To Kochi.

It's Hemant's wedding tomorrow between 1030 and 1130 hrs. His dad, Ramachandrettan - Rema's brother-in-law and Padmakumar's elder brother - makes it a point to attend every function that the extended family invites him to and therefore, there's no question of skipping an event at his house. His wife had passed away a few years back and he lives his life on his terms, keeping himself busy while pursuing his personal interests like for example, there's no major temple festival - anywhere in Kerala - that he has missed over the years!

We left 'The Quarterdeck' at a quarter past 12 and this time, I'd taken the NH 17 via Kodungalloor, because of the traffic snarls enroute to Thrissur. My neighbour had already warned me about the spate of potholes on this highway but boy it turned out to be worse, they're at times difficult to maneuver as they lay distributed all over the width of the road. Steering the Chevy clear of them was a difficult task but in the final analysis, I think I did a good job because Lekha did not have any adverse observation at the end of the journey!

We'd headed straight for the naval canteen to buy our monthly requirement of grocery and after a quick snack at the nearby cafe, we headed for my friend's place at Kadavantra. We reached there on the dot at 4 and over a cup of coffee, discussed many things of interest to the four of us. We'd be missing their company over the first half of the evening as they're in receipt of a dinner invite, at short notice and seemed to be feeling bad for leaving us to ourselves. We'd to tell them that we'd no difficulty to while away time as there were plenty of things that we'd to do which would keep us adequately busy during the period of their absence.

But they'd returned within an hour or so to be with us and thus, the second half of the evening was racy, that overshot on time, eventually.

Tailpiece.

Recalling the jottings from my diary of last year, Dr. Jimmy George, the Medical Specialist from the clinic next door, had made a house call around a half past 4 to see my mom. Meanwhile, I'd jotted down a list of difficulties that my mom had told me about which I'd dutifully shown the doctor. As I showed him out of the house, I remember asking him, "Doctor, is there anything to worry. Is there a requirement to shift her to a hospital?" She'd slowed down considerably over the past week but it was the effect of the antibiotic, I thought and felt optimistic after the doctor's prognosis. He'd continued as he got onto his two wheeler, "Captain sir, I and my family are going to Kumarakom for the weekend and will return on Sunday. On Monday, I shall come and see Amma and make adjustments on the intake of the medicine that she takes for her Parkinson's syndrome". Little did I realise then that Amma had other plans.....  

I was at ease after hearing the doctor but, in hindsight, what I feel bad about is that not once did the thought come to me of doing the 'Sayanapradakshinam' around the sanctum sanctorum of Guruvayurappan. Had I done it, she'd have been with us now, for sure. I'd performed it earlier, two years back, for her good health with positive results!