Steegan, another one of the office staff and one of the few who is married, drove us in the organization's SUV. We started out at about 11 or 11:30 and the village was about a 20 minute drive away. We cruised down Villianur Road (if cruised is what one can call it) and then Steegan turned off on a dirt road. The rice paddies and various fields of crops surrounded us and even on Sunday, when everyone usually has holiday, groups of women could still be seen in the distance, bended over and working on their crops. Once or twice I saw a lone man overlooking his fields or walking through to make sure all was well.
Steegan turned down one road and then another. Meanwhile, Lalida told me of how hard Lakshmi has worked for her family and how well she had budgeted her finances. Because of her hard work and of her husband's lifetime working as a police officer, they were able to build one of the best homes in the village and to raise their family securely. Knowing Lakshmi's kindness and good heart, I was not surprised to discover this, but it made me admire her all the more. In addition, now that her husband (Perumal's father) was retired, both of them had gained some land and now work the land to feed themselves and to sell their crops. One day, they will build a new home on the plot of land which they currently work.
We finally made it. Her part of the village was on a road made of cracked cement, surrounded by chickens, puddles of water, thatched huts, some leaning homes, and naked elderly men sitting on their porches. The village was so small they felt comfortable doing so. Everyone recognized Lalida and said hi, because everyone in the village knows Lakshmi and her family.
Lalida led us past a couple of houses and into an open area that almost looked like a natural courtyard. On the side was Lakshmi's home. It was composed of two small buildings, made of some cement and wood, running parallel to each other. In one building, the husband sat watching tv in his dhoti. He gave me his usual warm smile and waved. Then, out popped Perumal's nephew, a four or five year old boy also named Perumal. He is so cute and SO energetic ALL OF THE TIME!!!! He played hide and seek with me, laughing all the while. I love him. In the other building was the kitchen, a small room with a place to worship the gods, and another bare room in which visitors sit to eat. Lakshmi came out from the kitchen with a smile.
"Lakshmi-amma!!" I cried. Lakshmi-mother! Oh, what good feelings of love and warmth I have when I think of her.
She laughed and patted my shoulder. She sat us down on the floor and talked for a while, then brought us her homemade food: chicken biryani!! YES! Of course, no matter how much I ate, she would still say, "SAHP-DAH!! SAHP-DAH!!" EAT! EAT! "I'm EATING!" I would say with a laugh as I stuffed more food into my mouth.
Later I learned Lakshmi's husband had said this: "I don't know what happened in that month when Lakshmi was taking care of Sarah, but her biryani usually isn't very good, but today it is great!"
We talked some more. Steegan played with little Perumal. Lakshmi showed her small garden bordering her home, where she would get capsicum and spices from. She was very proud of it. And then UP! We're going to the small village temple!
Steegan took the wheel. This time Lakshmi and little Perumal went with us. The temple was about ive minutes away through more rice paddies and a gate we had to open. The temple was dedicated to Aiyanur, who I have mentioned in a previous post. He is a rural god, and no brahmin officiates in his temple, only a person of the village selected to do so. He is one of the few gods who Lalida and Perumal will worship, because he does not support lower caste members giving money to Brahmins for worship. Rather, Lalida explained to me, the people in the village were worshipping Aiyanur here before the big gods of Hinduism, such as Shiva and Vishnu, came around. The villagers look to Aiyanur to protect them and to take care of their crops and families.
In front of the temple was a statue of Aiyanur flanked by two other police officer statues. Lakshmi explained that one of the statues was based after her uncle, who I believe protected the temple somehow. Because of his duty, his statue was built there flanking Aiyanur. We took pictures in front of the Aiyanur and uncle statue.
We also went into the temple and paid our devotions to Aiyanur and to Ganesh. Lalida placed turmeric on my forehead.
Across the temple's dirt road was a plot of land with more rice paddies and crops. It is here, Lalida said, that Lakshmi and her husband work the land and will build their new home. I smiled. I know Lakshmi will absolutely love being just across the street from the temple.
We left the village then. Lakshmi came with us, and we also picked up her daughter, Perumal's sister, Sylvie. They were going to a birthday party in Cuddalore, and we were to take them to the bus station. When we were at the bus station, it was time to say goodbye to Lakshmi. She gave me a sad look and a frown. She kissed her fingers and then pinched my chin, a sign of kissing me. I gave her a hug. I completely love Lakshmi. Ha, and then she said to stop saying goodbye. She was sad and said she would come by to see me again before I left.
She was not able to, understandably. And thus that was the last time I saw her. But I know I love her and that she loves me.
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