Reunion, Rejuvenation, Rest and Recuperation

All my siblings have moved to a senior home in Coimbatore in four apartments. We have been under constant pressure to move in, for two reasons: one, the whole family will be in one complex – so near yet so far; two and more important, so that we buy a vehicle together and go places. Good idea. However, our bonding with SFV has become so strong that we do the next best – hurry to Coimbatore at the slightest pretext, for a family reunion. This time we took our friend and his wife too.

Our visit coincided with Onam, Yajurveda Upakarma, and Janmashtami. In the Auditorium with cushioned chairs and five-star chandeliers illuminating it golden yellow, it was a feast for the eyes to see the senior ladies dancing Ona Kali donning off-white sarees with golden border; men in their 80s singing old numbers with no discordant notes whatsoever; a lady tracing the origin of Onam, yet another with no knowledge of Malayalam singing a Malayalam number, and so on. Nice to watch an all-Senior show, as also to see menfolk move around attired in clothes reserved for occasions. The only snag was that whenever they passed by instead of sharing the fragrance of Armani, Hugo Boss or the local Fogg, one felt the smell of Bengal Chemicals’ naphthalene balls.

On each visit my siblings unfailingly coax me to visit the latest project of the builder. This time it was their third phase with villas, and 1- 2-, and 3-BHK apartments under construction. Each villa has an independent lift in the drawing room that takes you to first floor and the terrace. The balcony, fitted with the traditional solid-wood swing faces the coconut grove in the immediate vicinity and mountain a little ahead – too tempting. But we resisted it this time too.

Both my sisters are great shoppers – for others. They know where you get good cotton sarees, daily-wear sarees, which lady sells from home very good bedsheets at moderate rates or, which restaurant stops supply of bonda and bajji at 5 pm so that we must rush before that…. Both the Bangalore ladies did so much justice to textile shopping that the counter-assistant ordered coffee twice. As usual, menfolk carried the bags on both hands, praying for more hands, adhering simultaneously to the instructions to keep the bills safe just in case an exchange was necessary.

They say Indians have the herd mentality. A month ago one sister, her daughter-in-law and her daughter from USA, underwent a week’s rejuvenation therapy at a well-known Ayurvedic Centre situated in the middle of the forest near Aana Katti. She persuaded us, the Bangalore four, also to experience it, if not for 7 days, at least for 3 days. We were skeptical for fear of falling off the oil-floating table, or uncertain if we could withstand the full-strength massage of the young paramedics, that too in the first batch when full energy is at their beck and call. But we succumbed to my sister’s persuasion.  All the four enjoyed all the sessions in those three days. We were prepared for the minimal food supply those three days, if only we would shed some kilos. Yes, I did – 500 gm.  

For return trip too we engaged a one-way taxi. Before leaving Bangalore my friend had suggested each one of us to select 20-30 favourite songs in any language which he would put together and play during the trip. Needless to mention there were many songs which more than one person had selected by coincidence. On the return trip the driver, a young man, had his own collection to listen to as he waited for his next trip.  He played them too. All of them had that rich, innocent and welcome rural flavour.  

A trip well spent, said the ladies. “Both in time and shopping-spree,” added the menfolk in jest, side-glancing their spouses.