GOLD CHAIN

I was born in a traditional farmer's joint family six decades ago.Our village was surrounded by paddy fields coconut and arecanut plàntations along with lots of mango and jackfruit trees.The system existed was that except small children all family members had to work.They had to work along with other workers domestic helps and house maids.When I grew up my job was largely taking care of cows bathing them, irrigating the plàntations and during harvest arranging the hay.

       Among the workers there was a very hardworking house maid named Lakshmi. After a while her lone mother expired and she became an orphan. My parents brought her to our house and she stayed there the rest of her life . We called her Lakshmi aunty.Lakshmi aunty was very affectionate and friendly with all people.During harvest she used to distribute butter milk to all.Her favourite food was coconut grinded porridge and she used to chew betel leaves as well.One speciality I noticed in her was her innate passion for gold ornament. When ever she came across anybody wearing  new ornament she would do lots of research and enquiry about that.

     Since her entire life and work were devoted to our family I was very much determined to buy a gold Chain for Lakshmi aunty some way or other.

But the existing circumstances were not favourable.Any how I had to wait until PG first year to get scholarship amount which was not sufficient.I could manage the remaining amount by  some how doing the work of dehusking dried arecanuts for two days .Finally when the Goldsmith brought Chain Lakshmi Auntie became  very happy and excited so that tears came to her eyes. Thus the long cherished dream of gold chain for her became a reality and she did wear it till her last breath.

               Years passed.I have completed my research and submitted the PhD thesis.Lakshmi aunty became very weak unable to do any work and other agricultural workers came and helped us in caring and treating her well.It was the Ramayana month in 1988.She was bedridden only for 9 days . Since it was Ramayana month for village folks  there was not muchwork available and many people visited her and they voluntarily started chanting Ramayana continuously till her last breath.

Myself took it as a privilege to perform her last funeral rites since my elder brothers were preoccupied with their own families and work..Because of the whole hearted co operation of the entire village folk her funeral became an unforgettable event. Our neighbour and Deputy ColIector Sreedharan Sir who rarely spoke  attended the funeral throughout and  publicaly remarked that Lakshmi got a very good treatment and he patted on my shoulders and said to my mother- "He is really educated ". Incidentally still I remember how an old mother of 4 sons came whimpering to my mother complaining that she would not have got such a funeral like Lakshmi aunty.My mother in turn replied"for me also"