Short story:

The gift which went round the mulberry bush

Malathi Perera

About three years back, at a certain Sari sale I bought a sari which was in the range of Rs.500/-. When my eyes perused through the stack of saris on a table, always my eyes stop at the colour blue. I without much hesitation bought it. It was a white sari with tiny blue flowers printed on it. I was then, day dreaming when to wear it, as now it was the second task of finding a jacket material for it.

After taking home, I opened my almirah, I have left a shelf to keep all the new shoes, handbags, textures, gifts etc. Then my eyes caught another new sari being kept on the shelf, I quickly pulled it out and took out the sari which I bought from the sale. Both looked alike. My family members laughed at me saying “ you and your colour blue,ÓI was quite upset, inner heart I felt like going on the following day to exchange it to another sari, but then I knew that particular sale was held only for one day. Sadly, I kept it in the shelf with a big sigh for the Rs 500/- which went astray.

Then few months later by about 4 pm in the afternoon, a friend of mine named Doris, called to invite me for her birthday late in the evening. As it was somewhere around 12th or 13th and some more days for the salary, I determined to give that particular sari to my friend as a gift. So the story goes on.

I attended the party, as she too is in the age group of 60s, I knew she would love to possess the sari and after high enjoyment, sing song dance and laughter with other friends I came home, thanking my fate that I managed to save four to five hundred rupees, as nowadays, giving a gift below that range is not good for the dignity of a person.

So, the sari episode was over, after several months, later I went for a Christmas dinner to Vimala's house, where we exchange gifts after dinner. I gave them what I brought and she gave me a parcel beautifully wrapped. Though I am in my sixties, I too longed to see what was inside as a woman is a woman and not a man who does not bother.

As soon I came home my child pulled the parcel from my hand and opened it, to find Lo Behold! The same sari, white in colour with blue flowers! With another big sigh I kept it in the almirah wondering what to do and all my family members had a hearty laugh. I knew definitely Doris must have given the sari as a gift to Vimala and Vimala must have given it to me.

After 11 months back came the Christmas 2012, I being an active member of the YWCA, I proposed at the Board that I would bring a gift, and organise a raffle draw to sell a line for Rs.20/- enabling us to raise funds for charity. So, at the Christmas party, all members bought a line for Rs.20/- in the circulated list, and after a delicious Christmas dinner, the President was called upon to draw the winning number, lucky winner was No: 38, I quickly went through the list, I was stunned, dumbfound, it was Doris! Her name was announced with a thundering applause.

She came forward to accept the gift. Inner heart I could not help myself laughing. It was only I who knew the story behind the sari. Now my fervent wish is that let there not be a day for Doris to give this sari to Vimala, and in return for Vimala to give it to me and me to organise another raffle draw and specially Dear Lord, let it not be the winner Doris back again to take home the gift to start again around the mulberry bush!