Set in acres of lush greenery, I stood tall and magnificent, a testimony to my master’s architectural skills.
Against the backdrop of undulant hills, my sloping roofs laid with burnt sienna tiles, the brilliant white of my walls, the polished woodwork of my doors and windows, my spacious sunlit interiors and my gleaming floors made me a cynosure of all eyes.
Happiness flooded me as my master proudly showed me off to his guests on this special day of mine , my Housewarming Day. I was named Anugraha. I felt truly blessed.
As I stand here looking at the picture of my beloved master, memories flash through my mind. I see him at the dining table, with his children around him, seven of them, talking and laughing and my mistress scurrying around serving them delicious meals.
The morning smells, sights and sounds come back to me. The stew with the aroma of spices simmering on the stove, Pussy and Simon lapping up the milk from their saucers in the kitchen, the hens clucking in the backyard, the ducks quacking and diving into the pond, Amminikutty and Karambhi mooing for their breakfast and Johnny excitedly barking at the newspaper delivery boy.
A quick glance at the paper and my master is off on his morning walk. The mango trees he had planted were heavy with fruits, the Hibiscus hedges along the driveway and the Rose gardens were a riot of colours. He usually walked around the circular emerald green lawn and retired to his study to get lost in the books he had collected over the years and which adorned the shelves lining the walls.
I remember the time when the well to my right was made into a swimming pool for the children. Master had steps built into the sides of the well leading to the clear crystal water and the children had a rollicking time on Sundays splashing around in the pool.
Master catered to the interests of his boys.The elder one liked cricket so he sent him to a prestigious institution to be trained. That quiet son of his loved cars. One day when he was barely twelve he took the car out of the portico, made several rounds and parked it back in it’s place perfectly. Master was astonished but decided he would make him study something related to cars.
The children had grown and were on their own now. My Master and Mistress and myself were on our own.
One dreadful morning my Master did not wake up. I was devastated. The children arrived . That loving , quiet son took my Mistress away to his home.
And then came the bombshell.
The children had decided to part with me.
The sound of the chapel bells broke into my reverie. The nuns were getting ready for the morning prayers in the circular Chapel built on my Master’s circular lawn.
I stood there in front of his picture that still hung on the convent walls.
PC: Joshua Kettle/Unsplash
