Made a call from the reception to the room.
"No body receives"
" Try after some time ......"
" Do not disturb her calling time and again. We are specially instructed. Will call after half an hour." Feeling hungry. Being a star hotel even a breakfast would cost a hundred rupees. He walked outside. Had potato stew and Noolappam from the wayside hotel. Then returned to the hotel. New batch had taken seats in the reception. All ladies. Beautiful ones .Day timers. Speaking English only.Enquired.
"Room number."
"Not known…"
"The entire hotel is booked for World Science Congress delegates…”
One lady came for help.
"Which country they represent?"
“Australia ...”
She quickly went and examined some cards.
"Can he be Dr Morris Smith. Environmental scientist”
"Yes, exactly…"
"He is in room number 303…”
She herself hurriedly came and dialled up the number.
‘'It is ringing.You please come here and talk...”
"Good morning. I am Dr.Suma Smith ...”
"Chechi*. I am Vijayan......”
"Really strange.Surprising. Who told you that I have come here.” Chechi's words sounded more feminine than usual.
"I had been enquiring ever since the advertisement of Science Congress appeared. Thus I came to know that Chechi......"
"You know the room number. Please hurry up...”
Without waiting for the lift he climbed up the stairs. Chechi remained outside the room. On seeing she wiped her tears. Hurried up and hugged me. She stood caressing his back . Mother’s long fingers came to mind.
"As soon as I landed in the airport I knew that this was the December wind. Ekadasi fasting appeared in mind. Just then I thought-- every thing after visiting the home. Also arrangned a taxi at 11 O'clock for the purpose. Sri Lankan scientist Dr.Roopa Kurunagale had agreed to join me.”
"Chechi I have brought a car"
"You have a car....?”
"I have no car. I have hired a tourist taxi."
"Chechi" in Malayalam is the intimate and respectful way of addressing an elder sister.

"Come, don't you have to see your brother- in- law…"
She went inside. He was typing something.
"Guess who has come to see us...”
Brother-in- law raised his head form the typewriter. Screwed his eyes. Shrugged his shoulders.
“Nothing to guess. Is he not Vijayan ... My only brother- in-law ...”
He loked at me and very formally asked me.
"How do you do ..."
Then started typing again .
"Come, we will sit outside.”
When outside Chechi appeared very happy as in another world.
"Vasanthi and children are fine...”
"Yes."
"Children...”
"Daughter is in Sixth standard and son in Fourth standard”
"Chechi, what about Rahul and Lione…”
"Rahul is in Ireland. Pursuing advanced studies in nutrition technology. Lione is doing textile engineering at Melbourne University.Then he also must be sent to somewhere in the West.”
“Chechi we shall soon go to the house. Children skipped school and are waiting for you.”
“Yes, I am in a hurry to see your children… I will cancel the booked taxi and ring up Dr.Roopa. Now no need to trouble her..”
Chechi got up.
“I’ll change dress and come…”
Chechi went inside. He sadly remembered. The only duo born to a mother. Living worlds apart. Meeting once in a while. Every time becoming more and more strangers to each other.
Chechi arrived dressing up after some time. He observed. Wavy and dry hair that is bobbed. Chechi’s hair had been very curly. Friends admired it. Those who admired it curled their hairs. Now Chechi’s hair has become straightened. Maybe there are machines to straighten curly hair. He noticed the saree Chechi was wearing. Light yellow one, with red-coloured border, non-silk kancheepuram. A bag on the shoulder.A big plastic bag in hand. She gestured the plastic bag to me and said .
“This is for Vasanthi and children. I haven’t brought anything big…”
He went to his brother- in- law inside.
“Sorry. No I can’t come .Just see in what a mess I am…”
He said pointing to the piled up papers.
He along with Chechi came downstairs by lift.
When near the car she asked, “How far is our home from here?''
“Maximum two- and –a- half hours”
“Today is full moon day, I would like to see full moon from our outhouse…”
When car started moving Chechi said.
“Breakfast is there in the room. Everything must be processed items. I haven't had it. I would like to have a masaladosa….”
Asked to stop the car near a big vegetarian hotel.
Chechi sat looking at the masladosa and dishes.
“Chechi needs spoons and forks…”
“ I haven’t so much become westernised ..”
When entering the car Chechi said
When thinking one thing my feet backtrack. Kovilakam gorge pebbled sublane and the ghettos surrounding.
“No Chechi, now we have tarred road till home …..”
"Road... See the city roads . …Then what to say about roads in the outskirts. Our country will never be set right…."
Chechi started to have a nap in the car. Then had a sound sleep. When got up, she asked.
“Reaching …?"
“Almost. Chechi’s plot is by the side of this road. Want to get down and see…"
"Oh! am I going to get down and plant the saplings .....I’ve already told you to take that plot. I don’t need anything in return …”
"Can I just take it without authorising it in my name …?"
“You bring the document . I' II sign it.”
Car, when turned to the left side, he said
" That side is kovilakam gorge. Either sides there were fields, you know?”
