approached me from the crowd, pulled my hand and said, ” come for food, you trouble maker!” Though that not the first time I was called a trouble maker, I was hardly prepared to be so addressed in my in-law’s house on the wedding eve by an unknown girl of fifteen or sixteen.
” Oh, sweet little one ” I addressed her with all affection,” may I know who you devil are and why are you so jealous of my intelligence and charm ? And is there none in this house to invite the bridegroom for food other than a thumb-sucking imp ?”
” In a way you are right” she replied winking at me. ” I sucked not only my thumb but yours too; but that some fifteen years ago , in a place called Ambadi pisharam “
” You are my Ammu, right? ” Without waiting for her reply,I lifted her above my head and dropped on the floor as I used to do during her younger days. Holding her at her waist,
I entered the dining hall to the dismay of Lalitha and others who were keenly observing us.
” Ammu, how tall you have grown, ente Vadkkunnatha! “
I expressed my gratitude to the Lord of Trichur for giving me an opportunity to meet a child from the sharam, which was my second home for six months.
One middle aged woman, clad in starched, bright white sari was walking close to me. “Beware of the cow dung and banana skins, my son,”she warned me with benign smile,” I will arrange for another car ” she offered.I liked her.Don’t know why. some people attract you at the very first meet.
I enjoy walks, but not as the head of a procession, with a garland around the neck, fire works in the front and gas-lamps on the sides apart from a whole lot of curious onlookers, all around.Several people came out of their houses, pushing others to the sides, threw glances at me and withdrew.
The nadsawaram vidwans offered their pipes and encouraged me to play the instrument, “chumma oothunko sami”. I love to handle nadaswaram but a bride -groom was not expected to do that, leading his wedding eve procession!
P.M.S., arranged for another car for the old woman and children, but they refused to get down from the decorated vehicle.
“Ithae porum; ithilae maalai irukkae ” This car is fine; there are garlands around this ” was the excuse of the old lady.
“Nikkada avadea- wait,” PMS detained a mahout, who was leading an elephant, that way.
“Mon chadikko!” come on, son, ascend the animal” he commanded. My parents were worried about my safety, as I had never tried my skill on elephants, though I was an expert in buffalo ride. Many pushed, pushed me up and put on the pachyderm.
The high status, on the elephant, I enjoyed, but not the uneasiness below my seat. I never realized that it was so uncomfortable to sit on the elephant’s back. The fear that the animal under the influence of powerful lights around and the sound generated by fire works could run amok, was also there.
Those who sit on elevated seats might appear to be happy; but that is not the whole truth.
At last, the procession reached the marriage hall. I was helped to get down.. My back was burning as if some one had poured acid.
“Ivadae varu ” come along, commanded that woman who followed me, pulling my hand, took me to the kitchen and asked Athai for some warm water and a towel . “Ratnam, give him a hot massage ” She ordered. Ratnam hesitated and when I was about to call my mother, the Malayalee woman mildly slapped on my face affectionately and said, ” no more Amma, hereafter “. Along with Athai, she applied some balm at my back and gave a nice steam bath. PMS entered the kitchen and seeing my plight surrounded by the elderly women, enquired,”ah, Konthai, Janwasam sukham aayi illae, hope you enjoyed the procession ? ”
“Oh, paramasukham ” I replied , pressing my legs . That was just the beginning of my paramasukham. Much more sukhams were in wait.
After coming out of the kitchen, I asked PMS,” who is that lady, with grey hair, who followed me in the procession and helped Athai to give me a steam bath ?”
“Oh, she is our neighbour, Sharada teacher ” He clarified, “‘a kind woman close to us but pushed far away by the Destiny”
My affection for her, increased. It happens sometimes. An invisible flow takes place within, the moment you see a stranger, about whom you know nothing. The reason will be revealed later.
Those was a formal nitchitarthm, presided by my mother’s uncle who was also a vaadyar and he was strict with regards to the procedures . My back pain was still bothering me. If there was a delay in my getting up from the seat, he would shout, ‘eanthiru’ get up; if I had not bend my body sufficiently while prostrating , he used to yell, ‘porathu’ not enough. When I found his dictation intolerable, I muttered,” if you trouble me like this again I will mount that elephant and return to Hyderabad “
Those assembled in the pandal outside for the music program, came in along with the musicians for dinner.
An young girl approached me from the crowd, pulled my hand and said, ” come for food, you trouble maker!” Though that not the first time I was called a trouble maker, I was hardly prepared to be so addressed in my in-law’s house on the wedding eve by an unknown girl of fifteen or sixteen.
” Oh, sweet little one ” I addressed her with all affection,” may I know who you devil are and why are you so jealous of my intelligence and charm ? And is there none in this house to invite the bridegroom for food other than a thumb-sucking imp ?”
” In a way you are right” she replied winking at me. ” I sucked not only my thumb but yours too; but that some fifteen years ago , in a place called Ambadi pisharam “
” You are my Ammu, right? ” Without waiting for her reply,I lifted her above my head and dropped on the floor as I used to do during her younger days. Holding her at her waist,
I entered the dining hall to the dismay of Lalitha and others who were keenly observing us.
” Ammu, how tall you have grown, ente Vadkkunnatha! “
I expressed my gratitude to the Lord of Trichur for giving me an opportunity to meet a child from the sharam, which was my second home for six months.
My maiden visit to USA – Chapter 07
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 tumbler, ‘ I replied showing her, the size of the tumbler I would prefer, completely forgetting my daughter’s instruction that no brass tumblers would be provided in the aircraft and I should not drink the liquid made available in glass or porcelain containers keeping them inches above mouth.
‘Sambaram , oru peria tumbler, ‘ I replied showing her, the size of the tumbler I would prefer, completely forgetting my daughter’s instruction that no brass tumblers would be provided in the aircraft and I should not drink the liquid made available in glass or porcelain containers keeping them inches above mouth.
‘Sambaram , verum sambaram, I repeated, sliding my shoulder with Ammalu’s, to ensure that I am not an unworthy brahmin, she thinks of..
‘Just plain sambaram or pepper- flavored ?’ asked BB and her smile revealed that she knew that I was not a teetotaler.
‘I will arrange sambaram for you,’ Pushpa offered to help, ‘ I have a sealed yogurt bottle and I know how to make the liquid you prefer’
‘Just plain sambaram or pepper- flavored ?’ asked BB and her smile revealed that she knew that I was not a teetotaler.
