A Cottage in Swami Hills- 19. Under the moonlit sky

A COTTAGE IN SWAMI HILLS *

19. UNDER THE MOONLIT SKY

We always slept in the terrace. We slept just under the open sky most of the days. When it rained, we adjourned to the rooms in the first floor. Those were wonderful days. After hearing 9 PM news, the preparations would start for going to the terrace. This included a pot of drinking water, torch , some towels etc and last but not the least my grandfather's betel box . (வெ ற்றிலை பெட்டி). Some times, the journey to terrace was delayed due to the concert which was broadcast in AIR. My grandmother would obviously not miss MS or MLV or Musiri. I would have slept on the sofa on those days and it required three people to pull me and take me to the terrace. We never slept immediately on the terrace. Sometimes, my grandfather would talk about the stars and planets. Sometimes, he would show the ring formation around the moon and  predict rainfall. He used to say 

"கிட்டக்கோட்டை எட்ட மழை  எட்டக்கோட்டை கிட்ட மழை". (If the ring has been formed closer to the moon then the rain will not be immediate. But, if the ring has been formed away from the moon, then the rain will be imminent. )

My grandfather would sit at an elevated place and do the Japa even while my grandmother would have slept. On some days, my uncle would arrive from Trichy and both of them would discuss so many things till late in the night.  Sometimes, we would listen to the shrill whistle of the train and tell ourselves "Boat mail has come". Surely, in another twenty minutes, bullock carts would go in the street noisily and we would say "some guests seem to have come by boat mail". It could be any body's house.  

I recall the lunar eclipses which we saw from the terrace. Some were full eclipses and some were partial. My grandfather would advise all of us to pray at that time. Sometimes, I used to wear the palm leaf on my forehead. The sastrigal gave it to me and asked me to wear it to protect against the Rahu or Kethu who would have been gobbling up moon during the eclipse. I hoped that Rahu would be ale to read it because I was not proficient in Grandham - the language in which the message to Rahu was written.

In the winter months, we slept inside the rooms on the cots. In the early mornings, one could listen Thiruppavai and Thiruvembavai sung by children and broadcast in the loud speakers. My grandfather would get up and tell some slokas. I would get up but would remain inside the blanket while reciting as it was very chill.

I learnt the true meaning of the riddle sitting under the moonlit sky in Kumbakonam.

எங்கம்மா புடவையை  மடிக்க முடியாது
எங்கப்பா பணத்தை எண்ணமுடியாது

The answer to the riddle is sky and the stars. Today, we can see so many neon lights but we cannot see the stars in the sky even if we try. We have lost that enjoyment forever. In spite of having such a beautiful setting, we rarely had நிலா சாப்பாடு. My grandmother probably did not believe in bringing all the food items to the terrace and making a mess there.

Once or twice we saw a jungle dog (மர நாய்) climbing the coconut tree. Of course, we saw many rats and some bandicoots criss crossing the terrace. Till late 60s, we never felt afraid but slowly, the robberies started happening and neighbours started advising us against the reckless practice of sleeping on the terrace leaving the entire house to the care of the cook.

The fear instilled by the people put a stop to our wonderful nights in the terrace and we became "normal" people who sleep under the ceiling fan with one dim light to keep company instead of the moon.

  * Cottage in swami hills refers to the house in which we lived in Kumbakonam. This phrase was used once by my grandfather when I asked him that as some  people go in summer to Kodaikanal and Ooty where they have a cottage whether we would also be able to go and stay like them one day. My grandfather replied that he already has a cottage near swami Hills (swamimalai) and he referred to his house as the cottage.