Afternoon during a conversation with Amma, she happened to touch upon the purchases I made when I was a small boy, especially the very first purchase I made in my life. The very first item I bought, going alone on my own - you wont believe - was raw mutton (the uncooked one).
As Amma says, I was around three-and-half years old, when I made this first purchase. I uniquely remember most of what happened on that day, due to the unique nature of the incident. I should be between 3.5 to 4 years old, as I still remember that incident.
It was Marie Akka, who was a sort a middle-age lady, in those days, who happened to stay two homes away from our railway colony home. As I and my first sister were small kids, it seems Amma used to give money and a small vessel to Marie Akka when she visits the Kambi Kadai, a small daily market in our locality. Marie Akka will buy the the non-veg that Amma asks for and hand over the vessel with the non-veg item along with the change, if any.
On that particular day, Marie Akka had started from her home and had reached the farther end of our block, but was still visible. Amma called her "Akka... Akka...", but she had gone so far that she didn't hear and didn't respond. I was standing next to Amma, clutching her saree. Amma immediately gave me a small vessel, and some money. I vaguely remember that it was a one rupee note and some coins, but I do not know how much it exactly was. She told me that "Nooru Nenju Kari" (100 gms of Chest mutton) and asked me to hand over the vessel and money to Marie Akka and tell her the same "Nooru Nenju Kari".
I collected those items and immediately started running towards Marie Akka, repeating the words "Nooru Nenji Kari" in my mind, so that I don't forget it. Marie Akka dis-appeared, and after running for a few minutes, I myself reached the market. I knew where the non-veg stalls will be, and continued to run in that direction, repeating "100 Nenju Kari" in my mind and searching for Marie Akka.
I could never find Marie Akka. But a person in the first mutton shop asked me what I want, upon seeing the vessel in my hand, which I was managing to hold with both my little hands, that also had the money in it. I immediately replied "Nooru Nenji Kari". He immediately took the vessel along with the money from my hand, cut a piece of mutton from a big one that was hanging, weighed, placed it in the vessel and gave it back to me. He also gave me some change, and asked me to give it safely to Amma. I said "Sari" ("Ok"), and started walking towards our home.
Amma was still standing near the entrance of our home, anticipating my return. She was surprised to find me with the vessel with mutton. I also handed over the change to her. With that, her dependency on Maria Akka ended. I remember going many such trips to the market, and always went to same first shop, who gave me what exactly I asked for, along with the correct change.
---Childhood Memories---
- Pavala.
As Amma says, I was around three-and-half years old, when I made this first purchase. I uniquely remember most of what happened on that day, due to the unique nature of the incident. I should be between 3.5 to 4 years old, as I still remember that incident.
It was Marie Akka, who was a sort a middle-age lady, in those days, who happened to stay two homes away from our railway colony home. As I and my first sister were small kids, it seems Amma used to give money and a small vessel to Marie Akka when she visits the Kambi Kadai, a small daily market in our locality. Marie Akka will buy the the non-veg that Amma asks for and hand over the vessel with the non-veg item along with the change, if any.
On that particular day, Marie Akka had started from her home and had reached the farther end of our block, but was still visible. Amma called her "Akka... Akka...", but she had gone so far that she didn't hear and didn't respond. I was standing next to Amma, clutching her saree. Amma immediately gave me a small vessel, and some money. I vaguely remember that it was a one rupee note and some coins, but I do not know how much it exactly was. She told me that "Nooru Nenju Kari" (100 gms of Chest mutton) and asked me to hand over the vessel and money to Marie Akka and tell her the same "Nooru Nenju Kari".
I collected those items and immediately started running towards Marie Akka, repeating the words "Nooru Nenji Kari" in my mind, so that I don't forget it. Marie Akka dis-appeared, and after running for a few minutes, I myself reached the market. I knew where the non-veg stalls will be, and continued to run in that direction, repeating "100 Nenju Kari" in my mind and searching for Marie Akka.
I could never find Marie Akka. But a person in the first mutton shop asked me what I want, upon seeing the vessel in my hand, which I was managing to hold with both my little hands, that also had the money in it. I immediately replied "Nooru Nenji Kari". He immediately took the vessel along with the money from my hand, cut a piece of mutton from a big one that was hanging, weighed, placed it in the vessel and gave it back to me. He also gave me some change, and asked me to give it safely to Amma. I said "Sari" ("Ok"), and started walking towards our home.
Amma was still standing near the entrance of our home, anticipating my return. She was surprised to find me with the vessel with mutton. I also handed over the change to her. With that, her dependency on Maria Akka ended. I remember going many such trips to the market, and always went to same first shop, who gave me what exactly I asked for, along with the correct change.
---Childhood Memories---
- Pavala.
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