Ann: Why do I, why doesn’t Parukutty?
Appa: Hai mol’u….How was your day at school today…what all did you learn?
Ann: Appa, why did Amma make me wear the big gold chain and bangles when we went yesterday to aunt Poorna’s wedding?
Appa: that’s because Mol’u will look beautiful if you wear that chain, ring and bangles…
Ann: then why did you ask me to remove the bangles after coming back?
Appa: mol’u, when we are at our own home we don’t have to wear all these bangles and chains.
Ann: No Paa, I want to wear them…Should I not look beautiful when I am at my home??
Appa: Ask Amma, what is for supper today.
Ann: It’s chappati. I want to wear those bangles and chain now.
Appa: Don’t irritate me Ann…Appa has come home after a long day’s work…Appa is tired now.
Ann: Appa…either you give me those bangles now or mol’u will not talk to you.
Appa: Ann’mole….we wear gold and jewels only when we go outside for some occasions like marriage, where a lot of people come.
Ann: why only then? why not when many people don’t come? Ann-mol will look beautiful even if a lot of people don’t come.
Appa: Yes Mol’u…..Yes…Yes…Yes, my beautiful Angel…..Now go and bathe…..Ask Amma to bring me Tea.
Ann: But why Paru’kutty did not wear a chain or bangles when she came for that marriage?
Appa: Which Paru’kutty?
Ann: Puru’kutty from 3rd B section who sits in the 2nd row.
Appa: In which section are you?
Ann: ‘A’ section, Ammaaaaaa….Appa doesn’t even remember my section.
Appa: Ok Okkkk….I know…I know…’A’ section.
Ann: Paru’kutty will also look like a beautiful angel if she wears gold bangles, right Appaa?…..but why does she never wear any?
Appa: Mol’u…Parukutty’s Appa might have enough money to buy gold bangles….but Ann-mol’s Appa buys her lots of gold bangles…..lots of dresses, toys……good Appa…give Appa a kiss…
Ann: Appa…Parukutty will also look like a beautiful angel if her Appa buys her gold bangles right?….
Appa: Yesssss….now that’s enough….Go and take a bath.
Ann: Amma, water is too cold…don’t pour now..wait….slowly..slowly.
Amma: No mol’u…it is just your feeling…okay… okay.
Ann: Amma….Appa says when I wear gold bangles and new dress and chains….I look beautiful…Is it true?
Amma: Appa is tired after work naa…so he is half asleep already….Ann-mol is always beautiful.
Ann: really maa??….even if I don’t wear any bangles or chains ??
Amma: yes, my dear mol’u….yes.
Ann: then Parukutty is also beautiful even without gold bangles?
Amma: YYYYYes
Ann: then why do you make me wear all that when we go to weddings?
Amma: I don’t know maaaa, ask Appa. It is so that people who come there will look at you.
Ann: why should all look at me maa?
Amma: don’t ask stupid questions, now comb your hair and call Appa for supper.
Ann: Ammaaaaaaaa, why should they all look at me?
Amma: I don’t know ask Appa.
Ann: Appa, Supper is ready…..Come.
Appa: You start mol’u, Appa will come after finishing a few phone calls.
Ann: Appa….Amma says when I wear all that chain, all people coming for marriage will look at me. why are they looking at me?
Appa: which marriage? ohhhhhh….Mol’u don’t disturb Appa now.
Ann: Appaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Appa: mmmmm…..all will look at my mol’u and like you so much.
Ann: won’t they like Annmol if I don’t wear those bangles?
Appa: No….they may not like so much….No….they’ll like…but..but…..Now don’t waste my time…Go and have your dinner.
Ann: Amma…Appa will come in sometime.
Amma: Okay, you sit and start.
Ann: Ammaa…Appa said all people will like Ann-mol only if I wear bangles and jewels…mmm….but you said am always beautiful….
Amma: you are my angel, my dear, and I’ll love you always…..gold jewels are only for showing others…
Ann: why are we showing gold jewels to others?
Amma: I don’t know, since my childhood this has been the practice. We wear gold jewels when we go for some occasion, and others also wear gold and diamond jewels when they come…..silly…I know…hmm.
Ann: Enough, I don’t want one more. Noooooooooooo
Amma: I’ll tell Appa that you’ve had only 2 chappatis.
Ann: please maaaa….my stomach will burst.
Amma: Okay go and wash your hands.
Ann: Amma, I like only you because you love Ann-mol without gold jewels. Ummmaaa
Amma: Ummaaaaa. Now go and call Appa.
Ann: why do all people like Ann-mol only when I wear jewels on some occasions?
Amma: Not all people maaa, many.
Ann: I don’t like those who like Ann-mol and Parukutty only when we wear jewels.
Amma: okay maaa. Come we’ll call Appa for dinner, else he’ll sit there and sleep.
Ann: Amma…if you like Ann-mol, Appa likes Ann-mol, Parukutty likes Ann-mol even without wearing jewels….then why is Ann-mol wearing jewels…
Amma: Mol’u….Amma sincerely prays to God that Ann-mol shall always remain to be as innocent at heart as now, forever. Most of us like Amma, Appa, and many others that form today’s society has grown up to become ‘fake-profiles’, where we try to literally imitate society by not even trying to put in a few simple ‘whys’ onto it before copying it. In all our deeds our sole intention is to try and impress others with our money, skills, looks, and what not; not even sparing a minute to think as to why we need to impress this ‘somebody’ who gets impressed only on the strength of our money or skill or looks. Amma has always had this question in my mind since my childhood but did not have the courage to question society and listen to what Amma’s heart said. Amma probably might never have the courage to do it ever, but Mol’u you should pray to God every day to give you strength and wisdom so that you do not live through your life as a fake person. How silly it is to be wearing all these jewels all over the body, I keep wondering if this practice emanated when kings and wealthy people used their own bodies to exhibit the amount of wealth in their possession before they sat across to gamble…hahah.. Amma has still not been able to catch hold of one good reason for our habit of wearing gold, platinum, diamonds or for that matter any flashy metal or stone while we dress up for any occasion. But Mol’u…Mol’uuuuuu…haha….you’ve already slept. I’ve been speaking to myself all this while…ha….. Come on wake up from the chair and let’s go to the bedroom. And let’s pray…come onnnnnnnn.
Ann: maaaaa….please maaaa….my eyes are paining…..we’ll pray tomorrow morning.
Amma: No mol’u….how many times has Appa told you…no excuses for skipping night prayer….come on…good girl…. one short prayer.
Ann: okayyy short prayer….faaaaaast.
Amma: By now Appa would be sitting and snoring on the sofa with the TV ON. Fine…kneel down and pray….startttttt repeat….’Oh my Loving God, thank you for this beautiful day and for your protection all through the day. Continue to be with us through the night until the dawn turns. I pray to you for all those who do not have a blanket to cover or a mouthful to eat tonight. Thank You, God, for all the love and care you are showering on me through my Appa, Amma, neighbours, relatives and friends…
Ann: Paru’kutty, Anju chechi, Maitri aunty.
Amma: Okay ok…good night, sweet dreams….God bless you.
Ann: Ammaaaaaa…wait….switch on the fan….good night….ummaaa.