puru

Puru looked back into the pagoda of a house. It was built, a little of wood , a little of concrete and clay. The floor comprised of huge wide planks of wood , the irregular grain a stark contrast to their gleam.It exuded a strange warmth which turned nostalgic for her in due course of time.The floor ached and cracked eternally under the constant tread of feet of the young and old .The muddy brownish texture of the floor told the tale of being there since ages. The layers of dirt and grime had plastered the planks finely and the regular tread on them smoothened out the rough contours if any were ever present.The entire family used this part of the house as a conduit to other sections of the building.It also led to the kitchen in the basement where the cooking range was sheltered by a low canopy which sucked in the smoke and stopped it from spreading. Puru's grand-ma lit the fire early in the morning . She used dry crisp wood, big logs and some assortment of combustible material which included the crisp dung cakes. Procuring and storing of the fuel was a cumbersome task which involved the entire house-hold especially the children who did the job reluctantly .But Puru was enthusiastic about the whole job.She would collect even the last sliver of wood after the woodcutter was done with the chopping of the huge logs of wood which lasted them the entire winter.

The tongues of fire leapt out of the chulha and created a riot of red flames craving to lap up more and more of the stuff.The burning wood crackled as if a demon was crunching on bones.Puru would see her nani wobbling near the hearth. She had gone fat with all her body contours being absorbed by that one mass of her broad bottom and a huge belly propped up on two flat puffy white feet.She wore a long cloak as they wore in the valley and tied a band around her waist while cooking and juggling with the huge pots and pans .The white smooth grains of rice simmered on low heat till the last grain reached the perfect maturity of being cooked to its kernel.It was a long wait for Puru.She would make umpteen rounds of the kitchen till she was virtually shooed away by her nani who till then had turned into a soft jelly heap due to exhaustion.Eventually the food was served. Some ritual was usually followed before they commenced eating. Puru eyed the food hungrily and quickly offered two balls of rice to the waiting dogs outside before gobbling up the food in big morsels. each following the other in rapid succession creating more space for more to come-the insatiable hunger of a vagabond.

She and her aunt went to the same school.It was the day when the results were to be announced.She still remembered the teacher who was announcing the results.He had a pock marked face which was thick set.He looked stodgy and short and wore a smug smile which conveyed the seriousness of the matter at hand. Puru's aunt had suddenly turned pale while Puru was careless of the whole matter.She was only excited being there with the students of all grades especially she could see her aunt looking so scared and wondered why. The teacher started declaring the results in ascending order. She was in second grade. Suddenly her name was announced along with her father's name. It was unusual.The entire hall clapped for her. For the first time in her life she felt unsure and did not know how to respond.She searched out her aunt in the crowd for some assurance.Her aunt was frantically pointing out to her to clean her running nose which remained so permanentally but now since she was made to stand to receive the ovation was a big embarrassment. Puru sat down quickly and avoided the gaze of the curious children. She felt restless and wanted to rush out but she had to wait for her aunt to come with her.Her aunt was in fifth grade. she heard her aunt's name announced but not that of her father's which perhaps was taken only if the student got some rank.She also heard the word' promoted ' and saw her aunt blushing and nervous.She gave Puru a suspicious glance and beckoned her to come out. Once outside the school building puru was her old self.The small bridge which they crossed every day to reach home was always an object of attraction for Puru.It had wooden railings on both sides.Puru liked to hang over them and view the beautiful sight of the river flowing underneath.She would linger on and try to spend some time gazing over the goodies selling near by. On other days she would spend her penny in buying the snack very dear to her. But that day she could not pursuade her nani to give her the usual one paisa coin since she had sent them early to know their result.Now she felt desperate for that sweet sour churan and the roasted gram.She thought of borrowing from her aunt which she knew was very difficult to do ..Her aunt was a quite stingy and a miserly person.She never spent her pennies and hoarded them. It was a sight for Puru to view them whenever her aunt was in a mood to air them and give her a peep.Puru's heart would miss a beat and she would feel terribly jealous of her aunt and try to find ways to annoy her and take away the thrill from her.But today she wanted some money to buy the goody.The sun was bright and the sky looked gay. All around was a spring freshness and the several niceties on display looked very tempting.She requested her aunt to lend her some money .Her aunt gave her a cold and lost look. Puru could not comprehend that look but she insisted with her request.Her aunt rebuffed her and turned a deaf ear.This infuriated Puru.On such occasions puru always played on her weak points to grind her own axe. Right now she suddenly remembered the school scene. She remembered the word promoted which meant that her aunt was not a clear pass while she herself had got some rank since she was made to stand up and everybody clapped for her. Her father's name too was announced which was an added honour.Puru now turned defiant and demanded the money from her. She again refused to pay. Puru turned aggressive and something snapped in her mind.

“ Oh so what about your result.Did you pass? “Puru shouted.

“Yes I have stood first”

“You liar. No body clapped for you.You didnot even stand up.They did not even announce your father's name.You are simply promoted which means you have failed.”

Puru suddenly realised that it was she who had stood first.This emboldened her further and she threatened her aunt that she would reveal the truth to her nani.Her aunt's eyes blazed but a streak of fear also crossed them.She still insisted that it was she who stood first while Puru got promoted and Puru was too young to understand it. This was too much for Puru to take.She rushed forward and as they had reached the other end of the bridge ,pushed her with full force.Her aunt fell down but she quickly regained her stature , gnashing her teeth she pulled at puru's hair dragging her down the slope.They grappled like this till some passers-by separated them and scolding sent them away.They remained nonplussed for some time and then marched forth quietly with a deadly resolve never to talk to each other ever again.They reached home where puru's nani was waiting anxiously to hear the result. Here Puru darted a quick look at her aunt and saw her making beseechingly the sign language as was their wont in such situations, assuring her of rich rewards if she kept her secret.It raised her hopes to enjoy the secret world of her aunt which comprised of all the girly things like those beautiful phosphorescent ear rings which shone like the glow worms in the dark corners of their room when they put off the lights.She would not allow her to touch them or try them in her ears. Likewise there were other such ethereal things which Puru could never dream to possess.The beautiful needles which created yarns and yarns of woven designs. Puru was mesmerised to see her aunt knitting which she did secretly since she was forbidden to waste her time on such activities being weak in studies.Only Puru knew.So now was the time to bargain.She averred to what information her aunt passed on to her nani which was quite contrary to what had passed.She bore the curses of her grandmother quietly. She told her that she had brought shame to her parents.Both of them let it pass and the moment she left the scene they rushed out of the house. It being still the day time they made it to the garden where the succulent pods of the pea awaited their arrival.