5 views
Pure as White Snow
Standing by the glassy window,she looked outside at the white blanket of snow covering the entire garden with its serenity.How calmly it touched the ground,dancing and swirling around like a child.She was enjoying the view when someone called her from behind and she turned to look back.
''Dani,come and have some hot tea.Why are you standing near the window?it's so cold there'',it was her mother.
She came and sat down, sipping tea from the cup and warming her hands around it.Another sip from the tea and she travelled down the memory lane....
''Open it quickly,if your mother finds us we'll fall in trouble'',Alisha,her elder cousin,who was around nine, was guiding Dani and her cousin Zara.They were trying to open the pickle container,kept on the attic.Dani's mother had strictly forbidden the kids to open it but they would secretly go and eat a few raw slices.For them,it wasn't stealing.Afterall they had helped in carrying the things around during preperarion.So,it wasn't stealing at all.Anyways,they finally opened it with all their strength.Dani was holding the lid while Zara took a few slices and put them in a small bowl,handing it over to Alisha.Since Alisha was two years elder to both of them,she used to boss them.Giving instructions to both of them was surely one of her her favourite jobs.
'' Come on,close it and let's go to our secret place and eat there so that no one will catch us'',said Alisha and they both nodded along.
All of them tiptoed silently, down to the second floor.They entered a big room and opened one of the windows on the opposite side revealing a small balcony.It wasn't actually a balcony but it felt like an extra outer space which had no access except the window.It didn't even have railings so nobody used to go there but the kids seemed to have a great safety experience.In fact, it was their favourite hideout.
''What happened? Go ahead before anyone finds us'',Alisha angrily ordered the other two who were waiting for her to step first.''Will you please go first sister?'',Zara and Dani pleaded to her.''I'll go at last,I've to spread the curtains evenly over the window.You two will surely make a mistake''. They nodded and helplessly went on the other side while Alisha put the curtains and closed the window.It was cold outside because of the fresh snowfall.Their feet were red too but they didn't seem to care.A wide grin spread on their faces and their mouth filled with water.Each of them took a piece from the bowl and relished the taste but suddenly the little ones were on flames.''It's too spicy'',they cried opening their mouth and blowing air out.''Have some snow,it'll give you relief'',Alisha suggested already devouring a handful of snow herself.They both filled their mouth with snow which melted into cold water.
''Oh no! I forgot, the cat was hopping on the roof tops earlier.What if it had peed on the snow?'',Zara said making a disgusting face.
''Yuck!'',Dani exclaimed holding her tongue out,rubbing it with both hands.
''Stop it stupid,don't you know snow changes colour if something dirty gets into it'',Alisha said proudly.
''Then why doesn't it change colour when there are five-headed snakes in it?'',asked Zara raising her eyebrows.
''Yes,mum told me how dirty and dangerous the tiny snakes are'',Dani spoke along her side.
'' There isn't anything like a five-headed snake.It's just a lie like your Tambu Khan'',Alisha laughed at them. ''Tambu Khan is real sister.When I don't eat my food he knocks the window and I've heard his terrifying voice as well '',Dani told her with an expression of fear.
''You're both stupid.It was mummy who knocked on the window and that voice was made by Ayan bro hiding behind the fridge'',Alisha hit their heads slightly and chuckled.She was proud that she hadn't fallen for the silly trap.
''It means they were fooling us'',Zara and Dani sighed in unison. ''Can we eat more snow then?'',Dani enquired, licking her lips.
''Yes,let's make snow icecream. You two wait for me at the backyard.I'll get some milk and sugar from the kitchen'',Alisha said and they both agreed.
They collected some snow and made snow balls from it.Then crushed it to chunks and put them in the glass,mixing it all with the sweet milk.''One spoon each'',Alisha warned. One by one,they tasted a spoonful of snowy ice-cream, giggling and laughing.Just then Dani felt that someone hit her back. She turned to see her mother who angrily snatched the glass from their hands.''Do you all want to fall ill.What if you catch a cold.'',She scolded them,''Let me tell your parents when they come.'',She said dragging them all inside.
....How good were the old days,Dani was wondering when a loud thud halted her train of thoughts.She took the empty cup and left it on the kitchen island,moving towards the window.She cleared the foggy glass with her sleeve and peeked outside.A huge chunk of snow had slipped from the rooftop making a thud sound.Snowfall had also stopped now.It was quite silent except for the sound of water dripping down from the roof tops.
She looked at the snow and smiled,thinking of the fun they had.How they used to share little moments of joy together.The time when they were naughty but innocent,when they used to play all day with the dust and dirt but still their hearts were not filthy.They were innocent and pure as white snow.Her smile faded when the reality of present hit her.Now,they rarely talked to each other.The fun was all in the memories now. It seemed as if the pure white snow had changed it's colour and they were still unaware of the five-headed snake who was responsible for this change.
