Nurungukal....contd....

                We were experiencing a financial crunch. The expenditure for the higher education of my elder brothers and the marriage of my sister were managed from the income derived out of the sale of coconuts. But this was not sufficient to meet our day to day expenditure.Often father used to draw advance from our coconut trader Hamsa. As my brothers were away , I was often assigned to go to him to collect the proceedings after settling the account. Since there would be an advance payment Hamsa was clever enough to reduce the price very low. In such cases farmer is always left at the mercy of the trader. Hamsa was living far away in  the coastal area in his ancestral house. I used to cover the distance on foot. He will be relaxing on an easy chair. A short  man with a shaved head always wearing a white cap and a white check cloth secured by a green broad belt showing his muscular body. On seeing me he would raise his head and will ask ‘enthey menon kuttiye bannu’.  I will tell him that father wanted five hundred rupees as advance. Then with much hesitation and enquiries about the next crop he would oblige to give just half of what I have asked for. He will count the notes three or four times before handing over and will say the total dues till then taken by father. Just when I am about to leave, he will offer a glass of tea which I very politely  avoided. By now it will be time for me to go to school and on quick heels I would return home through a footpath which passes in front of many houses. Often I had to  dodge  the attack of dogs and even some hostile cows. Then in hurry after taking the break fast [usually rice porridge] we will rush to school.