Once,
there was a little girl called HEMA. She was twelve years old. Her parents were
not wealthy. They worked very hard day and night to send their only child to a
good English school. They wanted to give her best education.
Hema was
a hard working and clever student. She always topped in her class. Her teachers
were proud of her. At home too hema
helped her parents. She knew how much they had scarified to put in a
good school.
Hema’s
father had been left with a piece of land as a family property. In the centre
was an old ramshackle building in which they were staying. Her father would
grow all kinds of vegetables. There were many flowering plants too. They had
put up a small shed near the front gate. All the produce from the garden they
would sell and then would bring bundles
of jasmine, champak, roses, lilies etc. In the afternoons her mother would sit
and then string them into garlands. In the evenings she would sell them along
with vegetables from their garden. Hema father worked in the garden the whole day
long making beds, graining, weeding , watering, and plucking fresh vegetables.
He would then weigh it and carefully put them into packets of different kg’s. Though they were not
making much money out of this, they were happy and contented. It was just
enough to keep the family going.
Hema
understand their position. She would never
make any demands. But like any other girl of her age, she wanted to have
a bicycle. she would watch other girls riding
to school on their shinning bikes. Oh, how she longed to own a bicycle
of her own. But she did not ask her parents. She knew that they could not
afford to get her one. They would only start working even harder to save the
money.
One
evening Hema came home in greater excitement, “mother , mother”. She cried.
“where are you?” her mother came from kitchen. “oh mother,” said Hema. “ I have so much to tell
you. Our school is celebrating its Silver Jubilee. It is 25 years since the
school started.” Hema went on.. “ there are lots of competitions this year. Our
teachers will select the best students from each class to participate in the
singing and dance and debate competitions. But for the Fancy Dress competition,
every one can participate, oh! Mother how
I wish I could go as a princess.
All the other girls hire princess costumes and fairy costumes. Just this once
hire a shiny costume for me!”
Hema’s
mother sighed. She did not want to disappoint her daughter . “ how much does it
cost dear?” she asked. “ two hundred rupees for a day, mother” said Hema. She knew
it as too much money to spend on a beautiful stain gown and an artificial crown.
My child
give me some time, I’ll see if it is possible, said Hema mother. Hema nodded and went inside her room.
For once she could not concentrate on her studies. She kept hopping against
hope that somehow her mother would manage to hire the costume for her.
Later
that evening , her mother called Hema. Hema my golden child, it is not possible
to spend 200 Rupees on a dress just for a day.” Seeing Hema disappointed face,
she added quickly “ but I have thought of a wonderful costume. You are going to
participate in the Fancy Dress Competition not as a princess but as a Queen”.
“ o
mother, I don’t understand you, How can I go as Queen when i don’t have a
costume?” asked Hema. You leave that to me , said her mother mysteriously. “
just tell the date of the competition and your costume will be ready by then”.
The day
of the competition was fast approaching. Every day Hema would ask her mother,
but the only answer she git was that her dress would ready in time. Hema was
curious to see her dress, but her mother
would not say that it was not yet completed.
Every
night after Hema was asleep, her mother would begin to work on the costume. She
had taken an old white frock belonging to Hema. She had been collecting all the seeds from the garden. Even the seeds
of the watermelon were not discarded . she would sit and then sort out seeds of
similar sixes and colour. She would then string them together.
The day
before the competition, Hema’s mother sent her to bed early. She then made some
paste with maida to use as glue. She sat down with dress and carefully began
the work. First the back of the frock was covered with spinach leaves, methi
leaves and other greens. Then she turned the frock over. By the morning the
costume was ready. Hema woke up to a big surprise. Hema , get up my child. Hurry up with your
bath. It is going to take quite some time to dress you today,” said her mother.
Hema sat up in excitement . today was
the day of her Fancy Dress Competition.
Mother ,
can I see my dress now? She asked. “ after you finish your bath” her mother
answered. Hema rushed through her brushing and bathing. “ now close your eyes
and open slowly when i tell you to” her
mother said. She brought out the dress and asked Hema to open her eyes.
Hema
gasped with astonishment. It was a most unusual dress. The front of the
dress had tiny black buttons which are actually dried watermelon seeds.
Rows and rows of peas covered the bodice. The lower portion of the dress made
it look like a dance frock . layers and layers of cabbage leaves were carefully
sewn one beneath the other. It looked as if the frock had frills of cabbage
leaves. The sleeves of the back dress had tassels of blended beans. The back of the dress was in various
shades of green, made from spinach, mint etc..
You are
going to be the Queen of vegetables, “ explained by her mother, “ Now
stand still while I put it on you
carefully.” Hema did not know what to say her mother. She had taken so much
pain to create the dress.
Her
mother braided her hair with jasmine flowers. She then brought out a tray
containing other treasures. There were chains of double beans, strings of
pearl- like earrings, her mother had found the tiniest of baby carrots . she had
tied them with strings to loop over the ears. The belt of the dress had strip
of carrot, radish and beetroot. For the hands , she had made bracelets out of
bitter gourd, cut or strung together. Her socks has ever been covered with
onion stalks and her black shoes had been transformed into cabbage leaf shoes.
