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A CHIMPANZEE IN CHILDHOOD
A CHIMPANZEE IN CHILDHOOD

From school, she just walked into the compound of their beautiful home, hopping and skipping with her school bag, on her back. Her two plaits looked like two tails, bumping alongside. She gazed around and looked with keen eyes to see if any fruit was hanging. Her eyes fell on a gauva, nice and ripe, looking tempting, really luscious. In a moment, she was on the tree, just like a little chimpanzee. Within a minute or two, she almost reached the fruit when her leg slipped, and she almost fell. She quickly regained her balance and was back in action. She now reached the fruit, pulling it with her little hands; but didn't succeed. Again, she pulled it harder, this time, achieving her target.

Her Mum was watching this from the balcony and called out, "Shanaya, please wash it, thank Ahura and also Amertat Ameshaspenta before you bite into it; and devour it; sweetheart, you shouldn't be greedy, please take care to do what I just told you." "OK Mom, I will do so." Shanaya ran towards the hosepipe connection. She washed her hands, the fruit n bit into it. Hardly had she taken a bite, Bob-tail, spotted mangoes. These she couldn't resist. They were high, so she threw stones; when she couldn't, she called out to her brother, asking for his arrows. He turned around and straight away asked him, "were you Arjun, in Your last incarnatlon? Because I am not Krishna!
She tried and tried, but did not succeed. She tried making new ones. Suddenly, her hand slipped, and she was bleeding profusely.

Her uncle, had luckily returned from his tour, so he carried her and ran to a nearby doctor.

Shanaya was nervous, not so much because of the bleeding, but more so because of the coming onslaught.
The doctor would have to suture her wound, as the gash was deep. After the dressing, her uncle surprised her with a treat! "This is for you my girl, for beig so brave. Your Mum was on the verge of fainting. "

Shanya said, " I am happy, I will get chhutti from school, as I won't be able to write, " her Kaka chuckled, and said, " just in case you have forgotten this is Your left hand.
Only thing you will have to keep it dry, is it clear, absolutely dry."


As they came home, everyone came running down,to check on her. They made her fold hands, including her bandaged hand, to say a small prayer. Her maid helped her to change and gave her a spoge. After tea and a sandwich, she could rest.

As she was resting, in fact, sleeping peacefully, there was a commotion. She asked, " what has actually happened ? She got a shock of her life, when she learnt her youngest brother fell down, slipping from the first barricade, straight down. Now they ran with him to the hospital. OMG, now what? Luckily he fell where the ground was moist n soft. He was sent home, after a thourough check up and many a test. He was indeed very lucky, not to be injured. Their Mum, quickly offered prayers to Behram Yazad... Saying , "Thank you, mushkil aasan karva, O Mushkil asaan, amara Behram Yazad; ane YAZDAAN PANAHBAD ". For many years, all of them remembered how they were miraculously saved that day.

Armin Dutia Motashaw