Irony
When I was growing up in Cement Nagar, I was part of a small family of about 100-200 families in a small township. Families kept an eye on all children - it was not a my child only culture - as these days. We shared our food, played together, went to school together. If you did something wrong or unsafe, any elder could admonish you.. It was all part of growing up in a big family! People appreciated you, scolded you, accepted you as a family member. No one took offense. When we moved to Trikkur-Trichur, it was my father's family and village that became our world. It was again a tale of a big family, lovely gatherings, song and music. And again, anyone could admonish us, scold us, tell us off - be it my Chitappas, Athais, Periammas, Thatha, Paati, the neighbours. No one took unnecessary offense - the child or the parent. If there was a pattern, it would be addressed in the right way. Most of the time, we ignored what was said. We did not fly with praise, fall with scoldings - t