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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