Pendra Local
My whole body ached in protest. Brother snored peacefully oblivious to the world. I envied the self satisfied smile playing on his lips. It was still dark when I was rudely shaken. Roli, you fat- head, get up! Ma shouted. Light the chulha!
My whole body ached in protest. Brother snored peacefully oblivious to the world. I envied the self satisfied smile playing on his lips. It was still dark when I was rudely shaken. Roli, you fat- head, get up! Ma shouted. Light the chulha!
I staggered across. A string of chores and I was ready; running along with Chotu to catch the morning local. Ma had put new bangles on my wrists while the dusty worn salwar-kameej clung to my body uneasily.
Contorting my body to fit through the ring I was fast outgrowing I began my performance. A few coins landed on my outstretched arms.
Chotu munched on the peanuts someone gave him.
I walked to the next coach, to another performance, to another pair of eyes. That day I got a fifty rupee note: the mausi living next door chuckled “Roli has grown up.”
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