One benefit I have derived as a member of the group is to have befriended a few members by email or telephone. One such call culminated into a personal meeting between the two families, since both are based in Phoenix – and, for record, from neighbouring villages back in Palghat.
Responding to one of my ramblings in the forum, Mr Sunderam emailed me that he also studied in the same school, but that he couldn’t place me. He gave me his phone number, and requested for mine. I rang him up. In another half an hour I found a Lexus SUV trying to park in front of my house. Yes Mr and Mrs Sunderam dropped in for a ‘short’ chat that, much to the liking of both, lasted 90 minutes. It would have prolonged, but they had to pick up their d-i-l from office as she was all set for a mother-to-be, and had permission to leave for home before the rush hour. My wife and I couldn’t wait for the customary two or three days’ gap to return their visit. We were at their doorstep the very next day. The discussions revolved around performing their d-i-l’s Seemantham, finding a suitable purohit and a well-versed team to recite Rudram, Chamakam, Purushasooktam, etc. Equally, they were anxious to locate a reliable caterer. Scores of caterers were available, but they all specialized in North Indian dishes, but not many who could prepare authentic South Indian food for the occasion. They sought our help on both. We were no better than them. It was one blind leading the other. But, at the function on the 29th, we found the Purohit, in his late-20s having done his Adhyayanam from Sringeri Pathashala, and perfect in his intonation and diction. And the Japam group? Well, it consisted of equally young Ph.Ds, MS engineers employed in Intel, Honeywell, IBM; and boys pursuing higher studies in Biochemistry, Aerospace engineering, and what have you. They should make their parents feel proud of them, I thought. How did the Sunderams go about for the caterer? Well, the whole family tasted lunch or dinner at a few Indian restaurants in the city. Fortunately they landed on one who was chef at ITDC Kochi. His preparations for the function were good. After making room for an extra ladle of Pal Ada Pradaman, I requested the Sunderams to convey my compliments to the caterer, more so for the excellent Rava Kesari, Pulikkachhal, and the Puliodarai. The Sunderams had a hearty laugh. “My wife prepared just these three items,” announced an excited Sunderam. Now they insist that we plan our visit to India in July to attend their grandson’s Upanayanam in Coimbatore. Man proposes, God disposes. At my house too it was a family re-union - sans the religious function. My Bay Area son and family have driven all the way from San Jose to Phoenix for the Christmas/New Year vacation. My Phoenix son had drawn a schedule to get the best out of the time together – day-long trips, food and games centres for children, family portrait session with the studio, eating out at Indian, Thai, Mexican, and other restaurants. However, the Sunderams made a special request to bring my sons and their families for the function. Reason? We both have one son in Bay Area and one in Phoenix. They should ideally meet one another. At parental level we both wanted the relationship to be carried forward to the next level. Fortunately the children exchanged email IDs, and contact details to stay in touch. Now it is their call. Yes, the catchy ad of high-end watchmakers, Patek Philippe of Geneva, comes to my mind: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely take care of it for the next generation.” V.V. Sundaram http://vvsundaram.blogspot.com/ 31 December 2011
