MUMTAZ'S SWEETS
OH DIDI, HOW ARE YOU? COME, SIT… SIT.
I HAVE A LOT OF CHORES TO DO TODAY.
YOU SEE, MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE HAVE COME FROM THE VILLAGE, TO VISIT ME.
KHALA MUST BE AROUND, I’LL GET HER TO MEET YOU TOO.
WAIT, WHY DON’T YOU TASTE THESE SWEETS MY MOTHER MADE?
AMMI COOKS ON THE CHAAR CHULHA: IT IS A STOVE WE USE BACK HOME. AAH, THINKING OF THE CHULHA BEEF WE USED TO HAVE IN MY CHILDHOOD MAKES MY MOUTH WATER.
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NOT JUST MEAT, EVEN THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE MUCH BETTER AND FRESHER THERE.
I AM REALLY GLAD TO BE MEETING BHAI, IT HAS BEEN SO LONG!
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYONE ELSE FROM HOME SINCE 2017,
WHEN I LAST WENT TO MY VILLAGE.
IF I GO, WHO WILL GO WORK AT THE KHATTA? WHO WILL MAKE UP FOR THOSE DAYS?
ANYWAY, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF REASON TO GO BACK HOME. THERE'S NO-ONE TO TALK TO THERE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A LARGE FAMILY.
A FEW YEARS AGO, ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE...
MY UNCLES CHEATED MY FATHER OF ALL HIS MONEY.
WE LOST MOST OF WHAT WE HAD, AND ABBA BROUGHT US ALL TO THE CITY.
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HE PASSED AWAY SOON AFTER, LEAVING AMMI ALONE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF US CHILDREN. SHE MARRIED ME OFF AND TOOK MY BROTHERS BACK TO THE VILLAGE.
IF I GO BACK TO THE VILLAGE, I WILL HAVE TO TAKE GIFTS FOR EVERYONE. LAST TIME, ALL THIS COST ME 10,000 RUPEES, EVEN WITH A SMALLER FAMILY NOW!
IF I DON'T TAKE ANYTHING, WHAT WILL EVERYONE SAY?
SHE DIDN'T GET US ANYTHING FROM DILLI! HOW BAD WILL THAT SOUND?
DIDI, HOW DID YOU LIKE THE SWEETS? I WILL CALL AMMI AND TELL HER.
