The class get together - day 2.

The day'd started quite early today too. I was up around 5 and went about my morning chores as usual and was out of my cottage by 0600h for my customary walk. The weather was splendid with a bright sun and a blue sky.

Jose Cherian(310) was my partner, in which, we'd walked outward for 15' and retraced the path during the remaining 15'. It was during this session that I came to know of his wife's passing away a few years back, consequent to a massive cardiac arrest, while she awaited a surgery to remove a malignant growth in her uterus. They've a son who's currently working in the US. Jose keeps himself busy, these days, by working in a reputed hospital at Kochi as its administrator. He continues to be the simple guy that I knew him to be since school and this story should abundantly illustrate it.

On our return leg, we came across a friend who seemed worried about the fact that he didn't have a maroon/black shirt to match with the others in the group photograph that was planned soon after breakfast. Jose offered his - I'd presumed that he'd two - but when I saw him wearing a totally different coloured shirt for the event, I realised that it was his way of helping the other, so what if he'd to avoid it in the bargain? Great guy!

The group photograph in the prescribed colour combination and rigs was definitely the Kodak moment of the day. The tricky job for me, before the event, was to help Lekha wear her saree because I'm too clumsy. The photograph will be another great takeaway from the event.

And soon after, it was time for the houseboat cruise which lasted for about 41/2 hours on the Vembanad lake. It was a great time for interaction with the buddies from school, as we cemented our relationships further. Two games of 'Tombola', antakshari between the gentlemen and the ladies punctuated, appropriately, with a scrumptious lunch and a high tea.

The evening entertainment session and the game, 'Queen Of Sheeba' were wholesome with enthusiastic participation all round.


Tailpiece.

My rendition of a couple of Malayalam evergreens and the Jamaican Farewell - based on popular request - was lapped up wholeheartedly. The thought about the break up tomorrow saddens me....how many of us will make up the quorum two years from now? It gets me negative thoughts and I hate them......so, I shall hope for the best with the participation by the ones that were absent this time, seeing the fantastic time that we had, gleaned from all the uploads of videos/photographs of the present!   

On a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

The day'd begun at 4 to ensure that we took off at 7 in my car. Last evening I'd prevailed upon Suresh Laxman and Sindhu to travel along with us. The boot was, consequently, loaded with personal luggage and the mementos to be given away at the 'GTG@60' of our classmates. The journey was smooth with me taking the MC Road till Adoor to shift over to the NH 66(The old NH 47!) with two brief 'rest room halts' in between - during the first, we'd breakfast and the second was for fuelling the car and ascertaining the route.

We're at the 'Waterscapes', in Kumarakom, by 12 and the thrill and the excitement of meeting my classmates - I was meeting a few of them, for the first time, after passing out from school in '72! It was a boisterous lunch as people came in a slow, yet steady trickle. I made it a point to hug every classmate of mine that I came across - it was an ascertainment of the strong bond that exists amid us.

The 'Roll Call' was at 1630h at the dining hall where everyone was handed over a jute bag containing a saree, dhoti, two caps, the coffee table book that the class had prepared for the occasion and a memento that we'd meticulously filled the day before at the vet, Mohanachandran's house!

Tea, followed by a break and we returned to the same venue for the musical evening that I wished could go on......


Tailpiece.

A great moment and am glad that Lekha and I were in it. Her rendition of the 'Chandrakalabham.....' was lapped up by one and all.     

The 47th Alumni day.

It was yet another Alumni day of the Sainik School, Kazhakootam. Sarathchandran - my cadet when he was in class VI and I was his Prefect in the No.5 Dormitory in 1970-'71, will soon be taking over as an Army Commander - was the chief guest. We'd reached the school by a half past 10. I did meet many of my juniors in the course of my five hour stay within the school premises.

We'd reached Laxman's house after lunch and had spent a quiet evening.


Tailpiece.

It was an early evening because it's gonna be a long day tomorrow as we kick off for Kumarakom at Kottayam for the 'Get together@60'. 

A flurry of calls, a farewell and the frenzy of gift wrapping!

It was a leisurely morning at Indira kunjamma's house. Had washed down the car in the drizzle and by 10, we're off from the house. The first stop was at the Foundation's office where I could wrap up some unfinished work. And then we're off to Lekha's aunt at PTP Nagar, where we came to know that her uncle was admitted in a hospital for alarmingly low sugar levels.

We'd, then, set off to another aunt of her who'd undergone a complicated surgery to solve a difficult neurological condition, a few months back. After spending an hour with her and the family, we'd set off to the hospital where her uncle was admitted and had spent about an hour again, with the elderly couple. We'd, then, returned home to a lovely lunch that my aunt had prepared.

We left my aunt's place around teatime to head for my classmate, Laxman's place, where we're scheduled to spend the next one and a half days. It was while leaving, that we're informed about the passing away of a close relative whose house happened to be in the vicinity of my friend's house. Manikuttan chettan, all of 64 yrs, was undergoing treatment for cancer of the liver. He used to consider me a brilliant student, was fond of me and followed my professional growth very minutely. I'd gone to offer my condolences to the family and pray at his body, lying in state. The funeral was slated to be around 9 at night as he'd written in his diary that he didn't expect his near and dear ones to waste unnecessary time and money on unnecessary 'after death rituals'!

