When we reached the road near the parade ground Amma told me
“Nina, I need to go somewhere. You can go home on your own.”
“ok”. I didn’t want to argue with her. Anything I do or say might influence my opportunity to own a bicycle. I watched my mother turning left at the junction.
Akkachi was waiting for us at home
“Did you see any nice sarees? Nina Where is your mother?” She asked me as soon as I entered the house
I looked at Akkachi, trying to see what is the best answer I could give her. If I say ‘no’ and when Amma brings the saree home in 4 weeks, Akkachi would know I lied. If I say ‘yes’ then didn’t buy it for Akkachi then she would think that, we don’t like her. I had no answer for Akkachi.
“Akkachi I have a bad headache. I need to lay down.”
“Are you ok Nina? Are you coming down with a fever? Didn’t I tell you to dry your hair properly after your shower yesterday? You never listen!”. Akkachi checked my forehead to see, if I have fever.
“Go and lay down Nina, I will make headache medicine for you”
Akkachi has medicines for all known maladies. She makes chukku kappi when I have a cold and sore throat. She makes a paste from basil leaves when I have a head ache. Sometimes, just to eat her chouvari kanji (sago porridge), I would pretend that my stomach hurts.
I waited for Akkachi to come back with the medicine. She came back 10 minutes later holding a small bowl full of greenish herb paste. Akkachi sat on my bed and gently applied the medicine on my forehead. Each time her hand touched my forehead, I silently apologised.’Forgive me Akkachi, I cheated you off your saree. Please forgive me’ I imagined Akkachi forgiving me and blessing me. I closed my eyes and I promised myself, One day I will buy Akkachi a new kancheepuram saree.
On monday I was so excited to go to school. In 4 days Amma will pay the final installment and I would have my own bicycle. I couldn’t think of anything but my red Hero bicycle. Even when Mrs Mathew caned me for doing my homework wrong, I didn’t feel the pain. Super Nina was zooming in her bicycle to feel any pain. In the evening as I walked home, I heard the students from M.T Seminary school singing
“Aiyappan mungi
thintha thintho
Rupayum poyi
Thintha Thintho
manavum poyi
Thintha thinthom
Ashayum poyi
Thintha thintho
Aiyappan mungi….”
(Aiyappan vanished, money vanished, dreams vanished!!)
I couldn’t believe what I heard. There is no way Mr. Aiyappan could vanish. Not when I just had another 4 days to get a new bicycle. I ran all the way home. Amma was at home.
“Amma did you hear about Mr. Aiyappan? Is it true?
“Mr. Aiyappan!” ptui Amma spat on the ground. “he isn’t Mr. Aiyappan. He is Mr. Pandi.”
“What about my bicycle Amma?”
“What about your bicycle? You are an unlucky child Nina. See, just 4 more days and you could have had a new bicycle. But it isn’t in your destiny. Oh lord! Why did I give birth to such an unlucky child”
“I am not unlucky. You are unlucky.” I was so mad at my mother.
“You are talking back to me? How dare you Nina? You are an ungrateful child. You should be grateful that I didn’t abort you when I had a chance.”
“Well, I didn’t tell you not to abort me.”
“How dare you speak like that to me? How dare you”
Amma started to hit me and I raised my hand to protect me from her blows.
“You are raising your hand to hit me? You are raising your hand to hit your own mother? Oh lord, why don’t you just take me to heaven now, why do you let me suffer like this.” Before I could say anything, Amma started to hit herself on her chest with her fist. I was stunned. Each self inflicted blows were sounding like thunder in my ears.
“Amma, stop. Don’t hurt yourself.” I pleaded
“Akkachi, help! Amma is killing herself.” I screamed
Akkachi came out quickly and held Amma’s hand
“What is this chechy? Why are you doing like this? It isn’t Nina’s fault. That man cheated you.”
“It is all Nina’s fault. She brought all the bad luck to this family. She is the root cause of all the trouble.”
I was just about to tell Amma off, but I saw Akkachi covering her mouth with her hands telling me to hush.
“I will go and fetch Liza and Sally.” I walked off, away from my mother and her hatred.
To Mr. Aiyappan
I am not sure that is really your name. However I am sure, like many, you found the easiest way to earn some quick bucks. I want you to know, because of you, I never got a bicycle and I lived thinking that I am indeed unlucky. You not only took our money, but also my little dreams and hopes. I wanted to curse you. But I couldn’t then and couldn’t now. May you find good karma.
oh my god !!! tht’s so sad…. i remember my mom doing tht once & boy was i scared.. i can imagine what you went through. sad, tht ur mom had to say such things to you… ur a brave child !!!!
pavam nina !!!
All the things u have been through..
Must be so disappointing to not get the bike. All the money u guys lost ..
its so sad…..how could he cheat so many people….you must have felt horrible.
He will never be happy with the hard earned money of people he stole. Such heartless people!!! It must be so disappointing to lose the bike.
