Page 23 - Balvihar january 2024

her temples, a ritual meant to protect Ananta from evil eyes. Ananta was confused by these
peculiarities of her family members, and as days passed; she got to know more about them.
There was a big difference between her London upbringing and the habits of her family
members.

She saw how grandpa would keep rolling his long moustache, how uncle would keep shaking
his legs, and how grandma would start cleaning the moment she noticed a speck of dust.
Aunt would start yelling if she saw an ant or a mosquito, while uncle would start shouting as
he would bath with cold water every morning. She saw how Reva would touch every leaf in
their garden, and how Reva’s younger brother, Rishabh would keep eating paper. Each family
member exhibited quirks that, over time, endeared them to Ananta.

The wedding festivities concluded, and a new younger aunt joined the family. Ananta, with a
wittiness influenced by the newly embraced peculiarities, suggested gifting another ring to the
aunt adorned with rings on all fingers and toes. All had a hearty laugh at Ananta’s suggestion.
As they prepared to depart for London, tearful farewells and abundant gifts marked Ananta's
departure. Despite their oddness,
the unique habits of her family had
become endearing, and leaving
them behind was difficult.

Back in London, Ananta found
herself missing the distinctive
traits of her family the most. The
finger-snapping, the fan-kissing,
and the meticulous cleanliness of
her grandmother – all these quirks
had transformed from strange to
cherished memories.
In the end, with a heart full of
love, Ananta realised that these
peculiarities were the threads
that bound her to her family, making them irreplaceable and, in their own way, unique and
memorable.

10 January
th
Peculiar People Day – Rutvik Koshti

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Balvihar - January 2024