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3m – Me, Mom & Milk

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by Thyagarajan, Nov 4, 2017.

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Nov 6, 2017 #21

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Wonderful narration. Very enjoyable article . I can specially relate to it because of the interesting experiences we used to have in our grandparents native house which had four cows and somecalves . There were " cowboys" taking care of them and showing us the tricks of milking .
poor govalu !
You have great writing , narrating skills . Kudos.

SCSusila, Nov 6, 2017

SCSusila, Nov 6, 2017

#21

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Nov 6, 2017 #22

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SCSusila said: ↑

Wonderful narration. Very enjoyable article . I can specially relate to it because of the interesting experiences we used to have in our grandparents native house which had four cows and somecalves . There were " cowboys" taking care of them and showing us the tricks of milking .
poor govalu !
You have great writing , narrating skills . Kudos.
Click to expand...

It is heartening to note, you could relate this anecdote with your childhood experience. Thanks for compliments. Regards. God Bless Us All.

Thyagarajan, Nov 6, 2017

Thyagarajan, Nov 6, 2017

#22
Nov 6, 2017 #23

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Thyagarajan said: ↑

3M – Me, Mom & Milk

It was Thillana Friday Night during Tamil month Marghayzhi (Dec-Jan) - concluding part of the Arengetram reaching its crescendo at Woodlands' lawn. Preceding this, moon-lit open air auditorium was reverberating with applause from invitees as the chief guest was garlanded who spoke showering platitudes on the Guru of my dancing sister.

When we were about to board the pick-up-van, I saw mom clutching her stomach indicating onset of her monthly resting period. When she complained of her full-moon-triggered migraine head-ache, I understood the following week-end going to be hectic and it would begin collecting milk from vendor at around 5 A.M. It was during when city never heard of bottled or pouch-filled milk .

It was 11 o'clock, When the van had reached us home in a small tenement proximate to beach known for its numerous temples, narrow by-lanes, and squalid dwellings with multiple tenants, bovines and mosquitoes.

When I was attending seventh standard, my beloved mother had trained me in all aspects of household work. It came handy especially when she was suffering from migraine during those three days. I used to invariably manage single handed. It was effortless because of practise; and sister being younger and was spotted for award of scholarship for learning Bharatanatyam and apple of my eye, I seldom sought her help even though she offered. Week-ends, escorting her to dance class was used to be my priority and that helped as an onlooker to pick-up bit of dancing.

So, the following day, I woke up at half past four to the alarm from west-end timepiece. Lazily I got up, pushed aside the cotton-mosquito-net and began tottering in dark, a tad carefully, not to trip over sleeping mother and sister on the floor. After arresting the alarm, I picked up the dedicated milk-container (pal thooku in Tamil) and ambled toward the entrance, when beloved mother in her cracked tone, muttered to tread carefully.

I reached through cold misty dull-lit barren wide road to a bright-lit-shop in a dung filled dark lane; few men and a lady already gathered around a long broad wooden bench there.

On seeing my presence from a distance, stocky Govalu rushed up. He was attired in colourful chequered lungi, white shirt with his head sporting a mundasu (a make-shift head gear made of long cotton material twisted along its length) and his ear-lobes donning golden studs. Readying for action, Govalu by sleight of his hand twirled above his head in air, a slim tall shining cylindrical container - a gesture to establish that container is empty.

To mitigate Lakumi’s sorrow due to separation from her male calf that had expired a few days ago and to overcome possibly her poor lactation, Govalu had been bringing a dummy calf along; and while milking her, he used to keep it positioned so that it is in her view. This particular day he forgot to bring the dummy. Lifting the hem of lungi with his foot and hands, he folded it upwards above his half-pant and knotted it at his front. He sat awkwardly by the side of the cow holding obliquely top of the brass container between his knees beneath her udder.

Distant rays from an incandescent lamp reflected in the large eyes of the Lakumi which were tear fully looking at lose heap of hay on the floor. The dark long lengthy shaky shadow of her cast on the floor and dummy calf conspicuous by its absence were foreboding approaching pandemonium.

As he gently worked on her oiled teats between his thumb and index fingers of both hands, those at earshot invariably pleased as they could hear the jet of milk impacting on the inner wall of the container between his knees. That was precisely the moment, the stationary Lakumi seemed annoyed.

The cow noticed absence of calf and in dither. She ignored the hay in front, moved tad slowly back and forth and with hoof of her hind left leg, gave a sharp kick on the face of Govalu who fell away on his back. The container fell out of his knees and rolled, jerking out copious water which instantly turned into rivulets on the floor.

