Chapter 15- Sajichayan’s Marriage.....!

                                      

When vinay was in 12^th standard, sajichayan’s marriage got fixed to a nurse who was working in a hospital in kottayam. Ranjith uncle and family left to kottyam one week prior to the marriage. Vinay and family reached in the morning on the wedding day. After the breakfast, vinay saw that all the elderly people who were present in the house were talking to his father with so much of concern and love.

Vinay was not able to figure out the situation.

Then he saw ranjith uncle’s mother introducing his father to someone by saying,” don’t you know who is this? He is ittichan’s second son. Ittichan and Samuel were close friends. you know about it right?”

Vinay got curious and was unable to perceive the moment. So he went to his mother and asked, “Mummy, who is this ittichan?”

” Your father’s father. That means your grandfather”. She replied with a broad smile.

“Then who is Samuel?” Vinay asked pensively.

“Which samuel?”

” ammachi was telling to someone that ittichan and Samuel were close friends”. Vinay said.

” oh Samuel appachan! He is ranjith uncle’s father (who passed way few years back). And this Samuelappachan and your grandfather were best friends since their childhood”. Vinay’s mother replied proudly.

Later priya chechi also introduced vinay and nisha to an old lady by saying,” these are ousechayan’s kids. Ousechayan and his family are so close to us”.

“How is ousechayan related to you?” the old lady asked in a prying tone.

” Ousechayan’s father and my father were best friends”.

The old lady was unhappy with the reply as she was expecting something controversial so that she could spread it among the relatives who were unknown to her.

Few days after the marriage, sajichayan and wife got shifted to Cochin and stayed there for a year until they both moved to Australia. Before they moved to Australia vinay heard that sajichayan’s wife can never be a mother.

Chapter 14, Rangeela movie...!

                                             

Ranjith uncle was in kottayam as Mary chechi’s due date was very near. One night after dinner at around 9 pm, the landphone started ringing and vinay’s mother attended it. while over the phone, she got excited and gradually her tone got elevated. Vinay and nisha were in their room and their father was reading a book in his bedroom. A few minutes later, vinay’s mother and father instructed their children to get ready to go for a movie.

Vinay doesn’t like going out especially with his father. His father would start behaving as if he is preparing the family to go out for a war. He would come up with so many annoying statements and comments and then he would make the entire family run around unwantedly.

A few disturbing and harassing comments of vinay’s father in the entire travel process woulde be as below;

·         “We need to get ready as early as possible. I don’t want any last moment hurry burry”. By badluck, if anything goes wrong, he could keep cribbing about it and he would dump the entire mistakes upon vinay’s mother.

·         Why are you wearing such a lousy clothes? Don’t you have anything good?”He would make vinay to dress up a number of times as a punishment.How can kids get good clothes by themselves? They are completely dependent on their parents. If a father finds his own kid's clothes lousy, it's his responsibility to get good clothes for the kid rather harrasing him on his dressing sense.

·         “Why cant’ someone remind me to wash the car yesterday? The car is dirty and how can I take this out?” The comment would have been said 2-3 hours prior to the travel. Then what is the need of getting annoyed? Just grab the hose and wash the car.

·         “Please remind me to stop at a petrol bunk (vinay’s family is not supposed to say “PETROL PUMP” as it’s a bad English according to the NRI father) and also remind me to check the air fillings in the tyres”. And if they forget to remind him, then that’s the end of the world.

·         “I don’t want anyone to sleep inside the car. Keep talking and be active”. Vinay and nisha used to wonder how their mother sits in the front seat beside their horrendous father. Poor mother would sit in the front seat like a slave and would paste a fake smile on her face throughtout the travel thinking that it would please her unconvincing husband. If he is so unsatisfied with his family, then for what reason he got married and made two children as well”.

·         “Hey, you! Drive properly…..you asshole” he would scream at people if they are not driving as per his rule. Vinay’s helpless mother whose mind would be wandering for various topics for a conversation would take this opportunity to embark a meaningless conversation that lasts for few seconds. She would also start complaing about their driving skill and would give a default statement which was, “how can they drive like that!” In fact, vinay’s father was a pathetic driver compared to Ranjith uncle. Vinay would always end up in a bad head ache after his driving stops at the destination.

·         “Vinay, talk something in english”. Here comes his trademark statement. Whatever vinay’s father does, it starts in ENGLISH and ends in ENGLISH. Oh god! Give a break.

Basically, vinay’s father was a fussy guy. And the most depressing part was that, vinay’s mother would lose her presence of mind when ever he raises his voice. She would then start behaving like a zombie. Even vinay also would turn into a half zombie. Nisha managed to tackle the situation.

Let’s come back to the movie plan.

“We are going to sreekala theatre. It’s nearby”. Vinay’s father announced.

” For rangeela? Hindi movie? There will be a huge rush for sure. It’s too late and we will not get tickets also”. Nisha replied at one stretch.

“Get the newspaper and check the timing. Fast”. Vinay’s father gave an order.

