Friday, 14 August 2015

Ch.1 A PASSAGE TO CALCUTTA - Palghat Tales



There was no honeymoon. The newly-weds were put up in Nachami's house, because his had a room on the first floor. Nachami was a widower, an elderly family relative, who lived alone. No screaming kids, no prying eyes or ears glued to the walls. A comfortable bed, a newly-purchased table fan and an en-suite pee hole in the wall. Total privacy and every need anticipated and taken care of.

The 'pattayam', or store-room was not an option as the suite for the nuptial night. It was always full with sacks of 'nellu' - paddy - so no question of anyone but Vishalapatti sleeping there. She has done so, for as long as anyone can remember. Nobody knows exactly who she is, or how she is related to the family. She was inherited along with the house.

On the second or third day, the couple would be taken on a visit to the 'kaavu' - the family shrine. Anthappan's taxi from the next village would be arranged for the day trip. The kaavu would be in another part of Kerala, and it would be midnight before the couple returned to the village.

On the following Friday, they would be taken, first by foot, then by bus to Olavakkod Junction, to be bundled onto the Cochin-Madras Mail. They would spend Saturday morning and afternoon in the Second Class Waiting Room in Madras Central. This interruption in their journey is a turning point in their newly-blossoming relationship. It gives them their first chance to bond, unhindered by intrusions from third parties. They would actually exchange a sentence or two. The groom is solicitous, as he fetches water and food, while she sits on their many trunks.

That evening, they would board the Howrah Express. On Monday morning, they would be met at Howrah Station by Mottai, the groom's colleague at work, and driven by taxi to their sub-let flat on Purna Das Rd. The bride would be made comfortable in her new environment by Mottai's wife, Echchimi and her mother-in-law. That afternoon, the bride would be taken to Lake Market by them, to buy provisions and fresh vegetables.

In the evening, she would cook her first meal for her husband, on a kerosene stove, borrowed from Mrs. Das, the landlord's wife. The couple would then spend their first night together in their new home. A night of languidness for the bride and utter surprise for the groom. He would finally come into his own.

On Tuesday morning, the groom would report to work at his office in Dalhousie. The day would start with a reprimand from Parimal-da, the Head Clerk, for reporting back from leave a day late. He would be docked a day's salary, and reminded that he must distribute mishti in the office at the earliest, to mark his new status as a married man. Minutes later, Ram Sahay, the peon, would tell him: "Bare-e sahib bula rahe haiN." Pad and pencil in hand, the groom would walk into Mr. Kapoor's cabin, to take dictation.

Meanwhile, the bride would be busy, re-arranging the furniture in her new home and receiving visitors from neighbouring flats. All Iyer ladies. All from Palakkad. All her distant relatives. Her life as a newly-wed would begin to fall into its groove.

Text by Shankar A. Narayan Photo credit:Wikipedia

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