Pookaramma

It was five o'clock in the evening. I had to hurry up for a friend's wedding reception. Somehow managed to get an excuse from my PM...(hez a 'leaving by 7pm.. oh..y so early?' manager).. so leaving at five could alwayz be counted as half day leave with him.. Came out of office right in time to get into the city bus... it was soo crowded (or may be I was so used to the comfort of our office bus , so it looked very crowded that day).I got down at Velachery (the mini T-Nagar). I had to get mallipoo for the reception. (weddings in Chennai and without ur hair braided with mallipoo - u'll look odd for sure). So I went to the 'Pookaramma' sitting there near the bus stand and asked 'mulam evlo?' She was just staring at me without a word in reply. I was a little loud the second time.. and still she didn't reply.. hmm.. already I was late.. so I started to move on to the next lady.. but then she was making a gesture as to look down.. a little confused, I asked her 'enna?' louder than ever.. oh my God !! I've disturbed her baby.. He cried and peeped out from the hides of his mother's sari..all this time she was nursing her baby and she didn't want to disturb the little one.. I said 'sorry' and waited for some time for her to finish and give me 'a mulam of mallipoo' .. I knew I was already late for the wedding.. but somehow didn't feel like rushing to my house to get ready.. I paid her for the mallipoo and was about to leave.. when I saw an old woman come.. she took the baby who was crying by then and walked in the other direction..(the little one cried and looked desperately at his mom..he didn't want to be away from her :-(.. 'I leave him with my parents when I come for work' the pookaramma said..and started loudly..'moonu mulam pathu rooba'.. 'moonu mulam pathu rooba'.. I smiled at her and started walking slowly towards my house..thinking of the little one.. the pookaramma..the scented smell of the mallipoo..was making me more nostalgic..and restless..decided to call my mom and talk for sometime..even wanted to see her.. but for that I have to wait for the weekend and travel 8 hours by train... so I called her up.. the other end I could hear.. helloo amma.. come..nyo..aafizz.. bya..chee u.. it was my 2 year old who picked the phone.. before I could say even a word... he put the phone down..

achacho.. I am late for the wedding.. looked at my watch and started rushing home..


Is money more important? ..Is your job more important? than your little one..many ask me.. they were the same questions I wanted to ask the 'Pookaramma'.. may be she would have never replied.. or may be she would have said 'no.. nothing is important than my little one' and carried on with her 'moonu mulam pathu rooba.. moonu mulam pathu rooba'..