Kundi Biriyani

Kuree naalukalk munbu nadanna oru sambhavam annu. Oru pidi cheruppakkar New-Year akhoshikkaanayi Kuttanattil ethi. Kayyil 3 kuppi Jack Daniels-um rathriyil mari idaan ulla mundukalum mathramayi avar oru veliya kettuvallath-il keri.

Kuttanad-inte manoharamaya kayal-kaivazhikaliloode aa cheruppakkar yathra arambhichu. Yathra samayam ananthakaram aakkaan kottum, paattum, kookku viliyum, dance-um, kallum, karimeen porichathum, ‘music with body muscles’ okke aa kettuvallathil arangeri. Angane samayam ardharathri ayathodu koode ashtamudi kayal-inu naduvil aa kettuvallam nankooram ittu.

11:55PM

‘Aliya… Ippo New Year avum. 5 minute koodi mathrame ollu.’ Kettuvallathinte balcony-il orumichu koodi irunnu kallu kudichondu irunna aa cheruppakaril aro paranju.

‘Oh My God!!! Vegam randennam koodi ozhikk. New Year avunnathinu munne enikk adi nirthanam’ Kuttappayi paranju.

‘Athenthinada?’Kuruvi samshayam unnayichu.

‘New Year ayaal pinne njan kudikkilla. New Year resolution aanu.’

‘Kazhinja New Year-inum nee ithu thanne alle paranjathu?’

‘Kazhinjathokke nee ingane manassil kondu nadakkaruthu. Namukk athellaam marakkaam aliya. Vegam randennam ozhikkeda…’ Kuttappayi thante kayyil undayirunna glass neetti.

1:10AM

‘Da Kuruvi…’ Kettuvallathinte balcony-il irunnu Kuppi payye vilichu.

‘Hmm…’ Kuruvi mooli

‘Nee urangiyille?’

‘illa…’

‘Baakki ullavanmaru okke off ayi alle?’

‘Aye... illa… avamaru meen pidikkan poyekkua.’

‘ee pathirathriyilo?’

‘Hmm… Kettuvallathile driver-ine vilichondu oru kochu vallathil keri engotto poyittundu.’

‘Eeshwara… ellaam nalla fit alle? avanmaru life jacket ittittundo?’

‘Shaddi polum ittittilla… pinna life jacket.’

1:30AM

‘Aliya… angane New Year ayi. Ninakk orennam koodi ozhikkatte?’ Kuppi chodichu.

‘Hmmm…’ Kuruvi sammatham mooli.

‘Vishakkunnu aliya… oru biriyani kittiyirunnengil…’ JD ozhichukondu Kuppi thante vishamam ariyichu.

‘Kayalinte naduvil ninte achan undakki vechirikkunnoda biriyani?’

‘Ariyilla, chodichu nokkaam… Allengil namukk food order cheythallo? Ivide Dominos Pizza home delivery undo?’

‘Ezhunnettu poda naari…’

1:40AM

Kuppi areyo phone-il vilikkuka aanu. Speaker on cheythu vechittundu.

‘Hello!’ 

‘Hello! Thattukada.’ Irutham vanna shabdam marupadi.

‘Aaa… Thattukada alle?’ Kuppi phone-il orakke chodichu.

‘Athe… Thattukada annu. Parayu…’

[PS: Thattukada, Kerala style restaurant, East Ham, London.]

‘Chetta... Happy New Year! Thattukadayil ulla ellarkkum ente happy new year.’ Kuppi urakke vilichu paranju.

‘Happy New Year. Happy New Year.’

‘Pinne… athe… take-away kittuo?’

‘Pinnentha… entha vendathu?’

‘Athu… Oru 100 kundi biriyani take-away venamayirunnu.’

‘Enthu biriyani?’

‘Oru 100 Kundi biriyani parcel?’

‘Hello… ara samarikkunne?’

‘Ninte ammayappan. Hahahaaaa…’  Kuppi phone cut cheythu.

