HOW COOL WAS YOUR SUMMER? – (Memoir series – Story 27)

WHERE FUN ENDS, ENTHUSIASM TAKES OVER

Man, it’s like an oven in here!

But even in this scorching heat, hanging out at Sunnychayan’s Borma is a blast.

The walls are as black as coal. Blame it on those ovens, the hidden superheroes that bake bread and turn the walls into a canvas of coal art.

I watch the workers spread blazing coconut shell coals inside the oven until it’s hotter than a dragon’s breath. And I can feel the sizzling heat on my skin.

The bread baked here is so fluffy and delicious that I can gobble a whole loaf in one go!

But hold on, Saturdays are the jackpot.

Master baker Sukumaran whips up a special dough for a special bread every Saturday. It’s like the superhero of bread– longer, fancier, and with more dried fruits than a fruit salad at a fancy party.

Sunnychayan is like the guardian of this super bread and guards the exact number of these beauties.

But the master baker sets aside a wee bit of that special dough mix just for us to taste. And let me tell you, it’s fabulous!

After my special bread party at the Borma, I walk across to the Bakery. And Sunnychayan says Daddy’s in town.

Shucks! My two months of summer freedom are coming to an end.

Fast forward to closing time, we’re rolling back to Thiruvarppu with Jesudas doing his best to sing our sorrows away on the stereo. Usually, I’m the chatterbox. But today I’m stuck in “Farewell to Freedom” mode, dreading the return to Ernakulam.

We’re almost home when Sunnychayan realizes he’s low on cigarettes. Normally, he’d grab some from the village shop, but this time, both my Uncles would be in the tea shop next to this shop. And that’s a no-go zone.

This is where my Uncles have their bottles of toddy brought to them to their regular spot inside the tea shop because they can conveniently enjoy their drink without having to visit the noisy toddy shop.

But we’re on a cigarette mission here. So we park. I take a deep breath and walk towards the tea shop. I flash Sekharanchettan, the tea shop owner, my best “I’m-an-innocent-teenager” smile. And casually ask if he’s seen my Daddy passing by.

“Yes. Kunjachan (My Daddy) is inside with Kunjunju and Kuttappan ( My Uncles.)”.

It’s funny that every one of the older generations seems to be known only by their pet names in the village.

Daddy comes to me with a happy grin smacking the drops of toddy from his lips.

While I casually chat with Daddy about our grand return plans, Sunnychayan sneaks off and gets the cigarettes from Sekharanchettan. Mission accomplished!

We share a laugh so loud it echoes across the river as we stroll home crossing the creaky wooden bridge.

As we pass the toddy shop, it’s like a full-blown concert – folks singing folk songs, banging on tables like there’s no tomorrow, and keeping the good vibes rolling.

Just another evening in this village paradise. Lucky people!

The next day Daddy and I say goodbye to everyone after the Sunday Church services.

Driving back to Ernakulam I talk about the cool accessories that are missing in Daddy’s car when compared to Sunnychayan’s car.

Daddy doesn’t seem interested. Too bad he can have only what originally came with the car.

This year, I get to upgrade from shorts to long trousers for school. I get Navy Blue cloth for trousers and white cloth for shirts from the Bombay Dyeing showroom. And I trot over to my regular tailor, John Chettan, at Kombara Junction. It’s a disappointment that I can’t wear bell-bottom trousers because PT Master would throw a fit.

And not to forget to get a new tiffin box and umbrella before I start going to school.

I’m not thrilled any more about taking the Bus to school. A bicycle would be great, but getting a “yes” from Daddy feels like a journey to Mount Everest. Still, I won’t give up. Persistence is my middle name.

On the first day of School, everyone is in a new set of uniforms and happy to meet each other after two months of summer holidays.

The morning assembly starts with a prayer. And then our Principal Mr. V.V. Achunny goes on and on about his favourite word “Enthusiasm”. If he had his way, he would start and end each sentence with the word “enthusiasm”.

Initially, it took a while for everyone to understand when he said “ENDHOO…ZIAA…ZUM”

Principal Achunny finally runs out of steam, but just when we think we’re in the clear, he drops the bombshell that our classmate PP George is going to perform a mono-act.

Now, PP has been doing mono-acts everywhere, and Achunny, seeing PP’s enthusiasm, gives him a license to “entertain” us.

But the backbenchers – me, Raghuram, and Feroz – have had enough of PP’s one-man show. It’s time for Operation Mono-Act Control, a top-secret plan destined for success. We just have to execute it like super-spy-commandos.