Sometimes when I close my eyes, I think I could change everything. I could give life to old trees, I could take people out of their sophisticated lives and urban homes and bind them once again with love and remind them of the things they have forgotten. I would change everything until there is no evidence  change, no evidence of time passed.

My four cousins were an integral part of my life once, I grew up with them, of course they were all much older to me. I looked up to them, they took care of me.

Now, in the dubious ways of the present, they are all battling different kinds of middle age problems, health issues, property issues, lack of money, excess of money, children getting married, children not getting married,  being somebody, being nobody. Why does life change people the way it does ? Why do 'somebody's move away from 'nobody's?

In a time when life hadn't torn them apart, took sides or played favourites, they all lived in harmony. They were jovial and fun. They stayed away from their father's idealism and  their mother's sense of self sacrifice. They moved with their college friends, organized college events and sang songs.

I used to listen to their college stories, sometimes with out them knowing. When they had dance rehearsals they would let me watch. I still remember the gaudy costumes they used bring for oppana and folk dance.

Today, I somehow remembered a song one of them used to sing all the time. I found it here (youtube ki jay)..

God, I still remember melting for the line 'kalamaamilanjiyethra pookkale kozhichu'.

I would always be grateful to all of them for being kind, irrespective of what life has made of them.