Winter’s Bounties

“Move aside,” I said to Chikki, stretching my legs on our seemingly century-old wooden cot placed just at the center of our large terrace. I was basking in the Sun, thoroughly enjoying the sweet warmth of a winter’s day. My pleasant slumber was rudely interrupted by the bellow honking of a car. I frowned slightly, though still half-asleep. “ Who possibly can be in such a hurry? and that too on such a pleasant day!” Winter days are for savoring oranges and guavas with black salt. The hustle adults are in is out of bounds for my comprehension.
“Leela! Where are you? Come here.” my mother called from downstairs. I could have pretended to be deaf to her calls, but suddenly my oft-asleep conscience struck me and, I was compelled to answer her calls.
I rushed to the kitchen and marked my presence with Amma. She was the Commander-in-charge of our humble abode and, I a soldier in her squadron.
“Put this in your hair.” the commander instructed, handing me a bowl of mustard oil. My frizzy, unkempt hair has been a constant cause of trouble and worries for her.
I half-heartedly promised her sincerity towards my hair and rushed back to my precious terrace. Keeping the bowl below the cot, I stretched again and made my way to the cot.
The thought of pending assignments annoyed my peaceful slumber for a moment, but procrastination has been my favorite sport since middle school. Though, my championship in this sport has not altered my optimism. My long to-do list, which had been neatly jotted down by me, was unscathed. I was ten days into my vacations and, not one task had the opportunity to be struck off from my decorated list.
Coming to my assignments, the most important task for me this winter has been to listen to Katy Perry. All my friends have been listening to her.
Soon Amma came upstairs and sat on the cot. Without uttering a word took the oil bowl and started massaging my head, or as she called that “champi.” Of the few things I loved in this world, champi was one of my favorites. During it, all my worries melted away. Amma’s touch had a magic to it. She started humming an old Hindi melody. Katy Perry now seemed redundant.