My Valiappachen would be sitting in his majestic chaaru kasera (arm chair), either with the newspaper or the ledger with the orange ink pen with the black clip. His writing was immaculate and I had the privilege to bring the big fat ink bottle from the chest of drawer in the dark bed room next to the living room. I would run and be back in a fly, to the aramathil (half wall), it was an art to use the filler and fill the ink in the pen. He had a thick white rag for cleaning the pen which looked like a canvas with graphics. Once the pen is filled, the bottle goes right back to where it belonged.
One lesson I practice to date and something that rings in my ears, as told by Amma. “edutha saadhanam eduthadathu vekkanam” irikkunnidathalla!!!. (Return the things to where it belongs, not where you sit)
Valiappachen and his arm chair scene, reminds me of the veteran actor Karamana Janardhanan Nair in the movie “Elipathayam”. I can never forget him trying to drive the calf in front of his house, chewing the young coconut palm with the newspaper he was reading. He wouldn’t budge from the chair but waves the newspaper saying “shoo, shoo…. and when the palm is almost eaten by the calf who doesn’t give a damn, he calls out for Sharada who is so busy in the kitchen to come and drive the calf away.
During the rains it’s so muddy everywhere and kids would be running up and down, in and out and I have not heard Valiappachen say a word. If it was me I would be screaming at the dirt that is carried into the house.
He was a workaholic and cared for the family, very honest, stayed back at the post office and finished all his work before he left, he didn’t get involved with the multidimensional home management, I don’t think he knew how Valiammachy ran the place keeping it under sniff, with 8 children all a year or two apart.
He went to Kayamkulam Kambolam to Settinte Kada for grocery shopping, with the longest list for man and pets and when he returned Valiammachy was keen to locate the Pokayila (Tobacco) and hide that away from the prying eyes of kids.
The scene is so different these days, we would just be asking on top of our voice “did you buy your quota of vices. They never wanted anyone to know of these minor vices which they did consider as major.
Private was private those days and not in social media. My Valiammachy was a very strong willed lady and wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense, if I am not mistaken there were a couple of vagabond friends of Valiappachen who feasted on fermented coconut juice month end after salary and some of them got firm imprint of her strong five fingers on their cheek, and would never repeat the same mistake ever. Those were the days when there was no trolling.
Valiappachen used to write every single expenditure and tally every penny, no one could ever fool him and Valiammachy always said Aattil kalanjalum alannu kalayanam. (Even if you dump anything in the lake you have to measure and throw) it’s a lesson to remind one and all never to waste resources and should be accountable to every deed.
Only give to the deserving, whether its kind or cash.
Anita my divine friend, is the only one who reminds me and warns me about overdoing, giving every Jack and Jill jobs they didn’t deserve, just because someone asked.
To be honest I had huge setbacks because of this folly and I want to be careful hereafter.
However if someone is determined to cheat you, it’s very simple and easily doable. All you need is a devious accountant and bankers who promote undisciplined finance management.
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