the new family - by nalam samvartika

8/9/2019 The New Family - By Nalam Samvartika

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THE NEW FAMILY

Today was just like any other day for Gopal and Shailu.

Gopal worked on his farm sowing seeds and watering plants.

Shailu stayed back at home cooking food and cleaning the

house.


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At the stroke of six, the middle-aged couple retired fortheir usual eening chatter in the front yard of their house.

Today, the topic drifted slowly to their son !hinnu who was now

working in the city.

"!hinnu#s words were ringing in my head today $ Appa%% & will

sow the seeds, not you' said Gopal.

"(mm' smiled Shailu. "& miss him a lot these days. &t has been

a while since he isited us.'

")es' agreed Gopal. "& too feel ery lonely and bored.'

"*h% (ow & wish we could get back his childhood days again'

said Shailu.

"(mm' sighed Gopal. "&t would be wiser to wish for something

that can happen. Those days will neer come back.'


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")ou are right. And probably we should work for our wish to

come true. +hat do you think' uestioned Shailu.

"+hat can we do +hom can we inite into our life and how'

asked a puled Gopal.

After a few minutes silence, Shailu exclaimed "(a% & hae an

idea. /et us see if it works.'

0arly next morning the couple set out to work to ful1l their

wish. Gopal went to the city to buy a huge pot to cook food and


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large uantities of rice and milk. Shailu walked to the nearby

mill and bought some 1rewood. She also pulled down three

pieces of 1ne brick from her attic to build the 1re. 2y the

afternoon Gopal and Shailu had put in place eerything toprepare their son#s faourite payasam.

3ow, this huge pot of 4ayasam caught sight of 5oonu and

his three little friends who were playing on a tree close-by. The

four monkeys who were known to be almost always hungry

wished to hae the payasam.


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A few minutes later, the sweet smell of the payasam

tickled the nostrils of 6onnu as he stood chatting with his friend

5ayal a few yards away. "(ey% & smell some delicious food', he

said. "& wish we could hae some of it', he added. "Great%% /et

us try to get a little of it for ourseles' 5ayal replied. "+e shall

take our friend, Attu along', said 6onnu. "The goat will loe to

come along', agreed 5ayal.

Sure, eeryone knew that Tintu was a ery lay turtle and

loed to sleep. 2ut he could not help eaesdropping on the

conersation that the dog and the rabbit just had. 3either could

he resist following them to try and taste the food himself. "+ait.

& am coming along', he called out to them.


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After a while, 6onnu, 5ayal, Attu and Tintu were joined by

5oonu and his friends. The huge crowd stood at a distance and

saw Shailu preparing p4ayasam and Gopal assisting her.

"&t would not be too di7cult to scare the couple o8 for a

few minutes for each of us to grab a little of the sweet', said

5oonu.

5ayal disagreed immediately. "& think we should plead

them for a little for each of us', she suggested.

"2ut they are working really hard at it. & do not think it is

fair to hae it for nothing at all', said Attu.

And therefore, it was decided that each animal should

carry a special gift for Gopal and Shailu. 5oonu and his friends

plucked some fresh mangoes from the trees. 5ayal fetched the

juicy carrots that she saed up in her borrow. Tintu brought the

sea shells that he had collected. 6onnu and Attu brought the

bucket of honey that was gifted to them by a friendly bear.


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5eanwhile, Gopal and Shailu cooked the payasam. They

sat down hoping that the air carried the sweet smell of the

payasam to inite a new friend.

"+(00%%' Shailu screeched when she saw the huge crowdapproaching their house. Gopal beamed from ear to ear. 3o

sooner the payasam was sered, and all the animals had it to

their heart#s content. +hen the animals presented the couple

their gifts, it was a second surprise for them.

)es, this is the new family for Gopal and Shailu now. And thefamily met in their house for a di8erent party eery day.

Gopal and Shailu found themseles liing with full est once

again. )es, there was no !hinnu trying to help appa sow seeds

or calling out to amma for a cup of payasam. 2ut yes, there

was 6onnu walking behind Gopal wagging his tail, Tintu trying

to 1nd a warm corner for himself, 5oonu chewing into the


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bunch of bananas that Shailu just brought in and 5ayal hoping

around the house trying to bite poor Attu#s tail.

+hat more could Gopal and Shailu wish for%%

the new family - by nalam samvartika

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