The Colorful Lehenga

"Aye! Minki! Why do you always keep roaming here and there? Come help me with the household a little!," shouted Kanta, the maid. But the little minki would go to her mother and ask her to braid her hair. Minki was a little 11 year girl from a village. Her father was a professor and often went out to teach other children while minki's mother was 7 month pregnant. Minki would put her ear to her mother's belly and talk to her brother/sister. She had a rich friend named, Vineeta. She unfortunately couldn't speak. She met her in the village ground painting a beautiful drawing. She was wearing a ORANGE frock. She looked very creative and enthusiastic. Minki went forward and introduced herself, but she didn't get a reply.

She grew curious and asked the girl to write down her name. Her name was Vineeta. Minki held Vineeta's hand and started dragging her somewhere. She came into the woods and showed her the natural beauty of the nature. The tall GREEN trees were very mesmerizing! Minki walked towards an old banyan trees and saw her grandma. She affectionately cuddled minki. People of the village would say that she has mental illness as she would mumble unknown things to herself. Minki introduced Vineeta to her grandma. She made both of them white marble necklaces as both of them chattered. They both ran off to explore the jungle when an old man named, sukhi, caught hold of Vineeta and took her back to the mansion. Minki just stood there. A few days later, Vineeta invited her to her mansion. Minki happily agreed. She was welcomed by Sukhi Kaka and Vineeta. She held her hand enthusiastically and ran inside. She bumped into someone and looked up to find her father. "Where are you running of naughty girl?" Her dad asked. Vineeta introduced Minki to her father.

"It's good that you are making good friends here, just like your mother wants." Vineeta's eyes lit up hearing the mention of her mother. Her mother lived abroad and barely got time to spend with her. After reading her mother's letter she held minki's hand and led her to her room. She showed her many toys and ate orange (as fruit, not colour) toffees. They both spend their time mostly in the wild. Minki was feeling very bad for Vineeta, she wanted to bring back her voice. She went to her grandma and asked for solution. "Minki, there is only one solution, that is to pray to Morpankhi, a god." She nodded and waited patiently for perfect moment. One night, she snuck out of the house and went towards the woods. And hid behind a rock to spot Morpankhi. 

"Minki peeked out of the rock and saw Morpankhi. She shyly asked him for the BLUE ruby, which would bring back her voice. The god handed her the ruby and she ran away to Vineeta. She didn't see her anywhere and panicked. Someone kept a cloth on her face and... " 

Wohh..she got out of her Imagination and saw Morpankhi dancing. She went towards and him and asked him for the BLUE ruby. He happily gave her the ruby. She herself made a necklace for her as a gift.

She made it and went towards her house. She didn't see anyone around and asked Sukhi where she was. "She is going abroad, she left just now" he said. Minki rushed and saw their car going. She ran as fast as she could and the car stopped. She gave her the necklace and hugged her with sadness. But she promised she would visit soon.

After, Vineeta went away, Minki was very bored and felt alone. But after somedays her mood settled as Vineeta would send her letters telling about the weather and her voice. During this time, she built friendship with the post man, Damu Kaka. She would always talk to him and tell him about her dreams. She would tell "Please write a letter to my dad telling that I want a beautiful lehenga which has PURPLE blouse which shows my spirituality, WHITE dots all over the blouse which shows my peaceful nature and a PINK chuni with white dots. I would be really happy if that happens!" One day, Minki was scolded, she was very sad and ran away to the forest. While coming back, she saw Damu Kaka leaving. "Minki-" he tried to call her. "Not now Kaka!" She yelled. After a few days she ran towards the post station to post her letter to Vineeta. She was shocked to see that Damu Kaka wasn't there! She searched everywhere but couldn't find him. She saw another postman and inquired about Damu Kaka. "Oh, dear you're late, he just got a promotion and went away" Hearing this this she was very unhappy. She turned back to leave when to postman called her. She turned and found a huge box for her. It was for minki and it said "to my naughty girl, Minki."

She happily opened the box and found the same lehenga she described. She wore it and ran towards the forest to show it to her tree friends. (She made friends with the nature and trees around her) She spotted a forest fire and heard some screaming sounds of an animal, probably a deer. She carefully went there and saw a deer. It was BROWN in color, decorated with BLACK dots showing its elegance. She didn't waste much time and carried it in her hands. The path to the vet was on the other side of the lake. The lake was not very deep but was deep for minki. She stepped inside slowly and walked. The water came up till her stomach now. She came out of the water and placed the deer on the GREEN grass. She saw a wound through which blood was flowing continuously.

She tore her lehenga and tied it to the wound. She placed the deer near the vet's door as she knew the doctor was her dad's friend and she would be bombarded with questions. She rang the bell and left. She hid behind a rock and saw the doctor picking it up. She went home as the deer was safe. The next day she slowly entered the vet's office and saw the deer resting. She touched it's fur. And patted it. The worker there saw her and shooed her away but when the doctor came he asked him to bring Minki to him. The worker went and fetched her. She was scared as he might scold her. The doctor came and smiled at her and said, "Dear, minki you didn't think about yourself and thought about this creature, I'm touched by your honesty and sincerity. You may release this deer in the wild where it's free." Minki smiled and happily took the deer and released it. The deer became a good friend of minki. But she often thought about her ruined lehenga. A few days later she saw her father home and hugged him affectionately. He gifted her the same described lehenga and a pair of gold bangles. She was really happy and wrote letters to her great friends, Damu Kaka and Vineeta.