അപ്പട്ടാവാത്ത് കതവുക്ക് ഇരട്ടത്താപ്പാള് appattaavaaththu kathavukku iratta thaappaal... The front door of appatta's house has double lock..( appattaa,, like appu, chuppu ananthu venkittu pammechu etc is just an iyer name) This is a usual homily talk among iyers of Palakkad., at least it was two-scores years ago..
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It would seem innocuous.. and one may ask, what is wrong if appattaa or chuppamani fixes double lock to his front door..
We have to ponder over some situations..
Some people just try to be smart always. They simply try to outshine all.. That way when the normal people just walk or slog through life, these people do smart things always.. Before it is hot, they will do things to make their houses cool., that is okey, their aim is to show neighbours that their house is cooler, and it has happened out of their smartness.. They will manage to be first in any queue, and if they could not, they will, by hook or crook, jump the queue whether it is prasadam distribution at temple or purchase of kerosine oil or rice in a ration shop, or .. the logic extents to marriage of children, transfer and posting, even birth or death.. Even for an amavsya bali they would manage that the purohita officiates for them in preference and precedence to others.. Appattas of the first category..
Then there are the social shirkers.. When it comes to discharge of social obligations these people find excuses, they just sit inside their houses, locking their doors doubly secure, and if by any chance, anyone tries to meet them, the first message through the maid servant or a boy of the house would be that Master/Dad is not at home.. If the visitor is of some use, the gentleman will make a quick appearance, head first, with a yellow sheepish grin and saying that the maid/ child did not know that he was home.. Appattaas of the second category.
Then there are people who are paranoid in their approach to the whole life. They are afraid of anything and everything.. From a stray dog or a poisonless reptile, to robbers, terrorists... they are afraid of everything. They are afraid of the postman, the milk vendor, the boy who fixes the gas, ( and everyone is afraid of his wife.. that that needs not psychological analysis or categorization) and almost anything and everything under the sun, moon, and stars.. If the telephone rings or the mobile chimes, they may feel tortured. And they have necessarily to secure their doors with double and multiple locks and seek refuge in the dark security of the innards of their secure abodes.. They will not stir out when there is death anywhere near..because they would presume that the dark deity called Yama had actually come to take them but was lured into an error...and if they come out the rope will land upon their necks with nano-precision.. Appattas of Category three..
Maybe there are more categories and hybrids.. But most of us can find our place in one of the Categories.. Akin to the Union, State and Concurrent lists that our constitution envisages..
I think I belong wholly and exclusively to the third category.. My doors are always closed with double locks..