Left behind in Kandy with her six children, grandmother could not have been the happiest of women. She no doubt found the difficulties of bringing up the children with their father across the seas. The money that he sent her, some times did not reach her. Being excellent in needlework, and teaching, she managed the household on her own in the beginning. However when it became difficult to cope any longer, she took the bold decision to come to India. Appa settled her and the children in Periyakulam where he had a trading post. Another reason to choose Periyakulam was because it was in Madras Presidency, a Tamil speaking area and grandmother’s language was Tamil. But above all it was far away from Kottayam!!
Grandmother evidently made her peace and her home in Periyakulam. Father (H.O.L.Marikar) was 10 years old at that time. She taught the neighbouring children and her own, on the verandah of her home and continued her needlework.
This life of quiet acceptance, patience, strength and courage came to an end. Grandmother and her elder son were struck by cholera in a cholera epidemic. After her death the children were taken to their stepmother’s house.
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