‘I will arrange sambaram for you,’ Pushpa offered to help, ‘ I have a sealed yogurt bottle and I know how to make the liquid you prefer’
‘Give the outdated oldie any outdated stuff, but give me liquids, I will make my cocktail,’ BB said.
‘Ha, ha, my dear Big Bun, your alcohol is outdated. The Vedas talk about an equivalent to that but was ignorant of Sambaram.
‘Ha, ha, my dear Big Bun, your alcohol is outdated. The Vedas talk about an equivalent to that but was ignorant of Sambaram.
“Vainatheya somam, pibha somam, pibhathu vruthraha,
Somam dhanasya somino mahyam dadathu somini.”
Somam dhanasya somino mahyam dadathu somini.”
‘Who told you Soma juice was equivalent to alcohol?,’ BB questioned me.
I pulled out a book from my shoulder bag and read from a book:
“Soma, in ancient India, an unidentified plant the juice of which was a fundamental offering of the Vedic sacrifices. The stalks of the plant were pressed between stones, and the juice was filtered through sheep’s wool and then mixed with water and milk. After it was offered as a libation to the gods, the remainder of the soma was consumed by the priests and the sacrificer. It was highly valued for its exhilarating, probably hallucinogenic, effect”
I pulled out a book from my shoulder bag and read from a book:
“Soma, in ancient India, an unidentified plant the juice of which was a fundamental offering of the Vedic sacrifices. The stalks of the plant were pressed between stones, and the juice was filtered through sheep’s wool and then mixed with water and milk. After it was offered as a libation to the gods, the remainder of the soma was consumed by the priests and the sacrificer. It was highly valued for its exhilarating, probably hallucinogenic, effect”
‘See the last sentence ends with , ‘probably hallucinogenic effect’
‘You are confusing Soma with Sura. It was not wine or alcohol, though fermentation may have been used in processing it,’ BB argued, ‘ Soma was not intoxicating’
‘Though immortalizing it was!’
‘Immortalizing! How ?’ She asked.
I pulled out from my bag another notebook and read:
‘Though immortalizing it was!’
‘Immortalizing! How ?’ She asked.
I pulled out from my bag another notebook and read:
‘a ápāma sómam amŕtā abhūmâganma jyótir ávidāma devân
c kíṃ nūnám asmân kṛṇavad árātiḥ kím u dhūrtír amṛta mártyasya”
c kíṃ nūnám asmân kṛṇavad árātiḥ kím u dhūrtír amṛta mártyasya”
We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered.
Now what may foeman’s malice do to harm us? What, O Immortal, mortal man’s deception?
‘That thought was the result of hallucination’. BB argued.
Now what may foeman’s malice do to harm us? What, O Immortal, mortal man’s deception?
‘That thought was the result of hallucination’. BB argued.
‘Madam, your cocktail is ready,’ Pushpa placed the tray with the beverage on BB’s table and remarked with a twinkle, ‘additional glass is there for uncle. Cocktail should always be shared’
‘Pushpa, so you decided that I should give her company, after hearing our argument?,’ I asked her.
‘ Yes, uncle. My uncle too talks incessantly on ancient wisdom, pulls out a paper sheet now and then from his bag and reads loud’
‘And gives company to women, like Perias?,’ Ammalu..
‘No madam. He sits in a corner, sips and talks’
‘Sips and talks alone?,’ Asked Ammalu again.
‘Yes, madam, alone’
‘He is a gentleman!;’ Commented Ammalu.
‘He is, madam’. confirmed Pushpa.
‘Why do you look at my face ? Eppidiyo ponkol -do whatever you want’ Ammalu expressed her helplessness.
‘Pushpa, so you decided that I should give her company, after hearing our argument?,’ I asked her.
‘ Yes, uncle. My uncle too talks incessantly on ancient wisdom, pulls out a paper sheet now and then from his bag and reads loud’
‘And gives company to women, like Perias?,’ Ammalu..
‘No madam. He sits in a corner, sips and talks’
‘Sips and talks alone?,’ Asked Ammalu again.
‘Yes, madam, alone’
‘He is a gentleman!;’ Commented Ammalu.
‘He is, madam’. confirmed Pushpa.
‘Why do you look at my face ? Eppidiyo ponkol -do whatever you want’ Ammalu expressed her helplessness.
To continue
Oh! Parama Sukham – Chapter 07
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 houses nearby or even sleep under the trees ! In one of the most enjoyable weddings I attended, I opted to sleep in the open, and had to run for life when a battalion of black ants invaded me, while under sound sleep, cradled by the river breeze.
Appa also noticed that it was Athai, the eldest sister of the PMS brothers was the de facto head of the family and she was the driving force behind the wedding arrangements. It was she, who was raising the twelve children of her brothers, having joined the PMS family after she became a widow, within a month or two after her wedding while she was in her early teens. Embodiment of sacrifice and affection, she lived a pious life taking care of the needs of the two families including her aged father, who had only complaints as his possession.
It seems when Athai was playing in her mother’s court yard, a Kaniyan, local astrologer or face-reader happened to pass that way and commended, ” Bangi oru para,,baagyam ozhakku ‘ scintillating beauty but scanty luck” I do not know how the kaniyan could predict her life just by glancing her face for a moment but the elders had unshakable belief in many such magical wands. .
My father went and sat close to Athai to discuss the wedding arrangement and was happy that things were moving smoothly. He called a few youngsters from our group and instructed to extend any help sought by Athai. He called me and commanded, “I want you to behave like a grown up man and not a child. I am sure that you know your responsibility”
“Yes dad, yes dad” I replied and bolted out. I peered into the kitchen. Children of the family of varying ages between one to twenty two sitting in a line awaiting the food to be served by the women folk. Babies collected their milk bottles went to a corner of the house to enjoy the feed lying flat on the floor.The other kids enjoyed their snacks, gurgling and gossiping, laughing or fighting.
While growing in combined families we never felt that we lacked something called privacy or freedom although when we turn back, wonder how so many men and women of different age, aspiration, mood and character could live under one roof .
