1978 - Mathus engagement ceremony
One night I was at the uni attending lectures that finished at 9.00pm and managed to catch the last 10.00pm ferry homefrom Circular quay. By the time I reached home in Cremorne grabbed a bite from leftovers in the fridge and went to bed it was around 11.00pm. I was tired, was tossing and turning but could not fall asleep. I was not sure what was bothering me.
Just around 2.00am I got out of bed and phoned home. Just wanted to find out if everything was OK in Madras.
I was not at all expecting what followed.
The phone was answered by my uncle Babji Naidu whom we affectionately Gennacha father with glasses as he was paternal uncle so Acha and not Mama. He kept saying Chander it is Gods will and has to be ESP as we were thinking of phoning you but hesitating as it would be very late and you will be fast asleep.
He sounded sooo Happy and said Chander you will not believe this, all of us have just come home after performing Manju's engagement ceremony and we were all talking about you and how much we missed you.
My first reaction was a strong one which was to hang up. My younger sisters wedding had been finalised and her engagement ceremony had also been performed and me the ONLY brother was not told about it. This was not like my family any more. They did not tell me my mother was ill soon after I left because they did not want me stressing out. To some extent I can understand that, but not to tell me about my younger sisters engagement was definitely not acceptable.
But then Thank God Common Sense Prevailed. I contained my anger and told myself whatever the reason you must now be happy for Manju. She is engaged to be married to start her life.
So I spoke to Manju and wished her the very best and spoke to my mother and my sister Chottakka at length and from the conversations I felt I had attended the engagement myself as I was given all the details and also told to be prepared to attend the wedding in January 1978.
I then spoke to all the Juniors younger sisters, nephews and nieces and by the time I finished I was feeling great and realised I had just one hour left to get ready for work as a bus conductor.
The Human Mind is a Mystic River for sure.
One night I was at the uni attending lectures that finished at 9.00pm and managed to catch the last 10.00pm ferry homefrom Circular quay. By the time I reached home in Cremorne grabbed a bite from leftovers in the fridge and went to bed it was around 11.00pm. I was tired, was tossing and turning but could not fall asleep. I was not sure what was bothering me.
Just around 2.00am I got out of bed and phoned home. Just wanted to find out if everything was OK in Madras.
I was not at all expecting what followed.
The phone was answered by my uncle Babji Naidu whom we affectionately Gennacha father with glasses as he was paternal uncle so Acha and not Mama. He kept saying Chander it is Gods will and has to be ESP as we were thinking of phoning you but hesitating as it would be very late and you will be fast asleep.
He sounded sooo Happy and said Chander you will not believe this, all of us have just come home after performing Manju's engagement ceremony and we were all talking about you and how much we missed you.
My first reaction was a strong one which was to hang up. My younger sisters wedding had been finalised and her engagement ceremony had also been performed and me the ONLY brother was not told about it. This was not like my family any more. They did not tell me my mother was ill soon after I left because they did not want me stressing out. To some extent I can understand that, but not to tell me about my younger sisters engagement was definitely not acceptable.
But then Thank God Common Sense Prevailed. I contained my anger and told myself whatever the reason you must now be happy for Manju. She is engaged to be married to start her life.
So I spoke to Manju and wished her the very best and spoke to my mother and my sister Chottakka at length and from the conversations I felt I had attended the engagement myself as I was given all the details and also told to be prepared to attend the wedding in January 1978.
I then spoke to all the Juniors younger sisters, nephews and nieces and by the time I finished I was feeling great and realised I had just one hour left to get ready for work as a bus conductor.
The Human Mind is a Mystic River for sure.
