എൽ. വി. എച്ച്.എസ്. പോത്തൻകോട്/അക്ഷരവൃക്ഷം/ Wrinkled sunshine
Wrinkled sunshine
The bright rays were blocked by the wooden planks... oil in the lamp turned all black. Even the natural voice of the rooster is replaced by electronic fake alarms. She woke up to a perfect morning. Tying up the feathers in her head, she got ready for the day. The usual rat race began. She has two grand daughters, one a butterfly in her early teens with a slow paced life and the younger one, the ideal granddaugh‐ ter who helps Lekha in kitchen chores. As lekha's beloved daughter, Mohini opened another app, Lekha ticked off her to-do-list one by one. After all her fellow beings left for a thing or other, Lekha shut herself from the world. She spend time watching the retelecast of the daily soaps hoping there might be a change in the episode, applying fairness creams or having a boiled egg, beauty matters no matter what age a woman is in. As the banana fries were turning golden brown, her sister with brown hair and fair skin called from the most happening city, Dubai. Lekha's voice was filled with excitement as she got the key to take a trip abroad. It wasn't a part of women empowerment like Kangana Ranaut in Queen nor was it the story of how Manju Warrier and Rima Kallingal met at the Himalayas. It's just two women tired of shoulderingresponsibilities taking a break. Lekha was confused to take such a step but her young ones stood by her side.. was it the fear that the page of her jathakam ended at the age of 72 or pure motherly love, it wasnt clear. She picked up a few multicolored sarees, fixed her teeth and got ready to fly high. The first flying experience wasn't so thrilling, she wasn't seated next to Amithabh Bachan. She looked out of the windows and checked whether her loved ones are living on the clouds. Is her hubby having cream biscuits lavishly or her parents quarrelling over one thing or another? She landed safely. It was a new world. Singapore was a wonderland.. not every fairy tale had young pretty girls in it. Lekha walked through the streets.. bargained as if it was Palayam market.. bought some cheap yet fashionable in her perception clothes for the grandkids. The know- it-all sister helped Lekha to adjust to the new circumstances. The most distinguishing feature was that the two of them were as different as the two rays that meet at the horizon. Preetha was over excited even at the sight of a butterfly, on the other side there was Lekha, who remains motionless even if the tooth fairy appears at night. Barely 5 feet tall Lekha stood amazed at theapartments and skyscrapers at each and every corner just like how lemon juice is served everywhere during Attukal Ponkala. The taste buds always used to sambar and muringayilathoran was super excited to taste KPAC chicken (as she called it). She grabbed all the energy and stepped into cable cars, which made her realize, we humans are indeed living inside a cable car fearing whats outside, the energy being fueled by the creator.' Sister love' hit the peak as they bonded over burgers and hot chocolate. The not-so-favourite daughter of Lekha, Meera worried of her mother as the only trip she takes is to the treasury and the to the biriyani hut nearby, rung her up.... Lekha's voice was filled with confidence having experienced the wonders. The last days in the city made her stick to the bedroom which awakened her memories. She thought about the times when she had to lie on bare floor when the family was hit by a crisis.... "60 years... now i am on the top of the world".. she felt proud. The tour package expired with the influx of time and she was back to her homeland. On her way back home, she thought of the miserable people who never gets a chance to dream and felt the need to do something for them as well. The smile on her grandkid's face was more brighter than the city lights and she was back to being the calm grandma. As I sat down to write about grandmother there wasno writer's block.. Born the eldest of seven, first to hit the pains and last to savour the joys... married to Mr. Perfectionist, suffered the pain of losing her baby girl, Jyothi, raised two girls, taught hundreds of students, closed the doors to the outside world after entering into widowhood and took a journey in her old age, she is unique in her own way. The journey didn't change my grandma into a new being. She is back to baking cupcakes, trying to finish it as fast as possible before the serials began. Like Ellie's album in the movie 'UP' Lekha filled her book of life with memories to cherish until erased.
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