We all had a wash. Some snacks with coffee was served. Chami pattar was in a hurry . He finished eating quickly and entered the kitchen. With an air of authority, he boasted to the person standing there,” I am the bride groom’s maternal uncle “
” That is written on your face” the kitchen supervisor greeted, “can I be of any service to you, Sir”
” pack a dozen iddlies, two or three dosa, undiluted chutney and chilly powder separately.” Pattar instructed, “sweet cakes in a separate pack and hot coffee in a big flask”
”immediately” the host agreed with pleasure, ” you are the most important person after the boy’s parents and tomorrow you have to shift the bride groom above your shoulders and help him to throw the garlands around the bride’s neck. It is therefore necessary to build up your comically thin body frame fit to face the challenge”
“You are absolutely right ” Chami pattar was equally good in leg-pulling, ” the moment I saw you, I developed a kinship probably because we had milk from the same cow “
“Ha,ha,ha ” the host enjoyed the joke. ” Sir, I am not revealing a secret, the maternal uncle, like you, also is a weight lifter”
” Varacholluda, pathoodalam- ask him to come, I will face him ” Chami pattar laughed and the host too joined in sharing his small happiness . “Packets ready ?”
“They are, they are” while handing over the packets, the host muttered at Pattar’s ears, “kep this as a secret; I am the maternal uncle of the bride groom!” That was true.
Chami pattar blinked when the host added, ” tomorrow morning are you going to carry the bride groom or me? Remember the brides’s uncle is a —–“
“Pahalvan like you ! ” Pattar shouted and escaped.
We had several such occasions to share jokes and those lighter moments are missed in the present day weddings. We are in a hurry, even when we attend the most important celebration in a friend’s or relative’s life. Wait in the Que, shake hand, present the gift , eat and bolt out!
Despite my father’s warning to strictly mind only my work, I followed Chami pattar. He entered into a house close to the bride’s .
Why did he go there with food packets ?
Lakshmi, another member of our group, asked my uncle for a cup of milk for her baby.
“My sweet baby likes only cow’s milk and that too obtained from black cows. We have two such in our house ” She boasted.
“I can give you cow’s milk but cannot assure that it was solely from a black or blue cow ” My uncle remarked,”because the colour of cows change according to the colour of the person who milks them “
” T.puram is notorious for scarcity and colour change ” Lakshmi lamented, ” had I known this before, I would not have attended the wedding at all”
My father who was overhearing the conversation took her to the cowshed and asked, “Lakshmi how many cows are here and how many black in colour ?”
“Total eight, two black ” Lakshmi counted and gave the figure.
“When I sent them from Palkkad, all the cows were black” My father tried to convince her. “The sea is close by and its breeze has changed the colour of six and if you don’t collect milk from the rest two soon, their colour also will change. I will get a vessel now”
“That is OK mama, I will collect milk from the kitchen.” She paused ,”mama, I wanted to clarify a doubt. Will the shade of my skin too improve if I stay here longer ? “
” I doubt” my father replied, ” the sea breeze will brighten only skin-deep darkness. Yours goes a bit further down “
There after Lakshmi never mentioned about the body shade of the cow when her sweet baby cried for milk.
Her mother, however, did not like my father’s remarks about Lakshmi’s skin shade.
” Kalyani, our black cow mama ” she told dad, “will come running the moment she sees me, folding her front legs and ____”
“It is not a cow then Meena, but a kangaroo hopping on its hind legs ” he interjected with a smile.
Oh! Parama Sukham – Chapter 06
Soared high suddenly the bird of happiness and familiarity.
A most agonizing awaiting it was – to have a glance of the girl whom I had never met before though she would be mine the next morning. On such occasions, pleasure and pain, anxiety and helplessness play carom in your mind and each movement of the coins, increases your heart-beat. I was as restless as a cat locked inside a house.
It was a self-inflicted, utterly meaningless, mental torture -I realize now, as we do in many cases when reason displaces emotion, although I admit that there was a charm in that waiting which I would have missed if, instead of finer feelings, reason was the master of the day. Reason has often pushed me to a corner and allowed emotions to have a hay day which did cost me heavily at times.
Every relative, close and not that close, friends and even sub-ordinate workers were introduced to my elders but there was no talk or trace of the bride. Silver, brass and copper vessels, jewels, clothes and all sundry materials to be sent along with the girl to her husband’s house were presented with unwanted gestures and explanations but there was no talk or trace of the girl who was to occupy the center stage soon. It appeared that the men and women had gathered there only to chit chat, gossip and celebrate their union and not ours.
I sharpened again and again my eyes and ears in vain, not to miss my girl’s shadow or gurgle.
”This stick for ‘kasi yatra’ was specially brought from Nagerkoil”- someone announced proudly. ” Who wants your stick, man ? ” I wanted to ask him, but didn’t.
‘Before disappointment could devastate my mood, I could hear the authoritative high pitch of my father:
“P.M.S!” he called the family head and chief host,” where is my daughter-in-law? I am seeing here, half the women population of this town but not her!”
You are so sweet, dad.
“I am just waiting for an auspicious moment to release my golden parrot.” P.M.S replied respectfully but firmly.
“I hope it won’t be very far” my father commented, “ my worry is that my son, in the meantime, doesn’t pick up a sparrow or dove and fly away. I see quite a few of them around here and for them, the auspicious time would have already started.”
“Damn with his auspicious time” Parasu decried the delay in presenting the bride.
When I asked him whether I could sneak in, Parasu replied, ” you can’t do that. you are the bride groom. Your father and other elders are still here and only your mom has gone inside”. He sat in a corner, had a good chew got up and called me outside and advised showing the compound wall. “There is only one way, a bit dangerous though” he said, “jump over that wall with the help of that hanging tree-branch. I just saw your girl pulling water from the well, behind the wall. Meet her and return quickly. The whole operation should be over within five minutes; I will wait here. But remember, I won’t be responsible for the consequence, which might be bad, if you are caught red-handed ”
l had never done that before-crossing the compound walls intentionally though purely out of juvenile and later adolescent and later middle- aged madness, I had attempted to peep through the window to know what was happening on the other side of my own house in odd hours. But now, out of sheer necessity, I was prepared to 0bey my cousin’s caring advice , instead of waiting in the hall and looking at the face of every moving object, clad in pattusari.
instances of necessity becoming excuse to justify a wrong action is aplenty in our life and in our history too. Mahabaratham war for example .
“promise me that you will not go away” I pleaded, worrying how bad the situation could go, if I were caught by some pattar who would have straight walked into his matured middle age and later to a monotonous old age without crossing through the vibrant and valuable young age.
Pardon me for my crime if you can, I did cross the Wall although with some minor bruises.
