Raghu Vamsham Manipravalam

I think we should use a Lil of our brain before making promises.I do think so.But i use my heart and make promises in excitement and later struggle to keep it up(No problem until there are a list of excuses ).

It was on one of my visits to my aunt took place this 'promise'.There is a distant uncle of my mom living next door to this aunt.We (me n my cousins) always stop at him whenever we pass by.

One month ago ,when i stepped in to his veranda he seemed happy unusually.I was wondering when he asked if i know anything about his family history instead of the expected 'how r u' and 'wen d u came'.Then all those story telling sessions came into my mind through which he made me believe that there was a snake and a table inside the house which appears as it dawns and disappears at dusk.I peeped into the rooms if it is still there whenever i got a chance.He asked me to wait there and disappeared upstairs.He brought something in his hands and put down on a table.Some old manuscripts,a cane basket ,a white container with some temple's logo on it.

Whats goin on?I was confused."i have a lot to talk to you.You are not in a hurry,right?",he whispered in a very low tone.I was not in a hurry,even if i was i could have given up to listen to him.What if he is going to tell an exciting story that unrolls through thrilling twists and turns! He must be expecting me to write it down one day.The first chapter of 'One night at a call centre came into mind'.If i happen to create such a thing that i bag Booker Prize......................I was on the podium to receive the prize when the cracking sound of the cane basket interrupted.

"This was my uncles basket", he started slowly,"he was one of the great mahouts of that time.His master was happy to let him take the elephant home".That was a new information. A boy from his family told me that they owned a number of elephants long ago.There were two elephants instead of watch dogs ,the boy boasted of.I imagined it mouth open!!!Two elephants standing on both sides of the door way!!!Back at home i persuaded my father to recollect if any of our predecessors had an elephant.He shook his head firmly, disappointing me.

"Uncle used to take the elephant all over the world('world' has to shrug to a few kilometers to fit into this statement) for months. He carried his belongings in this basket and returned with full of money in this", he continued."The animal never disobeyed him" (And there were stories to prove this.) "but you know, he had a sad demise with so many diseases killing him inch by inch.His wife cheated him .She stole all his wealth and gave it to her stupid brother.Uncle had a plan to give it to us.If it was so where could we be now!".He showed me the invitations the uncle got from different temples to bring the elephant.He had a collection of elephants molars, hair from its tail...... Then he opened the container and showed me a huge collection of old coins from the time of Maharaja.I couldn't identify any(One of my friend used to show case her coin collection whenever i visit her home.I had tried to register that i'm not interested but she continued.I took revenge by displaying my collection of cricket posters for which i knew she had no interest).

He started packing the things once again .It was then only i noticed an old book.I was curious n asked what it is.He asked me to promise that i will read it line by line without leaving a single word unread.I smiled in welcome and he handed it over to me.It was the last book on earth i wanted to read but i have already made the promise.It was an old copy of 'Raghu vamsham manipravalam'.I never put my head in to such scholarly scripts but read some summary of it or pure translations.Next he presented me with a hand full of his coins.He is so kind to me!! I felt my eyes being wet.I started loving this old man with full heart.I thought some how I'll keep my promise.I didn't knew i was this special to him.

Then came the dialogue "I gave a quarter of this to Sonu and Manju earlier.Now its for you.I'll give the rest to Vishnu and Chinju the next time they come here".I was stuck......so this have happened twice already.It was only a part of the promotion of his 'family history'.My Booker prize........

I didn't bothered about keeping my word up.But whenever i met him he queried where am i reading in Raghuvamsham.I slipped away with some lame excuses every time.My father adviced me to by heart one or two stanzas and recite it when he asks.He will be satisfied,my dad assured me(mmmm...might be his trick).

I know what are you thinking now...LIKE FATHER ,LIKE DAUGHTER.

My brother Sonu...............................

While going through the old SM'S' in the inbox, i noticed this particular one from Sonu. "When we were kids, we were eager to grow up.And now we are grown up and realize that those wounded knees were much better than today's broken heart." TRUE.Indeed! A sentence from my 12Th std Malayalam book read like this 'every individual and society have the golden memories of their past'.Those were the best days of my life.I have a very clear memory(clear should be emphasised, i even remember the exact words of dialogues) about that time.All those are strongly related to my paternal and maternal ancestral homes.

The one figure who played the main persona was Lil Sonu.We are maternal cousins by blood.We met at our Grand mother's place twice or thrice in a year.This boy was such an obedient and disciplined one that everybody asked me to follow his manners.Me, the naughtiest of all girls, observed this with a rebellion going on inside.How he ne'er shouted at our grand mother(who used to advise me on each n everything, for which i had a great disliking), how he ne'er drenched in mud water,oh god, i couldn't imagine being like that!!!

Always our grandmother gave him privileges since he is the only boy in the family that time(there was already a girl who preceded me).I was totally against the system and sometimes viewed him even as an enemy.

But i can't find words to express how loyal Sonu was to me and he bear ed all my verbal and physical attacks as he is destined to do the same.There are uncountable occasions i can point out.....

Once we planned to play upstairs and i carried a tumbler of water along with some mixture to eat.Some how i spilled half of that water on the wooden staircase.On the way down Sonu slipped from that step and rolled down falling to the bottom.I cried as loudly as possible.Even neighbours came running and they took the bleeding boy to nearby clinic. I told them it was me who had the idea of carrying water n spilled it, everybody started scolding me.Back from the hospital he asked me if we can play sitting somewhere. I threw a heavy rubber ball and asked him to catch it.Oh, the ball hit exactly on the stitched wound on his fore head! He sobbed but kept quiet when someone passed by and asked me not to tell others ,otherwise they 'll scold you again.I couldn't understand why he dint want me to be caught guilty.If it was me he could have hung up by myself.

Another trick i used to play on him was to visit our neighbours'. I used to explain them that Sonu cried to come here ,so 'poor' me took him here, thats it.It should have me who convinced him to visit them and the helpless boy looked into my eyes with a question.I looked away and he smiles as what i said was the truth.

Though he was 2 years younger than me, it was he who imparted me valuable
bits of knowledge.He told me about the golden treasures possibly hidden somewhere around the house.We used to dig the sand heap brought for house repair to find out the treasure.We used to hide an army medal(probably our uncle's) in sand and indulged ourselves in 'mission medal recovery'.He told me stories about spies and detectives.The only thriller i had was 'Inspector Garud' from Balarama.He ne'er cared for Cinderella whom i adored.We always enacted some stories and he let me play the main character.

Once our grand mother stated in a family get together that how pious Sonu is that he worshipped even the 'black stones'.The next time i went out ,i closed my hands in prayer in front of each and every stone that discoloured to black 'coz of the moss gathered on it.

He had a craving for automobiles then itself.He bought toy cars n trucks and damaged them within hours.When we were living in the city, he along with his parents payed visits frequently.We used to play with building blocks and a yellow egg rack.I presented him with my toy cars(i scarcely had cars but dolls).Once i had a green jeep with a driver in it.He pleaded for it.I was so reluctant to to give it away that i lied it was my friend's.But at last we made the deal, he can have the car n me the driver.He plucked the driver from it and gave it to me.

I have a lot of very joyous moments spend with him coming to my mind.Any way he remains the same today.Always loving ,caring and trust worthy.I thank god for such a sweet little brother.Love him always..........