Page 78 - Lavender-B-5

‘Ajanta didi, if you are my true friend,’ she spoke softly, ‘you will fulfil my wish.’

‘I’ll try my best, Sumita,’ I comforted her.

‘Keep Priya with you.’ And she handed me her one-legged doll. ‘It had always been her

dream to stay in that beautiful house,’ she said, slowly. Then Sumita turned and waved
me goodbye.

I knew it was not Priya’s but
Sumita’s own dream that would

never come true. I took Priya and
placed her amongst my pretty,
elegant dolls.

Minto Towers. I now had a super

address. But I knew so little about
Sumita’s new home. Her dreams
shattered, Sumita never visited
me again. Sumita, my friend,
was lost forever to this cruel,

insensitive world. Whenever I
saw Priya I was reminded of my
friendship with Sumita. Pure,

joyful, memorable...until one day...
when Mummy tossed away Priya
from my life.

‘Mummy,’ I shook her wildly, ‘Where’s the
rag doll?’

‘I’ve thrown it away,’ smiled Mummy. ‘Surely, Ajanta, Daddy and I can afford to buy

you a beautiful new doll, can’t we?’

‘Mummy, how could you?’ I shouted at her, the last scent of Sumita disappearing from
my life. But I was sure my memories of this short, sweet friendship would live on... It
was the saddest day of my life.

Friendship has no boundaries of wealth, caste, creed or
shattered: very shocked and upset
insensitive: not caring about the religion. How I wished my parents would understand.
feelings of other people
creed: a set of principles or —Debashish Majumdar
religious beliefs

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