Page 15 - Memoirs of Sarasworthy Somasundaram

Sundays

In our home, Sundays had a special routine- church, Sunday school, no games, no school
homework, and for the younger ones rest. “Sleeping Time” after lunch – a must routine.

One Sunday, after lunch, the Children - (4 of us) were in the West room. Puppam
and I were reading story books. Raman and Lakshman were in bed. Of course they were
not sleeping. All four were jabbering away and laughing.

The door opened and in walked Aiyah. Puppam and I quickly turned to our books.
The boys shut their eyes. Aiyah was of course not deceived. He shouted “You boys, why
aren’t you asleep yet? You need a good spanking. I’ll see you get it.” And he walked out.

[SILENCE]
A couple minutes later he walked in. Puppam and I stole a look at him. He stood there, with
a hay stalk!! Balanced in his right hand (he had probably snatched it up from our hay stack.
We had milking cows at the time). This was too funny for us and we started giggling. The
boys heard us and opened their eyes, saw the hay-stalk and grinned. Aiyah probably felt
foolish and walked out.

That was our father…dear Appu

One day, during the school holidays, Raman and Lakshmanan with their cousins had
taken the train from Maruthanamadan to Chavakachchare to spend the day at our Uncle’s.
4
Nallaiya was at Chavakachchere Hospital at the time. After a hearty meal, the boys were in
a room talking their heads off, interrupted with hearty laughs. Queenie aunty was resting
in the next room.

Suddenly she heard one of the boys say “Hey Raman, let’s take a half ticket for you
on the return trip” It’ll be fun fooling the ticket collector, he will never guess. The
Amarasingham family is a strange mixture of very tall and very short members. Raman was
very short but was over 12, which pit him in the full ticket category). The speaker was one
of the taller cousins and Aunty had guessed what was up. But… before she could intervene,
she heard Raman’s excited voice,

“Yes, yes, that would be a terrible kick! But…. But… if Aiyah hears of it… he will be sad.”

And the plan was dropped. Aunty relaxed and sat back in bed.

Yes that was my father, I don’t think he ever punished us… and yet…

(Aunty told Puppam and me the story later.)

4 Nallaiya literally translates to elder/good father.

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