Page 114 - Lavender-B-8

and holy men. Splendid display!
How lifelike! All they need are
tongues to speak. Mahmood buys
a policeman in khaki with a red
turban on his head and a gun on

his shoulder. Mohsin likes the
water-carrier with his back bent
under the weight of the water-
bag. Noorey has fallen for the
lawyer. What an expression of

learning he has on his face! A
black gown over a long, white coat
with a gold watch chain going into
a pocket, a fat volume of some law
book in his hand—it appears as if
he has just finished arguing a case in a court of law.

These toys cost two pice each. All Hamid has are three pice; how can he afford to buy such
expensive toys? If they dropped out of his hand, they would be smashed to bits. If a drop
of water fell on them, the paint would run. What would he do with toys like these? They’d
be of no use to him.

Hamid pooh-poohs their toys—they’re made of clay—one fall
and they’ll break in pieces. But his eyes look at them hungrily Does Hamid
and he wishes he could hold them in his hands for just a give the impression

moment or two. His hands stretch without his wanting to of being far more
Just a Minute!
stretch them. But young boys are not givers, particularly when sensible than his age? Why?
it is something new. Poor Hamid doesn’t get to touch the toys.

After the toys it is sweets. Someone buys sesame seed candy, others gulab jamuns or
halva. They smack their lips with relish. Only Hamid is left out. The luckless boy has at
least three pice; why doesn’t he also buy something to eat? He looks with hungry eyes at

the others.

Mohsin says, ‘Hamid, take this sesame candy, it smells good.’

Hamid suspects it is a cruel joke; he knows Mohsin doesn’t How would you Just a Minute!
have so big a heart. But knowing this Hamid goes to Mohsin. describe the characters
of Mohsin, Mahmood
Mohsin takes a piece out of his leaf-wrap and holds it towards and Noorey?
Hamid. Hamid stretches out his hand. Mohsin puts the candy
in his own mouth. Mahmood, Noorey and Sammi clap their

hands with glee and have a jolly good laugh. Hamid is
crestfallen. crestfallen: sad and disappointed

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