Way beyond the unfathomable monsoon clouds fast approaching the sub continent,our Kochu Ammini was busy waiting for her pint of milk. Her mother for some reason couldn't hear her cries as she was busy getting the lunch ready for all those who were visiting to see the new born.
New borns - they add a dollop of life to the household, don't they?
The father who couldn't take part in the prolonged celebration was busy in Kochi to have his travel documents prepared. He had to travel to South Africa on work. it was taking much time and he was sweating hard waiting in line in the Tahsildar's office who was asking more than just normal questions. He had more than enough reasons to perspire... a new born at this time was not what he had in mind. Child, Mother, the inherited mansion of a house and this journey. Rising expenses and a diminishing marital connect was not the correct equation to a happy life, was it?!
Finally, the official work was over and he started his journey back to his lodging in Fort Cochin. The traffic was getting congested; word around was that the King and the Imperial office had plans to make Cochin (Kochi as the natives would continue to call) a bustling trading point for the British empire. Heck, he even thought of staying put and starting a business here...but destiny decided to do away with such thoughts.
Back home in Trichur, the baby was getting a tad too frustrated and the cries had changed to shrieks. The mother still was unaware of the commotion going on right behind her. It was the maid who was quite taken by the callous nature of the mother and immediately took control of the situation. Once she had the baby calm down, she got back to her work. With less than a week to the auspicious 16th day of the birth of the child, preparations were the priority rater than wonder as to the reason behind the mistress's "callousness".
The mid-wide who noticed all this whilst helping the mistress had the intuition and waited for the right time to clear her doubts. It was way past lunch with everybody gone; she stood behind the mother and began shouting abuses at her. She was shocked to realise that there was no reaction from the woman standing right in front. She tapped on her shoulder and Ammini's mother turned and gave her a polite smile.
It was true....Ammini's mother had gone deaf!
The journey back to Trichur was taking long by road. A quick stop over at Sethu's house to discuss the future was nagging his mind. Sethu, his childhood friend who had always advised Ramnath to avoid the perils of marriage. Ramnath had an additional interest in the stopover - his first wife, Sethu's elder sister...
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