Page 26 - Masala Lite Issue 156 December 2023

26
Nama-Slay!

Auntie was at the house for dinner because her cook
was off,
This excitement over Christmas made her scowl and
scoff.
“You are forgetting your culture,” she scolded the kids
with scorn,
“You stay up late for the birth of Jesus but won’t come
to temple on the day Krishna is born.”
An unreformed party girl and mother of two,
writer, editor and observer Sumati Huber tries to
This comment got all the grown-ups talking,
make sense of our unique Thai-Indian society and the
aunties that she will one day become. “It’s true, they won’t learn to make roti but will
hang up a stocking.”
The adults agreed it’s better to get money
‘Twas the Night Before envelopes for festivals like Diwali,
Indian Christmas Versus Christmas with presents like socks and
underwear from a man who is jolly.
‘Twas the night before Indian Christmas, when all
through the houses in the sois, Kids know all the words to Christmas songs and it brings The family ran outside to see what it could be,
Every creature was stirring because have you ever heard them glee, Maybe Santa would be coming down the chimney to
of quiet girls and boys? But they roll their eyes when it’s time to do puja and the tree?
All the families were sitting at their dinner table eating sing arti. But alas when the scene finally became clear,
their food, The elders found it silly that kids are bribed with material It was a wedding baraat passing through with much
But it was a Christmas feast of daal and curry because things to be good and chipper, pomp and cheer.
we are Indian, dude. Whereas Indians can easily teach these values with the
receiving end of a slipper.
“You see this?” Auntie exclaimed as she pointed to the
The Christmas tree was all lit up with the A/C and groom being carried,
humidity making windows frost, Suddenly from outside there was a loud commotion, “The families can finally rest easy with their children
Daddy was complaining about how much this month’s Like the kind you hear when relatives boast about getting married.”
electricity bill will cost. Sandeep’s promotion. So for Indian Christmas the best gift of all,
The children were excited by the wrapped boxes scattered It sounded like bells jingling and chatter reminiscent of Is to quickly have your wedding in a grand hotel hall!
under the tree, children at play,
Daddy told them, “You better appreciate it because Was it a Christmas miracle with ol’ Saint Nick and his
nothing is for free.” reindeer-pulling sleigh?

MASAL A LITE ISSUE 156 - DECEMBER 202 3