© Syed Muhayir
_________________________
#MissMyChildhood
''Dani,come and have some hot tea.Why are you standing near the window?it's so cold there'',it was her mother.
She came and sat down, sipping tea from the cup and warming her hands around it.Another sip from the tea and she travelled down the memory lane....
''Open it quickly,if your mother finds us we'll fall in trouble'',Alisha,her elder cousin,who was around nine, was guiding Dani and her cousin Zara.They were trying to open the pickle container,kept on the attic.Dani's mother had strictly forbidden the kids to open it but they would secretly go and eat a few raw slices.For them,it wasn't stealing.Afterall they had helped in carrying the things around during preperarion.So,it wasn't stealing at all.Anyways,they finally opened it with all their strength.Dani was holding the lid while Zara took a few slices and put them in a small bowl,handing it over to Alisha.Since Alisha was two years elder to both of them,she used to boss them.Giving instructions to both of them was surely one of her her favourite jobs.
'' Come on,close it and let's go to our secret place and eat there so that no one will catch us'',said Alisha and they both nodded along.
All of them tiptoed silently, down to the second floor.They entered a big room and opened one of the windows on the opposite side revealing a small balcony.It wasn't actually a balcony but it felt like an extra outer space which had no access except the window.It didn't even have railings so nobody used to go there but the kids seemed to have a great safety experience.In fact, it was their favourite hideout.
''What happened? Go ahead before anyone finds us'',Alisha angrily ordered the other two who were waiting for her to step first.''Will you please go first sister?'',Zara and Dani pleaded to her.''I'll go at last,I've to spread the curtains evenly over the window.You two will surely make a mistake''. They nodded and helplessly went on the other side while Alisha put the curtains and closed the window.It was cold outside because of the fresh snowfall.Their feet were red too but they didn't seem to care.A wide grin spread on their faces and their mouth filled with water.Each of them took a piece from the bowl and relished the taste but suddenly the little ones were on flames.''It's too spicy'',they cried opening their mouth and blowing air out.''Have some snow,it'll give you relief'',Alisha suggested already devouring a handful of snow herself.They both filled their mouth with snow which melted into cold water.
''Oh no! I forgot, the cat was hopping on the roof tops earlier.What if it had peed on the snow?'',Zara said making a disgusting face.
''Yuck!'',Dani exclaimed holding her tongue out,rubbing it with both hands.
''Stop it stupid,don't you know snow changes colour if something dirty gets into it'',Alisha said proudly.
''Then why doesn't it change colour when there are five-headed snakes in it?'',asked Zara raising her eyebrows.
''Yes,mum told me how dirty and dangerous the tiny snakes are'',Dani spoke along her side.
'' There isn't anything like a five-headed snake.It's just a lie like your Tambu Khan'',Alisha laughed at them. ''Tambu Khan is real sister.When I don't eat my food he knocks the window and I've heard his terrifying voice as well '',Dani told her with an expression of fear.
''You're both stupid.It was mummy who knocked on the window and that voice was made by Ayan bro hiding behind the fridge'',Alisha hit their heads slightly and chuckled.She was proud that she hadn't fallen for the silly trap.
''It means they were fooling us'',Zara and Dani sighed in unison. ''Can we eat more snow then?'',Dani enquired, licking her lips.
''Yes,let's make snow icecream. You two wait for me at the backyard.I'll get some milk and sugar from the kitchen'',Alisha said and they both agreed.
They collected some snow and made snow balls from it.Then crushed it to chunks and put them in the glass,mixing it all with the sweet milk.''One spoon each'',Alisha warned. One by one,they tasted a spoonful of snowy ice-cream, giggling and laughing.Just then Dani felt that someone hit her back. She turned to see her mother who angrily snatched the glass from their hands.''Do you all want to fall ill.What if you catch a cold.'',She scolded them,''Let me tell your parents when they come.'',She said dragging them all inside.
....How good were the old days,Dani was wondering when a loud thud halted her train of thoughts.She took the empty cup and left it on the kitchen island,moving towards the window.She cleared the foggy glass with her sleeve and peeked outside.A huge chunk of snow had slipped from the rooftop making a thud sound.Snowfall had also stopped now.It was quite silent except for the sound of water dripping down from the roof tops.
She looked at the snow and smiled,thinking of the fun they had.How they used to share little moments of joy together.The time when they were naughty but innocent,when they used to play all day with the dust and dirt but still their hearts were not filthy.They were innocent and pure as white snow.Her smile faded when the reality of present hit her.Now,they rarely talked to each other.The fun was all in the memories now. It seemed as if the pure white snow had changed it's colour and they were still unaware of the five-headed snake who was responsible for this change.
© Syed Muhayir
_________________________
#MissMyChildhood
