Summer day

Narmada was lingering around the earlier romantic minute which flushed hot blood inside her, she was arranging the containers on the dining table.

Her in laws were very orthodox who maintained a strict lifestyle. Morning 9am breakfast, lunch at 1, light snacks and tea at 4 followed by dinner at 9 pm. It was 8.15 am. Narmada headed upstairs to check on her younger son. When she entered Rishi's room, the nine year old son was still in deep sleep. She went in and pulled open the curtains letting in the bright sun rays fall on Rishi's face. He pulled the blanket to close his face and murmured "Mom, its Holidays... let me sleep more..." Narmada shook him, brushed her fingers in his hair and whispered that his Grandpa just finished his prayers. Rishi wouldn't care for anyone else in the house, but was scared of his Grandpa Eshwar. Eshwar was ex-military officer, 6ft tall, with a fit body even at his sixties. His voice even today heard like a command on a battle field. He used to wake up at 6 and go for a walk, he had own gang of retired people. Discipline was his only condition for the family unlike other military people who used to be strict in diet, exercise, clothing etc., Eshwar believed that everyone had a right to live as they wish but used to command his family to maintain timetable for food in order to keep them healthy and fit. He was also strict about children study time. Though Rishi was never been punished by grandpa, exaggeration of the punishment types heard through mom made him shiver.

Upon hearing the bell ringing at the main door, Rishi got up and went to the bathroom for a quick bath, he knew if he's not at the table by 8.45, Grandpa will give him a big lecture and also would punish him as per mom's stories.

Downstairs, Grandpa Eshwar returned from his temple visit to join the family for breakfast.

Narmada did his bed and came down to prepare vadas for breakfast. As everyone were at the dining table, Narmada served hot vadas to their plates.

"Nammu, have you added mint leaves to chutney, it tastes yummy. Sambar also is a perfect blend of spices, mmmm" said granny enjoying the soft idlis and crispy vadas with coconut chutney and sambar.

"You also used to prepare very good sambar, Gowri" complimented the Grandpa to his wife. "Varun has got his foodie tongue from her", he said to Narmada who was hushing up Rishi's tantrums.

Night's dinner was the only time, whole family used to sit together. But as it was summer vacation, table was somewhat full. Love in family was at its fullest in all the members of the family.

"Grandpa has planned a picnic for us after breakfast" whispered Narmada to Rishi, which brought enthusiasm in him to eat everything on his plate faster. Narmada always faced difficulty in feeding Rishi; he used to treat food as his enemy. People used to comment to her, "I think you love Punya more than Rishi", "Was he born underweight?", "Does he have any health issues", "Show him to good pediatrician", some went overboard and asked "Is Rishi adopted?"… Rishi was an intelligent boy with height according to the charts but was thin; only the God knew what was wrong with him.

Narmada lied to Rishi to make him eat but grandpa approved her plan instantly to visit a resort nearby and return by evening. All the faces at the table lit with happiness and they prepared themselves for the trip with enthusiasm.

An hour later, Grandpa took the driving seat, Rishi hopped in next to him. Granny and Narmada took the seat at the middle. Punya though could sit next to them preferred the last row in the car. She knew that she would doze off midway so she sat alone, comfortably at back seat.

The family drove off to the Beach side resort. It was an hour long journey....Punya dozed off within 15 minutes while music on her headsets was still playing. That was her usual habit, her friends used to tease her "you must have been bus conductor in your previous birth, you sleep amidst such noise peacefully but wake up from bed by exam nightmares...." and burst out laughing.

Granny and Narmada were talking about some ladies kitty party, while Rishi was busy looking at road which evoked his curiosity at every turn. He was asking a question every second to his grandpa, Major Eshwar who won awards for being a strict officer, was enthusiastically answering to the smallest member of the family on all his silly questions. Sometimes Rishi used to wonder, does this sweetheart grandpa really punish him or his mom was just trying to scare him??? But he never dared to test.

After 70 minutes of traveling, they arrived at Beach side resort. Rishi jumped out of the car as soon it stopped, Narmada had to run behind him. Granny slowly brushed Punya's curls on her face to wake her up. On smooth touch, she opened her eyes and could see the shining blue beach on her left through the windows. Punya slowly got down and headed towards the resort with her grandparents. It took almost 10 minutes for Narmada to catch Rishi and bring him back to the Resort.

Resort manager recognized Major Eshwar immediately and welcomed the family wholeheartedly, at least he acted so. "Welcome to the Green beach resorts Sir, wish you have a nice stay here" he greeted every member of the family with a welcome drink.....