One by seven series _ THE FALL

Another summer vacation comes by. The cousins are together once again in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Grandma is busy making muruku, cookies again. Mom and aunties are fully time busy in kitchen, feeding the always hungry seven kids, and a houseful of 23-people. The house is full of chaos, all the elders have drained out of their energy, but the seven will always be in high spirits, Turning the already upside down home to another realm.

THE SEVEN

Playing hide and seek inside the home, hitting and shouting at each other, the elders will push them out to play, so in street will begin the cricket match which will end in the neighbours complaining about the ball hitting their doors or windows. Then football game will begin with the same story, but the targets being the neighbours and vendors on the road. Then “palace-palace”, “seven stones” will come through with neighbours complaining they can’t sleep in the afternoon, with the kid shouting so much. Then hiring 7-bicycles and riding through the street will start, progressing into main roads and footpath, till some one notices and rings our parents! Every day passes with more merriment for the kids and piling headache for parents.

On one fine Sunday morning, Raghu mama took all the seven kids to karamana-river, just 5-minutes down the lane from home. The intention was to give all of them a learning session of swimming. As it turned out every time, none succeeded in making the seven cousins learn anything. In river water instead of swimming they all will duck under water and pull each other’s legs. This game was called “the crocodile”.  All was well, no complaints so far, so the swimming routine continued every other day.  Now the seven assumed they mastered swimming and they would spread to different corners and then duck inside water to pull each other. Raghu-mama too joined the game as the child inside him was also enjoying it.  Alas, this time the leg pulled by the kids was of a lady bathing in the river!

She didn’t know what to do, struck by surprise and shock she got drowned in the river! The nearby localities saved her life. No need to describe the shame gulping on Raghu-mama. And the final straw of nerve too pulled out back home, when the seven all giggled at the scoldings.

Nothing is perfect, in stable state, as the seven cousins never lose their energy and creative games. Any new idea is like a thrill to all of them, they all wait to execute it just to have fun, and experience a new realm of excitement. Their intention was never to harm or trouble others. There is nothing like wrong or bad for them, it’s just a try once, if it didn’t go correctly; then try once more till it is perfect and joyful. That’s how their brain worked.

But What to do? In their world only they existed, there is no place for others, especially what others will think, what the parents would say, is it safe? Nothing. Only 2 things they know- Have an idea-play it along.

The punishment was finalised and they all were on house arrest, they endured the punishment happily by playing indoor board games. Hardly a day went by, seeing the children ideally sitting and not content, Grandma played the rescue role.

Grandma “Raghu, the kids are feeling bored, let them go out and play for some time today.”

Raghu mama “Amma you don’t come for supporting them, let them suffer a little more then-only they will learn obedience”.

Grandma “oh! Kids are like that only. You too were like that”.

Raghu mama “Amma I was responsible, not troubling or getting into trouble”.

Grandma “ok, let them at-least play in our terrace. I too will go with them and supervise and then there won’t be any trouble for anyone.”

The kids were so happy, along with Grandma they all went out finally and started playing in terrace. The game was hide and seek, because of the limitation of space, one will wrap a cloth around their eyes “blind-folded” and will catch the rest.

Rajiv the eldest one was the catcher and the rest of them were running along. Rajiv spread his legs and hands so randomly that it was difficult not to get out. So all of them ran to corners, sensing that, he rushed to one of the corners. And Bhu, the smallest built of all climbed the wall. Akshy the youngest of all followed her. Sensing the noise and unaware of the danger, Rajiv advanced and Bhu fell down to the other side of the wall….

 It was joint terrace wall of other house. One common wall for two adjacent houses. So Bhu did not fall on the ground. She was ducking behind the wall. So no harm or panic...…

But Akshy screamed “aiyooo Bhuvanaaaa…...!” didn't make any sense. 

All of us rushed to him, before that we scanned the area for Grandma’s presence, she is gone! Not to be seen!

Slowly the reality drawed in, panic and fear in all our eyes. What to do? Call Grandma? Call for help?

The most sensible (sensible to the consequence of scolding) Rajiv reacted first.

Rajiv shouted very slowly “BHU are u ok? Tell something?”  We all would hear her whisper “uhmmm” followed by a small whipping sound.

Bhuvana, while falling hit the glass roof-top sunshade of the neighbour’s house and broke the glass and landed in their bed. There used to be frequent power-cut, so in Kerala they build house, with a glass panel for sunlit/moonlit room.

Kripa “Bhu are you fine? Why are you crying?”

Ranjitha “Is there any glass pieces in your body?”

Bhu weeping “no, I am fine. I just landed in the bed. I am not hurt. But I am scared, it’s dark here.”

Akshy “loosu, switch on the light”.

Kailash “Akshy are you insane, the neighbour aunty will come to know, that she is there”.

Viki “any how they all will come to know. Don’t you think so?”

Kripa “That aunty is not here she has taken her kids to zoo today, so nobody is there, and they left the keys with Banu-amma back home.

Ideas sparked all their minds, Excitement ran through, thoughts visualized. The one and only one instruction was given to Bhu, switch on the light and fans and keep quiet and we are coming to get her!

Kailash and Ranjitha held the attention of all the elders saying, Ranjitha had her ankle twisted. Akshy kept open the house lock for Kripa and Rajiv to escape out. Viki took care of the neighbourhood house keys and pocketed it and sneaked out.

But on the way got he was caught by Grandma, “where are you going? Come inside, one sprained ankle is enough for the day, go take rest.”

He was forced go inside, but soon Kripa and Rajiv would hear the sound “CLING” hit the floor. Viki had managed to throw the keys outside from the front room window.

So far no flaws, the tide in in their way. Rajiv kept the watch over the street, it was late afternoon, none of the friendly neighbours nor their kids were out. So it was a piece of cake, Kripa had to just unlock the door, switch-off the light of the room and rescue Bhu.

All neatly done, Rajiv, Kripa, Bhu were back home safe and uncaught. Ranjitha sprained ankle vanished soon. But all waited for the storm to hit. By seven O’clock in the evening the neighbour returned from the zoo trip. Granny offered them cookies and tea.

Grandma “why are you kids so quiet, your friends have come, take them along and play.”

Rajiv “oh, they will be tired walking all the day in zoo. We will play tomorrow.”

Akshy “they will not play with us, their parents won’t allow”.

All the 6-pairs of eyes glared at Akshy.

Kailash covered it up “What he meant is, Aunty will not allow them to play now, because they will be tired after the trip, isn’t it aunty?”

Neighbour waved bye, and left. The seven waved back hoping this is the last goodbye.

Within minutes Neighbour aunty came running, she reported a house burglary. Her version of story was; thieves have broken into her home through terrace glass-roof panel. All the elders rushed to her home. They survived the scene.  Aunty reported no theft. Police came by too and asked few questions. Since it happened in day time, Police checked with all if they saw any unknown person spotted in the area. Police didn't take it seriously as there was no theft reported and the neighbour uncle refused to commission them, hence there was no case filed.

So we all breathed. All is well. The mischief well covered. And were proud of ourselves.

The next day the washing machine made so much of noise and stopped working. Banu amma went to investigate. There were pieces of glass all over the kids dress and she identified it came from Bhu jean-pant pocket!

On further questioning Bhu blabbered, she was bored waiting for Rajiv to come to her rescue, so she was playing with the broken glass! And kept it in her pocket thinking they all can play later…….  The mystery of broken roof-glass was solved.