Who does not like ice cream as kids.Damayanti aunty would make it and call us.We will cross the road and speed across the short cut and enter through the back door and be ready to eat.
In those days,Damayanti aunty was the go to lady,as she was foreign returned and knew everything.My mother never ventured out.It was Damayanti aunty shepherding us to the doctor etc..She looked elegant in her saree,with sunglasses and big basket like purses.
Come Onam,Valliammachi would ask Aunty to make Onakodi for all us cousins.She would buy the same dress material for all of us and stitch it for us.I remember the pink blouse and green and pink floral print skirt even today.We all looked as if in uniform.
Now, in Kerala, during Onam times there is a "Kaduvakalli".People paint themselves as kaduva etc and come during night times and perform at each house.They are given a token of appreciation.This was all fun filled days.
During Deepawali we burst crackers and enjoyed .
We enjoyed Karthika by lighting lamps and eating underground stuff on that day.
Now Ammini aunty and family just stayed across the road.Uncle's parents stayed at Kovalam.So,once in a way,he used to take us with them.
The only bus would stop in front and we would all troop in,have fun in the bus.The bus used to stop at their doorstep on the way to Kovalam. We would excitedly run out, meet his mother,,younger brother,eat something and then stroll around .
We used to go to the beach ,cross cutting all fences and the abandoned palace .On the way ,we used to collect all chodaku ,come back have lunch and by evening come back home.We had no one telling us don't do this,don't do that,or anyone chaperoning us.
There were times when Sadashivan uncle took us to the movies.I just cherish all these memories with cousins.
We took turns carrying Sarsi to Vadayakattu Vaidyan for treatment when she was a little kid.Lucky correctly pointed it out in whatsapp.
Oh!sometimes,Poojapura Valliammachi would come and we would go and spend few days with her .She was our granny's sister.Her husband was IG Prisons then.
So, we had a good idea of Trivandrum Central Jail.They stayed in a palatial official residence ,where we enjoyed playing around and making noise.With him threatening to put us all behind bars.
I had a first hand information ,of how convicts were made to do work etc at close quarters.Infact ,we had the opportunity of knowing and understanding many things.Though, we were not very old then, walking across the huge parcels of land with the accompany policeman chatting ,I understood many things.
The zoo was another place for us to visit.
The Varambaseery temple that you see today,was a small ,wooden ,dark room where everyday lamp used to be lit. It was on the right side ,as we climbed the steps to our house. To go there either jump the wall or climb the steps to their house.Our Valliammachi 's cousin Sumathi Valliammachi stayed there.We used to go wash the villaku and kindi or draw water from the well for those chechi s, pluck chembarathi flowers, sometimes light the lamp also.
Today ,it looks so different.
Our days at that time,were very packed.We never felt bored.
