Vallikutty
In the unbearably scorching summer heat of Kerala Valli, or Vallikutty as she is fondly called, the lottery vendor walked in to my life with the refreshing coolness of a snow flake. Her dark, flaky skin and wrinkled yet confident smile paints the portrait of a woman who has worked her way up all by herself, someone who has survived and not merely existed.
"I came to seek your dad's advice and request prayers", Vallikutty said as she took a piece of cake with all precision from the plate I offered. Once done with the cake I noticed how she neatly folded the now greasy tissue into four halves and said -
"I'll trash this at home."
For a few minutes I did not want to speak. I just sat there watching this fifty-three-year-old wonder of a human being. I watched her talk, generously radiating her perpetual smile and yell "Thank God" every time she explained life's many boulders that she has always been overcoming. I then thought to myself -
"Here is a woman who starves to sleep most nights because food seems like a luxury. Here is a woman whose eyes glisten with pride at the mention of each son and daughter - the eldest son who is a KSRTC driver ("Not the regular. The super-fast!"); the daughter who works abroad; and the youngest son who is a taxi driver. Here is a woman who does not blame fate for widowing her at a young age; who does not allow fate to rule her but moulds her own destiny. Here is someone who does not shed empty tears through the sad stories of her misfortunes or difficulties for a dime or two, instead chooses to work her way even when her body gives away. Here is a renegade, a former fire band of a Communist activist who damned society and chose to follow her heart when it longed to believe in God. Here is the epitome of fierceness and independence in all her glory and pride.
What do I have to grieve about? That job which did not come my way because I refused to seek it out? The tension when my bank balance hits below a thousand?"
As I kept watching I felt smaller and smaller before her resilience, gratitude, her pride in being a woman and her damn independence.
"You've been quiet for too long, mole. Have some cake for yourself", Vallikutty said, her arms outstretched, holding the same plate I had offered her a while ago. My palate was dry out of all the air I let in watching her. Suddenly I brought my lips together and broke into an earnest smile, reaching out for a piece and told myself, "One day I will be her. Embracing life in its entirety, rising above all storms, and always daring to dream."
When she left I offered to walk her to the gate, not because I'm gentle, but because I longed to stay five footsteps longer with this woman who reminded me of gratitude and resilience better than anyone I've ever known.
"I came to seek your dad's advice and request prayers", Vallikutty said as she took a piece of cake with all precision from the plate I offered. Once done with the cake I noticed how she neatly folded the now greasy tissue into four halves and said -
"I'll trash this at home."
For a few minutes I did not want to speak. I just sat there watching this fifty-three-year-old wonder of a human being. I watched her talk, generously radiating her perpetual smile and yell "Thank God" every time she explained life's many boulders that she has always been overcoming. I then thought to myself -
"Here is a woman who starves to sleep most nights because food seems like a luxury. Here is a woman whose eyes glisten with pride at the mention of each son and daughter - the eldest son who is a KSRTC driver ("Not the regular. The super-fast!"); the daughter who works abroad; and the youngest son who is a taxi driver. Here is a woman who does not blame fate for widowing her at a young age; who does not allow fate to rule her but moulds her own destiny. Here is someone who does not shed empty tears through the sad stories of her misfortunes or difficulties for a dime or two, instead chooses to work her way even when her body gives away. Here is a renegade, a former fire band of a Communist activist who damned society and chose to follow her heart when it longed to believe in God. Here is the epitome of fierceness and independence in all her glory and pride.
What do I have to grieve about? That job which did not come my way because I refused to seek it out? The tension when my bank balance hits below a thousand?"
As I kept watching I felt smaller and smaller before her resilience, gratitude, her pride in being a woman and her damn independence.
"You've been quiet for too long, mole. Have some cake for yourself", Vallikutty said, her arms outstretched, holding the same plate I had offered her a while ago. My palate was dry out of all the air I let in watching her. Suddenly I brought my lips together and broke into an earnest smile, reaching out for a piece and told myself, "One day I will be her. Embracing life in its entirety, rising above all storms, and always daring to dream."
When she left I offered to walk her to the gate, not because I'm gentle, but because I longed to stay five footsteps longer with this woman who reminded me of gratitude and resilience better than anyone I've ever known.
Comments
Post a Comment