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After the first Terminal examination, there arose a new person, Nitha, who attained top score in Std IX. Upto that time, she was in the group of students who passed in all subjects and attained high marks. But her rise was all on a sudden. She was fair , smart & beautiful. She had a younger brother in Std VII. Whenever we saw him, we said said, "Nitha's brother, Nitha's brother". Her parents loved her very much. I understood it from her conversations & behaviour. Her father was a Rubber Tapperand her mother helped him in the whole process. Theirnew house was just completed in those days. Once we visited her new & beautiful house. "She can easily learn everything", I said to myself. There was reason behind it - the house was with a toilet inside it. "She can rise early in the morning , wash her face and do all morning ablutions & start her studies", I thought. I remembered the difficulties when I got up from from bed early in the morning. I was afraid to open the back door of the kitchen. Now, some gentlemen wouldwould say , ""we had also risenearly in the morning. After that , we sat on the chair and studied. We didn't wash our face or didany morning ablutions". It is their opinion. But I couldn't. Unless I wash my face, I would again slip away to sound sleep.
How can I express my difficulties I experiencedmat that time ! I don't know whether anyone could understand it or not. Aunt Molly was Twentysix years old and aunt Laly twentyfour. Everyone in my paternal family asked us about their marriage. Sometimes, my father would go to mother's house saying that a man would come there to see aunt Molly. This process continued for a long time. Oneday, my father returned to our house after visiting one of the future bridegroom's house. He said that the guy's family was not good. His family was converted to Christian Church from Paraya caste in Hindu community which comes under Pulayas. I was looking at the notebook but my attention was in his conversation. When I heard it, I raised my head suddenly with surprise. "What did I hear ?", I thought,"is it correct ?Is it my father or some other person who is talking like this ?", I had understood that caste system existed in Hindu community only. In Jacobite Church, each and everyone different castes of Hinduism is considered equally. I don't know whether there are any exceptions. I studied in Sunday School , participated in different activities like group songs in Malayalam & Syriac , JSVBS etc. There was no discrimination in spiritual matters but don't expect help in financial matters. My father didn't ask any financial help and they didn't give any help. "Such a man talking like this ! , I wondered. In the caste system, Paraya is lower than Pulaya. But when my grandfather accepted Christianity, he abandoned all the customs of Pulaya community. Later, when he changed to Pentecostal Church, this change became total. Yet, what did my father say ! My mind was completely shattered to pieces.
Aunt Molly was a perfect tailor. Moreover she could acquire a job known as "Mahila Pradhan Agent" in Post Offce. She was smart & could speak effectively. She must have realised that her elder sisters ( my mother and aunt Chinnamma ) and their husbands wouldn't bring her a husband. Oneday, she announced that she had a job and so she would stay with her parents and her younger sister aunt Laly's marriage could be conducted. Everyone was shocked to hear the news. My father and mother thought that aunt Molly would never marry and look after her parents till their death. When my mother described all these things to others, I couldn't control my laughter ( in my mind). Aunt Molly was strong in her decision. Therefore, marriage proposals began for aunt Laly.
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