December has always been a very favorite month,during my childhood! Those days we really had some "winter" vibes in the months of December and January and a bit of February! December used to be cold,with misty mornings,short days and longer nights!
Before school closes for Christmas holidays, when me and Resh walked to the tuitions,there used to be mist all around us! We literally could feel the cold mist touching our cheeks,especially when we would be crossing the bridge over "Iruvazhanji" river. The vehicles used to turn on fog lights even in the mornings. And there used to be a lonely palm tree on the bank of the river,at the very end of the bridge, there would be plenty of white flamingoes on the treetop, they used to come there only during December and January.
And if we were going to Edappally,we could see some really old men from the neighbour hood ,sipping tea from the only hotel in our junction,wearing sweaters and hoodies!! While Pappa and Umma would be talking to them,about out trip to Edappally, I could see the fog light of big KSRTC Moolamattam bus nearing the bus stop,and we would get in,the window seats would be wet from the mist, and the window shutters would be closed , if the seats are already occupied! It would be dark and wet in the bus,but there was a warmth in those journeys.
During Christmas holidays, as I mentioned above days used to be shorter, so before we had enough playtime,it would be dusk,reluctant to go home so soon, me and my childhood friends,Kochu,Kunjava,Molty we all used to have a kind of campfire! Not actually the so called campfire, everyone would have cleaned their backyards off the fallen dry leaves and there would be a heap of dry fall leaves at the corners of all backyards, before the night mist comes in we would put a fire and sit beside it till the last leaf is burnt ,then we will disperse and go home.
December mornings would be very cold, lazy to wake up from the cozy and warm bed,and some how manage to get up and get ready for school, and run to the kitchen for breakfast and morethan that to hug Umma who would be very warm from the fire at the kitchen. By the time I finish the warm puttu and meen mulakittath with black tea,Resh would be home,and then we get in to the mist,the cold mornings of December..with warm heart and warm smile.
Oh December,how I miss you!!