Aromas of childhood

My love story begins not from here, but from many previous lives. Kerala evokes such a multitude of strong emotions in me. Paints vivid images of me running through paddy fields, swimming in clear crystal flowing waters of some stream in some remote place in the hills; taking circles around a deity with fresh tulsi in my drooping wet hair; places I don't remember being to - they must be memories of an age long ago or perhaps just my active mind working overtime.

Come January and our countdown to April would begin. We would start saving, packing and dreaming about our trip to Kerala. Train journeys, I have always loved; they took me to my favourite place every summer- without fail. Later on in life I enjoyed the journey more than the destination. Even today, any long distance train makes me want to be on it, to get to my village, whose beauty can only be surpassed by the people there. Simple souls- salt of the earth.

Jayanti Janata would pull in around 4 in the morning at Trichur. By sunrise, relatives, neighbours and friends would start trooping in. My brother and me , we would be transformed to little kings and queens for the next one month. Please speak a little Hindi, a little English or even Marathi, would be amongst the various requests coming our way. I would put my little nose in the air and begin, evoking peals of laughter all around.

My most favourite and enjoyable part of the stay was the time I spent with the three chechis* who lived adjacent to the southern part of our house. One skip and jump I would land in their house. Many a days I've spent eating kanji and chammanthi** in the dark kitchen of their thatched humble home. They would sit around me and watch me eat and you could see how their eyes would twinkle with pleasure. Molu, is it too hot for you? would you please have some more? I cannot believe the happiness it gave them to see me eat their food. They would make me sing and dance for them and watch me with open mouths. One needs no more proof of their love for me, doubt even if my mom could go through those perfomances of mine!

These three admirers of mine had been orphaned at very tender ages. Their only brother had fallen into a well and died. They fended for themselves; worked relentlessly in paddy fields; saved and scrounged to make a 'proper' house . I have never seen them without a smile on their lips. Love radiated from them all the time, all of it which were poured on my brother and me. I carry their love within me like fragrance in a flower. They taught me what unconditional love is.

The beauty of Kerala is enhanced by the beauty of Devu, Ammu and Radhamani chechi.

*chechi is a general term for elder girls

**kanji, chammanthi is rice gruel and chutney.