MEMORIES

THE QUEEN OF STORIES

‘On the top of the hill there was a big mansion. He went all the way up. There were many tall trees on the way hiding the view of the mansion. A pleasant smell filled the place. It seemed someone was alluring him. He looked up. A fresh leaf dropped from the tree, twirling in the air like a puzzle, shimmering in the twilight and fell on his foot. He took the leaf and rubbed it between his hands. Suddenly he got the scent and whispered ‘Eucalyptus!’ The whole place was filled with tall Eucalyptus trees. ‘How seductive!’ He thought.

He kept walking and at last reached a bent of the road. Suddenly the mansion appeared. It stood upright, infront of him, charming and enchanting. The front door was left open. It was a giant door, which opened to a big hall. He stepped in to see the grandeur inside the hall. Elaborate mantelpiece, magnificent candle stands, and enticing chandeliers, all gave the room a distinctive aura. Amidst all these, something caught his attention. It was an old-fashioned cradle placed at the centre of the hall. He went near and saw a baby sleeping in it. Eyes lined beautifully with eyeliners and having talcum powder after a nice bath. Seeing the baby, he was shaken off from his seductive unconscious self and went inside to check if there was someone. A few minutes later, he heard some odd sounds and could not make out from where they came. He came back to the big hall, breathless and panting. Then all the sounds vanished. There the baby was sleeping peacefully. As he was about to leave, a rattling sound caught him. He turned back and saw the cradle swinging. He went near it. To his great horror, the baby opened its eyes. The baby was a ghost! He screamed and ran for his life. But he tripped over something and fell down. His vision fainted. Everything around him turned black.’

I shut my eyes and hugged my grandma tight, complaining that grandma was always telling me horror stories. Then grandma smiled and told me stories of grandma and grandpa and many other stories. Oh! My grandma is so sweet. She is the most beautiful woman I have seen in my life.

My grandma’s granary is full of stories. Whenever we ask for stories, definitely, there will be a story in grandma’s hand to make us sleep or sleepless (some will be ghost stories). She is my most loving and caring grandma. When we go near grandma, we notice that grandma will be caressing us all the time with her gentle hands. While telling stories, grandma’s hands will be running through our hair, gently touching our scalp. It is the most soothing method of hair massage I learnt from my grandma.

Grandma always smiles, a smile that never fades. Not only me, but all her grandchildren ask, ‘Grandma, please come and stay with us.’ Grandma only smiles. Everyone likes her loving presence. I think grandma loves grandpa’s house the most. It is a very beautiful house. At the centre of the house, there is a yard where we have three big trees and lots of greenery. We can view this greenery from every room. From the dining room, we had a flight of stairs to reach the terrace. It is the place where we play hide and seek. The branches of the trees will be hanging on to the terrace, loaded with sweet guavas and tempting custard apples. Then the third one is a tree of white chembak flowers. Its fragrance fills the whole place.

When we come to the front of the house, at the right corner there is a big eucalyptus tree. While watering the garden, grandma used to say, ‘pluck one leaf and rub it between your hands, you will get a nice smell’. At the left corner there is a cherry tree filled with bunches of Indian cherry. Along with other trees, there is an incense tree near grandma’s room. From the tree’s bark grandma collects incense, which looks like some solid golden drops. Grandma always burns this in the evening at prayer time. It spreads a very nice smell all over.

One more thing I remember in grandma’s house is a special appetizer, which grandma makes in old brine pots. The pots filled with gooseberries were kept for a long period. Opening the pots, itself is a grand celebration. Grandma takes out fermented amlas preserved in sugar syrup. Its juicy appearance itself is so tempting, and we all savour it.

All these memories remain in my mind along with grandma’s love. Memories so deep and intense. They are not memories, but a legacy that is left behind.

THE QUEEN OF ALL EXPERIENCES

‘Don’t forget. You must bring native chicken eggs when you come back. Children have come,’ Grandma said. Grandma is very particular about that. Native chicken eggs are more nutritious than the normal white eggs. This is my grandma in the village. Grandma gives us special things when we come. I had enjoyed the most authentic seafood from my grandma’s house. The proximity to the lakes and sea was something that makes the place special. Grandma arranges different things for our vacation, like a visit to the beach, a fishing trip to the nearby pond, and many exciting games, which were all memorable for us. There are big water tanks behind the house, from where grandma waters the coconut trees and plantains. Grandma sometimes fills the water tanks to its half and let us play in water for some time. We will be jumping with excitement to have some fun in water. We didn’t know that we were making memories that would last for a whole lifetime. We were just having fun. All these were special experiences for us.

Running after grandma’s chicks was our favourite sport. There would be a mother hen and a group of small chicks following her. The chicks were so cute and looked like small cotton candies.

 

Grandma quickly takes one of them and keeps it on our hands. We would jump in surprise. Grandma gave us some everlasting memories.

In grandma’s courtyard, there is a tree. It bears a fruit, which looks like a pink apple. I think it is a rare tree. I have not seen such a tree anywhere else. The fruits are so tasty. Every day it is a routine for us to accompany grandma with long sticks and net to pluck the ripest fruits.

On its branches, definitely there would be a swing, which was hung for us even before we come for vacation. Grandma’s love and care for us never ends. For me all her love is filled in a bowl full of fresh yoghurt (one of the best curds made from the cow’s thick milk), which grandma gives me daily at dinner.

On the other side of the courtyard there is a tall jamun tree (Njaval), it is really a beauty to see its dark purple coloured fruits. Certain hues have the power to recall old memories, like a tint of vibrant purple colour, which brings back to me the shades of beloved grandparent’s home. Today, I cannot think of a courtyard without my grandma. I lost both my grandmas in one year. It was a rain, very hard to surpass, a rain of losses, but then, no one would see our tears. It’s raining, let it rain down. However, it cannot wash away the soft memories I have in my mind. It will stay and live forever.