We walked past the coconut groove.
“Nina, watch out” Ammachi spoke hurriedly
“What? What happend” I looked all around me. I didn’t see anything
“Watch out Nina, there is a snake near your leg”
“Where?” I started to hop up and down on one leg at the same time screming.
I looked at my feet. I didn’t see any snake. May be it is a small one an is under my feet. I jumped again. Still I couldn’t see the snake. May be it climbed on my leg. I started to lift my skirt and look for the snake on my leg.
All I heard was laughter..like you shake a bottle of pearls. I looked at Ammachi.
“You fooled me. I am not talking to you anymore” I marched down the slope towards the house.
“pedichuthoori(scary cat)!!!!”
I was so mad at myself for falling for that trick. I should have known snakes don’t come out in the hot sun.
Chakki was sitting on the floor and cleaning the yam to make yam curry. She was making my favourite dishes.
“Do you want me to help you?” I asked her
“Help? No way. Your hands will itch. You sit there on the bench and talk to me. Tell me how are your mother and sisters?”
I didn’t want to sit on the bench while Chakki was sitting on the floor. So I pulled the Chirava(coconut scraper) from the bottom of the kitchen counter and sat on it.
“They are all fine Chakki”
“Why didn’t you apply to do pre-degree in Chengannur Christian college? Ammachi was sure, you would come home. She even got Kutten to paint the side room for you”
How would I tell Chakki that it didn’t even cross my mind to apply at the Chengannur Christian college?. How do I tell her that I am an idiot, who fell for money and power?.
“Don’t know Chakki, it didn’t work out”
“Does your mother know you are here?”
“Do you think I would be here, if she knew?” I asked her
“hmm.. Is she planning to go back to Malaysia?”
“I don’t know Chakki. I don’t think so”
Ammachi came inside the kitchen carrying banana leaves.
“Edi Chakki, did you know that Kochumaharani learned to play Chavittu nadakom?”
Chakki looked at me and at Ammachi. She knew there is something. But she didn’t know what it was
“Ask her to show you, if you don’t believe me”
I ignored Ammachi. I knew Ammachi was looking at me.
“I told her there is a snake near her feet and she went oh and ah and danced. Ammachi hitched up her mundu and showed Chakki how I jimped up and down.
“You missed it Chakki, It was such a great performanace. She reminded me of my great grandmother, who was a famous chavittu nadakom dancer”
Ammachi and Chakki was laughing.
“Laugh all you want. One day I will get both of you. Mark my word. I am Methran Thambi’s grand daughter and I will teach both of you for laughing at me”
“That day the crow will fly upside down!” Ammachi responded
Chakki cut the banana leaves in to 4 and placed 2 on the table and 2 on the floor. I felt extremely uncomfortable sitting at the table, while Chakki and Kutten sat on the floor. I don’t understand the hierarchy between master and servant. But there was no way I could fight with my grandmother about the seating arrangement.
While eating the rice Ammachi asked
“So when are you coming again?”
I thought hard
“Thursday, Ammachi”
“Why Thursday?”
“That is when I have catechism class at the college.”
“You don’t want to attend that?”
“No”
Ammachi looked at me. I knew she had many questions. But she didn’t ask me anything.
“Ok” She nodded
After lunch, I told Ammachi
“I have to go now Ammachi, otherwise I will be late”
“hmm”
“What time is the bus from here to Kottayam?”
” There should be one around 2.15pm”
I checked my watch. It was already 2pm.
“Do you have money?” Ammachi asked me
“No” I shook my head.
I watched her going to her room. She came out and gave me 5 ten rupee notes.
“I don’t need this much of money” I told her
“Nina, Buy something you like. That is my gift for scoring good marks for SSLC”
“Aiyya, What mangatholi( mango peel) can I buy with 50 RS? You are becoming too stingy. You, the wife of famous Methran Thambi wants me to buy something with 50RS? Where is your prestige lady? You should be giving 500RS! Anyway who are you saving all the money for?”
Ammachi raised her hand, pretending to hit me and I bolted, Ammachi running after me.
Just as I reached the main door, I turned around and stuck my tongue at her.
“Come here you naghty child” Ammachi was screaming
I ran screaming
“You can’t catch me”
As I reached the bund wall that separates our field from Chackochan’s I stopped and turned to look at Ammachi. She was leaning on the pillar and looking at me.
“I will see you on thursday. Chakkara umma(kisses). I waved at her and I walked towards the main road. Kutten was in the paddy fields pulling out the weeds.
“Bye Jayan Chetta” I smiled and told him.
“Kochumaharani, Jayan died 4 years ago. Now it is Mammotty”
“Bye Mammotty Chetta” I spoke. I could see Kutten Shaking his head.
