100 chapter
Mother: Speaking about “marriage,” it’s not particularly about “marriage.” It is
from that that this problem developed. At that time we didn’t want anything.
We didn’t make any agreement and all. Between them [Sreedevi and the poten-
tial husband] there were no other bandhanngal [relations—that is, there was no
dating or aff air going on].Biju: What else will you do to get over this illness?Mother: Like I said, I think her mind must be changed/improved [mātti].Biju: Will you do any other treatment? You’ve done allopathy and ayurveda.
Anything else?Mother: Particularly, before, the head... in the “pipe”... she got a strong blockage.
So I wondered if there was some problem with her nerves. I still wonder that.Biju: Are you thinking of taking her to a “neurologist”?Mother: Yes. I have thought of doing that. Th at is to say, because of that, I feel I
might do that. I’ve thought of that.Biju: Do you have any other plan to get over this illness?Mother: No specifi c plan. When this illness started, we took her to a temple, and
as is our custom, we took her to a swami who said prayers and tied a string. Th at
was for mental contentment, at Attukal [a temple].Biju: Are you still going to the temple?Mother: No. Th e priest said, go to the Devi temple, and on the se cond
day do raktapushpārchana [a ritual off ering of fl owers]. On the fourth
day, do navagrahārchana [nine planets worship]. Do all that, he said. For
raktapushpārchana, there is a Devi temple near us. We have been going there and
doing this every Tuesday. Do this 21 times, he said. We have done seven or eight.
So we are doing all that.Biju: How much more time do you have remaining?Mother: Let’s see. A month, a year. We still have four or fi ve months to go.Biju: What is the next step you will take?Mother: I want to get over this. I would like my daughter to get married.