And murukkaan kada
Your tea shop just next to the small bus stop that was only
two pillars and a tin-roof
With its brass samovar to make tea
And your miller and his shop, whose son was the locatough
Venu who was always good to me
You had your dhobi whose son Vinod was a madcap
But friendly with me
The dhobi who ironed with red coals in his isthiripetti
You had your Mao building! Imagine that, these days!
You had your center as a circle with its flags
You had a locksmith's shop and forge
And a toddy shop
You had your Western bakery
With Binu and Biju who came to my mom for tuition for all
subjects
With cream-filled cornets, plum cakes, and bread so soft it
would melt in our mouths
Who studied, worked and were my friends too
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