TOOTHY IS BACK
The raindrops pattered against the tainted glass. Sohini peeked outside, it was dark and everything standstill. “Mamoni, Close the windows or you will catch cold and miss school”
Sohini thought it would be fair enough to catch cold as long as it gives her the chance to skip MR. Ghosh”s boring history lessons. Sohini loved Fridays and Mondays – for they gave her an opportunity to meet her friends at the garden – Mrs. D’souza the gardening-instructor showered upon her motherly affection and the little girl used to reciprocate the warmth by taking good care of the siblings at the garden. –The large yellow dahlias, the bouquet of roses in various shades of red, baby-pink and yellow, the conspicuous marigolds in bunches, the orchids…
“ Isn’t it marvelous to gorge upon their beauty” she whispered in Subhayu’s ears.
Blue eyes, curly hair trimmed short, fair complexioned with spectacles dangling from his neck. Subhayu was a perfect prankster had fun chasing the squirrels, trampling the bushes in turn, plucking the dahlias, stealing eggs from the bird’s nest at the garden.
“ STOP! I say Please leave her alone,” implored Sohini but the young lad was nowhere to be found.
It was a white furry creature with ears cocked, brown eyes, wet pink tongue that licked the white paws. Sohini called her Toothy and wished to pet her. Mrs. D’souza later informed us toothy was a rabbit. Subhayu wanted to take her home, so as to show it to his friends in the neighborhood. Toothy had sharp teeth liked nibbling nuts, fruits. Subhayu though disliked timid Sohini for her constant pestering and found her ridiculously strange. But they were best friends, exchanged secrets and traded their marbles amongst each other. Subhayu claimed an equal half of her tiffin and offered in return to escort her to the bustand. Sohini feared the black dog (whom she called Foxy) who dwelled on the pavements of the bus stop. Foxy had once tried to bite her when she tried to feed him. Foxy thought otherwise and had chased her.
Sohini however loved Timmy- Subhayu’s pet dog. Timmy was large, hairy, ferocious and agile. The trio were great chums and enjoyed their hols together. Last week they camped on the hill at Kinnings’s backyard that was left deserted after Mr. and Mrs. Kinnings left for Finland where their son had settled. The hill had a spring at the base dotted with cherry trees.
This weekend she was all-alone as Subhayu had been cross with her. He had asked her to paint her a portrait of Tom Sawyer for he had promised to his gang that he will be drawing one himself and better than anybody amongst them. Sohini was good at painting lessons but some how she messed up with Tom’s portrait.
She just forgot to draw Tom’s beloved knife.
“ How silly you can’t even think of Tom Sawyer without his knife Sohini” fired Subhayu. Now he was just mad at her.
“ I shall draw you a rabbit, a giraffe. Oh please don’t be angry” begged Sohini.
Mom could sense something fussy but ignored such matters for the children to deal themselves.
Sohini took up the receiver Hello! May I talk to Tom err..Subhayu; Auntie
Yes said the voice from the other end.
Hallo! Sohini, (lowering his voice) I have got toothy in the bedroom, will you like to have her back in your garden. Sohini’s eyes sparkled at those magic words, Oh! She is back, lovely! Can I see her now No tomorrow; I will be building a house for her said Tom.
Sohini kept he receiver “Ma! Toothy is back”THE ABOVE PIECE I PENNED DOWN WHILE I WAS STRUGGLING WITH MY ELECTRODYNAMICS COURSE AND SUDDENLY I WANTD TO RUN AWAY TO DISTANT LANDS THAT HAVE BEEN A TRUE ECSTASY TO MY SENSES AND I REALY ENJOYED IT PLEASE TELL ME HOW U ALL LIKE THIS !! LOL SABBYA
