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perfectly she picks up the tune of any music she hears. other song with alphabets?" After lunch when all others were taking a siesta Khushi silently came out of the
Khushi is only three years old. Her parents are waiting to get her admitted into Khushi smiled into her mother's eyes. Nodding her head she whispered - bedroom. Sitting on a small chair near the cage, she started chatting with
a school. But all schools are closed now due to the spread of Corona. "F for Fish and E for Eggs Mithu.
As Khushi was playing with her Doll Granny calls her— "Khushi beta, come H for Horse and G for Grapes." -"Mithu, Granny says I know nothing."
here!" Mama burst into laughter with joy. Holding up Khushi in her arms she called -"Nothing... Nothing....," repeated Mithu.
- "Why…? I'm telling a story to my Doll." her Papa — “See...See dear. See what your darling daughter has done with the -"Mithu! Say A for Apple"
- "Bring that book 'Know Your Alphabet'. I will teach you those alphabets alphabets." -"Apple... Apple...," prattled Mithu.
again." Papa was working in his computer. Soon he came out and asked— “What's -"Say B for Bat…no no…B for Ball."
- "O…ho… Granny! I already know all those twenty-six alphabets." the matter? What has Khushi done?" -"Ball... Ball...," mimicked Mithu.
Mama came out of the kitchen and said a bit sternly— "Even if you know, still Mama coaxed Khushi — "Tell your Papa, Khushi! Sing your Alphabet songs." Khushi was almost on the verge of tears. Coming closer to Mithu she
practice that again and again. They will take your interview in school before Khushi felt shy and hid her face in both palms. She was a little reluctant to whispered — "Khushi won't go to school. She knows everything. Khushi can
admission." sing. After some goading from Mama she started — count. Khushi can say Sunday… Monday, all the seven days. Khushi can tell
Khushi looked quizzically at her Mama. - “What's that Mama? Inter....." "A for Apple and B for Bat the names of twelve months."
- "In-ter-view. It means they will ask you some questions to test your D for Dog and C for Cat. -"Khushi... Khushi... Khushi..." Rolling the head from left to right Mithu
knowledge." F for Fish and E for Eggs chimed in.
H for Horse and G for Grapes."
Khushi pouted her lips and said— "But I know everything. I can also count Khushi held the iron bars of the cage in both her hands and said — "Khushi
from one to hundred." - "Oh my God! Our Khushi is a genius...!" Papa blurted out. "Tell me your can also tell good stories. Like Granny. You know, there's a big Jungle near
song with alphabets I J K L also."
Granny interrupted her saying, "Okay! Now tell me all the words from this Grandpa's old house. Lions and Tigers live there. Peacocks dance when rain
book. Like A for Apple, B for Ball." By this time Grandpa had also come out of his room. In a coaxing tone he said falls. Monkeys come to the house to eat Papaya and Guava. Khushi will tell
— "Yes baby, carry on with your rhymes. Of course I know these already from Papa to buy a Horse. She'll sit on the Horse and go to the Jungle......"
- "No...No... Granny!
you." Khushi looked at her Grandpa as if sharing a secret. Then she started — -"Khushi...Khushi...," shrieked Mithu to warn her.
A for Apple and B for Bat
"I for Ice and J for Jungle
D for Dog and C for Cat." Khushi stopped and looked back. She saw her parents and grandparents
Khushi and Mithu L for Lamp and K for Kettle." standing silently behind her listening to her story.
Khushi's Mama looked at her with surprise. "Who taught you this? B for Bat?
Hearing the sweet lilting music from Khushi all three of them laughed happily
It's not in your book." For the first time Khushi became voiceless. She didn't know what to do or say.
and hugged her. But Granny was not laughing. With a frowning face she said
Khushi is very talkative. The whole day she spends talking to Papa, Mama, —"So what Mama? I know B for Ball. Also B for Ba…t….!" — "All this will not help Khushi in getting admission. The teachers in school
Granny and Grandpa. She talks also quite freely with visitors. When none of Mama smiled and said — "I know why you chose Bat. You want to sing a song strictly stick to the words written in books. There's no place for this type of
these people are ready to listen, she likes to talk with Mithu, her pet parrot. She of Alphabets. That's why you brought D before C." music."
even talks with table, chair, doors, windows, trees and flowers.
- "Yes Mama. If you ask me only the alphabets I will say A B C D E F like that." -"Don't worry, Mom! We'll see at that time." Papa told and returned to his ~ Sulekha Samantaray, Bhubaneswar~
Khushi's talk sounds like a song. She uses perfectly rhyming sentences. Just as computer.
Mama patted Khushi's head affectionately and asked — "Have you got any
22 | Dr. K.C. Sethi & Sunita Sethi Never Cease to Amaze | 23
