Christmas thoughts!!

Back at home, Christmas arrived with foggy winter mornings, aroma of fruit cakes, fragrance of dewy pink roses, merriment of holidays after exams, Christmas carols at night, glittery paper-stars decorating the entrance of every home, seasonal bazaars selling new year and Christmas greeting cards and sparklers.Of all these,journey through the rugged mountain terrains of Kerala with hair pin roads and the vacation spent in the eastern highlands used to be the most exciting part. The roads were carved along the mountains and all along one side were high mountains while the other were deep valleys. Peeping through the window one could see the hair pin curves down the mountain looking like threads folded and vehicles appeared to be slow moving tiny insects balancing on those. Huge water falls appeared like tiny springs and the tea plantations blanketing the mountains added to the rich and lush green beauty of the highlands. I have the feeling of inertia while travelling, I wish every journey is endless and as a child I had distinct signs along the way indicating nearness to the destination and that always gave me a melancholy feeling.

All along the Christmas vacation the Sun rose late and that gave an excuse to wake up late. Roses of all shades of red and pink and white grew rather well in that climate. I felt that the way people talk there was greatly influenced by the climate. Their voice had the fast rhythm to chase away cold and the slight shivering induced by it. Cardamom and pepper grew well and we kids had great time playing in make-shift homes and kitchens in their shades. Going for movies and visiting temples with relatives, in the evening used to be great fun. Street lights were a rarity and I remember closing my eyes and hanging onto mom's hand while walking amidst cardamom plantation when all we could hear was the symphony of crickets. As we kids grew up uncles got married and settled in different locations, cousins grew big and the stories they told me walking around the courtyard changed from fairy tales to film stories and novels...Childhood left me...but still Christmas comes accompanied by foggy mornings and as I sleep I see a starry night and a group of cheerful carol singers led by 'Santa Clau's coming to my door step singing 'jingle bells' and 'Silent Night' ....

Christmas Tree at Vivo City

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Time!!

Clocks in our home are all set to different time.Clocks in the living room, kitchen and master bedroom run fifteen minutes faster while those in papa's and Achu's rooms sync with Starhub set top box. My watch is set five minutes ahead of acutal time and I almost forgot where from I picked up this habit of living 'ahead' of time. This is a puzzle for our little Achu.

On Saturday afternoon, Achu and myself were rushing to her hip-hop class and I was reminding her to walk faster. She was asking me the time each and every minute and when we were almost reaching I said, "Achu just five more minutes for the class to start, but I am sure we will reach on time." for which Achu replied with a sad expression.

"Amma, but how about the time on teacher Edwin's clock??"

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Memoirs of a distant past!!

On a Sunday afternoon I was busy tidying up my cupboard when a medium sized thick lock book with light pink plastic hard cover and floral design caught my attention. I couldn't go ahead but sit and read the contents cover to cover. Its my 'autograph'- name given to a personal diary where friends jot down short messages at the time of parting. Even after sixteen long years the cover looked polished except a rusting lock and a hairline crack .I am a lover of souvenirs and memoirs of the past and even had the habit of collecting sands from the beaches I have been to. Small tokens which could bring memories of a friend, or past incidents are treasures that I keep.

The fragrance of the pages of the book reminded me of the last few days of my school and college life. It's then that we get busy writing 'autographs'.While reading through the baby pink, apple green, pale yellow pages of the book, I realised that I was smiling. Varied hand writings, distinct personalities, individual styles of writing, unique degrees of attachment, discrete nationalities and races, dissimilar faces- all appeared in front of me as in a motion picture. From one liner to those extending few pages, from simple stickers to photographs, from cliches to poetry, the pages were full of love, liking and genuine opinion. Mostly well wishes and very few criticisms, everyone told their minds out while writing the parting words.

From one of the last pages a beautiful 'mayilpeeli' (peacock feather doesn't sound so nice) winked at me. I remember you Smitha...when you wrote 'ente mayilpeeli kunjine valarthan njan ninne eelpikkunnu'(I am giving this baby peacock feather to you to nurture), I was least aware that after these many years, I would cherish it so very much. yes Smitha, its well and fine and still as beautiful as ever and safe in my autograph. Justin, you wanted to be the last one to write...I leave most of the names unwritten... I hope you do cherish our times together as I do.

Dear friends, some of you, I parted with a hug, some with a smile and yet others with eyes full of tears. As I closed the book, tears ran down my cheeks, a unique feeling which comes across my mind when I truly miss something, flashed my mind... I knew I had a treasure in my hand which is invaluable to me...

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