Nurungukal  contd.....

                                My eldest brother joined Government service.His younger brother took up a job inBhavani Hydel project in amil Nadu as a mechanic.Next one  Angappettan  was employed as a Demonstrater in Victoria College Palghat.  It was in a summer holidays  that Angapetan made a benovalant gesture to take me and my kid brother to Calicut to show an ehibition . I remember that my parents were not prepared to send maily because that we did not have good dress to  wear in a city lie Calicut. It was decided to stitch a naw pair. Usually on such occasions when father did not have enough funds he raised a loan  from Mambetta stores.  Mother was very particular that the dress should be in a new style and she chose Bush Shirt and shorts { trousers }which  was a fashion in Burma When she was there many years ago !.Our tailer in Ponani was not familiar with the design. Mother dug out an old photograph of my elder brothers  wearing bush shirts . As mother was familiar with dress cutting it was easy for the tailer { gopalan } to stitch in exact measurements. We were in a different world  while walking through the streets of Calicut wearing the exclusive ly styled dress.

                                                The journey to Calicut was a new experence to us . At that time Kuttipuram bridge was not constructed. We had to reach Calicut via Tirur crossing Bharatha Puzha. We reached the Western bank of the river on foot covering a short distance in a country boat, as water was deep for us. Walking on the crystal like sand was tiresome as for making each step we had to pull out our feet  from the sand. As we were overwhelmed  some how caught up with others.

                                                From Chammaravattam to Tirur the journey was in a bus and from there in train. This was our first trip in train. Totally a new experience. A stam engine was pulling 3 or 4 compartments , blowing a shreeking whistle now and then . Many hawkers selling  fruits and pea nuts frequented the comartments and each time we looked at our brother  in eagerness. But he avoided  us  looking at the passing land scapes. The seating arrangement in the comp. Was diferent then. It was length wise and passengers sat face to face. The hawkers and afew daring boys  stood on the foot planks out side the train precariosly holding on the windows. We had done the same mode of travel after many years when we were college students. We reached Calicut after a prolonged journey. And by the time we steped out of train our dress was spoiled by black cosl powder...............................