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We had enough space for playing in front of the school and also at the backyard. The school had a U shape and at the end of U, there was a cookroom, where the uppumavu ( a typical Kerala food ) was prepared from the wheat, which was donated by the United States of America and distributed by UNICEF. During the 1st interval, we would sit in two rows in the verandah of the school in two lines and the uppumavu was served. To be frank, I liked the taste of it very much.
On the other side of the courtyard of the school, there was a place ( about 50 cents of land ) where differerent types of shrubs and bushes were grown and in which we played freely. It is indescribable, in the variety of fauna and of flora. I think it was a private property which was left uncultivated. Different kinds of fruits like poochappazham ( Syzygium Zeylanicum ), a bright red fruit ( Bryonia Grandis ) were grown there. The Syzygium Zeylanicum deserves a special mention because almost everyone of us went to school with at least one bunch of that fruit. Not even a single day passed without taking it. The fruit was very small, pure white in colour, a little sour and sweet in taste. Even the sight of the fruit attracted us, giving great pleasure. At this juncture, I want to mention about the toilet facilities in the school. There was, indeed, a toilet, I could suffer it, that much I can say. I want to mention another thing also. The place which I have mentioned in the previous paragraph was not fully explored by us because if we went a farther distance, we would sometimes see the purge of the neighbours and we would have to cover our nose and return to the courtyard of the school.
One day, when I was in the IIIrd Std, after the class, we were returning to our houses. When we entered Mr Johnson's land, all the others parted with me, except Peter. I and Peter walked through the narrow passage, talking about something. Sadly to say, we had different opinion about the subject we were talking about. Suddenly, I snatched his umbrella and threw it to the land where the crops were growing. I was very angry at that time. I thought that Peter would take his umbrella from there. But contrary to my expectations, he walked forward. He told me that he would tell it to everybody in his house. For a moment I thought - whether I should take the umbrella from there or not ? No, I wouldn't. It was Peter who made me angry. Slowly, I followed him, knowing that it would become a serious issue. At last, I reached home.
Seated in a korandi, I was taking food. My mother was looking at me blinkingly, in the kitchen. My father was already been called to Mr Johnson's house. The news had spread all over there. I heard the footsteps of my father returning from the Puthiyaveettil house. His eyes were burning like fire. He took a stick, caught me and began to beat me. What had I done ? Insulting a rich man's son ! How did I get the courage to do that ? He continued the beating so that blood came out from the wounds of my legs.
Should I cry when these things happen ? No. But tears came rolling down my cheeks. My mother started crying while uttering these words, "What has this girl done ? What will happen to us in future ? Everyone will become enemies to us. How shall we live in this village ? Bring dishonour to the child of Chittuparambil House ! Noone has heard about such a thing earlier. It has happened because you are a cruel man. How many times you have beaten me ? This girl has been born to you as a punishment to your cruelty". My father had already stopped his beating.
When I look back at that incident, I feel that I shouldnot have done it to Peter because he was a calm and gentle child. Therefore, I record my regret over that incident, here.
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