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( 37 )
Our Sunday School Head Master advised us to obey our parents and love them. All agreed to his words. I wondered that how could I do that. I looked at the faces of others and found that they were filled with love towards their parents. Everyday, my life was becoming a complex one. I did't know how to tolerate such a situation. How could I learn my lessons and acquire a job ? Why did my father keep silence about this ? All these questions made me panic. I had to carry my sister who was crying to get something from the kitchen. I shouldnot allow her to stand in the soil. That was the order from my mother. Then her legs would be dirty. My mother had no time to wash her legs. In such a situation, at the climax of the hatred towards all my family members,once I pinched her on her thigh. She cried a little more loudly. I ran to the rubber plantation with her and I don't know how did I stop her cries. In the evening, my father was walking through the front courtyard, taking her in his arms. I was sitting in the front verandah, in a chair. I was sure that something would happen. Suddenly, she pointed out her forefinger towards me and touched the part of thigh where I pinched her. Then she began to sob. My father, realising the truth, looked at me with his reddened eyes. But now, I don't remember what punishment was given to me for that mistake.
One Saturday, I was sitting in the front verandah. I shouldnot make any sound because my father was taking his midday nap. My mother was also in a nap with my sister in another cot. Then I saw a wonderful scene - paternal grandfather coming to my house carrying a cot on his head. I said loudly, "grandfather is coming". I don't remember how he climbed up the steps. He described that there was a small problem with his youngest son and suddenly he decided to do that. The first problem was where to put his cot in our house. It was decided that in the middle room,it would be placed. As he was in the Pentecost Church, the atmosphere in our house changed. In the evening prayer, a mat was spread on the floor. Everyone ( including my father) joined the prayer. In his songbook, there were many meaningful songs. He would start singing and we would learn it within a week ! Then he would pray in his own way. He would say that "we should worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" ( John 4 : 23 - 24 ). Then he would say that the prayers in Jacobite Church are not according to the Scriptures. Noone would say anything against him. My mother would say in favour of Jacobie Syrian Church but grandfather would not take her words seriously.
I think my reference about "toilet" had touched my father. He went to the Co - operative Bank in Kadayiruppu, applied for a loan of Rs 2000/- and it was allowed. The windowpanes were made. At the back verandah, a place for washing vessels was made. When my mother smartly supervised all those things, I wonderfully looked at it. I thought - why didn't my father start the work of a toilet. But when some persons ( they were our distant relatives ) came to make a pit for the toilet, I became happy. In those days, in small houses, toilets were made outside the houses, in two rooms. My father had many ideas about the toilet - its roof should be concreted - it was one among them. Like his dream, the roof was concreted but alas ! he said that all money had exhausted. The walls were to be finished and the closet should be placed. My father said that he was struggling to repay the instalments of loan. The coolie he received was 100/- per week. During the rainy season, there would be no work. But, in these weeks also, Rs 100/ would be given. At last, there was a day, when the final 'calculation' was made. So, my father had a book in which he recorded all the money he received. My father was a debtor in Mr Korah's stationary shop. Every weekend, when I go to Puthiyaveettil house, for getting newspaper, I would also ask, "money, kochechi". She would call her son, "Basil, Rs 100/- Note also". With a 100/- Rs Note, the whole things for one week were bought. Therefore, a 100/- Rs Note is very precious to me.
( 37 )
Our Sunday School Head Master advised us to obey our parents and love them. All agreed to his words. I wondered that how could I do that. I looked at the faces of others and found that they were filled with love towards their parents. Everyday, my life was becoming a complex one. I did't know how to tolerate such a situation. How could I learn my lessons and acquire a job ? Why did my father keep silence about this ? All these questions made me panic. I had to carry my sister who was crying to get something from the kitchen. I shouldnot allow her to stand in the soil. That was the order from my mother. Then her legs would be dirty. My mother had no time to wash her legs. In such a situation, at the climax of the hatred towards all my family members,once I pinched her on her thigh. She cried a little more loudly. I ran to the rubber plantation with her and I don't know how did I stop her cries. In the evening, my father was walking through the front courtyard, taking her in his arms. I was sitting in the front verandah, in a chair. I was sure that something would happen. Suddenly, she pointed out her forefinger towards me and touched the part of thigh where I pinched her. Then she began to sob. My father, realising the truth, looked at me with his reddened eyes. But now, I don't remember what punishment was given to me for that mistake.
One Saturday, I was sitting in the front verandah. I shouldnot make any sound because my father was taking his midday nap. My mother was also in a nap with my sister in another cot. Then I saw a wonderful scene - paternal grandfather coming to my house carrying a cot on his head. I said loudly, "grandfather is coming". I don't remember how he climbed up the steps. He described that there was a small problem with his youngest son and suddenly he decided to do that. The first problem was where to put his cot in our house. It was decided that in the middle room,it would be placed. As he was in the Pentecost Church, the atmosphere in our house changed. In the evening prayer, a mat was spread on the floor. Everyone ( including my father) joined the prayer. In his songbook, there were many meaningful songs. He would start singing and we would learn it within a week ! Then he would pray in his own way. He would say that "we should worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" ( John 4 : 23 - 24 ). Then he would say that the prayers in Jacobite Church are not according to the Scriptures. Noone would say anything against him. My mother would say in favour of Jacobie Syrian Church but grandfather would not take her words seriously.
I think my reference about "toilet" had touched my father. He went to the Co - operative Bank in Kadayiruppu, applied for a loan of Rs 2000/- and it was allowed. The windowpanes were made. At the back verandah, a place for washing vessels was made. When my mother smartly supervised all those things, I wonderfully looked at it. I thought - why didn't my father start the work of a toilet. But when some persons ( they were our distant relatives ) came to make a pit for the toilet, I became happy. In those days, in small houses, toilets were made outside the houses, in two rooms. My father had many ideas about the toilet - its roof should be concreted - it was one among them. Like his dream, the roof was concreted but alas ! he said that all money had exhausted. The walls were to be finished and the closet should be placed. My father said that he was struggling to repay the instalments of loan. The coolie he received was 100/- per week. During the rainy season, there would be no work. But, in these weeks also, Rs 100/ would be given. At last, there was a day, when the final 'calculation' was made. So, my father had a book in which he recorded all the money he received. My father was a debtor in Mr Korah's stationary shop. Every weekend, when I go to Puthiyaveettil house, for getting newspaper, I would also ask, "money, kochechi". She would call her son, "Basil, Rs 100/- Note also". With a 100/- Rs Note, the whole things for one week were bought. Therefore, a 100/- Rs Note is very precious to me.
As the toilet was not completed, I was very much disappointed. I could't tell anything to my parents. Everyday I would hear the words debt, loan and many unfamiliar words related to. it. I found that it was not easy to come out from such a pandemonium.
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