A Mixed bag of thoughts

Sunday, 1 March 2026

Ammini Amma - Chapter 5 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

pant by Carole Declerck

As they passed the railway track, Ammini noticed dusk settle in. She was on the two wheeler with her husband Ramchandra and they were going to one of his insurance clients before stopping at his sister's too.

She thought of where she had grown up and her family in those days would have insisted on everyone being back home before sunset. These fleeting thoughts, of the village life she had now left behind ages ago, drifted far away as she registered the horns of vehicles and other sounds of Bombay city around her.

She could go where she wanted and her husband was always happy to take her along. When they arrived at the clients, she had to climb up two storeys again. It was hard on her but she climbed slowly and at her own rhythm. By the time she usually made it to the door, her husband would have already reached the house they were visiting and settled in.

This evening was no different. The woman of the house brought out some water and tea as Ammini sat down to catch her breath. For the first few minutes, while she sipped the tea, she made small talk and asked the family general questions about their state of health, the children and so on. After a while, she felt a wave of fatigue overcome her.

She hadn't slept well that night. Well, this was true most nights. She was asthmatic and wasn't able to lie down on her back and sleep for any stretch of time. She usually would have to sit up to be able to breathe and she spent most nights sitting on the lazy chair they owned. Now outside her own home, she did not have to be the responsible adult. She was relaxed and before she could realise it, sleep quickly took over. Ammini fell asleep still sitting on the sofa in a client's home.

Both Ramchandra and the client noticed her sleeping but no one gave it a second thought. Most clients knew them well and were aware about her health issues too. Business went on as usual and Ammini managed to recharge herself with a quick cat nap.

#indianhouseholds #kerala #malayali #southindianmom #couplegoals

Like this story? You may like the previous chapters in order as below

Ammini Amma - Chapter 1 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Ammini Amma - Chapter 2 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Ammini Amma - Chapter 3 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Ammini Amma - Chapter 4 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or maybe an article that's totally a different style enchants your fancy even more

An XXXL event for an Ironman and Super Triathlete - Sebastien Morineau

Carole Declerck is my friend and tailoring for her grandchild is her hobby. I like promoting small scale work and helping build confidence in every single person who may need to hear that even your small ideas touch others and you shouldn't give up on your dreams. Keep creating!

Friday, 27 February 2026

Ammini Amma - Chapter 4 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

my daddy on his Kinetic Honda

Dressed and ready, Ammini now slowly started to make her way down the three storeys of their building to go out with her husband Ramchandra. Her Asthma and four pregnancies had taken a toll on her frail body over the years. But the hard physical work she had to put in when growing up as a child, ensured that she was still strong.

She walked down the stairs and reached the ground floor. Ramchandra had pulled out their two-wheeler, the Kinetic Honda and was waiting for her, proudly sporting a cap on his head. He wore the cap whenever he went out and now it had become a habit.

Ammini settled on the backseat, side saddled, like almost all other Indian women who rode pillion and held her husband. These were her moments of freedom and happiness. She knew what a privilege it was that they now had this scooter. Walking or taking the bus was something they both had done for more than three quarters of their lives.

She would go where he took her. It could be to a client's home to sell insurance, to Ramchandra's sister's place across the railway tracks or the Ayyappa temple in LIC Colony.

For her, nothing could take away from these moments of being outside and breathing in the sweet scent of change and adventure. An adventure that was different and unique every evening. And it only belonged to them.

#daddyslove #couplegoals #mumbaibikers #parenting #strongwomen

Like this story?

you probably want to read the first three chapters linked below if you've missed them or a story that's completely different down below.

Ammini Amma - Chapter 1 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Ammini Amma - Chapter 2 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Ammini Amma - Chapter 3 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Motivational story on a strong woman here

Bodhini Samaratunga - Medical Doctor, blogger, author and thinker

Thursday, 26 February 2026

Ammini Amma - Chapter 3 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

photo courtesy Nisha Jajal

As she waited for her husband Ramchandra to come home, Ammini washed the vessels that had been used to make tea and went to check which outfit she would wear that evening.

