Nurungukal   contd ............

                                My eldest brother who was working in a government department in Khozikode brought seedlings of a Chambakam and a grafted mango. I still remember how much care mother had taken to grow them. Both started flowering after 3 to 4 years. Every morning mother used to go round and round them in search of flowers and fruits. She was so happy the day when she located a mango and used to show it to all those who visited our house. In the first year there were only  one or two  golden yellow flowers on Chembakam and their fragrance was so nice. Similarly the mango fruits also tasted so sweet. Over the years the production increased. Me and my younger brother used to pluck the flowers and fruits very carefully under the strict supervision of mother. We had special hooks to pluck so that the mango will not fall on the ground and get damaged. Chemkam branches are very tender so we used a long pole with a fork at the top while we balanced on the lower branches. Both of them gained popularity as mother used to offer the produces to each and every important visitor, explaining their characteristics. The demand for the Chemkam flower grew especially among the Muslim ladies.Initially they were given free. Later a buyer came forward to market them. We called him Koya. A tiny person. Low in wight and adept in climbing to the top. He would precariously balance even on tender branches and collected the flowers briskly. Every noon he will appear and announce his attendance by a  loud call AMMAAA and started his work without waiting for permission. By the time mother woke from her short nap he would have spread the flowers on the front varandha. He took only the best ones and others  were offered to mother free !!.I remember that mother got only 2 or 3  nayapaise per flower were as he sold them at a premium price of 25 paise to his regular customers. But mother never asked for a better price. She would only say if questioned that let him have a livelihood !!. The most interesting part of this business was that he would often take back the amount given to mother as loan which remained unsettled !!.He continued this for many many years . Then slowly thee were long gaps in his visits . Much later we came to know that his call Ammaaaa will be never heard. He succumbed to dreadful disease Thus another link in mothers livelihood chain was cutoff !!!.