Chapter 5-Experiencing the World: New challenges and amazing experiences
Recap: The story revolves around Achutha Pai and his family in Alleppey, a place rich in culture and traditions. Following his wife’s passing, Achutha marries her friend Dindakka, who takes care of their children and manages the household. Dindakka encourages her daughter Nirmala to pursue medicine, while her sons Nagendra and Damodara focus on expanding their grocery business. Nagendra is interested in stock trading, while Damodar is passionate about travel. The family encounters challenges such as marriages and illnesses but remains united. Sarvotham, after recovering from an illness, finds a job and gets married to Neelamma. Sudhakar faces struggles due to missed opportunities, yet the family stands by each other through all difficulties.
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Fate sure is a mysterious thing. You think you have it all figured out, and boom, it throws completely unpredictable surprises at you. ― Tamuna Tsertsvadze
Dindaakka had mellowed with time, she was surrounded by grandchildren who loved her the most. Her sons Nagendra, Ramdasa and Vishwanath(Damodara) had expanded Achutha’s grocery business yet there were significant losses. Nagendra became increasingly involved in the coconut oil stock exchange. While Vishwanath and his family lived on the same premises, they lived in different houses.
As the losses increased, an unpleasantness started to creep in. Dindakka felt it was better to separate the families and help her sons set up individual businesses. She assisted Nagendra, Vishwanath, and Ramdasa in establishing separate grocery stores. Sudhakar and Jainni worked with Nagendra. Susheela was the epitome of compassion and love. She could accommodate everyone in her realm, but managing Nagendra and his addiction to the stock exchange was difficult.
Rani missed her mother Leela and clung to Susheela for her attention. She would pull Susheels’s sari and comb her long hair. Susheela would not pamper much as a whole household needed her just like Rani.
Sudhakar understood Rani’s loneliness well since he knew how much she missed her parents. He would see her from afar and call her lovingly but Rani had heard so much about Sudhakar’s depression from the horse’s mouth that she would run away from him.
Leela had adapted herself to life in Andhra Pradesh. She learnt to speak Telugu. One of the days when Sarvotham left for office, she stood near the gate to see him off. These were some rare treats as she was mostly busy with her kids. After watching her for some time, a neighbour asked,’ Who is the young man? Leela felt shy and said, ‘Ma Ayana, my husband’. The lady said, ‘He looks young’. Leela rushed in and looked at herself in the mirror. She had grown into a stout and tall lady with the birth of her children. Sarvotham looked the same, he was athletic and young-looking.
Leela sighed and kept going with her tasks. Leela and Sarvotham named the next born Mini, they felt Mini would be their last kid but a year and a few months later Leela found herself in the family way. Sarvotham took Leela and the kids to Kerala for the delivery.
Nirmala was a full-fledged Doctor and was pursuing her Diploma in Paediatrics. She was at home in Mullakal when Leela and Sarvotham were in Alleppey. When Leela went into labour, she was moved to the delivery room away from the house. Nirmala assisted her in the childbirth, she was the Godmother to the baby girl named Jyothirlata.
After Sarvotham and Leela left for Andhra Pradesh with their kids, Nirmala visited Puthen Matom on vacation to meet Dindaakka in Mullakal. During her visit, a well-educated family expressed interest in Nirmala as a potential daughter-in-law. The prospective groom, Keshav, was a PhD in Zoology and worked at a science college in Trivandrum. On a warm day, the family, which included two sons and a daughter, visited Puthen Madom. Dindakka and her family warmly welcomed the distinguished Professor, who took a liking to Nirmala. Nirmala was thrilled to meet the Professor and had a great conversation with him. Keshav was impressed by her intelligence and knowledge. The wedding was quickly arranged, and invitations were sent out to everyone.
Leela and Sarvotham made a tedious journey from Andhra Pradesh to attend the wedding. Leela came along with their son Babu and daughters, Mini who was two years old and Jyothi who was almost a year old.
Susheela was blessed with another daughter named Padma while Vasantha was blessed with Pushpa. The house was filled with kids. Although Nagendra and the brothers had businesses to look after, their love for each other seemed to fade. The whole family was divided among the brothers. Dindakka and Rani were supposed to eat and live with Vishwanath/ Damodar. Despite knowing the reins were slipping from her hands, Dindakka was deeply attached to Susheela and Nagendra. As Leela was away, Rani looked up to Susheela as her mother. Dindakka and Rani would often stay with Susheela and Nagendra, it became a habit and the family accepted it. Damodar and Ramdasa were just a few yards away. Dindakka and Rani would help each other to be with Susheela and the family often until everyone learned to ignore both of them.
The wedding of Nirmala and Keshav took place after Nirmala completed her Diploma in Paediatrics, the wedding was a grand affair. It had all the family members, neighbours and friends; and the rituals were conducted in reverence. A family photograph of the huge family completed the ceremonies. As Nirmala bid farewell to the Pai family, Dindakka felt a part of her slowly disappearing. She had never felt so when her eldest daughter got married at 13 but Nirmala taught her the value of gaining a good education.
Nirmala was welcomed into the Prabhu family with great love and respect. After a few days, Keshav and Nirmala left for Trivandrum. Nirmala requested the Health Director for a posting in Trivandrum to continue her career. They stayed in a hotel near the medical college until the posting order was confirmed. They began looking for a rental house near the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Thycaud, where Nirmala would soon start working. Nirmala soon received her posting in Trivandrum.
The transition from the hotel to the rented house marked a new chapter in our lives. Within two months of their marriage, they were overjoyed to learn that Nirmala was in the family’s way. During this time, they hired a Malayalee servant who would diligently come in the morning to take care of household chores and cooking, leaving in the evening. This allowed Nirmal to focus on her work and the growing family. Years passed, and Nirmala and Keshav were blessed with two sons named Nirmal and Pradeep.
Everyone was busy in their lives. Sarvotham visited the family fewer times now. Once when Sarvotham visited Alleppey, he saw Nagendra’s firstborn Diwakar, a handsome 17-year-old seeking an admission into the stream of pure sciences. Sarvotham took Diwakar to the Quilon Engineering College where he got him admitted into Engineering. Diwakar appreciated his uncle for this move in life. He worked hard and completed his engineering but jobs were tough in those days. Sarvotham suggested an internship in Tiruchirapalli where Diwakar began growing his skills.
Sarvotham was also posted to Tiruchirapalli the same year after his numerous postings in Andhra Pradesh. Leela missed Rani a lot, Rani was 11 years old and had completed her primary schooling just like Susheela’s daughter Sumitra. Babu, Mini and Jyothi had grown too and Leela felt it was time to bring back Rani to live with them. When Diwakar went to Alleppey for a vacation she requested him to fetch Rani to Tiruchirapalli. Rani was the happiest. She wore a cream-coloured blouse and an orange-coloured festive skirt with a string of pearls around her neck. She hugged everyone but the strongest one was for Susheela as she bid a tearful farewell. Susheela promised to come and visit them soon. Rani smiled and waved goodbye, her eyes full of tears. She boarded the train with joy and excitement, ready to start a new chapter in her life.
Embrace the change. It will take you to the most phenomenal places you haven’t even dreamt about.― Hiral Nagda
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