A Pair Of Golden Slippers

On most evenings, Mahi and her friends would run around barefoot on the sidewalks overflowing with a scuffling crowd of pedestrians, but today was a special day. There was a wedding in the neighbourhood. The entire alley had been decorated with glittering streamers.

Mahi was home trying on her yellow dress with goldenflowers for the evening celebrations. The dress once belonged to her elder sister but now it was hers. Mahi smiled at her reflection in the mirror which only caught half her image. She stood on her toes to get a full-length view but barely managed it. She looked down at her feet and remembered that she had not yet tried on her precious golden slippers. She rushed towards the old iron trunk kept in the corner of the room and excitedly removed a package. Inside the packet were a pair ofred and golden slippers, a gift from her grandfather two years ago on her tenth birthday. It was the only thing that truly belonged to her while everything else had been passed down to her by her elder sister or a distant cousin. The pair of slippers were worn on special occasions and usually kept wrapped in a rag inside a jute bag away from the prying eyes of her younger sister. Mahi excitedly tried on the slippers to complete her look for the evening. A cry of pain escaped heras she pushed her right foot through the slippers. The golden straps gnawed at her toe biting into the skin. The slipper seemed to protest the forced entry but Mahi continued her attempt with a look of undeniable persistence on her face. She was about to make another attempt to slide her foot through the slippers when she heard her mother calling out to her 

“Mahi, Mahi, come here”. Mahi walked out with the pair in her hand 

“Good, bring me the slippers… You have now outgrown them so hand it over to Mitu” Her mother had barely finished the sentence when her younger sister Mitu snatched the pair of slippers from her hand.

“No Mitu… give me back my slippers” cried Mahi, almost pushing her young sister to the ground.  

“ Mahi! This is no way to treat your younger sister, return the slippers to her”, ordered Mahi’s mother sternly.  

Mahi reluctantly stretched her hand and gave the pair of slippers to her younger sister. Tears welled up in her eyes and she felt a lump in her throat. The inescapable reality of growing up had stripped her of her prized possession. She resisted the urge to break into a sob protesting against all that is transient. She watched the new owner, her younger sister, gleefully slipping her feet into the slippers.

‘ What will I wear to the wedding today?”, Mahi asked turning toward her mother

“You can wear your elder sister’s black sandals which she gave you last week,” replied the tired middle-aged womannonchalantly.

“But they are so old besides they will not go with my yellow dress” retorted Mitu making one last futile attempt to recover her lost possession.

Mitu’s mother glared at her without saying a word and left the room. Mitu slumped into the chair without further argument. She knew that the slippers were lost forever. She watched her younger swirl with joy as the little bells on the slippers made a jingling sound.

“Look Mitu , how pretty my feet look”. The little girl cried triumphantly oblivious of her elder sister’s pain.

Mahi bit her lips and stood helplessly; she looked at the pair of black slippers lying in the corner. The pair appeared intimidating to her, they appeared stern and strong. There was no cheer or a hint of colour in their appearance although they seemed proud to have passed the test of time. The sole of the sandals was secured to the foot with thick black straps over the ankle as if to restrict her flight and keep her firmly on the ground. She remembered her sister wearing them on her daily chores before she was married and sent away to her in-laws’home. On her wedding day, her sister had worn a pair of brown sandals embellished with a golden hem. They were a vast improvement on the pair of black sandals lying in the corner.

Mahi walked towards the sandals and glided her right foot inside; they were a little big and made her foot look broad. A tear rolled down her cheek. 

‘Good, you are wearing the sandals. I got them mended for you”, said Mahi’s mother smilingly as she entered the room 

“I don’t like them. They are ugly”, muttered Mahi suppressinga sob.

“Mahi, you must learn to share. Those golden slippers no longer fit you and…… “

“But, they were a gift to me from grandfather, besides I could easily manage to wear them to the wedding today.” Argued Mahi

“Mahi, you had blisters and shoe bites on your feet the last time you wore them…no more arguing, you will wear these black sandals to the wedding.” said mother visibly angry

“ I rather not go,” said Mahi defiantly

“ If this is your attitude, then it is best you do not.” said Mahi’s mother and walked out of the room.

Mahi felt a wave of anger spread over her. Her cheeks turned crimson as she tried to control her emotions. She hated her little sister and blamed her for all that had happened. She saw her sister trying on the golden slippers with delight and she was overcome with jealousy. As soon as their mother was out of sight. She summoned her younger sister. 

“Mitu, come here”. The little girl came with a delightful smile on her face “ Yes Mahi di” 

“ Mitu, You know what would make these slippers even more beautiful?”

“ What Mahi di?” the little girl said with a curious look in her eyes.

“ We could add some bells on the strap and they would jingle when you walk”.

“ Really could we really add bells to the straps? That would be so wonderful… but where do we find bells”

“ You do not worry about that, just give me the slippers and I will get it done”.

