by Dr. SAROJINI SAHOO
Mother was combing their hair very neatly. Their hair had not been oiled for a long time; it was dry and waving around. She had gone to Sabari and asked for oil for one rupee. Sabari made oil by grinding castor seeds. She sells them to the shopkeeper and kept a little leftover from that.
Mother did not have any money. She said, “Keep this glass as a deposit. When I get money, I will pay you back and then take the glass back.”
Sabari twisted her mouth and said, “What will I do with the glass? A steel glass is the same as broken clay to me.”
Mother said, “I have a brass bowl, but I am attached to that bowl. When I look at the bowl I feel as if I had a bowl of rice. Don’t turn your attention to that.”
“If you could feel your stomach just by looking at the bowl, why would you want to keep your glass with me? Show me the container. I treat your daughters as mine. Go. Get lost from here. I don’t have time for you.”
Mother was very happy. She mixed water to the oil and put it on their hair. While combing their hair in the wooden comb, she also killed a few lice as well. But she did not know how to make braids. She had never braided anyone’s hair before. She still tried but wasn’t happy with the result.
Scent of Own Ink for more