As a starting point, this post is pending one since late December, but fortunately I delayed so that I can add more memories into this post.
Early December 2009, I booked a trip to hill station so that I can spend some days of my two week break from office. Suddenly my younger sis and brother-in-law told that I should visit them since the hill station is nearby. So I had to revisit the plans and made reservation. The other motivation to visit my sis family is that the town Pollachi where they stay is linked with my schooling. I did my elementary schooling (3-5) in Lourdes Matriculation School, Pollachi and our dwelling was in the Official Residence provided by our father's office.
I can go on writing about the house we stayed as it was sprawling house with big garden, front open space, 2 garages with 8 Guava trees, few Papaya ones, with one big kodikkaipuli fruit looks like curled tamarind literally means Vine Tamarind, trying hard to get the english or botanical name of it. But this post is not for this, will do detailed blog on this house.
I landed in Pollachi early morning 6 AM and straight went to my sister's home. My original intention was to hire a vehicle and to see my old school, our house, then Aiyappa temple, few of by-lanes still I remember where I go and meet my classmates and spend most part of the days.
But due to my over enthusiastic watching of ghat road section from Mysore to Sathy and losing sleep for few hours in night, I over slept during the day and suddenly realised that it is almost evening. I sneaked out of my sister's place as they were planning for different trips. I hired an Auto Rickshaw (3-Wheeler) and told him where I all intend to go. He was surprised and gave me a smile which was worse than a stare to indicate my madness.
I went near LMS and alas the school looked same atleast the block near the gate where my classes were located. But the surrounding is full of concrete jungle different from open fields and some maize fields while we were studying. Then I told the auto driver, it is almost 2 decades that I have visited my old school, then he apologetically acknowledged my enthusiasm.
As it was X-max holiday season, the school was closed and I didn't have chance to see students coming out of the school. I never had urge to get into school even though auto guy said he can get me in for stroll.
Then I asked him to take me into our old house.
One thing about these official quarters are that, they are in prominent place of the town / city and my experience has been always that we stayed in big houses with one or two rooms kept free and locked. All the houses had open spaces or garden both in front and back of the houses. Again digressing... :)
Man.. the house is not changed much, but again shy to venture in, looked from outside and a early teen boy came out with basket ball in his hands. I suddenly went into Autograph mode (term / slang inspired by recent Tamil movie about childhood memories) and remembering how I used to run from our gate to portico with a ball and practice bowling. On those days, somehow I felt, Kapil Dev, Ian Botham were running at least a kilometer before delivery a ball.
I then rushed back to sister's place and joined them for temple visit and market visit. I searched near bus stand for Metro bakery where we all used to come for coconut bun and cup of tea, I mean when I was in 3rd or 4th :). The coconut bun used to be divine in taste, but unlucky me couldn't find and then I asked the local who was taking us to that shop said it is moved to different place. Time changes things.
Next day we started off to Munnar, a hill station with full of tea gardens and water bodies. The again old memories kicked in.. Continued in next blog.. too much of typing in single window for a day :)