Clearing the dust and mud on my clothes, I looked up towards the well. Ah, ‘ she’ was there pulling water from the well.
I went near and whispered, gasping.
“Look here, daughter of Krishna Iyer! Excuse me for addressing you, the way our epic characters are addressed. I don’t know your pet name and the name given in the invitation card is too long. Parasu has given only five minutes for the whole operation; I can’t afford to spend two minutes out of that, for addressing you, by that long name.
“Now, let me come to the point. I have come to marry you as suggested by my parents. Though you are not my dream girl, I like you. Now three minutes are over.
You can have a good look at me. I am now turning 360 degrees so that you can have my back view too.
Say ‘yes’. I will jump over that compound wall and go back, the way I came. Say ‘no’, I will jump into this well. By appearance you don’t seem to have the strength to pull me out of the well. Four minutes are over. And, I warn you, I don’t know swimming”
She looked at my face and cooed with a mischievous smile,” I will never allow you to jump into the well as I liked the way you jumped over the compound wall. But wait a minute, please. Let me have a word with my elder sister, whose name is printed on the invitation card, before I say ‘yes’ to you. Now, how many minutes are over, athimbar( sister’s husband)?”
My arrow disastrously deviated from its object and hit at a dangerously deceptive-looking atom bomb. I had crossed the wall, expecting to visualize a lightning; but I had to listen to a thunder. Things were definitely going out of my control. I became crazy.
Then “she” came like a much awaited dawn from behind the clouds and her bejeweled hands flew a mild slap on the other girl’s face and turning towards me , she said, ” I apologize for my sister’s naughty behavior”
She didn’t have the dazzle of a cine star or the sophistication of a city girl. She was fair, slim, simple, unassuming, tender like a jasmine creeper and fragrant like a lotus flower. What attracted me most was her innocent smile, brightening her calm face. I liked her. I searched for words but failed. She had no problem, as she was not confused.
“Hope you didn’t get hurt while jumping over the wall! Why all this ‘vepralam’- restlessness and mischief?” she asked with an innocent look. “You could have straight come inside. You are our close relative and have every right to come inside the house and talk to me.” Was it so simple ?
I had to say something and I blabbered, ” as kids, we had played for an hour, my mother said”
” I was two and you were fifteen then” her voice was sweet but clear. ” so, you should remember; why ‘my mother said’? ”
I did not take it as an admonishment. It broke the egg of reservation and soared high suddenly the bird of happiness and familiarity.
“How do you feel now?” I asked her while walking together towards the drawing room where the two families had assembled.
“Feeling like a princess in a fairy tale,” she said, slowly, dreamily, ” when her prince crosses a high wall to meet her”
When we entered the drawing room, my father’s powerful eyes didn’t miss to notice the satisfaction on my face. In those days, we were not aware of the ‘thumbs up’ signal. So we just smiled.
“Chellappetty edudi-get my betel- leaf casket!” he commanded mother.
There were many messages in that command. His approval of the girl, his satisfaction in my approval of the girl and her approval of me and above all, the elation that the family name was kept up by my concurrence to my father’s decision taken without consulting me.
A most agonizing awaiting it was – to have a glance of the girl whom I had never met before though she would be mine the next morning. On such occasions, pleasure and pain, anxiety and helplessness play carom in your mind and each movement of the coins, increases your heart-beat. I was as restless as a cat locked inside a house.
It was a self-inflicted, utterly meaningless, mental torture -I realize now, as we do in many cases when reason displaces emotion, although I admit that there was a charm in that waiting which I would have missed if, instead of finer feelings, reason was the master of the day. Reason has often pushed me to a corner and allowed emotions to have a hay day which did cost me heavily at times.
Every relative, close and not that close, friends and even sub-ordinate workers were introduced to my elders but there was no talk or trace of the bride. Silver, brass and copper vessels, jewels, clothes and all sundry materials to be sent along with the girl to her husband’s house were presented with unwanted gestures and explanations but there was no talk or trace of the girl who was to occupy the center stage soon. It appeared that the men and women had gathered there only to chit chat, gossip and celebrate their union and not ours.
I sharpened again and again my eyes and ears in vain, not to miss my girl’s shadow or gurgle.
”This stick for ‘kasi yatra’ was specially brought from Nagerkoil”- someone announced proudly. ” Who wants your stick, man ? ” I wanted to ask him, but didn’t.
‘Before disappointment could devastate my mood, I could hear the authoritative high pitch of my father:
“P.M.S!” he called the family head and chief host,” where is my daughter-in-law? I am seeing here, half the women population of this town but not her!”
You are so sweet, dad.
“I am just waiting for an auspicious moment to release my golden parrot.” P.M.S replied respectfully but firmly.
“I hope it won’t be very far” my father commented, “ my worry is that my son, in the meantime, doesn’t pick up a sparrow or dove and fly away. I see quite a few of them around here and for them, the auspicious time would have already started.”
“Damn with his auspicious time” Parasu decried the delay in presenting the bride.
When I asked him whether I could sneak in, Parasu replied, ” you can’t do that. you are the bride groom. Your father and other elders are still here and only your mom has gone inside”. He sat in a corner, had a good chew got up and called me outside and advised showing the compound wall. “There is only one way, a bit dangerous though” he said, “jump over that wall with the help of that hanging tree-branch. I just saw your girl pulling water from the well, behind the wall. Meet her and return quickly. The whole operation should be over within five minutes; I will wait here. But remember, I won’t be responsible for the consequence, which might be bad, if you are caught red-handed ”
l had never done that before-crossing the compound walls intentionally though purely out of juvenile and later adolescent and later middle- aged madness, I had attempted to peep through the window to know what was happening on the other side of my own house in odd hours. But now, out of sheer necessity, I was prepared to 0bey my cousin’s caring advice , instead of waiting in the hall and looking at the face of every moving object, clad in pattusari.
instances of necessity becoming excuse to justify a wrong action is aplenty in our life and in our history too. Mahabaratham war for example .
“promise me that you will not go away” I pleaded, worrying how bad the situation could go, if I were caught by some pattar who would have straight walked into his matured middle age and later to a monotonous old age without crossing through the vibrant and valuable young age.
Pardon me for my crime if you can, I did cross the Wall although with some minor bruises.
Clearing the dust and mud on my clothes, I looked up towards the well. Ah, ‘ she’ was there pulling water from the well.
I went near and whispered, gasping.
