THE ARRIVAL

 The Nation had celebrated the 6 th independence day just 15 days back and the first national elections were swept. by the Congress govt under Jawaharlal Nehru that year and the country had become a republic 3 years back.In short the country was taking the toddler steps with 40 crore people's dreams and aspirations.

There was tiny showers of the withdrawing monsoon on that 30 th day of August by Gregorian calender.In a small house by the main road in Kollam in the state of Thiru Kochi,(which would later become  the modern State of Kerala in 1956),the labour pains started around 3 am and Lekshmy was in deep struggle and so were all around. Ramaswamy Iyer her father and Krishnammal her mother were both happy and worried since they were expecting the arrival of their first grand kid. Soon a messenger had been send to the house of Kallyani the midwife who resided nearby and was promptly send back asking not to worry and for patience for nother 10 hours.

By 6 pm Kallyani arrived and the rituals for life and birth, wherenone was certainty had begun.' അമ്മെ,തിളച്ച വെള്ളം ' she shouted.Soon the fire woods started crackling in the fire pot ' and the bedroom was locked. Ramaswami Iyer aka Chamu iyer was cracking under pressure walking this way and that way and his four other kids ranging from 15 to 7 years were deadly silent.Everywhere preparations of Krishna Janmashtami  the next day was happening. Nobody observed the eagle flying around over the top of the house three times that early night with occasional rumblings of a far way thunders and rains intensifying.

At 7 15 sharp the night was pierced by shrill yelping cry and a smile lighted upon every one's face.It has happened.Soon the doors opened and the smiling Kallyani emerged holding a tiny one ,duely rapped.It's a a baby boy and the mother is safe ,she said. Krishnammal (kittammal) ran to the kitchen and distributed sugar to all and the house erupted in joy.Somebody said ' karthikai നക്ഷത്രം,mesha rasi and Sani in ucham. Chamu iyer said ' kannan ' vanthachu' (arrived). Raju !' Ellorukkom thanthi anuppu '(send telegrams to all ). One telegram went to Haripad to Kulathu iyer ,his other grand dad and one to Alleppey to his father Krishna Iyer.

Kallyani the midwife trudged back to her home that night shuddering.She could never believe what had happened in that dimly lighted room that fateful day.Was it possible ,she repeated to herself. She was sure she saw it with her own eyes ' As soon as the baby opened its mouth in that fierce shriek,two sharp canines appeared in the upper jaw on either side and disappeared within a second and as her eyes blinked  again she saw  the baby smile.She was stunned and when she looked again ,it was just a normal innocent  baby cry .She never uttered anything and knew she  could never again attend a delivery. The night turned very dark.