When Mala Was a Kid: Memoirs of a Mischievous Kid

By Malvika Dekhane

A favorite pastime of grandparents is to narrate stories to their grandchildren. A group of tales is invariably about the antics of their own children as babies or kids. What seemed irksome thirty or forty years ago is now amusing and entertaining. My kids’ grandmother (my mother) was no exception. Many a times she narrated tales of Mala to my kids Rasika aged 10 and Harshad aged 7. The children enjoyed the stories. Imagine their surprise when they found out that this Mala was no figment of imagination but a real kiddo and none other but their mother! This made the stories more exciting.
And what are tales that don’t come with a moral, especially when a part is for the elders? This makes them more endearing to the kids.
These are some (printable) stories of Mala’s antics, some done knowingly, some unknowingly but innocently. Today after hearing them Mala comments on the incidents with humour, wry humour, or sometimes matter-of-factly or even sheepishly. The stories are not only for kids, but also for their parents, grandparents & also parents-to-be. These stories are fun but not just fun

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Jun 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781543708523

Malvika Dekhane

Malvika Dekhane has authored more than 40 books for children. She has won several prestigious awards. She writes on variety of topics including science, adventure, environment, with the main aim of entertaining and enriching, imparting knowledge, imbibing positive values and inspiring change. Some books converted in Braille and audio books.

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Copyright © 2022 by Malvika Dekhane.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Cover and Illustrations by- Bhau Dandade

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Dedicated to-All lively kids-

Who have a twinkle in their eyes;

   Some mud on their toes,

       A giggle on their face,

           Love for everyone,

               And oodles of energy.

Dedicated to-My family and Ramji who tolerated me and guided me.

Malvika

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

A favorite pastime of grandparents is to narrate stories to their grandchildren. A group of tales is invariably about the antics of their own children as babies or kids. What seemed irksome thirty or forty years ago is now amusing and entertaining. My kids’ grandmother (my mother) was no exception. Many a times she narrated tales of Mala to my kids Rasika aged 10 and Harshad aged 7. The narration started in the third person & continued that way. The children enjoyed the stories. Imagine their surprise when they found out that this Mala was no figment of imagination but a real kiddo and none other but their mother! This made the stories more exciting.

And what are tales that don’t come with a moral, especially when a part is for the elders? This makes them more endearing to the kids.

These are stories of Mala’s antics, some done knowingly, some unknowingly but innocently. Today after hearing them or recalling them, Mala is amused, bemused, non-plussed & sometimes angry. She comments on the incidents with humour or wry humour, or sometimes matter-of-factly or even sheepishly. These stories are fun but not just fun.

I penned down my memoirs purely for the purpose of entertainment. Parents will love reading them aloud.

And children, a sincere request-please don’t emulate me!

WHO IS MALA:

Mala can be any energetic kid. But this Mala was the younger of two girls in a well-to-do family. Her father was a doctor & mother a housewife. Mala’s elder sister was Neena. Their domestic help was Ramji. Mala was a very very energetic, bubbly, steadfast and sunny-tempered child. She was not impertinent but wasn’t 100% docile. She had her own thought-process, her own reasoning-sometimes incongruous but it would give her ideas a fantastic and funny turn. A healthy & plump child she would turn beetroot-red after running or laughing or becoming angry. Mala was a super-tomboy and would get into trouble for being one. Her antics were sometimes endearing, sometimes funny and sometimes exasperating. Sometimes her own Nani would sigh and say, Mala, you are Mala-the-terrible. How do you solve a problem like Mala, the lovable imp?

How can I be terrible? Didn’t you just say I was lovable? Mala would respond with an angelic smile and hug her Nani. That was Mala, a living bouquet of values with a fragrance of innocence.

*********************************************

CONTENTS

1. Mala and batata-vadas. (Spicy potato-balls)

2. How Mala lost her first baby tooth

3. How Mala was made to suck her thumb

4. Mala rides a bus

5. Mala and the Milk – horse

6. What happened when Mala crossed the street?

7. Mala Writes a letter

8. How Mala was trained to become a wrestler.

9. Why Mala was punished for singing and then not singing?

10. When Mala combated brawn with brains

11. Mala & Ramji

12. When Mala was told she was adopted.

13. When Mala got the ‘Shock of her life’

14. When Mala flunked a test.

15. The tale of Mala’s Ponytail

16. When Mala learnt the difference between fearlessness and foolhardiness

17. How Mala developed Reading as a hobby

18. How Mala Became overweight and was teased fatso.

19. When Mala cooked Tomato Sabzi

20. Mala tries to raise Piglets

1

MALA AND

BATATA-VADAS.

(SPICY POTATO-BALLS)

It all started that day went Rasika and Harshad’s mother prepared batata-vadas. Their tempting aroma floated in the air and tingled everybody’s nose. Rasika & Harshad came running, to the kitchen. "I think I smell batata-vadas!’ Rasika declared excitedly and ran towards the kitchen platform. Nani