Exactly after 40 days, Lekha and I set off from my parents' place today at 7, in the morning. Yesterday, the garage had reported that it would bring my car on 09 Jun, duly repaired. They'd buttoned up the spare, received after a long wait. What needed to be done was to charge the system with the requisite oil and test drive the car before handing it over to me.
That's how I'd requested the caretaker for a cab and he zeroed in on Vishnu's Swift. Things were tied up owing to two reasons viz.
(a) There was no point in waiting for the lockdown to get over.
(b) There was also no point in making Lekha take over the household chores, in toto, with her
discomfort.
(c) There was nothing much I was accomplishing by being at Thalavoor.
Lekha had got up at 4 and went about her morning chores. I got up half an hour later and went about the final lap of shutting down Raj Nivas. What I was worried about was as to how Chakki and her kittens would be managed by the caretaker.
We were ready by a quarter past 6 but we'd decided to go across to Pidavoor by 7, so that Rema had adequate time to prepare the breakfast! Vishnu had come along around that time with his shining Neptune Blue coloured car. The luggage was neatly arranged in the boot and we kicked off by 7.
Met everyone at breakfast, especially Pidavoor Amma and chatted with everyone as we popped in crisp poories and vegetable curry. It was heavenly and Rema had also got our packed lunches ready. And without much ado, we set off on our journey by a quarter to 8. I was only carrying a 'declaration' saying that I was taking Lekha to her doctor at Ernakulam. I think we were checked at eight places by the policemen on duty who let us off without any hassles.
They were noting down the vehicle numbers, the starting place and the destination! Gave me the impression that they were basically building up statistics to cover their period of duty making sure that they didn't create problems for the general public!
We reached Mallan's Dental Clinic at Muhamma by a half past 10. He met us about half an hour later as he was tending to a patient. He told us to how he was able to save his parents from Covid but his mother-in-law, aged 77, had lost the battle leaving his father-in-law all by himself. The last 45 days were tough on him, poor guy.
We discussed the suggested plan of action to sort out Lekha's dental problems as her molar at the affected side had fallen off a fortnight back. He has given Lekha a battery of tests to be taken before the actions would be put into place and we've to crosscheck with her rheumatologist before embarking on the dental work that would be done by Dr. Mallan,
While Lekha had her lunch earlier than us, we both had it by a quarter past 1 at a wooded place by the roadside, short off Kodungalloor. We reached The Quarterdeck by a quarter past 3.
The house was opened up, the bags were emptied and the clothes separated for subsequent actions. Kittu, came by soon after, had milk from us before doing the disappearing act. Our maid says that he's with a gentleman staying outside our gate who looks after 54 stray animals! Kittu, definitely, looks well fed and healthy.
We went about our usual evening chores. The caretaker says that Chakki refused to budge from under the dining table at the Raj Nivas!
Tailpiece.
And just now I hear that the lockdown has been extended to the 16th and PM Modi has said that the union government will provide free vaccines to one and all.
Vishnu reached his house by about 10' to 10'. He drives well and is a nice boy.
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