Enthralling Trails

  Across the street, there is a lady who sits on a bench for the residents. The bench is located under some huge palm trees in front of an uplifted park. She never has a special expression on her face, but she observes everything that happens around her. She sits there throughout the spring, rain, and autumn. Although it is summertime now, cold winds begin to blow in the evenings. The first time I saw her was when she was waiting near the lift. She wore a blue gown and had combed her silver pepper hair into a short plait with a rubber band at the end to prevent the hair from loosening. The plait resembled that of a school girl but she was still, her gaze fixed on the lift. She seemed to be waiting for someone. I felt she needed help and asked, ‘Shall I drop you off? Taking out her tiny mobile phone, she smiled and said, “I have called my grandson, he will be here soon.” “Which floor?” I asked with a smile. She resembled none of the people I knew…She told me the floor and kept waiting.

 Chapter 3: New Horizons: Building a Life Away from Alleppey Dindakka, Susheela and her children Recap: The story is about Achuta Pai, who remarries his late wife’s friend, Dindakka, after her death during childbirth. Dindakka takes on the responsibility of raising their children with unwavering determination, efficiently managing the household and inspiring her daughter Nirmala to become a doctor. Achuta’s sons take different paths, with Nagendra entering stock trading and Damodara/ Vishwanath embracing travel. Now Read on …… It was a fast-paced world, and Dindakka’s children were growing rapidly. They were intelligent and energetic and looked up to the sky. They were eager to learn and explore and were constantly pushing their boundaries. Nagendra/Bangarputhu managed the shop whenever Achutha came home or went out for purchases. His schooling ended with his tenth grade. Everyone was encouraged to study but Vishwanath and Ramdasa also followed suit. Their English was excellent and the