Aww..no bike now and then had to listen to your mom talking like that..I am sure you would have grown up to be a very tough person in life
🙂
Man!that is really some shit.rotten timing always…..
sheesh!the world is like this though,nina.everyone is trying to put someone down in every possible situation.
but it’s good to know that how muchever your mom tried to hurt you,you were rock solid in character.
There are so many people like Mr Aiyappan who cheat people and dont realize the scars inflicted on a person by doint that. I feel so bad about you not getting the bike.and more because your mother said you were unlucky.sometimes parents say things they dont mean,the children carry this hurt all their lives.Even with all this Sarah you have truly evolved into a beautiful person.
sarah,
its a sad state of things…may the dude find some good karma as you said…somewhere
That must have been VERY bitter on you!! And your mom … I can’t grasp how she could say that – that was very hurting and inconsiderate.
This Mr. Aiyappan was a thief! I find it remarkable that you say “May you find good karma” … that requires greatness – you’re a GREAT person!!
Beautifully narrated!!
the only silver lining of this story would be akkachi not losing her money as your mom had decided to take the saree – sarah u can still learn how to use a cycle 😉
hmmm.. i was cheated over the complete volumes of tintin.. 😀
well i was not as young as you were but it seems there are lotsa people like this.. waiting to suck the blood n sweat out of someone..
Sometimes poeple really dont realise how many lives they affect by what they do…
🙂
..Me
So sad that you didn’t get your Hero bicycle.
And to blame you for it! Didn’t she know these things happen frequenctly in India?
:((( Sad that u didnt get the much dreamed off & much wanted cycle & to top it up ur mom had to brand u as unlucky. Thats mean.
Hi,
The last part of the posting was the ultimate truth. When one learns to forgive somebody who has wronged you, your life achieves that ultimate goal- become a true human being!
“Angadiyil thottathinu ammede nenchathu ” …Have u heard abt this saying ?? ( Take it lightly 🙂 )
that must have really heart-breaking. there are always Aiyappans everywhere to play spoilsport and crush dreams and hopes.
There are plenty of Aiyyapans around unfortunately. It is good ofyou to bless him.
Sarah….when I hear about your mom…am just not able to digest..! Sometimes, I wonder it has impacted so deep in you that you remember each n every incident so nicely as if it just happened y’day!
Ur a brave thats all I can say!
Cheers
Sarah I have been only going through your food blog,but today I am reading several of your posts from this blog,I have tears in my eyes,how could your mother be like that?Is your mother still in Kerala,If you have no idea about where akkachi is,I strongly believe you must now before it is too late.People who are good need to know that they are!
Hi Sarah,
2 days and no post ?? Are you ok ??
Sk: I don’t know if there are any other mothers out there, who does stunts like hitting their chest and terrorising their kids. I went through hell, each time my mother did tht, some how she knew it too and would do it at every opportunity, this stopped only when I went to med college and lerned tht heart is well protected inside the rib cage..
Thanu: I still dream of woning a red cycle.. but never managed to buy one!!!
Neihal: I don’t know why he did it.. Most people just want to earn money the easiest way I guess
Silverine: Oh it was… I had so many manakotta’s.. super Nina zooming in her cycle..saving the world!!!
Shankari: in a way, I was immune.. Mother knew that..somehow her words couldn’t inflict as much pain as she wished!
jac:!
Maya: That is because I am Methran Thambi’s grand daughter!!!!
Starry: Mother was mad at herself for her own folly, but she could do no wrong, so it became my fault.. that I brought bad luck to the family…
BVN: Aiyappan cheated many people in Kottayam.. he needs the karma..
I love munich: The only thing I can wish for someone who stole the best of what I could have had, is to wish him good karma..
Visithra: Ah.. so u know I can’t cycle!..
Rocksea: There is a joy in earning the money the right way..I don’t know why people have to be so greedy tht they don’t see the tears behind all those greedy schemes
Rose: That is sooooo true
Geetha: Oh my mother was soooo happy to get such a good deal that she fell for the scheme, hook line and sinker..this guy Aiyappan.. he was toooooo convincing!!
Hastobeme: There are mothers out there who blame their children when anything goes wrong.. and the kids take a looong time before they realize the truth..sometimes tht realization happens a bit late
Madhavan Kutty: Methran Thambi’s wife taught me that.. She taught me, the greatest gift I can ever offer is to forgive..I am still trying
Ajith: I think it is similar to what I often heard at home”odicha lekkillenkil moothammakkirunnotte”..
Arjun: Oh yes, there are so many out there.. if only people knew how much their actions hurt innocent children..
Suemama: Don’t u remember Aiyappan saga?? It happend in 1980 oct.
Dawn: I don’t know if i was brave.. i was just like my grandmother.. had a will to survive, come what may!
Sumitha: Thank you. There is no way I can find Akkachi. I don’t even know what is her real name. From the beginning she was Akkachi..I don’t have any family in Kerala anymore..
Revathy: It was indeed nice to know that, there are people who care!!! Thank you
I am fine..
ah yes!indeed ;))