Mala had packed her things and was waiting for her father to come and pick her up.Ten days in her grandparents house was total freedom for Mala.
It was a small village with over a 50 families.The village was surrounded by Pachamalai which stood proud shimmering in the heat of the sun.This part of the state opens up in splendor to remind us that nature stands above us no matter what humans do they can never beat its beauty and at the same time the fierceness of it is unimaginable. The mountain in front of us was like a bull sitting with its front legs folded and eagerly waiting for shiva its master.Mala loved this place it had freshness about it, the smell of wild flowers tickles one’s senses in a very comforting way.
It was mala’s ancestral place her parents, grandparents and their parents had all lived in this village for generations.Her grandmother was a very loving lady,she is well over 6 feet tall.she had the look of authority about her.she was always well dressed and she always puts up her hair into a big knot.The lines on her face speaks of her struggle and toil in the fields.In the morning she is off to the fields, to assign work to the people there and then she is back home for lunch and she instructs the servants of the various jobs that has to be completed and in the evening she sits with the accountant surya narayanan who has been with the family for more than 50 years and looks after the accounts. She is very dynamic and a highly commendable person who seems to know everything. she is always very very busy with guests coming and going but she always had time for Mala.She always sat beside her when she had food and always served her.sitting beside her she would be instructing the servants of the house to do the household chores and Mala had always admired her potential.The house always buzzes with activity with around 25 people all the time in the house and her grand mom was the person controlling all of it.She does everything in style.She is an inspiration to Mala in every respect. She had been telling Mala to stay a while longer but her father was adamant to take her. The ten days had passed off so quickly.She had few friends around and bala was with her for a couple of days.Mala had not expected her.she was sitting on the patio when bala came.Mala asked her how she had come, bala turned around and said “does it matter” mala kept quiet she knew bala was annoyed whenever she asked such a question.The two girls had a lot of time together.they walked about the fields.It was on one such typical day .
It was early in the morning,the sun was slowly rising,mala and bala were walking across the fields.The paddy fields were swaying in the morning breeze with its greenish blades cutting the air as it moved and the cows were grazing on the crescent down below.the ladies were working in the field with the men folk drawing water from the wells with the help of two bulls tied around a wooden plank and these planks were in tun tied to the rounded bucket which had a rubber tubing at its end helping to empty the collected water.The singing of the traditional folk song was something that mala adorned and the smell of the paddy fields inspired her to come there very often.Mala walked in front and bala behind her touching the paddy grass blades with her little hands.As the two walked passed krishnan uncle ‘s fields he called out to her “Mala, come here, take some mangoes to your grandmother” “ I will take it when I go home uncle” I am going to the fields now.He called back to her “ ok. I have kept them near the machine room, come and take it even if I am not there” “ok uncle” shouted back Mala,as she walked along.
The two of them walked into the a small walkway which is used during the summer months for carts to go near the fields which otherwise is very difficult because of the vast stretch of fields that laid out like a carpet. The walkway was a rough stretch and Mala hated walking on it.Bala was thrilled about the stretch way which had a lot of cobble stones which was very smooth. Mala stopped her from running and the two of them started walking slowly.Mala was very thirsty she looked around for something to eat. Bala looked around and pointed out something to Mala.
“What is that?” Bala went closer to the bushes nearby,she plucked some berries and gave it to Mala “hey have this “she said. What is that?asked Mala. Bala smiled and said” are you scared of eating wild berries.”Don’t be scared,nothing will happen”saying which she gave to Mala just then, they heard a wild scream.she looked around to see who it was and the screaming continued and in her impulse bala ran towards the scream and Mala followed her.As she neared she could see a small girl about her age lying on the floor and frothing from her mouth. Bala stopped. She looked at Mala and signaled her to go in the front.Mala went close to the girl, the girl’s mother was sobbing.she touched her shoulder and the mother turned around. Mala asked” what happened to her,the mother replied “ I was inside the machine room,she was playing when i went in but after a while when I came out i saw her lying on the floor,i don’t know what to do?saying she started sobbing again.Bala went near the girl,bent to see what happened. she turned to the mother and said “ go and bring some Vazhai mattai.Bala looked at Mala and said “Hold her head in a raised way, i will be back”saying which she moved into the bushes and was gone and in a few minutes she was back with a small creeper. Mala asked” what is that” bala plucking the leaves from the plant said “this is vishnukranthi, a medicine for snake bite.The fields are filled with these precious medicinal plants,these medicinal plants are worth more than they look,it saves lives saying she squeezed the juice and took the vazhai mattai from the lady and started dripping the juice into the girl’s mouth. The lady stood watching bala work and after a few minutes bala stood up the lady looked at bala and asked “ can you save her”bala came close to her and said “do you trust me?” the woman nodded. bala smiled and said “ go,get some something for me to eat, saying she sat next to the girl.
Bala sat and closed her eyes and sat in a yogic posture.Mala saw something strange.Bala was glowing like light and the outline of her body was covered with light and for a moment she felt the place around her stood still.nothing moved,even the air particles stopped moving.Mala was mesmerized by that sight.she looked at bala and the girl and back at bala.After a brief moment bala came up to the girl, touched her forehead with the leaves and called out her name softly “ Mallika, get up.can you hear me.Mallika.....” her voice was soft as silk and it was like the air coming out of the flute with a elegant sound. She sounded very reassuring. Bala moved closer and whispered something in the girl’s ears. The girl opened her eyes to the delight of her mother.Her mother went closer to her bent and picked her up in her arms. The girl looked around and asked her mother “what happened to me?”.Her mother replied “nothing you are fine aren’t you?”saying she looked at Bala with gratitude. Bala smiled at her.the girl was up in seconds and she was as normal as anyone.we said that we are leaving, the mother stopped us,she went inside the machine room,came out with some black berries and offered it to bala.
Bala looked at her and said “ I have kept up my word,didn’t I”?The lady was perplexed.Bala took the berries from her and said bye and Mala followed her.The lady was shocked when bala uttered those words.As they went a little further, the lady followed them and stopped Bala looking at her,with amazement and said “Chelli, and fell at bala’s feet.Bala held her and said “ yes.Parimala, i came back as promised”. the lady’s eyes flooded with tears,she wiped them with her saree and she looked at bala with reverence.” I have saved your daughter,go and be happy.
The lady was overjoyed and again fell at bala’s feet.I knew you would come.Oh my God she cried. I knew you would come some day. how could i be so stupid not to realise the moment i saw you.”Bala smiled at her.”Oh God, how could I be so foolish not to have known you.You are my life, you are everything to me, Oh. I am so sorry chelli, forgive this stupid lady” saying,the lady was holding bala’s hand and she wanted her to stay,but bala consoled her and said something in her ears and the lady wiped her tears and nodded, she smiled at bala with tears in her eyes and bid us good bye …......
Abayum Thoduram........
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