“Ok di, but will it be ready for the wedding today”

“of course. I will get it done right away”.

Mitu handed over the golden slippers to Mahi and left the room skipping and humming.

Mahi had not thought this through, the only thing she knew was that she did not want Mitu to have the slippers if she could not. She walked out of the house with the slippers under her elbow. She thought of different things she could do with the slippers. She could dump them on the sidewalk, cut the straps so that they could not be worn or simply give it away. She walked out on the dirty street teeming with people. She dodged a little boy on a broken cycle and a lady carrying a bucket of water. Everything around her seem to be in a state of suspended motion. Her thoughts were filled with jealousy and anger. She wanted to punish her sister for taking her prized possession and her mother for allowing it. She knew that she would never possess such a beautiful pair again and she was not ready to let this one yet. As she walked through the puddles of rain water, she saw the old cobbler sitting with his goods on the sidewalk. As if without thinking she walked towards the stall. He had beautiful pairs of slippers on display. There were golden slippers with delicate straps for smallerfeet. They are in lovely golden and red straps. Then there were sturdier slippers which were mainly in brown and black colours they were for working women. Her mother had a similar pair. Then there were slippers for girls of her age, they were pretty with no bells or lace, but they looked firm with a slight heel as if declaring their elevated position compared to the little golden slippers. She was captivated by the pink pair of sandals. It had no golden embellishments, neither did it have a red sheen of the slippers she was carrying. But they seem to hold her attention. They were in solid coloursalthough a little subdued. 

“Bhima Kaka, how much are those pink pair of sandals” asked Mahi

“150 Rupees dear”

Mahi knew she couldn’t afford them. She was crestfallen.Mahi looked down at the golden slippers in her hand and suddenly she no longer felt the urgent need to own them. The slippers seemed to lack the sophistication of the pink sandals. 

“Kaka, could you put bells on the straps of these slippers” said Mahi as she handed the pair of slippers to the old man

“Show me… oh these are your favourite  slippers…they are still in a good condition”

Mahi gave a half smile with a hint of pride and acknowledgement.

“A little small for your feet now… aren’t they?”

“Yes kaka… I am giving them to Mitu… she wants to wear them to the wedding today” She was surprised at her own words. She couldn’t remember when she accepted that the slippers were now Mitu’s.

“That is really good of you… let me see if I can put some bells on them… ah yes I will add a pair of bells on each strap”

Mahi watched the old cobbler busy with his work. As she watched him she felt a sense of pride and satisfaction. Her initial feelings of jealousy seem to evaporate. As soon as the bells were put in the straps, the look of the slippers changed. They looked brand new and they seem to look different from their earlier appearance. As if they were now ready for a new owner. 

“How much do I pay you for this Kak”

“It is 5 rupees”

“Kaka, I have only 2 rupees now….

“ It is Ok….you run along now”

“Thanks, kaka. Mahi had saved the 2 rupees to have her favourite candy, but somehow she seemed to no longer care about that”

As she walked home with the pair of slippers in her hand, the jingling of the little bells served as delightful music. Mahi smiled at herself as she imagined the happiness on Mitu’s face when she would look at the slippers. Mahi almost ran home in excitement. The girl who had left home bitter and angry just an hour ago returned like a triumphant hero. 

“Mitu, Mitu… see I have your slippers”

Mitu eagerly unwrapped the packet and squealed in joy as she saw the little bells on the slippers. She quickly slipped her tiny feet into the slippers and began prancing around the room. 

“Mother look at my beautiful slippers’ cried Mitu as mother came to the room wondering what all the noise was about. “Mother Mahi di got the bells on the straps”

“That is really nice of you Mahi” grinned Mahi’s mother “The slippers look beautiful”

“ Mother, see, they also make this wonderful sound as I walk “ cried Mitu as she took tiny steps across the room. She seemed lost in the jingling sound of the bells. Mitu skipped, twirled, tiptoed and raced around the house.

“Be careful Mitu, you know how preciously Mahi di had kept the pair and now that she has given them to you, you need to treasure it”.

“Yes, mother. Thanks, Mahi di” Mitu hugged mahi, carefully removed the slippers, and wrapped them in the jute back.

“Mahi, I have something for you too.” Mother said with a smile handing a little packet to Mahi.

Mahi was surprised and quickly took the packet. Inside the brown paper bag was a pair of beige sandals. The straps had been recently mended and they had a slight heel. There was a tiny red bow on the side. They were an old pair but in good condition. Mahi looked at her mother quizzingly

“Your sister came by with this for you. She had called yesterday and told me that she would not be able to attend the wedding today but she wanted to send these sandals for you so that you can wear them with your yellow dress. They arrived while you were away”.

Mahi tried the sandals without a word as she stood in them, she felt older and a little taller.