The Mahe Connection
Mahe is a small ( by small, I mean small - 9 sq. Km ) sleepy, coastal town.
Mahe is where my mother's home is. My maternal grand mother ( Ammamma ) lives there. My aunt lives there too, a few lanes apart from where Ammamma lives. The whole of Mahe is littered with the rest of the family, near and distant.
Ammamma stays alone in her home and the house lights up only when one of us visit her. Without getting into the details, I assume you can guess how difficult ( read impossible) it must be for a 88 year old to maintain a house in Kerala.
When I look back, I realize I have always been in love with the place. Maybe it is the sea, maybe it is the lush green surroundings, maybe it is the food, maybe it is the memories of the growing up years, maybe it is all these put together.
The summer vacations are a beautiful memory now. Life is not as simple as it once was. Everything has changed and we hardly get to spend time in Mahe like we used to. But few years back, I got to spend time with Ammamma in her house. My kids, Ammamma and I had a wonderful time. She is losing her memory, so I do not know much about what it meant to her. But, she gave me some beautiful memories to cherish. My cousins filled up the giggling quotient and suddenly I was that girl that I always was, without a care in the world. The house was like a girls hostel, with the moms and aunts joining in. I assume even they were able to break away from the everyday chores and have some fun.
Ammamma is a great story teller. Just that the story begins with Lord Krishna, includes some general poetry, then dives deep into the freedom struggle and then ends abruptly because she wants to know if I am married. This, when my kids are sitting on her lap and playing.
I am ready to narrate details about my marital status, and then she settles down saying "yeah, yeah I know your husband. I like him more than I like you. "
And now, I did not see that coming.
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Ammamma's stories usually include the freedom struggle. It is sometimes mentioned fleetingly or at times with amazing details.
Though she is losing her memory now, and finds it difficult to get a grip on what is happening around her, she remembers events from decades ago with surprising clarity.
From what I gather, Ammamma was a talented student. She still recites poetry with ease,( though recently there have been mix ups.), stitches her saree blouse by herself, all designs and embroidery included completely by hand, was an expert jam maker and can still do hand tatting. I know, I really do not want to mention all these. It is embarrassing. She did all this, alongside the wife and motherly duties that demands all your attention. All this without asking for the 'ME TIME ' that we all so rightfully demand.
I am very impressed by people who can quote poetry. I have listened to her a hundred times and each time she does, I drop all that I am doing and listen to her with rapt attention. It is my window to a world, that I can see only through her.
It is not only Malayalam literature that she teaches me. The family history together with all the spooky stories ( most of the Mallus will agree with me here) are good time killers. By day, the narrations seem like it is a thriller and does not really garner any interest, but by night, she suddenly says," you know, all that I told you today, happened right here". That is when I realize, I am not as brave as I really think I am.
***************************************************
Mahe is where my mother's home is. My maternal grand mother ( Ammamma ) lives there. My aunt lives there too, a few lanes apart from where Ammamma lives. The whole of Mahe is littered with the rest of the family, near and distant.
Ammamma stays alone in her home and the house lights up only when one of us visit her. Without getting into the details, I assume you can guess how difficult ( read impossible) it must be for a 88 year old to maintain a house in Kerala.
When I look back, I realize I have always been in love with the place. Maybe it is the sea, maybe it is the lush green surroundings, maybe it is the food, maybe it is the memories of the growing up years, maybe it is all these put together.
The summer vacations are a beautiful memory now. Life is not as simple as it once was. Everything has changed and we hardly get to spend time in Mahe like we used to. But few years back, I got to spend time with Ammamma in her house. My kids, Ammamma and I had a wonderful time. She is losing her memory, so I do not know much about what it meant to her. But, she gave me some beautiful memories to cherish. My cousins filled up the giggling quotient and suddenly I was that girl that I always was, without a care in the world. The house was like a girls hostel, with the moms and aunts joining in. I assume even they were able to break away from the everyday chores and have some fun.
Ammamma is a great story teller. Just that the story begins with Lord Krishna, includes some general poetry, then dives deep into the freedom struggle and then ends abruptly because she wants to know if I am married. This, when my kids are sitting on her lap and playing.
I am ready to narrate details about my marital status, and then she settles down saying "yeah, yeah I know your husband. I like him more than I like you. "
And now, I did not see that coming.
*************************************************
Ammamma's stories usually include the freedom struggle. It is sometimes mentioned fleetingly or at times with amazing details.
Though she is losing her memory now, and finds it difficult to get a grip on what is happening around her, she remembers events from decades ago with surprising clarity.
From what I gather, Ammamma was a talented student. She still recites poetry with ease,( though recently there have been mix ups.), stitches her saree blouse by herself, all designs and embroidery included completely by hand, was an expert jam maker and can still do hand tatting. I know, I really do not want to mention all these. It is embarrassing. She did all this, alongside the wife and motherly duties that demands all your attention. All this without asking for the 'ME TIME ' that we all so rightfully demand.
I am very impressed by people who can quote poetry. I have listened to her a hundred times and each time she does, I drop all that I am doing and listen to her with rapt attention. It is my window to a world, that I can see only through her.
It is not only Malayalam literature that she teaches me. The family history together with all the spooky stories ( most of the Mallus will agree with me here) are good time killers. By day, the narrations seem like it is a thriller and does not really garner any interest, but by night, she suddenly says," you know, all that I told you today, happened right here". That is when I realize, I am not as brave as I really think I am.
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One grudge I have against growing up is that these days I do not get to spend a relaxed vacation in Mahe like I used to. It is always a rushed trip, a quick look at the family( Once close and now distant) that lives in Mahe, a quicker peek at the beach, a considerably relaxed walk on the walkway - where you can almost always meet someone from the family. So that does not count as a walk, but the breeze is a blessing. When you live in a coastal town, the breeze is always a blessing. I do not like the crowds though. It is too crowded for such a small place, and it seems that particular evening that I get to go there is the time that the whole of Mahe decided to go too.
I have not visited the beach since Ammamma passed away, so the next time I go I am sure she will be on my mind as I look out into the sea. And the townspeople better leave me in peace. ;-)
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