Mangammal in Pollachi

My mother Managammal has moved to Pollachi. She plans to be there for the three months we - my wife and I - would be away from Mysore.

We are leaving for the US early Thursday, to spend time with our grandsons Sidharth and Nikhil in San Ramon, California. Moving establishment, even if it is for a few months, is always a hassle. While your daily routine gets upset, it becomes increasingly difficult for you to adjust to a changed environment as you get older. My mother is 90; underwent surgery for fractured leg; and she moves about with the help of a walker.

The house where my mother would spend the next few months has been rented out on compassionate grounds to our Pollachi neighbour Anusiya, who runs an informal school for the mentally challenged children. We had no intention of renting out our house to anyone; and I told Anusiya as much when she first approached us. It was only after seeing the schhol kids under Anusiya's care that my wife and I relented.
Our house, at the far end (painted green) and barely visible, is located in what is left of my grand-father Chakrapani Iyer's farmland. The houses in the foreground belong to Mangammal's sisters - Sambu and Sita. Having your sisters for next-door neighbours is a major consideration that prompted my mother's move to Pollachi. That she is in good company during our absence from Mysore is a comforting thought for us. What isn't so comforting is that all three sisters are ageing and ailing to varying degrees. But then, if they apply their mind to making the best of their situation, the Pollachi sisters can view their stay together as an opportunity to learn to be supportive of each other, focusing on their commonalities, rather than harping on petty differences. They can become a source of strength to each other.
My chittappa Padmanabhan is agile and active even at this age. He has always been there for us whenever we needed his help and support. For instance, we got Sun TV and phone connections for my mother's place with chittappa's help.

We had agreed to rent out our house to Anusiya on the understanding that my mother would have access to a portion of the house for a period of stay, whenever she needed it. She agreed to this arrangement because 1) Anusiya desperately needed additional space; and 2) we would not have rented the house on any other terms. We - Anusiya and I - worked out this mutually acceptable arrangement.
A class is in session at our place. This photo was taken after my mother moved in to occupy a room next to this class-room . Incidentally, the boy with his teacher, is Gogul. He was somewhat difficult to handle when he first came and we found him in a cry mode when I visited last some months back (click here to view earlier post).
Sangeetha, a teacher, stays here and uses this room after school hours. She now has my mother for company.
Chitra, a former and reliable maid of ours, has returned to the household to be a live-in help for my mother.