The Blue Umbrella

Binya seldom closed the blue umbrella. Even when she had it in the house, she left it lying open in a corner of the room. Sometimes Bijju snapped it shut, complaining that it got in the way. She would open it again a little later. It wasn't beautiful when it was closed.

Whenever Binya went out... she took the umbrella with her. That patch of sky- blue silk could always be seen on the hillside.

Old Ram Bharosa kept the tea shop on the Tehri road... 'What have you there, Binya?' he asked.


Binya gave the umbrella a twirl and smiled at Ram Bharosa.

'That's only for Mem-Sahibs. Where did you get it?'

'Someone gave it to me - for my necklace.'

'You exchanged it for your lucky claw!'

Binya nodded.

'But what do you need it for? The sun isn't hot enough - and it isn't meant for the rain. It's just a pretty thing for rich ladies to play with!'

Binya nodded and smiled again. Ram Bharosa was quite right; it was just a beautiful plaything. And that was exactly why she had fallen in love with it.