Ironic Life

Our childhood days were wonderful...all of my cousins and my family used to stay in different parts of the world. It was during our vacation we all used to come to our native place...this place is called Nilambur in Kerala
Oh how much we used to crave for these vacations....

The house was opposite to a railway track….we used to walk through the railway track for few kms to reach our grandparents lovely huge house but mind you now road facilities are there….
My granpa and granny used to stay here alone.....a huge house with loads of servants and loads of trees and plants around but the best part was the kulam....there was a lovely pond...and all of us , before entering the house we used to run to check if the pond had enough water...the house was so perfect...it was huge with umpteen number of doors...best place to play hide and seek,,,,there were so many trees outside and no house was in sight for the next few miles.....this made the perfect place to talk about spooky ghost stories,,,,we were never scared infact we used to enjoy each and every minute spent there.....

Let me give you a glimpse of a typical day we used to spend there……

Our day started by getting up by 6:30; loiter around for sometime...breakfasts used to be served by dot 8..and since everything was prepared in a natural way..No mixie, no electronic stuff, the food was heavenly delicious…

When mom at home used to make idlis we used to always crib but idlis prepared by granny was mind blowing.....till date I have never had idlis and chutney so delicious
It was a rule there for the kids to have first, then our dads and finally moms who used to be 24*7 in the kitchen...hehehe….

After breakfast we used to take half and hr break and then we used to have a race to dive inside our lovely pond....there we used to spend hours together..until our bua called at 12:45 saying lunch is getting ready
By 1 it used to be lunch time and what royal lunch used to be served….that taste still lingers in my mouth…..though now I have tried a lot, never have I got that taste in my cooking as well

After lunch, it was hide and seek time for us and nap time for the elders….

Poor mommies their nap time was limited to half an hr as they had to prepare snacks…..

At 4:30 we used to religiously sit around the dining table where tea and snacks such as cakes, uniappams, murrukkus etc were served…mind it all were home made….

(I prepare these days snacks on weekends and keep demanding loads and loads of compliments from my hubby…poor hubby)

Then after munching, it used to be picnic time, where bua used to give us snacks in a basket and we used to either go to the river close by or to the quarry, which involved a good amount of walking…and needless to say talking!!!

By the time we used to get back it used to be 7, time for a quick shower and then pray

Again have dinner (royal one!) and then we all used to club in the mittam where most of the talking was done by our grandparents or parents, we used to listen to them until one of us fall asleep…and then mommies and dadies used to carry their respective kiddos to their rooms….

This had been our everyday routine and our grandparents used to wait for these 2/3 weeks get togethers….we love them a lot

But as we grew…priorities changed and it was studies which was the prime focus…..so at times we used to skip vacations as we had our tuitions and music/dance classes etc

But our dear ancestral house and our pond were always in our minds

As time flew, we used to go if someone was getting married. Marriage was the reason to meet everyone. As each of my cousin started getting married, I used to always wonder why do people change after marriage…..I was the second last in that lot….

I met my hubby three years back and after three yrs of courtship we finally tied the knot last year with everyone’s blessings…I am sure I have as well changed after marriage

In course of time, my grandpa expired and now my granny stays with one of her sons Afterall she can’t live there alone as no medical facilities are available close by.

The house is locked….even now when one of us go to Kerala we make it a point to go and see the house….Its been deserted….

All of us have families now and are kind of settled in different parts of the world, no one is going to settle in this house…..I love this place but I know that neither would I settle here either…..so what happens to this place

Recently I heard that our whole family is planning to sell the house …the thought itself sends chills down my spine…but am helpless…I think no one can help this….is this faith???

I am sure many of you would have faced similar situations