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‘Look what you’ve done!’ said Chachi ji. ‘Go bring a biscuit for her!’ Shanti put the tea
down and rushed off on twinkle toes. She was back with the biscuit in a minute. Chachi

ji yawned. She took the biscuit and put it in Mamta’s hand. Mamta put the biscuit in her
mouth and smiled at Shanti.

‘Agh-gha-gha,’ she said and waved her arms.

Shanti smiled too. She knew what it meant. It meant, ‘Come play with me!’ But there was
no time to play right now.

There was water to fetch, dishes to
wash and breakfast to be made. The
vegetables had to be cut. Dal had to
be put on the gas to cook.

‘In a while,’ Shanti said. ‘Very soon.’

Shanti ran so fast that you couldn’t

see her feet. Her fingers flew. They
zipped and flashed as she worked.
She could hear Chachi ji coming.
‘Hurry! Hurry!’ Chachi ji said.
‘Chacha ji has to have his breakfast.
You have to pack his lunch. He’s
getting late for work, Shanti. Why

are you so slow, you lazy girl!’

Shanti’s hands flew even faster.
They rolled parathas and made
them sizzle on the tawa. Hot crisp
parathas the way Chacha ji liked them. He ate three and a half. Chachi ji ate two. Shanti
crammed half a paratha into her mouth and chewed it up quickly!

Hurry! Hurry! There was sweeping to be done before she could

play with Mamta. There were dishes to wash. Scrub, scrub, Why do you think
rinse, rinse! Shanti’s hands flew again. Chacha Ji and
Chachi Ji always
Just a Minute!
Hurry! Hurry! Oh-h! A plate slipped from her hands! scolded Shanti?

CRASH! Shanti heard the plate fall. And Shanti was so afraid
that she ran. She ran out of the door, out into the street. She yawned: open one's mouth
wide and inhale deeply,
could hear Chachi ji screaming, ‘Shanti, you stupid girl! You typically on account of
know how much that plate cost?’ Chachi ji was really angry. tiredness or boredom
fetch: to bring something
She might even slap Shanti. crammed: filled
sweeping: cleaning with a
Where could she go? Where could she hide? broom

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