1:50 AM.

‘Hello Thattukada.’ Veendum athe irutham vanna shabdam phone-il

‘Hello… Happy New Year!!’ Ee kuri Kuruvi annu phone vilichathu.

‘Happy New Year. ’

‘Athe… Kundi biriyani undo chetta?’

‘Areda nee?’

‘Kundi biriyani ille? Anna kundi pollichathu mathi.’

‘Pha!! Naari… areda. Evidunnada nee vilikkunnathu?’

‘Kuttanattil annu. Take-away order cheythaal ivide deliver cheyyo?’

‘Deliver cheyyameda… ninte…’

‘Thankyou verymuch.’ Kuruvi phone cut cheythu.

Ashtamudi kaayalil santosham kondulla attahasam muzhangi.

2:10AM

Kuttappayiyum koottarum thirichu ethi.

‘Meen pidikkaan poyittu vellathum kittiyode?’ Kuruvi chodichu

‘M*iru kitti.’ Kuttappayi vishamam ariyichu.

‘Hmm… athu curry vechu thinnan pattuo?’ Kuruvi-kk thante samshayam unnayichu.

‘Touchings ayittu pattum. …M*iru nalla vishappu.’

‘Njangal oru take-away order cheythittundu. Ippam varum…’ Kuppi paranju.

‘Onnu koodi vilichu nokk.’

Tring Tring...

‘Hello!! Thattukada.’ Veendum athee irutham vanna shabdam.

‘Chetta… njan oru take-away order cheythittundayirunnu. Ithu vare ready ayille?’

Choondayum Shaddiyum

‘Pathari poyi… mone! Pathari poyi njan.’ Alarikkondu kuttapayi veedinte vathil thalli thurannu step-iloode odi melottu keri.

‘Evide ayirunnadey ithuvare?’ Avante purakil ninnirunna njan vilichu chodichu.

‘Onnum parayanda… njan oru pradhanappetta sthalathu poyittu varua.’
‘Athevida?’

‘Police Station-il. 10 min thaa. Njan onnu kakkooss-il potte.’ Kuttappayi odi kakkoosse-il keri vaathil adachu.

Kuree nerathinu shesham…

Adukalayil ninnum oru glass vellam eduthu kudichondu Kuttappayi paranju.‘Enthoru rajyam anende ithu? Oru Bengali-yude kadayil ninnum randu chappathiyum oru kozhicurry-yum kazhichathe ollu. Avan enne £18 charge cheythu ennu mathram alla, ente vayarum kedayi. Kakkoosse-il irunnu ethra time anu waste akkiyathu’

‘Hmmm… Ninte kayyil irippu manassilayaal aarkkum Vim kalakki tharaan thonnum.’ Oru ashareeri pole Kuppiyude shabdam evidunno kettu.

‘Nee enthina police station-il poyathu? Ithu complaint cheyyano?’ Njan kuttappayi-odu chodichu.

‘Ohh!! Atho… athu oru kadha annu. Njan meen pidikkaan poyatha… enne police pidichondu poyi, Dasa.’

‘Meen pidikkan poyathinu enthinada police pidikkunnathu?’

‘Richmond-Upon-Thames-il oru park undu. Avide side-il irunnaal Thames-il choonda idaan pattum. Njan-um Simon-um randu choonda-yum okke ayittu ravile avide poyi irunnu. Veyilathu konachu kuthi kuree neram irunnathu micham. Meen onnum kittiyilla. Kuree kazhinjappam oru Police-ukaran vannu license kanikkaan paranju. Simon avante driving license eduthu koduthu. Appo Police-karan parayua. ‘I don’t need your driving license; where is your fishing rod license?’

‘Fishing  rod license-o?’ Athu kettu Kuppi room-il ninnum chaadi irangi odi vannu.

‘Umm… fishing-rod license. Njan vicharichu aa Police-karan thamashichathu anennu. Avane kandittu oru police-karante look onnum illarunnu. Mufti-il ayirunnu ennu thonnunnu. Athokondu njan mind cheythilla. Shalyam koodiyappam njan avane theri paranju odichu.’

