We'd got up at a half past 5, thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm, went through the chores and were ready on time. George, with his vehicle was at our gate on the dot, by a quarter to 8. Just after we'd taken off, I realised that I'd forgotten my cellphone and had to go back to retrieve it. George hit the road at a frenetic pace because we needed to reach Palakkad by 10 and visit the Manappully Kaavu temple prior to that!
George told us about the passing away of his young granddaughter within six weeks of her birth - she was the second child of his younger son and daughter-in-law. The little one was born with an unformed skull and had a whole lot of complications. I could just console him by saying that it was good that the l'il one had left this world early without having to fight her medical problems for long!
Somewhere enroute, he narrowly missed hitting a tempo truck who'd strayed into the middle of the road from a road side parking space. I didn't check his speed even after that.
We'd breakfast of idiappams and vegetable stew along with coffee at the Aryas in Pattambi. Reached Palakkad at the appointed hour. Lekha's lawyer friend was there along with Jamaal, Dipu and Mohammad who gave us the details of the deal - Lekha's dad's house, finally, has a buyer and the paper work was to be initiated today. Since Lekha's sister and her husband had informed us that they were caught up in a traffic jam and would be delayed by two hours, we took off for the Manappully Kaavu Devi temple.
Alas the sanctum sanctorum was closed but the office was open which facilitated Lekha to pay for the special puja and floral offerings for Ganesh and the goddess. We returned to the advocate's office and by then, everyone concerned had arrived. We, then, were taken to the buyer, Baby's house for the signing of the papers and light refreshments. Things went off without a hitch.
And it was then that Lekha and I made peace with her sister and brother-in-law after a lapse of almost five years. He was teary eyed when he said that he'd wanted to befriend us much earlier but was not sure as to how I would reciprocate! I've said earlier that I could be nasty! After saying our byes, we set off back for Guruvayur.
Lunch was at Chithrapriya, a nice restaurant by the way side and we continued our journey within half an hour. There was another narrow miss with an errant autorickshaw. We reached The Quarterdeck by 4 and saw off George.
A quick boarding of our luggage and we were out of the house, on a southerly direction, this time. The wait at the Paliyekkara toll was for about 15' and a quick tea and snack was had at the Anand Bhavan, near Chalakkudy. Vasu had looked after us well and there was hardly any delay. I was driving during dark hours - much to my detest - after a long time! The roads have been done up and the traffic was manageable throughout.
Supper was at Motel Araam at Alappuzha around a half past 8. The drive, subsequently, was free of glitches and we reached Raj Nivas by a half past 11. The caretaker was there to receive us with the house unlocked and all lights burning. He still couldn't figure out as to why we were so late.
The unpacking was swift, a quick wash and change, thanked and sent away the caretaker - the poor man was awake just for our sake!
Tailpiece.
Must say that we enjoyed our journey, accomplishing everything that we'd had in mind. Tomorrow is gonna be a long day, with me and my sister, accompanying my maman and his sisters for a special puja at the family's ancestral temples at Koduppana, Kainakiri. Lekha, meanwhile will attend the quaint ceremony at her elder sister's place, where the second daughter-in-law is being ceremoniously taken to her house at the seventh month of pregnancy. I shall be meeting her early in the morning to wish her.
On return, we need to look up our old farmhand, Suresh, who has commissioned a new, swanky house for himself
George told us about the passing away of his young granddaughter within six weeks of her birth - she was the second child of his younger son and daughter-in-law. The little one was born with an unformed skull and had a whole lot of complications. I could just console him by saying that it was good that the l'il one had left this world early without having to fight her medical problems for long!
Somewhere enroute, he narrowly missed hitting a tempo truck who'd strayed into the middle of the road from a road side parking space. I didn't check his speed even after that.
We'd breakfast of idiappams and vegetable stew along with coffee at the Aryas in Pattambi. Reached Palakkad at the appointed hour. Lekha's lawyer friend was there along with Jamaal, Dipu and Mohammad who gave us the details of the deal - Lekha's dad's house, finally, has a buyer and the paper work was to be initiated today. Since Lekha's sister and her husband had informed us that they were caught up in a traffic jam and would be delayed by two hours, we took off for the Manappully Kaavu Devi temple.
Alas the sanctum sanctorum was closed but the office was open which facilitated Lekha to pay for the special puja and floral offerings for Ganesh and the goddess. We returned to the advocate's office and by then, everyone concerned had arrived. We, then, were taken to the buyer, Baby's house for the signing of the papers and light refreshments. Things went off without a hitch.
And it was then that Lekha and I made peace with her sister and brother-in-law after a lapse of almost five years. He was teary eyed when he said that he'd wanted to befriend us much earlier but was not sure as to how I would reciprocate! I've said earlier that I could be nasty! After saying our byes, we set off back for Guruvayur.
Lunch was at Chithrapriya, a nice restaurant by the way side and we continued our journey within half an hour. There was another narrow miss with an errant autorickshaw. We reached The Quarterdeck by 4 and saw off George.
A quick boarding of our luggage and we were out of the house, on a southerly direction, this time. The wait at the Paliyekkara toll was for about 15' and a quick tea and snack was had at the Anand Bhavan, near Chalakkudy. Vasu had looked after us well and there was hardly any delay. I was driving during dark hours - much to my detest - after a long time! The roads have been done up and the traffic was manageable throughout.
Supper was at Motel Araam at Alappuzha around a half past 8. The drive, subsequently, was free of glitches and we reached Raj Nivas by a half past 11. The caretaker was there to receive us with the house unlocked and all lights burning. He still couldn't figure out as to why we were so late.
The unpacking was swift, a quick wash and change, thanked and sent away the caretaker - the poor man was awake just for our sake!
Tailpiece.
Must say that we enjoyed our journey, accomplishing everything that we'd had in mind. Tomorrow is gonna be a long day, with me and my sister, accompanying my maman and his sisters for a special puja at the family's ancestral temples at Koduppana, Kainakiri. Lekha, meanwhile will attend the quaint ceremony at her elder sister's place, where the second daughter-in-law is being ceremoniously taken to her house at the seventh month of pregnancy. I shall be meeting her early in the morning to wish her.
On return, we need to look up our old farmhand, Suresh, who has commissioned a new, swanky house for himself
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