Sana beamed at her precious doll. She liked knowing that Gurya had once belonged to her mother. Now Gurya was hers, her friend and companion. Her keeper of secrets.

“…and then the raja and rani got married and they lived happily ever after. There, Gurya, the story’s finished. What shall we do now?”
Sana ran her eyes along the pink wall where all her toys were lined up. She was glad Abba had listened to her and painted her room in different shades: pink, green, blue and yellow. She loved the brightness of colors. She glanced at her wooden bed that boasted a lavender bedspread and her side table with her clock and the red frame that displayed her family’s picture, taken in the park.

Her gaze traveled towards her wooden wardrobe that had stars pasted on it. The mirror on it threw back her reflection. She smiled at herself then returned to her problem. She silently rejected the various dolls, balls and the assortment of cars and airplanes.

Right now, she only wanted to play with Gurya. They had played school yesterday and doctors the day before, she thought as her eyes skimmed over the chalks and bandages. She wanted to do something she hadn’t done in a while. She glanced at her doll.

“You tell me, Gurya. What would you like to do? Not marbles! You know what happened last time. One got under Abba’s foot, making him fall. Don’t laugh! It wasn’t funny. You know Abba got hurt. I thought he would have scolded me but he never does. He’s so nice to me!” Sana grinned.

“How about the trains? Or blocks? Why not? Oh, okay, fine. I know you think they are toys for boys but I like playing with them. How about cooking something? Shall we make biscuits for Amma? She does like them, you know. Remember how happy she was when Abba and I got her fresh biscuits from the bakery? She does love them so. Oh. Don’t you feel like baking? Fine. But stop being so difficult. Tell me what you’d like to do!”

Her mouth formed a large O as she listened intently to Gurya. “You want to have a party? You know what? That’s a great idea! We simply haven’t had one in ages. I wish Abba was home and Amma was awake. They would have joined us like last time! Oh well. Let’s have the other dolls over.”

Sana jumped up and skipped towards the toys. Pouting a little, a fierce expression of thoughtfulness on her face, she selected the people she wanted at the party. “Come on, you pretty ones, we’re having a party!” She picked up two dolls. “Oh, don’t worry, little one, don’t look so sad, you’re also coming,” she picked up a third one.

Satisfied with her choices, she arranged them around a soft blanket she had spread to serve as the centerpiece. Then she crawled under her bed and emerged with the cups, saucers and the teapot and organized them on the blanket. Next, she went and brought out a few packets of chips, biscuits and sweets to share with her dolls.

She settled herself next to Gurya and started pouring tea. “Gurya, how many spoons of sugar would you like?”