Nurungukal  contd.....

                                Ever since our sister’s marriage we spent a few days in our brother- in- law’s house at Anakara during holidays.. It used to be always eventful because  his sister’s children were of our age except the last one who was a child then.  From Neeliyad it is a brisk walk on a serpentine mud road. On both sides of the road there were a stretch of lush green paddy fieldld. As if giving a company a canal flowed  with a mummer occasionally interrupted by the call of a water fowl. On the banks of it  healthy bushes of KAITHA provided shelter to many lower creatures like turtles. Mongoose and many species of fish. During night we heard the loud howling of packs of fox calling each other in chorus. There were  a few old mansions built of late rite and tiles at the foot of the hillocks adjacent to the paddy field, struggling to show up a past  feudal  glory. And the horizon far away was silhouetted with a row of  low mountains beyond which Nila flew majestically.

                                During such journeys Chathu the trusted assistant was our companion and caretaker. He would guide us with utmost humility, carrying our bags till we reach safely the destination with out uttering a word, but putting up a contended smile. For the service which he offered to our family till his retirement  I with all humility record here a word of gratitude and respect. Since I had many occasions of close association with him till I left Ponani after getting employed in Railways, I can with out any reservation vouchsafe his sincerity and loyalty to our family.

                                As there were no phone connection , our arrival was always a surprise and they jumped in joy.There were many  exclusive events which we enjoyed only in Anakara. My brother –in-law’s sister was  so lovable and gracious. She made sure that our stay on each occasion was memorable . It was a home away from our home. She used to take care of every thing we need . The food she specially made for us was  so tasty and delightful, especially her  recipe of dried sharks . I do not know  whether any of her daughters has acquired that talent .

                                Their house was on the slope of a hillock facing a long stretch of paddy field. Arecanut was their  main crop.In summer the arecanut trees were irrigated by drawing water from a deep well with the help of bullocks. It was known as KALA THEKU. In Ponani we drew water by hand lifting. The water is fetched from the well in an iron basket. The bullocks are brought near to the well and when the water is scooped in will be lifted as the bullocks  are lead forward. As the basket with water reaches the top it will be tilted by the operator by a rope {THUMBI } on which he is sitting . The whole exercise takes only a few minutes and the water will gush through the channels with force.  It needs  some  experience to  operate the system , especially to control the animals.