“Mammootty chetta, I will be back on thursday. Don’t forget to buy me poppins!”
“I will buy you indinga” Kutten spoke
“Oh good. I like them Buy 5 kilos”
As I walked on the bund, I was Nina again, the Nina who likes stories about Kerala, the Nina who likes to watch the Kathakali, the Nina who is Methran Thambi’s grand daughter and the Nina who wouldn’t give up her life because of a stupid person.
…I was Nina again, the Nina who likes stories about Kerala, the Nina who likes to watch the Kathakali, the Nina who is Methran Thambi’s grand daughter and the Nina who wouldn’t give up her life because of a stupid person…
.. that is the spirit my girl, you are a born winner no matter what happens..now give something back to your mom and maria if they are up to something aganist you…
Nina Again?
Nina was always there, within , waiting to be liberated!
I THOUGHT YOU ARE GOING TO STAY WITH YOUR GRANNY FOR SOMETIME.
-NANDINI
Wow looks like u have started a routine here. Chenganur and kottayam is not that far alle? In train it is like 1 stop away alle? mabye 2 with Thiruvalla in between?
I am so glad you are going to make this a habit, it would be like a revival of Nina everytime you go see your ammachi
swow good you had a great time at ammachi place!…
wow.i felt happy reading this post knowing that you had a great time with ammachi.what more does one need 🙂
Dr Nina chechi,
now I am hooked. It was just yesterday that I started reading your “bio”, and its like the novel I cant put down, except that I am reading it backwards, trying to catch up.
Thanks for sharing. I like the happy mischivous Nina, when she is with Aachi.
i yam, therefore i yam, allae sarah! happy to see nina grown up and able to go places and take decisions on her own.
ahhh so the plan was to suffer through the week n retreat to home for energy boost eh – clever clever
hummm did u guys move to msia coz ur mom found out?
My heart feels so enlightened reading your times with your ammachi. I wished you had stayed there for good – got enrolled in the college in Chengganur and had a happy life. I am troubled to think if you really made it every Thursday.
little talk (kochu varthamanam) sitting on the chirava – reminds me of good times in the kitchen of the old house.
when we got that extra gas connection, i shifted my seat to the empty cylinder and ammamma would call me the refilling station. 🙂
so full of stories, n songs.
oh wow! Way 2 go girl! Keep the spirit high! 🙂
I am happy for you sarah.
hope u made it a habit to come to ammachi for recharge and go back with a bang 🙂
-jay
Nothing.. NOTHING is worth giving up the real you.
🙂
..Me
Sarechi, like wine, ur posts are getting stronger and meanigful as day passes 🙂
Mangatholi=Mango peel
LoL….good to see you happy! 🙂
yes, how unadulterated and unconditional love can give us back who whe really are 🙂
ur love for ur ammachi is very touching..
i now feel that i should have kept a diary during my childhood.. i would have had somuch of those loved ones with me now..
Kitchenmate: I guess Ammachi knew how to help me find me!
Madhavankutty: that is sooooo true
Thanu: Bus was my preferred mode of transport.. As I could get off near the house.. It was chingavanam, changanasseri, Thiruvalla, Chengannur!
Nandini: I couldn’t.. I was half way through my pre-degree and Amma would have killed me, if she knew I was seeing Ammachi
Shankari: It was soooo good.. I used to wait for thursdays..
Sujit: I did.. Ammachi knew how to make me laugh
maya: Nothing.. absolutely nothing..
anon: My sisters called me my name, it is nice to hear someone calling me chechy.. and thank you for visiting my blog
Rocksea: I was laughing so much.. reading your comment and my daughter wants to know what is so funny.. How to explain to a Malaysian born confused Desi about chembum kachilum!!
BTW: What is kachil in English..?
Visithra: My classmates thought I had a Lover.. and I was bunking classes for u know…..!!!!
Mother to this day doesn’t know I was seeing Ammachi!
Mjey: I did.. Every single thursday..till I went to do medicine
Toothless: Those were the days.. Chirava was so uncomfortable to sit on..but I enjoyed sitting on it and listening to all the stories
Has to be: Thank you..it was the best time of my life
jay: You said it right.. it was like recharging my batteries.. and yes, I did visit her every thursday
Rose: agree completely
Jithu: Ah vili kelkkan enthu sugannu ariyuvo…
Alex: Did you ever hear about indinga and undinga?
Hillgrandmom: yes indeed.. My Ammachi knew to love me, just the way I am..
Hope and love: I know what you are saying.. But you still have those memories, somewhere in your mind.. Close your eyes and walk home… you will remember each and every step..
Sarah,
I havent heard of them. I havent heard of many things.
But i sure liked mangopeel! 🙂
Good to see Nina Back with Ammachi
not forgetting the Nina who loves vallamkali…my fav sport.