The regular readers of my blog already know about Sikku. She was my mom’s foster daughter. My mom loved her more than she loved me. One day, my mom washed clothes and brought them out of the house to dry them. It was one of the rare sunny days in Gangtok and Ma found it perfect to do some cleaning work. Those of you are aware of the climatic condition of Central Himalayas would know that getting a rain-free dry day in those places is as rare as founding an oyster with a pearl inside.
Ma happily brought all the clothes outside and started spreading them on the clothesline. Madam Sikku was busy playing inside the house but when she saw Ma was spreading the clothes, she excitedly came running out of the house. She came and gave her cute toothless grin and my ma’s heart melted like a molten chocolate. She said in her childish voice “main bhi kapla sukhaoo?” (Should I also dry the clothes). After that amazing smile and cute words, no human being on earth would have the heart to refuse her. So Sikku Madam picked up one cloth from the basket with her tiny hand and with the other hand she grabbed the rope on which Ma was spreading the clothes. Very neatly she spread the cloth on the rope and looked proudly at Ma. My Ma was already under an overdose of cuteness and this proud achievement by her daughter further melted her heart. She flashed a wider grin at her cute bundle of joy and nodded.
However, picture abhi bhi baki hain mere dost(This is not the end of story). The moment she left the rope, following the rule of elasticity the rope sprang up dislodging most of the clothes that were hanging from it. Half of the clothes fell on the grass beneath.
The previous day, it had rained heavily and the grass was still wet and muddy. Most of the freshly washed clothes now resembled kabbadi players who had just concluded their match on a muddy field. In those days there was no washing machine and Ma had hand-washed all of them. Looking at her hard work going literally down the drain Ma must have gone into some kind of trauma-induced trance.
Sikku understood something was wrong. She tried to salvage the situation. She started picking up the clothes and hanging on the rope. However, her little hands were not enough for the job. So, while she was picking up one cloth, the other was falling down. The more she was trying to put the clothes stubbornly the more those clothes were being adamant about not staying on the rope. By the time all clothes were looking identical brown in colour and slimy in appearance.
I guess this was enough for Ma; she ran and took all clothes from her hands. Sikku in her desperation had also put few clothes in the basket. As a result, the few clean clothes that were lying unperturbed in the basket had also turned muddy. Ma went inside cursing her bad luck. By the time Ma finished washing the clothes once again Gangtok Sun had gone on a sabbatical. Thus, for the remaining few days our living room resembled a Dhobi Talao and Ma kept uttering “ei meyetar janya” (for this girl). However more than anger, I guess there were love and indulgence in her tone.
Beautifully written Balaka
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Thanks Kurian
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You are welcome Balaka
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That was another super mushy anecdote about your Ma and Sikku
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Thanks Akshata..mushy indeed😁
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Super cute. I need to read more of Sikku now
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You can click on the link and find more..thanks for reading and commenting.
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Kids can be frustrating that’s for sure, but yes, we always love them in the end. Beautiful story.
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Thanks Ness..yes we do love them
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Funny anecdote Balaka! Kids! cant live with them cant live without them!
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True Meena.. thanks for reading
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That was such touching story. Love them or hate them but we need them.
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Yes…we need them..thanks for reading and commenting
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This was one story with cuteness overloaded. I can recall numerous instances myself when I spoiled things for my mum, but she only pressed her lips in response and went about her job.
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Thanks…I guess we all did…
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You can never stay angry with a little kid who is trying so hard to help. Cute story.
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Yes..it is difficult to stay angry with small kids.
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awwww this melted my heart Balaka, I m glad we are connected through this fest, love your way of writing 🙂
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I am glad to connect as well. Thanks for reading.
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Ha ha! I do remember Sikku, Balaka! Lovely story then, and equally lovely story now! Had a smile on my face all the time reading your post that concluded in a laugh! 🙂
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Glad to know that my story made you smile😁😁
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I have always believed that bad situations make good memories, just as this one has. This anecdote made me smile.
Pity your Mom all the washing though!
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Yes indeed bad situations make lovely memories… thanks a lot for reading and commenting
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Really cute Indeed !
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I could totally picture the incident. cute story.
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This is such a sweet story. You have a beautiful way of bringing life to simplicity through words.
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Thank you for the nice words dear
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Aww that was cute, and heartwarming to read. I have to read more of Sikku now, so will check out the link you shared. 🙂
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Please check out. I am really happy that you liked the anecdote. Thanks Shanaya
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Hahaha…surely for that girl, Sikku the sweet little spoiler! Could see the things unfolding right in front of my eyes Balaka. Excellent story telling dear.
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Thank you Anagha
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Interesting to know of little Sikku. Poor MA though.
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I got so much engrossed reading this story of Sikku and your mom that I forgot which prompt was this written until I reached the end. I had read about Sikku as part of your April stories. And then it was heartbreaking when she had to leave along with his parents when they had to move out of Sikkim. I wonder how did Sikku react after your mother grabbed and took all the dirty clothes inside to wash again. If I would have been in Sikku’s place, I would have cried like hell. If I would have been in your mother’s place, having to wash all the clothes with hand, I would not have spoken to anybody in anger for atleast 2 days. I will tell you another aspect – If I had done something like this with my mother, I would have surely received a thrashing.
Ye rahi meri kahani tumhari kahani ke extension main 🙂 Der aayi durust aayi, main?
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I bet, if I had done that instead of Sikku, mon would have thrashed me..Sikku Kiya to usko maaf kar diya…
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Aww! This is such a sweet story and I can relate to it. My son loved helping me out as kid and though I would indulge him, but it would result in more work for me. 😀
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My son also uses to do the same…how I miss those days now..
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More work is what happens when kids try to help. But it’s cute and heartwarming to see them help us. I should read more about Sikku. Will check out the link.
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Yea…kids usually increase our work.but these incidents make for beautiful memories later on.
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I know those “Sun had gone on a sabbatical” days just too well 😀
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Ya…those of us from the hills would know…the sun takes break quite frequently there..thanks for reading dear
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Awww! Such a sweet anecdote! Loved Sikku . Looking forward to reading more of her. Glad to have found you through the Festival of Words 🙂
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I am equally glad to find you
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Such a pretty cute story with Sikku. I remember reading about her in your previous posts.
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Nice story! As a mom of a teen who can get very clumsy at times, I can imagine what kids can get up to when they decide to give you a helping hand! I too have a Sikku at home btw. 😀 But tell me something, Tina—Was she real or is she a fictional character? I’m curious to know more about her…
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Sikku is very much real..amader Gangtok er barir opore thakto..or Baba r Bapi ek office e chilo..bacchata saradin mayer kache thakto..R tumi to janoi Ma kato affectionate chilo..ei galpotao satyi..khub cute r mojar meye chilo..ekhon biye haye dui bacchar ma..
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Oh really? Ami jantam na re…Khub sweet laglo pore…I often think of Mami…she was such a gem of a person. I so wish she was around today. Khub mone pore!
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