As days went by, we got used to not having Akkachi around. I drop and fetch my sisters each day from their school and at 6 pm I go for my piano practice. Saturday is the most busiest day at home. Amma goes to the wet market early in the morning and buy fish and meat and then cook for a week. When I went in to the kitchen Amma was making fish curry.
“Do you want any help Amma?”
“No, get out of the kitchen, You children will give me double work.”
“Ok” I walked out of the kitchen. I didn’t understand what my mother’s problem was. If she doesn’t want any help, too bad, I thought.
There were too many dried leaves on the courtyard. I thought,I might as well sweep it. I haven’t done it before. I took the broom made with the ribs of the coconut leaves. I have seen Akkachi turning it first and hitting the handle to make sure that the handle is even. I did that, then I tried to fan it like Akkachi did. So far so good. I had to bend down and sweep the leaves. After 5 secs I got up and straightened my back.
“Oh, your back is hurting eh? Now you know how hard house work is!!!, All of you think life is easy.!” I didn’t know Amma was watching me. I ignored her. Akkachi can sweep the whole courtyard in 10 minutes. It must have taken me atleast an hour and I still haven’t finished the front courtyard.
“Nina” I heard someone calling me
I looked up to watch Akashavani aunty standing near the main gate.
“Is your mother home?”
“Yes aunty. Why?”
“I need to talk to her about something”
‘Oh god, what does she want to talk to Amma? Is she going to fight with Amma for me talking to her son yesterday? I didn’t actually speak to him. He was the one who was speaking to me.’
I ran in to the kitchen and told Amma
“Akashavani is outside, she wants to talk to you”
Amma switched off the gas stove and wiped her hand on the edge of her saree. I followed right behind Amma.
“Are you busy?” Akashavani asked Amma
“Not at all. I was just making fish curry.There was fresh seer fish(neymeen) at the market this morning. It isn’t often I see good fish here. So I bought 2 kg of fish. I just finished making fish curry, later I fry some as well.”
“Ah cooking. You are so lucky that you have daughters. At least they help you in the kitchen. My sons are so lazy!.”
“My daughters helping me? You must be joking. They are so lazy, I feel sorry for the man who will marry her.” Amma pointed her hands at me
“I helped you to sweep the courtyard this morning Amma”
“Yeah right, she thinks, sweeping the courtyard one day is considered a major work” Amma was laughing at me.
“Right. From now on you can sweep”. I dropped the broom stick on the floor and walked inside
“See how touchy she is? You can’t tell anything to her. She gets angry, just like her father. Nina, put the broom stick back where it belongs”
I ignored her.

Amma went out in the afternoon. I was so angry with her for lying to Akashavani. I asked her if she needs any help in the morning. I spend the afternoon playing with my sisters. Around 5 pm, I heard someone opening the gate.
‘hmmm, she came back early today? Today the crows will fly upside down’. I thought.
“Nina, I think Amma is home” Liza spoke
“Yeah, I will go and make coffee for her, before she starts her complaints”.
I was just about to enter the dining room and that is when I heard a familiar whistle. There is only one person that I know who whistles like that. No, it is not possible. I must be imagining. I continued to walk to the kitchen, expecting Amma to open the door any minute. I heard the whistle again. Liza was running towards me
“Did you hear that Nina?”
It took me a moment to fully understand what is happening. I ran to the door and opened it to see my wonderful father standing outside
“Appa, why didn’t you tell us you are coming” I ran to him. The joy I felt seeing my father after such a long time was beyond explanation. He carried me and kissed me on my forehead. Liza and Sally too ran to him.
“My goodness, you have all grown so much, I wonder if the clothes I bought for you would fit anymore.”
“Let me go and pay the taxi driver”. We were still clinging on Appa.
“Children, let go off me for a minute. I need to pay the taxi driver.”
Nobody moved. Eventually, Appa carried Sally, Liza held one arm and I walked on the other side holding Appa’s elbow. The taxi driver helped Appa to get the bags from the roof rack. Appa lowered Sally down, so he could get the money from his purse and pay the driver. All the nieghbours were looking at us. I felt like a princess. The king has come home.
After taking the bags inside Appa asked me
“Nina where is your mother?”
My heart missed a beat. I was so scared. What am I going to tell him?
“She was here just 5 minutes ago Appa. She just went out to buy something Appa”. Liza looked at me and I winked at her, hoping she would understand my hint and not to open her stupid mouth and say anything.
“I will make some coffee for you” I ran to the kitchen
Few seconds later I called Liza
“Liza, come here, I need your help”. She didn’t bother to come
I heard Appa telling Liza
“Your sister is calling you, go and see what she needs”
I saw Liza walking to the kitchen angrily
“What” She asked me
“Shhh, I kept my hand on my mouth and showed her to hush
“What” She asked me more gently this time
“Come here” I told her. I whispered gently in her ears.
“Please don’t tell Appa, amma went out in the afternoon. They would fight again. You don’t want Amma and Appa to fight, Do you?”
She shook her head. “Now go and tell Sally I need her help. I watched Liza going and telling Sally to go to the kitchen

“What help you need Nina?”
I told her the same thing I told Liza. I quickly made coffee for Appa.
“Not bad Nina. Your coffee is good”
I was beaming. I was happy at the same time worried. I kept looking at the gate. There was no sign of Amma. It was getting dark.
Appa was busy opening his bags and taking the things he got for us. He bought new clothes, colour pencils, crayons, erasers. Liza and Sally were fighting for the pink eraser. Finally Liza got the blue colour eraser, Sally got the pink one and I got the yellow one. I didn’t like the yellow one, but I was more worried about what time my mother is going to come back.
“Is your mother always this late?” Appa asked me
“No, never, it is the first time. May be she went to the ration shop to buy palm oil. There is always a huge queue at the ration shop.”
I went to the kitchen to warm the fish curry for dinner. I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I prayed silently
‘parumala thirumeni (jacobite saint), Please please, I beg you, bring Amma home soon. I will light a candle at the church. I promise.’
I placed the hot pot of curry on the table. I asked my sisters to help me set the table. I heard Amma opening the gate
I ran outside.
“Appa is home”
“what did you tell him?”
“I told him you went out around 5 pm to buy something.”
“Ok”.

My mother was suddenly transformed. She became the most loving mother and wife. I watched her running to my father and them hugging each other.
“You have lost so much weight” She told Appa
“Yeah, My cook doesn’t know to make Malayalee food. I haven’t had a proper meal for so long”

I watched Amma going to the kitchen to make hot water for bathing. Appa and Amma went to bath together
“Nina, why are they bathing together?” Liza asked me
“Because they are married!”
“Oh”.