Meena
“Did you warm the banana leaves before packing the food?” – mother in law.
Looking for the comb, there comes another question, “Where is my watch?” – Husband.
“Give me a towel, paappaa has vomited on me” – granddad with granddaughter.
All dolled up. Jimikki, new neck chain, new anklet, new skirt… too big though.. comes on the way when trying to run.. Jalak Jalak anklet, jiljiljiljil when I run.
Preethi
“Where is the comb?”
“Where is the watch?”
“What, don’t you know where your watch is?”
“And don’t you know where your comb is?”
“Have you packed the food properly? In our days we used to pack in banana leaves. My mother in law used to warn me to warm the leaves all the time..”
“Give me a towel, paappaa has vomited on me…”
All dolled up. Jimikki, new neck chain, new anklet, new skirt… too big though.. comes on the way when trying to run.. Jalak Jalak anklet, jiljiljiljil when I run.
Ritu
“Where is the comb?”
“Where is the watch”
“What, don’t you know where your watch is?”
“And don’t you know where your comb is?”
“Don’t run, don’t run… look, she has vomited now.. gosh, where is the towel..”
“Ask me for everything. Here.”
All dolled up. Jimikki, new neck chain, new anklet, new skirt… too big though.. Comes on the way when trying to run.. Jalak Jalak anklet, jiljiljiljil when I run.
Nush
“Have you packed her stuff”?
Looking for the comb, there comes another question. “Where is the watch”
“Don’t ask me for everything. Don’t you know where your watch is?”
“Have you taken water for her? Have you taken food for her… Ok, don’t look at me like that. I am going.. Give me a towel, she has vomited on me. OK, I know where the towel is. Now, you stop looking at me like that and get ready please”.
All dolled up. Jimikki, new neck chain, new anklet, new skirt… too big though.. Comes on the way when trying to run.. Jalak Jalak anklet, jiljiljiljil when I run.
Tamil Version
4 comments:
Lovely prema. Once again you have them so much the same and yet so different. I love these pieces of writing. :)
Thanks Michelle. :)
Prems, lovely idea. Flows beautifully in both languages. Have you heard of the "If these walls could talk" series? They are more on the americanized feminism ideals, but here you are showing gently the liberties flowering slowly among tamil women. I like the fact that you keep them all as people "trying their best" to be human given the cultural context of their time period. Lovely.
Prema, I've fallen in love with your blog. You are the only other person besides R.K. Narayan whose writings on our 'ooru'and its bitter sweetness have moved me. A doubt, Why name them Meena, Preethi, Rita and Nush? Preethi?
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