Junior Vocab
Dussehra Party
Meera: "Aarav, why are you sitting under the table? The party has cake!"
Aarav: "It’s too loud, Meera. All the aunties are talking and the music is boom-boom."
Meera: "But it’s Dussehra! Look at all the lights and the rangoli and the shiny saris!"
Aarav:burst." "That’s the problem. Too many colors, too many people, too many smells. My head feels like it’s going to
Meera: "Even the laddoo smell?"
Aarav: "Yes. Even the laddoo smell. Everything is mixing together and it’s… too much."
Amma: "Hey, you two. Hiding under the table like secret mice?"
Meera: "Amma, Aarav doesn’t want to come out. He says the party is too much."
Aarav: "The drums, the clapping, the aunties laughing… it’s all banging inside me."
Amma: "Hmm. Sounds overwhelming, kanna. Like when ten TV channels play at the same time."
Aarav: "Yes! Overwhelming. Like all the channels are inside my ears and eyes."
Meera: "So what do we do when it’s overwhelming? We can’t switch you off like a TV."
Amma: "We can make it smaller. How about we sit on the balcony for a bit? Just us, and one laddoo each."
Aarav: "No drums on the balcony?"
Amma: "Only the crickets’ music and the smell of jasmine."
Meera: "And I’ll bring the laddoos. Just two. Not an overwhelming mountain of laddoos."
Aarav: "Okay… balcony, two laddoos, three people. That doesn’t feel overwhelming at all."
Amma: "See? We turned an overwhelming party into a small, cozy corner."
Meera: "And when it stops feeling overwhelming, we can go back and eat the rest of the laddoos!"