I was reading Arduous's blog and it made me think of the last time I visited my grandfather's village - I was 11 at the time.
My grandfather's house was on a hill and the road sloped down from there for at least a mile or more to the Chambal river. There were three bedrooms and a kitchen and an open courtyard. There was a bathroom, but no running water. There was a deep well behind the house with the best tasting water ever. The only way to get water was to get it from the well. My grandmother had huge vessels in the courtyard and once a day cousins from the extended family who lived in the house behind ours would help fill all of them with the water. First you would tie a strong rope to a bucket, then you would lower it some 70-80 feet. Once the bucket was full, the cousins would run upto a point away from the well and loop the end of the rope on the peg. Then run back to the well and pour the water into another bucket and carry it to the house. Needless to say water was a precious commodity and not to be wasted. That was the water we used to drink, bathe, cook, wash dishes and clothes. That was the water we had to make last for the next 24 hours until someone would go through this whole ritual and fill all of our vessels again.
Most days we used to walk down to the river to bathe and wash our clothes. We were there during summer vacation and even though there was no electricity, we never seemed to mind it. My grandfather had a large room built on the roof terrace with lots of windows - we used to call it 'hawa mahal' - a palace of the breezes, and it was our favorite place to hang out. At night cool breeze from the river would come through the windows and lull us to sleep.
I have the fondest memories of that place. I haven't been back there since I was 11. Both of my grandparents have passed away since, but the house still stands there, waiting for I don't know what. I often long to go back to that place. But I think what made it most special was my grandparents and I would have to just make do with my memories.
My grandfather's house was on a hill and the road sloped down from there for at least a mile or more to the Chambal river. There were three bedrooms and a kitchen and an open courtyard. There was a bathroom, but no running water. There was a deep well behind the house with the best tasting water ever. The only way to get water was to get it from the well. My grandmother had huge vessels in the courtyard and once a day cousins from the extended family who lived in the house behind ours would help fill all of them with the water. First you would tie a strong rope to a bucket, then you would lower it some 70-80 feet. Once the bucket was full, the cousins would run upto a point away from the well and loop the end of the rope on the peg. Then run back to the well and pour the water into another bucket and carry it to the house. Needless to say water was a precious commodity and not to be wasted. That was the water we used to drink, bathe, cook, wash dishes and clothes. That was the water we had to make last for the next 24 hours until someone would go through this whole ritual and fill all of our vessels again.
Most days we used to walk down to the river to bathe and wash our clothes. We were there during summer vacation and even though there was no electricity, we never seemed to mind it. My grandfather had a large room built on the roof terrace with lots of windows - we used to call it 'hawa mahal' - a palace of the breezes, and it was our favorite place to hang out. At night cool breeze from the river would come through the windows and lull us to sleep.
I have the fondest memories of that place. I haven't been back there since I was 11. Both of my grandparents have passed away since, but the house still stands there, waiting for I don't know what. I often long to go back to that place. But I think what made it most special was my grandparents and I would have to just make do with my memories.
Comments
what wonderful memories. I love how the cousins all worked together.
Your grandparents sound like they were very special people.
I have very similar memories. My children were fascinated. it meant so much to them and to me to be able to share and pass on those magical moments.
Cheers
Preeti
Diane : thanks - they were very special.
Bindu: I hope to do so someday.
PS: yes, I will.
Samosas: I hope you get to visit it someday - would love to hear about it.
Here,There : thanks for the complement :)