(An egg fry for Jeena my gem)

(Memories from summer holidays spent with grandparents in Kerala)

Valliapacchan (grandfather) sat on his chair with one leg lifted on the long arm of the chair. His mouth was busy chewing beetle leaf while his eyes scanned his small fiefdom around the house. The kindi (bell metal pitcher) in front of him on the floor was waiting for the juice to be sucked out of the betel leaf by Appachan’s strong Malayali teeth and spitted into its hollowness.

Appachan (short for Valliappachan) was thrilled as his oldest married daughter had come from Delhi with her husband and two children for summer holidays. The big sprawling house lighted up with laughter and screams when the two children came for their holidays.

‘Appacha’ a small voice squealed in delight and his Jeena Mol (endearment in Malayalam) rushed and jumped into his lap. Exuding love and affection he hugged her close and said Jeena Mani what will you eat?  He pointed out to the sprawling acres of tapioca, mango, jackfruit and bananas and asked if she wanted fruits?  What is there Appacha, the little girl pointed to the dense vegetation of trees and plants on the right. There Appachan has planted black pepper, cardamom and some rubber trees for his darling little girl, he explained. She pecked him on his cheek and his old eyes brimmed with tears of love. This little precious was the love of his life. Appacha mutta fry!

My little precious wants to have egg fry?  Rosa, he called out to his most graceful wife and Valliammachi walked in through the long L shaped balcony and picked up her little granddaughter with a smiling face. Her white chatta (the long white blouse worn by women in Kerala around 6 decades back) and mundu (the white lungi like drape worn by women to cover waist downwards) sparkled in the sunlight as she planted a kiss on her mutthu’s (pearl- common endearment used in malayalam) cheeks. Jeena Mani wants to have mutta fry he said. Oh! said Ammachi (short for Valiammachi) we don’t have any eggs. Shall I ask the one-legged Mary chedathi (a term used for elder sister) if her hen has laid any legs. No said Appachan and he looked in the direction of the sun and said – it will soon be time for the red hen – Saramma to lay her egg.

If we let her loose, she will lay the egg near the well and your mischievous sons will devour it. Put her in my room he pointed behind and lock the door. When I come back from the stroll, she would have laid the egg and then you can make the egg fry. The little red hen ran around the big house with Ammachi softly calling out to her. Ammachi came back panting with Saramma in her hands. She put her into Appachan’s room behind his chair and bolted it. Lock the room Rosa, Appachan commanded, those good for nothing sons of yours will eat up the eggs. Don’t be silly she reprimanded him, they are so scared of you, they don’t even come near your room. Are you sure she will lay an egg today? Otherwise I will have to go the town to bring some eggs. No, No be assured Ammachi replied, she did not lay one yesterday, so one is sure today as she lays on alternate days.

Appachan held his little treasure’s hand and walked out to the left of the house. As they walked through the fruit tress the delicious aroma of ripe mango, jackfruit and pineapple invaded their senses. From time to time Appachan picked up his little treasure to make her touch huge Jackfruits (hanging low) and ripe mangoes. Appachan made a mental note to tell Thomachan the daily wage labourer to pluck the ripe fruits and stock up in the granary in the house. He wanted his grandchildren to eat as many fruits as possible during the holidays.

The little girl tugged at her grandfather and said her legs ached, so they set back home and Appachan was wondering if Rosa had prepared the coconut and onions to make the mutta fry for their precious. As they reached the house he called out – Rosa! Did she lay the egg? Ammachi ran into Appachans little veranda and welcomed them. Yes, I had come back to take some cardamom from your room she had laid the egg, but I thought Jeena Mani can pick it up herself, so I let it be there. She smiled looking down at her little treasure and held her hand as they went to open Appachan’s room. When they did not come out for two minutes Appachan asked loudly – Rosa are you cooking the egg there?

Ammachi came out holding the hand of the little girl and worriedly said there is no egg there. As she said that Saramma escaped the room with loud cackling. But you said you had seen the egg, roared Appachan. Yes, said Ammachi and I did bolt the door as I went out. Obviously, the hen did not crack her own egg, fry and eat it, stormed Appachan.

Jose, Johnny he roared out to his two teenage sons. The two young boys ran in from different sides of the house and stood in front of Appachan. I am furious and I am not going to ask again. Who stole the egg h from my room he roared? The other can go away, he added. Within a flash there was only one suspect standing there – Jose the older of the two brothers. He defiantly looked at the patriarch and said that he ate the egg as he was hungry. But you did not come into the kitchen, Ammachi intervened – I was there all the time. I just broke it and eat it raw replied jaw looking down.  

Hmm Appachan made a throaty sound said as he sat on the chair. Go and get the egg shells wherever they are and fill it with hen droppings from around the house and bring it to me. Jose looked imploringly at his father, then gave up and rushes away. He came in after 15 minutes of toil and stood front of Appachan. Ammachi implored to Appachan as she knew the punishment – please let him go. No! said Appachan.

Jose presented the egg shells filled with the hen droppings to his father. Appachan smelt it, wrinkled his nose and made a disgusting sound– go and kneel in the mud out there. When Jose did that Appachan said – put the droppings on your tongue and say I will not steal 100 times. The little girl watched in surprise as her uncle obeyed her grandfather. Ammachi could not watch this and she picked up the little girl and ran into the kitchen.

Late that night Ammachi was hugging and putting her little treasure to sleep when little Jeena said r – Ammachi thank god there are no hens in our house in Delhi. Sometimes I do steal savouries made by mom. Ammachi smiled and kissed her – whenever you feel like stealing pray to Saint Maria Goretti – okay? She will change your mind.