Nisha quickly grabbed the newspaper and said,” movie already started. Second show was at 9:15pm and now its 9:20pm”.

She went through the newspaper again and after few seconds she said surprisingly,” wait, there is a third show which is at night 12 in sreekala theatre itself. And it’s written only for today. Especially, because of saraswathi temple festival”.

Mother snatched the newspaper from her and checked once again.

” It’s correct. There is a third show at night 12. But who will go for a third show? We are not going anyway.” She said.

“That’s ok. We can go. It will be fun and more over there is reason to go. I mean we are happy about ranji and we need to celebrate ourselves”. Father said.

” what happened to uncle?” vinay and nisha asked together.

“Mary chechi got a baby girl and ranjith uncle became a father”. Mother replied.

” When?” Vinay asked out of curiosity.

“At night 8 o’clock and he had called sometime before and told to inform you guys”. Mother replied.

“We should leave at sharp 11 and be ready by that time. No idea how’s the crowd gonna be.” Vinay’s father said.

Everyone left in the car at 11 pm and once they reached the theatre vinay could see a huge crowd had gathered outside the gate. Few guys even climbed the wall and sat there munching ground nuts like monkeys sitting on trees. The crowd was impatiently waiting for the second show to get over.Vinay and family waited outside in the car. Vinay could see only 2 more ladies outside the theatre who were standing with their husbands. By 11:30pm the movie got over and after 15 minutes the vehicles were allowed to park inside. By that time vinay and nisha had got 4 tickets for the balcony row. The theatre was jampacked with crazy and over excited young guys. Vinay still remember how the crowd went crazy by howling and by screaming when the actress of the movie ran through the beach in a swimming suit in the middle of a song.

Once the movie was over vinay’s mother and nisha faced difficulty in reaching the car and she said to vinay in between, “ were your father was so crazy to take your mother and sister for such a movie and that too at midnight?”Vinay didn’t understand anything.  

Chapter 12, The new science teacher from Lucknow....!

                                     

When vinay was in 5^th standard, a new teacher from Lucknow got appointed as their science teacher. Her name was sindhu. On her first class itself she took a bold decision of giving home work to the students. They were asked to draw the picture of the human digestive system in their class notebook when they come on the next day.

Vinay and few other boys didn’t bother to do the home work as usual. They knew about the punishment system very well. They would be pushed out of the class for an entire period and they could sneak out in between so that they could have some fun wandering through the campus.

The next day, the students never bothered to ask each other whether they have done the homework or not. They thought, their new teacher would forget about the task she had asked them to do. The science teacher came to the class and to everyone's surprise; she remembered about the task and asked the boys to come one by one with their note books with the diagram of the human digestive sysytem in it. Vinay could see that she smiled at certain drawings and said”very good”. At few drawings she had a detailed gazing and then recommended to draw again.

Next was nibin. He handed over the notebook to her. She could not find any picture in it. She asked nibin in an elevated tone,” where is the drawing?’

 “I forgot to draw it?” he replied innocently.

Then the entire class was shocked to see what had happened next. She gave a tight slap on nibin’s right cheek. Instantly, nibin started crying. She then asked nibin to stand at the corner of the classroom. Seeing this vinay and few other boys started getting tensed and nervous.

They could see a kind of reprimand on her face.

Next was sreepath. She saw his drawing and then took the book above her head and showed it to everyone and said, “This great guy applied oil on his class notebook and then traced the picture exactly from the textbook to his notebook. This is not at all acceptable”.

She then threw his notebook to the floor. Then she asked him to come closer. And she slapped him. Sreepath just stood there looking down. She asked him to look up and then slapped him again. in a fraction of seconds, tears dropped down from his eyes. He was asked to stand along with nibin after that.

Next was vinay’s turn. She saw nothing in his book as well. Without asking anything she slapped vinay’s right cheek. He didn’t move at all and was looking down. Then she slapped him again. Still he didn’t look up. She slapped again and again. Then she asked him to look up. Vinay started crying silently and tears was flowing down through his both cheeks.

She just vented out her complete anger on vinay.

Shewas completely exhausted after that and then stood up and said,” I am giving you all one more day’s time and please make sure the drawing is done when you come tomorrow. Or else, saw them right?” she pointed her finger towards the tired boys.

In the evening, vinay and his classmate rajesh walked towards the main gate to go home. Vinay saw his uncle standing near to his bike with nisha. They were waiting for him.

As soon as he saw vinay ranjith uncle asked, “What happened to your cheek? It looks swollen”. He was intrigued by seeing his swollen face.

Before vinay could say anything, rajesh told him,” uncle, our new science teacher slapped on his cheek 5 times for not doing his home work”.

” Who is she that dared to slap my kid? He asked with a fuming face.

“Come with me and I will make sure that today is her last teaching day”. He proclaimed.

He pushed the bike and parked it inside the school campus and asked nisha to stay back near the bike itself and not go anywhere till they come back. Uncle dragged vinay and walked inside the school compound.

In between he asked vinay,” where is she? Show me once you see her”. He walked through the compound in berserk.

