Just Another Mother

Chapter - 21

By the time we reached home, it was past midnight and everyone was asleep. I have already asked Mom to arrange our stay in the outhouse as I didn't want to disturb their sleep as well as, I didn't want to enter the house in grandpa's absence. Grandpa never allowed kids and women to stay in the outhouse, saying it is not safe. I knew he wouldn't disagree this time. Also, Sachin and Nakul are staying in the nearby rooms.

I tried to wake up Jo and Jeff as I couldn't carry them. But, they were not waking up. So, Sachin and Nakul carried them upstairs to the room.

The main house is a three-storeyed building with traditional Naalukettu* architecture and the outhouse is also a three-storeyed building with a courtyard on all the sides of the second floor.*

In the room, there are 3 double beds and one single bed of which, two double beds are put together and the single bed was on one side, next to the window. There was a small wooden partition, and the other double cot was on the other side of the separation. One dressing table was there at one corner, and a small round table with two chairs, near another window. Jaidy and Jaiky took the double bed on the other side of the separation. Jessi took the single bed and I along with the kids occupied the 2 double cots.

Thankfully this one has an attached bathroom. Earlier there was only a common bathroom, outside the room. But later grandpa renovated it and made attached bathrooms for all the rooms as it was inconvenient when there were so many guests during family gatherings.

After taking a bath, we all went to sleep. I couldn't sleep thinking about the wonderful memories I had in this place, as well as dreading what will be the future memories.

The cold and calm breeze through the opened windows lulled me into sleep.

"Mumma... Mumma, wake up. See the sun is already up." Jo and Jeff were shouting in my ears.

My sweet little alarms!!!!!

I woke up and checked the time. It was only 6 am. Don't they have any jet lag? I didn't want to wake up due to two reasons, one I was sleepy and two I didn't want to face my family members. But these two little monsters have other plans and as always they win!

I told them not to shout and let their siblings sleep. They might be having jet lag and I don't want to disturb their sleep. I took them each to do their morning routines. Though they can do it by themselves, I helped them since everything is different here, from using water instead of toilet paper to how the taps providing hot water and normal water work. Both were not happy with the use of water to clean after doing their business. I hope the elder ones too will adjust to it.

I went to have a bath after giving them my phone and the iPad to play games so that they would wait patiently. After getting ready, I couldn't muster up the courage to go downstairs, So I thought of waiting till Sachin, Jaidy, Jaiky, and Jessi wakes up. Since the kids were busy with their games, they didn't force me to take them to granny. I stood near the window, looking at the outside view. I could see someone tying his cow to a tree in a grass field and few other cows already eating the grass.

Two women are walking through the pathway on the paddy field, probably coming back from the temple. I couldn't see their faces and even if I see, I might not recognize them as I don't know many people here. I used to stay here only on school vacations and after completing school, the stay was only for a maximum of 5 or 10 days unlike the two months of summer vacations during school days.

I was lost in my thoughts and didn't realize that it was already 7.30 am until I heard a knock on the door. It was Sachin at the door. He told me to go downstairs with him first and Nakul will bring kids later. Nakul came inside the room and started playing with Jo and Jeff. Hearing their sound, Jessi too woke up. I told her to wake the other two and come downstairs later with Nakul after freshening up. Once Jessi went to freshen up, Nakul took Jo and Jeff to his room, giving the other three the privacy to get ready and I went downstairs with Sachin praying for an uneventful welcome!!

***************************************************************************

*Naalukettu - a traditional architectural form.

*Meera's ancestral home - Varikkassery mana is the one in my mind. You can have your imagination or can use this one. Not adding pictures, as I didn't want to tamper with your imagination.

*********************************************************************************