The day had begun at 4 and Lekha was quick to make the morning cup of tea for the both of us. I'd actually, got up at 3 and finding that sleep was difficult to come by, said my prayers. We're ready by 6 but the caretaker wasn't available and hence were delayed by about 15'. As we passed the 'Sarpakkaavu' at Randalummoodu junction, I'd got down to deposit our offering at the receptacle kept there for the purpose - a habit that we've picked up from mom.
Our first halt was at the Ganapati kshetram at Kottarakkara where while Lekha had an elaborate 'darshan', I'd a short one. Half an hour later we'd resumed our journey and since it was comparatively early, the crowd was manageable to maneuver the car through! We, then, had the car topped up with fuel and the tyres' pressure checked at the petrol bunk that we frequent. The journey through the Punalur-Kayankulam road was smooth as the crowd was just picking up.
We're at the Kalpakavadi Inn by 8 and Bhadran was ready with his customary smile and pleasantness. Wolfed down 'appams and egg masala', washed it down with a cup of tea and resumed our journey. There was a scare about piling of traffic at the Kundannoor junction at Ernakulam - owing to the doctors' meet at the convention hall at the junction - that was passed on by the RJ on the FM channel, Radio Mango, Salini and I'd made a mental note to detour via the Thoppumpady route, through the Willingdon Island and had informed Lekha about it, when the same RJ went on to announce that the Thevara Junction - that came by soon after the Island - was also clogged! I decided to press on, on the Kundannoor route and to our relief, found that the clutter had dissipated by then!
A brief stop to ease ourselves at the swanky wayside stopover, ten kms after Angamaly and we're on time for lunch at the Saravana Bhavan short off the Paliyekkara toll! Nair, who'd come on the afternoon duty, had a strange request - my contribution for his house building as his grant from the panchayat was taking its own sweet time! I told him that I'd contribute my mite by the first week of next month! And later, for the nth time, Lekha tried to impress upon me to say an emphatic 'no' to such requests. It's my weakness, perhaps, of not being able to say 'nyet', especially, to Nair, who smilingly receives us whenever we visit the place, opens the car doors, sees us safely through the rains with his umbrella and he was always at hand to help mom, during our numerous visits with her!
We're at 'The Quarterdeck' by a half past 2 and I went about opening up the house while Lekha did the unpacking! A quick snooze for an hour after which we went about our usual chores and the soiled clothes were put into the washing machine. The walk was nice and met many of the usual people that I come across and it was a quiet evening, thereafter!
Tailpiece.
We'd clocked a distance of 580 kms this time and were able to do all that we'd wanted. Great!
Our first halt was at the Ganapati kshetram at Kottarakkara where while Lekha had an elaborate 'darshan', I'd a short one. Half an hour later we'd resumed our journey and since it was comparatively early, the crowd was manageable to maneuver the car through! We, then, had the car topped up with fuel and the tyres' pressure checked at the petrol bunk that we frequent. The journey through the Punalur-Kayankulam road was smooth as the crowd was just picking up.
We're at the Kalpakavadi Inn by 8 and Bhadran was ready with his customary smile and pleasantness. Wolfed down 'appams and egg masala', washed it down with a cup of tea and resumed our journey. There was a scare about piling of traffic at the Kundannoor junction at Ernakulam - owing to the doctors' meet at the convention hall at the junction - that was passed on by the RJ on the FM channel, Radio Mango, Salini and I'd made a mental note to detour via the Thoppumpady route, through the Willingdon Island and had informed Lekha about it, when the same RJ went on to announce that the Thevara Junction - that came by soon after the Island - was also clogged! I decided to press on, on the Kundannoor route and to our relief, found that the clutter had dissipated by then!
A brief stop to ease ourselves at the swanky wayside stopover, ten kms after Angamaly and we're on time for lunch at the Saravana Bhavan short off the Paliyekkara toll! Nair, who'd come on the afternoon duty, had a strange request - my contribution for his house building as his grant from the panchayat was taking its own sweet time! I told him that I'd contribute my mite by the first week of next month! And later, for the nth time, Lekha tried to impress upon me to say an emphatic 'no' to such requests. It's my weakness, perhaps, of not being able to say 'nyet', especially, to Nair, who smilingly receives us whenever we visit the place, opens the car doors, sees us safely through the rains with his umbrella and he was always at hand to help mom, during our numerous visits with her!
We're at 'The Quarterdeck' by a half past 2 and I went about opening up the house while Lekha did the unpacking! A quick snooze for an hour after which we went about our usual chores and the soiled clothes were put into the washing machine. The walk was nice and met many of the usual people that I come across and it was a quiet evening, thereafter!
Tailpiece.
We'd clocked a distance of 580 kms this time and were able to do all that we'd wanted. Great!
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