A Doll Story

Kalay a dhobi, in Coimbatore district is the grandmother of two kids Radha, and Sabha. Radha the elder granddaughter, with Sabha being an infant, Radha takes care of him while Kalay is away.

Kalay was the only caretaker of Radha and Sabha.

As she lost, her entire family, in a stone quarry accident.

The amount she earned in dhobi, was less but she was contented with it, as she had to live for her grandchildren.

Radha with the age of five was playful as well as a responsible and attentive girl. She helps her granny where ever possible.

Everyday Radha accompanies Kalay.

Kalay regularly visits each house around midday to collect the clothes, and Radha accompanies her as Sabha can’t be left alone.

It was Divali, Kalay visits the SomaSundaram’s house to collect the clothes.

Kalay: "Shakthi Amma Is there clothes that need a wash?"

Shakti Amma: "Kalay, come in. Mahi do you remember her?"

Kalay: "Oh its Mahi, She has grown saw her a decade ago, she went for higher education."

Mahi: "Smiling, I am doing good. Just came for vacation, this is my daughter Rukmani."

Kalay: "Shakthi Amma, you didn't invite us to marriage."

Shakti Amma: "Radha got adopted daughter, Mahi is unmarried. She wanted a child, and she adopted one. We were against it, but she stood firm, and she doesn't care about society."

Chit chats happened, Kalay and Radha leave for work.

Next day Kalay delivered the clothes,

Radha shies at Rukmani, Rukmani sees her and pulls her inside her room and both of them become friends.

Rukmani shows her a Barbie Doll. She gives it a bath, dresses it and then places it inside the dollhouse.

The entire day she spends the time in her dollhouse along with Barbie and friends.

Radha silently watches Rukmani and then joins her.

Time separated them, Mahi started packing up the luggage while packing the clothes Mahi asked Rukmani.

Mahi: "Rukmani dear, have you packed all your dolls?"

Rukmani: "yes, mama".

Mahi: "let me check where is your Barbie Doll?"

Rukmani: "Don’t know mama, it's missing from yesterday."

Mahi: "you lost your favorite doll? , ok fine, be careful with toys. Will get you one once we reach home."

Rukmani, "with tears in eyes, says Ok Mama."

They left the place on the way to the airport, Rukmani meets Radha and says silent TATA.

After a week, Kalay comes to Shakthi, and receive the clothes. The usual chit chat happens,

Shakti sees Radha and gets angry at her.

Radha was playing with Rukmani’s Barbie doll. The doll which defined her granddaughter.

She starts shouting at Kalay and insults her. Kalay pleads her, but everything went in vain.

Radha sees the entire scene as a puppet. Suddenly Kalay gets angered and starts beating the Radha.

Radha cries, but nothing stopped Kalay soon Shakti realizes her mistake.

Shakti: "Kalay, please stop beating, the child."

Kalay: "At this age, if she does theft, she will demean, my family in the future. Being soft doesn't help."

Shakti intervenes and pushes Kalay and hugs Radha.

Shakti: "Nothing dear granny lost mind", and she wipes her tears, gives the doll to her.

Kalay pleads her and says sorry for everything and returns the Barbie doll to her and leaves the place.

Later in the night, Radha keeps crying. Kalay tries to console her.

Radha: "Amamma, I didn’t steal anything. Rukmani only gave me".

Kalay: "Radha we are weak, we shouldn't accept things from others. People judge and demean us with words".

There is a difference in Poor and robbers, at any cost don't earn that name, it's fine to die out of hunger, but don't steal.

Radha: "Then get me a doll, I don’t have a birthday frock, and no one plays with me".

Kalay: "Radha, will get you one by next week. Till that time Sabha is everything for you play with him".

Kalay leaves Radha, at home and goes to the market, to purchase the groceries and she gets a doll.

When she opened the door, she witnessed the shock, her smile and happiness get wiped out, she goes down on her knees and cries.

She realized her mistake now when she said: "Sabha is everything for her, play with him".

Probably one needs to blame poverty, not the innocents.