Perusunga Pannura Ravusunga...

Wondering what the title means? All that I wanted to write was about a few of my experiences with oldies - my own 'Achis' and the ones whom I sometimes meet in community gatherings, functions or marriages.

The moment I bump into an oldie in a marriage, She recognises me, remembers my name too (Amazing memory!!) and then asks me "Ennai Theriyutha?" (Do you recognise me?). Without any shame (why should I be?), I say a big NO and somehow escape from their vision!! Next comes the ubiquitous "Ivlo Periyavana Valandhuttiyae!!" (How big have you grown?) as though I have grown as lengthy as a whale, or as tall as a giraffe! These questions has been asked to me by 137 grandpas and grandmas in the 112 marriages I have attended so far. :)

My cousin Akila rants about our Achis in this sulekha article. It doesn't matter when she wrote (2001), but the 'achis' (We call our grandmas 'achi(s)' at home) who are 80+ years old even now exhibit the same energy they had many years ago!! One proclaims she wants to tour places with us, while the other asks us about "Windows." (Not the Home-window but computer windows!!)

But their enthusiasm stops once they fall a little sick. They should often be reminded of the fact that they are old, and that they should relax much more than others... Unmindful of their ages, they venture into "complex" household chores and end up exhausting themselves! Dub, Dub..

One of my grandmas recites word by word every poem or story, that she read even half a century ago! Here I am (shameless again!) not able to recollect what I read a few days ago. Dub dub again... I often take time to talk to them about their knowledge on "Kai Vaidhyams" (Home made remedies for any illness) and I am a big fan of "Patti Vaidhyam" (Grandma's remedies). The way they speak to (yes, speak to) kids through rhythmic songs, couplets etc never ceases to amaze me!! A song she sang with my niece in hand split us all into laughter for quite sometime after she sang. It goes like this - "Hey little kid, when you grow up, a gentle prince will come and carry you with him in his chariot". I asked her "Why do you talk to not-even-one-year-old-kids about marriage to a prince and yadda yadda?". She said "Marriage is the ultimate dream of any girl, and there is no harm in singing some funny couplets about it to this little kiddy". That split us all again!!

Achis are adorable, and sometimes come to our rescue when our parents are against us... One of my cousins had the support of our grandma for his romance even when his parents were a little apprehensive about going ahead in his marriage! They are way ahead in thinking though they stick to traditions and adhere to a standard protocol in delivery of daily chores. They establish immediate communication with even a few months old kid, and I have always been amazed at their deft handling of a 2 month kid who falls deep asleep after hearing the melody (yeah?) sung by great grandmas! I haven't written much about grandpas since I didn't get much time to spend with grandpas. Any grandpa stories pals?