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The 'uncultivated area' on the left side of our house was cleared to make it a rubber plantation. The three cashew trees also were cut down & sold. Then a surprise happened. I could see the buses ascending through the road when I drew water from the well and cleaned my courtyard. The most embarrassing event was that the cashew tree in our land was also cut down and purchased. My mother repeatedly said that our neighbour Mr George many times asked my father to cut the tree unless they couldn't plant anything in that particular area. I remember my mother explaining to each one on different occasions . But, now I doubt that the tree was purchased to clear the debts. I could see the bus standing on the busstop near the English Medium School when I stand near the position of the cut down
cashew tree.
I don't remember how I did farewell to the Government Upper Primary School, Kadayiruppu. During vacation, the land looked barren to me. But the vacation was a season of ripe mango fruits. Out of the three Moovandan trees in my house, only two were full of mangoes. When the Moovandan is ripened, the skin of it must be taken off, and the first slice was for the youngest child. I liked the second slice and the last one. When there was the cashew tree in our land existed, I would look at the mango trees present in Mr George's land. They could be easily taken even without removing the skin. In the afternoon I & my brother would sit on the front verandah. Suddenly, a wind would blow so that the ripe mango fruits would fall on the earth. On the road leading to Puthiyaveettil Varghese's house, almost in the middle, on the left side, stood an old mango tree. It produced native type of mangoes. I & my brother would run and collect the ripe mango fruits. They would be washed in water and then would be taken,there would be no need of making slices. Basil & Peter would never run for the fallen mango fruits. I think their family members might have collected the mango fruits in the early hours of morning itself.
Now I remember the flowering tree Mimusop's Elengi, which was situated just opposite the mango tree in Puthiyaveettil Johny's house. I had gone there to collect its flowers and give it to my classmates many times. I didn't make a garland from it because I thought my friends would't like it. There was a Mimusop's Elengi in our land also. It is through its fragrance that we recognise it's presence. Like that, how many jasmine flowers had I seen ! I had made garlands using them but it lacked per fection. In the evening, the flowerbuds were collected and made garlands. I had also tried in it. But I always liked to see the fully blossomed flowers in the morning. In my childhood, I would come running in the morning to see the blossomed jasmine flowers. Those memories would never part with me.
cashew tree.
I don't remember how I did farewell to the Government Upper Primary School, Kadayiruppu. During vacation, the land looked barren to me. But the vacation was a season of ripe mango fruits. Out of the three Moovandan trees in my house, only two were full of mangoes. When the Moovandan is ripened, the skin of it must be taken off, and the first slice was for the youngest child. I liked the second slice and the last one. When there was the cashew tree in our land existed, I would look at the mango trees present in Mr George's land. They could be easily taken even without removing the skin. In the afternoon I & my brother would sit on the front verandah. Suddenly, a wind would blow so that the ripe mango fruits would fall on the earth. On the road leading to Puthiyaveettil Varghese's house, almost in the middle, on the left side, stood an old mango tree. It produced native type of mangoes. I & my brother would run and collect the ripe mango fruits. They would be washed in water and then would be taken,there would be no need of making slices. Basil & Peter would never run for the fallen mango fruits. I think their family members might have collected the mango fruits in the early hours of morning itself.
Now I remember the flowering tree Mimusop's Elengi, which was situated just opposite the mango tree in Puthiyaveettil Johny's house. I had gone there to collect its flowers and give it to my classmates many times. I didn't make a garland from it because I thought my friends would't like it. There was a Mimusop's Elengi in our land also. It is through its fragrance that we recognise it's presence. Like that, how many jasmine flowers had I seen ! I had made garlands using them but it lacked per fection. In the evening, the flowerbuds were collected and made garlands. I had also tried in it. But I always liked to see the fully blossomed flowers in the morning. In my childhood, I would come running in the morning to see the blossomed jasmine flowers. Those memories would never part with me.
My usual works were already done - removing the grass from the courtyard & pile up the books on the table. My sister was always with me because it was the midsummer vacation. She was a two years old child. Everyone called her "kunjava" ( a small child) . In Kerala, almost all small children are called as "kunjava". When I was studying, sometimes, she would make sound or cry. Then I would feel anger towards her. In the vacationtime, I got much time to observe her. Being a two years old child, she would come near her mother in the kitchen for some silly things. Then my mother would take some twigs and ask her to go to other room either with her sister or brother. Then she would cry aloud and go to the front verandah, sit there and continue her crying. I would stretch my hands towards her but she would't come. In such circumstances, I had felt some displeasure towards her. I knew that she wanted her mother to come near her and console her. After sometime, when she got tired, she would go out to the courtyard. I would run towards her and find her sobbing, sitting in the courtyard. When I stretch my hands, she would come with me unwillingly. I would show her the flowers, butterflies and go to the rubber plantation. Sometimes, I would call my brother also. I would tell her,"kunjava, you have a chechi and a chettan. Then why do you cry ?" Sometimes, I would allow her to lie on my shoulders and sing songs. When she is all right, we would return to our home, I would make her sit on a chair in the front verandah and give her an old notebook and Balarama. Then I would think, "I know the psychology of small children. I know how to bring up a child". The next moment I would think,"how can I bring up a child ? Before that I have to marry. I can't speak to anyone in the presence of my father and my mother. But my sister doesn't know this completely. When she grew up, the relationship between us was completely changed.
One day, Jeena and her friend came to my house. They were planning to participate in a dance performance in the Annual function of a club in Kolenchery. On that day, we went near Chithra's house but her aunt didn't give permission to come with us. We continued our journey and reached Padapparambu. There we went to Jancy's house. She was backward in her studies and she was considered as a poor performer in studies. But when I entered her courtyard, I was embarrassed to see her house and surroundings. We could see her mother and another woman washing clothes. She came from inside the house and led us to her bedroom. Laughing loudly, she rolled over her bed. It was a new experience to me. She was the eldest girl in the family and she had two younger sisters. I remembered the manner in which she rolled over her bed. Their floor was cemented, therefore it was not a problem. But in my house, the flooring was with cowdung. Therefore, we used sandals inside our house. We must sit on the mat,remove our sandals from our legs so that our legs donot touch the floor. My mother would say that there was no one to wash the blanket or mat in our house. Therefore, I would carefully sit on the cot, remove the sandals and go to bed. When I rise up in the morning, I would carefully search for the sandals, put on without touching the floor.
Which is right and which is wrong ? I was wandering in the wilderness alone - with no one to help me.
One day, Jeena and her friend came to my house. They were planning to participate in a dance performance in the Annual function of a club in Kolenchery. On that day, we went near Chithra's house but her aunt didn't give permission to come with us. We continued our journey and reached Padapparambu. There we went to Jancy's house. She was backward in her studies and she was considered as a poor performer in studies. But when I entered her courtyard, I was embarrassed to see her house and surroundings. We could see her mother and another woman washing clothes. She came from inside the house and led us to her bedroom. Laughing loudly, she rolled over her bed. It was a new experience to me. She was the eldest girl in the family and she had two younger sisters. I remembered the manner in which she rolled over her bed. Their floor was cemented, therefore it was not a problem. But in my house, the flooring was with cowdung. Therefore, we used sandals inside our house. We must sit on the mat,remove our sandals from our legs so that our legs donot touch the floor. My mother would say that there was no one to wash the blanket or mat in our house. Therefore, I would carefully sit on the cot, remove the sandals and go to bed. When I rise up in the morning, I would carefully search for the sandals, put on without touching the floor.
Which is right and which is wrong ? I was wandering in the wilderness alone - with no one to help me.
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