As children, we used to like and hate our attes visit to our place. Our father had many sisters. This one stayed near our place, only three hours journey from bus. Our father used to go and bring her. She used to bring her few possessions with her. As she was a widow, she used to shave her head and wear only red sari and follow rigid routine.
As soon as she came she used to make the kitchen her domain. Even my mother was not allowed inside. No onions, we could not put our fingers near our mouth.We could not touch this or that. So a lot of our freedom was lost.
She used to take bath and prepare breakfast. She used to keep her share and keep the remaining outside the kitchen door. My mother used to take that and give us our share. Mind you. you could not keep the plates you ate with the vessels that she used to prepare because enjalu and musure were different.
One thing my mother was happy when she used to come was that my ate was an expert in constructing soude ole.She used to make us go get the red mud from some construction site. They used to use red mud then. we used to bring the red mud in a bandle.She used to assess the quality of the mud and with great reluctance agree that it was good. Then she used to mix with water and after demolishing the old ole ,clean the surface, she used to construct a new one. She had the concentration of an artist while doing it. She was an expert in doing the koodole where they make a side ole where u can cook simultaneously on a small vessel while you cook on a large vessel in the main ole.
After finishing they used to make a fine paste from the red mud and give a smooth finishing and let that dry.
Then she used to season it after she was satisfied that it has dried completely. If you suddenly put too much firewood it may crack. so slowly they used to increase the heat and get the ole used for optimum usage. My mother used to appreciate how well the ole has come and ate used to beam with satisfaction.
One more thing we used to get when she was in our house was some tindi every night. Since she was not eating rice in the night she used to make rottis,uppittu ,avalakki e t c and we used to get a share. some how it used to taste very good.
Then the day would come for her to go. Mother used to gift her a sari and both would cry a little. Father used to make us bow to her and take her blessings. Then
She used to tell us to study well and then go with father with wet eyes and rubbing the tears with the edge of her red sari.
Ill her next visit the ole would be in constant use. Our life used to come to normal where we could touch anything any time.
Still we missed the thindi at the nights…