Mini and Sanil had started from Bangalore by a half past 2 in the morning. They reached Coimbatore and picked up Ammu and Mithun by about a half past 8. Rema was picked up an hour later and I'd asked them to come via Guruvayur so that I, too, could join the bandwagon.
It sounded selfish but I'd done a quick study to establish that this was indeed a route worth considering as it didn't exceed the Kuthiran one by distance. They reached the Little Flower College bus stop by a quarter past 12 as we didn't want to waste time by them entering 'The Quarterdeck'. Sanil and everyone else wanted me to drive and I took over the wheel and drove like a madcap because:-
(a) I wanted Sanil, Ammu and Mini to be able to see Jayan's mortal remains. It was their right,
after all. Rema and I also wanted to see him, of course.
(b) Wanted to prove that their decision, based on my suggestion was right, indeed.
(c) Both Rema and I'd wanted to board the Thiruvananthapuram-Guruvayur Intercity at 1840 hrs
from Kollam - after paying our tributes - so that we could be back home by midnight.
Lekha and her assistant had packed a delicious snack of paranthas with spicy lemon pickle and three bottles of cooled, boiled water. This was devoured by everyone with a relish that was satisfying to me, as an observer. It also precluded the requirement of stopping the vehicle at a wayside eatery to have lunch, by which we would have wasted valuable time.
Time, indeed, was at a premium and to my conservative estimate we'd reach Jayan's house only by about 1730 hrs, though, well ahead of the sunset time which was mandatory. Meanwhile, there were irritating calls from all and sundry to know as to where we were and Sanil, Mini, Mithun and Ammu reported positions that were a trifle ahead of our actual DR(Dead Reckoning position as used in navigation be it maritime, air or on terra firma!) to throw them off our backs!!
Over and above all these, I must admit that the journey was a difficult one because:-
(a) The weather was too hot for comfort.
(b) The car's air conditioning system was switched off as Ammu was allergic to it.
(c) The traffic was dense and horribly indisciplined!
The only thing that made it enjoyable was the continuous conversational entertainment that was in flow.
We reached Jayan's house at Valathungal in Kollam by a 5' to 6. The final 5 kms to his house was through a maze of narrow roads, teeming with vehicles, animals and with a railway level cross to boot - which had brought down its booms just as we neared it, delaying us further when every minute, nay second, counted! The traffic rules followed by the people, in that stretch of the road was foreign to me and downright crazy!
Finally, on reaching the funeral pyre, we found that everything was ready for the cremation on completion of the last rites and that everyone was waiting for us. Jayan's mortal remains were in view as we paid our marks of respect. His face was bloated and had taken on a dark hue with flecks of blood and we're told that his 'Potassium level' had shot up, towards his final moments, hastening his end! Ironically his friend, who was willing to donate a patch of his liver, had cleared his medical examination the day when he'd decided to bid adieu!
Tailpiece.
We met Ponni, her daughter, Janaki, Sanil's mom and many other elders - a gentle hug, a pat on the cheek were all that we could pass on to tell them that we, too, joined them in their hour of grief. Rema and I made a quick exit to the railway station only to find that we'd missed two trains to Guruvayur by a whisker and the next was past midnight! We, then, made a dash for the KSRTC bus stand, had a quick supper at a wayside eatery and boarded the 8 'o clock Fast Passenger to Thrissur. Though both of us had to stand for the first twenty kilometres because the bus was full, we got our seats and mine was the front seat, diametrically across the driver's and therefore, I'd a good view of the road and the traffic.
There was a Kodak moment on board when a young college girl slapped a young, bearded guy behind her who was up to mischief. The other passengers gave her support and he was disembarked forthwith. Her father had come to escort her home at Aroor. How I wish I'd carried a 'zaried' shawl to honour her for the strong stand that she'd taken!
PS.
Vishnu and Sheeja were in attendance for the funeral and also to meet me to get the papers/pay cheques signed.
It sounded selfish but I'd done a quick study to establish that this was indeed a route worth considering as it didn't exceed the Kuthiran one by distance. They reached the Little Flower College bus stop by a quarter past 12 as we didn't want to waste time by them entering 'The Quarterdeck'. Sanil and everyone else wanted me to drive and I took over the wheel and drove like a madcap because:-
(a) I wanted Sanil, Ammu and Mini to be able to see Jayan's mortal remains. It was their right,
after all. Rema and I also wanted to see him, of course.
(b) Wanted to prove that their decision, based on my suggestion was right, indeed.
(c) Both Rema and I'd wanted to board the Thiruvananthapuram-Guruvayur Intercity at 1840 hrs
from Kollam - after paying our tributes - so that we could be back home by midnight.
Lekha and her assistant had packed a delicious snack of paranthas with spicy lemon pickle and three bottles of cooled, boiled water. This was devoured by everyone with a relish that was satisfying to me, as an observer. It also precluded the requirement of stopping the vehicle at a wayside eatery to have lunch, by which we would have wasted valuable time.
Time, indeed, was at a premium and to my conservative estimate we'd reach Jayan's house only by about 1730 hrs, though, well ahead of the sunset time which was mandatory. Meanwhile, there were irritating calls from all and sundry to know as to where we were and Sanil, Mini, Mithun and Ammu reported positions that were a trifle ahead of our actual DR(Dead Reckoning position as used in navigation be it maritime, air or on terra firma!) to throw them off our backs!!
Over and above all these, I must admit that the journey was a difficult one because:-
(a) The weather was too hot for comfort.
(b) The car's air conditioning system was switched off as Ammu was allergic to it.
(c) The traffic was dense and horribly indisciplined!
The only thing that made it enjoyable was the continuous conversational entertainment that was in flow.
We reached Jayan's house at Valathungal in Kollam by a 5' to 6. The final 5 kms to his house was through a maze of narrow roads, teeming with vehicles, animals and with a railway level cross to boot - which had brought down its booms just as we neared it, delaying us further when every minute, nay second, counted! The traffic rules followed by the people, in that stretch of the road was foreign to me and downright crazy!
Finally, on reaching the funeral pyre, we found that everything was ready for the cremation on completion of the last rites and that everyone was waiting for us. Jayan's mortal remains were in view as we paid our marks of respect. His face was bloated and had taken on a dark hue with flecks of blood and we're told that his 'Potassium level' had shot up, towards his final moments, hastening his end! Ironically his friend, who was willing to donate a patch of his liver, had cleared his medical examination the day when he'd decided to bid adieu!
Tailpiece.
We met Ponni, her daughter, Janaki, Sanil's mom and many other elders - a gentle hug, a pat on the cheek were all that we could pass on to tell them that we, too, joined them in their hour of grief. Rema and I made a quick exit to the railway station only to find that we'd missed two trains to Guruvayur by a whisker and the next was past midnight! We, then, made a dash for the KSRTC bus stand, had a quick supper at a wayside eatery and boarded the 8 'o clock Fast Passenger to Thrissur. Though both of us had to stand for the first twenty kilometres because the bus was full, we got our seats and mine was the front seat, diametrically across the driver's and therefore, I'd a good view of the road and the traffic.
There was a Kodak moment on board when a young college girl slapped a young, bearded guy behind her who was up to mischief. The other passengers gave her support and he was disembarked forthwith. Her father had come to escort her home at Aroor. How I wish I'd carried a 'zaried' shawl to honour her for the strong stand that she'd taken!
PS.
Vishnu and Sheeja were in attendance for the funeral and also to meet me to get the papers/pay cheques signed.
No comments:
Post a Comment