“Nina, Go and fetch an Auto rickshaw from the Collectorate Auto stand” Amma ordered.
Amma and Maria are taking the afternoon Rajadhani Express train to Delhi and from there another train to Kharagpur. Akkachi and Amma carried all the bags and placed them near the main gate.
There were two suitcases, one mattress rolled up and 2 pillows.
“Amma, would all these, enter one auto?
“Ofcourse it will, now hurry, go fetch an auto”
I walked quickly to the auto stand near Collectorate. On the way, I could hear someone whistling from one of the lawyer’s office near the parade ground. I quickly increased my walking pace.Then I heard someone talking loud
“why there is no school today ah?”
Another one responded”school is always there, but it is the students who skip the classes”
“edi koche, Why didn’t you go to school today?” Someone else asked.
I wanted to tell them’you idiot, shut your mouth and mind your own business, my mother and sister are leaving soon and I didn’t go to school, so I can say bye to them before they leave’
I walked even faster. When I reached the main road, the whistling stopped and I was relieved.
At the auto stand, there was a big queue of autos waiting to fetch passengers and I got in to the first one.
“Where to?” Asked the driver
“First to my house behind the collectorate and then to the railway station.”
“oh! railway station ah.. who is leaving?”
I wanted to tell him’your mother in law’. But I bit my tongue. I silently cursed the nosey parkers.
But the driver was not the one who gives up easily. He continued to dig for more information as he drove, constantly looking at me through his rear view mirror.
“Aren’t you the one who came back from Singapore?”
“No, I am not the one who came back from Singapore, Can you please hurry?”
I directed him towards my house and he stopped the rickshaw near the gate. He got out and scanned the luggage.
“Ente chechy, all these bags will not enter my rickshaw. I will have to do two trips.” He told Amma
“Ofcourse it will. you watch. Maria, you go and sit inside first.”
Maria sat inside.
“Lift your legs up” Commanded my mother
Maria lifted her legs.
“Akkachi place the brown bag infront of the seat” Commanded my mother again
Akkachi slowly lifted the bag placed it infront of the seat.
“Maria, keep your legs on top of the bag. Akkachi give both the pillows to Maria”.
Now I could only see Maria’s legs. Her body was under the 2 pillows. Amma scanned the mattress and the other suicase that is still outside and the space inside the auto. There was no way she could put all that inside the auto.
My mother is not the one who would be discouraged easily.
“Maria, get out of the auto” Commanded my mother again
Akkachi took the pillows from Maria’s lap and Maria slowly squeezed herself out of the auto.
Akkachi put the mattress, where Maria was sitting”
Akkachi did as she was told.
Then Amma got in.
“Akkachi turn the suicase and place it next to me.
Akkachi was struggling and the driver decided to help. Akkachi quickly placed her hand on top of her blouse, so the driver won’t see her breast as she bends down. The driver wanted to impress Akkachi and show her his muscle power. He lifted the suitcase with one hand, turned it around in Rajanikath style and placed it next to amma. Now my mother was sandwiched between the mattress and the suitcase and her legs were sticking out on top of the brown suitcase. Maria and the two pillows were still outside.
“You can sit next to the driver on his seat Maria”Amma suggested.
Maria’s eyes were on fire and the driver’s eyes were dancing with joy.
“I am not sitting next to the driver. here, take this” Maria chucked the pillows on top of amma’s legs which were already on top of the suitcase.
“I will walk to the railway station” Maria told amma.
Driver for sure looked disappointed and he looked at Chechy again, hoping that she would change her mind and sit next to him.
“Why are you looking at me? My sister yelled
The driver quickly started his vehicle and we watched the auto rickshaw struggling under so much weight and leaving.
“I will come with you to the station” I told Maria
Maria hugged Liza and Sally.
“Maria, don’t forget to buy a new dress for me, when you come back” Liza spoke
“I won’t”
“Will you buy me a dress also?” Asked Sally
“Ofcourse I will”
I could see Chechy was about to cry and I pulled her hands and told her
“Hurry, the train should be arriving anytime now”.
Maria quickly bid farewell to Akkachi and together we walked to the railway station.
I don’tlike good byes they alwaz make me sad.
I can picture the auto coming up on the road with your Amma as the epic centre… part of her sticking out through the bag and baggage.
A touch of humor in your writing
I too hate goodbyes, it is touchy, Sarah!
Your sense of humor. I liked it. Especially, when you said ‘ school is always there …it is only students who aren’t in the school’..and the mother in law to the auto-driver..
Good-Byes makes me sad too. But life has to continue…and it will!!!
bidding farewell is always the toughest job!!…
There were days when you had to carry everything for a train journey I heard. Thank god, nowadays you get everything including water on the way. The autorickshaw driver incident was funny. And I was trying to imagine your mom with her limbs akimbo in the auto, rickshaw lol Must have been quite a sight.
I guess its a common feeling then…we all dislike goodbyes.its such a sad feeling that I always rush to get rid of it.
Yes parting is painful but I guess you managed very maturely 🙂
You seemed to be grew older enough than your other siblings 🙂
Cheers Sarah
A lot of humor in this post.Those autos sure held a lot of luggage and people.I can picture the whole scenerio.well written.
It’s beautifully written and narrated … but has a sad overtone! I too hate farewells …
Very funny. I can imagine myself being there through your story.
You’re so sweet.. even after all that hurt, you’re so thoughful.
Beautifully written. yeah can so relate to nosy auto drivers and their inappropriate staring..
Kollam.. The ‘avatharanam’ is good..
Parting is such sweet sorrow..
Did you inform Ammachi that Maria is leaving?
Thanu: it makes me sad too
Jac: I couldn’t see amma in tht auto too.. Only her legs!
Prash: true…life continues..it won’t stop..
Sujit: true
Silverine: They took enough water to last a week!!
Niehal: I don’t. I simply vanish. My friends in Malaysia,didn’t even know I was leaving for Canada. I can’t say goodbye..I know I was mean..but ..
Dawn:Sometimes situations in life makes us more capable!
Starrynights: thanks..
I love Munich: Goodbues are too painful eh?
Geetha: I did what I have to do..
Raji: Oh! the way they look at you..it annoyed me always.
Aqua: Thanks
Technomalayalee: when you are a pawn in the game played by mother in law and daughter in law..you don’t get to choose sides. We weren’t allowed to go anywhere near Chengannur house. So the answer to ur question is No.. Ammachi didn’t know.
Q8techdrive: I remember calling Autorickshaw “lambretta”..my sister used to say “lambringa”..but I hv never seen the big one..all the moottavandi looked same then..till the new models came with the engine at the back!!
i remember getting into an auto and the driver was a young chap,maybe around 20 years..and he was telling me how hard it is for him to take care of his sis,mom etc. as usual my heart melted and i paid him thirble the money..he didnt ask for the money..but i told him to keep it….
later..later..i sometimes think and everybody tells me,he might be spinning a story….i dont know?
lg: the divide between those who hv the money.. and those who don’t hv was extremely huge in Kerala. I know tht very well because overnight we were pushed from extremely rich to extremely poor.. I am sure the auto driver would hv been telling u the truth.. especially if he has sisters.. nalu kashillenkil penpillar vettil nilkukaye ullu!!
You hv a kind heart!
I remember when I left for college the first time,my youngest sister who was in the third grade…..she kept waving and smiling.The minute the doors of the lift closed I saw tears running down her cheeks even though she was still jumping,waving and smiling.