Aalu ka aachar

"Gulllu , gullu come outside your colors have arrived " . Badi mummy was calling me as my much-awaited gift has arrived. I was 5 or 6 yrs old, living with my grandparents and uncles. My father used to work in nearby town and mother was posted in village. I always thought they abandoned me . But my Badi mummy never made me feel that. She used to bathe me, comb me while we sat on a mat during spring. My nights usually start with the same "vasuki nag " story . It was not actually the story, but it was the way badi mummy used to narrate it. The way she develops the charm everything She told me the story awesome. My imaginative personality developed because of that. I feel I got the knack to see people as stories because I heard a lot of them from her . And sometimes I used to think them as real. Like one in which Prithviraj Chauhan elopes with sanyukta . 

One day as she was making potato's pickle, I went inside her room. I opened her dressing table drawer and with awe I took the makeup kit ( which actually belonged to my chachi) and started painting my face . I plastered my face white and thinking that I look beautiful and no one notices anything, I went outside. I sat across her and said that these days I look fairer . "Haina ! Badi mummy " . She looked at me smiled and put a small piece of potato in my mouth . I thought she didn't caught me . I am so clever . Days went by and I used to paint my face nearly every day . Then one day I heard her talking on phone with my mom. And she told her that I feel alone maybe that's why I have found new ways to curb my loneliness. I thought now I will get a good beating . I stopped using the makeup . 

Potato's pickle was kept in sunshine so that they can absorb oil. And like them I have absorbed the fact that she notices everything, and I am not that smart . It was embarrassing for me that I was using makeup and getting ready as a clown each day and she knew it . It was embarrassing to go in front of her . So I started spending my time with Angel (my pet) . 

Then one day she was sitting outside opening the pickles dabba's to smell them . She called me and told me to sit down. She had good tailoring skills as well and she made me a beautiful dress . I was unaware when she made it ? Maybe when I used to sleep, or at school . It was a peacock color frock with a belt . I loved frocks . I was so happy seeing that new dress . She told me to wear it . It was fit and beautiful. Then she told me to sit down. I thought she wanted to comb my hair. But she bought the makeup kit and applied over me keenly and with a smile . She even put a black dot behind my ear. And said , " now you look like my princess " . 

I was gleaming with joy. Looking myself again and again in mirror. Then she bought hot stuffed paranthas to serve me . Oh yes ! I tasted the potato pickle as well . It was yummy not because the sun helped to absorb the oil but because it was made with love by my Badi mummy !!! 

I still hold that memory crystal clear in sepia version in back of my head. I recently lost her, but she is in me, I am half of her. ❤️❤️❤️❤️