Sunday, August 26, 2007

An Unforgettable Journey

This is about a journey, that took place 60 years back, which can never go out of my mind, but keep popping up once in a while. Let me go back to that day and take you through that unforgettable journey of my life.

My father was not rich in money, but was very rich in moral values. He was a respectable school teacher. Getting daughters married is a big thing in life. My father set out with proposal to get me married. His first visit itself was fruitful and my would be father-in-law said ok at first instance, and he had no demand for anything. No horoscope matching, no demand for any jewellery and no demand of any sorts. My would be father-in-law said "It is your daughter and whatever you give her is fine with us. We are looking forward to your daughter coming to our house". He wanted the marriage to be celebrated at his house (which is not common those days, and even now). At that time I was 16 and my would be husband was 19.

None from their house came to see me or my house. My mind was worrying about it. How is going to be my would be husband? Will he like me? How will be his parents? Will they like me? How will be his siblings? I have heard that it is a big joint family, and from a small family I am going to a big joint family. Will all they accept me with open mind? A fear was growing in my mind, and the fear kept coming up and down like waves in the sea. The marriage day was fixed.

Our houses were almost 30 miles away. We have to travel that much distance to reach their house, where the marriage will take place the next day. My father arranged a bus for us from the state transport department. Two people came from their house to take us there. That place was an interior village, where there are no good road and no electricity. We have to get down from the road and walk for about 30 minutes to reach their house.

Our house was near the main road and also very close to sea. My parents, my four siblings, neighbours and relatives, all are waiting for bus. Finally the bus arraived from the nearby town bus-stand, which is moer than 10 miles away. As the bus came late, we are already late to start. The driver was taking reverse to position the bus in the opposite direction, so that we can all board. The rear wheel of the bus got down in the loose sea sand, and it was not coming out. Half an hour they tried their best, but in no vain. Then they send a person to the nearby town bus-stand to inform the matter and for getting another bus. After one and hour, another bus came and we started our journey, a very important journey of my life.

We were helpless that we could not inform anybody at my husband's house, as those days there was no telephone facility in nearby areas. We knew that they would be very much worried. On the way we picked up flowers for the marriage. Also picked up my elder sister and family.

We reached the place at 12 midnight. With two petromax lamps (many young people these days would not have heard about such lamps) some people were waiting for us at roadside. It was January month. Outside was very cool, but my mind was filled with tension. Everyone is looking at me only. My mother put her hands on my shoulder and kept me close to her during our 30 minute walk in the middle of the night, that too on the eve of my marriage. We walked slowly. When we reached the house, we felt the tension of everybody there. On seeing us everyone got relaxed. Every one who came to attend the marriage came to see me, but except my husband. Of course, those days are not like today, where bride and groom spend lot of time together and understand before marriage.

How can I forget that journey! That journey was indeed a beginning of many things. Last 60 years of married life... saw difficulties and happiness of life... But we, me and my husband are very happy today to see my children doing well, my grand children doing well and also my great grand children growing well.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Six Roses

It was on my 60th birthday i received a persent. A simple water coloured pencil drawing of six roses. The person who gave the present told me each rose represent my each grand child. These six roses are very close to my heart. Each one better than the other. It was my eldest grand daughter who gave the present. She herself painted it. Each rose is different and has different personality, in the painting and also in reality.


About 7 years back I underwent a major operation. I have seen hospitaies only during my daughter's and daughter-in-law's delivery, and my husband's heart operation. I was afraid for operation. while I was praying and making my mind courageous, they took me to the operation theatre. Then i don't know what happened. When I regain my memory I am in ICU room. I heard my both daughter's voicees. They have come from their places, kerala and chennai. I felt relieved and realized operation over and went to long sleep. In the evening when I was awake, i heard familiar voices. To my surprise, I saw my three grandsons sitting in my room. Eldest one told me "Ammumma, I passed engineering in distinction. I am in hurry to tell you the good news". He said sadly. My second grandson came near me, taking my hand in his, just loooked into my eyes sadly. I felt the third grandson's tears. He could not speak anything. My two grand daughters send their mothers to see me. They took responsibility of their household. They must have felt, I will understand their love towards me through their mothers. The yougest of the six, third grand daughter was just watching me. She could not understand what is happening. My mind filled with love. I can't move, only watch them and feel their love. I thought how lucky I am. My grand children all love each other and my children and their spouses also love each other. As a mother and grand mother what else I need.

I think, a mother's heart is largest. one. When she becomes grand mother, it becomes more broad. All my grand children are equally important for me. Each one has their own loving style, like each rose is different in colour, different in size and has different fragrance. Every day my first job is to pray god that if my children and grandchildren have any problem, then please solve it. I believe their problems are surely solved. And all the six roses will spread fragrances for making everybody's life better.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Invisible Super Power

This is an experience that reinforces my belief that the superpower protects us, when we are helpless. We were living in an interior village in Kerala. Our house was like a farmhouse, in the corner of a 2 acre land of coconut farm. We made beautiful garden around the house. The coconut trees stand straight with hanging coconuts; Mango trees with mangoes during the season; one corner with many banana plants; and some rare trees also were there. Watching these trees and walking between them is enough to get relaxed.

All three of our children were not there at home. Two elder girls are with their husbands and son is away for his studies. Our elder daughter is working. Her first baby girl was with them, and they were managing the baby girl with the help of a maid servant, as both of them were working. Then the second child was born, a boy. We were worried about him, as how can they manage both? How can we leave an infant with servant? We decided to take him with us. We brought him, when he was just 6 months. He became out pet. We enjoyed every moment of his growth, his learning to walk, learning to speak, and all his naughtiness. We, me and my husband got fully engaged with him. We forgot all our sorrows those days. We really felt, the joy of grant parents. He also loved us very much. We cared him very much.

It was just 3 years before the child came home, that we got electricity at home. We were watering the coconut trees, other trees and the plants manually lifting water from a big pond very close to our house. As we got electricity, we bought a pump and fixed it near the pond, with a small cover over it to protect it from rain. We used long tubes to take water to far away trees. On the switchboard of the pump, we had an extra plug to fix an electric bulb. Even in the night, in the moonlight we use to water plants.

On a morning grandpa was watering the trees. He was in opposite corner of the courtyard. He was concentrating in his work. Just about one year old grandson was with me and were plucking flowers from plants in the garden. I was removing an insect from a leaf of one of the flower plants. I was pushing the insect down with a stick. I heard a thundering cry of my grandson... I rushed to him and took him and hugged and tried to console. I found him to be very frightened. Exactly when he started crying, the electricity also has gone. He clinched on to me and stopped crying. I asked him why he is crying? he pointed fingers to the switchboard of the pump. There was no bulb as the one which was there got fused and was taken for replacement.

I was trying to understand what happened. The electricity post from which we get the electricity for house is just near the pond and the pump. When the baby put his fingers in the bulb holder, suddenly the electricity from the post stopped.

I believe, when the boy put his fingers in the bulb holder, the invisible superpower saved us. Thank god. Otherwise? I have no strength to imagine that.