The state highway 1 (the old MC Road) had a lot of narrow stretches owing to the widening work being carried out. I was driving through it after a long, long time. We reached Chingavanam by a half past 10 and had turned off for Puthuppalli and it was on this stretch that I'd made the maximum number of errors, in that, turns were overshot and directions changed four times as milestones were missed! At one stage, there was this massive cow that was obstructing the small road towards our destination - the scene was really comical with Rema trying to mollify her to get off the road.
By the time we reached Mullasseril House, it was a half past 11 but weren't they glad to meet Chandramathykutty Amma's children! Maheswari peramma's close relatives were very much there and on arrival, we headed straight for the old lady's cremation spot. After telling her the reason for our delay and after praying for her, we settled down in the house. Got to know the details of her last few weeks as she took in a lot of pain thanks to breaking her hip due to a nasty fall.
Met and interacted with her eldest son, Radhan chettan's first wife, Ammini chechi, her third son, Shyju, his wife, Deepthi and daughter, Aavani, the younger son, Sasi chettan's wife Valsala chechi, their daughters, Dhanya and her husband, Sreekumar and children, Devanarayanan and Niranjana and Divya and her husband, Prakash. It was great to catch up with them and listen to the small, small things that interest and actuate them.
Valsala chechi was insistent that we had lunch and after the scrumptious food, we left the house by about 3 o'clock. The return traffic was nice as the vehicles plying were not that heavy despite it being the peak time. We turned off from Adoor, onto the Kayankulam-Punalur road and dropped Rema, at Pidavoor. Amma was out on the courtyard, interacting with a three-year-old-boy staying across the house! She returned our wave, not fully registering as to who we were, but Rema briefed her in time and we saw her break into that familiar smile!
We were back at Raj Nivas by about 5, for a piping hot cup of tea made by my niece, Ammu. It was yakkitiyak, once more as the evening slowly rolled into the night. There were a lot of people who had called on, the most notable among them being Lalachan, who was recruited into the Army, thanks to my friends, the Banerjees when they were at Jalandhar during the late '80s. He's now retired and working on a contract basis for the ISRO.
Tomorrow, is the trip early morning to Paravoor, to be in time for Kurup kochachhan's 13th day ceremony. Should be able to meet up with most of my relations from my mother's side! Looking forward to that!!
Tailpiece.
Felt satisfied with the way the day had shaped up.
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