A pair of scissors

Hustle and bustle were permanent residents of the Dinarani household.Be it Rangajethu multi -tasking with a toothbrush and shoe polish,Jethi running to and fro from the kitchen via the dining space to her room or Rangajethi engaged in the activity of chopping vegetables into specific pieces for the plethora of items that were to be cooked,without quite paying heed to the going ons.(so it seemed).The kitchen,was always a hub of activities.This was ONE place where important discussions took place,the make or break decisions notwithstanding.The words spoken amidst the clanging and banging of utensils held magical importance.

The dining table,on the other hand,would constantly witness some action or the other.It wouldn't quite be appropriate to call it a "dining" table.It was much more than just that.The emergency lights placed in the proper position when the current was off,Rangajethu and Jethu working with their dorkari kagojpotro, all the jethis and kakimas enjoying the shukh dukkher kotha after a hard day of work and our beloved Toto snuggling into his favourite place under the table,ever ready to bark at the slighest assault of his snow white hairy body.

That was that.This incident took place when I was all of eight years old.It was the usual Monday morning.Some people were running around.Some people were shouting at the top of their voices and some people were lazing around.I dont remember what I was doing.What I remember was a hoarse shriek.It came from inside Jethi's room.It was hoarse,so it had to be Jethi.People stopped doing what they were doing.All eyes were focussed at the door leading to Jethi's room.Seconds later Jethi came out,jumping and panting with excitement.Her hair was done into the trademark pigtail.Her eyes brightened with excitement.Something was wrong.Jethi was extremely annoyed about something.In her hoarse voice,she voiced her opinion.Her beloved pair of scissors were missing from their shelf.They had been a wedding gift.A gift so beloved that special care was taken.The scissors had been residing on a shelf in Jethi's room for thirty long years,since the time she came to Dinarani as a young bride.Not that the scissors were very popular.Whenever anybody needed to use them,he or she would take them from the afore mentioned shelf,make good use of them and then keep them back.This time a rule had been broken.Somebody had taken them and had not kept them back.The scissors were lost.It was a grave offence.A matter of deep concern.

Jethu was the eldest member of the household.Jethi came second.The loss of the scissors was discussed animatedly in the kitchen,in the TV room and over dinner.A general question was posed.Nobody answered.Nobody had seen the scissors.Nobody remembered using them.
Jethi was dissapointed and heart broken.After all they were a wedding gift.She made it a point to ask each and every member about the scissors.It was all in vain.


When I was kid,I loved attention.The idea of people praising me,talking to me,talking about me,all that gave me the kicks.(it still does).This was one incident I will never forget.Just so because I turned out to be the Hero of the story.The little girl who solved the mystery.

It happened on a rainy summer afternoon.Six whole months after the discovery of the loss.I was sitting on the window pane and doing what I liked best.Watching the rain.It was my one of my favourite rooms.Pink in colour,it had the TV,a showcase and an electricity meter box,a bed and some sofas.I was looking around the room when I noticed a brown packet atop the meter box.Extremely inquisitive by nature,I climbed the bed,reached out for the packet.

Inside,I found fur.
Or so it seemed at first sight and touch.Furthur investigation,and the truth was out.
My slightly quirky Rangajethu,had a habbit of grooming his beloved Toto.There would be times ,when Toto would get under the table,and refuse to come out.Those were the special Sundays when Toto would have a haircut,a wash,and a shampoo.We loved these sessions as much as Toto hated them,and Rangajethu fussed over them.

So Jethi's scissors had been put to VERY good use.What I found inside the brown packet,was Toto's snow white hair,the aftermath of a special sunday..and yes.A pair of scissors. Rusted and very heavy.