Nani's Walk to the Park

Deepa Balsavar

Once a week, Nani* goes to the park.
Today, Venki wants to go with her.
“I walk slowly,” says Nani. “And I take my time getting there.”
“I don’t mind,” says Venki.
So Nani picks up her shopping bag and starts to cross the road.
“But Nani,” says Venki, “the park is that way!”
*Nani means grandmother.

“We’ll go this way,” says Nani,
“through the Lane of Treasures.”

The Lane of Treasures? What a wonderful name
for the market. The shops here sell everything!
When Nani finishes shopping, Venki points
to a gate and asks, “Shall
we take a shortcut, Nani?
We’ll be at the park in no time.”

“No,” says Nani.
“We’ll go through the Lane of Beauty.”

In the Lane of Beauty, the people stitch amazing goddhis.*
A lady gives Nani a goddhi in which Venki sees a piece
of her favourite saree and a bit of his Ma’s kurta.
“Shall we go to the park now?” asks Venki.
*A goddhi (pronounced go-the-dee) is a traditional hand-stitched quilt
made of recycled material, usually soft, old cotton sarees.

“Yes,” says Nani.
“We’ll take the Lane of Happiness.”

“Come, come,” Nani calls softly and Venki laughs
as dogs and cats tumble out from everywhere!

Nani pours the milk she bought at the market and they watch as the animals lick their bowls clean.
Venki doesn’t want to leave the Lane of Happiness but Nani reminds him that they are on their way to the park.
Next, Nani and Venki walk through a lane behind a little school.

The children are playing langdi, lagori and sakhli.*
“Is this the Lane of Noise?” asks Venki.
“No, it’s the Lane of Mischief. It reminds me of you and your friends!” laughs Nani.
“Have you named all the lanes in the city?” asks Venki.
“Not all,” smiles Nani, “only the ones that are important to me!”
*These are some traditional games played in India.

“The park is not far now, but you will have to be a little patient.
I want to stop at the Lane of Friendship.”

In the Lane of Friendship, Nani visits her dear friend.
They were girls together and they have grown old together.
They whisper and they giggle.

Then, Nani gives her friend a hug and says,
“It is time to leave. We will now walk
through the Lane of Dreams.”

The Lane of Dreams has more books than Venki’s school library!
The bookseller sells old books for very little money
and buys the ones people have finished reading.

And they walk down the Lane of Magic.

Nani chooses a book and says,
“Let’s go, we are almost at the park now.”
And they walk down the Lane of Magic.

Venki looks up at the big trees
that offer shade, and feels a cool breeze.
Nani shows him Gulmohar, Amaltas and Jarul trees.

The flowers on the road look like a magic carpet.

At last they are at the park.
It has been a long time since they left home.
Venki looks around and thinks of all the people
and places he has seen that morning.

“I like your lanes, Nani,” he says.
“May I come with you next week too?”