This story came to me the other day on the wings of a sleek, black-as-ebony raven. He cawed at me while perched on the window sill and I thought of Malli (in Tamil, the name means Jasmine).
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Glossary:
Chappals - Slippers
Paavadai Chattai - Traditional silk blouse and skirt
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Billa the crow sat on the wall preening his feathers.
"Malli is coming, Malli is coming," the watchman muttered as he went hastily to the shed.
Billa the crow stared at him curiously and decided to follow him. He took flight and landed on the window sill of the shed. The watchman was going through an old box. He threw down dusty newspapers. He threw down some plastic cans. He dug deeper into the box and came up with rubber chappals.
"For Malli," the watchman said, grinning a toothy grin.
"KAA KAA," someone called Billa. It was time for breakfast; he flew to the second floor balcony. Soft fluffy idlis for Billa. YUMMM. Billa perched eating his idlis.
"Malli is coming, Malli is coming," the lady of the house said as she took out a bag from under the bed.
Billa the crow stared at her curiously as she pulled out brightly colored clothes. The lady shook her head at a green skirt.She shook her head at a yellow shirt. She finally found a red paavadai chattai with a faded gold border.
"For Malli," the lady said with a bright sunny smile.
CRASH
Billa flew to the balcony below. It belonged to a little girl who fed Billa his favorite treats - bread and honey. The little girl stood with her hands on her hips looking at an upturned box of toys. She sat cross-legged and searched among the toys. She said no to an old wooden train. She said no to an alphabet board. And as Billa watched, the little girl found the perfect toy - a big plastic doll with long black hair.
"For Malli," the little girl said with a twinkling laugh.
Who is Malli? Billa wondered as he flew back to his wall. He spotted two women hanging clothes to dry.
"Lakshmi, I heard your daughter Malli is coming," said the first woman.
"Yes Devi, it's puja holidays for her in the village. My father is bringing her to me for a week!" said the second woman with a very happy smile.
"I can't wait to see her," said the first woman. "There's a carnival near my house, why don't we take her there to play?"
Billa decided he wanted to see Malli and flew to the gate. A little while later, an auto came to a stop before the gate. The watchman, the lady of the house, the little girl and the two talking women came running to the gate.
An old man got down carrying a tiny suitcase and a yellow bag. He adjusted the towel on his shoulder and kept his luggage on the ground. Billa saw Malli's face peeping out of the auto, and as she got down he saw the steel braces on her legs glinting in the sunlight. Her grandfather grasped her hand as she turned towards her mother and friends.
"Welcome, Malli," everyone sang, and Billa cawed.
Billa the crow stared at him curiously and decided to follow him. He took flight and landed on the window sill of the shed. The watchman was going through an old box. He threw down dusty newspapers. He threw down some plastic cans. He dug deeper into the box and came up with rubber chappals.
"For Malli," the watchman said, grinning a toothy grin.
"KAA KAA," someone called Billa. It was time for breakfast; he flew to the second floor balcony. Soft fluffy idlis for Billa. YUMMM. Billa perched eating his idlis.
"Malli is coming, Malli is coming," the lady of the house said as she took out a bag from under the bed.
Billa the crow stared at her curiously as she pulled out brightly colored clothes. The lady shook her head at a green skirt.She shook her head at a yellow shirt. She finally found a red paavadai chattai with a faded gold border.
"For Malli," the lady said with a bright sunny smile.
CRASH
Billa flew to the balcony below. It belonged to a little girl who fed Billa his favorite treats - bread and honey. The little girl stood with her hands on her hips looking at an upturned box of toys. She sat cross-legged and searched among the toys. She said no to an old wooden train. She said no to an alphabet board. And as Billa watched, the little girl found the perfect toy - a big plastic doll with long black hair.
"For Malli," the little girl said with a twinkling laugh.
Who is Malli? Billa wondered as he flew back to his wall. He spotted two women hanging clothes to dry.
"Lakshmi, I heard your daughter Malli is coming," said the first woman.
"Yes Devi, it's puja holidays for her in the village. My father is bringing her to me for a week!" said the second woman with a very happy smile.
"I can't wait to see her," said the first woman. "There's a carnival near my house, why don't we take her there to play?"
Billa decided he wanted to see Malli and flew to the gate. A little while later, an auto came to a stop before the gate. The watchman, the lady of the house, the little girl and the two talking women came running to the gate.
An old man got down carrying a tiny suitcase and a yellow bag. He adjusted the towel on his shoulder and kept his luggage on the ground. Billa saw Malli's face peeping out of the auto, and as she got down he saw the steel braces on her legs glinting in the sunlight. Her grandfather grasped her hand as she turned towards her mother and friends.
"Welcome, Malli," everyone sang, and Billa cawed.
Glossary:
Chappals - Slippers
Paavadai Chattai - Traditional silk blouse and skirt
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