Behind Closed Doors

The story unfolds as flashback through the narrative of Little Aley, who wants a monkey for her fourth birthday. An indulgent Velliachen, her mother Aleyamma’s brother, gifts her Raman, and with that the security and love that is her weapon against everyone in the house. Her twice-widowed grandaunt, Kunjupenkochama, tells her stories of her grandmother and child-bride, Aley, who leaves the house with her son, sacrificing love and marriage, only to meet with death. Grandfather Papachen marries again and Metamma is not only the “other mother”, but also Little Aley’s fierce enemy.

Meanwhile, among the servants, two generations serve at Big House — Gracey and her daughter Thracey, who pull against the hard chains of bondage, “only to tighten them”. Kunjupenkochama and Thracey are the pillars of the house, and Little Aley is usually running around or away from them.

The patriarchs of Big House know how to keep their women and servants in place and the divide yawns until there is a revolt and Velliachen is murdered. It takes a silent Aleyamma to wake up and take control of the house and the land and make Little Aley worthy and strong enough to shrug away her past. The storyline is tame and the language tepid and the only question that came to mind was, “Would you want to live with them?” The answer wasn’t flattering.