‘Ennittu?’

‘Avan poyi kuppayam itta original police-kare vilichondu vannu. Njan-um Simon-um avanmarude koode Police Station vare oru trip okke adichittu thirichu vannu. Oru Warning-il kaaryam othungi.’

‘Hahaha… ninakk angane thanne venam. Ivide choonda idaan license venam ennu ninakk ariyathillarunno?’ Kuppi chodichu.

‘Ninakk arimayirunno?’ Kuttapayi ascharyathode thirichu chodichu.

‘Enikk ariyillayirunnu. Pakshe ippo ariyaam.’

‘Mai**re!! Enthu koppile rajyamade? TV kaanan license venam. Choonda idaan
license venam. Ini moothram ozhikkaanum license venam ennu parayuo?’

‘Ninakk chilappo vendi varum. ’ Njan paranju.

‘Ilakkalle… ilakkalle… Choonda idaan poya njangal Warning-um vangi, fine-um adachu. Bengal-yude kadayil ninnum kazhichu vayarinu adichu kitti ennu mathramalla kuree cash-um poyi. Shaddy keeri ennu paranjaal mathiyallo.’

‘Adutha pravashyam choonda idaan povumbol shaddy idenda. Appo keerillallo…’  Kuppi abhiprayam prakadippichu.

Vella Kuthira

Pandu tharavaadinte muttathu akasham mutte valarnnu ninnirunna oru plavu undayirunnu ennu ammachi paranju kettittundu. Daridryam vannu kadam keri aduppile puka kedarayappol appachan athu vetti vittu ennu annu ammachi ennodu paranjirunnathu. Thadi vetti vittathil Appachan oru bhagam swayam arupichu panitha oru charu kasera undu. Innu tharavattile ente ormakal ulpade ellaam dravichu thudangiyanenglum ee kasera mathram annu innu dravikkathe kidakkunnathu.

Orikkal oru vaikunneram njan aa kasera kazhuki vrithiyakki thudachathinu shesham varanthayil kondu poyi ittu. Ennittu oru valli baniyan-um lungi-yum uduthu appachan visramikkarullathu pole ente randu kaalukalum kaserayude neenda kaikalil eduthu vechu chaari kidannu. Manoharamaya ente pazhaya tharavaadu muttathottu nokki alpa neram pazhaya ormakal kandu mayangaam ennu karuthi.

Daridryam ayirunnengilum appachan marikkunnathu vare aduppile thee kedathe sookshichirunnu. Innu tharavattil oru kattan kappi ittu kudikkan polum margam illa. Aduppellaam dravichu venneerayi. Innu athu pakshe daridryam kondalla, tharavattil varshangal ayittu arum thamasam illa. Rando moonno masam koodumbol oru ammavan vannu muttam okke vrithi akkippichu, thenga okke ideeppichu kondu pokum. Veedu okke thurannu nokkaan arka neram?

Innu aa tharavattil enikk koottu irikkaan oru chakki poocha mathram. Njan avale eduthu madiyil vechu thalodi. Appachan pandu oru England-karan sayippinte estate-ile udyogasthan ayirunnu ennu kettittundu. Appachante madiyil keri irunnu estate-ile visheshgal kelkarullathu njan orthu. Enikk appachante kadhakal valya ishtam ayirunnu. Sayippum appachanum valya koottukaru ayirunnu ennu ammachi parayarundu. Kaattil nayattinu randu perum orumichu annu povunnathu. Kaattanakalum, maanukalum, kaattupothum, puliyum okke ulla appachante kadhakal kettu manikoorukalolam njan irikkum.

India-kk swathanthryam labhikkunnathinu ethanam varshangalkk munpe thanne sayippu estate okke vittu  thirichu England-ilekk poyi ennanu ammachi parayaru. Aa kaalathu Phone-um Email-um onnum illathirinnathu kondu avanam Appachante aaa suhruthu bandham avide avasanichu.

