Maria was coming home on Thursday. She took 2 weeks leave from the college. She said she misses Appa so much and wants to see Appa before he goes back. I knew better. I hid all the things Appa got for me. I hid the pencil case and the pencils under my pillow. The stickers on top of the godrej cupboard. My colouring books under mattress. I didn’t hide my clothes, because Maria doesn’t wear midi skirts.
When I came home I was surprised to see Amma home.
“Where is Appa?” I asked her
“He is gone to Chengannur”
“Why didn’t he take me with him?”
“Why should he take you with him”
“Because I want to see my grandmother”
“Grandmother”, ptui Amma spat on the ground. “Weren’t you with me when we visited her the last time. Did she ask us to come and stay with her? Did she even write one time to ask how we are?”
“We didn’t write a letter to her either Amma!”
“Why should we write a letter to that stupid woman. Why should I waste my hard earned money to buy stamp to send her a letter? And do you know something? I went to a mantthravadi(?fortune teller) the other day and he says your wonderful Ammachi practices black magic. She poisoned all of us. That is why Appa went away. manthravadi(?fortune teller) did some puja (prayer) few days ago and see it worked, your father is home.”

I didn’t know what to think. Was my grandmother that evil? Would she do things to hurt us? Why didn’t she ask us to stay with her, when Appa left? There were too many questions and I had no idea what to think anymore.

I went to fetch my sisters. Maria was already home when I came back with my sisters. I noticed that she has already gone through my school bag. I smiled in my heart, because there was no treassures in my school bag, I had hidden them already.
“So what did Appa bring for you?” She asked me the moment she saw me.
“Oh nothing much. Just some skirts” I replied
“Show me”, She ordered
I took the skirts from the cupboard. Appa got 8 midi skirts for me. 7 were same print but different colours and the 8th one was a purple skirt. I was planning to keep the purple one for my sunday school annual day.
Maria took the skirts one by one and when she saw the purple one she said
“I am taking this one”
“No way. Appa bought it for me, and It is mine”
“You have 7 skirts Nina. Stop being so greedy”
“I am not greedy. I am not sharing the skirt Appa got for me, besides, you don’t wear short skirts”
“That is none of your problem.”
Maria took the skirt and started to walk and I screamed
“Amma, Maria is taking my skirt”
I found Amma in the kitchen
“Amma Maria took my skirt”
“So? What is your problem Nina, you have so many skirts, She only took one right? If you children don’t share, who will share clothes with you?.”
“But Amma, that is the only skirt that is different. If she wants why can’t she take one from the 7 that are same print. I want to wear the purple one for my sunday school annual day.”
“You are such a selfish child. Maria give back the skirt to your sister. I am just so sorry for giving birth to such a selfish child. I should have listened to the doctor”
“No Amma, I am not giving this skirt back. She has 7 skirts and she just have to live without this one.” Maria replied.

I didn’t argue anymore. Somehow I knew, I can never win in this house. I didn’t want to stay indoor and watch Maria taking all the things Appa got for me. Let her take what she wants. I took a sheet of old newspaper and went to the thicket. I placed the paper on the ground and sat on it. The thicket is my kingdom. Nobody ever comes inside. I thought of the day I would get married to a nice handsome matsalleh(white person). I wanted to be far away from my family. May be I will live in an island. I will live in a house on stills, like the ones in Penang, close to the sea. Then it occured to me, the houses near the sea in Penang belonged to the fishermen. Aiyya I don’t want to marry a fisherman. But then again, if I marry a fisherman, then I would have life long supply of fresh fish. Who knows, I might even find a golden ring inside the belly of a fish that my husband caught. I will be able to check for pearls before my husband takes all the oysters to the shop to sell.
“Nina, Nina” I heard Amma calling my name.
I could see Amma breaking the coconut with a big parang (sickle). ‘oh she wants me to scrape the coconut for her. Her precious, smart intelligent daughter is in the house. She can very well ask her darling daughter to scrape the coconut for her.’ I watched Amma holding the 2 halfs of the coconut and coming to my side of the house to look for me. I pulled my dress close to me, so she won’t notice the bright colour through the thicket and spot me. I had no intention to help her today.
“Nina, Nina. Where are you?” I watched Maria coming out and Amma asking her
“Have you seen Nina?”
“No Amma” Maria shook her head
“Then you come to the kitchen and help me. I need someone to scrape the coconut”
“Nina, Where are you?.” Maria was shouting. She turned and looked at Amma and told her “Amma I will find Nina for you”.
Amma went inside and Maria started to look for me. I knew she won’t come anywhere near the thicket. She is afraid that there would be snakes. I could see her going inside the house and I knew she is looking for me inside. Few minutes later she came out calling my name.
“Amma I will come now. I need to tell Aunty Reena something” And I watched my sister running towards the gate.
By the time Amma came out of the house Maria was already outside the gate.
“Lazy bone. She doesn’t want to scrape the coconut and she disappeared.” Amma shook her head and I smiled. I was just so glad to make my mother work more.