Rajesh was following them wobbly and he called vinay from behind, “da”. Vinay turned back. Rajesh then pointed his finger towards the library. Vinay saw his science teacher standing outside the main door of the library. Vinay immediately gestured at rajesh to go away.

“Uncle I guess she left already”.  Vinay told.

“Come, let’s meet the principal now”. Ranjith uncle said impatiently.

For the first time vinay saw his uncle getting so angry and his eyes sparked with vengeance.

The principal was slouching on the sofa that was kept outside his chamber only for the guests. The attendant was standing near to him holding a long book. Uncle entered the hall and shouted at the the attendant, “who is the principal? I want to meet him right now”.

Then the principal replied, who was still slouching on the sofa,” I am the principal. What’s the matter?”

” I am telling you clearly if you guys are teaching my kid like this, I will not let you all get out of here”. He blurted out at the principal.

” Tell me the matter first”. Principal said hastily.

Uncle dragged vinay towards him and pointed his hand towards his cheek and said,” is this the way your teachers do the teaching here? I am warning you again, I will not let you all get out of here”. He blurted out again.

Principal then turned towards Vinay.

” who slapped you?” he asked gently.

”sindhu teacher”.

”which sindhu teacher?”

”the new science teacher”. vinay replied.

Principal then looked at uncle and said, “Please calm down. Let me speak to her first and then will figure out. At the moment please take your leave and I shall come back to you by tomorrow”.

Uncle didn’t say anything and then they left the room.

At night while having dinner uncle informed everything to annammechi and the discussion went on for a long time.

The next day, nisha, vinay and their mother was having their breakfast and then the landphone started ringing which was kept in the drawing room. Vinay’s mother went and attended the phone. After a few minutes she came back and said to vinay,” it was your principal. He wants me to meet him along with you at his office today before the assembly”.

That day everyone left the house together in the car. On the way uncle said, “Annammechi, I am not coming inside. If I come I will kick that baldy”.

She replied, “That’s ok. I will manage”.

Vinay and his mother entered principal’s chamber. They both wished the principal a “good morning”.

Principal started the conversation by saying,” madam, we are extremely sorry for what had happened to your son yesterday. I spoke to Miss. Sindhu and had warned her not to repeat it. In fact, she was born and brought up in Lucknow and according to her this type of punishment is common there”.

Vinay’s mother intervened and said,” sir, this is kerala and I don’t want anyone to punish my son so rudely. After all this is not a jail right? Hope you have seen his cheek yesterday. It was swollen so badly. Look at his cheek now; still the finger marks are visible. Sir, can I ask you one thing? Would you tolerate if this had happened to your son? Give me an answer for that?

She expressed her concern and complaint abruptly.

“I understand madam. Let’s not drag anymore and once again I am telling you sorry on behalf of her”.He replied in a compromising tone.

He then continued, “Madam, just one more thing. Who was that person who spoke to me yesterday? Was that your husband?

“That was my brother”.

” do you have any idea how rudely he spoke to me. He just behaved like a local rowdy. He should have shown little more standard while talking”. He tried to get the ball in his court at that moment.

” even I am so sorry for that. He was just being serious about what had happened. On behalf of him I am saying sorry.Shall I take a leave then?” she wrapped up the conversation perfectly.

Once vinay reached the classroom he came to know that nibin’s father had also met the principal regarding the same issue after vinay’s mother had left.

That day science class was after the lunch break. Vinay and nibin were restless and was really praying to god for her absence in the class. But she came to the class on time. That day also vinay and nibin came without doing the home work. Probably they might have forgotten it in a genuine way amidst the chaos that had been happening. Rest of the class had done it. As soon as she entered the class, she gave a smile to everyone and asked politely,” who all complained against me to the principal?”

No one said anything. She then said,” don’t worry, I will not slap anyone. Just tell me”. Then someone from the back shouted,” its nibin and vinay”.

”Nibin and vinay, can you please stand up for a minute?” she said normally.

They stood up slowly.

“Was the slap really hurting?” she enquired.

They didn’t reply as their mouths were zipped with embarrassment and uncertainty.

She then made an announcement. ” you know what, I stopped slapping and I stopped giving home works also”. No one understood anything.

The next day the whole school came to know that yesterday was sindhu teacher’s last day in the school and would not come back again.

Chapter 11, Benny appappy’s marriage and Hindi speaking cousins.....!

                                                                                                     

Benny appappy was his youngest uncle (youngest brother of vinay’s father). He had a complicated name and his complete name was Benny Emilton Joseph.  He was very fair, he had a nice hairstyle and he worked in a Hotel in Doha, Qatar. Unfortunately he was ugly. There is a story behind his look which vinay had heard from his mother. 

On benny appappy’s first day in college, the lecturer was reading out the complete names of the students of the new batch and asked them to stand up once their names are read out. So that everyone would be able to know each other. When he said “Benny Emilton Joseph”, the entire students looked around out of curiosity. The girls saw him first standing at the last bench and they chuckled at him. Few other girls who were sitting at the last bench commented at him by saying, "ayye, Ivanaano Benny Emilton Joseph” (hey, is this one Benny Emilton Joseph?). the girls lost their expecation as they were eagerly waiting for a handsome hunk to stand up.

