This deck chair was called an 'easy chair' by all at home.I wonder why it was called so! Should have been called a 'lazy chair'. A chair that made the one sitting in it lazy and an already lazy one , lazier.There was one such grand deck chair in my Muthachan's(grandfather's) house. He sat in this chair,and ordered people around." Get me a glass of water", "go fetch the paper","see who is at the gate".It was in this chair that he spend the major part of his day. He even had his noon siesta here. When he was awake , he kept fanning himself with a 'vishari' (hand fan) . Below the chair was placed a 'kolambi' (spittoon) so he didn't have to get up even to spit. It was a seat of authority reserved for the eldest in the family.
Achan bought a not- so- elegant looking easy chair in our house too. It had no arms, and so, compared to Muthachan's chair , had a crippled look. Once he came back from work ,he sank himself into this chair with some magazine in hand and within no time would fall into a peaceful slumber.
Muthachan's easy chair came into my possession last year. My hubby spend a weekend changing it's look.He had it sandpapered and varnished.With the new upholstery it looked grand once again.The arm rest was so long ,that it also served as a foot rest. But as I walked towards the chair to experience the comfort of sitting in it.... I found my hubby already seated. After all he was the senior here and so the chair was rightfully his!
But then,during the day, I have the chair all for myself and sitting in this comfy chair I do my reading,watch tv , do a lot of armchair travelling, and of course a lot of dreaming.....
