Raja's Gems - the latest one you heard...Part 3

[KV]

The mind loops back two decades to the weekend mornings, dimply lit by the then, shy Bangalore sun that always seemed to hide behind blinds of clouds, meekly peeping and showing its face only occasionally. Weekends in primary/middle schooling meant holidays on both, Sat and Sun, a relief that most kids beyond high school yearn to get back. And weekend as kids also meant ‘oil-bath’, time for lazing, loosening up and cooling down oneself, though, even such occasions for luxury needed a lot of coaxing into for many bratty kids. More often than not, my grandma would volunteer to take charge. I wasn’t really a brat, but that wouldn’t stop my grandma from giving me perks for allowing her to help me relax. Can affection be showered any better?
Bangalore, then, being much cooler normally than what it is nowadays, would usually render the coconut oil thickened and even almost solidified. Scooping out two spoons of it from the stainless steel container (no Parachute/branded oil then; was bought ‘in loose’ from the local grocery store), my grandma would heat the oil it in a small steel cup; the viscous white fluid melting into a glistening transparent liquid. Then came the special part, the bonus. She’d put a little of the heated oil in a tiny frying pan and throw in a handful of raw rice, pepper and tulasi leaves and fry them till the rice turned golden brown. Now, this isn’t some herbal treatment for the skin, but rather strangely, a bath-time snack. Yes, you heard me right; this was something to munch on while the body was being smeared and massaged with the heated oil. All along she would hum songs – her perennial favorites Raadha samedha Krishna and Chinna Kannan azhaikkiraan - her honey soaked voice not missing a note even though her hands were busy working the oil on her grandson while also keeping a check on the temperature of the water filling up in the bucket. All that I had to do was sit and let myself unwind, munching on the cripsy rice and Thulasi leaves, as the oil smoothly soaked me up and seeped in, her silky singing echoing in the background – a princely life.

“Meeting and parting are illusions, separation is the real truth.” – OV Vijayan, in ‘The Airport’.

My grandma is no more; she passed away four years back. Shadowing the sadness, a sense of pain, guilt and shame takes over, thinking of the troubles I’d given her as a kid, the tricks and pranks that I’d played on her. But the happier moments and sweet memories linger on and soothes the pain, temporarily at least. I childishly long for the warmth and affection of my grandma and grandpa though I know I will never get it again, ever. Shine on, paatti, thaatha; bless us.

This morning, on the way to office, I happened to listen to ‘Unnai pattri sonnaal’ from Maththiya Chennai. The soft, silky tune that glides effortlessly and the lively bass and drums that keep rhythm brought back memories of the heated coconut oil and crispy rice and Thulasi leaves. I could momentarily sense the warmth and cuddle of my grandma. Thanks Raaja.