Vinay could remember only 3 times he had met benny appappy before his marriage. Vinay was in UKG when he came to his house in tripunithura. He was carrying a big trolley bag along with him. He came in the morning and left home in the evening. Later vinay could understand that he got a job in Doha, Qatar and was flying that night.

Second time, he met him when vinay was in 5^th standard. One night he came to his house and left in the morning. Vinay realized that he had a stiff face and never smiled. Vinay also felt that he thinks himself as so important and behaved as if he was a scientist with enormous number of rockets being launched in his head. That day after dinner, benny appappy took vinay on his lap and asked,” talk to me in English. Let me see how fluent you are in English”. Vinay was wondering what kind of question was that. Vinay could easily realize that, no doubt, beny appappy was his father's younger brother who has some mad intimacy towards english lanuage and also thinks, if someone speaks good english, he is perfect and he would be the most succesful person in life.

I just don't understand how people can have such a conservative and unheretical thought that a perosn is useless without the knowledge of English language. i do believe that english language is ineludible in the present competitive world and one must excel in it to move forward in the professional life. But, people like benny appappy and vinay's father just don't know how to make people understand the importance of the English language without any agitation. They think, they travelled littile bit around the world and learnt English language and has become a scholar. That thought is absolutely stupid and ridiculous. Finally, what had happened in their lives though they were English speakers is absolutely pitiable. Benny appapy lost his job and ended up in selling burgers in a bakery in kottayam and vinay's father ended up as a huge debtor.

i might be over reacting on the simple question what benny appappy had asked vinay, but the harrassment, the pressure and the amount of nervous excitement vinay had gone through his childhood as a poor english speaker from his father was quiet unendurable.

Let’s come back to benny appappy's visits. Third time, vinay met him just after 2 years in vinay’s new huge house in tripunithura.Vinay’s father behaved like a spendthrift while constructing it. He shelled out almost 50 lakhs for its construction.

As usual, that day also benny appappy stayed only for one night with them. But when he went back to kottayam this time, nisha, vinay and their mother also joined him as he had come to take them for his marriage. The previous day he took them for shopping and got a new t-shirt and jeans for vinay and some fancy dresses for nisha. It was a deal that they should wear the same dress on his wedding day and must send a photograph to their father who was in Oman who would not be attending the wedding.

Vinay, nisha, mother and benny appappy reached their father’s “tharavaadu” (ancestral house) in kottayam in the afternoon. Vinay and nisha always had a different view about the “tharavvadu” and the people who stayed there. Nisha and vinay never liked to go there and to some extent they were even scared of visiting that place. Their father’s elder brother whom they called “appachan” stayed there along with his son, 2 daughters and grandfather. Veliyammachi (Grandmother) passed away one year before and appachan’s wife who was a Goan was working in Jordan comes and goes in between. Appachan used to work in Dubai before.

Even Appachan’s children had very complicated names. Eldest daughter was called as bubbly and her name in records was Irene Cletus Mathew. Second daughter was called as dodo and her real name was Jane Lukos Mathew. And the youngest son had a funny pet name as tuttu. His real name was Christopher Mathew. Dodo and bubbly spoke in Hindi to each other. Tuttu sometimes.

Vinay and nisha had met them few times before benny appappy’s wedding. Once they had visited vinay’s house in tripunithura when he was in LKG. They all stayed there just for one night and left the next day. Second time they visited them in their tharavaadu when tuttu met with an accident. In these two occasions, appachan and ammachi (appachan’s wife) spoke to vinay and nisha only in English.

During veliyammachi’s (grandmother) funeral, vinay and nisha had met them for the third time. That was the first time appachan spoke to them in Malayalam and ammachi also spoke something in Malayalam which was very funny to listen.

Nisha, who was good in English, managed to get into bubbly’s and dodo’s group and got a chance to try her Hindi speaking skills also.  Two more cousins by the name sweety and dolly who had come from Mumbai also joined the group. Tuttu was busy with his gang of brats from his school and from his neighbourhood. Vinay was completely lost and felt lonely. He looked around for his mummy (mother). But, could not find anywhere. Then he looked for nisha and found that she was very busy with her new Hinglish (mix of Hindi and English) speaking gang of cousins.

Vinay somehow found nisha free and he rushed to her and asked“chechi, mummye kandaayirunno?” (Sister, did you mummy?)

She replied in English, “I didn’t see her anywhere”.

Vinay chuckled and said, “bhayankara english aanallo”( too much of English).

She just stared at him and went inside. He then decided to check with bubbly sister as she was the eldest among all the cousins of vinay and more over she knows each and every one who came for the wedding. So, vinay thought, she would be able to help him in locating his mother.

He saw her near the kitchen and ran towards her and asked, "Bubbly chechi, ente mummye kandaayirunno?"(“Bubbly sister, did you see my mom?”).

