@ the Mill

Last weekend I had to make a visit to the flour mill. Hmmm we at home have been following the tradition of sun drying the grains and pulses even to this day. Then have it taken to the mill in order to get a flour that is completely free from adulteration is followed.

It was a bright sunny afternoon.While me and mom wait for our turn, a lady (Oops! a Granny) dropped by with a box full of Ragi(a pulse). I was taken aback by her enthusiasm at her age. Mom and me were amazed to see her attire. She was plain and simple, yet charming. The following lines in kannada describes granny at the mill and the zest of her life.




ಹಿಟ್ಟಿನ ಗಿರಣಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಳಿ ವಯಸ ತರುಣಿ

ಗಟ್ಟಿತನದ ವರ್ಚಸ್ಸು ನೋಡಿರಿ
ವಯ್ಯಾರದಿ ನುಲಿಯುತಿಹ ಈ ಸುಂದರಿ
ರಾಗಿಯ ಬೀಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗ ಬಂದಿಹಳು
ತನ್ನ ಸರದಿಗೆ ಕಾಯುತ ನಿಂತಿಹಳು

ವಯಸಿಗೆ ಮಿತಿಯಿಲ್ಲ
ಸಿ೦ಗಾರಕೆ ಕಮ್ಮಿ ಇಲ್ಲ
ಮುತ್ತೈದೆಯ ಭಾಗ್ಯವಿದೆ
ದೇಹದಲಿ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಇದೆ

ಮನದಲಿ ಸಂತಸ
ಮೊಗದಲಿ ಮಂದಹಾಸ
ಪುಟ್ಟದಾದ ತುಟಿಗಳರಳಿ
ನುಡಿಮುತ್ತುಗಳುರುಳಿ

"ಮಗಳೇ ,
ನಾ ಮೊದಲು ಹಾಕಲೇ " -
ಎಂದಾಗ ,
ಸಿಟ್ಟಿಗೆದ್ದಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನ ಮನ, ಕರಗಿತಾಗ


For the Non-Kannada Readers:)
The poem in short says:-
This old lady has the energy and enthusiasm to live a life to the fullest.No matter what come her way, she sets an example to a happy living and a cheerful life. My irritated soul over some conflicts with the fellow customers While I wait in the queue,could not help but let this old lady go ahead of me when she dearly asked "Hey little kid, can I pour the pulse into the machine first?" Her soft and tender voice let me smile away the irritation and I was happy to wait an extra 5 mintues in the queue.