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Young World
The surprise gift
SUNILA GUPTE
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Jenny was helping her Granny find a book and then she saw it…a veritable treasure.
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But why, why, Mama, why today of all days, do I have to go to Granny’s? We booked the movie tickets before the Christmas rush started...everyone is going,” wailed Jenny. She looked rebellious, her eyes bright with indignation, and irritation. How could her mother make her forego the long awaited movie? “Jenny! Be reasonable! I have to go with Aunt Helen to the hospital and I promised Granny I would be there. Aunt won’t be there and I don’t like
to leave her alone...so, no arguments please. Besides, how often have I ‘made’ you go? You go so often on your own, saying it’s fun at Granny’s.”
Surprise find
Suddenly Jenny’s father said sternly, “We asked Granny to look after you when you were little....”
For him, the issue was closed.
Not for Jenny though. She followed her mother to the kitchen. She looked sulky. “Why can’t you ask Prema, the maid, to go...she goes and stays with her sometimes..”
“Because I have already, and she can’t,” replied her mother briskly.
“It’s not fair!” burst out Jenny.
“Life is never fair, I’ve told you before. Tough luck, Jenny, but you have to go.”
This conversation went round and round in her head as she reached Granny’s place.
Then she pinned on a bright smile, because, basically she had good manners.
“Hi, Granny. Why are you looking so worried?”
“Jenny, I had promised my friend a book, I thought it was in the bookshelf, but it isn’t.”
Granny had the most amazing collection of books and comics and magazines — old ones they never got to see these days.
“Let’s get that box down from the loft, Granny, and we’ll check; the watchman will take it down.”
They spent a good hour, looking through the books and granny was relieved when she finally got the book. “What’s this? An album! Look at the photos!” Both laughed at her aunt and mother, who had been living in Bombay at that time, wearing bell-bottoms and skirts, and pointed-toe shoes.
“And Mama won’t let me use even nail polish!” Then Jenny found a thick envelope.
“Granny, these are stamps — old ones. You know I collect stamps and now I find it so difficult because we use the email or the phone or sms.” Jenny couldn’t believe her eyes...stamps from the 1940s when her granddad had gone to the UK! 1950s, 1960s...series of flower stamps, bird stamps...so many.
This was treasure! Granny just laughed and said, “You found them Jenny, so they are yours.”
“Granny, this is the ‘bestest’ gift I have ever got for Christmas! Thank you, thank you…”
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