“Now fields have been filled and houses built ..”
“These new houses are of whom. May be of Mallat family…”
Chechi asked.
He remembers. In our conceivable memory three-fourth of the field belonged to Mallat family. Half of the land above it too.
“They have partitioned among themselves.All of them sold out their plots and left this place…”
“Then those big houses …?”
“Yes. First one is of the son of mason Kittunni who had earlier lived in a makeshift near our house. He is working in a gulf country. Next one is of the son of Veeravu, the Muslim who usually bought bunches of bananas from us. “
"Please slow down. Let me see the houses."
When near a house Chechi said.
“It is really a beautiful house. You won’t see such a big house in the Australian countryside. Whose house is this....."
“ This is of Rugmini, your oldest friend. Her husband is a known business man in Gulf …”
Car moved slowly .
Vasanthi and children waited outside the house. While getting down the car Chechi started crying. Chechi hugged the children. Looking at Vasanthi, she asked.
“How you have darkenened? I had only seen your photo. In it you looked very fair."
She asked from courtyard.
“You haven’t made any change on our house.No ?”
“Such a big house.Even a small touch will cost four or five lakh rupees ..”
“In a sense good, I could see this house as it is in my mind..."
Chechi prayed in the temple and came back. Children accompanied her. She cried for some time looking at father's and mother’s portraits.
“Chechi, have your lunch," Vasanthi said
“I don’t like the fish and meat here. Everything like coconut fiber. I need a little sambar Something salted. Some spicy buttermilk..For drinking, some boiled water."
Vasanthi prepared everything in a moment and set the table. On Chechi’s compulsion every one sat together for lunch.
Sitting outside, Chechi said.
“Then our Mallat family's ruined, aren’t they ? Two or three girls among them studied with me. They showed airs. Poor Rugmini ,at school, was a servant there. I wish to see her. She is here itself …?"
“Let sunshine fades…….”
"Don’t mind. I want to see her right now ..."
Son saw her to Rugmini's house and came back after some time .
“Aunty said she would come in the evening. She is sharing some tearful moments with her…”
“ A little before twilight Chechi returned. Told Vasanthi “I need porridge of broken rice with coconut milk. Chinese potato and pappad. Saw Chinese potato heaps on the way ...”
Vasanthi entered the kitchen. Children started learning.
“Come we will go outside and view fullmoon from the outhouse. Let the children study...”
Sat on the steps of the outhouse. December breeze stirring the memory “Here land price is fantastic, isn't it ? Land doesn't cost so high on Australian countryside. Will my plot be as much as one acre..."
“No ninety- four cents only …When measured it will be still lesser..."
December breeze brings chill. It comingles with loud prayers of Sabarimala pilgrims at a distance.
"Still people here pay visits to Sabarimala ….?"
“This year it is larger in number ….."
"Larger in number? This is supposed to be a communist country ….." Chechi smiled.
Moon came out as if from a hide. In a few seconds it became full moon. Paddy plants went silverfish. Chechi observed everything anxiously. She suddenly started sobbing.
“You don’t know how unhappy I am..."
Chechi cried.
"What is Chechi’s problem …?"
“I can't get along with my husband at all. You might say that it was my choice …. Now at any moment I might seek separation form him …."
Sat staring at the crying Chechi…
Wiping tears, she asked.
“You and Vasanthi are getting along well…"
“Not that well. When hardpressed for money I pawned her ornaments in instalments. She quarrels daily for them to be got back..."
Chechi got up.
“Sitting here I reminisce. Might cry again. We' ll go back home …..”
Chechi walked in front.
Chechi had enough of porridge. Stood up saying.
“The toilet here is at a far end. At night it‘ll be a discomfort for me. I will stay over night in Rugmini’s home. She is alone there. There three airconditioned rooms remain vacant...” While walking with Chechi in full moon light, despite expectation, Chechi remained taciturn. When approaching Rugmini’s gate, he said .
“Chechi must come for the breakfast."
“Surely. Ask Vasanthi to make Dosa with a good proportion of black gram. Thin Dosa fried in coconut oil and onion sambar …"
Chechi came in the morning in Rugmini's car.As soon as she got down Chechi said.
“You don’t have to hire a taxi for me.Rugmini’ll drop me there . You don’t waste a leave. Rugmini will look after me..."
He had no leave at all . Still he liked to spent more time with Chechi.
Though in a hurry Chechi ate many dosas.
While retuning, she held up the children and kissed them .Caressed Vasanthi on the cheecks.Bade adieu to me without words…
When parted, he recollected Chechi’s visit. Passed as if in a dream. What is to be said still remains.It lingered in the whole of his day- time memory .
In the evening dream ended ,when Rugmini returned with her car. Rugmini came smiling.
“Chechi asked this to be given to you. Fifteen-thousand Rupees. I bought your Chechi’s plot. With a huge price. Twenty thousand per cent. I've agreed to sent the money to her in Dollars, to Australia. This is the fifteen thousand for you…"
She held out the bundle of notes.