CHEATS HOLD SWAY

“Hi, Lissy Ammamma! It has been a long time”, Sam embraced Lissy, his mother’s cousin. Sam knew very well that Lissy had never met him though he knew all about Lissy’s family  from his mother Susy. Susy and Lissy were second cousins. But as Susy and her family were staying at Ullala near Kasargod there had been no contact between the two families.  Lissy wondered who this youth could be as she could not place him.

“I know you could not place me as we have not met earlier. I am Mohan, son of Gracy Ammamma and Johnychayan of Kaithapurathu Veedu, Mundakayam.” said Sam. “Amma had always asked me to visit you, but unfortunately I could not carry out her wish till now. As you know she is now no more. I have an interview for a Lecturer’s post at the St.Gregorios College tomorrow. I am taking up a room in a Hotel at Kottarakkara”. Sam knew that Gracy and Lissy were cousins and that they had a special relationship when they were young. As Johny was an employee of  TISCO, Jamshedpur  and Gracy was a nurse in the TATA Hospital there , the family had been staying at  Jamshedpur. Mohan and his sister Maya grew up there. They were Post Graduates and were looking for an opening somewhere in Kerala as their parents had settled at Mundakayam after retirement.   Sam knew the connections. He had also known that the distance kept the families of Gracy and Lissy apart. They were unable to keep in touch.

Lissy was convinced by the smooth conversation of Sam that he was Mohan, the son of her dear cousin Gracy who had passed away suddenly. Lissy could not attend the funeral as she had been at Raipur looking after her grand daughter. Lissy’s husband was at Jorhat  serving the Indian Army. There was no accommodation for the family at Jorhat. Lissy and Suja, her younger daughter had to return to their own house at Valakom. Suja was doing her third year at Kottarakkara for a nursing degree.

“Mohan, I am very sad that Gracy Ammamma had passed away. I blame myself for not even attending her funeral. Since you have to attend the interview tomorrow I’ll be happy if you would stay with us tonight instead of spending your time in a Hotel. Kottarakkara is not far from here. Take the guest room and prepare well for the interview.” Sam concurred reluctantly.

Suja was happy to meet a close relative when she returned from the College in the evening. She did not spend much time with Sam as her mother had told her not to disturb Mohan who was preparing for the interview.

Sam was pouring over a number of books during the night. Lissy was happy she could be of assistance to Mohan, her dear Gracy Ammamma’s son. Sam freshened up early in the morning and left for the interview. Lissy and Suja wished Mohan best of luck. Sam assured that he would write to them from Mundakayam.

Johny was shell shocked when Lissy and Suja called on him. They were crying. They said Mohan had come and stayed with them for a night to attend an interview at Kottarakkara. But soon after Mohan had left for Kottarakkara,  Suja was to leave for her College. She found to her horror that her ornaments – a gold chain of two sovereigns and two bangles of one sovereign each – were missing. She had left them on her table when she was taking her bath. As there was no one else at the house they were certain  Mohan had lifted them.

“But, Mohan is at Kollam, attending coaching classes for Bank exams. That is the photograph of Mohan.”

 Lissy and Suja  were aghast.. The photo had no resemblance.