Nurungukal  contd......

                                Calicut was commercially an important destination in Malabar. The Big Bazar was famous for whole sale trade of almost all the items we need. Rice was a main commodity. Brokers facilitated the deals. The retailers purchased stocks through these brokers . The price of the commodities were fixed between the broker and the wholesaler in a peculiar manner. By holding their fingers under a towel will finalise the deal Then the broker negotiates with the retailer . The buyer is kept in dark the price agreed between the broker and whole saler.  From early morning Bullock carts will start arriving from  far and near. By noon the market will be crowded with bullock carts and  trolleys of varying capacity. The  loading and unloading  of goods will be over by 3 to 4 pm  and the market  will be deserted by late evening.

                                Traders from different parts of India mainly Gujaraties had settled down in Calicut. Gujaraties were known as Settus. There is a  street  named Gujaraty street. Nagji Purushotham Das was a very famous umbrella manufacturer. Those days there was a foot ball tournament  in his name and in which many popular teams from all over India took part. A team from Pakisthan also used to participate.

                                The towering chimneys of many tile factories in  Feroke made beautiful silhouettes as the sun made a slow dip into the Arabian sea. The timing of their sirens was synchronised to give an effect of the sound of many bugles playing in chorus. The Kallai river banks were full of huge logs of wood , mainly from Nilambur forest waiting to be sawed in one of the many saw mills.  They looked like rows of hippos basking in sun  on the banks of an African river.

                The  positive energy that we earned at Calicut beach was either  from the ecstasy of witnessing  an enchanting sun set  or by mingling in a vibrant crowd or in making a sand castle or by crumbling a few roasted pea nut pods, or by the intake of an  ozone rich breeze, I did not know. With much reluctance we bid good bye. On the way back a walk through the Sweet Meat street {S.M. STREET or MITTAYI THERUVU } was a different experience. Rows of shops selling many sweets,garments , toys , books etc  with luminous bulbs glaring at you was a sight to watch. As a grand finale we for the first time in our life enjoyed  the taste of Masala Dosai and filter coffee from the famous Shantha  Bhavan hotel.  That night we slept with these sweet memories  . But next day we bade farewell to Calicut with a hope to return at the very next opportunity.