One cold, breezy morning, my grandma woke up early because she had to prepare namkeen and sweets, as there was a feast at our home. She got up, went to the washroom, took a bath, and wore an old saree, thinking it might get dirty while cooking. As soon as she finished putting on her saree, she headed towards the side table to wear her spectacles but couldn’t find them. She looked everywhere โ in the bathroom, under the bed, in her cupboard, and on the veranda. Poor Grandma couldnโt find her spectacles, so she decided to wake me up. I was sleeping like a log.
โBeta, good morning! Wake up!โ
โI canโt find my specs. Did you keep them anywhere?โ she asked.
I was in a deep sleep. I could just mumble, โDadi, noโฆโ and went back to sleep.
She was tense. She sat for a while, thinking about how she could cook without her spectacles. But then her eyes fell on the clock.
โOh no! Iโm running late. I have to go to the kitchen,โ she said and hurried off.
She placed the kadhai on the stove and added some mustard oil instead of refined oil. Then she went to the vegetable basket, grabbed some onions and potatoes to make sabji, came near the kitchen platform, and took the knife to cut the veggies. ButโOuch! she screamed. She had cut her finger instead of the potato.
Her scream was so loud that I woke up. I ran towards the kitchen and saw that the platform was red, and Grandma was crying. I ran to the bedroom, got the first aid kit, and said, โDadi, donโt cry. Iโll apply the medicine and your finger will be healed.โ
โOkay,โ she said. I applied the medicine and covered the wound with cotton.
Then I told her, โDadi, no need to cook until and unless you find your spectacles.โ
โButโฆโ she began to say something, but I stopped her. I called Shambhu, our cook, and asked him to come home.
Within half an hour, Shambhu arrived. He was shocked to see Grandma and asked,
โWhat happened to Aunty?โ
โHer finger got cut while chopping vegetables,โ I replied.
โHow? That never happens!โ he exclaimed.
โAhhh! Dadi lost her specs. Thatโs why. Did you see them anywhere, Shambhu?โ
โYes! Yesterday, while making the evening chai, she took off her specs and left them on the oven. I found them and kept them in the drawer.โ
โOh, thank you so much, dear Shambhu!โ Grandma said gratefully.
She quickly put them on and was as happy as a peacock dancing.
She got up from the stool to cook, but I clearly said no and told her,
โDadi, you just found your specs, and your finger isnโt healed yet. Itโs better to rest.โ
โHey! If Aunty canโt cook today, we can!โ Shambhu said.
I added, โAnd Dadi can tell us the steps for making the dishes.โ
Dadi agreed with our idea and gave us the instructions. We followed them carefully.
Soon, all the dishesโcurry of potato and onion, daal, rice, roti, paneer, and papadโwere ready! We made Grandma taste each one. She liked all of them and gave both of us two hundred rupees as a reward. We were happy and enjoyed the feast joyfully.
Meet the Young Writer
Hello! I am Tashvi Jalan. I am from the beautiful city of Guwahati, Assam. I am a student of Grade 5 at Sanskriti The Gurukul, a day boarding school. My hobbies include doing art and craft, dancing, and reading books. I am also interested in writing stories and composing short poems on my own. Thank you!
