How fear broke the window
Vattikunnummal is the home where Mamma grew up. And it's as old as her. Its on top of a hillock, and so it has got no-one in its neighbourhood but lots of greenery instead.
Daytime there is equivalent to being in a resort. But, not the night! Then it's equivalent to an eagle's nest.
The only person who can stay there at any time is Sainu (grandmother). She has got no fear at all. She has been the master of the house ever since her husband passed away. She always insist on staying there even when she is sick and alone. But now, she has got a care-companion lady. Apart from these two people, there is not a soul in that house. But sometimes.. I do think of converting the place into a bug hotel, for we do have varieties. Especially spiders. My brothers respect these spiders a lot, so they give a shout whenever they come across one.
Coming to animals, you will get to see fox who never misses out to scare me at Magrib. Though I never got to witness one.. they say there are porcupines. Nights have been insane to us. Us, in the sense.. I believe everybody, from Sainu's kids to her grandchildren. There are many scary stories that though funny at some point.. pinches you somewhere.
One of them is the famous story of how a thief made into Vatti house. He didn't get in. But he was right there at the window when my aunt and mamma was talking. We were there in this world, but babies.
Everytime we come to Kerala, this story keeps repeating. And I get scared too. So, this happened at the first room that has three windows each on two sides. The side that is attached to the front porch have been always a big worry to me ever since childhood. This is because it produces light on the windows, which is actually the vehicles that goes down.. way too down.. on the road near the rock. But I always feel like somebody is coming.
Now, the other side is where this iconic scary story took place. Though I don't fear this side much, one day.. something got into me. Actually, there were three days of fear. And three days of fearing three windows. First day, I slept on the single bed.. with my brothers on the other bed. The older guy said it's kinda hot, and so we opened one window. And this is how my fear started. I don't know for what. But for sure, it had some connection with the story. I remember being restless for sometime, and then somehow I fell asleep.
The second day, Mamma and I.. we slept together. While, my brothers were at Pa's home. This time, it was the second window. My fear wasn't because the window was opened. It was all closed, but not locked.. it just couldn't be locked. Mamma was soon asleep. While I stayed awake for longer this time.
The third day, my cousin came up for a sleepover. My younger brother was a bit loose that day, for he got somebody to encourage more for his endless talks. Somehow, when we finally got to bed. I, out of fear went to lock a window which was opened during the day. I couldn't do it, and so mockingly, my cousin came to my help. But he too couldn't. As told, my brother was way too loose that day.. and he forcefully tried to lock the window. This stayed like that for a second and then, gone!!
You see, I didn't sleep a wink that night! And was the happiest ever to see the night departing that morning.
© Yaari. S