Summer holidays were the best part of my childhood. Schools in Kerala would close by the third week of March and for me, it is a relief when school closes. I am free of homework and imposition for 2 long wonderful months.
I didn’t want to stay in Kottayam with my parents. There was nothing to do at home, besides Amma has arranged tuition for me. Summer holidays meant vacation not tuition. I decided to pester my father.
I saw him sitting on the rattan chair in the veranda drinking his tea and reading the paper.
“Appa” I called out to him softly
He looked up and frowned.
I walked to him and sat on his lap.
“Can I ask you something?”
“hmmm”
“Can I please go to chengannur?”
“Why do you want to go there?”
I tried to think of a good reason. The only reason I want to go there is because I don’t want to attend tuition class.
“I like Ammachi and I want to spend time with her”.
“Did you ask your mother for permission?”
“No la”
Oops. I uttered the ‘la’ word. I quickly used my hand to cover my mouth. Amma has forbidden us from using ‘la’ at home. She didn’t want anyone to know that we are Malaysians. Foreigners have to pay more fees at the universities.
I looked at my father’s face to see if he is angry with me for using ‘la’. He had a crooked smile on his face.
Finally he relented.
“ OK,Nina, You can stay there when we go there for Easter vacation”
“You mean I can stay there till May?”
He nodded and I was so happy, I hugged and kissed him.
“But remember Nina, don’t disobey Ammachi or play with water”
“Ok la” I replied and he laughed.
Easter was only 6 days away and I was counting every minute, so I could go to Chengannur. Maria hated to go there and Amma thinks Liza and Sally are too young to stay with Ammachi.
I went to bed on saturday evening happy thinking about the 2 months holidays in Chengannur. Blissful 2 months without Maria.
I woke up hearing my father screaming. I quickly got up and ran to my parents bedroom. Appa was already holding Amma’s hair and pushing and throwing her against the wall. Akkachi was holding Liza and Sally and all were crying. I tried to squeeze between my father and mother and Appa pushed me away
“Get lost Nina, Don’t you dare come in between.I had enough of your mother and I am going to finish her off today”. Appa dropped Amma and ran to the kitchen.
I asked Akkachi, ‘where is the knife?’.
I saw her face and knew instantly the knife is some where out on the kitchen table and not where Akkachi is supposed to keep so it would be hidden from Appa. I pulled everyone inside and quickly shut the door. Akkachi and Maria helped me to close the door. All of us leaned our body against the door.My father started to kick the door and my mother started to yell,
“Open the door Nina, let him finsih us all off”. Hearing my mother my father started to kick the door harder.
“Open the door Nina, before I break this door” he yelled
“Open it you stupid child” my mother screamed
Sally started to howl and I saw her wettingt her pyjamas. Liza was struggling to breath. I wanted my mother to shut her mouth.
“Amma please keep quiet”.
But she continued to scream like a woman possessed. For a moment I wanted to tape her mouth, so she would just shut up.
That moment I knew, if the door gives way we would all be dead.
“Liza, hold Sally and use the blanket and hide under the bed” I tried to speak calmly. But my heart was beating too fast. If the door gave way, I wanted their life to be spared.
I don’t know when my father stopped kicking the door. But at sometime during the madness the kicking stopped. There was eery calmth.My mother was lying on the floor bruised and my younger sisters were hiding under the bed and looking at me scared. Maria and Akkachi were still leaning against the door.
I didn’t have the courage to open the door. I didn’t know if my father was still standing outside with the knife in his hand ready to pounce the moment I opened the door.