“Look here, daughter of Krishna Iyer! Excuse me for addressing you, the way our epic characters are addressed. I don’t know your pet name and the name given in the invitation card is too long. Parasu has given only five minutes for the whole operation; I can’t afford to spend two minutes out of that, for addressing you, by that long name.
“Now, let me come to the point. I have come to marry you as suggested by my parents. Though you are not my dream girl, I like you. Now three minutes are over.
You can have a good look at me. I am now turning 360 degrees so that you can have my back view too.
Say ‘yes’. I will jump over that compound wall and go back, the way I came. Say ‘no’, I will jump into this well. By appearance you don’t seem to have the strength to pull me out of the well. Four minutes are over. And, I warn you, I don’t know swimming”
She looked at my face and cooed with a mischievous smile,” I will never allow you to jump into the well as I liked the way you jumped over the compound wall. But wait a minute, please. Let me have a word with my elder sister, whose name is printed on the invitation card, before I say ‘yes’ to you. Now, how many minutes are over, athimbar( sister’s husband)?”
My arrow disastrously deviated from its object and hit at a dangerously deceptive-looking atom bomb. I had crossed the wall, expecting to visualize a lightning; but I had to listen to a thunder. Things were definitely going out of my control. I became crazy.
Then “she” came like a much awaited dawn from behind the clouds and her bejeweled hands flew a mild slap on the other girl’s face and turning towards me , she said, ” I apologize for my sister’s naughty behavior”
She didn’t have the dazzle of a cine star or the sophistication of a city girl. She was fair, slim, simple, unassuming, tender like a jasmine creeper and fragrant like a lotus flower. What attracted me most was her innocent smile, brightening her calm face. I liked her. I searched for words but failed. She had no problem, as she was not confused.
“Hope you didn’t get hurt while jumping over the wall! Why all this ‘vepralam’- restlessness and mischief?” she asked with an innocent look. “You could have straight come inside. You are our close relative and have every right to come inside the house and talk to me.” Was it so simple ?
I had to say something and I blabbered, ” as kids, we had played for an hour, my mother said”
” I was two and you were fifteen then” her voice was sweet but clear. ” so, you should remember; why ‘my mother said’? ”
I did not take it as an admonishment. It broke the egg of reservation and soared high suddenly the bird of happiness and familiarity.
“How do you feel now?” I asked her while walking together towards the drawing room where the two families had assembled.
“Feeling like a princess in a fairy tale,” she said, slowly, dreamily, ” when her prince crosses a high wall to meet her”
When we entered the drawing room, my father’s powerful eyes didn’t miss to notice the satisfaction on my face. In those days, we were not aware of the ‘thumbs up’ signal. So we just smiled.
“Chellappetty edudi-get my betel- leaf casket!” he commanded mother.
There were many messages in that command. His approval of the girl, his satisfaction in my approval of the girl and her approval of me and above all, the elation that the family name was kept up by my concurrence to my father’s decision taken without consulting me.
My maiden visit to USA – Chapter 06
Mind is not a sealed cement tank.
‘This is the picture of my Appa, Ramaiyer or Ramappa for others’BB extended the black and white photo of a middle aged smiling face, forehead brightened by vibhoothi-chandanam marks.
‘When, my mother was struggling with a tender child and a tenacious mother to take care of and living with fear that any boisterous young man could attack her anytime, Ramappa induced confidence in her, ‘child, Something, no doubt is lost, but not everything’. He held her hand and assured, ‘I won’t continue in this company long but my affection to you will continue for ever’
‘ I was playing in a bush near by when he was passing, holding a toy-train. I asked for that. He replied that he was taking it for his ‘ponnu’, daughter and would buy another one for me. I cried that I wanted the very same toy. ‘Nee aaru ponnu, who are you, baby?’ he enquired. He had seen me only as months-old kid and therefor could not recognize me.
. ‘Ponnu ,’ I repeated his word. ‘Nan aru, who am I,’ was his next question. ‘Appa,’ I replied. I did not remember my father’s face but knew that the person I was talking to, was Ramappa. Everyone in the estate called him by that name. That was a long word for me and therefore I replied in short, “Appa’ Ramappa gave that toy to me and lifted me above his shoulders. I bolted to show it to mom. She was standing walking distance away. ‘Who gave you?; she thundered . I replied ‘appa’ and showed Ramappa who was following me.
That evening Ramappa sent a message to mother asking her to meet him at his house. I went along with her.
‘The training you received at home has emboldened your interest in self-dependency and what is required now is to channel that in the proper direction and derive methods to enhance its intrinsic value.’ Ramappa told mom. ‘ Hear carefully. I have bargained the tea shop opposite to my house, for you, as its owner Nair is going to Kerala for good. The initial investment will be mine but the license and other owner shop rights will be with you. To frustrate your feeling that you are extended an undue favor by me, you will work in my house and support my wife in her household duties, if you have no objection. Your child will grow in my house along with my children and will be educated along with them. You are free either to stay with us at night or go back to your house. There will be complete flexibility for you in action, thoughts and living. I am offering this with the full cooperation and agreement of my wife and children and that is why I invited you here for this discussion. Otherwise I would have discussed this matter in my office or in the tea garden. No hurry. Convey your decision to my wife within a week’
Mother did not wait for a week, not even a day.
‘’Ramappa, you arranged my wedding and saved me from a humiliation and lifetime mental agony . You, in fact , saved two lives, mine and my child’s and thereby delayed the exit of another one , that of my mother. It was on your suggestion, a tutor was arranged for me and again it was on your suggestion the company is paying me an extra amount every month for the child- care. It was you who named my daughter as Easwary against the suggested name of Elizabeth by her father and Ellakka by my mother. I have not seen the face of my father and it may not be like yours but I know that his heart would have been like yours. Whatever you do will be for my benefit and whatever you say is my father’s order for me ‘
Mother moved away from there, unable to control the waves of emotion beating her inside.
‘ Your mother never mentioned about your dad to you or others?’ . Asked Ammalu.
It was obvious that In Ammalu’s mind, the thought ‘how a woman could forget her child’s father so easily’, was surfacing frequently.
‘No, she never mentioned about dad to me,’ BB’s confession was clear.
