How I keepeth my Dolls

Little Nappinai was running down the street ,she was getting late and darkness was already setting in. If she didn’t hurry up Amma would get worried and would send thatha to find her,who in turn will get all anxious and ordain that she should not go alone again.Not that she was afraid of that.She had always got her way and thatha was so patient and never got angry.She was stubborn and wasn’t she the only child? thatha’s pet?Thinking thus she adjusted her specs and smiled at the smell of sundal that Lalitha mami had made which still lingered in her fingers.The sundal had been good. Her favorite kadalai parrupu.While she was thinking thus she tripped on the wretched stone outside Nalini aunty’s home.Her saree which her mother had wrapped around her in a Gujrati style was slightly in disarray.Already the front had flecks of coconut flakes that had been used to garnish the sundal she had before.She hastily dusted them off. This was no ordinary saree.It was amma’s wedding reception pattu saree. Beautiful parrot green with pink border. This garment was not to be taken carelessly.Now .she had made a mess of it.She will quietly get out of the saree and change before her mother notices when she returns home. She knew amma would be busy with other guests.She would not tell her and feign ignorance.Perhaps she can dump it behind the almirah in thatha’s room.
Nappinai had been a good girl today. She had diligently visited all homes she was asked to that day.Now it was time to return home after Nalini aunty’s. Besides,her friends had said they would visit her home this evening.Also wasn’t she needed when the mangalam would be sung at the end of the evening? She always loved this time of the year when young girls like her were given all the importance.Each one was treated like a little princess.Pondering thus she had now reached the doorstep of Nalini aunty’s who was now yelling for her to come in. Vaa vaa ,amma anupinangala? Aamaam aunty she said feeling a little uncomfortable. She all of sudden felt uncomfortable in that saree for Nalini aunty’s eldest son was snickering at her saree and calling her a iyer maami.Stupid fellow she thought she was not even iyer, was an iyengar and then got angry at her mother.Why cant she skip around in frocks? why be dressed in a saree? Thank God it had been the Gujrati one today.The madisar was when she would get the maximum comments.She turned and glared at him through her round specs. By now Nalini aunty had sensed the reddening of the face and said,Avan chumma valayadraan ,seriousa eduthukadha in that quintessential Madras way of mixing english words with tamil.A colonial relic but also what made the language of the place famous and infamous.By now he held out a five star in truce. She ignored and turned to Nalini aunty who took it form her son and gave her. Now the chocolate had been given and that moron had been put in place she took out the kumkuma chimizhl and said to Nalini aunty,“engathla golu vechiruku vethla paaku eduthuka vaango.” With that she heaved a sigh and skipped out, her dolls were waiting for her she must hurry…