Tag a star

Impressions October 29, 2009

Posted by Tag a star in Punjab press.
Tags: children, memories
trackback

The other day I uploaded pictures of my little dolls in a photo blog of mine.

Last year I spent many wonderful moments with these two little girls. I am apprehensive that they might forget their ‘arpana aunty’ or ‘arpan pooji’ as they get older. They will most certainly continue to be in my treasured memories. These two girls have given me so much to cherish. I remember them in my prayers. They brighten my mood when I think about them.

Of the many things I remember is how Jasmine spat out a sweet, or any eatable that tasted sweet. She would frown and look around not knowing where to put it out. Hold out the palm and the little one was simply prompt to come over and spit.

She had once gone with her mother to a house which was mourning the death of a son. it had left such a deep impact on her and she was scared to even converse with people.

Then like a magical entertainment for the stupid adults around this little one Jasmine  would just sit in on the ground as she was walking. One knee folded perpendicular to the ground and the other parallel, one palm on her chest and the other on her head. Both hands simultaneously moved causing chest beating and head banging. She would cry aloud “hhaaai mera putt magggayyaaaa” repeatedly. Some nuts encouraged her to enact her wailing drama, it would upset me so much that I would talk something or do something to distract her. Nautanki khatam… elders go about their chores. Little one then went around doing anything else she pleased.

Then there is one other repetition of how the boy died, and it was a “boy” that died.

It saddened me to think how sometimes because of circumstances we allow children to pick up so much around us. We think they do not understand but they are constantly taking in so much.

Then there is my darling Baljyot.  My constant evening companion. How amused she would get with my masala dabba. Seven assorted spices in their containers. Her game was to combine it all and then assort them… It scared me. Haldi,jeera,mustard,dahaniya,fenugreek,tinychillies,saunf…separate them all

I started to hide it the moment she hollered Aaaauntieeeeeeee at the gate. She inspired me to become smarter.

She would promptly leave turning around from the door itself if there was no “cheezi”. Cheezi is junk food in their tongue.

I had many lessons from Baljyot about when I should be stirring my vegetables on the stove to how I must be pinching off dough, roll it out and then how to make phulkas. My method was different from what her mom did, so the right thing for her to do is correct Arpan auntiee.

The wonderful moments we spent with her lying upon me in the quiet of the twilight is one of the most fulfilling moments of mine. The young ones know just what they want.

The dolls did leave an impression upon me by being with me and by showing innocently what impressions had been left in their minds.