Thursday, December 24, 2015

My precious Xmas gift

We are not celebrating Christmas this year. My sister-in-law passed away, peacefully aged 85 plus. So, the Star, with multiple coloured lights designs, was never put up, there are no cakes, no chicken. And  tomorrow, on Xmas day, the last part of the last rites will take place.
On my way home after buying veggies in the evening, I saw a thin woman, empty sack in hand, turning her little daughter's face away from the thattukada with one hand while he six or seven year old was crying and turning her head to the thattukada. They walked past me and then realisation dawned. Quickly, I turned around and walked back, past them as if I was going somewhere and seeing the girl cry, asked her why. The mother, embarrassed said she was hungry, and had not eaten since morning. She was going to the shop over there to sell some scrap.
I asked them to turn back and come with me. The little girl refused to budge but the mother persuaded her to walk back. At the thattukada, we bought two plates of chilly bajji and they happily ate it, after drinking  some water first. With a parcel of freshly made ethakka appams and bajji in their hands, they bade me bye, the little girl giving me a million dollar smile. And all that happiness cost me just Rs 96. I thought, what if I had not made the spur-of-the-moment decision to turn back and find out? It was a wonderful Christmas gift for me, the little girl Kousalya's smile. No, I did not take a picture of them, neither did they feel humiliated nor obliged, we chatted and parted as friends.
My sister in law would have been happy.