‘I presume mom never pardoned dad for his misbehavior . In one way it was good for both. The tribal upbringing, habits and believes could never go hand in hand with the western civilization and had she gone to London she would have become a psychological wreck and the life of dad too would have become miserable ‘
I admired the way BB narrated her family history and wondered how intelligently her semi-literate mother tackled the problems of life. I remembered my father’s words,
‘Padichavan ellam arivaaliyum illai ; padikkathavanellam muttalum illai’
All those educated are not wise and all those uneducated are not fools.
‘Within a week, the ‘Nair Tea Shop’ became ‘Ramappa provision stores’
BB continued her life history. ‘My mom insisted that the shop should be named after Appa and he suggested that apart from tea, forest produces also should be made available to the tourists . Mother looked after the tea making and sale and another experienced person was employed for selling wood oils, curios, coffee seeds, tea leaves, spices etc. After completing his estate duties Appa sat in the shop to manage the cash and accounts.
Within a very short period mom and me became an inseparable part of the Appa family. I have two mothers now, Muthamma, my biological mother and ‘Amma’ my foster one . (I started calling her ‘amma’ along with her own kids ). My foster father had already become my ‘Appa’ when I addressed him just before he gifted me the toy train. Me and my mother were sharing everything with my foster parents, food, clothes, all amenities -the very life itself. We grew together. Out tribal practices had become a thing of the past and for all practical purpose we had become Palakkad Iyers. The transformation was painless and in fact, it was pleasant. For the first few days, Muthamma was allotted only the cleaning and maintaining the house and surrounding and taking the kids to school, washing clothes and washing the frontage of the house in the morning hours. Amma used to do the cleaning of the pooja room and drawing kolams . After a few weeks, she was asked to help in kitchen work, such as cutting vegetables, cleaning vessels etc. She had to take bath before entering the kitchen as Amma was used to do. Muthamma was closely watching the way Amma was cooking, packing lunch for Appa and kids for the school. One day when Amma had a high fever and was unable to have a wash, she asked Muthamma to take care of the kitchen which she did with admirable skill, unexpected from a tribal woman. Then on, she was asked to take over the daily chores, except during those days when, ‘madi’ was strictly observed such as shradham, amavasya tharpanam etc. The daily prasadam’ for Appa’s Sivapoojai was always prepared by Amma only. Every evening Appa spent an hour with the kids for teaching prayer songs at dusk and then our school lessons. The first lesson I learned from him was ‘”suklambaradharam Vishnum.
‘Initially, learn the slokams with correct pronunciation, without missing or changing a single word,’ he instructed, making us to sit before a kuthuvilakku, brass lamp, after cleaning our hands and legs. ‘Later, I will teach you the meaning’.
His sitting posture, bared chest and a clean white double veshti covering lower part, vibhoothi marks on his forehead and other appropriate places, Tulasi malai hanging from his neck, surfaces several time in the pool of mind, whenever it is clear and when it becomes turbid too’
‘Keep you pool always clean ,‘ Parasu adviced asked, ‘don’t allow filth and fish to enter ?’
‘’Filth and fish will always enter a pool unless it is a cement tank protected from all the sides including the top,’ BB replied. ‘And mind is not a sealed cement tank’
To continue
Oh! Parama Sukham – Chapter 05
Family life is a flower garden;it need to be nourised
When nothing else to prescribe, hope acts as a wonderful drug. But hope is not a substitute for fact
A most agonizing awaiting it was – to have a glance of the girl whom I had never met before though she would be mine the next morning. On such occasions, pleasure and pain, anxiety and helplessness play carom in your mind and each movement of the coins increases your heart-beat. I was as restless as a cat locked inside a house.It was a self-inflicted, utterly meaningless, mental torture -I realize now, as we do in many cases when reason displaces emotion, although I admit that there was a charm in that waiting which I would have missed if, instead of finer feelings, reason was the master of the day. Reason has often pushed me to a corner and allowed emotions to have a hay day which did cost me heavily at times.Every relative, close and not that close, friends and even sub-ordinate workers were introduced to my elders but there was no talk or trace of the bride. Silver, brass and copper vessels, jewels, clothes and all sundry materials to be sent along with the girl to her husband’s house were presented with unwanted gestures and explanations but there was no talk or trace of the girl who was to occupy the center stage soon. It appeared that the men and women had gathered there only to chit chat, gossip and celebrate their union and not ours.I sharpened again and again my eyes and ears in vain, not to miss my girl’s shadow or gurgle.
”This stick for ‘kasi yatra’ was specially brought from Nagerkoil”- someone announced proudly. ” Who wants your stick, man ? ” I wanted to ask him, but didn’t.
‘Before disappointment could devastate my mood, I could hear the authoritative high pitch of my father:
“P.M.S!” he called the family head and chief host,” where is my daughter-in-law? I am seeing here, half the women population of this town but not her!”
You are so sweet, dad.
“I am just waiting for an auspicious moment to release my golden parrot.” P.M.S replied respectfully but firmly.
“I hope it won’t be very far” my father commented, “ my worry is that my son, in the meantime, doesn’t pick up a sparrow or dove and fly away. I see quite a few of them around here and for them, the auspicious time would have already started.”
“Damn with his auspicious time” Parasu decried the delay in presenting the bride.
When I asked him whether I could sneak in Parasu replied, ” you can’t do that. you are the bride groom. Your father and other elders are still here and only your mom has gone inside”. He sat in a corner, had a good chew got up and called me outside and advised showing the compound wall. “There is only one way, a bit dangerous though” he said, “jump over that wall with the help of that hanging tree-branch. I just saw your girl pulling water from the well, behind the wall. Meet her and return quickly. The whole operation should be over within five minutes; I will wait here. But remember, I won’t be responsible for the consequence, which might be bad, if you are caught red-handed ”
l had never done that before-crossing the compound walls intentionally though purely out of juvenile and later adolescent and later middle- aged madness, I had attempted to peep through the window to know what was happening on the other side of my own house in odd hours. But now out of sheer necessity, I was prepared to 0bey my cousin’s caring advice , instead of waiting in the hall and looking at the face of every moving object, clad in pattusari.
“promise me that you will not go away” I pleaded, worrying how bad the situation could go, if I were caught by some pattar who would have straight walked into his matured middle age and later to a monotonous old age without crossing through the vibrant and valuable young age.
Pardon me for my crime if you can, I did cross the Wall although with some minor bruises.
Clearing the dust and mud on my clothes, I looked up towards the well. Ah, ‘ she’ was there pulling water from the well.
I went near and whispered, gasping.