Lakumi now seemed a picture of aplomb, seemingly satisfied with double whammy that she had precisely awarded to her master for cheating her with dummy calf and the customers with adulterated milk. She then went about chewing the cold hay, while Govalu was twitching his cheek, limping due to bruises on his solar plexus. The tintinnabulation from a small metal bell tied to a black woollen cord around Lakumi’s neck was perhaps soothing injured Govalu & and me too!
Click to expand...

@Kamalji thanks from bottom of my heart for your viewing the thread. Regards. God Bless Us All.

Thyagarajan, Nov 6, 2017

Thyagarajan, Nov 6, 2017

#23
Nov 6, 2017 #24

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Thyagarajan said: ↑

3M – Me, Mom & Milk

It was Thillana Friday Night during Tamil month Marghayzhi (Dec-Jan) - concluding part of the Arengetram reaching its crescendo at Woodlands' lawn. Preceding this, moon-lit open air auditorium was reverberating with applause from invitees as the chief guest was garlanded who spoke showering platitudes on the Guru of my dancing sister.

When we were about to board the pick-up-van, I saw mom clutching her stomach indicating onset of her monthly resting period. When she complained of her full-moon-triggered migraine head-ache, I understood the following week-end going to be hectic and it would begin collecting milk from vendor at around 5 A.M. It was during when city never heard of bottled or pouch-filled milk .

It was 11 o'clock, When the van had reached us home in a small tenement proximate to beach known for its numerous temples, narrow by-lanes, and squalid dwellings with multiple tenants, bovines and mosquitoes.

When I was attending seventh standard, my beloved mother had trained me in all aspects of household work. It came handy especially when she was suffering from migraine during those three days. I used to invariably manage single handed. It was effortless because of practise; and sister being younger and was spotted for award of scholarship for learning Bharatanatyam and apple of my eye, I seldom sought her help even though she offered. Week-ends, escorting her to dance class was used to be my priority and that helped as an onlooker to pick-up bit of dancing.

So, the following day, I woke up at half past four to the alarm from west-end timepiece. Lazily I got up, pushed aside the cotton-mosquito-net and began tottering in dark, a tad carefully, not to trip over sleeping mother and sister on the floor. After arresting the alarm, I picked up the dedicated milk-container (pal thooku in Tamil) and ambled toward the entrance, when beloved mother in her cracked tone, muttered to tread carefully.

I reached through cold misty dull-lit barren wide road to a bright-lit-shop in a dung filled dark lane; few men and a lady already gathered around a long broad wooden bench there.

On seeing my presence from a distance, stocky Govalu rushed up. He was attired in colourful chequered lungi, white shirt with his head sporting a mundasu (a make-shift head gear made of long cotton material twisted along its length) and his ear-lobes donning golden studs. Readying for action, Govalu by sleight of his hand twirled above his head in air, a slim tall shining cylindrical container - a gesture to establish that container is empty.

To mitigate Lakumi’s sorrow due to separation from her male calf that had expired a few days ago and to overcome possibly her poor lactation, Govalu had been bringing a dummy calf along; and while milking her, he used to keep it positioned so that it is in her view. This particular day he forgot to bring the dummy. Lifting the hem of lungi with his foot and hands, he folded it upwards above his half-pant and knotted it at his front. He sat awkwardly by the side of the cow holding obliquely top of the brass container between his knees beneath her udder.

Distant rays from an incandescent lamp reflected in the large eyes of the Lakumi which were tear fully looking at lose heap of hay on the floor. The dark long lengthy shaky shadow of her cast on the floor and dummy calf conspicuous by its absence were foreboding approaching pandemonium.

As he gently worked on her oiled teats between his thumb and index fingers of both hands, those at earshot invariably pleased as they could hear the jet of milk impacting on the inner wall of the container between his knees. That was precisely the moment, the stationary Lakumi seemed annoyed.

The cow noticed absence of calf and in dither. She ignored the hay in front, moved tad slowly back and forth and with hoof of her hind left leg, gave a sharp kick on the face of Govalu who fell away on his back. The container fell out of his knees and rolled, jerking out copious water which instantly turned into rivulets on the floor.

Lakumi now seemed a picture of aplomb, seemingly satisfied with double whammy that she had precisely awarded to her master for cheating her with dummy calf and the customers with adulterated milk. She then went about chewing the cold hay, while Govalu was twitching his cheek, limping due to bruises on his solar plexus. The tintinnabulation from a small metal bell tied to a black woollen cord around Lakumi’s neck was perhaps soothing injured Govalu & and me too!
Click to expand...

@iamsrihere I am glad that you had viewed the anecdote. Any comments welcome. Thank you. Regards. God Bless Us All.

Thyagarajan, Nov 6, 2017

Thyagarajan, Nov 6, 2017

#24
Nov 6, 2017 #25

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Thyagarajan said: ↑

@PavithraS Thanks for viewing. Shall be grateful for your comments.
Click to expand...