“And now for the last item,” said her mother finally and she brought out a
silver crown. It was the hard rind of ash gourd cut in the shape of crown. She
fixed it on her daughters head. “ Now take a look at yourself” she said.
Hema was
a strange creature in the mirror. She did not recognize herself. The image
really looked like a fairy from vegetables land. “ Mother, thank you so much, I
am really looking like a princess,” she said.
You are the princess of our
family,” her father remarked entering
the room. He was carrying a slender snake gourd in his hand. “Here my child,
this is your magic wand.” He said. “Go there
and tell them no one can go
without paying their respect to the Queen Of Vegetables. Come now, I’ll escort my princess to school. Hema
thanked her parents again set off with her father, full of confidence.
The
school was really colourful that day. Children in all kinds of costume were
present. Some parents were giving final touches to their children’s costumes
before the bell rang. Some has dressed as jokers, others had come as Kings and
Queens in their glittering finery. Seeing the strange looks of children at her
costume. Hemas’s confidence slowly
evaporated. Most of them had hired the
costumes and had put on make up also.
Just then
Jaya , her classmate , caught sight of Hema’s dress. She quickly called few
friends and pointed at Hema. “ come let’s have a bit of fun with her” said
Jaya. Now jaya had always been jealous of
Hema. No matter how well she did, it was always Hema who did better.
Jaya hated be second best. She knew Hema background and never lost a chance to
be spiteful. What irritated her more was that Hema did not anger with her, nor
did she complain to the teachers.
Jaya
dressed up as Cinderella. She wearing a beautiful lace gown full of frills. But looking Hema ‘s dress she felt jealous somehow the dress
looked so different and unique. She went upto Hema and said loudly to her: “
have you not come to the wrong place? This is not vegetable market.” Jaya’s
friends sniggered ludly.
Poor
Hema! She felt tears coming to her eyes. She wished she had not participated in
the competition . but it was too late to do anything. The participants were
asked to line up near the stage. One by one children went up on the stage a few
words and came down. The other children who were not participating were
clapping loudly . they were 3 judges.
Suddenly
it was Hema’s term. Her name was called . Hema went on stage very hesitantly . There
was silence as she walked. For s second she didn’t know what to say. She was
feeling ashamed of her dress. In her mind she saw her father’s proud look
mother’s hard work and love in making
the costume.
“Good
morning everybody. I am Queen of Vegetables. Just imagine a world without me or
my subjects. No one can live without us,” Hema heard herself saying. “ one more
thing I come from agricultural background and I am proud of my parents who
created this dress. Thank you”.
Nobody
clapped for few seconds. Hema turned away, tears flowing freely. Then the
clapping started .they cheered for her words as well as for unusual dress. But
Hema was feeling miserable to care.
At last
the programme was over. The Head mistress said that the names of prize winners
would be announced shortly. The children waited impatiently discussing whose
costume was the best. Finally the wait was over.
“first of
all, I congratulate all the participants for participating in the fancy dress
competition. It has been a pleasure to see so much enthusiasm and talent among
our children. It was indeed difficult to choose only three prize winners. These
prize winners of Middle school. The
Third prize goes to vidya of Std v dressed as Shabari , the old woman
who waited with fruits for Lord Rama. The Second prize goes to Jaya of Std VI
for having dressed as Cinderella.
Each time
the prizes were announced there was loud applause. Jaya got up and went on stage proudly. Poor
Hema was lost in her own world. She had no hopes of winning at all. She just
wanted to go home. “ Amd now the First prize ... the winner is HEMA.” The sound
of the head mistress’s voice was drowned
in the loud clapping. Hema , hema , her
friens shook her hand , “ Go on , mam calling you. Hema just looked at them
blankly. “Hema also of std VI for the most original costume as Queen Of Vegetables. The head mistress announced
again.
Hema
could not believe her ears. She went up in daze. Jaya who was feeling ashamed
of her earlier behaviour towards Hema
was glad for once. She too clapped again to receive prize.
The
photographer clicked as she received her prize. Hema turned to go down. The
head mistress brought her forward again.
“children,
I have one more announcement to make.
This year beign our Sliver Jubilee year . we have chosen three girls foe Best
Achiever Award. From Primary school it
is Shivani from tejaswi high school from Higher school it is Jyothi
and Hema from Middel school.
“And do
you know what these three girls will receive on Annual Day? A Hero Bicycle.
Hema’s
wish was being granted in a most unexpected way. Her hard work had been
recognized. That day Hema was the happiest girl. She wanted nothing more in her
life. She went home and hugged her mother. Her parents were proud of her
achievements .
“see
, I told you, you are really our
princess. Even if you had not won in the competition, you would still be our
darling daughter”, said her father.