Pinneedu orikkal njan kettu, Appachan Indian National Army-ile angam ayirunnu ennum, koottalikalude kayyil ninnum suhruthineyum kudumbathineyum arum ariyathe England-ilekk kadathiyathu anennum. Pinneedu Appachan INA-yudeyum Imperial Japanese Army-yudeyum spy aryirunnu ennum  Burma-ilum Calcutta-ilum okke undayirunnu ennum varshangal olivil jeevikkendi vannittundennum okke palarum paranju kettittundu. 

Ithokke satyam aano ennu chodichaal Ammachiyude mukham vaadum. Joli sambandamaya avashyangalkk varshangal naattil undayirunnilla ennullathu ammachi sammathikkunnundu. Pakshe anganeyonnum cheyyano nadakkano ulla kazhivonnum adiyaanu illayirunnu ennanu ammachiyude vaadam.

Appachan orikkalum Keralath-inu veliyil poyittundu ennu ennodu paranjirunnilla. Pakshe appachan kaivasham vechirunna pusthakangalum appachan ezhuthiyirunna diary-kalilil kandirunna Bengaliyum, Hindiyum , Thamizhum okke mattoru kadha annu paranjirunnathu. Sthalapperukalum alkaarude perukalum athil undayirunnathayi njan orkkunnilla. Appachan marikkunnathinu varshangalkk munpe thanne ee pusthakangal okke aprathyaksham avukayum cheythirunnu.

Orikkal vaikunneram appachan enneyum kondu vayalil koodi nadakkuka ayirunnu. Vayalinu naduvil koodi ozhukunna thottil  enneyum othu chaadanum meen pidikkaanum okke appachanu valya ishtam ayirunnu. Valuthavumbol aravaan annu ishtam ennu appachan orikkal ennodu chodichu. 5 vayassu prayam ulla njan entho viddhitham paranju kaanum. Marupadi kettu appachante mukham vadiyathu njan orkkunnu.

Kurachu neram varambathu keri irunnathinu shesham appachan ennodu paranju, ‘Ninte appane oru Engineer akkanam ennayirunnu ente agraham. Pakshe enikk athu saadhichilla.’

‘Ummm…’ Njan meen pidikkunna thirakkil ayirunnu.

‘Sahacharyam angane ayirunnu.’

‘Appeeee… irangi vaa. Dee ivide.’ Njan ottaal eduthu thottil oru bhagathu kuthi. ‘Ithil meen undu, vegam vaa.’

‘Nee padichu veliya aalu avanam. England-il ponam. Ente oru koottukaran undu avide.’

Innu aa thottil vellam illa, vayal-il unangiya pochayum veranda cheli kundukalum mathram. Aa mannu kaalaye poottiya kaalam kandittu ippo varshangal ayi.

Varanthayil irunnu doore ulla aa vayal kaanumbol ullil innum aaa ormakal odi ethum. Ammachi chaya kudikkaan vilikkumbol appachanum njanum muttathekk odi ethum. Avilu nanachathum kazhichu chayayum kudichu koottukarum othu “ettu kali” thudangaan ulla samayam ayi. Appachan madalu keeri ettu kalikkaan pakathinu apachante England-ile penakkathi kondu vrithiyayi vetti tharum.

Kalikkunnathu njanum ayalathe peekkiri koottukarum mathram ayirunnengilum vaakku tharkkavum , vazhakkum appachanum nattukarum thammil ayirunnu.

‘Oru vella veezhatte, aa kuthira kuthira.’ Njan karu vari melottu eriyumbol appachan attahasikkum. Kuthira veenillengil annathe karyam pokka.

‘Kazhuveride mone… ninnodalle paranjathu kuthira idaan?’ Appachan tholile thorthu eduthu thalli veeshi enne koottathil ninnum odikkum. Varanthayil irunnu njan ariyathe chirichu poyi.