1. the courtyard
This year somehow started with looking back. Blame it on the passing years, the heart and mind say “recall, lest you forget!”
Within a moment, my mind conjures up the beautiful facade, the rectangular courtyard with innumerable rooms opening into it, a Tulsi (holy basil) with its prominent parapet for offerings and lighting lamps… a special granite bowl for the cow near the grand kitchen for the ritual daily feedings to gao mata (cow mother) and a smooth weathered floor spanning the whole courtyard with all elements of nature making a magical display in the open air rectangle.
Summer nights: this courtyard turned into a family retiring place… multiple khatiya (local camp cots), adorned with soft cotton mattresses and cool sheets, with individual mosquito nets for a blissfully cool night’s sleep. Till late in the night, you could gaze at the stars while someone or the other would be narrating mythical tales and eyes would close to sleep with a lingering tale to bring on magical dreams…
Lethargic summer mornings spent gazing in wonderment at the domestic helps making a big fuss over every meal, criss crossing the courtyard a hundred times to reach the grinding stone, the store room, the kitchen… ladies chugging pails of water from the well and washing vegetables, then washing the courtyard. We cousins all, would in turn receive bountiful showers. All it took was to go closer to the well, perch or squat on the parapet and look up at any lady there in a mute invitation “Yes Aunty, me ready, you pouring?”
All in all, a magical life in my grandmother’s haveli (Hindi for a mansion). I could have used the grandiose term “palatial” but to my chagrin I saw it reducing in its dimensions as I gained height and my eye level went up! My naani ( mom’s mom) grew old, the giant house started its downward journey but the priceless courtyard remained. Winter breaks or summer vacations spent there then, have surpassed in measure, all the other vacations that followed in life.
Even today, when neither naani nor her haveli exist, I don’t seem to tire of recalling the wonderful time I spent in my childhood at this place with its beautiful arena like courtyard, the hub of all the things that made us the central characters on our visit. The courtyard led one out to a mammoth patio which once upon a time seated dozens of muvakkils (Urdu for clients) of Mukhtar sa’ab, my naana’s father, in the days of the Raj.
This post on the courtyard which gave me such a priceless recall, I dedicate to the memory of my granny❤️
Heartfelt 
Beautiful memories👌👌
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Thank you so much for liking the post ☺️
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I was transported back to my Baba’s palatial house called Bhawan, in Ranchi…. The memories of different types of achaar kept in the sun keeps flooding back..
Thank you Sushmita for reviving
those beautiful memories❤️
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Very beautifully written sush.. Amazing memories.. U took me down to the lane of my nani ‘s palace Barhiya
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Aah, we all have great memories of our grandmother’s place… It is her love that is the brick and mortar for these memories Reshma… Thank you for liking the post 😘
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I am glad this post could bring back a recall to you too Archita… Thank you for reading and responding to it.💕
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Achaars( pickles) do make an essential part of this recall… There was some magic in the recipes and the love poured into preparing them… None of the bottled stuff of today can match up to it! Lovely thought share 🥰
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Dear Sush,
Your post is such a beautiful reminder of a past which has sadly already disappeared but thanks to you has been beautifully strung together in words for all of us to reminisce and reflect….Thanks for another gem..Shine On…
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Thank you so much dear ❤️ your name has not appeared, but the words of appreciation convey your feelings. 🤗
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Sorry for the faux pas…Shailja
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😊😊 thank you dear Shailja 💕
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Beautiful beautiful beautiful…😍
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😍thank you, thank you and thank you…
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Touched. This recall brought back sweet memories of mine too.
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Thank you for identifying with the sentiment out here dear Arpita 💕
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To the childhood, ah childhood!
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Yes… Thanks for dropping in to read this
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Thank you so much for this! I havent been this moved by a blog for a long time! Youve got it, whatever that means in blogging. Anyway, You are definitely somebody that has something to say that people should hear. Keep up the good work. Keep on inspiring the people!
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Thank you so much for dropping in to read this and adding your valuable response to it. I am humbled
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