Condensing multiple days into a single post.
1994-04-15 - Friday - Bandh today, against GATT treaty. Achan (Father) went to Nirmala, I didn't. Debugging the amp. Trying signal injection with the player's earphone plug and signal sampling using the 810 module's input. No leads. Many mistakes, but still it's not working. B'chettan going tomorrow.
1994-04-16 - Saturday - Weak-kneed-ness after suprabhatam. Decided to 'see God in all' today, but wasn't very successful. Morning - chauffeuring Achan to Nirmala. At Rajendra, dressing changed by head nurse + attenders. Debugging the amp - tough going. Slept 2 to 3.30 (actually wanted 5 minutes, extended as usual). Woke by cold milk from Anch (sister). Then, shopping for the stereo, fuse etc, Amma wanted to shop too. Achan allowed me to take the car. In the morning, I drove confidently, so he was also confident. Then, Mavoor Road, SM Street (a hand-cart blocked the way), Oyitti Road, and back. Near Mallisseri, policeman wanted me to move - went near Supermarket.
Parvati aunty came and gave Thangamani a Vilakku (traditional oil lamp). Ravindran (her husband-to-be) didn't come, so we ate the parippu payasam made for him. Aloo ? Parotta. Om Puri, Shabana Azmi 'depressing' movie. Slept after writing diary - debugging till 9:20 when Achan slept.
1994-04-17 - Sunday - Got up at 5:30. Suprabhatam Aayi Ushakanyake. (referencing a Malayalam song with those lyrics). Then breakfast - aloo paratha + idli. Dropped Anch at Medical College Hostel and drove to Thrissur. Acquaintance of Mohan, ex-army, to guard our house. On the way, constant "Horn adikkoo", "Padukke", "Sookshikkoo" ("sound the horn", "slowly", "be careful") - irritated me at one juncture, later OK. Met Ramankuttychettan (Achan's oldest brother) + Karthyayani chedathiyamma at Mulagunnathukaavu, Balachettan's Radha chedathiyamma, Ma chettan, PT house Krishnan chettan + Valsala chechi + Aravind + Prime Sports of STAR TV, Pak vs UAE in Australasia cup. Mango + kondattam (rice fritters) at Mulagunnathukaavu, lunch at PT House. Matham visit - Vijaya chechi with fractured wrist, depressed Kochaniyan chettan. Token Vishukkettam from almost all, including for Achan from Radhammayi, his junior in age, but Ammayi (Aunt)!
Drive to Guruvayoor was slow, so stress-free. But terrible traffic - buses on the right-side of the road, maranappaachal (rash overspeeding). 4 pm at Koustubham Rest House - one 6-bed room, two 2-bed rooms. We took 511 as 509 had broken bathroom latch. Ravi came when we had tea + vada. Darshan (at Guruvayoor temple) - quite nice. Went twice near Garbha griha, alone and with Achan. Kalyanam seettaakki. (Booked the wedding slot - my parents were arranging Thangamani's wedding at Guruvayoor temple). Went to Panchajanyam searching for Thangamani's family, then dinner. They came to Koustubham by the time we returned, around 7:45 pm. Bought a picture (Rs. 5) of Baby Krishna "Mein ne hi maakhan khaayo" for Anch, a "perpetual motion" crystal bird which "drinks" for me (Rs. 35). Slept by 9. Pushpa + Thangamani's aunt + cousin etc in the 6 bed room.
Image of Guruvayoor temple via wikipedia.
1994-04-18 - Monday - Suprabhatam + Namam japam was not proper. Thought could do while having darshan at the temple, but big queue, so we went with outside darshan only, Seeveli on elephant. Thangamani's mother + thin Padmini (Thangamani's sister, who earlier used to be plump) + others (in 3 jeeps) came when Achan and I were drowsing after breakfast. Then we went around 9:30 to the Nada (temple gate), wedding at 10:10. Assembly line. On big muhurtam days there would be 100-200 marriages, today only 5-10. Thangamani had a captive lensman too, courtesy Udayanan, her cousin with a hoarse voice. Ring for the couple - looks golden - Rs. 3 each. Ravi "ran" into the temple with Thangamani in tow. Thangamani cried, touching the feet of Achan and Amma. Dwaraka lodge sadya (feast) - Rs. 28 per head, 51 people. Ate our fill. Palada payasam. [Ravindran's relatives - nobody turned up. He was alone. Mother, brother's son, sick. So, Father, Brother, couldn't come.]
Then drove back. Tata Estate much criticized. Our car was making some periodic noise, drag too. Consulting Mohan tomorrow, as lifting the car did not reveal the cause. Dosa + podi. Phoned Anch. "മോളില്ലാതെ ഒരു ജീവനില്ല" ("We're feeling lifeless here without our daughter") - from Achan after Bhajan. Washed plates. Fan getting repaired for the kitchen. Stereo amp - transistor in the pre-amp? Slept after keeping everything on table unobtrusively, Krishnachandran chettan (paternal cousin) + kids coming tomorrow.
Told You I'll put aside bad thoughts for the night. Must get up soon when Amma calls.
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments will be moderated. If you wish to contact me, you can email me at hn_88 at rediffmail dot com.