Without looking at him she pointed towards the backyard and replied in Hindi,”us tharaf” (that side).luckily she pointed her finger towards the backyard. Otherwise vinay would have been confused.

He saw his mother talking to few clumsy aunties sitting down on the kitchen step. Vinay was happy to see her. He went and stood near her.

She saw him and asked with concern,” where have you been? Sit with me. After some time the coach would come and we have to go to the church in the first trip itself”

After the marriage, sweety and dolly who had come from Mumbai asked bubbly sister,” bubbly didi (sister), how benny appapy got such a beautiful wife?”

Bubbly sister was unable to give an anser for that. She just laughed.

Just then, sweety who was sniggering alone, said,” I think she doesn’t know Hindi. When I asked her in Hindi how she was, she just smiled back at me. But I heard she teaches Hindi in her school”.

Vinay, who was listening to their conversation had understood that if he stays there for another one more minute, they would end up in checking his Hindi speaking skill as well. So he just vanished from there.

Chapter – 9, Ranjith uncle’s wedding....!

                                                    

Ranjith uncle who used to wear only shirts and pants started buying t-shirts and jeans. Another observable change on ranjith uncle was that he got a new golden chain for his neck and a golden bracelet for his right wrist. His good looking face started blushing always. He started travelling to kottayam frequently and every night he would be over the phone talking to someone. He even stopped sleeping in his bedroom and started sleeping on the sofa near to the phone which was in the living room.

Vinay's mother Annammechi was unaware of the phone calls until nisha told about it at the dinner table as a revenge against ranjith uncle for not taking her along with vinay for the movie they had watched in the morning that sunday. Uncle continued having food with a smile on his face. Vinay’s mother then said, “I know that you are getting married. But no phone calls in front of kids”. Hearing that, kids started blushing more than him. They were feeling shy terribly.

Kids took this opportunity to intimidate ranjith uncle and made him take them for a movie the next day. He had to buy them ice cream during the break and their demand was over once he took them for a bike ride during night. Ranjith uncle finally suceeded in satisfying the kids so that they would not utter a single word again about his late night calls with his fiance.

Vinay found ranjith uncle's finace's name as Mary and also got to know that she was a nurse in their home town. After a few days, ranjith uncle told that the kids would be going to meet her soon. The Kids were dumbstruck and were excited to see her. One Sunday afternoon, ranjith uncle, vinay's mother and kids decided to meet Mary. They all went in their blue maruti 800 to see her. Mid way vinay's mother told that the kids should call her as “Mary chechi”. They looked at uncle who was driving and saw him smiling. After almost 3 hrs of drive, uncle stopped the car in front of a black gate. Kids and their mother got down at the gate and uncle drove little further to find a place to park the car. Meantime, an old lady came out wearing pure white chatta and mundu (typical white dress worn by the aged Christian mothers of kerala). Kids instantly noticed her big round golden earings which were hanging down from her ears. The kids felt it like an elephant’s ears were hanging right infront of them. Vinay could clearly see the sky above through the wide and lose hole on her ears which was formed as a result of the huge earing hanging on her ears for many years.

The old lady, came close to vinay's mother and took her hands and started rubbing it in between her palms and asked, “How was the journey? Was it fine? Must be tired sitting for long time!”

Mother replied, “It was fine. We stopped in between for relaxing”.

The old lady then looked at the kids. She rubbed and piched their cheeks one by one and then kissed the tips of all her fingers together, a typical way of expressing care and love towards kids by aged people.

She then asked, “Where is ranjith? Oh, might have gone to park the vehicle! That’s fine! Come in annammechi. Come in children!” kids were thinking why that old lady called their mother as “annammechi”. They went inside and sat comfortably on the sofas in the drawing room. Kids were looking around to see whether Mary chechi was nearby or not.

Then the old lady who was sitting near to annammechi looked inside the house and said. “Hey leela, please get those juice and eatables for them soon”.

Leela from inside replied, “Just coming”. By the time ranjith uncle also came inside and smiled at the old laday.

She asked him, “are you tired of driving for so long?’

He replied, “not at all”.

Kids now could not wait any more and they meekly asked, “Where is our mary chechi?”

The drawing room was then filled with laughters of everyone.

The old lady who was trying to control her laugh. But somehow she managed to shout, “Hey, Mary! The children can’t wait anymore to see you”.

Then Mary chechi came from inside wearing a black salwar and a white shawl. She then stood near leela and smiled at everyone. Kids kept looking at her. Vinay could easily notice Mary chechi's long straight hair. He also found that, the hair was so long that, it was hanging down even after her hip. She had done a long and thick plait out of it.

Nisha found that her nose was like a parrot’s beak.

Vinay then compared her complexion with renjith uncle's. She was not that fair as him.

“How she would be eating food?” nisha told in a hushed tone in vinay’s ear. they just giggled thinking of that.

Finally, kids could easily make out that Mary chechi was extremely beautiful and they liked her very much.  They said loudly to the elders. “We liked her”.

