DEEPAVALI

We never really celebrated Deepavali on a grand scale but you were always there to organise the palagaram, not just for us but the whole family. This year we won't be celebrating Deepavali but what about next year? Who is going to do the making, ordering and the distributing? 

My job was to organise cookies, which I easily did thanks to Belvir from school, who I have been ordering from all these years. Well, one thing is for sure, Mrs. Navaratnam's sister is going to feel the loss of her loyal and extravagant customer. So is the lady in Taman Yarl, who was another of your local palagaram contacts. We did try ordering from her and Jeeva kept referring to you, Mrs. Bala.

The other day Shobah commented that she did not get any chippy. She said that you used to keep some for her whenever you ordered some. She was obviously missing you when she thought of the chippy you saved for her. Now how am I supposed to know that. You should have left me a list of who likes what. 

Even when Rupert was down he said that he used to ask you to order the chippy for him to take back to UK. 

My favourite ribbon was something I looked forward to that you would make. I can easily finish the whole container full. Well, no more amma's ribbon for me. Chinamah and Chinayah did make some for me recently and it was really sweet of them. There is still some of your fruit cake in the fridge. It was the last batch that you made. I am pretty sure it is spoilt by now but I don't have the heart to throw it away. I will be forced to do so soon when it gets bad and mouldy. In fact your brown rice was lying in the freezer until recently when I had to force myself to throw it away. Well Jeyanthi did take over the making of the fruit cake so we will still get our supply of fruit cake and more at Christmas, when Jo makes her batch.

I just had another thought, what will you be doing on your first Deepavali without us? 

Well, one thing for sure, it will never be the same again for all of us.