Had got up around a half past 5, gone through the chores and had gone to Chattukulam to wait for the vehicle going to Ivar Madhom, one of the preferred cremation spots on the banks of the River Bharathapuzha at Thiruviluamala. It had been decided that Radhan chettan's body would be cremated there against his wish to rest beside his younger brother, Sasi chettan, in the backyard of their house at Puthuppally, to avoid unpleasantness (The presence of Sathi chechi would have irked his first wife and the eldest son).
We'd set off by a quarter past 8 and the 75 odd km, northward, were covered within two hours. Alappurathe Babu chettan and Puthuvayil Babu chettan sat near and gave me a running commentary on the life and times of Radhan chettan, who seemed to be a renegade in the family. His pastime during his high school days was to play cards, funded by the money surreptitiously acquired from selling paddy from the house or stolen coconuts from the farm, nearby! It was to stop these antics of his that Muthachhan took him, under his wing, to Thiruvananthapuram, for schooling, in classes IX and X.
After joining the state's road transport corporation, as a conductor posted on the Kottayam-Neelamperoor route, he proved to be a ladies' man and broke the hearts of many a girl(A judge's daughter and a college lecturer were at the receiving end!) In the former case, his dad had to tell him to keep off, after her dad's complaints........ I realised that his younger siblings revered him for being the rebel-without-a-pause, all through his life, despite the fact that he had not been of any help to the family.
'DR', as he was known at his work place, is remembered for his integrity, earnestness at work and a no-nonsense man among his contemporaries and juniors!
We reached Ivar Madhom by about a half past 9 and by about 10' to 10, his earthly form was blanked off from sight - once for all - as the shroud was put over the body, before the lighting of the pyre. What must have gladdened his soul was that all his three sons were present to carry out the last rites - he was sure that his eldest son wouldn't join and had asked his second son, the policeman, to lead the proceedings! (And he did just that despite the presence of his elder brother). I believe he'd also asked his two younger daughters-in-law to look after Sathi chechi after he passed into eternity because he'd not done anything for her!!
We returned soon after and I was back at 'The Quarterdeck' by lunchtime.
Tailpiece.
The ophthalmologist was mortified when I'd said that I wasn't bothered about my high sugar readings because it was notwithstanding the fact that I go for regular walks, both in the morning and in the evening, do a bit of yoga, have controlled my sugar, as well as, food intake. She has advised me to take care and asked her brother, a diabetic specialist, to take care of me. I meet him this Friday!
We'd set off by a quarter past 8 and the 75 odd km, northward, were covered within two hours. Alappurathe Babu chettan and Puthuvayil Babu chettan sat near and gave me a running commentary on the life and times of Radhan chettan, who seemed to be a renegade in the family. His pastime during his high school days was to play cards, funded by the money surreptitiously acquired from selling paddy from the house or stolen coconuts from the farm, nearby! It was to stop these antics of his that Muthachhan took him, under his wing, to Thiruvananthapuram, for schooling, in classes IX and X.
After joining the state's road transport corporation, as a conductor posted on the Kottayam-Neelamperoor route, he proved to be a ladies' man and broke the hearts of many a girl(A judge's daughter and a college lecturer were at the receiving end!) In the former case, his dad had to tell him to keep off, after her dad's complaints........ I realised that his younger siblings revered him for being the rebel-without-a-pause, all through his life, despite the fact that he had not been of any help to the family.
'DR', as he was known at his work place, is remembered for his integrity, earnestness at work and a no-nonsense man among his contemporaries and juniors!
We reached Ivar Madhom by about a half past 9 and by about 10' to 10, his earthly form was blanked off from sight - once for all - as the shroud was put over the body, before the lighting of the pyre. What must have gladdened his soul was that all his three sons were present to carry out the last rites - he was sure that his eldest son wouldn't join and had asked his second son, the policeman, to lead the proceedings! (And he did just that despite the presence of his elder brother). I believe he'd also asked his two younger daughters-in-law to look after Sathi chechi after he passed into eternity because he'd not done anything for her!!
We returned soon after and I was back at 'The Quarterdeck' by lunchtime.
Tailpiece.
The ophthalmologist was mortified when I'd said that I wasn't bothered about my high sugar readings because it was notwithstanding the fact that I go for regular walks, both in the morning and in the evening, do a bit of yoga, have controlled my sugar, as well as, food intake. She has advised me to take care and asked her brother, a diabetic specialist, to take care of me. I meet him this Friday!
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