Mom had wanted to look up her 'ma'asi'(Mrs. PN Panicker's younger sister) for quite a while. This morning, we'd kicked off, for Ettumanoor, at 9 as there was a break in the rains. After visiting the Siva temple, we reached Kochammachi's house an hour later.
She's all of 93 years and looked frail but broke into a wide smile on sighting my mom. Their vibes were discernible and I took in every minute of the occasion with an attendant curiosity. Mom fed her a sweet dish prepared by her and the old lady seemed to relish every morsel. The conversation had begun from the time my mom had gone and stayed with this aunt of her's, years back. For us, present at the occasion, it was a part of our family history being unreeled, in chronological order, with the utmost clarity and the only sadness was that many of the protagonists - a majority of them actually - were no more amid us as they'd passed into the mist of time, over the years.
It was with a heavy heart that we'd left the grand old lady of the family. What gladdens me is that she doesn't take any medicines and all her faculties are in fine fettle. Walking, though, has become a problem as she's attained a harsh stoop and therefore, she spends most of her time on the sofa of the sitting room taking in the view of the entrance to her house and keeps track of everyone coming in.
Our next place of call was at young Vani's house. She's my cousin's wife, who's into her final stages of pregnancy while her husband is away sailing. I'd insisted that we should not forewarn them about our arrival and therefore, there was surprise writ large on each of their faces on seeing us! What enchanted me most was the chirpy grandmother of Vani, who's quite active at 89 years. It was a sheer treat to hear her talk and the way she made her folks provide us with a continuous stock of eatables. The way she could recite the 'slokas' from the scriptures, highlighting their meaning, confirmed the fact that she was a walking encyclopedia! Being with her for almost three hours was simply interesting!
And the last visit was at my mom's kid brother's house. After spending a while there, we'd started on our return leg and hit torrential rains, at the outskirts of Kochi. We're back in the safe environs of our house much before sunset!
Tailpiece.
1. It was as though the weather gods had played along with us and ensured that our trip went through like a song, without hitches. Earlier in the week I'd told mom that we'd make the trip only if the rains would stay away, albeit, for a short period.
2. We also had the entire family of my dad's younger brother, later in the evening, for dinner. Time has taken a toll on my aunt as she shuffles from one place to the other but the beauty about her is that she's not lost her smile.
3. Indeed, a day well spent!
She's all of 93 years and looked frail but broke into a wide smile on sighting my mom. Their vibes were discernible and I took in every minute of the occasion with an attendant curiosity. Mom fed her a sweet dish prepared by her and the old lady seemed to relish every morsel. The conversation had begun from the time my mom had gone and stayed with this aunt of her's, years back. For us, present at the occasion, it was a part of our family history being unreeled, in chronological order, with the utmost clarity and the only sadness was that many of the protagonists - a majority of them actually - were no more amid us as they'd passed into the mist of time, over the years.
It was with a heavy heart that we'd left the grand old lady of the family. What gladdens me is that she doesn't take any medicines and all her faculties are in fine fettle. Walking, though, has become a problem as she's attained a harsh stoop and therefore, she spends most of her time on the sofa of the sitting room taking in the view of the entrance to her house and keeps track of everyone coming in.
Our next place of call was at young Vani's house. She's my cousin's wife, who's into her final stages of pregnancy while her husband is away sailing. I'd insisted that we should not forewarn them about our arrival and therefore, there was surprise writ large on each of their faces on seeing us! What enchanted me most was the chirpy grandmother of Vani, who's quite active at 89 years. It was a sheer treat to hear her talk and the way she made her folks provide us with a continuous stock of eatables. The way she could recite the 'slokas' from the scriptures, highlighting their meaning, confirmed the fact that she was a walking encyclopedia! Being with her for almost three hours was simply interesting!
And the last visit was at my mom's kid brother's house. After spending a while there, we'd started on our return leg and hit torrential rains, at the outskirts of Kochi. We're back in the safe environs of our house much before sunset!
Tailpiece.
1. It was as though the weather gods had played along with us and ensured that our trip went through like a song, without hitches. Earlier in the week I'd told mom that we'd make the trip only if the rains would stay away, albeit, for a short period.
2. We also had the entire family of my dad's younger brother, later in the evening, for dinner. Time has taken a toll on my aunt as she shuffles from one place to the other but the beauty about her is that she's not lost her smile.
3. Indeed, a day well spent!
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