Naturally, the elders and Mary chechi reacted with a laugh. In between their laughs, the kids also noticed that her teeth were perfectly in tact and realized that she even had a beautiful smile.

Renjith uncle kept on blushing throughout converstaion and his cheeks were so red that one would think that his cheeks would procreate ripened apples.

After sometime, they decided to leave from Mary chechi's house. While driving back home, vinay's mother said,” I didn’t like her nose. Looks like parrot’s beak”. Kids also agreed to that again.

 “That’s ok. I will try to do a cosmetic surgery for her nose after marriage”. Renjith uncle replied.

Mother and uncle just smiled at each other.

Few days later, from mother, vinay came to know that father would be coming home very soon and would be going back only after ranjith uncle’s marriage is over. Few days after his arrival vinay, nisha, ranjith uncle and father went to “sheematti “which was in the city for purchasing ranjith uncle’s wedding clothes. After going through many similar looking white shirts and black pants, uncle finally liked one pair. Kids noticed that their father took money from his wallet and made the payment. It was his gift for him.

Uncle left for hometown few days before the marriage. The kids along with father and mother left one day before the marriage. They reached” priya veedu” at night.Kids kept the name for uncle’s house as “priya veedu” (priya’s house) as he had a younger sister by the name priya who used to stay in vinay’s house once in a while. “priyaveedu” was colorfully decorated and was well illuminated. Vinay and nisha had stayed in that house before also. Years back, the house was very small with 2 rooms and a kitchen. Later, the house was extended towards the front and towards the back as well. The most unique thing about the house was that one could see the backyard from the entry door itself. It was a lengthy view right through the middle of the house and the length could be compared to a cricket pitch. Ranjith uncle’s appachan (father), Samuel who was known as a brave and daring truck driver constructed the old version of the house long years ago and the extension was done by Ranjith uncle. People used to tell that Samuel achayan was once a local thug with a kind heart. 

Uncle’s youngest brother, sister priya, appachan and ammachi (uncle’s mother) stayed in that house. His youngest brother Sajichachan as kids called him was unemployed and was doing nothing until he started taking care of the trucks owned by vinay’s father.

The reason for his unemployment was that he couldnt complete his 1oth class and after that  no body cared of sending him to school again. He just stayed back home like an indolent boy.

Vinay managed to find a story from one of the relatives that sajichachan had actually forgot to attend the SSLC final examination as he was fully involved in watching India – Pakistan cricket match on the same day. Many years later, The same sajichachan got married to a nurse and got settled in Australia.

I think i need to talk little more about Sajichachan and his presence in Vinay's life.

Sajichachan became close to vinay while staying with him in tripunithura. Sajichachan played cricket and many other games with vinay whenever vinay asked him to. Vinay even roamed with him on the yamaha rx100 bike which vinay's father had got for the family during his last one month vacation. Vinay loved playing the fighting game with sajichachan by imitating the wrestlers he watched in WWF television program. Sajichahchan had a well toned body with strong and perfectly shaped biceps on which vinay always looked with an amusement.

One day during their regular fight game, sajichachan’s hand accidently hit vinay’s nose hardly. Vinay just made a loud voice and started crying. Sajichachan whisked him and started behaving indifferently by saying, “if you want to cry then don’t play with me”.

He even told ranjith uncle that, “vinu (as he was called like that by everyone) would hit me hard and scratch my entire body always in the fight and i never had a complaint and today when my hand hit his nose little harder, he started crying”.

Uncle just replied, “That’s ok guys. Leave it”.

Vinay found ranjith uncle's behavior so sulking.

A similar incident happened again and vinay decided to stop talking to sajichahan completely. This decision happened after a bad carom game.

Sajichachan and vinay made a pair and nisha along with priyachechi made a pair. Sajichachan and priya chechi were excellent in playing carom. That day, sajichachan decided to play 3 rounds and the team who wins 2 games would be declared as the best team. Even after lot of efforts, vinay and sajichachan could not win the first round of the game. The moment they started the second round, sajichachan kept blaming and tormenting vinay’s play and found out faults in every movement he made. At last they lost the second round also.

After losing the game, sajichachan screamed at vinay “You didn’t play well. Otherwise I would have won the game. I had never lost the game with priya and it is a shame for me now that i lost to my younger sister”.

Even as a small child, Vinay could not tolerate the bigotry which sajichachan just showed towards him. Vinay felt insulted and lost his patience infront of the vexation he had submerged in his mind.

Vinay just bursted out with a loud cry and then pushed the carom board so hard at sajichchan. The board fell on sajichachan's feet with a loud noise and his right toe thumb started bleeding. Vinay was still not finished with his anger. He picked up the carom coins one by one and started throwing hardly at sajichachan. Sajichachan tried to cover his face and was also trying to move forward and pull vinay down. Vinay managed to dodge from him and continued throwing carom coins at sajichachan. Finally, sajichachan's mother came running from inside and pushed back vinay by holiding his hip from behind. Priya chechi and nisha also joined ammachi in stopping vinay from his unexpected and undomesticated behavior.