Sir, Sorry for not replying immediately. Was busy over the weekend,hence just liked the post. Very nice narration of 3Ms giving us youngsters a glimpse of your childhood/youth days. I consider myself to be a blessed member of this forum having a chance to learn many valuable life lessons from the posts (the original post and responses therein) of experienced senior members like you. I was moved by one such narration of our beloved member @jayasala42 as her reply to your post. I have nothing to tell but can only convey my respects and regards for all you gems of IL for imparting knowledge and wisdom for us younger generation. My Namaskarams to you.

Regards,
Pavithra

PavithraS, Nov 6, 2017

PavithraS, Nov 6, 2017

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Nov 6, 2017 #26

Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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PavithraS said: ↑

Sir, Sorry for not replying immediately. Was busy over the weekend,hence just liked the post. Very nice narration of 3Ms giving us youngsters a glimpse of your childhood/youth days. I consider myself to be a blessed member of this forum having a chance to learn many valuable life lessons from the posts (the original post and responses therein) of experienced senior members like you. I was moved by one such narration of our beloved member @jayasala42 as her reply to your post. I have nothing to tell but can only convey my respects and regards for all you gems of IL for imparting knowledge and wisdom for us younger generation. My Namaskarams to you.

Regards,
Pavithra
Click to expand...

Thanks. Madurai Meenakshi Ambal bestow you and rest of all your family members more of all sixteen virtues and grant you what ever best you could wish for yourself and rest of members of your family. Ref also(http://indusladies.com/community/threads/meenakshi-vs-ross-peter-hid-white-stallion.304456/ppet
2. I am not senior but a toddler IL'ite and joined this forum sometime end July 2017.
3. You are absolutely right about this forum as you get enriched with expertise and experience shared not only by seniors in membership but in age too but also other young folks mutually interested with genuine concern. @DrVandhana is one such who has been rendering yeoman service to all IL'ites approaching her through this forum by suitably advising the doubts and remedial measures suggesting medicines too. In my profile page, I had stated that this forum is a mine of information and one can get gleaming truths, facts and productive, informative, educative, illuminating learning.
Regards. God Bless Us All.

Thyagarajan, Nov 6, 2017

Thyagarajan, Nov 6, 2017

#26
Nov 6, 2017 #27

Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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PavithraS said: ↑

Sir, Sorry for not replying immediately. Was busy over the weekend,hence just liked the post. Very nice narration of 3Ms giving us youngsters a glimpse of your childhood/youth days. I consider myself to be a blessed member of this forum having a chance to learn many valuable life lessons from the posts (the original post and responses therein) of experienced senior members like you. I was moved by one such narration of our beloved member @jayasala42 as her reply to your post. I have nothing to tell but can only convey my respects and regards for all you gems of IL for imparting knowledge and wisdom for us younger generation. My Namaskarams to you.

Regards,
Pavithra
Click to expand...

Thanks. Madurai Meenakshi Ambal bestow you and rest of all your family members more of all sixteen virtues and grant you what ever best you could wish for yourself and rest of members of your family. Ref also(http://indusladies.com/community/threads/meenakshi-vs-ross-peter-hid-white-stallion.304456/ppet
2. I am not senior but a toddler IL'ite and joined this forum sometime end July 2017.
3. You are absolutely right about this forum as you get enriched with expertise and experience shared not only by seniors in membership but in age too but also other young folks mutually interested with genuine concern. @DrVandhana is one such who has been rendering yeoman service to all IL'ites approaching her through this forum by suitably advising the doubts and remedial measures suggesting medicines too. In my profile page, I had stated that this forum is a mine of information and one can get gleaming truths, facts and productive, informative, educative, illuminating learning.
Regards. God Bless Us All.

Thyagarajan said: ↑

3M – Me, Mom & Milk

It was Thillana Friday Night during Tamil month Marghayzhi (Dec-Jan) - concluding part of the Arengetram reaching its crescendo at Woodlands' lawn. Preceding this, moon-lit open air auditorium was reverberating with applause from invitees as the chief guest was garlanded who spoke showering platitudes on the Guru of my dancing sister.

When we were about to board the pick-up-van, I saw mom clutching her stomach indicating onset of her monthly resting period. When she complained of her full-moon-triggered migraine head-ache, I understood the following week-end going to be hectic and it would begin collecting milk from vendor at around 5 A.M. It was during when city never heard of bottled or pouch-filled milk .

It was 11 o'clock, When the van had reached us home in a small tenement proximate to beach known for its numerous temples, narrow by-lanes, and squalid dwellings with multiple tenants, bovines and mosquitoes.

