My prayer.

Every day early morning this little girl would come to the temple and stand before the idol, close her eyes and with folded hands, murmur something for a couple of hours. Then open her eyes, bow down, smile at God's statue and go out running. This was a daily affair.

The priest was observing her and was curious about what she was doing. He thought, she is too small to know the deeper meanings of religion, she would hardly know any prayers. But then what was she doing every morning in the temple?

Fifteen days passed and the priest now couldn't resist but to find out more about her behaviour.

One morning, the priest reached the temple before the girl and was waiting for her to complete her ritual. He placed his hand on her head and said, "My child, I have seen since the last fifteen days that you come here regularly. What do you do?"

"I pray". She said spontaneously.

"Do you know any prayer?" asked the priest with some suspicion in his voice.

"No". Replied the girl.

"Then what are you doing closing your eyes, every day?" the priest smiled.

Very innocently the girl said, "I do not know any prayer but I know only a,b,c,d......up to Z. I recite it five times and tell God that I don't know your prayer but it cannot be outside of these alphabets. Please arrange the alphabets as you wish and that is my prayer".

And she ran, jumping her way out of the temple. The priest stood there dumbstruck, staring at her for a long time as she disappeared running in the wilderness.

Do we have such unconditional belief in our prayers?

Tailpiece.

Got up at 4 thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm, the chores and was ready by 6. Earlier, we'd conducted the usual Wednesday aarathi of the house. Sajish, our sa'arthi, came late at a half past 6 and we set off soon after. We took the Kodungalloor route, had breakfast around 8 o'clock, short of Ernakulam - Lekha had made idlis and tomato chutney. Our tea was at Aroor.

We reached Padmakumar's place, at Pidavoor, by about a half past 1. Spent some time at Amma's cremation spot and also the 'asthithara'. Offered our condolences to each and every member of the family. Rema, my sister, gave us a great lunch and we yakkittiyakked! Ramachandrettan, Bharathi chechi and Aji were the others there. Lekha's elder sister, Letha and her help, Thankamani had dropped by from Kottarakkara, as planned by the two sisters. 

After sitting with all of them for about half an hour, we were off on our return trip to Guruvayur by about a trifle after 2. As we were pulling out of the driveway, I looked through the rear window of the car - just hoping like mad to see Pidavoor amma, with folded hands, wishing us a happy journey! 

......That's something that I shall miss forever in this life of mine!