Approval from the outside world and approval within the family.

Mammachi was a woman with exceptional talent and of this Pappachi was jealous. Once when her violin teacher remarked on her being so talented, Pappachi called off the classes. Even when later in life when Pappachi was retired, his ego did not give way to soberness and he disapproved of her flourishing pickle factory. The Kottayam Bible Society in Ayemenem was full of appreciation for Mammachi, while her own husband looked down upon her. He was jealous of his wife's success, a male chauvinist, Pappachi was not an ideal husband in any case who had a dutiful wife he never appreciated.