I shall narrate a story, without getting into the specifics, as it revolves around a relation within the family.
An uncle of mine and his sister - younger to him - were the only siblings for their parents and they were part of a well-to-do family of their village. Both the children were provided good education by the parents and at the right moment, they were married off to two families that had their own standing. The daughter and her husband were in Singapore and mind you, this was in the early '60s when the going was good and they enjoyed a life of luxury.
Let me call the daughter, Lekshmi. She and her husband sired three children, two daughters and a son - the son being the youngest. They bought up a lot of prime property in their village and soon became wealthy enough, to be known far and wide within that environment. Their prime possessions were acres of rubber plantation, a typewriting institute having over twenty machines providing typing courses to the youth - very popular among job seeking youngsters, then - and a cinema hall. In fact, I and my cousins used to look forward to going there, see the movies and strut around with a proprietorial(?) air at that cinema theatre! (What used to amuse me, though, was that there used to be an interval after every reel as there was only one projection system!!).
Apart from the landed property that she and her husband had acquired with their wealth, she had also got a sizeable share of the family property thanks to the matriarchal system that we Nairs followed.
Her husband passed away in '91, sad that his son had not settled in life.
Lekshmi's daughters have done well and are well settled. Their children are also doing well. The son has been quite a rebel all through his life and gave his mother tough times, demanding money every now and then which she used to oblige as she was very fond of him. He never concentrated on his studies, did not pass through High school even, as he'd got into bad company, picked up bad habits and in the process, hit the bottle hard. This girl, then, came into his life through an arranged marriage and everyone thought that it would steady up his life but it was not gonna be so. The share of his parents' wealth, that he was handed over, was frittered away thanks to his wayward ways!
The girl, Mini, was tough, went through adversities coupled with her husband's drinking binges and went about life without blaming anyone for her plight. I had interacted with her only a couple of times but had felt the steel resolve of her persona. To accentuate that aspect I must tell you that she, even, stood for the Panchayat elections and lost to her adversary by a narrow margin!
She was suffering from fever towards the end of last week, which she treated herself by popping Crocin tablets, without medical advice. Early, this week when her condition didn't improve, she was rushed to the hospital but it was too little, too late and she passed into the mist of time at the young age of 46 yrs and has left behind her husband and a son.
Adieu Mini! My tears and prayers!! May your near and dear ones have the strength to tide over their tremendous loss!!!
Tailpiece.
The Chandrayan-2 orbiter has located the lander on the Moon's surface. Hope to hear more positive news, on this aspect, in the days to come.
An uncle of mine and his sister - younger to him - were the only siblings for their parents and they were part of a well-to-do family of their village. Both the children were provided good education by the parents and at the right moment, they were married off to two families that had their own standing. The daughter and her husband were in Singapore and mind you, this was in the early '60s when the going was good and they enjoyed a life of luxury.
Let me call the daughter, Lekshmi. She and her husband sired three children, two daughters and a son - the son being the youngest. They bought up a lot of prime property in their village and soon became wealthy enough, to be known far and wide within that environment. Their prime possessions were acres of rubber plantation, a typewriting institute having over twenty machines providing typing courses to the youth - very popular among job seeking youngsters, then - and a cinema hall. In fact, I and my cousins used to look forward to going there, see the movies and strut around with a proprietorial(?) air at that cinema theatre! (What used to amuse me, though, was that there used to be an interval after every reel as there was only one projection system!!).
Apart from the landed property that she and her husband had acquired with their wealth, she had also got a sizeable share of the family property thanks to the matriarchal system that we Nairs followed.
Her husband passed away in '91, sad that his son had not settled in life.
Lekshmi's daughters have done well and are well settled. Their children are also doing well. The son has been quite a rebel all through his life and gave his mother tough times, demanding money every now and then which she used to oblige as she was very fond of him. He never concentrated on his studies, did not pass through High school even, as he'd got into bad company, picked up bad habits and in the process, hit the bottle hard. This girl, then, came into his life through an arranged marriage and everyone thought that it would steady up his life but it was not gonna be so. The share of his parents' wealth, that he was handed over, was frittered away thanks to his wayward ways!
The girl, Mini, was tough, went through adversities coupled with her husband's drinking binges and went about life without blaming anyone for her plight. I had interacted with her only a couple of times but had felt the steel resolve of her persona. To accentuate that aspect I must tell you that she, even, stood for the Panchayat elections and lost to her adversary by a narrow margin!
She was suffering from fever towards the end of last week, which she treated herself by popping Crocin tablets, without medical advice. Early, this week when her condition didn't improve, she was rushed to the hospital but it was too little, too late and she passed into the mist of time at the young age of 46 yrs and has left behind her husband and a son.
Adieu Mini! My tears and prayers!! May your near and dear ones have the strength to tide over their tremendous loss!!!
Tailpiece.
The Chandrayan-2 orbiter has located the lander on the Moon's surface. Hope to hear more positive news, on this aspect, in the days to come.
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