“Look here, daughter of Krishna Iyer! Excuse me for addressing you, the way our epic characters are addressed. I don’t know your pet name and the name given in the invitation card is too long. Parasu has given only five minutes for the whole operation; I can’t afford to spend two minutes out of that, for addressing you, by that long name.
“Now, let me come to the point. I have come to marry you as suggested by my parents. Though you are not my dream girl, I like you. Now three minutes are over.
You can have a good look at me. I am now turning 360 degrees so that you can have my back view too.
Say ‘yes’. I will jump over that compound wall and go back, the way I came. Say ‘no’, I will jump into this well. By appearance you don’t seem to have the strength to pull me out of the well. Four minutes are over.
“And, I warn you, I don’t know swimming”
She looked at my face and cooed with a mischievous smile,” I will never allow you to jump into the well as I liked the way you jumped over the compound wall. But wait a minute, please. Let me have a word with my elder sister, whose name is printed on the invitation card, before I say ‘yes’ to you. Now, how many minutes are over, athimbar( sister’s husband)?”
My arrow disastrously deviated from its object and hit at a dangerously deceptive-looking atom bomb. I had crossed the wall, expecting to visualize a lightning; but I had to listen to a thunder. Things were definitely going out of my control. I became crazy.
Then “she” came like a much awaited dawn from behind the clouds and her bejeweled hands flew a mild slap on the other girl’s face and turning towards me , she said, ” I apologize for my sister’s naughty behavior”
“So, it looks you are my dream girl!” I managed to say a few words, though not very coherently. She didn’t have the dazzle of a cine star or the sophistication of a city girl. She was fair, slim, simple, unassuming, tender like a jasmine creeper and fragrant like a lotus flower. What attracted me most was her innocent smile, brightening her calm face . I liked her. However, as a matter of abundant caution, I didn’t open my mouth this time.
“Hope you didn’t get hurt while jumping over the wall! Why all this ‘vepralam’- restlessness and mischief?” she asked with an innocent look. “You could have straight come inside. You are our close relative and have every right to come inside the house and talk to me.”
Was it so simple?
It was; otherwise the moment the egg broke, the bird would not have risen high so fast and soared so high beyond the clouds.
“How do you feel now?” I asked her while walking together towards the drawing room where the two families had assembled.
“Feeling like a princess in a fairy tale,” she said, slowly, dreamily, ” when her prince crosses a high wall to meet her”
When we entered the drawing room, my father’s powerful eyes didn’t miss to notice the satisfaction on my face. In those days, we were not aware of the ‘thumbs up’ signal. So we just smiled.
“Chellappetty edudi-get my betel- leaf casket!” he commanded mother.
There were many messages in that command. His approval of the girl, his satisfaction in my approval of the girl and her approval of me and above all, the elation that the family name was kept up by my concurrence to my father’s decision taken without consulting me.
After the introduction was over, we had a wash and snacks with coffee was served. Chami pattar, finished his eating quickly and entered the kitchen. With an air of authority, he boasted to the person standing there, “I am bridegroom’s maternal uncle”
“Welcome, sir!” the person in the kitchen, greeted, “may I be of any service to you?”
“I want you to pack immediately eight or ten iddlies, two or three dosas, undiluted chutney and chilly powder separately, along with some sweet cakes. The hot coffee could be in a big flask.
“Sir, you are our respected guest and we, from the girl’s side, are here to obey your orders. All the more so, because you are the maternal uncle of the bride groom. You alone have the right to shift the groom on your shoulders tomorrow morning and help him to throw garlands on the neck or head of the bride, depending on their- height parity and your stamina.
It is therefore, absolutely necessary to build-up your comically thin body-frame. I am not revealing a secret; the girl’s maternal uncle, like you, also is a weight-lifter and if necessary you can depend on him, to shift your whole family on his shoulders.
“I have finished my eating and I cannot eat more than two iddlies. The packets I am asking for, are for my wife who is sick and therefore unable to come to the dining hall”
“That is fine. Please wait for five minutes”
While handing over the food packets, he said,“ Please take care of your sick wife; the load you are carrying might perhaps injure her digestion track”
When Chamipattar was leaving the kitchen, with the packets in his hand, the kitchen supervisor called him.
“I know that you are in a hurry, but I am compelled to detain you for one more minute.Come closer please. I want to reveal a secret to you” He then whispered in pattar’s ear.
” You could have thought of some other relationship; I am the maternal uncle of the bride groom!”
Pattar was shocked and tried to escape from there, but my uncle would not allow that. “However, you have saved me from a traumatic tomorrow”
Pattar blinked and my uncle explained,” I need not carry the bride groom on my shoulders tomorrow, you see, because you have to do that job.
But sir, remember my caution: the opponent is a monstrous weight-lifter.”
Pattar struggled to escape from there but my uncle would not leave his hold on him.
“Try to recollect,” he told him, ”you might perhaps, be the bridegroom’s paternal uncle”
“Could be”
“Then, shall I pack a few more packets?”
Chamipattar did not wait to answer. He rushed with the packets in his hand towards a house, not far away.
You know what; He had a ‘sambandham’-extra-marital relationship with a non-brahmin woman, long ago, while he was working at T’puram. In fact, the main purpose of his visit to the city was to say hello to his sweet-heart. Who won’t like to carry a gift to his woman, meeting after a big gap and could there be a better gift, than the one he had in his hand, which he got free?
”This stick for ‘kasi yatra’ was specially brought from Nagerkoil”- someone announced proudly. ” Who wants your stick, man ? ” I wanted to ask him, but didn’t.
‘Before disappointment could devastate my mood, I could hear the authoritative high pitch of my father:
“P.M.S!” he called the family head and chief host,” where is my daughter-in-law? I am seeing here, half the women population of this town but not her!”
You are so sweet, dad.
“I am just waiting for an auspicious moment to release my golden parrot.” P.M.S replied respectfully but firmly.
“I hope it won’t be very far” my father commented, “ my worry is that my son, in the meantime, doesn’t pick up a sparrow or dove and fly away. I see quite a few of them around here and for them, the auspicious time would have already started.”
“Damn with his auspicious time” Parasu decried the delay in presenting the bride.
