Page 19 - Lavender-B-4

‘Where do you live?’ Janaki Miss asks.

‘In the forest, Miss. Beyond the coffee estate.’

‘Oho! Lights, fans, fridges and TVs need electricity to work. It sounds like your
home doesn’t have an electricity connection.’

‘But why?’ asks Unni.

Janaki Miss replies, ‘Electricity comes through wires from the village power
station. Since you live deep in the forest, it is difficult for the wires to reach your

home.’

Unni is disappointed.

After school, the two friends race back to Ammu’s home in the coffee estate. The
sun is setting.

Ammu turns on the tubelight. ‘I’m going to go study now,’ she says.

‘It’s getting dark. Let me get home quickly. I need to light the kerosene lamp,’ says

Unni, sighing.

Outside their house, Unni sees his father talking to disappointed: upset
sighing: taking a long deep breath,
some men. It’s the men who made all that noise in used as an expression that there is
no hope
the morning. kerosene lamp: a lamp that burns
kerosene to give light
‘What is happening, Acha? ’ Unni asks.
2
Everyone turns and smiles at him.

Amma points to a switch on the
wall. Unni presses the switch
and...

TA DA!

THE ROOM LIGHTS UP!

Everyone claps. This can only

mean one thing...

‘I can’t believe it!’ says Unni. ‘Our
house finally has electricity!’

2 means 'father' in Malayalam

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