Peethukka Ramblings

My dear sister and brother in law, Peethukka and Rajesh Bhavaji completed their 8th wedding anniversary on 27th of May. Here is wishing the two of you and your handful bundle lots of happiness, health, wealth and many more.

It wasn’t that long ago when Peeths and I were inseparables. Though she was based in Coimbatore and I in Kochi, we somehow always were together. Those were the days of “phone calls are for emergencies” and practically no internet in our lives. So we wrote to each other on a weekly basis. Atleast she did. Me being a strange creature, would write long elaborate letters/replies which Peethukka would read she visits us. 😀 She would be so disappointed but very forgiving. Her first day of visit brings so much joy into my life. She would be so happy to see us, she would practically not be in her senses. On one such visit, my mom was in the kitchen boiling milk for Peethukka’s coffee. She cut Peethukka short in her chatter and told her to keep the milk vessel on the counter. Eager to finish whatever she was chattering about, she picked the HOT HOT vessel without using the handle!! She was screaming but placed it on the counter so that my amma wouldn’t have to boil more milk again!! That is her extent of excitement. 🙂 We loved her cute weird ways. 😀

People often told her she appeared arrogant at first sight. And I agreed with them. But there is not one person who can beat her sense of loyalty. No matter what crime the person she loved did, she will defend them with all her might. Typical Sagittarian. 🙂 And yes, she never forgets birthdays or anniversaries. Even now. 🙂

Peethukka’s antics are a legend in our family story book. The kind of things she does are all so unexpected of her. 😀 At one time, she told her primary teacher that her “heart is paining” and that her cousin will come to take her home. Teacher was quite puzzled – how did Peethukka’s cousin know her heart is paining? On digging further, she found that all Peethukka wanted was to go home so that she can meet her aunt who is visiting. 😀 Anyways, for her creativity, Peeths was given the day off. 🙂

There was this time when our grandma’s house was under renovation and there were several wooden planks lying around. One of the carpenters complained that a piece of wood was missing. We immediately started asking Anand, who was 5 at that time, whether he had something to do with it. He kept saying no but we dint believe him and continued grilling him. Peethukka who was passing by, caught on what was happening. And then comes the truth – Peethukka had taken it to make heels for her shoes!!! 😀 Who would have thought?? The carpenter shot her an ugly look – it was a very difficult piece to make and now he had to do it all over again !

And then was the “Mango episode” and I was in it with her. We were then living on the first floor of a 3 storey apartment. During the afternoons, Peethukka and I would go up the terrace and while away our time. One day we noticed a mango had fallen on the parapet. Peethukka wanted it but it was too far down. We found a stick but how can you pick up a mango with a stick? So we took a towel from the drying line and tied it to the stick and then tried to pick the mango again. Of course it was not going to work but we were desperate for the “forbidden fruit”. So next thing left was to jump to the parapet. But there was a catch- easy to jump but too difficult to limb up. And besides there was a deep well right next to the building. Chances of landing in the well was pretty scary. I discouraged her, saying it was too dangerous. However at times like these, our esteemed lady rises to the occasion. She says she will jump and throw the mango up. And then we will figure what to do next. Before I could get another word in, the lady is on the parapet and the mango is in my hand! And now the time has come to figure out how she can limb back up. She sees some bricks lying about. And tries using them as a step-up. But they were too few to help. We think and think. Then something horrifying happens – a bunch of labourers spot us and they start yelling. All this while Peethukka did not want to involve our parents in helping us out of the mess. Unfortunately, my dad heard the commotion and he came to check. he was horrified to see what we had been upto, nonetheless he pulled her out. My dad is a very sweet person and so he agreed not to tell anything to our mothers who would have had a royal fit it they found out. So everything was cool except that Peethukka blurted it all to her mom who began jacking us right away. The next couple of daya we were target of sudden fits of anger – especially for Peethukka. It was horrible then but something to smile about now.

The times I cherish the most with Peethukka were the ones where we talked late into the night. I wasn’t comfortable talking in general but with Peethukka, there was nothing to be scared of. She knew me inside out, all my secrets and I hers. She is 4 years older than me, so all her stories were fascinating. School years, college years, and her teaching years – I have heard it all. All her stories reflect her loyalty, her eccentricities and her warm nature. If I have to talk about my childhood, Peethukka’s name would pop up an awful lots of times( Its not awful – just an indication of her part in my life). Ever since she left for UK, it has been difficult to be the way we were – family, job, her little baby and what not. But the memories of those days are there in our hearts and that will keep us the way we were – Tight for now and for ever.