Junior Vocab
Understanding Tastes
Meera: "Amma packed lemon rice for lunch. What did you get, Riya?"
Riya:understands I want something different." "Just boring curd rice again. No one
Meera: "But your curd rice has pomegranate seeds! They look like tiny rubies."
Riya: "Still boring. At home also, nobody understands I don't like spicy food."
Meera: "My Thatha understands me. He always removes the chillies from my poha."
Riya: "My Appa just laughs and says, 'Riya is a baby tongue!'"
Meera: "Did you tell him it hurts your mouth? Or you just make a face and drink water?"
Riya: "I just drink water. If I say anything, he'll think I'm fussy."
Meera: "Sometimes Amma understands my face, but Ajji needs words. I have to say it."
Riya: "What if Appa gets angry if I say I don't like it?"
Meera: "Maybe he'll be surprised first. Then he might understand better. Want to practice?"
Riya: "Practice? Now? In the school ground?"
Meera: "Yes! I'm Appa. You be you. Tell me, 'Appa, my tongue burns.'
Riya: "Okay… 'Appa, my tongue burns when the food is too spicy. Can we make it less?'"
Meera: "Appa-Meera understands. He says, 'My brave Riya told me her feeling. Let's try milder sambhar.'
Riya: "Hey, that sounded nice. I liked when Appa-Meera understands me."
Meera: "See? When we say our feeling clearly, it's easier for people to understand."
Riya: "Tonight I'll tell my real Appa. I hope he understands like you did."
Meera: "If he forgets, remind him. Slowly-slowly, he’ll understand your tongue."