The Lady`s Son : Exploiting Innocent Minds :-0- Part 2

                          Exploiting Innocent Minds :-0

Part 2 : The story of the 100 Re Note :-)

As the process  of eating our omelettes continued...........One such day Jayan came up with some other demand . He demanded hundred rupees and said that it  was very urgent . We were asked  not disclose it to anyone at all with the normal swears and things :-(

He told us that we should take the money from our parents somehow ,without them seeing and hand it over to him secretly the very next day when he come to collect us for school.

We were again made to swear .We poor souls were very much scared and  in lot of tension. All way  back home we kept on worrying . We dint know what to do and how  to go about it . We were scared to tell our parents because we were worried about the swearing and was afraid of the consequences if we break them :-(

In the evening ,after the school hours , back home we changed and went out for play with our friends . How could we play when we were this much tensed ? We were not able to concentrate on games or anything . I think our fear and tension was quite visible to our eldest play mate .....the old grandpa next door . He was always with us during our play time , sharing stories and directing us . 

He came to us and asked if everything is alright . A first we were reluctant and kept distance and avoided his questions , but then maybe we saw a true friend in him . We told him the whole story .After listening to us ,he was silent for sometime .Later he consoled us ,told us that we shouldn't worry and he will take care of the situation . We were totally relieved .

the play time with grandpa

He told us that we will catch him with his own card :-) That day our project was to help the grandpa to work his plan out . He asked us  to bring colors , paper ,etc . We were very excited , we ran here and there to get the things he demanded. And after hours of work he finally made a exact copy of a hundred rupee note and handed it over to me .He asked us to hand it over to him the next day ,the same way as he as asked us to do .

play time

We were bubbling with excitement and of course fear was there because now the promise was broken anything evil  could happen anytime . Next day morning ,we were all ready for the adventure . I was assigned to hand over the fake note to Jayan the maid`s son . We waited .....and waited ...yes here he comes ....I  was trembling like anything .............I was too scared ............but collecting all the strength I slowly walked towards the window........there he was standing with a devilish look ..........checking here and there ........I  slowly put my hand out through the window and handed him the money .

The moment he took the money ,he kept it in the pocket and  suddenly  out from somewhere came our grandpa  along with my parents . They caught him and scolded him  for what he did  . Meanwhile someone went to call his mother, She came and whole story was detailed to her and she was asked to take him from our premises once and for all .

Jayan n his mom

From that day onwards till we left the rented house  , never once did Jayan come back to take us to school or for any purpose at all .

With him out of sight , and sensing that nothing evil happened to us even after we broke the promise made to him ...........myself and y sister showed the courage to tell our parents about the eggs we never had :-( 

The Lady`s Son : Exploiting Innocent Minds :-0- Part 1

                              Exploiting Innocent Minds :-0

Part 1 - The Omelette Story :

Sthree n her son

As I have mentioned in my earlier blog "The Lady and Her Son ' ......at times when the lady was ill ,then her son would come to take us all to school . After kinder school , our parents put us into one of the most  prestigious Convent Schools in the city . The school was about  two   kilometers  from our rented house . We used to walk to school and back ,with  very thin traffic and lot of friends to cat with the distance was never an issue 

There were a number of incidents that happened during this time . But I would like to share two such ,which are still fresh in my memory :-)

Our Lunch Box

The lady and her son used to bring lunch for us  .The Lady`s  Son ....his name was Jayan . He used to bring us lunch when his mom was away . He waits for us near the school gate . The school gate was very huge and very big . Myself and my sister , we both used to come running during the lunch break ,as soon as the bell goes .

There behind the huge  front gate , we used to stand and then he will open the lunch boxes for us .
Inside the lunch box ,there would always be an egg omelette on the top and underneath that would be rice ,curd and some curry mixed together in both the lunch  boxes  .

Our mouths used to water when we see the egg . As we take the egg  to eat , Jayan would say , that we should not eat the egg .If we eat the eggs , we will get all the sins and some thing very deadly would happen to us and our loved ones .He used to say that he will take care of it and he will drive the evil away by taking the eggs himself .???

By saying so he would consume both the eggs and we used to satisfy ourselves with the rice and the rest of the curry :-( 

And that is not the end of the story , we were warned  to keep  this a secret throughout . He scared us saying that if we dare to tell anyone then that will be the end of us .We were even made to swear on God everyday and we with all  our fears and doubts sincerely obeyed him  ;-( 

AFYI :  we were only kids under the age of  eight or nine !!!

"The Lady and Her Son "

The Mystery  behind the addressal ??

Sthree and  Sthree`s Son ( "The Lady and Her Son " )  that is what we used to address them . The middle aged lady who took us to school everyday . She carried all the bags and tiffins on her head , balancing it with one hand ,and with the  other hand ,she managed to hold us all , directing ,scolding and leading us to the school . Like a flock of sheep ,we used to follow her ,chattering  ,laughing ,and shouting all the way to school 

At times ,.when she is sick ,then her son would come and take us to school . He was more friendly ,as he was may around fourteen or fifteen . We always wondered why he wasn't going to any school .Why he was wearing all shabby dresses  ?Why he was having no friends ? 