Vinay then yelled at sajichaachan, "hey dog, I will never ever again play with you”.

Uncle’s younger sister priya, who was 20 years old at that time also did nothing like sajichachan. She failed in her pre-degree and didn’t continue studying for a simple reason that she was not good at studies according to ranjith uncle. He then asked her to help mother at home in doing domestic chores.

To some extend ranjith uncle also belonged to those male dominating society who strongly think that women are meant to be inside the house and just do cooking and raise the kids. He even preached it in his own life by making Mary chechi a home maker after the marriage.  And she also took up the responsibility of raising their 3 broods.

After few years, priya chechi got married to a marine engineer and got settled in Mumbai and gave birth to 3 daughters.

Priya chechi, as a teenager and young lady, used to come to tripunithura and stayed in vinay’s house for few days. She used to check on vinay’s studies and made him write the class notes again and again so that he would not forget it during his examination. Sometimes she prepared her own study notes for him. Vinay was amazed to see her neat handwriting and always told her that she could win the first prize in the calligraphy competition in his school. During free time priya chechi, nisha and vinay used to play cricket and vinay was always happy that priya chechi was more interested in outdoor games than nisha. So he never had a complaint about her whenevr she was at his house.

Back in home town, Priya chechi had her own gang of friends in and around the locality. She was good in singing church songs. Her gang of friends was also good at that. Nisha and vinay were not knowing none. One day, as usual, the kids along with priyachachi were indulged in their favorite carom game. Suddenly, priya chechi made an unexpected announcement. “let’s stop playing carom now. It’s so boring".

"Let’s sing some divine songs one by one and the one who sings well would be declared as the best singer."

Vinay was wondering from where she had got this idea of screwing the joyful mood.

 A thin and dark boy called binoy started singing first followed by her fair chubby sister daisy and then priya chechi.

 Then it was nisha’s turn to sing. She said, “I don’t know any church songs”. And vinay also said the same thing.

Binoy and daisy gave a wry smile at them and asked,” do you guys belong to temple?”

Even priya chechi could not believe that and she said something in return to nisha and vinay which later ended up her in getting beatings from uncle ranjith with a thick tapiocca stick.

Priya chechi said,” it’s really shameful that you kids don’t know any church songs and it’s even more shameful that you both don’t go to church on Sundays. Look at binoy and daisy, they are also of your age and see how many church songs they know. There is no point in having lot of money if you are not close to god.  Anyway why should you kids to be blamed? Actually your parents should be blamed for this”.

Ranjith uncle got to know about this when Vinay asked him, “uncle, is it very bad if one can’t sing a church song?

Uncle replied, “No”

Vinay again asked, “Then why priya chechi said like that to us?”

Vinay then told everything to uncle ranjith that had happened.

Let’s go back to uncle ranjith’s wedding. Vinay was happy to see that his father’s blue maruti 800 was getting decorated as uncle ranjith and the bridegroom would be taken to the church in it. And the most exciting part was that, his father would be driving the couple from home to the church.

The previous day, people gathered in the drawing room for the prayer and the prayer ended with the bible reading by ammachi. Then it was the sweet serving ceremony.

 Ammachi asked twice loudly to everyone, “Shall i serve the sweet to the bridegroom? “ The crowed replied in a single voice, “Please  serve the sweet”. Then ammachi filled ranjith uncle's mouth with a spoon of sweet milk mixed with sliced banana. Photographer captured that sweet moment in his camera.

The next day, before uncle entered the car, he told vinay and nisha to stand near him inside the church. They felt so honoured to hear that. They reached church and the entire people were eagerly waiting to see the bride. After a few minutes, an ornated white ambassador entered the church compound and the much awaited bride Mary chechi got down from the car. She was looking like an angel in her white saree.  A white net scarf was flowing down from her head which was beautifully folded into the golden crown which was shining brightly on mary chechi's head. Vinay took a gasp looking at her.

As requested, vinay and nisha stood near to uncle ranjith till the mass was over.

In between the church mass, vinay kept asking ranjith uncle“When are you tying the thaali (pendant)? Ranjth uncle would smile and reply, “in sometime”.

Finally, the priest took the thaali (pendant) and came towards Mary chechi. The priest raised the thaali and brought it near her neck. Uncle stood there silently and was just gazing at the priest. The priest then kept the thaali on her neck.

Vinay saw this and sneaked towards nisha and asked,” is that old priest going to marry her?”

As a younger sister, priya chechi took the right move at that time by giving a slight push to uncle from behind as a signal to take the thaaili from the priest. Ranjith uncle regained his consciousness and took the thaali and tied it around Mary chechi’s neck. Thanks to priya chechi for saving Mary chechi from getting married to the priest.

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The ceremony was followed by a lunch with the usual chicken biriyani and ice cream. The common marriage feast of an average Christian family in kottyam.Uncle and Mary chechi sat on the huge red colored chairs above the stage which was ornated elaborately.  In front of them was the huge wedding cake which both of them cut together and fed each other. They also tasted the wine together before they started having their lunch. Nisha and vinay was standing down near the stage and was gazing at the playful activities done by uncle and his newly wedded wife. Uncle waved his hand asking them to come closer to the stage so that he could feed them.

