Rangoli and Footprints
Maya: "Arjun, why is the rangoli all smudgy near the door?"
Arjun: "Because you stamped on it with your big chappals!"
Maya: "I didn’t stamp, I just… walked. Amma said to come in fast, na."
Amma: "I said come in fast, but I also said, ‘Leave your chappals outside and walk properly.’"
Arjun: "Yeah, properly! Like this—tiptoe, tiptoe, no kicking the colors.", tiptoe, no kicking the colors."
Maya: "But the floor is cold and the haldi on my feet is sticky."
Amma: "That’s why we cleaned it. If you walk slowly, your footprints will look like little flowers."
Maya: "Little flowers? Really?"
Arjun: "Mine just look like monster feet because I ran."
Maya: "So if I walk properly, my feet will make pretty prints and not a big mess?"
Amma: "Exactly. Eyes on your steps, body steady, no rushing."
Maya: "Okay, I’ll try. Move, Arjun, I’m coming like a princess."
Arjun:properly and say ‘please.’" "Princesses don’t push, you know. They walk
Maya: "Fine. Please move, Sir Monster Feet."
Amma: "There you go. You both came in properly, and now the rangoli still looks beautiful."
Maya: "And my footprints do look like flowers! I’m going to walk properly all the way to the sweets."