The children watched her stirring the cauldron. After weeks of pestering and pleading, she had finally agreed to make the potion.
It would banish all their problems and grant them super powers.
It all began when Rishu came home with her face hanging down to her knees. She had got 10 glittering red crosses in her Math Homework that day. In the beginning of the year it was one to two, then as they moved to ‘fractions’, they became a few more, but now with ‘algebra’ she was only getting all her sums wrong. Something had to be done. Copying from her friend did not work. They both had the same number of red crosses. Only the remarks differed…Diappointing! Try again! Be attentive in class! That’s a hat trick! Extra classes!
Granny noticed the sad look and the worry brewing somewhere deep. “How was the day, Darling?” she asked, as she enveloped Rishu in a warm hug. Granny’s hugs like Ma’s kisses always healed her. The soft fragrance of roses, from her perfume made her feel so good. “Nothing Gran! I need to change my school,I think.”
“Why?” Granny was surprised and tried not to hit the ceiling. The Math teacher is giving us trick questions. We can solve them in the class, the solutions work themselves out… but the homework has magic. No one except Veer, gets them right.
“Oh! That’s tricky! And not fair to my poor dear! Should I come and talk to her?” gran asked conspiratorially.
“No! No!” “Let me think!” said the young child.
That night as the children gathered all around her, in her massive king sized, antique, four poster bed, she started narrating a story. The story of a wicked witch, a beautiful girl, an apple and magic potion.
As she continued in her sing song voice, adding theatrical inflection to make the narrative more dramatic, Vishal jumped up.
“Granny, if I get some magic potion, will I be able to win my football match?”
“Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed the rest of the children. Granny too had to struggle to keep a straight face.
“Ahem! Ahem!” she cleared her throat, fearing a mirthful explosion and so not trusting to open her mouth.
The moment passed, then she said, “No, I don’t think so, else it would be available at the Chemist. Don’t you think so?”
Rishu too realised the feasibility of magic making her life simpler.
“Gran can you make us some magic potion? Remember you have that secret potion book?”
Now it was grandma’s turn to be nonplussed.
“What are you saying, child?”
“Remember that book you keep hidden? It has a very unique name too …Secret potions for sizzling sessions?”
Granny turned a beetroot red.
“What about it?”
“I am sure there are potions to help us do well in what we want. Me in Math and Vishal in Football. Please make us some. You know like your chicken soup, which chases the cough out of our throat.”
All the others too picked up the chant and started jumping in bed. “Please! Please! Magic potion!”
It went on for many days, till she finally gave in.
“OK! Tomorrow I shall. But you have to follow all the instructions, else the magic wont work. Now off to bed, all of you! Good night!”
All day granny wondered how she was going to handle this ‘magic-potion-making’ no doubt she had put herself in a soup. As evening drew near, the kids trooped in from the field.
Excitement buzzed through the house. The parents could sense it but no one said anything. Mom even asked Granny, “Ma is there something wrong? The children are behaving oddly, isn’t it?”
“What? No… no! Whatever gave you the idea? Next you will ask me if I believe in Dracula?” laughed she nervously.
“Never mind Ma, I am in the study, if you need me. I have got to finish my presentation, you know.”
Once the parents were out of the way, the children trooped into the kitchen looking at their grandmother expectantly.
She realised she couldn’t push it any further.
She brought out the biggest cauldron, and put it on the flame. Next she added all kinds of nuts and spices to the boiling milk. In went some strands of saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, nuts and handful of raisins. The kitchen smelled heavenly. The children looked on. Granny stirred the cauldron and muttered the secret magical mantra.
Vishal, drowsy from all the running around and the warmth in the cosy kitchen let out a loud yawn. Soon, all of them were yawning and desperately trying to keep their eyelids open.
“All right! Are you ready?” whispered Granny.
Magically all nodded, bright and awake.
“This magic potion works in tandem with a magical spell. Are you ready?”
“Yes! Yes!” came the excited agreement in hushed tones.
“I can do it. I have got this!” you must say this in your heart with complete faith in yourself, seven times. And finish the potion in your cup.
Everyone held out their cup and looked solemnly.
“Ma what are you giving the children, can I have some too… it smells magical!” said mom as she popped her head in at the kitchen door.
PS: Image by congerdesign from Pixabay for representation purpose only.
