The dusk which embraces the dawn

“Muthassa*, you rest for a while now”, his grandson Ajayan instructed.

Muthassan shifted his place in the easy chair where he was sitting telling his tales to friends and relatives sitting around him, in chairs and beds.

“Let me finish whatever I have to say. After all, how long do I have now?”

Ajayan laughed.

“Do you mean you haven’t finished telling yet? It wasn’t a small time, a long eighty-four years. This is your shathabhishekam* that we are celebrating today.”

His was a large family with children and grand children. The eldest son retired as a Professor, the second son was the District Judge, the youngest daughter Arundhati was also a college Professor.

She was also a Muthassi* now, grandmother to a granddaughter. Muthassan laughed thinking of that.

Since the children had frequent transfers, he took on the responsibility of the grandchildren too. That job was also completed well.

Doctor, engineer, scientist, everyone had good jobs according to their tastes. The granddaughters, all well-educated and with good jobs, were all married off.

There was the satisfaction on the patriarch’s face, of having taken everything to their rightful completion.

Muthassan forgets his age when he gets someone to talk with. Once night comes, after all this talking, he will have cough and breathing difficulties. None of these listeners will be there to massage his chest or to give him Ayurvedic medicines. His father would have to do that. Ajayan was getting irritated.

“I was going along with Radhakrishnan in a horse-rickshaw, you know to where? To the beach. I think it was a year or two after his retirement.”

Looking at his grandfather reciting another of his brave deeds, a story he had heard many times before, Ajayan left the room.

After the visitors had left, the patriarch thought.

He has completed his role. Now shouldn’t he be leaving the stage?

He should make arrangements for everything. There shouldn’t be any disputes between his children after his death.

He divided his money and properties to his children in front of the sub-registrar, who he had brought with his money.

The children were astonished. The house and the half-acre on which it stood were still in his name.

“Shouldn’t there be an arrangement on that too, Acha?*”

The eldest son stood before his father, his hand massaging the bald spot on his head.

“No, let it be like that.”

“Maybe the deed can remain secret until after your death.” Said his son.

Everyone noticed a clouding of the father’s face. He who was talking about leaving the stage soon feared even a mention of the word death.

“Ajaya” Hearing his grandfather call him, Ajayan came into the room.

“What is it, Muthassa?” Ajayan was hurriedly getting ready to go to office. The old man tried not to show that he understood his grandson’s irritation on being called at this time.

“Get me that Dettol. My leg got cut slightly. I think the nail on that slipper might have cut my leg.”

“There is no need for any Dettol. Your body is immune, Muthassa.” Ajayan smiled looking at all the bottles of medicines stacked in the shelf and the cupboard.

Ajayan returned late after a meeting. He had just opened the front door when he heard Muthassan call out.

Nuisance, he still hasn’t slept? Ajayan muttered as he went to his grandfather’s room.

 “Did you buy that tonic?”

“No, Muthassa. The medical shop was closed by the time I left office. I will buy it tomorrow. Anyway, it is not a medicine, just a tonic. It doesn’t matter if you skip it once or twice.”

“Is it you who decides that? You don’t have any interest in my things nowadays.”

Ajayan returned, sad that Muthassan was angry at him.

There was something for Muthassan to tell everyone tomorrow.

“It is two days since my tonic got over. Ajayan keeps forgetting. At least someone else should remind him. No chance. I take it regularly twice, you know.”

Various faces of grumbles and discontentment.

Muthassan was fastidious about eating the right amount of food at the right time.

He would lash out at anyone who asked if he would eat a little more.

“At this age, if I get diarrhea or something,…”

Ajayan wonders that he never would complete the sentence.

It has been cold and rainy for two days. Muthassan had a slight cold.

“Radhakrishna, ask the driver to take out the car. I want to go to the hospital.”

“Try this arishtam* at first, Acha.”

“No, I don’t feel good at all, my head feels heavy and there is no taste for food. I want to take an X-ray. And a general check-up.”

“And son, another thing. It is my birthstar the day after tomorrow. We should do a mrityunjayahomam*”

Being the eldest son, Radhakrishnan could never say no to his father. But this is getting to be a bit too much. Just last month, there was homam, pooja everything for Achan’s birthday.

Who is there to get everything ready? It starts with Ganapatihomam* in the early morning. There should be someone ready to have all the things ready after an early bath. Bharathi couldn’t handle everything alone.

“Also have a vilakke* for Bhagavathi*. And a Niramala*” Achan’s voice awoke Radhakrishnan from his thoughts.

“Why are you silent? Everything has to be done. RamanKaniyare* told yesterday that I was having a very bad time now.”

Muthassan didn’t want to say any more.

Ajayan called one of his Doctor friends’ who came and did a checkup on Muthassan.

“There is nothing wrong with you. You are in reasonably good health considering your age.” The doctor said patting Muthassan’s shoulder.

“And what is there to get so upset about? You have seen so much, endured so much” the doctor said in jest.

“Yes, I have seen so much, endured so much. But there remains so much to be done.” Muthassan was in some disappointment.

“What is it that remains to be done?” The doctor was curious.

“You know Karthika, Ajayan’s daughter? I want to see her marriage also. And..”

“And you know Arundhati, my daughter. Her daughter Lekha has a son. I want to see him as a doctor too.”

The doctor was astounded by the Muthassan’s seriousness.

How long to wait for all that?

Ajayan’s daughter was still in kindergarten.

Muthassan: Grandfather.

Shathabhishekam: Eighty-fourth birthday by which time one is supposed to have seen a thousand full moons.

Muthassi: Grandmother

Achan: Father

Arishtam: Ayurvedic medicine

Mrityunjayahomam: A pooja done for long-life and good health.

Ganapatihomam: A pooja to Lord Ganesha.

Vilakke: A traditional oil-lamp offered lighted to God for blessings.

Bhagavathi: Goddess

Niramala: The temple is decorated with lots of flowers and oil-lamps are lighted everywhere (as far as my knowledge goes)