She was wearing the 'housecoat' or 'nightie' that most urban, Indian housewives spend their days in. The hot, humid climate doesn't allow for comfort in most other clothes. And being busy in the house the whole day meant that sweating was the most natural result.

She went to look at the 20 odd sarees hanging in the cupboard. The whole family's outerwear clothes were in that one steel cupboard. The home clothes were kept in another cupboard. She recently had the luxury of being able to afford sending her sarees to be ironed.

These were all the sarees she owned. She saw among them her wedding saree which was golden in colour, but whoever wore that for a regular evening? She picked out one of her simple sarees and started getting ready.

As she stood in front of the mirror, she looked at herself just for an instant. Her children were grown up. She had now started to look really old. She didn't let the thought linger. She draped her saree in a couple of minutes and combed her thinning silver strands into a ponytail.

She looked in the mirror again and placed a 'pottu' or red dot sticker on her forehead. Now she was ready. Ramchandra entered the house just as Lekha, her youngest, opened the door to go down to play. He smiled at them and she smiled back.

#sareelove #indianattire #eveningout #datenight #realromance #couplegoals

Like this story?

Ammini Amma - Chapter 1 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

and

Ammini Amma - Chapter 2 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Sunday, 22 February 2026

Ammini Amma - Chapter 2 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

pic courtesy B. Libert

It was around 4pm and Ammini knew that her husband would soon be home. Now all the tasks and chores of her day were over. She would make 'chaya' or tea and would pour it out into the simple, steel glasses they possessed.

Today only Lekha and she were at home. Her other children were older and were at work. Raj and Venu would be finishing up in the office and at the factory, and Latha would probably be on her way to one of her tuition classes at the moment.

Lekha asked for some biscuits with the tea, but there weren't any remaining in the box. It was the end of the month and her husband's salary wouldn't be in her hands for the next five days at least. Ammini offered to make some sweetened rice flakes instead, in place of the biscuits. It would be hard work to scrape the coconut and cut soft slivers of the big, hard piece of jaggery, but all three ingredients were readily available in the house.

She and her youngest daughter sat on the floor cross-legged eating this simple, yet delicious snack with their tea while they heard the birds chattering away noisily. It was the end of day for nature and the birds were hurriedly making their way home to their nests.

Lekha sucked at the juices that the coconut and jaggery were forming in her mouth as she chewed on the rice flakes. Daddy will soon be home and I will then go down and play, she thought.

#amotherslove #childhoodmemories #throughmymotherseyes #thechroniclesoftheyoungestchild

Like this story?

Hope you didn't miss Chapter 1 or the next chapter then

Ammini Amma - Chapter 1 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

and

Ammini Amma - Chapter 3 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or this one about my mother

The Chronicles of the youngest Child - Part 2 - Amma goes missing

Saturday, 21 February 2026

Ammini Amma - Chapter 1 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Sitting near the window in the adjacent room, I could hear my mother work in her favourite space. She spent all her time in that small converted balcony which was now her kitchen. She fiercely guarded it. She was not the kind to allow anyone else to cook here.

I tried asking her to allow me to cut some of the tomatoes I saw her wash. "Not needed," she said. "Let me see what you're doing," I pleaded. "You will be in my way," she replied. It was true that the work area was very small. I gave up and went to play with my dolls.

Ammini washed the tomatoes one by one. She cut them without using a chopping board. She was so good at cutting a vegetable while holding it in one hand and the knife in the other that she could look around, dream and reminisce about things while doing these tasks.

She looked outside the window and saw the jackfruit and drumstick trees that had grown tall enough to reach the third floor view. She could hear the 206 bus pass somewhere in the distance. She was at home here, standing in front of the kitchen sink, preparing the meal for her family.

Her daughter Lekha was now playing in the front room. The birth of that little girl had forced her to stay active despite her advancing years. Lekha was her last child and neither Ammini nor her husband Ramchandra had been prepared for the little girl's arrival.

#thechroniclesoftheyoungestchild #amotherslove #noonelikemom #southindianamma

Like this story? You will probably like to read the next chapters too.