On Onam

As the sun rises, another Onam comes & I nostaligize an Onam, 23 years ago When my non-Malayali classmates Traversed the breadth of town In search of a sadhya & was forced to make peace with fried rice, For that was a time when all Malayalis Were busy spending time with their families & at home were floral carpets, swings, Onam music, the awaited homemade sadhya & finally the TV movie with a 100 interrupting ads. Maveli too I suppose must remember those times All too well For today there is home-delivered sadhya with all 27 items & OTT to watch whatever movie whenever As well as Amazon purchases So that each family member can sit in a corner & forget about connecting this Onam with family Well unless you mean the virtual kind. As Maveli looks at a sadly digital Onam Does he miss those days too when we saw faces not screens? Will his rule ever happen again amidst such virtual chaos? I see him leaving with a sigh Unable to greet his people locke...