first time shopping

I am the youngest one in the family.So my parents were never sending me outside alone.That day I wanted a book .My brothers were not at home. So I pleaded my mother that I would go alone as I know the path and buy the book and come back promptly. At last she obliged and I took money and left home.It was evening and dusk time.By the time I walked to the shop it was suddenly dark and it rained hard.Electricity was off.I was afraid. Because I had a fat record of losing my way in the past.At Tirupathi ,it rains in one street and at another it would be dry.Streets were filled with rain water.I was wading my way through that running water on the streets.I lost hold of one of my slippers in the flow. As I came half the distance my brother came with umbrella and took me home.My family members used to love me so much. When I joined sixth standard my mother made me wear golden studs. They had blue stone and were in the shape of mango. Till that time I was wearing skirts with attached bodice. Now I had long skirts with thread to knot. So now I had grown up in their eyes.

Scavenger

At that time we were at Manchala street.Toilets were outside and daily scavenger used to come and clean it. We have to pour water while she cleanses it. As it is a difficult and unrelished job, she would come drunk in the mornings. She was aged, stout and dark. We were all afraid of her because she used to abuse us if we were not ready with water when she came.

It seeme that she saw my dance programme when Chief minister had visited our school.Nextday, when she came to clean our house she scolded my brothers and sisters. She was saying that they were all waste candidates and appreciated that I preformed jubiliantly and actively like a deer.Everyone in my house started laughing. That was the first time they heard her praising some one .

Raaja rathnam our headmistress

Raaja rathnam was our head mistress. Her husband was not well. He was going abroad for operation, may be for the heart. To give him happy farewell, our teachers thought of a plan. They took few of us who could sing and dance to their village near paapaanaidupet and Gajulamandyam.On the way we saw glass industry there where small and colorful glassbeads were manufactured. By evening we went to their village and performed.While returning they arranged a vehicle and one christian father came with us.

He told us a story that we should not abuse anyone or wish ill of others. Once there were acouple who were virtuous and toiled a lot for their livelihood.They used to grow paddy . But exactly by the time of harvesting some one used to steal the grains. They used to suffer a lot. They had a son .

He was also working hard with them. This type of incidents were occuring quite often. They were very religeous and god fearing. One day they cursed the person who was stealing their harvest . Alas!their son died. Their son was looting the reap to use it for wrongful needs.Their sole existance depended on their son. When he himself was not there, they felt there was no need to live and they too lost their lives.

At that time this story moved us a lot.

dancing

I was very active in the class room. Myself, Rukmini, V.V.Ssubbalakshmi and Umamaheswari used to be in the fore front for all the extra curricular activites.We used to raise our hands when ever teacher used to ask if any of us were interested in dancing, singing etc. As I learnt classical dancing at Gudur itself I preferred to participate in dancing. Rukmini and myself danced for Gowrammaa nee mogudevaramma in movie Moogamanusulu, Rmakadhanu vinarandi in Lavakusa.Our dance practice was in science laboratory and schools old students used to come and teach us for specific dances. For independence day Rukminis mother gave us a song and taught us dance for that specific song. Song was about our national flag and importance of those colors and asoka chakra. On one occassion, then our chief minister ,Kasu Brahmaananda reddy visited our school.On that occassion there wer ecultural programmes. I danced for Naagamallikona lona ,nakkindoledikoona from Kantharaos movie. Our chief minister was impressed by my dance and he patted me and said I did well. He told to prove myself in studies also.I was very happy. Next day in all daily newspapers our photo with the chief minister came in the front page. I was very happy.