( 17 ) M A 1st Year - maternal grandfather
Grandfather was in hospital for about one or two weeks. All the relatives and some neighbours from Pothanicad, came to visit him. I remember one particular incident - one afternoon, I went to hospital and found that there was aunt Laly alone to take care of grandfather. Seeing me, aunt Laly became very happy & she went to some other purposes - to pay the bill, buy some food items or to toilet ? I don't remember.
I sat on the bed and rubbed gently on his forehead. He replied, " no problem, nothing ". But I knew that he was in a critical stage - it was almost sure that he would die at any time. I remained there for sometime thinking about his whole life. It was at that time that kochechi came to visit him in the hospital. She said, " Oh ! Diya, I didn't think that you are here ". She talked to us and also to aunt Laly if my memory is correct. I meant this - aunt Laly might have returned to the ward by that time.
One day, my father and mother were doing the job - rubber tapping. Aunt Chinnamma and aunt Laly might have been there in hospital, I think. It was aunt Laly who gave the news over Telephone to Puthiyaveettil house, informing the news that grandfather was dead. My mother started crying loudly at the very moment when she realised the truth. My father told me that he was going to the hospital with my mother. He also gave instructions - to take the washed clothes from the clothlines in our courtyard, spread them on the rooms and the clothlines in the back verandah, I should send my brother to inform this sad news to my father's brother Yacob's house & Yohannan's house including paternal grandfather and grandmother and I should take dresses for one or two days.
I quickly instructed my brother to go to my father's brother's houses on his bicycle. I specially mentioned that he should inform the news after entering their houses - otherwise they would take it as an insult to them. After sometime, my brother returned and I was ready to go to hospital with one or two bags. Even today, I remember that moment when I closed the door and started journey with my brother and sister, climbing down the steps.
One day, my father and mother were doing the job - rubber tapping. Aunt Chinnamma and aunt Laly might have been there in hospital, I think. It was aunt Laly who gave the news over Telephone to Puthiyaveettil house, informing the news that grandfather was dead. My mother started crying loudly at the very moment when she realised the truth. My father told me that he was going to the hospital with my mother. He also gave instructions - to take the washed clothes from the clothlines in our courtyard, spread them on the rooms and the clothlines in the back verandah, I should send my brother to inform this sad news to my father's brother Yacob's house & Yohannan's house including paternal grandfather and grandmother and I should take dresses for one or two days.
I quickly instructed my brother to go to my father's brother's houses on his bicycle. I specially mentioned that he should inform the news after entering their houses - otherwise they would take it as an insult to them. After sometime, my brother returned and I was ready to go to hospital with one or two bags. Even today, I remember that moment when I closed the door and started journey with my brother and sister, climbing down the steps.
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