As a kid I remember running to the neighbour's house when ever I got a chance. Our neighbour and us lived in a twin house. We shared a common compound and gate. Though in the same compound I was supposed to ask permission to go next door and was never denied the permission.
I called the head of the family 'Doctor' and his wife 'Aparthamma'. Doctor was an Ayurvedic physician and so calling him so was not out of the ordinary. But when I think back now, 'Aparthamma' which meant 'Mother next door' had a very deep meaning though I never realised it as a kid.
I had the freedom to go into their house whenever I felt like it. I could even go into Doctor's consulting room even in the midst of a consultation. It never raised a brow. If my mother had to go for work on a school holiday, then Aparthamma's home doubled up as a daycare for my brother and me.
Aparthamma had four children, all of whom were much elder to me. However, I had two friends in the family. Her second and third kids; son named Ani and daughter named Lekshmi, both of whom were pursuing their graduation. Lekshmi was one of the prettiest ladies I had ever seen. She had long dark hair and I loved playing with it. Ani was popular in his college and he also won the college election. Spending time with them was the best entertainment I had as a kid.
The dishes that Aparthamma made had a special Malabar flavour. I can still feel in my taste buds the taste that I used to feel on drinking the Karingali (water flavoured with the bark of Cutch tree) after a ball of hot rice mixed with curry. Having the food on my own was good. But having Lekshmi feed me was even better. The way she mixed the curry and rice with her hands gave it special taste. Having dinner with Ani too was fun. He would tell me interesting stories while I had food.
Aparthamma was a simple lady with long curly hair and drooping eye lids. She always had a smile on her face and kept some goodies for me when ever I visited her. Her house was always well maintained and had guests most of the time. She was always busy with some work and seeing her rest was very rare.
Today when I think of her, I realise how big a heart she would have had to welcome two kids like that into her home. The lasting memories that I had of her family shows how deep an impression she left in my heart. Every time kids come to my family, her memories challenge me to be the good host like her. As I grow older, her memories become fonder as I realise how difficult it is to be the warm and smiling lady Aparthamma was.
Dedicated to the lovely family:
Dr. Madhavan Nambiar
Ms. Malathi Nambiar
Mr. Rajeev Nambiar
Mr. Ajay Nambiar
Ms. Lekshmi Nambiar
Mr. Manikuttan Nambiar
I called the head of the family 'Doctor' and his wife 'Aparthamma'. Doctor was an Ayurvedic physician and so calling him so was not out of the ordinary. But when I think back now, 'Aparthamma' which meant 'Mother next door' had a very deep meaning though I never realised it as a kid.
I had the freedom to go into their house whenever I felt like it. I could even go into Doctor's consulting room even in the midst of a consultation. It never raised a brow. If my mother had to go for work on a school holiday, then Aparthamma's home doubled up as a daycare for my brother and me.
Aparthamma had four children, all of whom were much elder to me. However, I had two friends in the family. Her second and third kids; son named Ani and daughter named Lekshmi, both of whom were pursuing their graduation. Lekshmi was one of the prettiest ladies I had ever seen. She had long dark hair and I loved playing with it. Ani was popular in his college and he also won the college election. Spending time with them was the best entertainment I had as a kid.
The dishes that Aparthamma made had a special Malabar flavour. I can still feel in my taste buds the taste that I used to feel on drinking the Karingali (water flavoured with the bark of Cutch tree) after a ball of hot rice mixed with curry. Having the food on my own was good. But having Lekshmi feed me was even better. The way she mixed the curry and rice with her hands gave it special taste. Having dinner with Ani too was fun. He would tell me interesting stories while I had food.
Aparthamma was a simple lady with long curly hair and drooping eye lids. She always had a smile on her face and kept some goodies for me when ever I visited her. Her house was always well maintained and had guests most of the time. She was always busy with some work and seeing her rest was very rare.
Today when I think of her, I realise how big a heart she would have had to welcome two kids like that into her home. The lasting memories that I had of her family shows how deep an impression she left in my heart. Every time kids come to my family, her memories challenge me to be the good host like her. As I grow older, her memories become fonder as I realise how difficult it is to be the warm and smiling lady Aparthamma was.
Dedicated to the lovely family:
Dr. Madhavan Nambiar
Ms. Malathi Nambiar
Mr. Rajeev Nambiar
Mr. Ajay Nambiar
Ms. Lekshmi Nambiar
Mr. Manikuttan Nambiar