When I asked him whether I could sneak in Parasu replied, ” you can’t do that. you are the bride groom. Your father and other elders are still here and only your mom has gone inside”. He sat in a corner, had a good chew got up and called me outside and advised showing the compound wall. “There is only one way, a bit dangerous though” he said, “jump over that wall with the help of that hanging tree-branch. I just saw your girl pulling water from the well, behind the wall. Meet her and return quickly. The whole operation should be over within five minutes; I will wait here. But remember, I won’t be responsible for the consequence, which might be bad, if you are caught red-handed ”
l had never done that before-crossing the compound walls intentionally though purely out of juvenile and later adolescent and later middle- aged madness, I had attempted to peep through the window to know what was happening on the other side of my own house in odd hours. But now out of sheer necessity, I was prepared to 0bey my cousin’s caring advice , instead of waiting in the hall and looking at the face of every moving object, clad in pattusari.
“promise me that you will not go away” I pleaded, worrying how bad the situation could go, if I were caught by some pattar who would have straight walked into his matured middle age and later to a monotonous old age without crossing through the vibrant and valuable young age.
Pardon me for my crime if you can, I did cross the Wall although with some minor bruises.
Clearing the dust and mud on my clothes, I looked up towards the well. Ah, ‘ she’ was there pulling water from the well.
I went near and whispered, gasping.
“Look here, daughter of Krishna Iyer! Excuse me for addressing you, the way our epic characters are addressed. I don’t know your pet name and the name given in the invitation card is too long. Parasu has given only five minutes for the whole operation; I can’t afford to spend two minutes out of that, for addressing you, by that long name.
“Now, let me come to the point. I have come to marry you as suggested by my parents. Though you are not my dream girl, I like you. Now three minutes are over.
You can have a good look at me. I am now turning 360 degrees so that you can have my back view too.
Say ‘yes’. I will jump over that compound wall and go back, the way I came. Say ‘no’, I will jump into this well. By appearance you don’t seem to have the strength to pull me out of the well. Four minutes are over.
“And, I warn you, I don’t know swimming”
She looked at my face and cooed with a mischievous smile,” I will never allow you to jump into the well as I liked the way you jumped over the compound wall. But wait a minute, please. Let me have a word with my elder sister, whose name is printed on the invitation card, before I say ‘yes’ to you. Now, how many minutes are over, athimbar( sister’s husband)?”
My arrow disastrously deviated from its object and hit at a dangerously deceptive-looking atom bomb. I had crossed the wall, expecting to visualize a lightning; but I had to listen to a thunder. Things were definitely going out of my control. I became crazy.
Then “she” came like a much awaited dawn from behind the clouds and her bejeweled hands flew a mild slap on the other girl’s face and turning towards me , she said, ” I apologize for my sister’s naughty behavior”
“So, it looks you are my dream girl!” I managed to say a few words, though not very coherently. She didn’t have the dazzle of a cine star or the sophistication of a city girl. She was fair, slim, simple, unassuming, tender like a jasmine creeper and fragrant like a lotus flower. What attracted me most was her innocent smile, brightening her calm face . I liked her. However, as a matter of abundant caution, I didn’t open my mouth this time.
“Hope you didn’t get hurt while jumping over the wall! Why all this ‘vepralam’- restlessness and mischief?” she asked with an innocent look. “You could have straight come inside. You are our close relative and have every right to come inside the house and talk to me.”
Was it so simple?
It was; otherwise the moment the egg broke, the bird would not have risen high so fast and soared so high beyond the clouds.
“How do you feel now?” I asked her while walking together towards the drawing room where the two families had assembled.
“Feeling like a princess in a fairy tale,” she said, slowly, dreamily, ” when her prince crosses a high wall to meet her”
When we entered the drawing room, my father’s powerful eyes didn’t miss to notice the satisfaction on my face. In those days, we were not aware of the ‘thumbs up’ signal. So we just smiled.
“Chellappetty edudi-get my betel- leaf casket!” he commanded mother.
There were many messages in that command. His approval of the girl, his satisfaction in my approval of the girl and her approval of me and above all, the elation that the family name was kept up by my concurrence to my father’s decision taken without consulting me.
After the introduction was over, we had a wash and snacks with coffee was served. Chami pattar, finished his eating quickly and entered the kitchen. With an air of authority, he boasted to the person standing there, “I am bridegroom’s maternal uncle”
“Welcome, sir!” the person in the kitchen, greeted, “may I be of any service to you?”
“I want you to pack immediately eight or ten iddlies, two or three dosas, undiluted chutney and chilly powder separately, along with some sweet cakes. The hot coffee could be in a big flask.
“Sir, you are our respected guest and we, from the girl’s side, are here to obey your orders. All the more so, because you are the maternal uncle of the bride groom. You alone have the right to shift the groom on your shoulders tomorrow morning and help him to throw garlands on the neck or head of the bride, depending on their- height parity and your stamina.
It is therefore, absolutely necessary to build-up your comically thin body-frame. I am not revealing a secret; the girl’s maternal uncle, like you, also is a weight-lifter and if necessary you can depend on him, to shift your whole family on his shoulders.
“I have finished my eating and I cannot eat more than two iddlies. The packets I am asking for, are for my wife who is sick and therefore unable to come to the dining hall”
“That is fine. Please wait for five minutes”
While handing over the food packets, he said,“ Please take care of your sick wife; the load you are carrying might perhaps injure her digestion track”
When Chamipattar was leaving the kitchen, with the packets in his hand, the kitchen supervisor called him.
“I know that you are in a hurry, but I am compelled to detain you for one more minute.Come closer please. I want to reveal a secret to you” He then whispered in pattar’s ear.
” You could have thought of some other relationship; I am the maternal uncle of the bride groom!”
Pattar was shocked and tried to escape from there, but my uncle would not allow that. “However, you have saved me from a traumatic tomorrow”
Pattar blinked and my uncle explained,” I need not carry the bride groom on my shoulders tomorrow, you see, because you have to do that job.
But sir, remember my caution: the opponent is a monstrous weight-lifter.”
Pattar struggled to escape from there but my uncle would not leave his hold on him.
“Try to recollect,” he told him, ”you might perhaps, be the bridegroom’s paternal uncle”
“Could be”
“Then, shall I pack a few more packets?”
Chamipattar did not wait to answer. He rushed with the packets in his hand towards a house, not far away.
You know what; He had a ‘sambandham’-extra-marital relationship with a non-brahmin woman, long ago, while he was working at T’puram. In fact, the main purpose of his visit to the city was to say hello to his sweet-heart. Who won’t like to carry a gift to his woman, meeting after a big gap and could there be a better gift, than the one he had in his hand, which he got free?