A Gift of Chappals Summary
The story a gift of chappls is written by Vasantha Surya from Mridu in Madras. The story revolves around a group of children and their activities.
The 1st to 4th para:
The 1st to 4th para of the story “A smiling ………. feed Mahendran” introduces the readers to the characters of the story. Mridu a sweet little girl lived with her grandparents she went to her aunt’s, Rukku Manni’s house to visit her cousins. As they went, her aunt opened the door. Her cousins, Ravi, Meena were very happy to see her and pulled Mridu in the house. She protested to open her shoes and kept them besides neatly a large black pair of chappls grey with dust. Mridu didn’t get time to wonder as Ravi dragged her to the garden in the backyard. There inside a torn football lined with sacking lay a small kitten drinking milk from a half coconut shell. Ravi then told the whole story how he got the kitten outside their gate mewing and mewing. He even told her that the cat is a secret because if their granny got to know about it, she would go away to their Paddu Mama’s house. Ravi was hurt with the matter that everyone teaches them to be kind on animals but no one actually do that practically. They will shout and scream as soon as they see the cat. Ravi narrated to Mridu the whole story of how he bought some milk for the kitten. This granny even confronted him and he had to lie to her to bring some milk for the kitten. He even had to drink some because he told his granny he was hungry. He then quickly poured the remembering milk in the shell and washed the glass until his granny got suspicious. Ravi told Mridu that they have to think about some other alternative way to feed Mahendran.
The 5th to 9th para:
The 5th to 9th para of the story “Mahendran ……. off track” highlight their discussion regarding the name of the kitten. Mridu was surprised with the kitty’s name. She found it really interesting and not silly like other kitty’s names. Ravi continued that the kitty’s full name was Mahendravarma Pallava Poonai, M.P Poonai, in short. He further explained that the cat was of a good breed and looked like a lion’s mane’s fur. He then questioned Mridu what was the emblem of the ancient Pallavas and looked at mridu, expecting an answer. Mridu hearing to his explanation started giggling. Ravi became conscious and said that he was not joking and he had been to Mahabalipuram. He disclosed the story of, how he saw a statue of Mahabalipuram’s great great grandfather. The kitty for him resembled the emblem of Pallava dynasty, Rishi-cat. He also gave them the knowledge that the ancient Egyptians worshipped cats, waving a stick and walking here and there. Mridu and Meena looked of each other. Mridu then demanded how would his decisions have anything to do with the kitty’s name. Ravi continued with discussion and Mahendra the kitty looked up. Then they heard a wired sound which was even awful then Ravi’s discussion. Mridu was startled and the kitty got frightened and jumped over a tray of red chillies. The sound went on and on, Mridu then warned what sound was it. Ravi then grunted it was lalli learning to play the violin. Ravi very disappointedly said that lalli could never learn anything. The master keeps on playing like a train and lalli is always out of track.
Scene II
1st and 2nd para:
1st and 2nd para of the scene II “Mridu crept …… Lovely music” describes Lalli’s effort to play the violin. Mridu went to the window and saw Lalli sitting a distance, holding her violin and struggling to play with it. Far from her sat her teacher half bald wearing a veshti. He played the violin flawlessly with all notes perfectly in tune whereas Lalli was looking unhappy and was struggling.
The 3rd to 7th Para:
The 3rd to 7th para “Squawk ……………. His bare feet” describes the presence of a beggar in the house. Lalli started playing the violin again. Then someone suddenly called Amma from the gate. Ravi’s mother knew it was the beggar calling out and she ordered Ravi to send him away. The beggar had been coming for a week daily and not he was begging Ravi’s mother to find him another house. Mridu and Meena followed Ravi to the garden where the beggar had already settled down leaning at the trunk of a tree. The beggar opened his eyes at Ravi shouting. The beggar gazed at all the children and with a heavy voice thanked the ladies of the house for their generosity and couldn’t believe that he had been told not to come from the next day. Ravi’s mother shouted from the kitchen that there was nothing left in the kitchen. The beggar stood up and finally said that he would go but to let him rest for sometime as the sun was shining bright and the tar in the road was melting. He told his legs had blisters and showed his bare feet to them.
The 8th to 12th Para:
The 8th to 12th Para “I suppose …………….. Into the garden” highlights the discussion between the children regarding helping the beggar. Mridu whispered that the beggar did not have money to buy a pair of chappals. All three of them wondered if they had an extra pair in the house. The beggar tightened his dhoti and looked fearfully at the road glazing in the sun. All three of them were worried about the beggar’s feet and wondered if they got a pair of chappals at the house. Just as they were searching they found an odd looking chappals at the verandah which Mridu had noticed as she came there. Mridu questioned Ravi about the owner of the chappals. Ravi looked at the odd looking chappals and picked them up saying it was the right size as of the beggar’s feet. All three of them rushed to the garden.
The 13th to 19th Para:
The 13th to 19th Para “Here said Ravi …………………….Tell herself” highlights the discovery of the fact that the chappals were lost. Ravi dropped the chappals in front of the beggar the beggar quickly wore them and vanished in a minute blessing the children. Meanwhile the master came out wandering about his chappals in the verandah. He finally called for help to lalli to ask her if she had seen his chappals. The three of them silently watched Lalli and the master looking here and there for the chappals. The master told Lalli he had went to mount Road to buy the chappals and had cost him a whole month’s fees. Soon Lalli called her mother and she came out along with their granny. All of them looked worried as they thought some vendors might have stolen them. Rukku Manni saw the children sitting curiously quiet and asked them if they had seen someone. Her eyes had anger in them and her mouth sounded pleasant. Mridu told to herself that Aunty won’t feel bad if she knew that the beggar had blisters in his foot so they gave the chappals to him.
The 20th to 24th Para:
The 20th to 24th Para “Taking a ………….. Leave quickly” Mridu finally revealed that the beggar had boils in his foot. Manni grimly turned up to Ravi and asked did they give the master’s chappals to the beggar. Ravi then told his mom that she had taught her the helpful nature of Kanna. Rukku Manni was angry and told that Kanna did not give away other people’s things but gave his own. She had an argument with Ravi and then rushed home and brought Gopu Mama’s new chappals and gave them to sir. She pleaded him to put on the shoes and was sorry for Ravi’s behaviour. The music teacher’s eyes lit in happiness but he made his face look sad. He scolded the children and told the children now days are like Hanumans. Rukku was offended as her son was compared to Hanuman a holy monkey but still a monkey. She wanted the man to leave soon.
The 25th Para:
The 25th Para “When he ……… Master” concludes the story. As soon as the master went away she called Mridu in to have some snacks. She then looked relieved and happy and asked how could they think of something. She thanked God even that Gopu Mamu does not wear his chappals often but he would surely come and ask about them in the evening.
The story is a very beautiful piece highlighting the innocence of the children and their helpful nature along with the mischief working among the children.