The Family

We’re a slightly unconventional family comprising one European, seven Nepalis and two Indians.  This is how it came about.  Many years ago I brought my mum (a stroke victim) to India in order that she could receive home care and ayurvedic treatment.  Our first assistant arrived from Nepal in November 1999 to take care of her.  This was Bharat.  Three months after, his relative Suman joined us and then came Amrit when it became apparent that mum needed more and more help.  The three assistants ensured a presence even if one or two were on holiday or shopping etc.  

 

Mum (the BEST mum in the World).  It’s a maudlin thing to say of course, since she was the only mum I have ever had.  She passed away on 10th December 2005.

Almost as soon as we had settled in, I had made the most of my own relative liberty by starting a tourist information magazine “Out & About Udaipur”.  This launched me into the world of tourism, enabled me to meet lots of interesting people, find out about the local history, geography and so on, and gave me the opportunity to develop moderate skills in graphic art, photography and journalism.

One day in pursuit of an article for the magazine I went along with Pauline, a voluntary nurse who used to help the people of a tribal village in the Arawalli Hills.  There was a mortally sick young widow, the mother of six small children and Pauline asked if I would give a home to any of them.  This was a novel idea for me – never having really related to children.  But I thought about it and decided that I could look after a small boy and girl.  I prepared for them and started looking forward to their arrival but in the event a relative came forward and took on all six. 

I felt deflated but I mentioned to one of the fellow villagers that should there be any children in need of a home, I was willing to provide.  This villager, Shankar Kookar quickly said that as he had too many children, perhaps I would look after one of his, to give them a chance of good welfare and good education.  I thought he was joking but no, he was serious, and three weeks later he turned up with his youngest – a four year-old Ravi!

Some months later, his eldest brother Prakash arrived for dental treatment in the city.  This lasted a week but afterwards he asked if he could stay.  His father seemed pleased so he stayed for several years.

Somewhere around 2001 Suman had returned to Nepal to marry and a year or so later he asked to bring his wife Dewmaya to Udaipur.  She was a bright and lovely young girl and she too joined the expanding household.  One year later she gave birth to Vishal.  We were needing rubber walls.

A friend decided that we were lacking a dog, and I was talked into purchasing a Dobermann puppy, that turned out to be an imposter.  Knowing nothing about Dobermanns I was easily duped, and it was only a few weeks later when a vet informed me that Dobermanns do not have white spots on their backs.  A white spot was indeed emerging on the puppy’s back where the black dye was fading out.  To be cheated even with a puppy!  Oh well, I didn’t care.  I was not into Dobermanns anyway.  But the puppy seemed to piddle everywhere, and so I termed it the ‘Pee Machine’ – a name that somehow stuck.

All this time we had been living in a fine rented house on a hillside in Udaipur, but it was proving too small with the growing family, the rent was going up and up and besides the city was too noisy; also we had ‘neighbours from Hell’ so we were keen to relocate.

The idea of having our own place a little out in the countryside grew and after successfully applying for a loan I purchased a hitherto unused piece of rocky escarpment out in the village of Sisarma.  Work started in late 2003 and we were able to move in on the 2nd of July 2005.  It was ours, it was bright and airy, there was space and it was blissful! 

Then on the morning of the 10th of December Mum passed away peacefully though somewhat suddenly and apart from the sadness, we were in disarray!

It was as if we had no real function any more.  Thinking about the possibility of splitting up the ‘family’ that I was by then so attached to, was unthinkable. 

We wanted to remain together although I felt very sad when Suman decided to return to Nepal, taking Dewmaya and baby Vishal with him. 

We decide to become a homestay.  Mountain Ridge had been designed as a home, not as a business place, so it made sense that paying guests be those who would enjoy the experience of integration that a hotel can not provide.  I liked the idea as well, since I’m very sociable but without the financial means to entertain very often.  Having a variety of interesting, well-travelled paying guests couldn’t be better.  We swap information and experiences and I learn so much.  We’ve had guests from every continent barring Antarctica with their tales and experiences…………I love to hear it all!

After Suman’s departure it became apparent that with the homestay arrangements we still required three housekeepers, so Bharat’s nephew Padam was enrolled.  Then Bharat went back to Nepal for a holiday and returned with his wife Indira and two of their three children; a ten-year-old Rajesh and the cutest year-old baby girl called Bandana with whom I had irrevokably to within a couple of weeks.

Around the same time another of Ravi’s brothers pleaded to join us so as to get a better education.  I hadn’t the heart to refuse, so Lakshman was added to the family.  Then finally, on his last home visit to Nepal, Bharat collected his other daughter, Sirzana, so now we have his full family within our family.

And it’s wonderful.  I love them all and everyone is happy. 

                    

Bharat Achami, the ‘Main Man’ of Mountain Ridge, and his dear wife Indira. 

Bharat joined us in 1999, and Indira arrived in 2005 with Rajesh and Bandana.

               

Amrit, a family connection of Bharat’s, who also hails from the same village in Nepal is like Bharat; a smart, intelligent chap.  I understand he is also something of a heart-throb.  Plus Padam.  Padam is Bharat’s nephew.  One couldn’t say he’s inherited the genes that have give Bharat his astuteness, but Padam is plodding and well-meaning even if he does ‘get it wrong’ sometimes!

            

These are Bharat and Indira’s three children.  Rajesh is the eldest and as my grandma would have said, ‘as deep as a box of monkeys.  Next is Sirzana.  For over a year after the rest of Bharat’s family shifted to Udaipur, his eldest daughter Sirzana stayed on at school in Nepal.  She finally joined us in October 2007.  Then there’s the poppet.  This is Bandana (my pet name for her is Chikkin) who is irresistably cute.  She has to be one of the most sweet-natured babies I have ever encountered.    

                    

These are our two Indian children.  Ravi is a typical, unacademic schoolboy (as I also was), who just cannot condition himself to study (I relate to that completely), and who just wants to play.  Then his brother Lakshman who is going through a minor adolescent rebellion.  Nothing compared to the devastatingly rebellious behaviour displayed by some Western kids, I might add.

               

Then there is me, Piers.  I’m generally laid back and contented.  When everyone is happy around me, then I am happy.  Last but not necessarily least is Pee Machine, the wannabe Dobermann.  I was sold a ‘pup’ as they say, in more ways than one, but still we love Pee Machine, white spot and all.