Rathinirvedam (രതിനിര്‍വേദം)

RATHINIRVEDHAM

1978, a village in central Travancore.

"Didn't we hear the song being crooned by the breeze in the country lanes?"

"Didn't we relish the nectar from a banana heart?"

"Didn't we stand tantalized?"

"Didn't we play hide and seek under the snake-wood tree?"

"Didn't we hear the song being crooned by the breeze in the country lanes?"

"Didn't we relish the nectar from a banana heart?"

"Didn't we stand tantalized?"

"Didn't the sky which wore a red cloud give us a smile?"

"Didn't the beauty of the night augment with the moon-lit?"

"Didn't we see festivities in the grove?"

"Didn't we engage in different puzzle games?"

"Didn't the field which revels with stems bloom?"

"Didn't we hear the song being crooned by the breeze in the country lanes?"

"Didn't we relish the nectar from a banana heart?"

"Didn't we stand tantalized?"

"Didn't the rain which came passing the winter withdraw?"

"Didn't a giggling river invite you?"

"You beautiful girl with a smiling face... haven't you crossed 17 of age?"

"Didn't anyone know the passing of mischevious summer?"

"Didn't we hear the song being crooned by the breeze in the country lanes?"

"Didn't we relish the nectar from a banana heart?"

"Didn't we stand tantalized?"

- Stop there. - What?

- Go and check whether mother and aunty are there.

- I won't do it... then they will put the whole blame on me.

Your tricks won't work with me.

Pappu...

...Come here.

Since this is vacation time, do you think that you need not come home on time?

Where have you been till now?

Didn't you hear what I asked?

- Where have you been till now? - We have gone to see the dam.

Dam!

Sister...

- Sister... - What?

Your dear son has come!

You have reached!

There was an offspring of mine...

Where is he?

Wasn't he with you?

He ran off to that side.

You are to join an engineering college after a month once the results are out.

Even then you are still child like.

I went to see and study about the dam only because -

I'm going to join an engineering course.

He has gone to study... boy I will...

You haven't eaten anything all day long, right?

If you want to eat something go and have it. - Yes.

Is it not the first time that he has come here for such a long stay?

So he is curious about all these things.

Even sister will see a lot of new things in our village now.

How long will I feel novel?

Since I am going to spend my remaining life here... I will easily adjust with this place.

Let's see what will happen once Pappu leaves.

Mother...

Mother...

Sister...

There is a trap... we wil teach him a lesson.

Hey engineer! When will you become mature?

- What? - Always playing mischiefs on that girl to make her cry...

Don't you feel ashamed? That will change...

Once he goes to the town and lives there for 3 months he will return as a big engineer.

Going to change!

No chutney?

I tell you... your mischiefs are crossing the limits...

What is this Bharati?

Don't I often tell you that unless you use a rod, the child will be spoiled?

Look.

I didn't do this much.

It's not done by me.

I sprinkled a little water on her face... only that much I did.

You didn't know anything?

Don't lie to me.

He poured a pot full of water over my head.

Then he beat me and pinched me...

Look... mother.

You become more and more mischievous now a days.

Father would write in every letter to strictly control you.

This is enough to catch a fever.

Come.

Govindan...

Run away... - Stop there... Run...

Run...

Stop there... Govindan...

Govindan, stop there.

Take your hand off me.

Why? To run again?

I'll neither run nor jump.

You leave me... then you will understand?

Why did you pour water over her head?

To get punishment for me?

This is Kunji's plan.

Is it?

He is telling lie.

I saw him pouring water.

You are my younger sister.

We two belong to a single branch.

Don't be a witness against me.

Did you see Kunji?

I saw it with my own eyes. I swear.

I will...

Leave him Pappu brother...

No no

If you want to kill me, do it... or if you want to raise me do that.

Why that sarcasm?

I was not sarcastic... but couldn't help laughing at your child like games.

Here comes an old man!

I saw and would be engineer like you were running after those children.

You try to make a bubble.

Then speak.

Is it a big task?

Children look...

Our Pappu brother is going to make the biggest bubble ever made!

Look out!

Give him a big applause.

There is nothing in it to ridicule me.

- Then why did you get defeated? - Who told that I was defeated?

After a one hour long practice I will show you how to make a bubble as big as a balloon.

You only make tall claims...

A bubble as big as a balloon! Why are you lying like this...

Stop there.

Rathichechi... Stop.

Let's check whether those eggs are hatched.

No Pappu...

If you go and touch them every day, it won't hatch.

That won't affect them... come.

Come.

The mother bird won't take care of them once they detect the smell of human beings.

Both the mother bird and father bird will take care of them.

No Pappu.

How enthusiastic to do a harm!

Red ants!

Pappu... jump... quick...

Bitten everywhere.

Haven't you heard the adage about the need to obey what the elders say?

Didn't I tell you?

I told you not to.

What happened now?

- Didn't you get? - Move aside.

Here also.

- Ants also bit him. - Go away.

When will your results be out?

It was so painful.

Will we be fortunate to walk along the bridge built by you?

That you wait and see.

Stop there.

Move aside Pappu.

Pappu? Come here?

Didn't I tell you about the intrepid crossing of a river by our regiment in the border?

That action which was taken knowing that the enemies were hiding in the other side...

When I re-read it, it seems not that good.

So I managed to write it in another way.

I will read it out for you now.

I have got a bad head ache today.

So not in a mood to listen to that.

The reading may change your mood.

Listening to the tales of patriotism will make any one energetic.

Let my book come out...

Then youngsters like Pappu will rush to join the army recruitment centres.

When will uncle's book come out?

Hasn't it been 7-8 years since you started writing?

What do you know about this?

This is not a matter which can be written lightly.

Dear brother... leave that paper there and come.

Only if you catch the 10.30 bus you can return on time after receiving your pension.

Move aside...

My pension won't be displaced even if I go by the 12.30 bus instead of the 10.30 bus.

Because that is the pension of a soldier.

It will neither run away nor taken away.

I don't bother about that.

But remember you get pension only once in a month.

Do as you like.

Traitorous people!

Mother... did you see this?

Here comes the birthday girl!

Did you see how he looks?

Don't give a single drop to him.

Glutton!

How old are you?

Today is my birthday... so I should not reveal my age.

Take this sister.

You serve it to them...

Otherwise there will be another quarrel about this!

For me.

Santhi... go and get a glass.

See... how interested is he!

How fast is the passage of time!

It seems only yesterday that Narayani gave birth to you.

Today's lunch for you all is in our house.

- Me? - No... sir need not come.

If you come, others won't get anything.

That much is enough for a quarrel.

Dear Rethi... please take these with you... I want peace of mind.

Pappu and Kunji are over there.

Open your mouth.

Good!

May there be birthdays like this every day.

Then I should become old soon, no?