When I was attending seventh standard, my beloved mother had trained me in all aspects of household work. It came handy especially when she was suffering from migraine during those three days. I used to invariably manage single handed. It was effortless because of practise; and sister being younger and was spotted for award of scholarship for learning Bharatanatyam and apple of my eye, I seldom sought her help even though she offered. Week-ends, escorting her to dance class was used to be my priority and that helped as an onlooker to pick-up bit of dancing.

So, the following day, I woke up at half past four to the alarm from west-end timepiece. Lazily I got up, pushed aside the cotton-mosquito-net and began tottering in dark, a tad carefully, not to trip over sleeping mother and sister on the floor. After arresting the alarm, I picked up the dedicated milk-container (pal thooku in Tamil) and ambled toward the entrance, when beloved mother in her cracked tone, muttered to tread carefully.

I reached through cold misty dull-lit barren wide road to a bright-lit-shop in a dung filled dark lane; few men and a lady already gathered around a long broad wooden bench there.

On seeing my presence from a distance, stocky Govalu rushed up. He was attired in colourful chequered lungi, white shirt with his head sporting a mundasu (a make-shift head gear made of long cotton material twisted along its length) and his ear-lobes donning golden studs. Readying for action, Govalu by sleight of his hand twirled above his head in air, a slim tall shining cylindrical container - a gesture to establish that container is empty.

To mitigate Lakumi’s sorrow due to separation from her male calf that had expired a few days ago and to overcome possibly her poor lactation, Govalu had been bringing a dummy calf along; and while milking her, he used to keep it positioned so that it is in her view. This particular day he forgot to bring the dummy. Lifting the hem of lungi with his foot and hands, he folded it upwards above his half-pant and knotted it at his front. He sat awkwardly by the side of the cow holding obliquely top of the brass container between his knees beneath her udder.

Distant rays from an incandescent lamp reflected in the large eyes of the Lakumi which were tear fully looking at lose heap of hay on the floor. The dark long lengthy shaky shadow of her cast on the floor and dummy calf conspicuous by its absence were foreboding approaching pandemonium.

As he gently worked on her oiled teats between his thumb and index fingers of both hands, those at earshot invariably pleased as they could hear the jet of milk impacting on the inner wall of the container between his knees. That was precisely the moment, the stationary Lakumi seemed annoyed.

The cow noticed absence of calf and in dither. She ignored the hay in front, moved tad slowly back and forth and with hoof of her hind left leg, gave a sharp kick on the face of Govalu who fell away on his back. The container fell out of his knees and rolled, jerking out copious water which instantly turned into rivulets on the floor.

Lakumi now seemed a picture of aplomb, seemingly satisfied with double whammy that she had precisely awarded to her master for cheating her with dummy calf and the customers with adulterated milk. She then went about chewing the cold hay, while Govalu was twitching his cheek, limping due to bruises on his solar plexus. The tintinnabulation from a small metal bell tied to a black woollen cord around Lakumi’s neck was perhaps soothing injured Govalu & and me too!
Click to expand...

@momsky thank you for viewing my thread and would be glad to see your comments posted here. regards. God Bless Us All.

Thyagarajan, Nov 6, 2017

Thyagarajan, Nov 6, 2017

#27
Nov 7, 2017 #28

satchitananda IL Hall of Fame

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Very interesting narrative Thyagarajan. Enjoyed reading it. Did not have any of these experiences where I grew up. An old lady would come and deliver freshly collected milk every morning. The only time I got to see some of this stuff was when we visited our native place in Kerala.

Jayasala Ma'am's narrative has embellished the OP. Such stories transport one to a past era which is difficult to even imagine now.

Thanks a lot for sharing.

satchitananda, Nov 7, 2017

satchitananda, Nov 7, 2017

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Nov 7, 2017 #29

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you have beautifuly narrated Thiyagarajan. feel as if we are seeing the incident in person. jayaseela madams narration is so touching. we cannot see such touching scenes nowdays. We are living in flat kalaachaaram .People who keep cow and calf in their homes treat them as their children. Those days had gone.

Padhmu, Nov 7, 2017

Padhmu, Nov 7, 2017

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Nov 7, 2017 #30

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Dear Thyagarajan,

Amid ordinary Indian women who normally pamper their sons, all the while treating the daughters like an underdog, your mother stands tall, teaching you the basics of life including culinary skills and encouraging the daughter to pursue dance, which decades back was considered taboo. Your writing reminds me of the wonderful visuals of cinematographer Ashokkumar, who took ordinary Tamil movies to great heights by letting them know how a camera could speak a million words. Enjoyed your excellent narration and simple writing.

Agatha83

Agatha83, Nov 7, 2017

Agatha83, Nov 7, 2017

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