Asokan Erulandi
I felt My Mother Was running out there
A Special Dinner at......
"The Hotel Tavern......!!!"
At the seaside.....
Over Looking At......
The Distant Panamanian lights.....!!!
🌎⚓🐠⚓🐠⚓🐠
1983.....
Cumbum to Madras....
After spending my leave....
Going back to base......
...................
...............
As I was busy running around....
Meeting so many.....
I had missed my Lunch....
Missing my meals frequently.....
Is very regular thing for me.....
My Grand Mother.....
If she scolds me for wrong
reasons......
I used to go to school.....
Without taking breakfast.....
Will not carry my lunch box
either....
I come back from the school
after twilight.....!!!
Sooner I reach home......
I used to throw my bag....
Walk out of the home very
fast....
My Grand Mother.....
Intervene....
"Sorry pa....
I have scolded you wrongly....!!!"
"Please take food....!!!"
I was 14
years old then....
If My Grand Mother's words....
Catches me before I step out
of home....
I may turn back to see....
Now I have turned to see.....
She looked very pale....
Her Eyes sunk in......
Being So Young
I could stand the hunger......
But......
My Grand Mother was in the
seventies.....
I was feeling guilty.....
I wash up and come back.....
To have break fast at 7 PM.....
She might be wondering....
How come this boy is.....
So rock hearted....
Going to survive the world....
After dinner I move out to
play.....
She would have her break fast.....
After my dinner.....
The whole day....
Not even a drop of water......
Gone to quench her thirst....
Since Morning....!!!
She had imparted......
So much character in me.....
"The Grit of my Grand Mother.....!!!"
The Darling Daughter of......
Sanda Marutha Dev.....
And The Wife of.....
The Honour Guard Karuppa Dev......
"Angammal........!!!"
I smiled.....
Cherishing the thoughts of......
A long back.....
And a few years back.....!!!
.....................
....................
Many villages and towns.....
Passing by in the dark.........!!!
After some Three hours....
The bus halted in a desolate
place.....
The Bus conductor said..
"We shall move after 20 minutes.....
You can have food and coffee,
tea....!!!"
I did not come down.....
After 10
minutes....
I have decided to take dinner.....
The cold winds......
And my missed lunch......
Forced me outside......
It was an open ground.....
Tables and chairs......
Spread out under the lights......
On the bamboo posts.....!!!
I have occupied the last
table....
A girl in her little skirts......
Came to attend me.....
"4 idlies.....
With an Omelette Please...!!!"
The 10
year girl ran out....
My delayed action....
Doubled up the delay.....
She came back running...
She placed the plate......
Steaming hot idlies......
Staring and Challenging me......
The bus horn was On....
A Red warning.....
Quickly I asked her.....
"How much da......??!!"
"Rs 10...."
I paid her the amount.....
And drank......
The glass of water and ran.....
While On the move....
"Thank you da............!!!"
The bus was moving....
Jumped in.....
Climbed in to.....
The second seat left side......
Anna.....!!!
Looked up to see....
She came by running....
A wrapped banana leaf in hand......
Got in to the bus.....
"Anna.....
You can have this on the move.....!!!"
She moved back.....
Jumped out running.....
I felt......
My Mother.......
Was running out there.....
The bus was racing through the
dark......
The small bundle....
In my hand
was hot....
The cold winds.....
Opened the banana leaf....
4 Idlies and an Omelette...
It was so......
Delicious and rich.....
A Special Dinner at......
"The Hotel Tavern......!!!"
At the seaside.....
Over Looking At......
The Distant Panamanian lights.....
Was no where near to this.....!!!
After handing over the pack.......
She ran.....
The beautiful memory.....
Etched for ever.....
I felt......
My Mother........
Was running out there.....!!!
Even now.....
I don't get down......
At any disolete stops....
Sure to remember her....
My Mother......
Running out there.....
🌎⚓🐠⚓🐠⚓
Asokan Erulandi
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(C)@Hon.Author INDIA
Asokan Erulandi....The EA
01-04-2020
