When we moved to Kallidaikurichi in 1972, we children made
plenty of friends in the street where we lived, as well as in the school we
used to attend. My father was busy with his work and he was mostly confined to
his office. He had an old friend who used to work with him elsewhere, when he
started his career. They became constant companion. My mother was all by
herself and had a genuine need for a good company. The same was needed to go
out for shopping of groceries, vegetables, to visit temples as well as to get
accustomed to the local customs, traditions and manners. One might wonder what
is so special for a Tamilian to learn about special traditions and manners in a
village. Kallidaikurichi was way different from other places as people
communicate in very different manner. One need not say “YES” or “NO” everything
had special nasal sound emanating from the lips. People were addressed
according to their caste and community. Always one needed to keep special
distance to maintain. If you are naïve you would be taken for a toss in a
bargain!
This void was filled up by Thekkathi Koma. She was, may be a
decade younger to my mom! She was fair, tall, slender in built, had long jet
black hair. Her face was lit with two big eyes and big Kum Kum on the forehead.
God had blessed her with good figure but forgotten to take good care of when he
went to make her teeth. Her front top three teeth were badly formed. They were protruding
like a coconut grater. She was probably god sent gift to my mother, as she used
to accompany her whenever my mother had to go to the river, temple, shopping as
well as to visit others to develop common friends by calling on new people etc.
My mother has a unique quality which we admire. Anyone who
becomes her friend confide in her everything, personal, professional, serious
matters, trivia all come to her knowledge in no time. In the case of Koma it
was no different. Soon Koma started confiding in my mother all about her
childhood, marriage, family life, financial condition of family etc. Thus my
mother became de facto counselor for Koma .
Koma’s father was a professional cook who used to live in a
village ten kilometers away from Kallidaikurich known as Veervanallur. He was
blessed with four daughters. He had to arrange and settle the marriage of Koma
with Shankararaman though he had no regular income, profession or occupation
because of Koma’s family’s poverty. Shankarraman was totally dependent on his
widowed sister for day to day existence.
The sister was married into a rich family in Sengottai .On the demise of
her husband; the sister became a rich widow and started living with her brother
supporting him. Shankarraman’s only occupation was producing babies.
Thus the household had nearly four children, I am saying
nearly because one was in Komu’s stomach and ready for release. Shankarraman had a face with big birth mark
on his left hand chin and fore head which was in dark pink color. The same used
to give a cruel appearance to him. But he was told to be very kind and courteous
to his wife, sister and other family members.
Komu’s famous pass time was to prepare delicious food for
the entire family and serve the same to their delight. Then visit our family.
If my mother was available she would persuade my mother to accompany her for a
film show. If my mother did not oblige there would be someone else to oblige
and she would visit the tent theatre and return home. Thus the household was
surviving by selling old brass vessels, some silver ware, some time some jewels
etc. Thus the family had little realization that they were sailing in a sinking
boat.
My mother slowly started counseling Koma and advised her to
go for family planning as soon as she gave birth to the baby which was on the
way anytime in the next three months. Koma was reluctant as they were longing
for a boy. The family already had three daughters. As luck would have its way the fourth issue
was a son and the family agreed to go for family planning. Though Shankarraman
was reluctant, he had to sign the papers as the doctor told categorically that
Koma can longer withstand another child birth on account of precarious
condition of her health.
Birth of a child, other growing children who were all
entering school one after the other , false social commitments all were taking
a toll on the families finance which was based on liquidating all that was
available. Thus slowly all the vessels made up of brass, bronze etc. were
moving out of the home in front of our own eyes.
Shankararaman was not having any inclination to work or
venture into any business. His sister was also pampering him to glory. Thus the
sole bread winner’s responsibility would at any time fall on Koma. My mother
advised her to look for avenues to increase domestic - income by doing small
and odd catering arrangements within the village. There was tough competition
but her commitment to quality and service stood by her side. Shankarraman had
now no other way other than helping her with small errands to begin with which
later became full- fledged involvement.
For that year Diwali she made a lot of sweets and savories
which started selling like hot cakes. This was followed by other orders like
catering for Rotary International weekly meeting etc. Thus the family got
stabilized.
We moved out of Kallidaikurichi and after my father’s
retirement settled in Chennai. Once we had to attend a marriage event in
Kodambakkam. As the groom was family friend for us for years we had to honor
the invite and landed for the evening reception. There was a welcome banner pasted
by KOMA SHANKAR Caterers. My mother was certain that the same must be Koma of
Kallidaikurichi. We went to the dining area and there she was. Now an
entrepreneur with gold rimmed glass, Kancheepuram silk saree, Dyed Hair neatly
pleated, with Jasmine flower, her big typical kumkum on her forehead and bunch
of gold chains on her neck, Titan Raga watch and all that. She came and hugged
my mother and touched her feet. Explained that she moved to Chennai a decade
back as Kallidaikurichi was not for growth she felt suffocated. In the city she
was known for typical Thirunelveli style catering and a small mess catering
exclusively to IT crowd attended to by her husband.
Children were sent to the
best colleges and life for all of them were made by the initiative of one
single enterprising lady!!
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