The guests had eaten. The family had eaten. The help had their meal. But no one thought of Kaki. Only little Ladli felt both sorrow and surprise at her parent's behaviour. Why hadn't they fed Kaki ? Why hadn't Kaki been allowed to eat before the guests had been served? Ladli had hidden her share of puris in a basket for Kaki.

It was eleven in the night. Roopa was fast asleep in the courtyard. Ladli had been unable to sleep. The basket which hid the puris, lay by her side. When she was convinced that her mother was fast asleep, she picked up her basket and walked towards Kaki's room.

Kaki lay in her room. She realised that everyone had gone to sleep after eating. Her stomach was churning with hunger. Her heart was filled with anguish.

All of a sudden she heard a voice. 'Get up,Kaki, I have brought puris for you!' Kaki recognized Ladli 's voice. She was delighted when Ladli gave her the puris.

'Has your mother sent these?' Kaki asked.

'No, this is my share.'

Kaki pounced upon the puris. When Kaki had finished the puris, Ladli asked, 'Kaki have you had your fill?'

Just as a light shower often makes the heat worse, the few puris had merely wet Kaki's craving, and she said, 'No, my daughter. Go to your mother and bring some more.'

Ladli said, 'She's asleep. If I wake her, she will be most annoyed.'

' Thak me to the place where the guests were eating, ' she told Ladli.

Ladli took Kaki by the hand and led her to the dinning area. Kaki began to devour the leftovers from the leaf-plates lying scattered all over.



To be continued................