My aunt, from whose house we'd come off an hour earlier, was surprised to see me there as I hadn't told her about my intentions. My maman, was also there to offer his prayers around the same time and he'd just returned from Delhi, after an official trip.

It was, then, time to gang up at my classmate's house at Kazhakootam for the get together of a few of us classmates on the eve of our school alumni day. Our first task was to pack gifts for each member, into jute bags, to be presented to ourselves at our 'Get together@60' at Kumarakom, over the weekend. It was a heady evening with a tingling anticipation of the event that was conceived over three years ago!


Tailpiece.

A great evening with a select group of my friends!
   

At Thiruvananthapuram.

Exactly, at 6 AM, my mom along with my sister and brother-in-law had called up to wish me many happy returns as today's my birthday as per the Malayalam calendar.

I'd gone to drop Jojy and Mily at the embarkation point for their onward journey to their offices at 8 and returned soon after. After a quick bath and change, it was time to tuck in the scrumptious breakfast that was a Saly specialty and I think I did full justice to the task in hand!

After dropping Saly for some work at the bank, we're on the road, headed for Thiruvananthapuram. The traffic was nice - for a change - throughout the stretch of 213 km. Lunch was at 'Amma's Kitchen' near Karunagappally, an eating joint that has come to the limelight thanks to the tremendously popular television roadshow featuring highway eateries!

We're at my aunt's place by a half past 3. There was some work at the Foundation that required attention and therefore, I'd to make it there to finish the job. We, then, decided to club my little nephew, Kripashankar's birthday - which was a few days back - along with mine and went through the cake cutting and eating of the pizzas that were ordered, taking into consideration the youngster's wishes because his dad, being a merchant naval engineer, was out sailing!


Tailpiece.

It's another long day tomorrow when we begin calling on Lekha's ailing relations.    

   

My grand aunt's 103rd birthday.

It's Ammini Amma's 103rd birthday.

A slightly delayed morning and had dropped Jojy and Mily at their embarkation point at Kaloor by 7 in the morning. It was a leisurely day with me catching up with my mail and getting work done over the telephone. Around a half past 11, we'd fetched up my grand aunt's place which was teeming with friends and relatives. The birthday girl was decked up but displayed rare moments of recognition with a smile here and a gurgle there. She'd give me a hard stare and broke into the briefest smile when I'd addressed her by her pet name.

She was made to sit on a chair to cut the cake and as we gave her a hint of the Black Forrest by brushing it on her tongue, she seemed to enjoy its sweet taste. The point that struck me was that she was born before World War I and had gone through her life in a dignified manner, liked by everyone. She gave and had never hankered for anything from any one! Ramakrishnan, her son, adores her and is ever on his toes catering to her minute to minute requirements and the general feeling is that she continues to plod on for his sake!

Had gone to the medical shop that I used to frequent, two years back, while we're at Kochi. I must admit that I go there because that's one of the very few shops that entertain plastic money and while being on the move, it's a great boon. The salesmen and the lone lady at the counter made inquiries about my long absence.

The evening at the Officers' Institute was a pleasant one that rekindled old memories. We did meet a few friends and wound up fairly early but waiting for the 'cab on call' was a different ball game altogether and after waiting in vain for a while had to call up Felix to get my Chevy to ferry us.


Tailpiece.

Tomorrow, we'd be taking off for Thiruvananthapuram after dropping Jojy and Mily at their vehicle embarkation point, since their car has gone for servicing!

      

Onward to Kochi.

We could kick off at 0540h and after a light breakfast at our favourite haunt, the Nandas could be dropped at the airport before 8. The onward passage through the metro rail construction wasn't tedious as the regular office goers were yet to spill on to the roads in droves!

We're at the doctor's clinic by 9, a full hour before the appointed hour but had to wait an hour beyond before meeting up with the doctor. He was pleased to see Lekha's progress by virtue of the lab results, retained the same dosages of most medicines and reducing that of one and has asked us to meet him, next, on the 8th of March. There was ample time to visit the dentist.

We associate three dentists - Mallan, Winston and Sandip - with the clinic that we frequent. Today, we came to know of the passing away of Sandip about a couple of months ago. 42 year old Sandip, had gone for his morning workout at the gym, close to his house, where he suffered a massive cardiac arrest minutes into his first set of exercises on an equipment. The sad part is that he's left behind a young child and his wife, who's pregnant. I still remember his smiling face, when we'd met about two years ago when he'd shyly said that he, along with Mallan and Winston, would visit our place and spend time with us. That remains unfulfilled! 

I'm impressed with the dedication to the profession, shown by these doctors. Mallan had sorted out Lekha's dental problem and showed us the working of a sophisticated gadget, he's gonna introduce in his work, with the interest of an inquisitive teacher always in the quest of new ideas towards betterment of the work.

A quick bite at another favourite haunt of ours, followed by the buying of grocery and we headed straight to our friend's house where we'd be spending the next couple of days.


Tailpiece.

It was like getting back home within familiar surroundings. A thrilled Shanaya was out to entertain us, throughout the evening, with her nursery rhymes and the new things that she's learnt.