Kids were very happy that day. But they never knew that in the future, uncle, Mary chechi and their 3 children would leave them forever and would never come back in their life.

A bit of my Travel experience in Thailand….

I travelled to Thailand few months back and the whole experience was amazing. I stayed in Pattaya for 2 nights and 3 nights in Bangkok.  I have been hearing a lot about Thailand through media, friends, movies and many other sources. But, I was always looking for a chance to find myself travelling to that much talked about place.

I took a late evening spicejet flight from Chennai to Bangkok. To be frank, the best flight connectivity and the best airfare are guaranteed if you are flyng from Chennai. If I am not wrong, I reached early morning 2 in Bangkok.  And as you all know, Indian passport holders can take Thailand VISA upon arrival. Even I took my VISA on arrival.

I had already prepared myself for an exploring travel itinerary. After having a cup of coffee by 4 am in the morning, I decided to take a nap in a corner of the airport. Luckily, I got 3 seats empty and I laid myself lazily on the 3 seats. The reason that I decided to take a nap was, the bus from Bangkok airport to Pattaya starts only by 7 in the morning (may be 6, I am not remembering exactly).

After 2-3 hours I got into the seat in coach bus that was ready to travel for the next 2 and half hours to Pattaya. Now, I got another chance to take nap. But, I was quiet excited about my trip and had to open my eyes frequently to look out through window and see around the newly visiting country.

I had to get down and take another vehicle of 15 seats to reach my hotel. The good part is that, the connecting transportation is also included in the ticket when you purchase it at the Bangkok airport.

Finally, I reached my hotel called Pattaya discovery beach hotel. I am sharing the link of the hotel website as well http://www.pattayadiscoverybeach.com/

The hotel is located on the Pattaya beach road with a sea view in the old building and with a partial sea view in new chic building. My room was located in the new chic building with a partial sew view. Let me tell you one thing, the room was excellent, spacious, a good view of the beach road and with a descent partial sea view. Above all, the hotel was kind enough to allocate me a high floor room.

View from my Pattaya Hotel Room….

As soon as I reach hotel, the check-in was not possible because, the standard check-in time was 2 pm. But, the front office staff assured me that I can check-in by 12 pm. So I decided to have my breakfast  at the hotel restaurant itself which was located right in front of the pool and also facing the beach road. I had some new sea food dishes which were not so bad.  Unfortunately, I am not remembering what I had.

Anyway, as the time passed by, I started liking Thailand a lot. Generally, people have some negative thoughts and false assumptions about pattaya. I feel, it’s up to people how they want to  look at things and what they want of it. But, I realized one thing, never travel to a place with pre assumptions. Thailand really proved me that assumptions are always wrong.

Evening I decided to walk through the beach road. I really enjoyed the cold breeze, the soothing sound of the sea waves and the presence of numerous illuminated sea food restaurants on the either sides of the road.

The beach road also has 5 star hotels of high end services. People, who are ready to shell out some more money and get exclusive services, may opt for those hotels.

I really don’t know how many photographs I took. But, I never stopped doing so. After an hour of walking I decided to enter one of the roadside sea food restaurants. The young hostess quickly showed all the fresh sea foods available there.  My eyes were stuck at the big live fishes inside a huge glass tank.

I pointed at the biggest fish and asked for a grill of it. The young hostess quickly grabbed a net and dipped it into the tank and after a minute of struggle she took the biggest fish in the net and gave to the old person who was waiting to grill it.

A while after I enjoyed the yummy grilled fish with a bottle of beer.

Yummy Sea Food…

 

The next day i took a tuk tuk and went to a shopping place. Not much shopping possible in pattaya as it is completely a relaxing destination. People come here just to eat and relax.

The same day I did coral island tour. The day passed by with many other sea foods into my stomach.

Walking Street….

                                                                   

The next day after check-out, I took a private car to go to Bangkok. This time I didn’t want to lose the views of the Thailand during my 2 hrs drive.

In the afternoon, I checked into Eastin Hotel Makkasan, http://www.eastinhotelsresidences.com/eastinmakkasanbangkok/

The hotel is almost 20-25 years old. But, centrally located with a spectacular roof top restaurant.

Night Market

 

 

 

I would say, Bangkok is an ultimate shopping destination. I was shopping like a mad person for the next 3 days. I have never done shopping like this in my entire life. The city is so lively with many night shopping markets, restaurants and street foods. Above all, shopping is really affordable in Thailand.

Sushi & Cocktail…

                            

 

You can also do the Bangkok city tour at your own pace rather booking the city tour on SIC through an agent.

I cannot write so much and make you feel bored about Thailand.

Thailand is a must see place. You must find some time out of your busy work life and travel to this beautiful country.

The neat and clean Bangkok Street…

The center Point Square Mall….

One of the most expensive locations of Bangkok….