The grace of "taking"
"Why does mom get me Nisha's dresses?" I thought looking at the neatly spread white colored frilly gown spread on my bed. Nisha was mom's best friend's daughter and older to me by one year. Sometimes mom would get me dresses that Nisha had out grown. Though most of the dresses were pretty, hardly worn and well preserved, I would always cringe at the thought of wearing someone else's dress. Mom would never understand what the fuss was about and would always brush me aside.
As I stood there in confusion, I heard the gate open. It was Radha! Radha was our maid's 16 year old daughter and once in a while when Radha had a off at school she would come home to help her mother out. Radha was around four years older to me and two years younger to Didi. Radha's mother had worked with us since my childhood and even though Didi and Radha had a lesser age difference, Radha and me connected more. She would humor me, play around with me, guide me and sometimes take me around. I loved being with her. And knowingly or unknowingly I learnt a lot about life from watching her silent, well mannered conduct and mannerisms.
That day, Radha asked me if I would like to visit her at her home. I willingly agreed and with my mother's permission we walked the one km to her house. Her house was a small place in the near by low income housing community. It had one small room that served as drawing room, bedroom etc. and a kitchen. The stuff in the room though old and worn out looked warm and clean. One side of the room was a Godrej cupboard and on another side was a small TV. I recognized the TV instantly - it was our old one! I smiled. I looked around a little more - the room had two old cane stools and a old diwan. I remembered they too had come from our house.
I looked at Radha. She was beaming - ear to ear. "Come, sit! Sit..!" She said as she took a old cloth out and wiped the torn cushions on the cane stool. "I will bring you a glass of lemon juice" she said and ran inside the kitchen. She was a simple pretty girl and the joy on her face made her look prettier.
I chatted with her for sometime and after an hour or so, we walked our way back to my home. Her sky-blue dupatta brushed my hand and I looked up. I noticed that she was wearing didi's old salwar kameez. It had been one of my favorites. Now didi had outgrown it and like many of didi's earlier dresses, she had passed this dress on to Radha. Honestly, I thought all the dresses suited Radha more than it suited didi.
I looked at Radha lovingly. She never ever complained that she had to wear another's dress. I remembered the pride and pleasure we felt to see Radha looking so beautiful in didi's dresses. I remembered the stuff at Radha's home. How gracefully she and her family would accept what was passed on to them. I smiled as I held Radha's hand tightly.
Back in my house, I ran to my room to relate the day's events to didi. My gaze fell at the beautiful lacy white dress still lying on my bed. My face beamed with joy looking at the intricate laces.
I had no questions any longer and ran inside the bathroom to immediately try it on….
As I stood there in confusion, I heard the gate open. It was Radha! Radha was our maid's 16 year old daughter and once in a while when Radha had a off at school she would come home to help her mother out. Radha was around four years older to me and two years younger to Didi. Radha's mother had worked with us since my childhood and even though Didi and Radha had a lesser age difference, Radha and me connected more. She would humor me, play around with me, guide me and sometimes take me around. I loved being with her. And knowingly or unknowingly I learnt a lot about life from watching her silent, well mannered conduct and mannerisms.
That day, Radha asked me if I would like to visit her at her home. I willingly agreed and with my mother's permission we walked the one km to her house. Her house was a small place in the near by low income housing community. It had one small room that served as drawing room, bedroom etc. and a kitchen. The stuff in the room though old and worn out looked warm and clean. One side of the room was a Godrej cupboard and on another side was a small TV. I recognized the TV instantly - it was our old one! I smiled. I looked around a little more - the room had two old cane stools and a old diwan. I remembered they too had come from our house.
I looked at Radha. She was beaming - ear to ear. "Come, sit! Sit..!" She said as she took a old cloth out and wiped the torn cushions on the cane stool. "I will bring you a glass of lemon juice" she said and ran inside the kitchen. She was a simple pretty girl and the joy on her face made her look prettier.
I chatted with her for sometime and after an hour or so, we walked our way back to my home. Her sky-blue dupatta brushed my hand and I looked up. I noticed that she was wearing didi's old salwar kameez. It had been one of my favorites. Now didi had outgrown it and like many of didi's earlier dresses, she had passed this dress on to Radha. Honestly, I thought all the dresses suited Radha more than it suited didi.
I looked at Radha lovingly. She never ever complained that she had to wear another's dress. I remembered the pride and pleasure we felt to see Radha looking so beautiful in didi's dresses. I remembered the stuff at Radha's home. How gracefully she and her family would accept what was passed on to them. I smiled as I held Radha's hand tightly.
Back in my house, I ran to my room to relate the day's events to didi. My gaze fell at the beautiful lacy white dress still lying on my bed. My face beamed with joy looking at the intricate laces.
I had no questions any longer and ran inside the bathroom to immediately try it on….
1 comments:
Loved the post. Very heartfelt - touched my heart.
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