A Traveler's Memoir

The day started with washing a heap of vessels. Since Idlis weren't available, I tried to make Upma but added excess water, ended up making kichdi and was sufficient for the guests. Made porridge for us. For Lunch, I did the chopping and prepared rice while Vibin made fish curry. Of them, Mani Etta is 32, is single, George Etta is in his early 40s also single, even our Sudev Etta is single too. lol, what happened to them all girls? They are living okay and the need for a companion was not seen in George Etta. They all had a good time together making fun of each other, cracking funny jokes just like boys in their 20s. That's something I like about Kerala. The unity, style and lifestyle. My sister delivered a baby boy today. I was serving when I got the call. I was happy. Very happy for her indeed. She's been longing for a few years now. We were having a good time the last few days. Most people come here to drink and all of them offered me some. I limit myself to one and if s...

The backpack started to feel heavier with every step I took. After walking for about a kilometre I saw Nitesh riding towards me on his yellow deo. It was drizzling when we started and It rained hailstones later. Nitesh Etta took a video without even pressing the record button. I wanted to buy them something. Last time I had bought a pack of cigarettes and this time I wanted to take something to eat. He liked brownies, so I bought some and reached Meadows. Just after 5 minutes, Mani Etta got there with Vibin. They said we have a guest for Gundupatti today. Vibin Etta and I started on a hero honda passion, We stopped at a tea shop nearby, waiting for the guest while they arrived in a white Volkswagen Vento. Two families with two babies. One still crawling while the other taking baby steps.  They were basically Telugu people settled in Bangalore. They continued to follow as we rode ahead. The ride to Gundupatti is one priceless experience. It did not matter sitting pillion anymore and...

After lunch, I sat talking to an old lady who came to wash vessels. She said, both she and her sister married the same man and lived together. I wondered how this could happen! It seems she was just 13 when she got married and somebody asked him why he did not marry someone more beautiful making him feel guilty. He then asked for her sister's hand and married her to compensate. I questioned how did she agree? She said they didn't know what was happening at that age, even fought against it but couldn't help.  She now has two sons while her sister has two sons and a daughter. She said he kept them all happy. In today's world, people prefer nuclear families and are forced to live lone lives but here, imagine so many people in a small house and the money was so less. A family from Bangalore checked in yesterday. They looked neat but the lady was a pain. While I was on a break, she troubled Navneet asking him to serve dishes that were not part of complimentary lunch. She was...