Ishu's Tales-C

Ishu was perched atop the boundary wall of the house when she saw a bright yellow blob come down the approach road to their house. She squealed with delight & leapt towards the tiny iron gate. The bright yellow autorickhaw - even brighter in the overcast weather - halted lightly just then & before Mahesh could get out of it, Ishu was inside!

Two minutes later, she entered the house in her father's arms. She could smell the aroma of soft warm idlis from the kitchen. With a grin firmly pasted on her face, she alighted & ran in to get her 'class' drawing book & maths test-copy.

"3 stars!", exclaimed Mahesh, "what a lovely scenery you have made! Come here!" Mahesh was proud of Ishu's love for colours - yellow skies, red grass, blue houses, black people...

Ishu's Tales-B

Mahesh had been away for a week now.

Meeta made Ishu sit up in bed & moved to open the curtains. "Chalo get up now, its 9 AM!" Ishu opened half an eye, grumbled & toppled back in another direction.

"Have your Bournvita", Ishu was motionless. Meeta smiled. A little while later, Ishu could hear her voice at a distance, "Daddy will be here any moment..."

Ishu jumped up...hair all disheveled, carefully placed her two tiny feet on the cold metal window grill & peered out towards the gate. The road had the usual fruit-walah selling bright green guavas. She jumped down & ran to her mother who was sitting on the verandah cutting vegetables & humming an old song.

The garden was brimming with flowers...

Ishu's tales-A

"Here..", said Meeta as she thrust the phone on little Ishu's ear, "talk to daddy!"

Ishu looked puzzled as she questioningly held the cold receiver against her warm cheek. "Say Hello!" squealed her mom. A voice from the other end said, "Hello Beta!"

Ishu pulled the receiver away from her ear & looked at it...Nothing...she looked under the phone set...Nothing...she gave a knowing chuckle & dived under the table...Nothing! She put the receiver right back on her ear & complainingly remarked, "Daddy! Where are you hiding??!"

*image picked from the internet