We were told that they were poor and couldn't afford all those luxuries that we are having . We dont dare to ask them more ,but we always were sorry for him and his mother 

After all these years I still wonder , why were calling her "Sthree ( Lady ) and her son Sthreede  Mon (lady`s son ) ....I sill remember , after all dressed up for school , when we see her coming , we used to call out to our mom  "Mom , Sthree has come " or " Sthreede  Mon has come " ;-0

Our parents dont remember why we called her so  :-(  

Recollecting the reference which we gave her , seems so funny now ,but then the quench is  still there to find out who directed us to call them so ??

How daring one can be at the age of three ?

       How daring one can be at three ?

Naughty Naughty Me :-)

Exactly as the heading says , how daring can one be at an age of three  ? As I`ve already mentioned in my blogs I have been very naughty ,mischievous and stubborn all through my childhood . My analysis for my behavior will be done in some other blog . 

Before I start narrating the incident ,I would like to give a picture of my school . My school was an old Christian school , which was located on the main road . It was a junction where  three other roads meet. It had a main gate near the junction and one side gate .From my home if you go straight right , first you`ll cross a junction again you`ll have to go straight and on the left side of the road just before another junction  was my school.

As it happens , I was put in a nursery school near by our house ,at the age of  three . As my parents were working , I was taken to school by them and later I come back home in the evening  by the school van. Well maybe I was not very  happy with all those happenings in my life , maybe I had better options at home rather than in school , maybe I was not comfortable with the teachers and  friends there .

Whatever the reason maybe , one  such day  as always my parents dropped me at school with a bag containing nothing other than a small book , some biscuits and my lunch  . By afternoon , I got so bored of all .So the little devil mind  of mine started working ...after having my lunch , I went to wash my hands ( the wash area was near the small gate ). I took my bag and went to wash my hands , thanks to my lucky stars ....the small gate was open a bit .

I looked here and there ,there was no ayah in sight ,nor any teachers . I slowly got out of the gate and started walking towards my home . I,  a child of 3 years , a liliput ,must have caught lots of attention .As i walked a bit two boys came to me and asked where I was going .I said that I was going home .I don't know what else they asked ,but then they told me that they`ll accompany me and I promised them that I`ll show them my home . And I  showed the way to my home , crossing the junctions and they came with me till my home and left me with my maid and left .

As  this happened  forty two years back ,when there was no phone connection or any other means of communication ,my poor maid waited till my parents came back from work . They must have talked , discussed and worried a lot about me ,thinking of the consequences of my act . But I was happy myself , as I got a whole afternoon to be at home . And I noticed that no one was questioning me , scolding me ,so I quite happy .

I think I  got a great impression about myself . The next day ,I was again taken to school .I had all  plans set up in my mind .As planned after having my lunch ,I went to wash my hands ....Good God !!! I couldn't believe my eyes !!!  There ......the door was open again !!    How could I miss  one more such a golden chance .And I looked here and there .......Yes :-)  there was nobody there watching me ....slowly and started to move out ..........Hey Hey What is this ?  Suddenly I felt some one stopping me ,I turned back to see the ayah standing there and also some of the teachers :-( 

Caught red Handed :-(

I don't remember what their expressions were . I have no clue whether they scolded me or warned me or made me understand the danger in doing so. But after that day never did I attempt to cross the rules , never tried to run away from the school .

Sadly enough ,  from that day on wards that gate was always closed , not a single time was it opened  .And as years rolled by , the school got renovated , new structures came up and  to add to all the changes , they removed that gate too and built a wall . Now that school has only one gate that is the main gate !!!

I still don't know what made me do such an act ? I don't know why i was not punished or beaten up ? I don't know why I never dared to do it again? I still wonder what was that ,that made me do it  , and what was that , that made me stop it ???

If such an incident had happened these days :Then with all the crossroads  and heavy traffic I would never have survived .The boys  who had helped me could have done anything to me and my parents . Anything could have happened .

As a parent ,what would have  done if one of my kids had done the same ? Would I have handled it  the same sensible way as my parents did ? Would any parent reacted to such a situation the same way ??

Our country has changed a lot and so have the people and their minds .I`m sure that in this present society a  running away of a three year old would have been different scene  and so would have been the consequences . The entire scenario would have been another !!!

An Evening At The Beach ;-)

                              An Evening At The Beach

A Sunset at the Sanghhumugham beach 

It was a Sunday evening ,as if following a regular pattern we were to visit the beach (evening were either a visit to the beach or a movie ) . But then this time with us were amma`s elder sister , and her daughter . 

