Unannounced Visitors - A story!

The sun beat down on the narrow streets of our small town in South India. It was the 1980s, and life was simple, yet challenging. I was a young boy, always eager to help my mother with household chores.

Our home was a small, cozy affair, with a thatched roof and a courtyard where my mother would cook meals on a wood-fired stove. Those were the days when unannounced visitors were a common occurrence, especially during meal times. My mother would always welcome them with a warm smile, even if it meant stretching our limited resources.

I remember those days vividly. My mother would call out to me, "Vijay, go to the shop and get a bowl of curds. We have guests for lunch." I would sprint to the neighborhood shop, my bare feet pounding the hot earth. The shopkeeper, a kind old man with a bushy mustache, would hand me a clay bowl filled with creamy curds. I would carefully balance the bowl on my head, making sure not to spill a drop.

As I returned home, my mother would instruct me to get banana leaves for serving the meal. I would run to the nearby market, where the vendor would hand me a bunch of fresh banana leaves. I would carefully wash them in the nearby well and bring them back home.

Meanwhile, my mother would be busy in the kitchen, cooking up a storm. She would make a simple meal of rice, rasam, and a vegetable stir-fry. If we were lucky, we might even have some chicken curry or eggs on Sundays. Mutton was a rare luxury, reserved for special occasions. Non vegetarian was consumed on allowed non auspicious days. My Mom was a vegetarian, who later converted after marriage.

As the guests arrived, my mother would usher them into the courtyard, where the meal would be served on the banana leaves. I would help serve the food, making sure each guest had a generous portion. My mother would always tell our relatives, "Let the guests eat first, the children can eat later." But she would secretly make sure we kids got a decent meal as well.

Those were hard times, but we never went hungry. My mother's resourcefulness and kindness ensured that our home was always filled with love, laughter, and the aroma of delicious food.

As I look back, I realize that those unannounced visits were not just about food; they were about community, connection, and the joy of sharing what little we had. And I was happy to play a small part in making those moments special.