Nurungukal...contd...

   Unlike today the bus moved from one point to another very slowly.She waited for the commuters and the luggage to be loaded on the top. Many merchandise were brought to Ponani market each day, especially betel leaves,dried medicinal plants etc. The conductor was a friend of every passenger. They exchanged pleasantries and maintained a relationship, which is not in vogue now.At Edappal she waited for a long time to pickup the passengers from the buses from Guruvayur and Anakara. By the time I got down at Kundukadavu jn it was nearing seven in the morning. Our house was about a kilo meter away and I covered it on foot. The tea shops en route were just beginning to prepare their kitchen. The usual sound of the scratching of coconut to prepare PUTTU reminded me of the croaking of the frogs at the on set of the monsoon.From some, the aroma of fine tea brew pierced my nostrils, followed by the sound of poring tea from one mug to another. It is now known as meter tea, as the maker lifted the hands to a meter height while poring the brew from on pot to another and vice versa.

         Mother was waiting for me at the veranda in her usual pose, leaning on the pillar. As I climbed the steps she hurried to me and hugged affectionately. I felt tensed as one or two tear drops from her eyes fell on my back. It was so every time after the death of our father. Within seconds she was normal and asked me whether the train was in time. I said yes and went inside. She wanted to know about my programme and how long my stay would be. I said after seeing the girl I had to hurry back as it was the probation period. Tomorrow myself and my eldest brother had planned to visit the girl and after that I would leave for Madras.

        She had prepared soft dosai and very tasty arachukalakki [one of her specialities] and I devoured a few dosai as if I was starving for a few days. She was sitting near to me and narrating each and every event that took place around her in meticulous details. One or two women from the Mahila Samajam came to consult her on some issues pertaining to the running of a tailoring unit and a teacher from the adjacent LP school to invite her to participate in a function. I was wondering from where did she get the energy to be so active even at that age.

       In the evening I went to pay visit to some of our relatives and every where I met the old ones only. The youngsters had gone in search of better pastures.Ponani had changed much. I could not locate many of my childhood friends. When I reached back mother was eager to know the welfare of her relatives. At dusk I found that she had not broken any of her old routines. The lighting of sandhyadeepam and reading the first and last ten stanzas of narayaneeyam were done without showing any fatigue. After enjoying her tasty dinner we retired for the day. I was once again brooding on the next days event....contd....