We reached the Shangumugham beach . Both of us ...me n my sis were going crazy seeing the sea. We started running towards the sea .As always my hyper tensed mom was screaming , warning and calling us back . But then that was the regular scene and we were least bothered 

In between we came back ,soaked up till the waist  ate a mouthful of hot peanuts and ran back to the sea .Acha was with us all the time .Chechi  (our cousin sister ) was also with us . Amma was busy talking with  her sister . 

It was nearing sunset , amma came towards us to call us back . We were insisting to stay a bit more and then it happened ............All of a sudden ,we saw a huge wave coming .........indeed a huge one .....Chechi ran back to the shore ..........and in fraction of seconds  the whole scenario changed 

As  the wave  hit the shore ....Acha came running  and took hold of amma and was dragging her back to the shore .......we two were  stranded ......in the waves ...going deeper inside the sea  .....hearing acha amma shouting some fishermen came running .....They jumped into the water and carried both of us into the shore . 

All soaked ,wet from top to bottom , i don't know whether we were scared  or excited or whether we were enjoying the scene . But as I recollect these moments ...I realize there was not a bit of fear in both of us because we still continue to enjoy the waves and sea ...of course amma put a ban to our most awaited Sunday treats for sometime ...........But then as memory faded ,we were back to our routine ....enjoying the sea ,the breeze , the hot peanuts........  :-)

The Mandapam At the Beach 

Drubbing Days !!!

                                      Drubbing  Days !!!!

I was very naughty and stubborn all through my childhood . And I would go to any extreme to gain attention!!!

The usually calm acha became the 'angry young man ' at times when my naughtiness cross all limits .My sister was seldom a victim ,because she was so calm and quiet all the time . She used to put herself into trouble whenever she follow my path and keep my side watching all my kriyas!!!

There were many instances of whacking ....bcoz my naughtiness was unlimited .....I remember a few instances :

Once while our  milkmaid  was having kanji sitting in the front door steps , i came  running from somewhere and put a bunch of pink flowers ( a hanging bunch of  wild flowers ) into her plate and ran away with the same speed ............there I get whacked :-(

Once I did some mischief on the house  maid ,and then she started complaining . Acha was on the way to see off his sister back to Ambalapuzha ,. He got too angry .............there I get whacked  :-(

And one time ,must be the  act was so sinful ,that acha locked my sister in the 'Oovu  Muri ' adjacent to their bedroom. I  was heartbroken , because of me she was suffering .....and the melodrama queen in me woke up ....I went outside the "Oovu  Muri ' . There was a window on the top of that room .I started singing :  

        "  Manja kili , chella kili ,

      Mayilpeeli kattile   varna killi 

ninakk achanundo , ammayundo ?  aniyathi  kootinundo ?"

Seeing all  the melodrama , acha let her out . She came out all red and pink after all cry :-(

Another time ,when acha used to catch us by the skirt for the whacking sessions ......I used to cry out loud  "  kollalle   muthalalli    kollallee ."

Courtesy to all the Malayalam movies he took us to :-)

And finally one day acha stopped his whacking , when accidentally one of those days when he was holding me to whack ,his mother came in to stop him and the beating just fell on her hand . from that day even after ammumma left for Ambalapuzha , whenever acha used to hold us for whacking ...I used to shout 'Ammumma . Ammumma '  and achan`s hands used to go numb 

I escaped many by using the same trick .....Now when I look back I realize how much  hurt he must have been with that incident ,that never once did his hands raised against his kids ....that was his love for his mom !!!

BTW : whacking sessions will be incomplete without sharing this special secret ......after all the beatings and crying ......acha used to leave the house ....returning back with a bag full of sweets ...ladoos , jilabi`s and what all :-)

 .

The Ride !!! Savari Giri Giri :-)

                        The terrifying  tricycle ride by My Grandma

The Tricycle 

Our Ammomma (granny )was soooooo  different . She was quite adventurous too . I`ll come to her in later sessions of my blog . Now when I am still at Vijaya Mandiram .....One incident of hers is still fresh in memory .....I can actually visualize every scene after scene 

It was like any other day . Our parents had left for work . At home ,there was only we three plus our maid Sulochana . We had a tricycle which we used to ride inside and outside the house . That particular day , while I was riding the tricycle inside the house ...to be exact in the pooja room ( as I`ve already mentioned ,that room had plenty of space ).....grandma  was there watching me ,doing something in the pooja room .

 She then asked me " Nee maaru , Njan onnu  odikkatte ( Will you please move , Let me try to ride ) "

Granny in her thoughts :-)

I obediently got out from the cycle , hold it for her to sit . The moment she sat , the cycle fell back ......There she was lying with her head down and legs up . 

I thought  she would die now and i`m responsible for that . I yelled and cried " Aarengilum  oodi  vaa .....Ammumma  ippo   chathu   pokum (  Somebody please come , granny will die now ) 

In between all the melodrama ,she slowly got up on her own , before anyone came to the scene :-)

She promised me that I should not tell anyone , and I told her that I`ll not 

* The first thing I did when amma came from office was to go running to her and narrate the whole incident ;-)

The Unforgettable Ride :-)